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Reposted by Heather Clark

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 7h

All of this is being put out to placate the right wing press...

In the meantime, it's causing fear & confusion. As I understand it:

● this only applies to some people on skilled visas
● it's not "A level English" it's something called SELT
● much the same requirement exists elsewhere in EU

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Heather Clark @heatherjc.bsky.social · 7h

At the same time, a GP surgery in Edinburgh with 5000 patients is being closed, to much less fanfare.

www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinbur...

Edinburgh medical practice closure will see 5,000 patients relocated

An Edinburgh medical practice is set to close next month following a review by the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership and NHS Lothian.

www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com

Heather Clark @heatherjc.bsky.social · 8h

The closure of Polwarth Medical Practice in Edinburgh means most of its 5000 patients are being transferred to neighbouring Gilmore Practice. What nobody's mentioned is will more staff be taken on there to deal with this sudden influx of new patients?
www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinbur...

Edinburgh medical practice closure will see 5,000 patients relocated

An Edinburgh medical practice is set to close next month following a review by the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership and NHS Lothian.

www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com

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Reposted by Heather Clark

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 9h

Digital ID: Danes and Estonians find it ‘pretty uncontroversial’

Citizens have enrolled with little opposition, albeit with some concerns over security and privacy, as UK plans system

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Heather Clark

Aidan Skinner @aidan.skinner.me.uk · 1d

Glad to see this analysis of the SNP currency plans in @scotnational.bsky.social newsletter from last night:

"Upon independence, Scotland is expected to continue losing around 8% to 10% of its GDP [...] this means that the Scottish private sector must shrink by between 5% to 7% each year."

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Heather Clark @heatherjc.bsky.social · 1d

I'm clearing out my late dad's house and came across my grandma's ID card from 1943.
Curious as to why £1000 is written across the front.
Did she try to bribe an official at some point? 🤔

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Reposted by Heather Clark

Space @ The Broomhouse Hub @spacebroomhouse.bsky.social · 1d

Everyone's welcome to drop in to the Coorie Cafe from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Tuesday, 28 Oct. for support applying to college #ESOL courses.

Bring relevant documents, including previous course names & dates & SQA number.

No need to register.

#WorkClub #support #college #Space #BroomhouseHub

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Heather Clark @heatherjc.bsky.social · 1d

Foreign residents in the UK already all have mandatory e-visas, which replaced the old residence permits in 2024, and asylum seekers have physical ARC cards, so I suppose the ID cards would just bring local citizens in line with the others.

Heather Clark @heatherjc.bsky.social · 2d

The ID will not be mandatory for everyone, just those seeking work and optional for everyone else. People will not be required to carry it. Hopefully, it might also mean vulnerable workers get some kind of protection against unscrupulous employers.

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Heather Clark @heatherjc.bsky.social · 2d

There was all that fanfare around the scrapping of peak fares on ScotRail trains in Scotland, but they still exist if you want to use a Railcard.

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Reposted by Heather Clark

Gemma Clark 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 @gemmaclark.bsky.social · 2d

UKIP leader says he will use the military to round up Muslims and communists. I wish more people would recognise and name fascism when it’s jumping in our faces with flashing lights.

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Heather Clark @heatherjc.bsky.social · 2d

An atmospheric walk back this evening.

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Heather Clark @heatherjc.bsky.social · 3d

Here's an FOI on spending on the Digital Identity Service revealing the £45m cost of something the FM says "is an attack on our liberty and privacy".
Go figure.

www.gov.scot/publications...

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Heather Clark @heatherjc.bsky.social · 3d

Apart from the name, it sounds very similar to the Labour plan.
Wonder how those who have been working on the project here feel.

www.scottlogic.com/our-work/sco...

Heather Clark @heatherjc.bsky.social · 3d

Amazing how less that a year ago the SNP were pushing their own digital ID on the ScotAccount system, "which would save you time and effort because you don't need to repeat the same processes over and over" to verify your identity.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYxb...

ScotAccount explainer animation - User facing

YouTube video by Digital Scotland

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Heather Clark

The Whimsical Muse @whimsicalmuse.bsky.social · 3d

I cannot stress this strongly enough: Support your local theatre, café, bookstore, bakery, and library. We breathe life into these places when we support them. They need us, and more importantly, we need them.

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Heather Clark @heatherjc.bsky.social · 4d

There are few things better than a macaroni pie from Christie's for lunch.

Heather Clark @heatherjc.bsky.social · 4d

Beautiful!

BBC News - Rare wildflower bloom blankets Chile's Atacama desert - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Rare wildflower bloom blankets Chile's Atacama desert

One of the world's driest deserts is transformed into a sea of wildflowers after a rare bloom.

www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Heather Clark

Full Fact @fullfact.org · 6d

💷 Can asylum seekers claim benefits?
🏥 Do they get free NHS treatment?
📱 What about free iPhones?

Our new explainer answers some commonly asked questions about the support given to asylum seekers in the UK.

What support do asylum seekers get in the UK? – Full Fact

Full Fact is the UK’s independent fact checking charity

fullfact.org

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Reposted by Heather Clark

Full Fact @fullfact.org · 5d

Social media posts claiming UK banks have introduced restrictions on cash withdrawals for people aged over 65 are not true.

No such policy has been implemented or announced.

False claims about cash withdrawal limits for pensioners circulate online – Full Fact

Social media posts claiming UK banks have introduced restrictions on daily cash withdrawals for people over 65 are not true.

fullfact.org

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Heather Clark @heatherjc.bsky.social · 5d

We'll always have the gif.

Reposted by Heather Clark

Gemma Clark 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 @gemmaclark.bsky.social · 5d

It’s Banned Books Week. I think the Diary of Anne Frank is one of the most profound and important books of our time. Also one of the most banned books in America. Not because of the distressing content. She wrote a few paragraphs about crushes on girls and starting her periods.

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Reposted by Heather Clark

Full Fact @fullfact.org · 5d

Videos claiming that a new rule will ban pensioners from driving at night have been shared thousands of times online.

But this is completely false - and the videos also feature fake audio of the PM.

Fake nighttime pensioner driving ban rumour spreads online – Full Fact

A spokesperson from the Department for Transport confirmed this is not true.

fullfact.org

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Heather Clark @heatherjc.bsky.social · 6d

I'm looking for the new Holyrood boundary maps, specifically Edinburgh Central's. I've found a version, but not sure if it's the final one and AI is talking mince.

Reposted by Heather Clark

Daily Herald #FBPE #NAFO @dailyherald.bsky.social · 7d

#FullFact real-time Government Tracker updated today.
It now shows Labour delivered (or are on track to deliver) 57 of 83 Election pledges.
This is an extraordinary achievement in just 15 months in power.
The Tories managed just 3 (one partially) in 5yrs

fullfact.org/government-t...

Government Tracker – Full Fact

Full Fact is monitoring the government’s delivery on its promises

fullfact.org

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