Thousands of Londoners have indefinite leave to remain. They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city. Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.

At the risk of repeating myself: there’s no bargaining with these people. What they’re calling for now is mass expulsions of long-term residents deemed insufficiently economically productive. There’s no way these demands won’t get even more extreme by election time.

My husband has indefinite leave to remain. It took us 6 years and £16,000 in visa, NHS, and lawyer fees for him to get it. Now we risk him losing his right to live in Scotland. This is terrifying for us & thousands of families. www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Finally getting indefinite leave to remain last year after living and working in the UK for ten years, double-paying for the NHS with no access to public services, was a massive relief; the feeling I could finally settle. This uproots it all. Furious & exhausted. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Show announcement!!! Next month we're teaming up with Bad Betty Press for a stellar spoken word showcase! Expect fist-thumping, heart-wrenching, side-tickling poetry with live music! 16th Oct at @scotstorycentre.bsky.social. Tickets: scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:63...

Edinburgh protest, Thu 18 Sept 10 September 2025 Protest against Trump’s state visit in Edinburgh! Thursday 18 September, 6pm, The Meadows (near the Pavilion Cafe).

The 2025 Grand Slam Final is here! Where to watch: youtu.be/PI165nNAFJQ On 9th August 2025, it all came to a head at our Grand Slam Final with the Edinburgh International Book Festival! Kevin Mclean hosted the event and our Sacrificial Poet was our 2024 Champion EmmaClaire Brightlyn.

[email protected] has done a brilliant job compiling a handy list of writing open mics across Scotland! In a quickly-evolving scene, that's no easy feat. Read it (and consider supporting her work) here: thegoodeggproject.substack.com/p/scotland-o...

I have written and deleted a lot of posts but I keep thinking about how the brutal assassination of Minnesota State senator Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark, and their beloved dog Gilbert in June did not prompt this same level of calls for empathy, sympathy, and flags at half-mast.

Anthropic has agreed to pay affected authors a record $1.5 billion in a settlement, following its use of pirated books to train its AI. We'll share more details with members in the coming days.

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/T2thkTzap2Q From Henry Madd, a stunning poem about electricity, love, and second chances. Learn more about Henry Madd's work via www.henrymadd.com We're so grateful to the EIBF, Creative Scotland and the National Lottery for their supporting our 2024-25 Season.

We've just sent out our September newsletter recapping a thrilling summer and looking ahead to a bustling autumn! Read (& subscribe!) here: mailchi.mp/d177a2db66d7...

The Loud Poets Open Mic is back and at a NEW VENUE! Our home, our base, our favourite place! The Scottish Storytelling Centre Our first date back is September 29, featuring the amazing Arlo Bayne Free Entry, 7pm start Sign up to the open mic by filling out the form here: forms.gle/vqTAqqnt8rdZ...

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/3SNNTHf4hBw From our new 2025 Grand Slam Champion Aditya Narayan, a stunning meditation on truth, beauty, and the poet's role in confronting atrocity. Aditya: linktr.ee/adityanaraya... We're so grateful to the EIBF for partnering with us. www.edbookfest.co.uk

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/lZ4AjvQdYNc From Maria Ferguson, a hilarious and poignant piece about post-partum anxiety - and Harry Styles! This poem is featured in Maria Ferguson's new book 'Swell' (Penguin, 2025). Order it here: www.penguin.co.uk/books/459719...

Review: Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025 – Loud Poets Review by Katherine McIntyre Scottish Storytelling Centre ★★★★★ Sometimes, the smallest sections make the biggest noises. Tragic to see in some radical political sectors, encouraging in other respects. Spoken Word may be the smallest of the…

Our fourth #EdFringe review is another FIVE STAR!!! Thank you so much to @corrblimey.bsky.social for this wonderful, detailed write-up! Read it here: corrblimey.uk/2025/08/19/r...

"You may not be able to trust a poet when it comes to emotional truthfulness, but one thing is clear: you can trust these poets to show you an exceptionally good time..." Check out our ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review of 'Loud Poets' at #EdFringe ➡️ www.bingefringe.com/2025/08/18/r...

It's another FIVE STARS from @bingefringemag.bsky.social! Wonderful, thoughtful review; read it here: www.bingefringe.com/2025/08/18/r... We've been overwhelmed by the response to this new show. Just one performance left, and it's SOLD OUT! If you got a ticket, we'll see you tomorrow night!

Currently, Gazan students with accepted places to study in the UK cannot complete their visa applications because they can't access biometric facilities. Call on the Home Office to waive this requirement so they can come study safely: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/le...

Our second five star review of this year's Fringe run!!! Massive thanks to @lothianlife.bsky.social for coming along and checking out the show! Review: tinyurl.com/396xjnf5 Grab tickets for our last show on the 21st of August at 8:30pm at the @scotstorycentre.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/3hx7axr9

Next in our Meet The Poets series: Altar by Desree (@badbettypress), a powerful debut exploring sacrifice, identity & resilience through vivid, raw vignettes on Black British identity, queer joy, family & more. Read the full interview via this link: forwardartsfoundation.org/in-conversat...

New video! Watch here: youtu.be/G3mby5UlXsE In the final round of our swelteringly hot London slam, a sizzling, sensual poem from Bella Cox, expertly accompanied by Jack Hinks. Learn more about Bella Cox's work via www.bellacox.com

TONIGHT from 5pm 👀🍺🎤 We kick off today's Taproom Session at Bellfield Brewery with acclaimed spoken word poet Katie Ailes, whose work explores themes of identity, migration and compassion through a fiercely feminist lens. Live performances until 10pm Tix: www.citizenticket.com/events/hidde...

TONIGHT I'll be performing with @hiddendoorarts.bsky.social at Bellfield Brewery alongside a gorgeous lineup of poets and musicians. Escape city centre chaos and spend your evening with us! 5-10pm, tickets: www.citizenticket.com/events/hidde...

Just one chance left to catch the show! Our finale is Thursday, 21st Aug, 8:30-9:45pm at the @scotstorycentre.bsky.social, featuring the inimitable Kate Ireland! Limited tickets remaining, so if you're coming, book quickly! Tickets: scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:61...

Thank you so much to everyone who's come to our #EdFringe show and taken the time to leave a review! We've been overwhelmed by the response to this show and we're so grateful to everyone for your kind words. Read the reviews (& leave one if you've been!) here: www.edfringe.com/tickets/what...

me, the day after every show, adding signups to the @iamloudpro.bsky.social mailing list with a magnifying glass and a prayer www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUuq...

Today! Fierce Salvage comes to Edinburgh International Book Festival, where we’re miraculously going to cram three anthology contributors, two editors and one host onto a single stage! See you there? www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival...

Please share: We're looking for pitches from Scotland-based BPOC writers on Defining Our Space. Text /audio /video formats, incl BSL. Caregiver and data bursaries available. Deadline: 31 August.

anyway, professional review to come but you should go see Loud Poets @iamloudpro.bsky.social for their last Fringe session on the 21st, you'll laugh, cry and maybe also think poetry is quite good actually ❤️

I am one of the 14 authors who chose to leave the Polari Prize, and I find myself frustrated and saddened at the way this entire story has been represented. 1/

We are SOLD OUT this evening which means you only have one more chance to see the show! Thursday the 21st with special guest will be our last show of the run so make sure to get your ticket now so you don't miss out! scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:6197

Alice Oswald, a former Oxford Professor of Poetry who won the T. S. Eliot Prize in 2002 and the Griffin Poetry Prize in 2017, was arrested alongside 531 other demonstrators.

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/dT5son0a440 From Dean Tsang, a verbally dextrous imagination of anxiety through auctioneering. Learn more about Dean Tsang's work via www.instagram.com/Tsangman93 Thank you to Creative Scotland and the National Lottery for supporting the Loud Poets 2024-25 Season.

We are so thrilled that our first review this year gave us full marks! Give it a read: www.alledinburghtheatre.com/loud-poets-i... We have two shows left on the 14th, and 21st from 8:30pm at the @scotstorycentre.bsky.social. Tickets: scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:6197

Please sign/share if you can. The talented @outspokenpress.bsky.social poet Haia Mohammed is one of those blocked from taking up her scholarship at Goldsmiths University, London, because of this ruling

New video! Watch here: youtu.be/R1J8frFYGuo From Sara Lessmann, a conscientious rebuke to capitalist society. Learn more about Sara Lessmann's work via www.instagram.com/saradoessports Thank you to Creative Scotland and the National Lottery for supporting the Loud Poets 2024-25 Season.

Yesterday's Grand Slam Final was nothing short of phenomenal. Every poet left it all on that stage in a spectacular showcase of the power, poignacy, and range of spoken word poetry. Thank you so much to all of our slammers, and congratulations to our new 2025 Loud Poets Champion Aditya Narayan!

BUY MY BLOODY BOOK. Shifting between English and North-East Scots, BLOODSONGS, is an ode to matters of the blood: queer carnality; black rage; the crude power of myth and how history is felt in the body🩸 www.tapsalteerie.co.uk/product/bloo...

If you're wondering how much I love these folk, I stayed to watch the show last night and ended up with an Oasis fan's sweaty crotch in my face for a good deal of the tram journey back to my car AND IT WAS WORTH IT. Don't miss these beautiful souls doing what they do ❤️ #edfringe

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/2P8sLlewUy0 A sensual, passionate poem in Doric from the stellar Lucy Beth! Learn more about Lucy Beth's work via www.lucy-beth-performer.com Jack Hinks provided musical accompaniment for this poem. Learn more about Jack's work via www.jackhinks.co.uk

Edinburgh - this Book Fringe chat with Mahmoud & Matthew about Gaza and Palestinian culture is Tuesday 12th, 1pm, and it is FREE, join us! (or watch online! Because yes, it'll be livestreamed like all our Book Fringe gigs!) lighthousebookshop.com/events/stori...

Did you miss the debut of our brand new show last Friday? Well here is a sneak peak of some of the action courtesey of the amazing Gilad Zinman! We still have shows on the 8th, 14th, amd 21st. You can grab your ticket here: scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:6197

New Full Slam! Watch here: youtu.be/ENWdE2KKDrM On 12 July, we held our Inverness Heat at the Bike Shed! Thank you to Creative Scotland and the National Lottery for supporting the Loud Poets 2024-25 Season.

Announcement: Sadly Mae Diansangu has had to pull out of the Grand Slam Final. Jumping into the slam into her place is, runner-up from the Aberdeen Slam, Lucy Beth! The event has been sold out for weeks, a few tickets have been made available today, grab them fast! Tickets: tinyurl.com/4738j7ze

TONIGHT I'm going head-to-head against @benmacpherson1.bsky.social and Spencer Mason in the Poetry Pentathalon! 7pm at Banshee Labyrinth, part of PBH Free Fringe. Info: freefringe.org.uk/shows/the-lo...

What a way to kick off our #EdFringe run! Thanks to everyone who came out to @scotstorycentre.bsky.social & helped us debut this show in style, and to our amazing guest Spencer Mason! Just 3 shows left on 8, 14, 21 Aug. Tix: scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:61... #EdFringe25

We're kicking off Fringe 2025 with a new show full of collab poems, music, special guests, cool tech and brand new poems! TICKETS: tinyurl.com/bdwbchrv August 1, 8, 14, and 21 from 8:30-9:45pm at the @scotstorycentre.bsky.social (venue 30). Tickets £16/14 concession. We'd love to see you there!

IT'S FRIIIIIIIIINGE! Can't believe it's my 10th year performing at this wild festival. As always, it's shaping up to be a delightfully bonkers month - here's a thread of where you can find me: #EdFringe