Day: July 11, 2023

51,7000 Edinburgh households will be hit by Tory economic failure

Figures revealed by the Labour Party show that 51,7000 homes in Edinburgh will be affected by eye-watering mortgage rises, with those remortgaging next year paying £280 more a month.

Across Scotland,  546,600 households in Scotland will be paying an average of £190 more a month on their mortgages next year.

The news follows interest rates rising for the 13th time in June, increasing the painful squeeze on family finances.

Ahead of visiting Centrica Green Skills Centre in Glasgow, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the party would not stand by as Scots facing the failures of both the Tories and the SNP.

Commenting, Scottish Labour MSP for Lothian Sarah Boyack MSP said: “People in Edinburgh are feeling the crushing weight of the Tory mortgage bombshell and the SNP’s incompetence.

“On the one hand, the Tories have shown time and time again that they simply don’t care about people facing hard, impossible choices; they don’t care about the relentless toll the cost of living emergency has taken on so many lives.

“And on the other, we have an SNP Government that is just not up to the job – too distracted by the scandal in their own party ranks.

“Labour’s Mortgage Rescue Scheme will offer practical help to ease the financial burden and will provide support to those in need.

“Our plan will pave the way for a brighter, prosperous and fair future for Edinburgh and the whole of Scotland.”

Local authorityNumber affected by 2026Average Increase in monthly mortgage payments next year
Aberdeen City                 22,200£170
Aberdeenshire                 29,500£210
Angus                           7,400£170
Argyll and Bute                 7,400£190
Clackmannanshire                7,400£160
Dumfries and Galloway          14,800£160
Dundee City                   14,800£150
East Ayrshire                 14,800£140
East Dunbartonshire           14,800£260
East Lothian                    7,400£270
East Renfrewshire             14,800£270
Edinburgh             51,700£280
Falkirk                       14,800£160
Fife                          36,900£170
Glasgow City                  51,700£180
Highland                      14,800£200
Inverclyde                      7,400£120
Midlothian                    14,800£250
Moray                           7,400£180
North Ayrshire                14,800£140
North Lanarkshire             36,900£150
Perth and Kinross             14,800£220
Renfrewshire                  22,200£160
Scottish Borders                7,400£200
South Ayrshire                  7,400£180
South Lanarkshire             36,900£170
Stirling                        7,400£220
West Dunbartonshire             7,400£130
West Lothian                  22,200£210
Scotland       546,600£190

First Collection Centre for Unrelated Blood Stem Cell Donors opens in Edinburgh

Blood Cancer Charity DKMS and Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service partner to bring accessibility and awareness to Scotland

DKMS, a global non-profit organisation dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and other blood disorders, has announced its partnership with the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) to open the first collection centre for unrelated blood stem cells donors in Scotland.

This landmark initiative will significantly enhance the availability and accessibility of life-saving blood stem cell transplants for patients in Scotland and beyond.

The partnership between DKMS and SNBTS marks a crucial milestone in the battle against blood cancer, ensuring that patients in Scotland have a better chance of finding a matching blood stem cell donor.

By establishing the new collection centre, DKMS and SNBTS aim to raise awareness about the importance of becoming a registered blood stem cell donor and encourage more people to join the donor registry.

Blood stem cell transplantation is a life-saving treatment for patients suffering from blood cancers and other blood disorders.

For many patients, the step of finding a matching donor can be a challenging and time-sensitive process. The collaboration between DKMS and SNBTS will help alleviate many obstacles by providing the first dedicated facility for collecting blood stem cells from unrelated donors in the country, increasing the chances of finding a suitable match for patients in need.

Helen Kelly, Head of Projects and Operations at DKMS, said: “We are delighted to be working with SNBTS. This initiative will support more donors being able to donate their stem cells in Scotland, reducing the barriers of extensive travel and time off work. This collaboration will give more people with blood cancer and blood disorders a second chance at life”.

The collection centre is staffed by trained professionals and equipped with state-of-the-art technology, ensuring a seamless and efficient process for donors.

 “There is a clearly defined need for this important facility to open in Scotland. As the expert in blood, platelet, plasma and cell collection, SNBTS has transferrable expertise to support the collection of stem cells from unrelated donors,” said Dr Lynn Manson, SNBTS Clinical Lead for Therapeutic Apheresis Services at the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service.

“An Edinburgh facility will reduce the travel time required for donors and help to ensure stem cell donations are available when needed. We are pleased to have been involved in this important project, and I’d like to thank all staff and donors involved.”

The collection centre aims to be able to support all Scottish donors, allowing around 100 donors a year to be assessed and their donations collected locally. DKMS’s goal, with the support of SNBTS, is to provide a matching donor for every patient in need of a blood stem cell transplant.

To achieve this, DKMS actively engages with the public, healthcare professionals, and community organisations to raise awareness about the importance of becoming a blood stem cell donor and encourage eligible individuals to register.

By expanding the donor pool, this initiative aims to improve the odds of finding a matching donor for every patient in Scotland and beyond.