… paying tribute to the capital’s big screen history
To celebrate the official opening of the Everyman Edinburgh at St James Quarter, four giant picture frames have popped up around the city centre – each in a location that featured on the big screen in famous movies including, Sunshine on Leith, Avengers: Infinity War, One Day and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.
The Everyman Edinburgh frames can be found on the Royal Mile, Calton Hill, The Shore and George IV Bridge, for passers-by to capture their own selfies and redeem two free tickets to Everyman Cinema, #nofilter needed.
To enter, step into the frame, share your pic and tag @StJamesQuarter and @EverymanCinema on Instagram or Facebook along with the hashtag #FramedbyEveryman.
The first 500 people to show their posted content to the box office at Everyman Cinema on level 5 at St James Quarter will receive two free tickets to a movie screening of their choice.
The frames will be in place until Saturday 2nd April.
Everyman is redefining cinema. Bringing an innovative lifestyle approach to their venues, where you swap your soft drink for a nice glass of red wine and slice of freshly made pizza served to your seat.
There are currently 36 Everyman cinemas across the UK. Created to deliver a warm and friendly atmosphere, with an excellent food and drink selection and fantastic customer service.
About St James Quarter
St James Quarter is Edinburgh’s largest development in a generation.
A new 1.7 million sq ft masterplan in urban placemaking. Comprising 850,000 sq ft of retail space, St James Quarter will complement the luxury shopping offer of neighbouring retailer Harvey Nichols, which anchors the premium shopping street of Multrees Walk.
Completing the city centre’s retail circuit, it will also be home to John Lewis, Everyman Cinema, an enticing mix of new restaurants, cafés and bars; Scotland’s first W Hotel – W Edinburgh – which includes 244 stylish guestrooms, a destination bar, outdoor terrace, signature restaurant, chef’s table, and an AWAY® Spa; luxury aparthotel brand Roomzzz, comprising 75-rooms; New Eidyn residences that will provide 152 premium apartments with exceptional amenities, by developers Native Land, nine new public squares and 1,600 car parking spaces.
Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is helping green spaces and indoor areas across Edinburgh and the Lothians blossom this spring with the return of its much-loved Helping Your Community Grow initiative, with an enhanced sustainability focus for 2022.
Launched in 2010, the initiative encourages people across Edinburgh to take care of their green spaces. For 2022, Dobbies is seeking local groups striving to help their community space flourish in a sustainable way.
Both the Dobbies and little dobbies stores are offering the opportunity to get involved. Whether it’s a community allotment project to get kids eating more fruit and vegetables, a wildflower garden with pollinating flowers for bees and insects or a calming outdoor space for boosting mental health, Dobbies wants to help communities transform their space.
Helping Your Community Grow is calling for local groups from all over the Lothians to get in touch through an application form via Dobbies’ website, showcasing their community space that needs some attention and what they plan to do if they receive Dobbies’ support.
Successful groups will be given advice, products and time to help transform their outdoor spaces using Dobbies’ sustainable products where possible. This could include peat-free compost, recycled and recyclable pots, UK-sourced plants and safer pest control products.
The team at the little dobbies store in Stockbridge are looking to transform an indoor space with air purifying houseplants that will breathe life into a community space.
Graeme Jenkins, CEO of Dobbies said: “Community is at the forefront of what we do at Dobbies and we’re proud to be relaunching our Helping Your Community Grow initiative in our Edinburgh stores this spring.
“We had a brilliant variety of applications last year and it was great to see local community spaces, school vegetable patches and memorial gardens benefit from our support.
“We are particularly keen to hear from projects in Edinburgh who have a sustainable focus to their work and our teams will share their knowledge of sustainable products and practices, to ensure a truly eco-friendly approach.”
In addition to the regional winners, one national winner will receive further support.
Claire Blowers from Noadswood PSA, the national winner from 2021 said: “We really benefitted from entering Helping Your Community Grow in 2021. We had invaluable support and advice from the team, along with products that enabled us to transform our space. I would highly recommend community projects submitting entries for this year’s initiative.”
Getting involved couldn’t be easier. Eligible projects must be located within 20 miles of Dobbies’ Edinburgh store or 5 miles of the little dobbies’ Stockbridge store.
Police are appealing for information after a 10-year-old boy was approached in the street and robbed next to a park in the Trinity area at around 5.30pm last night (Thursday, 31 March).
The boy was walking in Zetland Place near its junction with Stirling Road at Lomond Park, along with two friends when he was approached by an older male youth.
The youth was walking from the direction of Trinity Road with two others and asked the boy to hand over his bag and when he refused he was threatened. As a result he handed over some coins.
The suspect then ran off towards Trinity Road. He is described as aged 16 to 18-years old, around 5ft 9ins, of medium build with red hair. He was wearing a black puffer-style jacket with the hood up, black tracksuit bottoms, black shoes and was carrying a black bag.
Detective Constable Rich Paton said: “This was a nasty and horrible experience for a school child who was out with friends on the way to a park. He has been left extremely upset by the incident.
“I am asking anyone who saw what happened to get in touch, particularly if you have ring-bell or dash-cam footage. In addition if you know the suspect or anything else that could help with our enquiries then please contact us.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2620 of Thursday, 31 March, or contact the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Mothers and babies seeking asylum in Scotland are still being housed in cramped and unsafe conditions that pose a significant risk of violating their human rights, according to a new report.
The office of the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland has found that despite assurances from provider the Mears Group in November 2021, many women and their children have not been moved to more suitable housing.
They are currently placed in bedsit accommodation in Glasgow’s southside, by the Mears Group with full approval of Glasgow City Council and the Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership (HSPC).
Mothers have told the Commissioner and his staff that there is no space to feed their babies, limited washing and cooking facilities, and little support. Cookers and heaters in the rooms are close to babies’ cots and it’s not safe to let them play, crawl, or stand.
These conditions pose a significant risk of violating the children’s human rights, including the right to survival, safety and development; an adequate standard of living; the best possible health; family life, and the right to play.
In April 2021, charities and grassroots organisations raised human rights concerns about the unit, formerly used to house single men. In June, the Commissioner’s team visited the accommodation and met mums and their children.
Following discussions with the Mears Group, COSLA, and the HSPC, the Commissioner called for the mothers and babies to be rehoused and for Glasgow City Council, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and the HSCP to withdraw their support for the Home Office and Mears Group’s placements in the unit.
A mum who lives in the unit with her child said: “The worst part is knowing my child isn’t safe. I’m in a new country, a new mum, and I don’t have support. I worry about my child far more than I worry about myself.”
Nick Hobbs, Head of Advice and Investigations at the Children and Young People’s Commissioner, said: “I was shocked when the mothers in the unit showed me the conditions they are living in with their babies. This accommodation is totally unsuitable for mothers and babies, particularly those who have the added vulnerability of seeking asylum.
“Asylum accommodation is a reserved matter to Westminster, but use of this unit has been approved by Glasgow City Council and the health board. Scottish public bodies have human rights obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and must ensure that all their decisions are consistent with the UNCRC. They could have withheld or withdrawn support and advocated for more suitable accommodation.
“We must make sure all refugee and asylum-seeking children are treated with dignity and respect for their human rights. No child should live in conditions that violate their human rights and the Scottish Government should legislate urgently to create human rights-based statutory minimum housing standards for children.”
The Mears Group advised the Commissioner’s office in November that the unit would be repurposed for single people only – but they have failed to move all the babies and their mothers to more appropriate accommodation.
Mr Hobbs added: “We want the Mears Group to urgently relocate all the mothers and babies in this unit to suitable accommodation in Glasgow. They must also be given the support they need for that relocation and helped to integrate into their new communities.
“We also want the council, the health board, and HSPC to make a commitment to not approve asylum accommodation for children that violates their human rights.”
Yvonne Blake, co-founder of Migrants Organising for Rights and Empowerment (MORE), said: “All mothers and babies should live in conditions that are conducive to the nurturing of their babies and the mothers’ health and well-being.
“The unit is wholly unsuitable to have mothers and babies living there, especially during the first year of their lives which is crucial for development. They need to be housed where the mums have support and the children can play.
“The authorities, including Glasgow City Council, must act on the recommendations in this report and act on the numerous calls by the mothers and supporting groups to rehouse the mothers and babies into suitable accommodation in the community where they have support.”
Graham O’Neill, Policy Manager at Scottish Refugee Council, said: “We echo the Commissioner’s call for the women and children to be moved urgently to proper accommodation that is safe and fit for their needs as new mothers, babies and toddlers.
“Too often, people’s needs are forgotten or neglected within the asylum system. Unfortunately, we are seeing inappropriate and substandard housing being used more often, including long-term stays in what should be very temporary accommodation and an increase in institutional settings such as hotel rooms and army barracks. This is completely inappropriate for people who have fled violent conflicts and are living with the ongoing effects of trauma.”
Amanda Purdie, Head of Strategy and Public Affairs at Amma Birth Companions, said: “It is crucial that every parent and child in Scotland is supported to experience positive mental health and wellbeing throughout the perinatal period.
“We remain deeply concerned that the physical, social, and mental wellbeing of both mothers and babies in this unit is suffering as a direct consequence of their living environment.
“We hope the findings of this report will incite swift action from Mears and all relevant authorities – not only to relocate current residents to suitable accommodation, but also to ensure that no child in Scotland is again placed within an environment that violates their human rights.”
Following the report, the Commissioner recommends that:
All mother and babies in the unit are urgently relocated
COSLA and partners must amend procedures to ensure human rights duties of statutory agencies
The Scottish Government should legislate to create human rights-based statutory minimum housing standards for children
Glasgow City Council, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and the HSCP must commit to not approving any asylum accommodation for children that violates their human rights
Elderly residents at Renaissance Care have been enjoying their April Fools’ Day as they pranked the nation with their ‘Scotland’s Strongest Pensioner Championships’.
The care home residents had a blast taking photos during fake training exercises inspired by the World’s Strongest Man competition, as they were pictured working towards personal goals and bests in the famous Vehicle Pull, the Hercules Hold and a variety of deadlifting challenges.
The residents have been taking part in Summer and Winter Olympics initiatives across the group, which improved the health and wellbeing of residents and saw them get competitive across the sports.
For April Fools’ Day, they felt the perfect joke would be to take that one step further to find Scotland’s Strongest Pensioner.
Care home resident Robert (81) took part in the joke and was photographed at Renaissance Care’s Whitecraigs Care Home. ‘Rob Roy’ said: “We had a great laugh lifting the fake weights and pretending to pull the mini-van along.
“We have all been really competitive and have been joking about who has been the best at the Olympic games and who is the strongest so wanted to have a little fun for April Fools’ Day!”
Around 2.5 million UK workers will receive a pay rise, as the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage increase today
£1,000 a year pay rise for full time workers following the largest ever uplift to the National Living Wage for workers aged 23 and over.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng: “While no government can control the global factors pushing up the cost of everyday essentials, we will absolutely act wherever we can to mitigate rising costs.”
Millions of UK workers will receive a pay rise from today (Friday 1 April), as the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rise comes into effect.
The uplift in wages, which will benefit around 2.5 million people, includes the largest ever increase to the National Living Wage. It will put £1,000 a year more into full-time workers’ pay packets, helping to ease cost of living pressures.
With today’s rise, the yearly earnings of a full-time worker on the National Living Wage will have increased by over £5,000 since the introduction of the National Living Wage by the Government in April 2016.
As a direct result of government action, the current number of employees on the payroll is over 600,000 more than pre-pandemic levels – and unemployment has fallen to 3.9%.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:“We have never been more determined to make work pay, and by providing the biggest cash increase ever to the National Living Wage from today, we are giving a boost to millions of UK workers.
“While no government can control the global factors pushing up the cost of everyday essentials, we will absolutely act wherever we can to mitigate rising costs.
“With more employees on the payroll than ever before, this government will continue to stand up for workers.”
Today’s uplift will particularly benefit workers in sectors such as retail, hospitality and cleaning and maintenance. Apprentices will also get a large 11.9% increase to their minimum hourly pay, with 21-22 year-olds seeing an immediate 9.8% rise. The National Living Wage, the minimum wage for over 23-year-olds, will now move up to £9.50 an hour.
Last year, the age threshold for the rate moved from age 25 to 23, meaning that more young workers are now eligible for a higher wage.
The new National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates are both statutory minimums, and businesses are encouraged to pay workers above these whenever they can afford to do so.
Recent studies show significant benefits for employers who pay their staff higher wages, which includes higher job retention and staff productivity.
In full, the increases from 1 April 2022 are:
With the rates going up from today, workers across the UK are being urged to check they are being paid properly. This can be done by visiting the Check Your Pay site, which also offers advice on what to do if you are being underpaid.
The Government also today announced it will be launching a communications campaign in the coming weeks to help increase understanding among minimum and living wage earners around the wages they are legally entitled to, as well as the steps they can take if they are concerned they are being underpaid.
Record increases in global gas prices this year saw the Energy Price Cap, set by the independent regulator Ofgem, rise by 54%. While a worrying time for households, the price cap continues to insulate millions of households from high wholesale gas prices.
Today’s uplift comes alongside further government measures worth over £9.1 billion to support people across the UK with rising energy bills, with the majority of households receiving £350 in total. This will help over 28 million households affected by the large spike in global energy prices, protecting them from half of the average forecast bill rise.
The package includes a £150 rebate in Council Tax bills for all households in Bands A-D in England – 80% of households – with payments being made from today (1 April 2022), and a £200 reduction in energy bills for all households from October 2022 through the Energy Bills Support Scheme.
This contributes to wider government support to ease cost of living pressures worth £22billion next financial year as well as government plans to drive £6 billion into making homes more energy efficient over the next ten years, which is vital to keeping household energy costs down.
The government is also announcing further help for low-income households to meet energy costs with the publication of consultation responses on the extension of the Warm Homes Discount and Energy Company Obligation schemes.
The Warm Homes Discount scheme is being extended until 2025/26 and expanded to reduce the energy costs of around £3 million low-income and vulnerable households every year, while the Energy Company Obligation scheme will see £1 billion annual funding until 2026 to help upgrade energy efficiency measures in 450,000 homes, cutting an average of £300 off energy bills.
Going even further to ease the cost of living, last week as part of the Spring Statement, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a new Tax Plan, including cuts to fuel duty by 5p per litre, and that energy efficiency measures can be installed in homes VAT free for the first time ever.
The Chancellor Rishi Sunak said:“This historic increase will mean a pay rise for millions of hard-working Brits – with an average full-time worker pocketing an extra £1,000 a year.
“We’re doing everything we can to ensure people keep more of what they earn in these challenging times, with a new Tax Plan that delivers tax cuts for nearly 30 million people as well as £22billion to help with the cost of living.”
Bryan Sanderson Chair of the Low Pay Commission (LPC) said:“The Business Secretary’s strong support is especially welcome at this difficult time. Workers on the minimum wage; care for our elderly and sick, harvest and deliver our food, and do a multitude of other tasks which help us all.
“Many public sector workers including for example teaching assistants will also shortly be included. They all deserve to be properly remunerated and respected as key members of our society.
“The Low Pay Commission met with around a hundred representative bodies last year before making its recommendations. We are frequently their main sometimes even their only advocates. With government support we will continue to try to ensure that they do not suffer from the neglect which was so often characteristic of the past.”
Community-led groups looking to play major role promoting green travel by rail, as Scotland’s train services move into public ownership
Members of a grassroots ‘community rail’ movement are looking forward to playing a growing role helping Scottish communities to thrive, and working towards a greener transport future, as ScotRail services transfer into the public sector on 1st April.
As Scotland’s railways move into this new era, the country’s network of community rail partnerships and groups are set to play a key role in its future, engaging communities with local railways and stations, promoting social inclusion, and enabling and encouraging more people to get around sustainably by train.
This year, following on from COP26, they are especially working to get across the huge carbon savings of travelling by train instead of driving or flying, and engaging communities and rail partners to make it easier to use the train combined with walking, cycling, buses, and community transport.
To coincide with the changes in the rail industry, Scotland’s community rail partnerships are working with their umbrella body Community Rail Network to showcase the vital, sometimes life-changing work taking place in community rail, from the Borders to the Highlands, and get across the importance of train travel to tackling the climate emergency – including through a new inspiring promotional video.
This follows on from Community Rail Network’s ‘Community Rail in Scotland’ report, published in 2021, which highlight the efforts of 1,200 volunteers who give over 55,000 hours annually, valued at £4.7 million per year, to promote sustainable and healthy travel, wellbeing, economic development, and tourism in their local area.
Making up Scotland’s eight community rail partnerships and 260 station groups, they carry out projects to bring improvements to rail services and stations, such as improved accessibility and community facilities, while helping communities to have a voice in rail and transport development, working with train operators, local authorities, and other partners.
They also build local confidence and awareness around train travel, breaking down barriers and creating a sense of public ownership towards the railways.
Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, said: “As Scotland’s railways enter a new era, and with the need to encourage greener ways to get around more pressing than ever, Scotland’s community rail movement is redoubling its efforts.
“We see the shift of ScotRail trains into public ownership as a great opportunity to further connect local communities with their railways and get more people travelling by train.
“Community rail has an inspiring track record of doing just that: promoting travel confidence and increasing access to opportunity, while bringing people together, giving communities a voice, and putting railways and stations at the heart of community life.
“Over the coming years, we’ll be working closely with Scotland’s community rail partnerships, volunteers, and railway partners with a strong focus on supporting and enabling greener journeys by train. We’re looking forward to community rail playing a vital role in the great shift we need, towards more sustainable, inclusive, community-friendly transport.”
Transport is the largest contributor to climate emissions in Scotland, and in response to the climate emergency, Transport Scotland has committed to reducing emissions by 75% by 2030, and to a legally binding target of net-zero by 2045.
Rail accounted for just 1% of UK domestic transport emissions in 2019, despite representing 10% of the total distance travelled, and for a 30-mile journey, travelling by train instead of by car can reduce emissions by up to 86%.
The partnerships are supported by Community Rail Network and the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, funded by Transport Scotland and administered by Paths for All. This support helps to develop projects and deliver work promoting sustainable journeys with rail at their heart, aligning with Scotland’s vision of a sustainable, inclusive, safe, and accessible transport system.
Graham McQueen, Smarter Choices, Smarter Places manager, said: “Changing the way we make everyday journeys is good for our health, it’s good for our communities, and it helps protect our environment.
“We need to drive less and walk, cycle, and use public transport more. We are delighted to support Community Rail Network in Scotland as community support and engagement is key to the integration of train stations into communities, making them more pleasant and accessible, and ultimately encouraging more people to use sustainable transport options for longer journeys.
“The Paths for All Smarter Choices Smarter Places programme supports hundreds of creative projects throughout Scotland, all looking to encourage behaviour change towards a happier, healthier, and greener way of life.
“The way we travel is central to this and that’s why we’re delighted to support this promotional video that shows how rail travel can play a key role in changing the way we travel and how travelling by train can be more inclusive and sustainable.”
Elderly care home residents have been in training for weeks and have been flexing their muscles as they get ready to go head-to-head for the title of Scotland’s Strongest Pensioner.
Building on the success of its recent Summer and Winter Olympics initiatives, which improved the health and wellbeing of residents, the leading care group Renaissance Care has launched the championships to determine the strongest senior citizens across the country.
With training exercises inspired by the World’s Strongest Man competition, residents will be working towards personal goals and bests in the famous Vehicle Pull, the Hercules Hold and a variety of deadlifting challenges.
Renaissance Care pensioners are now in preparation to take each other on in separate men and women’s categories, hoping to be crowned Scotland’s first ‘Strongest Pensioner’.
Care home staff have invested in equipment to help the residents train including weight belts and dumbbells, and have even reserved the home’s mini-vans for practicing the Vehicle Pull – one of the competition’s most challenging events.
Taking part in the competition isApril (99). She said:“Those who say they aren’t in this for the glory are lying. I have set my sights on being Scotland’s Strongest Pensioner in the women’s category and won’t stop until I get there, no matter what.
“My mini-van pull technique has been improving every day and I’ll continue to work on that as well as my stamina in the Hercules Hold – it’s all about the gains. Maybe one day, I’ll be able to pull it along with all of my grandkids inside.”
Care home resident, Joe King (96), said: “This competition is more about mental power and technique than it is brute strength. Muscles I have, but pushing through mentally when the pressure is on mid-competition? That’s when we’re really tested.
“I’m disappointed there’s no Fridge Lift this year as I’ve been working on my tactics for a while, but I’m hoping that will be introduced for next year’s event.”
Care home manager, Vera Funnai, said: “We have a great schedule of activities to improve the health and fitness of our residents throughout the year, and this is the ultimate challenge.
“I have complete faith in our ‘Scotland’s Strongest Pensioner’ participants, and I look forward to crowning the winner later this month.”
Between 2016 and 2020, one tenth of people in Scotland were in persistent poverty after housing costs. Persistent poverty identifies individuals who live in relative poverty (have a household income of less than 60% of the UK median) for at least three years out of the last four.
Persistent poverty rates were similar for children and working-age adults (10%) and pensioners (11%). Over time, persistent poverty rates have been fairly stable for all age groups, except for children in the most recent period.
Persistent child poverty saw a relatively large drop compared to previous estimates, from 15% to 10%. This observed fall should be interpreted with caution as persistent poverty estimates do tend to fluctuate. So not all of this decrease is likely to reflect real change and will be due to a range of factors.
Some low income households will have benefitted from increased financial support during the pandemic. At the same time, reduced earnings and job losses may have resulted in a lower median income, leading to a fall in the poverty line, and a drop in the relative poverty rate.
Not everyone in poverty is in persistent poverty: More than a third of people in poverty move out of poverty each year. At the same time, a similar number of people who were not in poverty before enter poverty each year.
The persistent poverty report usually goes alongside the main poverty statistics publication Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland. This will not be published this year due to the disrupted data collection during COVID-19 restrictions.
An analytical report will be published instead to explain the limitations of the most recent data. Users should note that the latest reliable figures are those previously published.
These figures are produced in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
Reacting to the publication of new statistics on poverty in Scotland and across the UK, Poverty Alliance director Peter Kelly said: “In a compassionate society like ours, we believe in looking after one another and protecting each other from harm. But these new figures show that we are failing to put that compassion into practice.
“When the Chancellor raised Universal Credit by £20 a week, he lifted 400,000 children across the UK out of poverty. But when he cut that £20 lifeline, many of those children and their families will have been pulled back into poverty’s grip. It was an unjust and scandalous decision then, and its impact on people’s lives is becoming even clearer now.
“The Scottish Government’s actions to increase the Scottish Child Payment show what can be done when we make our compassion concrete and is a good example to build on. We need to make sure that the money gets to the people who need it, as soon as possible, and that wider action on transport, childcare and housing all ramp up in ambition to help us meet our child poverty targets.”
The full publications are available here:
Persistent Poverty in Scotland presents estimates of the proportion of people in Scotland who live in persistent poverty. The data come from the Understanding Society Survey, and the latest statistics cover the period from 2016 to 2020.
These poverty statistics are used by the Scottish Government and other organisations to monitor progress in tackling poverty and child poverty, and to analyse what drives poverty and what works for tackling poverty and income inequality.
Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland – analytical report provides information on the limitations of the most recent data for 2020/21 from the Department for Work and Pensions Family Resources Survey Households Below Average Income dataset.
This report and dataset are not official statistics. Users should note that the latest reliable figures are those previously published for 2019/20.
The latest estimates are unreliable as they are based on data collected during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic and associated restrictions. These affected the data collection and as a result, it was not possible to obtain a representative sample for Scotland. UK income and poverty figures are published on the same day by DWP.
Key poverty measures:
Relative poverty: A household is in relative poverty if its income is below 60 percent of the middle household income in the UK (the poverty threshold). Relative poverty is a measure of whether the income of the poorest households are keeping pace with middle income households across the UK.
Persistent poverty identifies the number of people in relative poverty for three or more out of four years. People who live in poverty for several years are affected by it through their lifetime.
Household income is adjusted for household size.
The poverty publications present poverty figures before and after housing costs. Before housing costs figures are a basic measure of household income from earnings and benefits.
After housing costs figures subtract spending on rents, mortgage interest payments and other unavoidable housing costs from this basic income. In Scotland, poverty statistics focus mainly on poverty after housing costs.
The poverty estimates in this summary refer to relative poverty after housing costs.
143 candidates will contest Edinburgh’s 17 wards in the Local Government Elections on Thursday 5 May.
Nominations for candidates closed om Wednesday 30 March. The nominated candidates for each ward are listed in full below and on the Council website:
Ward 1 – Almond
Workers Party of Britain – BAILLIE, Annemarie
Scottish Green Party – BROUGH, Andrew
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – GEDDES, Stewart
Scottish Labour Party – HESSLER, Fred
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – HILL, James
Scottish Liberal Democrats – LANG, Kevin
Scottish National Party (SNP) – WORK, Norrie
Scottish Liberal Democrats – YOUNG, Louise
Scottish Liberal Democrats – YOUNIE, Lewis James
Ward 2 – Pentland Hills
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – BRUCE , Graeme
Scottish Liberal Democrats – CHAPPELL, Michael William
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – FETTES, Richard
Scottish National Party (SNP) – GARDINER, Neil Thomas
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – GILCHRIST, Emma
Scottish National Party (SNP) – GLASGOW, Fiona
Scottish Labour Party – JENKINSON, Stephen Philip
Scottish Green Party – MULLER, Ross
Scottish Libertarian Party – ROWLANDS, Louis
Ward 3 – Drum Brae/ Gyle
Scottish Liberal Democrats – ALDRIDGE, Robert Christopher
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – BROWN, Mark
Scottish National Party (SNP) – HYSLOP, Euan
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – JOHNSTON, Eileen
Labour and Co-operative Party – OKORO, Nkechi
Scottish Green Party – SCOTT, Anne
Scottish Libertarian Party – SMITH, Gary
Scottish Liberal Democrats – THORNLEY, Edward John
Ward 4 – Forth
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – CAMPBELL, Jim
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – CAMPBELL, Linda Lenora
Labour and Co-operative Party – DAY, Cammy
Scottish Liberal Democrats – DIJKSTRA-DOWNIE, Sanne
Scottish National Party (SNP) – DOBBIN, Stuart
Scottish National Party (SNP) – GOOCH, Carrie
Women’s Equality Party – HEATHCOTE, Kerry Elizabeth
Scottish Green Party – O’NEILL, Kayleigh
Ward 5 – Inverleith
Scottish Green Party – BANDEL, Jule
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – HERRING, Stuart
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – HOLDEN, Phil
Scottish Libertarian Party – LAIRD, Tam
MCNAMARA, Stephen
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – MITCHELL, Max
Labour and Co-operative Party – MUNRO-BRIAN, Mhairi
Scottish National Party (SNP) – NICOLSON, Vicky
Scottish Liberal Democrats – OSLER, Hal
Scottish Liberal Democrats – WOOD, Malcolm Alexander
Ward 6 – Corstorphine/ Murrayfield
Scottish Liberal Democrats – BEAL, Alan Christopher
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – COLVILLE, Norman David
Scottish Liberal Democrats – DAVIDSON, Euan Robert
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – FINDLAY, Hugh
Scottish Green Party – HUGHES, Connal
Scottish Labour Party – PARKER, Richard
Scottish National Party (SNP) – ROSS, Frank
Ward 7 – Sighthill/ Gorgie
Scottish National Party (SNP) – DIXON, Denis
Scottish National Party (SNP) – FULLERTON, Catherine
Independent – GRACZYK, Ashley
Scottish Green Party – HEAP, Dan
Alba Party for independence – HENRY, David
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – HOOLEY, Mark
Scottish Labour Party – MCKENZIE, Ross
Scottish Liberal Democrats – SCOBIE, Devin
Ward 8 – Colinton/ Fairmilehead
Scottish Labour Party – ARTHUR, Scott
Scottish National Party (SNP) – BIAGI, Marco
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – CUTHBERT, Neil
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – LUCAS, Richard Crewe
Scottish Green Party – MCCABE, Helen
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – RUST, Jason
Scottish Liberal Democrats – SPENCE, Louise Watson
Ward 9 – Fountainbridge/ Craiglockhart
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – COWDY, Christopher
Scottish Liberal Democrats – GRAHAM, Fraser John Ashmore
Scottish National Party (SNP) – KEY, David
Scottish Libertarian Party – MASSON, Gregor
Scottish Green Party – MCHANEY, Megan
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – RAMSAY, Fraser Kenneth
Labour and Co-operative Party – WALKER, Val
Ward 10 – Morningside
Scottish National Party (SNP) – CLYDE, Mairianna
Alba Party for independence – GUNN BARRETT, Leah
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – MUNRO, Marie-Clair
Scottish Green Party – PARKER, Ben
Scottish Liberal Democrats – ROSS, Neil John
Scottish Libertarian Party – SIDOR, Peter
Scottish Labour Party – WATT, Mandy Helen
Ward 11 – City Centre
Independent – BOB, Bonnie Prince
Independent – CARSON, Pete
Scottish Liberal Democrats – FOXALL, Andy
Labour and Co-operative Party – GRAHAM, Margaret Arma
Independent – ILLINGWORTH, Kevin
Scottish National Party (SNP) – MCFARLANE, Finlay
Scottish Green Party – MILLER, Claire
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – MOWAT, Jo
Scottish National Party (SNP) – MWIKI, Marianne
Independent – PAKPAHAN-CAMPBELL, Maria
Independent – PENMAN, Paul R.
Independent – ROWAN, Norrie
Alba Party for independence – SHAW, Kevan
Ward 12 – Leith Walk
Scottish Liberal Democrats – CALDWELL, Jack
Labour and Co-operative Party – DALGLEISH, James
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – DEEPNARAIN, Niel
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – FOMBO, Bonus
Socialist Labour Party – JACOBSEN, David Don
Scottish National Party (SNP) – MCNEESE-MECHAN, Amy
Scottish National Party (SNP) – MUNN, Rob
Freedom Alliance. Real People. Real Alternative – PULLMAN, Jon
Scottish Green Party – RAE, Susan
Women’s Equality Party – RENTON, David
Communist Party of Britain – SHILLCOCK, Richard Charles
Alba Party for independence – SMITH, Joe
Ward 13 – Leith
Scottish Green Party – BOOTH, Chas
Scottish Labour Party – FACCENDA, Katrina
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – ISSERI, Jacqueline Mary
Independent – MACKENZIE, Andy
Alba Party for independence – MCGLYNN, Euan
Scottish National Party (SNP) – MCVEY, Adam
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – PERCHARD, Teresa
Scottish Liberal Democrats – REA, Robin Thomas
Ward 14 – Craigentinny/ Duddingston
Scottish National Party (SNP) – ASTON, Danny
Scottish National Party (SNP) – BROWN, Shelly-Ann
Scottish Liberal Democrats – FORD, Elaine Ruth
Labour and Co-operative Party – GRIFFITHS, Joan
Scottish Green Party – STANIFORTH, Alex
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – WHYTE, Iain
Ward 15 – Southside/ Newington
Scottish Green Party – BURGESS, Steve
Scottish Liberal Democrats – FLANNERY, Pauline
Scottish National Party (SNP) – KUMAR, Simita
Labour and Co-operative Party – POGSON, Tim
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – ROSE, Cameron
Ward 16 – Liberton/ Gilmerton
Labour and Co-operative Party – CAMERON, Lezley Marion
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – CHRISTIE, James Demare
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – DOGGART, Philip
Scottish Socialist Party – FOX, Colin
Scottish National Party (SNP) – MACINNES, Lesley
Scottish National Party (SNP) – MATTOS COELHO, Martha
Labour and Co-operative Party – MEASOM, Ishrat
Alba Party for independence – MERON, Abu
Scottish Green Party – NICHOL, John
Scottish Liberal Democrats – PLANCHE, Madeleine Rani Frances
Ward 17 – Portobello/ Craigmillar
Scottish National Party (SNP) – CAMPBELL, Kate
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – JONES, Tim
Independent – MCDONALD, Andrew
Labour and Co-operative Party – MEAGHER, Jane Elizabeth
Scottish Green Party – MUMFORD, Alys
Labour and Co-operative Party – PUGH, Heather
Scottish Liberal Democrats – REILLY, Jill
Scottish National Party (SNP) – SHEDDEN, Simon Clark
Alba Party for independence – TODD, Anne
Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council and Returning Officer for Edinburgh, said: “If you haven’t yet registered to vote in these Local Government Elections, it’s not too late. The deadline for registration is midnight on 18 April.
“Remember, due to changes to polling places to ensure we keep as many schools open as possible, you might have a different polling place this time. Check your polling card carefully or use the online tool to find out where to vote on 5 May.”
