First Minister John Swinney will welcome new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to Scotland today.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, the First Minister said: “I was really pleased to have the opportunity to speak to the Prime Minister on his first day in office and to congratulate him and wish him, and his family well.
“I look forward to welcoming the Prime Minister to Scotland where I hope to have constructive discussions with him on our shared priorities for the people of Scotland. This includes eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, prioritising net zero, and ensuring effective public services.
“I welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to forge a positive relationship between our governments and for our part, the Scottish Government is committed to working constructively with the UK Government to build a better Scotland.”
WHATEVER your political allegiances. the relationship between the two governments is crucial to the people of Scotland. I’d like to think it will be more constructive than it has been in the recent past – Ed.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s remarks at a Downing Street press conference following the first meeting of the new cabinet today
Thank you all for coming. Yesterday the work of change began…
And as the dust settles on Thursday’s result, what is becoming clear for, I think, all to see is the mood of the nation, of the country…
What is expected of us and the mandate that we have to deliver change…
It’s a mandate not just to govern, although it is certainly that, but it’s a mandate that has put trust in us to change the country and to deliver…
And it’s a mandate to do politics differently…
And that change started yesterday as well…
I have, as you’ll have seen, appointed a Cabinet…
That was done yesterday afternoon and completed…
Some went to the Privy Council this morning to receive their seals, which was a moment in history…
We followed that with the first Cabinet meeting of the Labour government of 2024…
At that Cabinet meeting, I had the opportunity to set out precisely what I expect of them in terms of standards, delivery and the trust that the country has put in them…
And yesterday I met Laurie Magnus, the Independent Adviser on standards, to discuss how we deliver in government…
At the Cabinet meeting, I also discussed mission delivery…
How we would put into action the plans that we have set out in our manifesto…
And that we will have mission delivery boards to drive through the change that we need, and that I will be chairing those boards to make sure that it’s clear to everyone that they are my priority in government…
We also talked about preparations for the King’s speech…
And I reminded the entire Cabinet, that we will be judged on actions, not on words…
And this afternoon, I will continue to make a number of frontbench appointments…
We clearly on Thursday got a mandate, from all four nations for the first time in 20 plus years…
We have a majority in England, in Scotland and in Wales…
And that is a clear mandate to govern for all four corners of the United Kingdom…
And therefore, I shall set off tomorrow to be in all four nations…
I shall go first to Scotland…
I shall then go to Northern Ireland…
Then to Wales, and then back to England…
Where I will meet the First Ministers, not just to discuss the issues and challenges of the day. Of course, we will do that…
But also to establish a way of working across the United Kingdom that will be different and better to the way of working that we’ve had in recent years, and to recognise the contributions of all four nations…
On Thursday, we also got a mandate on economic growth – the number one mission of the Labour government…
And so we discussed at Cabinet and have started the work on driving growth…
And to make sure that growth is everywhere across the whole country so that people are better off everywhere, wherever they live…
The principle I operate to is those with skin in the game know what’s best for their communities, and that does require us to be bold about pushing power and resource out of Whitehall…
And therefore, when I return from the four nations, I shall hold a meeting of the Metro mayors to discuss with them their part in delivering the growth that we need across the United Kingdom…
That will be on Tuesday…
That will include non-Labour Metro mayors…
There’s no monopoly on good ideas…
And I’m not a tribal politician…
And the principle I operate to, whether it’s mayors or other elected representatives, is that where regional leaders want to deliver for their area…
Then, regardless of the colour of their rosette, my door is open and my government will work with them…
Later on Tuesday, I shall set off to Washington for the NATO summit…
I’ve already had a number of international calls, as you will know, and as you would have expected, to establish the relations across with other countries to have really important discussions about Ukraine and other pressing issues…
And Washington will be an opportunity for me to have further discussions with some of the leaders I’ve already spoken to and some that I’m due to speak to…
It is, of course, an important summit on NATO…
It is for me to be absolutely clear that the first duty of my government is security and defense, to make clear our unshakable support of NATO…
And of course, to reiterate, as I did to President Zelenskyy yesterday, the support that we will have in this country and with our allies towards Ukraine…
So this will be a politics and a government that is about delivery, is about service…
Self-interest is yesterday’s politics…
I want a politics and a country that works for you…
Back by popular demand, the children’s favourite characters, Bluey & Bingo are set to return to The Centre, Livingston on Saturday, 20th and Sunday, 21st of July as part of Comic Con’s ‘Superhero Takeover’, which will also feature two giant, 9ft transformers who are making their debut at the free event.
Following the success of Comic Con’s first visit to the shopping centre earlier this year, the much-loved characters will be joining lots of comic favourites, including Spider-Man, Venom, Iron Man, Sonic and Knuckles in walkabouts and ‘Meet & Greets’, which will take place next to Waterstones and British Heart Foundation.
Two giant 9ft transformers will also be taking part in the fun, located at the main entrance to The Centre, Livingston and over 60 exhibitors, showcasing a variety of movie and television props, one-of-a-kind collectables and selling various merchandise exclusives.
All details for the event, which is free with optional donations to West Lothian Community Foundation, can be found on the website, www.thecentrelivingston.com.
The aim of West Lothian Community Foundation is to use football as an activity to promote the educational and health development of people of all ages in the community, with particular emphasis on targeting those who are less engaged with sporting activities, to help them reach their full potential.
Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “Due to customer demand and the huge success of our first Comic Con event earlier this year, we are really excited to welcome them back on the 20th and 21st of July for more superhero fun with walkabouts, ‘Meet & Greets’ and the chance to pick up some limited-edition collectables.
“We are delighted to be able to support the local charity, West Lothian Community Foundation, at the event who are doing exceptional work connecting with people in the local community and helping them to get fit.”
Ian Bonar from BGCP Comic Con, said: “BGCP is thrilled to return to The Centre, Livingston, the first event absolutely blew us away and was well received by locals and others who travelled from Fife, Dundee, Glasgow and further afield.
“Our goal is to top each visit to the centre.”
Graham Jarvis from West Lothian Youth Foundation, said: “Our huge thanks and appreciation go out to everyone who is supporting us this summer at The Centre, Livingston.
“We are an integral part of the community with a mission to get as many people into sports and as fit as possible which is why partnering with the shopping centre is such a fantastic opportunity for us to help raise even more awareness of our workshops, courses and summer camps.”
The trade union movement will work with Keir Starmer to deliver change
What an extraordinary moment in British politics (writes TUC General Secretary PAUL NOWAK). Labour back in power with a near-record majority. The Conservatives brutally ejected from office. A dozen cabinet members gone. A red wave in Scotland at the SNP’s expense. But while it’s easy to get carried away by the seismic nature of this election – we cannot afford to be distracted. We have a country to fix.
When I congratulated Keir Starmer this morning my message to him was clear. The trade union movement stands ready to work with the new government to repair and rebuild Britain – and to deliver the change working people desperately need. After 14 years of wretched Tory rule and chaos, I am not blind to the size of the task this incoming government faces.
The Conservatives have left behind a trail of destruction for all to see. Stagnant growth and wages. Rising in-work poverty. Broken public services. The charge sheet goes on and on. But despite all of the damage wrought, I am optimistic. After nearly a decade and a half in opposition, Labour can finally begin transforming the country – an urgent and necessary challenge that must be grasped with both hands. So where should we start?
First and foremost, we need to get our economy growing again. Unions and business have been crying out for years for a proper industrial strategy. The Green Prosperity Plan starts us on the road to economic recovery. And it will be a breath of fresh air to work with ministers who are actually serious about protecting and creating good jobs, and boosting skills and productivity.
But securing growth alone is not enough – we also need better living standards. Labour needs to act urgently to make work pay. We currently have over four million people who are trapped in jobs that offer little or no financial security. This is a national disgrace.
The UK’s long experiment with a low-wage, low-rights economy has been terrible for productivity and workers alike. Labour’s New Deal for Working People – delivered in full – will help end the Tories’ race to the bottom on employment standards.
A race to the bottom that has allowed good employers to be undercut by the bad, and scandals like the illegal sacking of 800 seafarers at P&O Ferries go unpunished. Labour’s plans will be a genuine gamechanger. Employment rights from day one. A ban on zero-hours contracts. An end to fire and rehire. New rights for unions to access the workplace. And the scrapping of anti-union legislation.
These are all part of a comprehensive new package of rights that will be good for workers, good for businesses and good for the UK economy. Inevitably there will be some siren voices in the business community who will seek to delay and water down this legislation. But it is vital Labour stays the course and ignores the doomsayers.
All the tired arguments that have been made against improved rights and protections at work echo those used against the minimum wage – now widely acknowledged to be one of the great policy successes of the last 25 years.
The naysayers were wrong then and they are wrong now. It is also vital that immediate work begins on repairing our crumbling public realm. At the heart of the pressures on our schools, hospitals, prisons and social care system is a huge workforce crisis. Across the NHS and social care alone there are nearly 300,000 staffing vacancies and in education the number of teaching vacancies has more than doubled in the past three years.
With morale at rock bottom – after more than a decade of Tory vandalism and neglect – Labour has the chance to signal a new direction of travel. We’ve already seen really encouraging commitments on scrapping tax breaks for private schools to fund new teachers in the state sector, and on closing non-dom loopholes to help bring down waiting lists. It’s no secret though that I want the party to go further and that we explore all funding options for rebuilding our public services.
The TUC has previously called for a national conversation on taxing wealth and I remain convinced that policies like equalising Capital Gains Tax with the taxes paid on earnings could bring in much-needed revenues. People voted in this election because they wanted real change – and Reform’s populist insurgence is a timely warning of what happens when governments fail to act.
And this question of delivery is the crux of the matter. After 14 years of national decline the country has finally got the Labour government it desperately needs. I know how ambitious Keir Starmer and his team are to improve working people’s lives, and the trade union movement wants to work with them.
Of course there will be moments of tension. That comes with being a critical friend. Our job is to speak up for working people and our members and to make sure their voices are heard at the heart of government – even when the message is difficult.
But the prospect of national renewal is real. Decent jobs, strong public services, a brighter, fairer future for all our children. The work will be hard and it starts today – but together we can realise a better future.
The Royal Scots Exhibition at Tynecastle Park 5 – 10 July
Exhibition focusing on the importance of teamworking and sport in the military as part of the Heart of Midlothian FC’s 150th Celebrations
The Royal Scots Regimental Museum is reaching out from Edinburgh Castle to deliver an exhibition, with particular focus on the importance of teamworking and sport in the military, hosted by Heart of Midlothian FC in the European Suite at Tynecastle Park as part of the Club’s 150th Anniversary Celebrations, from Friday 05 to Wednesday 10 July 2024 (10:00 to 16:30 daily – free admission).
The Museum’s Outreach Exhibition has been curated to engage and connect with people of all ages from throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians, a major part of the Regiment’s former recruiting area, to promote the Regiment’s enduring legacy and commemorate those who never came back, giving their lives for peace.
The exhibition provides a particularly poignant reminder of the supreme sacrifice made by the 1914 Hearts team with their footballers being the first in the UK to enlist to fight for their country at the outbreak of World War 1. Many of them volunteered to join the 16th Battalion of The Royal Scots, famously known as McCrae’s Battalion.
The exhibition also covers significant events in Regimental history such as the Gretna rail disaster (1915), the Gallipoli campaign (1915), the Battle of the Somme (where 454 Royal Scots were killed on the 1st of July 1916 alone), the Battle of Kohima (part of the Burma campaign in 1944) and the First Gulf War (1991).
Through the telling of Soldiers’ Stories from 1914 onwards visitors will learn of Royal Scots’ experiences in conflict, fighting for peace. Inspired by Hearts’ continuing dedication never to forget those of their Club who were killed or wounded, the importance of teamwork and sport in the military will be explained. Some of the items on display have never been seen publicly before.
A Research Area has been included in the exhibition to enable families to find out more about their relatives who served with The Royal Scots.
The exhibition hosts and guides are volunteers who served in The Royal Scots and who want to give something back through comradeship, promoting the unique heritage of the Regiment. They are fondly named Pontius Pilate’s Bodyguard.
Lianne Parry, Hearts Head of Heritage, said: “We very much look forward to hosting The Royal Scots Museum. It is wholly appropriate in our Sesquicentennial Year that we should highlight one of the most historically important episodes in Hearts’ long and rich history.
“We hope that visitors will take advantage of their visit to the stadium, to call in at the Club’s own Museum which will be open throughout.”
Colonel Martin Gibson, representing the Royal Scots Museum’s Outreach Team, commented: “We are determined to reach out and engage with the people of Edinburgh, to tell the story of The Royal Scots from 1914 onwards, and to highlight the very close enduring connection between the Regiment and Hearts FC which began at outbreak of WW1.
“So many men from our capital City served in our Regiment which saw 373 years of unbroken service; it is so important that their achievements and sacrifices are never forgotten.”
Susie Hamilton, Scottish Veterans Commissioner, opened the exhibition yesterday and guests at the launch included Hearts legend John Robertson with club representatives Ann Park, (Director, Community & Partnerships), Lianne Parry (Head of Heritage), Julia McKenzie, (Museums & Collections Specialist) and Mia Weintraub (International Intern).
The Royal Scots were representatived by Colonel Martin Gibson of the Royal Scots Museum’s Outreach Team and former soldiers Apolosi Vanowale (former Fijian rugby international), Andy Stewart (Scotland Water Polo), Andy Gilmour and Tony Reid (Scotland boxer and referee).
The exhibition runs from Friday 5th – Wednesday 10th July 2024 from 10:00 – 16:30 daily in the European Suite at Tynecastle Park. Free admission.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines have welcomed 24 Sea Cadets from the Edinburgh District Sea Cadets, in a chance to learn more about life at sea and step aboard a cruise ship.
Last Thursday (27th June), during Balmoral’s inaugural call of 2024 to the Port of Rosyth, the Sea Cadets were welcomed by members of Balmoral’s Bridge Team, including Captain Steffan Ravneng, Safety Officer Euan Ross and two deck cadets.
Following breakfast with Captain Ravneng and a talk about life at sea, the cadets were taken to the lower decks including the engine control room and toured the public areas of the ship followed by a lunch in the Ballindalloch restaurant.
Edinburgh Trinity Unit, Leith Unit, Musselburgh Unit and Dunbar Unit
Ewan Galloway, District Officer for Edinburgh Sea Cadets, said: “Bringing together cadets from all across Edinburgh for a cruise ship experience was a remarkable opportunity to showcase and embrace the skills cultivated in the Sea Cadets.
“This visit not only highlighted the relevance of these skills in the maritime sector but also left every cadet feeling privileged and inspired.
“I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for the wonderful opportunity provided by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. Seeing the cadets’ faces light up upon arriving at the beautiful ship, Balmoral, was truly delightful.”
Stuart Ferguson, Head of Quality and Resource at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “It’s always a real pleasure for us to welcome young people on board our ships to learn more about life at sea. As a business that places a huge amount of importance on supporting local communities, we are proud to have welcomed the Edinburgh District Sea Cadets aboard Balmoral.
“There are so many opportunities to grow, develop and lead fulfilling careers across the maritime sector and we hope to have inspired some of these bright young minds about what can be available in their own futures.”
Sea Cadets are a national youth charity founded in 1856, offering a variety of opportunities and adventures to young people aged from 10 – 18 years old following a rank structure similar to that of the Royal Navy.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves’ speech delivered to HM Treasury staff yesterday (Friday 5 July):
Thanks to all of you for being here. It is such an honour to be here today as the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
I know what a responsibility this brings – to guide our economy through uncertain times;
To restore stability in an age of insecurity;
To build prosperity that draws on the talents of working people.
The central mission of this new Government will be to restore economic growth.
During the election that was the Labour Party’s mission.
It is now our national mission.
And it will be for the Treasury to lead that mission.
Not growth for growth’s sake.
But growth for a purpose.
To make every part of our country better off.
To deliver on this mission, I want this to be the most pro-growth Treasury in our country’s history.
That will mean doing what the Treasury does best – building growth on a rock of economic stability.
But it also means taking on new challenges and new responsibilities.
To fix the foundations.
And to rebuild Britain;
To drive growth not just in a few pockets of our country but in every part of Britain.
To meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of the future – including our energy transition.
That is why this Treasury will play its full part in a new era of industrial strategy;
Working hand-in-glove with business, to make sure Britain is truly open to business once again.
And I know that in an uncertain world, if we can deliver the stability, investment and reform that the Prime Minister and I have set out, then Britain can reap the rewards.
But for families at home – I know that this is about more than just lines on a graph.
It is about tackling the causes of the cost of living crisis and making work pay.
Rebuilding our health service and our schools.
And driving opportunity in every part of Britain.
I will always hold in my minds eye the people across our country whose livelihoods, public services and aspirations will rise or fall based on the decisions we make here.
And I ask you to do the same – whether in Darlington, or Norwich, or in this building.
It is also a huge privilege to be the first ever female Chancellor of the Exchequer.
So every young woman and girl watching this:
Let today show that there should be no ceilings on your ambitions.
Your hopes,
or your dreams.
But there is a deeper responsibility too:
To women whose work is too often undervalued.
Who have borne the brunt of inequality.
And whose lives and interests are too often excluded from economic policymaking.
Together, we are going to change that.
Now, I have been a Member of Parliament for fourteen years now.
And if I’m honest, I’ve spent a lot of those years frustrated.
Talking, not doing.
Responding to constituents’ problems, but not being able to get to the root cause of those problems.
So as far as I’m concerned, there is no time to waste.
I will judge my time in office a success if I know that, at the end of it, there are working-class kids from ordinary backgrounds living richer lives, their horizons expanded, and their potential realised;
If we are leaving to the next generation a country that is more prosperous, with more good jobs paying decent wages, and a country better able to thrive in an uncertain world.
I know that a lot has been asked of you in the last few years – and I know, when the chips are down, staff at the Treasury have risen to the occasion, from furlough to energy price support.
I have often disagreed with the political choices that have been taken in this building.
But I have never been in any doubt about the talent, the dedication and the professionalism that Treasury staff have displayed.
I know too that at times it must have been frustrating for you, working under a weight of uncertainty, changes in direction, and without clarity of political purpose.
As Chancellor, I am determined to change that.
All our plans for government will rely on your hard work.
I’m under no illusion about the scale of the challenges we face.
The difficult choices that we will have to make.
I am not promising you that it will be easy.
There is a long road ahead.
It comes with a great weight of responsibility.
I embrace it.
It will demand hard work.
I am ready for it.
The British people have put their trust in this new government.
They have put their trust in us to run their economy.
A multi-disciplinary team established to consider how the recommendations in the Cass Review might apply to NHS services in Scotland has submitted its findings to the Scottish Parliament.
A senior clinical team, commissioned by the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, considered all 32 recommendations of the Cass Review into Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People in NHS England.
The team assessed to what extent they were applicable in the Scottish context, and whether they could be implemented in Scotland’s health service.
Recommendations of the multi-disciplinary team included:
a lead senior clinician, preferably a consultant, should take overall responsibility for each young person’s care
each care plan should include a full assessment of the child’s needs, both psychological and physical
as elsewhere in the UK, the use of puberty-supressing hormones – commonly referred to as puberty blockers – should be paused until further clinical trials can be undertaken. NHS Scotland will continue to engage in the forthcoming UK study
work to design a regional service for children and young people should begin immediately, and services should ultimately be provided as locally as possible, based in children’s health services, with strong links between secondary and specialist services.
The conclusions of the report will now be considered by the Scottish Government – both in relation to how current services should be delivered to ensure service continuity, as well as on how these services should be commissioned in the future to ensure sustainable person-centred care.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Graham Ellis said: “The Cass Review was established to make recommendations on how to improve NHS England gender identity services for children and young people. Through this review we have aimed to set out which recommendations could apply to Scotland, and how they might be implemented.
“At the heart of this question are children and young people in distress, and our ambition must remain focused on meeting their needs with holistic, person-centred care as close to home as practical.
“The Cass Review identified the need to ensure that gender identity services for young people are more closely aligned with other areas of clinical practice, and that responsibility for the full range of services required should extend beyond specialist services. This will be essential as we seek to always provide the best possible care.
“In responding to the Cass Review, the multi-disciplinary team looked at the recommendations from a clinical perspective, always remembering that we have a responsibility to make sure that all children and young people grow up safe, respected and supported.”
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “The Scottish Government welcomes the multi-disciplinary team’s report, which has carefully considered the Cass Review’s recommendations and how they apply to Scotland.
“The conclusions of the report will now be considered and used to improve gender identity healthcare for children and young people. The Scottish Government will update Parliament after summer recess.
“We remain absolutely committed, not just to ensuring ongoing support is available, but to reforming and improving gender identity healthcare across Scotland.”
‘My absolute priority in the role will be to deliver the change and renewal that Scotland needs‘
Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray said: “It is a real privilege to have been asked to serve in Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s first Cabinet as Secretary of State for Scotland. My absolute priority in the role will be to deliver the change and renewal that Scotland needs – to drive economic growth, create jobs and reduce poverty.
“As we rebuild our country, I look forward to Scotland standing foursquare with the other UK nations. I will make sure that the Scotland Office is a strong voice for Scotland within the UK Government.
“New funding will help tackle poverty in Scotland by creating jobs and unlocking opportunities across the country, especially in our most deprived communities.
“The Scotland Office will lead on promoting ‘Brand Scotland’ around the globe. Selling our world class produce, products and services to the world.
“I am also determined to reset the relationship between the UK and Scottish Governments. Focusing on co-operation and joint working will mean we can deliver better results for people in Scotland.”
The King and Queen attended a celebration of Edinburgh 900 this week at Edinburgh Castle.
Edinburgh 900 explores and celebrates the nine centuries of history and traditions in Scotland’s capital city, since the founding of the Royal Burgh by King David I around 1124.
The King and Queen were greeted by a colourful and dynamic display of the very best of Edinburgh, featuring performances from Dance Base, Scotland’s National Centre for Dance, music from a local accordion player, and Bhangra dancers.
There was also an array of local and national civic and community organisations represented including the Edinburgh Local Heritage Network, The Hub, Herbie of Edinburgh, Historic Environment Scotland, Barnardo’s and The Prince’s Trust.
The renowned author Alexander McCall Smith performed a short poem written for Edinburgh’s 900th birthday, his adopted home.
The Lord Provost Robert Aldridge then delivered a specially produced loyal address to The King and Queen.
Concluding the celebrations, The King and Queen were invited to cut an Edinburgh 900 themed cake baked by 2020 Great British Bake Off winner and Edinburgh-born, Peter Sawkins.
The Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said:“It was wonderful to welcome Their Majesties to Edinburgh to celebrate 900 years of Scotland’s capital city. The interest shown by The King and Queen highlights the importance of 900 years of our shared history and showcased local organisations exhibiting the very best of Edinburgh in the modern day which we’re rightly proud of.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing how Edinburgh 900 develops in the months ahead. The full programme will delve into how Edinburgh came to be over the centuries. The programme will also celebrate Edinburgh in the present day and look ahead to our future ambitions and aspirations.”
An official programme launch will take place at the end of July. This will announce the full list of recipients of the Edinburgh 900 Community and Civic Funds.
