Union to serve notice of industrial action after accusing utility of sabotaging negotiations
Workers will go on strike at Scottish Water after accusing the company of sabotaging pay talks.
GMB Scotland served notice yesterday [FRIDAY] for a walkout later this month with longer and more disruptive strikes being planned.
The union said all members will take action on 28 March after accusing the company of reducing the terms of a pay offer already rejected by workers.
They had voted against an offer of 3.4% or £1400 covering the last nine months as the company changes the date for annual rises to take effect from July to April.
At talks at conciliation service Acas on Wednesday night, however, the publicly-owned utility revealed the minimum backpay would only be £1050.
Claire Greer, GMB Scotland organiser, said the company had sabotaged the talks without warning or reason: “It is by now hard to be surprised by how this company conducts negotiations but, even for them, this is beyond the pale.
“The terms of the offer were clear, had been discussed at length and had already been rejected by our members.
“For the company to arrive at talks intended to find a way forward only to produce a completely different and inferior offer is not just frustrating, it is inexplicable
“We have spent months discussing this offer only for it to be turned upside down at the eleventh hour for no apparent purpose and with only one possible outcome.
“They are gaslighting workers and making apparently firm offers that change in the wind.
“It is a nonsense and no way to conduct grown-up negotiations.
“While the actions of this company are impossible to predict or understand, the response of our members could not be clearer. Enough is enough.”
Ian Murray, MP for Edinburgh South, has renewed calls for urgent action by the Scottish Government and NHS Lothian to tackle the worsening crisis in South Edinburgh GP services, as residents continue to face unacceptable delays in accessing care.
Constituents regularly report waiting hours on the phone to get appointments, with many surgeries unable to register new patients due to severe capacity issues.
The rapid expansion of new housing developments in South East Edinburgh without the necessary investment in healthcare infrastructure is exacerbating the situation.
Ian Murray has raised these concerns directly with NHS Lothian, and has met with the leadership teams of under-pressure GP practices, to discuss what support they need.
Over 3000 local residents have signed Ian Murray’s petition demanding action.
Ian Murray MP said:“GP services in Edinburgh South are at breaking point. Residents are spending hours on the phone just to get through to their surgery, only to be told they’ll have to wait weeks for an appointment.Meanwhile, new housing estates are being built without the infrastructure to support the growing population. Our community cannot be left without access to vital healthcare.
“The incredible doctors, nurses, and staff in our local practices are working tirelessly, but they are being let down by a failure to plan for demand. Following the record funding settlement given to the Scottish Government by the UK Government in the budget last year, this is unacceptable. The Scottish Government must act now to expand GP capacity, allocate the necessary resources to NHS Lothian, and ensure new developments are built alongside proper infrastructure and healthcare provision.”
Ian Murray has also welcomed Anas Sarwar’s recent announcement of Scottish Labour’s plans to reform the NHS and end the “8am rush” at GP surgeries by revising the GP contract, ensuring patients can get timely appointments.
“These plans offer real, practical solutions to fix our broken NHS and ensure people in Edinburgh South can access the care they need when they need it – representing the biggest reform of the NHS in decades.
“The Scottish Government has failed to get a grip on this crisis – Scottish Labour will.”
Ian Murray is encouraging residents to share their experiences of GP access and has launched a petition to demand better services. He vowed to continue pressing for improvements and holding the Scottish Government to account.
Residents have said:
“I’m registered at a surgery in Gilmerton. I try to get through at 8 am to get an appointment, but even just a call back is impossible. By the time I get through, all appointments are gone for the day. Been trying almost 2 weeks now and never can get through.”
“I have a chronic illness, and getting a GP appointment is virtually impossible. The stress of not being able to prebook an appointment and having to call at 8am relentlessly, normally around at least a 100 redials and then to be told there is no appointment available because they only have 1 doctor available that day and they are full, is intolerable.”
“Being a new mum I haven’t got the time to be sitting about waiting for phone calls all day. I haven’t been able to get through to our GP in over a month now for an appointment. It’s really concerning when I have a 1 year old daughter and can’t get appointments for her.“
Constituents who wish to share their experiences can contact Ian Murray’s office at ian.Murray.MP@parliament.uk.
Campaigners have slammed the Scottish Government after a Minister spoke at greenwashing conference in Edinburgh on Thursday despite climate protests.
The Minister for Climate Action Alasdair Allan gave a key address at the carbon capture event which campaigners say was ’full to the brim’ of big polluters.
Sponsors of the event included Shell, National Gas, and the Norwegian Energy Partners group which represents Rosebank oil field developer Equinor. Both Shell and Equinor have slashed their renewable energy commitments in recent months.
Attendees at the £400 a ticket ‘Decarb Scotland’ event at the John McIntyre Conference Centre in Pollock Halls Edinburgh faced protests due to its heavy promotion of unreliable carbon capture technology, which is being used to extend the life of fossil fuels.
A committee of MPs recently warned the UK Government’s £22billion subsidy for the industry will drive up household energy bills.
Campaigners are also questioning the appropriateness of the Minister attending an event sponsored by the controversial Peterhead Gas Carbon Capture project, when the Scottish Government is assessing a planning application for the project.
Last summer the Scottish Government was accused of repeatedly breaching the Ministerial Code in its mishandling of this planning application, including for attending the 2024 version of this event sponsored by the applicant.
Friends of the Earth Scotland oil and gas campaigner Freya Aitchison said: “Ministers should not have endorsed this festival of greenwash, which was full to the brim of major polluters. Many of the companies involved in this event have doubled down on fossil fuel extraction and have slashed their climate promises, which were already woefully insufficient.
“Carbon capture is a con trick being pushed by fossil fuel giants who are using it to undermine a fair and fast transition and further endanger people by slowing climate action.
“The £22billion bung to carbon capture companies is being paid for by the public, with most of this handout added to our energy bills in the coming years.
“Greedy oil firms have already gotten so rich from exploiting our needs and now we’re all expected to pay to keep their climate-wrecking business going.
“The Scottish Government refuses to talk to anyone who is raising objections to the Peterhead gas burning plans but once again it is happy to be a key speaker at an event sponsored by the project it is supposed to be impartially assessing.
“Ministers ditched their climate targets last year, in part caused by their desperate overreliance on carbon capture technology but it seems like they have learned nothing from that experience and are ready to get fooled again.
“Our energy future must instead be built on affordable, reliable renewables that are run in the public interest.
“The skills and experience of workers must be at the heart of creating a credible and fair transition plan that creates secure green jobs, meets the needs of communities and scales up the industries we can truly rely on for the long term.”
Customers queued for over 12 hours on Princes Street to be first to try the famous Chicken Sandwichyesterday
The much-hyped arrival of Popeyes® UK in Edinburgh yesterday had fans queuing down Princes Street from 10.30pm on Thursday night, eager to be the first to try the world-famous Chicken Sandwich.
Opening its doors at 11am, Popeyes® UK celebrated its Edinburgh debut in true Mardi Gras style. Its signature New Orleans hospitality arrived on Princes St, with confetti cannons and live band The Brass Funkeys entertaining customers. Making launch day memorable, fans also had the chance to snap a photo in the new Popeyes® bite booth, capturing all of Edinburgh’s first bite moments.
Over 100 chicken fans lined up from 10.30pm to get a taste of the world-famous Popeyes® Chicken Sandwich.
First in the queue was Jonathan McCaleb who said: “I’m a huge Popeyes® fan, it’s my top-tier fried chicken restaurant!
“Since moving here from America in September, I haven’t had a Popeyes® and I’ve been craving it – especially after seeing the team out and about on campus at the University of Edinburgh yesterday.
“I’ve been waiting over 12 hours to be first in line, and I can’t wait to finally get a taste of that southern goodness again!”
Tom Crowley, Popeyes® UK Chief Executive Officer, commented:“The turnout in Edinburgh today has been incredible.
“People across Scotland have shown their love for our Louisiana chicken, and Edinburgh has now proved just as popular. We look forward to bringing a taste of New Orleans to even more customers across the city.”
Now officially open, the Edinburgh Princes Street location serves the full Popeyes menu.
The line-up includes fan favourites like the iconic Popeyes® Chicken Sandwich, Wings and Tenders. Each piece of Popeyes® famous chicken is marinated for 12 hours in bold Louisiana seasoning, then hand-breaded and battered for that world-famous ‘shatter crunch,’ and complemented by delicious sides like its Original Biscuits and Cajun Gravy.
Plus, the all-new Saucin’ range is dripping with bold flavour featuring three New Orleans-inspired sauces: cheesy Garlic Parm, smokin’ Bold BBQ and spicy Buffalo.
From today, Saturday 15 March, Popeyes® will also be serving up its breakfast menu from 8am to 11am each day. The menu features the Big Cajun Roll, Cajun Hash Browns, and indulgent Nutella-topped buttermilk biscuits – a classic British breakfast with a New Orleans twist.
Popeyes® is located at 131-133 Princes Street, Edinburgh and open from 8am until 10pm. The new 86-seat restaurant includes touch screen self-service kiosks and collection points for orders made online via the Popeyes® UK website or official app.
Edinburgh Princes Street is Popeyes® seventh restaurant in Scotland, as part of its ambitious plans to open more than 45 restaurants across the UK in 2025.
To find out more about Popeyes® Edinburgh, visit the website here or follow the brand on Instagram at @PopeyesUK or TikTok at @popeyesuk
Community-led mental health and wellbeing projects are to benefit from £30 million Scottish Government funding over the next two years.
The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults – first launched in 2021 – supports local groups to deliver programmes for adults which build resilience and tackle social isolation, loneliness and mental health inequalities. It is expected the Fund will open to applications this Autumn.
In the first three years around 4,800 grants were made to a wide range of grassroots community projects focused on connecting people and providing peer support through activities such as sport, outdoor activities, and the arts.
The charity, Empower Women for Change, has secured grant awards in all rounds of the Fund to date. This year, the group is using its grant to support lone parents, families with a disabled family member, Minority Ethnic families, and young mothers.
Visiting their office in Glasgow Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd said: “I am pleased to meet staff and service users at Empower Women for Change and hear more about the valuable work they do in the community they support. It is inspiring to see first-hand the impact that this funding can have.
“Since the fund was established, we have invested £66 million, reaching a variety of groups supporting those at increased risk of poor mental health and wellbeing – including people facing socio-economic disadvantage, older people and ethnic minority communities.
“I look forward to seeing the positive impact that this further £30 million investment will make to the wellbeing of people and communities across Scotland.”
Empower Women for Change CEO and Founder Asma Abdalla said: “We are delighted and honoured to welcome the Minister Maree Todd to our organisation.The Wellbeing Fund has played a transformative role in improving the lives of our service users of ethnic minority women and girls and our volunteers, members, and staff.
“Through our Inspired Women projects, we have provided vital mental health support, resilience, and community connection, changing lives and strengthening communities. We are looking forward to continuing this work, with support from the Wellbeing Fund.
“We welcome this unique opportunity to share Inspired Women participants’ testimonies, their voices highlight the urgent need for sustained investment in grassroots wellbeing services. Please join us in amplifying their stories and celebrating the power of community-led change.”
Partnership Manager at Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector Sheena Arthur said: “We are delighted that the Scottish Government’s Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is continuing.This fund delivers small grants which make a positive difference and so far, has supported over 900 Third Sector organisations and community groups across Glasgow.
“In increasingly challenging times, the Third Sector plays a crucial role. This fund enables the development of existing projects as well as emerging ideas from the community. It helps to bring people together- contributing to better health and wellbeing of people and families, strengthening social connections and tackling inequality and poverty.”
Scottish Lib Dem Leader applauds transformation of popular development
THE LEADER of the Scottish Liberal Democrats has praised the redevelopment of 78 homes at Scotland’s former Army Headquarters, commending ongoing revitalisation efforts.
In a recent visit to the project within his constituency, Mr Cole-Hamilton was invited to tour Craigiehall Meadows, formally Craigiehall Barracks, viewing homes at both the Hillside Road and Riverside areas of the development.
Led by Ralph Sayer and situated on the northwest edge of Edinburgh, the development has attracted strong buyer interest, with more than half of the first phase already sold.
Mr Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western said; “One thing that’s absolutely vital is new housing, but it’s intelligent new housing that we need.
“In West Edinburgh, we’ve had our fill of a proliferation of new housing developments and without much thought from developers about what that means for schools or roads or health infrastructure.
“What I love about the Craigiehall Meadows development is that they are lovingly restoring 1960s housing to the highest specification possible, so that they’ll have a new lease of life where families will enjoy them for decades to come.
“So, it’s been a great privilege to visit to see these houses come on in the way they are, and I’m really grateful for the opportunity.”
Hillside Road introduces a range of affordable homes, ideal for first-time buyers, downsizers, and buy-to-let investors, while Riverside and Primrose will feature spacious, high-spec family residences.
The Riverside area of the development is set to feature a mix of 21 four-bedroom and six five-bedroom detached homes, all designed with modern living in mind and offering private driveways, off-street parking, and garages.
Finally, Primrose, will comprise of eight five-bedroom detached homes, each benefiting from generous plots, dedicated parking, and secure garage space.
Tzana Webster, Head of Estate Agency at Ralph Sayer said: “Our team has been in regular contact with Mr. Cole-Hamilton, so it was a pleasure to finally welcome him on-site and showcase the progress we’ve made in breathing new life into these homes for future residents.
“With new homeowners now settling into Hillside Road, we expect this phase of the development to be fully sold out by the end of the quarter.
“As we move into the next stage, our focus is on finalising the show homes at Riverside and Primrose, preparing them for viewings.
“Given the incredible demand we’ve already experienced, we’re confident these homes will be just as sought after, if not more, than those at Hillside Road.”
Located by the River Almond and set within mature woodlands, the site enjoys a prime semi-rural setting while maintaining strong connections to sought-after areas like Cammo, Cramond, and Dalmeny.
Originally established in 1939 to house military families, the development played a key role in the 1945 German surrender in Norway and later served as the Scottish Army HQ, home to regiments such as The Black Watch until its closure in 2014.
Blending contemporary living with a rich heritage, Craigiehall Meadows offers a rare opportunity to enjoy natural surroundings with convenient city access.
Viewings are now open and those interested can contact Ralph Sayer on 0131 225 5567 | property@ralphsayer.com to book in a viewing appointment for the 2 Bedroom Juniper or the 3 Bedroom Poplar.
Further £10 million for Scottish Funding Council to support the university sector
Additional support is to be made available through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to support universities facing financial challenges.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said an additional £10 million will be provided to the SFC to support higher education institutions such as the University of Dundee as they navigate current financial challenges.
It brings total additional support for the sector from the Scottish Government to £25 million, on top of the £1.1 billion in the 2025-26 budget for university teaching and research.
The Scottish Government will convene a range of expertise from across the higher education sector, government, and Dundee City Region to support the University of Dundee while it develops its Financial Recovery Plan. This is in addition to work already underway by the SFC, which engages closely with universities on financial sustainability.
The @ScotGov budget 2025-26 provided £4.3 billion for education and skills, including £186.5 million for councils to increase teacher numbers and £28 million for councils for ASN.
Ms Gilruth said: “The Scottish Government is providing an additional £10 million support package to assist universities such as Dundee with navigating immediate financial challenges. This is on top of the £15 million of extra support previously announced for the sector in February.
“Ministers have held further meetings with the University of Dundee, unions and the Scottish Funding Council this week, building on the extensive engagement that has already taken place with the institution since financial issues came to light.
“Both the Higher Education Minister and I have conveyed our deep concern at the level of job losses currently being discussed at the University. While the University is an autonomous institution, it is our clear expectation that the University’s leadership works with us, and engages fully with staff and trade unions, to explore all options to protect jobs.
“Work will continue in the coming days to convene the right range of expertise from across government, the sector, and the wider city region to support the institution as it continues to develop its Financial Recovery Plan.
“Scotland’s universities play a pivotal role in the economy and wider society, and they must be supported to thrive into the future. This support package is another clear sign of the Scottish Government’s commitment to support the sector with financial challenges – challenges which have been compounded by UK Government policies on migration and employer National Insurance contributions.”
Chief Executive of Scottish Funding Council Francesca Osowska said: “We welcome Scottish Ministers’ continued commitment to the tertiary sector and confirmation of this additional funding.
“Recognising the particular challenges facing the University of Dundee, we look forward to engaging with a wide range of partners to secure its continued success as a world-renowned University delivering excellent outcomes for learners and researchers and contributing to economic growth and social wellbeing.”
The additional £10 million capital funding has been identified from within the education portfolio.
Edinburgh remains one of the most prosperous and green places to live in the UK, according to findings collated by the City of Edinburgh Council.
The 18th annual Edinburgh by Numbers is based on data from a variety of sources including the ONS, National Records of Scotland and the Scottish Household Survey.
Looked at together, the figures reveal that residents in the Scottish capital are 1.5 times more likely to take up cycling and running – with most (74%) able to enjoy local green spaces within a five minute walk from home.
With 144 parks making up almost half of the city (49%), 92% of people surveyed are satisfied with local green spaces and Edinburgh has almost halved greenhouse gas emissions over the last decade (by 40.9% since 2012).
Highlighting the city’s economic resilience, Edinburgh has retained its position as the UK’s most economically productive city outside of London with some of the highest wages, skilled workers and employment.
Tourism continues to recover from the pandemic, with hotel occupancy rates at their highest in 6 years (81.4%) and 5 million visitors staying overnight in Edinburgh, and air and travel also rebounding.
The city is growing almost three times faster than the rest of Scotland and house prices are valued at the highest in the country. In 10 years, our population has grown by 8.4% to 523,250 people but for the first time, fewer babies are being born.
Further statistics reveal:
Edinburgh’s weather is changing, with April to June now the wettest months
Finance leads Edinburgh’s local economy, generating £7.2 billion – that’s as much as the next three largest sectors combined
Satisfaction with public transport is very high at 86% of those surveyed, well above Scotland’s 64% average
There are more university students in Edinburgh than school pupils (together, they make up 161,000 of the population)
75.8% of workers have a degree, which is far higher than other UK cities
Audiences are eager to return to top rated visitor attractions and events with visitors flocking to Edinburgh Castle (1.9m visitors) the National Museum of Scotland (2.19 million visitors) and the festivals (4.59 million in person and online attendees).
Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “This edition of Edinburgh by Numbers reminds us of the strength and success of our capital city, which continues to punch far above its weight as a place to live, work, invest in and visit.
“Thanks to our fantastic parks and air quality, ‘Auld Reekie’ is no more. We’re leading the way in climate consciousness and outdoor living – with the data pointing to more of us cycling and running, high satisfaction rates with public transport and positive scores for wellbeing.
“We know that the results of Edinburgh by Numbers are hotly anticipated by professionals from across the tourism sector at home and abroad, and the outlook for hospitality is healthy – people are flocking back to the city’s main attractions and festivals and 5 million visitors are staying overnight. That’s 40% of Scotland’s total overnight tourism with hotel occupancy rates their highest in six years (81.4%).
“So, we’re getting outdoors and we’re enjoying our city and, in this report, there is much to celebrate. That said, these numbers also speak to the challenges Edinburgh faces. Drawn by good jobs and a good quality of life, migration means our population is growing three times faster than other Scottish cities. We’re living longer, but the birth rate has dropped. Many residents are struggling with the cost of living – meaning poverty and homelessness remain two of the biggest challenges of our time
“All of this leads to unprecedented demand for homes and public services. Initiatives such as our affordable housebuilding programme, Visitor Levy, climate adaptation and better connectivity around the city will give us more resources and solutions for sustainably managing Edinburgh’s continued economic success and growth.”
Denise Hamilton, Head of Communications at Cycling Scotland, commented: “It’s really encouraging to see 68% of short trips now being made on foot or by bike in Edinburgh. New dedicated cycle routes, like the City Centre West to East Link and Leith Walk, are showing big increases in the proportion of journeys being cycled, compared with other transport.
“As Edinburgh continues to build its planned citywide network of safe, on-street cycle lanes, it’s likely more and more people will choose to get around by bike and benefit from being active, saving money and getting to their destination quickly. And everyone living in or visiting Edinburgh can enjoy cleaner air and less congestion.”
The ‘Coalition of the Willing’ will meet today as world leaders drive forward action to support a just and enduring peace for Ukraine
Prime Minister Keir Starmer to host around 25 leaders for virtual call in further push for peace
Comes as President Putin tries to play games with President Trump’s peace plan
Keir Starmer will say countries need to strain every sinew to further ramp up economic pressure on Russia and force Putin into negotiations
The ‘Coalition of the Willing’ will meet today as world leaders drive forward action to support a just and enduring peace for Ukraine.
Around 25 countries, including European partners, the EU Commission, NATO, Canada, Ukraine, Australia and New Zealand are expected to join the virtual meeting tomorrow morning.
The Prime Minister will tell leaders that now is the time for concrete commitments as President Putin tries to play pointless games with President Trump’s peace plan.
He will say that countries need to ratchet up economic pressure on Russia, to force Putin into negotiations, in the short term and be prepared to support a just and enduring peace in Ukraine over the long term and continue to ramp up our military support to Ukraine to defend themselves against increasing Russian attacks.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We can’t allow President Putin to play games with President Trump’s deal. The Kremlin’s complete disregard for President Trump’s ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace.
“If Russia finally comes to the table, then we must be ready to monitor a ceasefire to ensure it is a serious, and enduring peace, if they don’t, then we need to strain every sinew to ramp up economic pressure on Russia to secure an end to this war.
“Putin is trying to delay, saying there must be a painstaking study before a ceasefire can take place, but the world needs to see action, not a study or empty words and pointless conditions.
“My message to the Kremlin could not be clearer: stop the barbaric attacks on Ukraine, once and for all, and agree to a ceasefire now.
“Until then we will keep working around the clock to deliver peace.”
The call is expected to delve further into how countries plan to contribute to the Coalition of the Willing, ahead of a military planning session being held next week.
During the session tomorrow morning, leaders are expected to receive an update on progress made at a Chiefs of Defence meeting held in Paris on Tuesday, and updates from countries on efforts to unlock further military aid for Ukraine. The Prime Minister will also pay tribute to the collective European efforts to step up.
The call follows a week of intensive diplomacy by UK ministers after the Defence Secretary travelled to Paris to meet counterparts from Germany, France, Poland and Italy, and the Foreign Secretary travelled to Canada for G7 Foreign Ministers.
It also follows the Prime Minister’s Lancaster House Summit held a fortnight ago, where he again made clear that we must protect our country in a dangerous new era, and deliver on the foundation of security in the government’s Plan for Change.
The government has already accelerated that work, announcing an increase in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from 2027, with an ambition to reach 3% in the next parliament.
