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Kate Smart

@katesmart321.bsky.social
157 followers 238 following 91 posts

CEO @settled.bsky.social Views here my own.

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Reposted by Kate Smart
Europe Street News @europestreet.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The Home Office has been treating some grants of EU pre-settled status as having been granted in error because it has misunderstood when Italian citizenship by descent takes effect. freemovement.org.uk/home-office-... @freemovement.bsky.social
freemovement.org.uk
When the Home Office gets EU citizenship wrong: EUSS ‘granted in error’ policy and Italian nationals - Free Movement
The Home Office has been treating some grants of EU pre-settled status as having been granted in error because it has misunderstood when Italian citizenship
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Reposted by Kate Smart
Independent Monitoring Authority @ima-citrights.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The IMA has secured a new Practice Direction in Northern Ireland which came into force on 14 September 2026. Find out more here: orlo.uk/TRsTb
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Reposted by Kate Smart
NationCymru @nation.cymru · 20/09/2026
Women from minority ethnic and Gypsy and Traveller communities have been encouraged to consider standing for election and becoming more involved in local democracy
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Women from under-represented communities encouraged to enter politics
Nation.Cymru staff Women from minority ethnic and Gypsy and Traveller communities have been encouraged to consider standing for election and becoming more involved in local democracy. The initiative b...
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Reposted by Kate Smart
Nicola Kelly @nicolakellywrites.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
I have spent weeks shadowing the RNLI and I can tell you, they do it out of nothing more than compassion. Wrote about the heroes I've met over the years in this free-to-read post. nicolakelly.substack.com/p/the-rnli-a...
nicolakelly.substack.com
The RNLI aren't traitors; they're heroes
I have spent weeks shadowing lifeboat crews. Here's what they do and what it's like.
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Reposted by Kate Smart
Prof Katherine Schofield 🇬🇧🇦🇺🇪🇺 @katherineschof8.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
For the record, it's more than 13 million British citizens. That's nearly a quarter of the UK population.
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Kate Smart @katesmart321.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
Sunday Worship - 25th Anniversary of 9/11 - BBC Sounds
A service to mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11 from St Paul's and St Nicholas', New York.
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Kate Smart @katesmart321.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Growing up on the South Wales coast, RNLI were our local heroes and always will be. rnli.org/support-us/g...
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Kate Smart @katesmart321.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
RNLI website sells teatowels with puffins in winter sweaters shop.rnli.org/products/emm...
shop.rnli.org
Emma Ball Woolly Puffins Tea Towel
Whether you’re drying the dishes or wiping down surfaces, this cheerful tea towel with colourful puffin design will bring some seabird spirit into your kitchen.
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Reposted by Kate Smart
Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Me reading a poem from Everything Will Swallow You, with added Jim (who is a big fan of the oral storytelling tradition and can be relied upon to turn up from wherever he’s been hanging out any time I read aloud). blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
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Reposted by Kate Smart
Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
A suggested statement for Andy Burnham.
‘The British public decided in the 1930s that they would not tolerate black-shirted militias marching through their streets. They would cherish robust political argument; they would not accept thuggery and intimidation. When Oswald Mosley led his Blackshirts to Cable Street, local people turned them back. A new law – introduced by a Liberal, backed by Labour and carried by a Conservative majority – banned private militias, political uniforms and ‘the use or display of physical force in promoting any political object’. The British people are as determined today as in the 1930s that they will not accept the methods of Mussolini and the Munich Beer Hall. This government will uphold the law and defend the traditions of British democracy’.
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Plaid Cymru @plaidcymru.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Wales has some of the best renewable energy resources in Europe, but profits flow outwards whilst we struggle with rising costs 📈 Plaid Cymru is proposing a new clean energy company - owned by Wales, to benefit Wales. Creating jobs, growth and lowering bills 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿💪
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Reposted by Kate Smart
Anna H @athenepallas.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Channeling my anger into something constructive, I've just donated to the RNLI and would encourage you to do likewise if you can. Link here: rnli.org/support-us/g...
rnli.org
Donate to the RNLI and help save lives at sea
Your donations really make a difference. We depend on your generosity to educate people to stay safe and prevent tragedies on and offshore. Donate here.
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Reposted by Kate Smart
Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
There is a season turn, turn, turn. The Long-tailed Tits always leave here when their breeding season has finished & return in the autumn to begin their hedgerow foraging. I'm not sure of the total flock size today - there were always birds away from the water. We're gonna need a bigger lid. 🦉🌿
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Helen Kennedy @helenkennedy.com · 01/09/2026
When I was coming up, the Republicans and moral majority types were constantly wringing their hands about teen pregnancy.
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Taint @taint9.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Most definitely 💔
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Kate Smart @katesmart321.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Excellent article. Every time there is a proposal like this, anxiety increases for EU citizens & our charity @settled.bsky.social is inundated with people asking 'what does this mean for me?'
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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Lee Anderson has come out as an ardent Dad's Army fan. Spent yesterday posing with a statue of Arthur Lowe, aka Captain Mainwaring himself. Fun fact. Lowe was very pro EEC. Championed the "Yes" campaign during 1975 referendum. Appeared on posters encouraging voters to stay in Europe.
Lee anderson next to Arthur lowe statue
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Reposted by Kate Smart
NationCymru @nation.cymru · 13/08/2026
A passion sparked during the pandemic has led to the opening of a unique Scandinavian bakery unit in Newport Market, with owner Hayley Broomfield bringing the comforting flavours and traditions of Norway to south Wales
nation.cymru
Norwegian-inspired bakery brings a taste of Scandinavia to Wales
Nation Cymru staff A passion sparked during the pandemic has led to the opening of a unique Scandinavian bakery unit in Newport Market, with owner Hayley Broomfield bringing the comforting flavours an...
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Kate Smart @katesmart321.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Our charity @settled.bsky.social helps the flipside: Long-resident elderly EU citizens needing late applications to remain in UK. It's unacceptably harsh for authorities to say: "stating that the person was unaware of the requirement to apply is not, in itself, considered a sufficient explanation"
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Kate Smart @katesmart321.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
EU citizens didn’t consider themselves migrants until Brexit ended freedom of movement. Proposal to evict foreign nationals is horrific. Exempting EU citizens doesn't make it less so. EU citizens stand in solidarity with settled migrants facing this proposal. www.insidehousing.co.uk/home/first-f...
insidehousing.co.uk
First Farage and now Badenoch. What would plans to ban ‘all foreign nationals’ from social housing mean for the sector?
Nigel Farage has said all “foreign nationals” in social housing would have three months to leave under Reform. Now Kemi Badenoch is proposing to end the provision of social housing for foreign nationa...
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Reposted by Kate Smart
Nettlecake @nettlecake.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Brilliant letter from Stuart Thompson to Jeremy Clarkson about his comments that benefit claimants should write weekly thank you letters to tax payers detailing how they spend their benefits each week.
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Kate Smart @katesmart321.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Excited for #WOMAD www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppOV... www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lW5...
youtube.com
Catorce al Hilvana T2 | La Mixanteña de Santa Cecilia
YouTube video by Canal Catorce
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Reposted by Kate Smart
Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
How should the EU transition those fleeing the invasion of Ukraine into a more secure legal status? Analysis by Kees Groenendijk and Elspeth Guild - eulawanalysis.blogspot.com/2026/07/flig...
eulawanalysis.blogspot.com
Flight from Ukraine: A Proposal for Transition out of the EU Temporary Protection Scheme
Professor Kees Groenendijk , Radboud University, Emeritus and Professor Elspeth Guild , University of Liverpool   Photo credit : D...
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Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Where are we now on earned settlement? - With Starmer resigning and Burnham preparing to take the reins, a change of leadership is a chance to change direction. - 200,000 ppl responded to the public consultation on earned settlement, and 500 travelled to Parliament in March to lobby their MPs.
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Kate Smart @katesmart321.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Prince Harry, unfiltered by nasty commentators, just seems so nice www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
Joe Marler Will See You Now - Prince Harry Like You've Never Seen Him Before - BBC Sounds
Prince Harry enters Joe's doctor's office and shows a completely different side to him.
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Kate Smart @katesmart321.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlGm...
youtube.com
Mid Wales Red Squirrel Project Film
YouTube video by The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales
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Reposted by Kate Smart
Joshua Rozenberg @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
The Charity Commission committed a contempt of parliament when it took legal action in an attempt to stop the parliamentary ombudsman laying reports before the House of Commons, its committee of privileges said in a report published yesterday. rozenberg.substack.com/p/charity-co...
rozenberg.substack.com
Charity Commission in contempt
Commission apologises to MPs after adverse finding
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Reposted by Kate Smart
christhebarker @christhebarker.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
I made this because as far as I can see nobody else has?
Skegness is so bracing but I've made him into Count Binface and it says Clacton is SO Binface
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Kate Smart @katesmart321.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
What an extraordinary person - such a blessing www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
theguardian.com
‘No matter how bad, it is always fixable’: how Bea Elton cleans up the houses – and lives – of desperate people
She has built an unlikely career in mould, maggots and excrement, cleaning for those who most need it. It can take months building trust with a stranger, before she and her boyfriend go in and transfo...
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Kate Smart @katesmart321.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Britain’s cars and SUVs are growing bigger – but there is a way to stop this deadly ‘carspreading’ | Christian Wolmar
Larger vehicles crowd our roads and are far more dangerous to pedestrians. Let’s curb them before they do even more damage, says says transport commentator Christian Wolmar
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Reposted by Kate Smart
NationCymru @nation.cymru · 11/07/2026
More than 1,800 homes are standing empty in one Welsh county despite thousands of households waiting for somewhere to live
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Thousands waiting for homes in Welsh county as hundreds of houses remain empty
Richard Youle, Local Democracy Reporter More than 1,800 homes are standing empty in one Welsh county despite thousands of households waiting for somewhere to live. In Carmarthenshire 3,561 households ...
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Kate Smart @katesmart321.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV5E...
youtube.com
Count Binface meets Alastair Campbell
YouTube video by Count Binface
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Reposted by Kate Smart
Savantfoxt @savantfoxt.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Farage has the support of Trump, crypto millionaires, offshore tax evaders, a TV channel and 80% of the UK's newspaper circulation which has lurched to the far-right in recent years. What has Count Binface got? Nothing but a costume, humour and a sense of fairness, and yet it could be a close race.
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Reposted by Kate Smart
Count Binface @countbinface.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
On my way, Clacton.
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Bylines Cymru @bylines.cymru · 30/06/2026
EU-backed conservation projects in Wales are still restoring nature and sustaining cooperation across borders | John Ratcliffe
bylines.cymru
Despite Brexit, LIFE goes on
EU-backed conservation projects in Wales are still restoring nature and sustaining cooperation across borders
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Kate Smart @katesmart321.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
"Wales produces more energy than it consumes. Its people should not be going to bed cold."
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Reposted by Kate Smart
Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
If vehicles keep swelling, cities “could lose between 8.5-14% of their on-street parking capacity by 2040. London and Berlin alone are each projected to shed around 100K spaces…in dense cities, it’s a major issue worldwide.” #Carspreading pushes out more than parking spots. Tax cars by the inch.
carscoops.com
Researchers Want To Tax Cars By The Inch To Stop Carspreading | Carscoops
Researchers argue that stopping vehicle growth could save lives, space, and billions in energy costs
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the3million @the3million.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Our Acting CEO, Monique Hawkins, will be one of the panelists at this fantastic event, talking about the issues facing Dutch citizens in the UK on Thursday July 6th. To find out more and register click the link below 👇 www.dutchcentre.com/events/dutch...
dutchcentre.com
Dutch in the UK: Rights, Realities & What Comes Next | Dutch Centre
Living in the UK as a Dutch national comes with unique challenges. Some small, some unexpectedly complex. This evening brings clarity, practical guidance, and a look at what the future may hold.
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Helen Day @lbflyawayhome.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
50 years after posing as ‘Peter and Jane’ for Ladybird artist Martin Aitchison, these two recreated the scene for me. Her smile!
A scene from the second level of the keywords reading scheme, 1964, showing Peter dropping a bucket of water on Jane‘s back as they play by a riverJean and Andrew, aged around 70, re-create the scene, with ‘Peter’ threatening to pour his cup of tea over his sister‘s head
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NationCymru @nation.cymru · 26/06/2026
A new bara brith ice cream has been launched with a tasty twist on Wales’s much-loved traditional teatime favourite wp.me/p8Mk4U-1nQj
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Jacqui Broadhead @jacquibroadhead.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
New Lords report on Integration supports the commitment by MHCLG to develop an integration strategy, but notes a lack of urgency to do so. This is a consistent theme in integration policy making, seemingly forever destined for the back of the queue. publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5902/ld...
publications.parliament.uk
House of Lords - Settlement, Citizenship and Integration - Justice and Home Affairs Committee
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Kate Smart @katesmart321.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
So much happening today to mark the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum. @settled.bsky.social Daniela Vicini is part of this thoughtful report by La Repubblica (its in a mix of Italian and English) www.repubblica.it/esteri/2026/...
repubblica.it
Brexit, dieci anni dopo il voto che ha cambiato la storia: "E' stata una buona idea?" - Il reportage
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UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
✨The stage is set for our major conference 'Ten years on: the future of the UK-EU relationship with @flint-global.com ✨ 💻 Join us online as we mark 10 years since the EU referendum ⏰ Starting at 9am Tune in here 👉 www.youtube.com/live/HTjx89N...
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Matthias Eberl @eberlmat.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
And my personal favourite.
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Europe Street News @europestreet.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Following Starmer's resignation, the EU-UK summit planned on 22 July will be postponed. President of the European Council António Costa said he hoped that Starmer’s successor as prime minister would give “continuity” to the plans to reset the EU-UK relationship. www.politico.eu/article/eu-u...
politico.eu
EU-UK summit postponed as Keir Starmer resigns
The meeting was meant to take place on July 22 to conclude talks on an agrifood agreement, an emissions trading deal, and a youth mobility scheme.
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NationCymru @nation.cymru · 20/06/2026
A colourful makeover for one of Wales' best-known historic attractions is set to come to an end after an informal request to keep the new look was turned down
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Landmark windmill forced to undo beloved paint job
Nation.Cymru Staff A colourful makeover for one of Wales’ best-known historic landmarks is set to come to an end after an informal request to keep the new look was turned down. Richard Holt, the pastr...
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Barack Obama @barackobama.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Michelle and I had fun surprising the first group of visitors to the Obama Presidential Center on Juneteenth. Come check it out!
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Janh1 @janh1.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Well they did warn us....
Yellow road sign saying "Caution
Giant Approaching" in Welsh and English.
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Kate Smart @katesmart321.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
www.reuters.com/world/spain-...
reuters.com
In Spain, elderly UK expats struggle for care post-Brexit
Daniel Northover left his home in Liverpool this month, which marks the 10th anniversary of Britain's Brexit ​referendum, to move in with his 80-year-old mother in Turre, a town of 4,500 people in And...
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