Although it’s not summer yet, the weather has been heating up and hay fever can still be triggered by the increase of pollen.
If you’re looking for some helpful tips of how to manage your hay fever go to:
NHS Lothian: Hay Fever tips
Fraser of Allander: A look ahead to the Programme for Government
Recently, John Swinney announced that he would bring the 2025-26 Programme for Government to 6th May, which will situate the PfG exactly one year before the Holyrood election in May 2026 ((writes Fraser of Allander Institute’s MAIRI SPOWAGE)..
Normally, the Programme for Government is the annual opportunity for the Scottish Government to set out its policy priorities and the legislation it plans to pass in the coming year. This is usually published just after the return from the Summer recess, setting out both political statements and policy priorities but also (importantly) the legislation that the Government wishes to progress during the parliamentary year.
The First Minister has said he is bringing the statement forward to “enable a full year of delivery” before the Holyrood election.
The PfG that was set out in September was the first opportunity for John Swinney and Kate Forbes to set out their agenda since taking the leadership in Spring 2024. Our thoughts at the time are here – but broadly we welcomed the clear statement of the government’s prioritisation and what they would put first (tackling child poverty) above all else. Whether the government’s spending and policy decisions have actually been consistent with that may be a matter for debate.
Given the relatively short time that have elapsed since John Swinney’s first PfG as FM, there will be significant scrutiny of the document published on the 6th May – how have the policy priorities changed? What was promised in September which has now been sidelined in the run up to the election? And, given the limited legislative time left between now and March, what legislation has a realistic chance of making it through before the parliamentary session comes to an end.
Look out for our analysis on 6th May on the PfG!
Further fiscal fun in May
The PfG won’t be the last opportunity fo the Scottish Government to set out policy priorities.
On the fiscal side, the SG will publish the Medium-Term financial Strategy (MTFS) on 29th May. This will be accompanied by new forecasts from the Scottish Fiscal Commission, and is the SFC’s opportunity to produce forecasts that are consistent with the OBR forecasts that were produced alongside the Spring Statement in March.
In terms of the forecasts, we can expect (probably) that the view of the SFC on growth prospects for this year are likely to have worsened. The OBR in their forecasts in March cut growth for 2025 from 2% to 1%, and a number of independent forecasters have cut the forecast for the UK significantly. This is because of the impact of global uncertainty and turmoil, but also due to policy decisions by the UK Government such as the employer national Insurance increase.
The MTFS itself aims to focus on the longer-term sustainability of Scotland’s public finances and support a strategic approach to financial planning. The publication of this document alongside the Spring forecast is supposed to support the year round budgeting process in Holyrood, allowing the pre-budget scrutiny of committees in the Summer and Autumn to be based on up to date and meaningful information.
However, the MTFS to date has not really been successful in achieving these aims. It appears to be a strategic document, but has more often than not felt like a political statement, more aimed at managing expectations of what might be funded than in setting out a credible central scenario.
One of the issues with the MTFS is that there is no detail on how the spending projections contained within it are arrived at, and therefore it is impossible to scrutinise the priority of each and how realistic they are. When we come to try and understand the net fiscal position, we are often unable to reconcile the MTFS with any in-year spending changes. This throws into question its usefulness as a document. It is also why it has largely been abandoned by those scrutinising the Scottish Government – especially when it has not always been published when it was due.
See our commentary on the last version of this published in May 2023.
In addition to the MTFS, The Scottish Government said it will publish a Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan alongside the MTFS 2025 for the first time. The Government say this will support fiscal transparency and a foundation for longer-term financial planning, and announced this in the Autumn in the run up to a debate about fiscal sustainability in the Scottish Parliament.
We can all be cynical about additional plans and strategies being produced by the government (especially given what John Swinney said in May 2024 after taking power about taking action rather than writing more strategy documents). Particularly in this case though it’s unclear why a different document is needed.
The MTFS is supposed to address fiscal sustainability, and the fact that the Scottish Government is creating a separate one casts doubt on the usefulness and the seriousness with which the SG treats the MTFS – and therefore how seriously we should treat it.
However, let’s see what it contains, and we will analyse the contents in detail when it is produced on 29th May. We would expect that it will say something about pay and the size and shape of the public sector in Scotland. Given that around half of Scottish Government current spending is on pay, any long-term-focussed document that does not have a specific view on the size of employment and rate of growth in payroll over a number of years cannot be regarded as credible.
We understand there are also other documents that are likely to come over the summer, such as a plan for Public Service Reform, and a plan for a shift to prevention, particularly on public health.
The issues on pay and public sector size are very relevant to Public Service Reform as well as fiscal sustainability, as it is likely that we will have to drive reform which delivers more productive public services with fewer people than work in the public sector today.
In Search of Stillness: A Photographic Deep Dive Into Japan’s Bathing Culture
- Soo Burnell builds on her acclaimed Scottish poolside collection
- New exhibition explores Japan’s love of warm healing waters
Scottish fine art photographer Soo Burnell has turned her focus to Japanese culture for a new exhibition, building on her acclaimed poolside collections – which included historic Scottish swimming pools.
At the Onsen, A Journey Into Stillness, takes place at Edinburgh’s Saorsa Gallery from 3-11 May, and is an opportunity to see 40 new pieces by an artist who is highly praised for her “striking images” (Stephanie Wade, Editor, IGNANT).
Soo has long had a fascination with the atmosphere and beauty of the places we create for bathing as well as the rituals and traditions they embody. Her photography has a sense of mystery, drawing viewers into mesmerising parallel worlds.
Soo said: “I’ve been desperate to visit Japan for as long as I can remember. I’ve been fascinated by Japanese culture and the beautiful architecture, shrines and gardens.
“After shooting so many Victorian baths in Scotland, the rest of the UK and Europe, I was fascinated to dive deeper into the Japanese tradition of bathing and the importance of these warm healing waters.”
Last September’s trip to Japan aimed to explore the country’s onsens, bathhouses fed by natural hot springs, often volcanic, and which much-loved placed for leisure and relaxation.
These are places for healing the body and the mind (a therapeutic practice called toji). Hot spring towns (akin to spa towns in Europe) flourished in the Edo period 1603-1868.
Soo also visited sentos, traditional bathhouses, which are communal but with separate areas for men and women.
The onsen and sento are architectural opposites: one white and calm with arched windows and natural light, the other of dark wood. The create very different moods yet both are calm and peaceful with the constant sound of running water.
The trip took a year of planning and research with Soo eventually selecting seven locations that she wanted to visit.
The photography itself required time, and care, with Soo collaborating closely with her models so they were perfectly posed and presented to catch the calm and stillness of the bathhouses.
While the new collection stands in contrast to her poolside collections, there are common threads and themes.
Soo said: “I loved the pastel colour palette of the sentos, and the stories told through the murals, which were incredibly detailed.
“Also, they feel central to the communities they serve, reminding me of the historic swimming pools from my poolside collections – spaces that encouraged gathering, whether as families going to swim together or with people from the wider community.”
Listings Details
- Exhibition: At The Onsen, A Journey Into Stillness
- Venue: Saorsa Art Gallery, Deanhaugh St, Stockbridge, Edinburgh. EH4 1LY
- Times: 12pm-5pm
- Dates: 3-11 May
- Entry: Free
About Soo Burnell
Soo grew up in Edinburgh where she found inspiration in the buildings. These early impressions were to inform her later work. Following a project at Glenogle Baths, a pool she swam in as a child, Soo was reintroduced to the beauty of the architecture and the serenity found in these spaces, and this was the catalyst for a new direction in her photography.
Soo began documenting other historic pools around Edinburgh with the intention of capturing their striking architecture and, by contrast, the stillness housed within. She went on to photograph notable pools across the UK, from Aberdeen to London. Since then, Soo has photographed pools across Europe, including in Paris, for an exhibition called Into The Blue.
Over the last six years, Soo’s work has been showcased internationally, including exhibitions in New York, Paris, Berlin, The Hague, Ostend, London, Tokyo and Seoul, and she is represented by galleries all over the world.
In 2021, Soo published her first book, To the Water, and an updated second edition is due for release later this year. Soo’s work has also been featured in numerous publications, both digital and in print, including Accidentally Wes Anderson Vol. 1 and Vol. 2.
Instagram @sooukdotcom Website https://soo-burnell.com
Soo on her photography
“I love a hidden portrait where the viewer is left wondering who the subject is and what their story might be; the mystery of the character and why they’re there. I enjoy that ambiguity, and I like that it can have a different story to each viewer.
“My work explores my passion for architecture and composition. I’ve been fascinated by both for years, both consciously as a photographer but also growing up in Edinburgh and absorbing so much incredible architecture.
“Throughout my work, I’ve always wanted to capture the striking geometry along with the dramatic proportions and atmosphere of each space. The eye is drawn in to the architecture and the symmetry, and I use blocks of colour to show interesting shapes and proportions.”
Praise for Soo’s work
“Burnell’s nostalgic and immersive images capture the spirit of these architectural ‘great dames’ in a haunting light.” Betty Wood, Editor, The Spaces.
“The striking images in ‘To the Water’ showcase Burnell’s talent at capturing the geometric precision of each architectural pool. Posing swimmers, stunning colour palettes and dappled reflections of water combine to present an atmospheric collection of dream-like works.” Stephanie Wade, Editor, IGNANT
“A wonderful celebration of the beauty to be found in swimming pools all over the UK and Europe.” Isabelle Aron, Time Out.
Photography Walk tomorrow
Photography Walk – Monday 28th April
Come and join us for a fascinating dive into mobile phone photography with artist and photographer @Linsdayperth.artchunks.
Learn how to lock the focus, work with depth of field, motion capture and more.
This workshop will have two parts.
First is the technical – we will look at the very powerful but easy-when-you-know-how cameras you have in your mobile phones. We’ll look at ways you can control these cameras, use light, frame and edit using apps that come with your mobile.
Secondly, we will look at light and how to work with light to take not only better photos and portraits but also ones that tell the story you want to tell with your images.
Monday 28th April
10-12.00
Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, 67b Groathill Rd North
EASY walking inside and around Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre
AI doctors’ assistant to speed up appointments a ‘gamechanger’
Interim trial data shows revolutionary tech has dramatically reduced admin
- Westminster Government drives forward use of innovative artificial intelligence in hospitals to improve patient care
- New government guidance set out today will encourage its use across health service while protecting patient data and privacy
- Trials show dramatic reduction in admin and more time for direct patient care, as Plan for Change delivers ‘seismic shift’ in care to digital
NHS clinicians in England will be supported to use groundbreaking artificial intelligence tools that bulldoze bureaucracy and take notes to free up staff time and deliver better care to patients thanks to guidance published today.
Interim trial data shows that the revolutionary tech has dramatically reduced admin, and meant more people could be seen in A&E, clinicians could spend more time during an appointment focusing on the patient, and appointments were shorter.
Through its Plan for Change the UK government is getting the NHS back on its feet and slashing waiting lists. Guidance published today will encourage the use of these products – which use speech technologies and generative AI to convert spoken words into structured medical notes and letters – across a range of primary and secondary care settings, including hospitals and GP surgeries.
The government’s mission-led approach is driving forward the use of innovative tech and new approaches to reform the health system and improve care for patients – offering them quicker and smarter care.
One of the tools – ambient voice technologies (AVTs) – can transcribe patient-clinician conversations, create structured medical notes, and even draft patient letters.
Patient safety and privacy will be paramount. This is why the guidance will focus on data compliance and security, risk identification and assessment, while ensuring that staff are properly trained before using the technology.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “AI is the catalyst that will revolutionise healthcare and drive efficiencies across the NHS, as we deliver our Plan for Change and shift care from analogue to digital.
“I am determined we embrace this kind of technology, so clinicians don’t have to spend so much time pushing pens and can focus on their patients.
“This government made the difficult but necessary decision at the Budget to put a record £26 billion into our NHS and social care including cash to roll out more pioneering tech.”
The NHS England funded, London-wide AVT work, led by Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, has evaluated AVT capabilities across a range of clinical settings – Adult Outpatients, Primary Care, Paediatrics, Mental Health, Community care, A+E and across London Ambulance Service.
This multi-site evaluation involving over 7000 patients has demonstrated widespread benefits. Interim data shows:
- Increase in direct care – clinicians spending more time spent with patients rather than typing on a computer
- Increase in productivity in A&E – the technology has supported more patients to be seen in emergency departments by carrying out admin for A&E staff
At GOSH, AVTs have listened to consultations and drafted clinic notes and letters. These were then edited and authorised by the clinician before being uploaded to the secure electronic health record system and sent on to patients and their families. Clinicians agreed the AI helped them offer more attention to their patients without affecting the quality of the clinic note or letter.
Dr Maaike Kusters, Paediatric Immunology Consultant at GOSH, says: “The patients I see in my clinics have very complex medical conditions and it’s so important to make sure I capture what we discuss in our appointments accurately, but often this means I am typing rather than looking directly at my patient and their family.
“Using the AI tool during the trial meant I could sit closer to them face-to-face and really focus on what they were sharing with me, without compromising on the quality of documentation.”
As it stands, clinicians in hospitals and GP surgeries are forced to spend much of their consultations recording information into a computer instead of focusing on the patient in front of them.
Once the patient has left, they are often required to take that information and summarise it in documents like referral letters. The government is determined to reform these outdated ways of working and revolutionise care, and this innovative tech will do that work for them, so they can see their next patient.
The Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre in East Hull (part of City Health Care Partnership) has introduced an ambient scribing product to make their documentation process faster and better support their work to care for people living with frailty.
By converting a conversation with a patient into a clinical note, the ambient scribing product is freeing up time for a range of staff including GPs, consultants, nurses, and physiotherapists.
Thanks to government action, GP surgeries delivered 31.4 million appointments last month– a 6.1% increase on the previous year – and waiting lists have fallen by 219,000 patients. This technology will help consolidate this progress.
The government is already using AI to speed up diagnosis and treatment for a range of health issues – spotting pain levels for people who can’t speak, diagnosing breast cancer quicker, and getting people discharged quicker.
The World of King James VI and I at the Portrait gallery
The World of King James VI and I
National Galleries Scotland: Portrait
26 April – 14 September 2025
Tickets £4 – £9 | Friends go free
The World of King James VI and I | National Galleries of Scotland
A special, one-off exhibition opened at the Portrait gallery in Edinburgh yesterday (Saturday 26 April), charting the remarkable reign of King James VI and I. Marking the 400-year anniversary of his death, visitors can explore over 140 rare objects, many displayed together for the first time.
The World of King James VI and I takes afascinating journey through the complex lifeof a king who changed the shape of the United Kingdom. Open until 14 September 2025, uncover more about this often-misunderstood monarch through ornate paintings, dazzling jewels, lavish textiles, and rare book and manuscripts, alongside some of the most iconic historical portraits from Scotland’s national collection.
This is the first exhibition dedicated to King James VI and I to be held in Edinburgh in 50 years and the only opportunity to see The World of King James VI and I anywhere in the world. The exhibition features several important loans from a range of galleries and private collections from across the UK, including National Museums Scotland, The Royal Collection Trust, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Fashion Museum Bath. This includes a variety of books, prints, clothing, jewellery, and objects, creating an immersive journey through King James’s world.
Thanks to a collaborative research project funded by The University of Edinburgh, visitors to the exhibition can be immersed in the sounds, sights and even the smell of King James’s world. In collaboration with Dr Catriona Murray (The University of Edinburgh) and the historic scent designer Clara Weale, a bespoke scent has been created especially for The World of King James VI and I. Inspired by a 17th-century apothecary list, also on display, this unique aspect of the exhibition allows visitors to experience the smell of the Jacobean court.
Son of Mary, Queen of Scots, successor to Elizabeth I and the first monarch to rule over Scotland, England and Ireland, King James was born in Edinburgh Castle on 19 June 1566 during one of the most turbulent periods in Scottish history. Following his mother’s forced abdication in 1567, James was crowned king of Scotland at just 13 months old. Religious reform and noble power struggles dominated his early reign, however his accession to the English throne in 1603 saw him become the uniter of kingdoms.
Discover tales of friendship, family, feuds and ambition and dive deeper into the life of King James through key moments in his reign including his early childhood, the infamous Scottish witch trials, the Union of the Crowns, the treasonous Gunpowder Plot and early colonial ventures overseas.
This exhibition not only brings King James’s story to life, but transports visitors into the world in which he lived and ruled, celebrating craft, visual arts, literature and performance from the 16th and 17th centuries. The World of King James VI and I offers new perspectives on the King’s life by drawing on themes of contemporary relevance including national identity, queer histories and spirituality and belief.
Meet some of the most famous faces of the period through key artworks from Scotland’s national collection. Uncover more about his family ties and his closest confidants, and see striking portraits of Mary, Queen of Scots, his wife and Queen Consort, Anna of Denmark, and his father, Henry, Lord Darnley. Accompany James as he grows from an orphaned boy king to established ruler of nations through a range of portraits and objects which document his life, loves and achievements.
The exhibition gives visitors the rare opportunity to view objects that were owned, or associated with King James, including books from his library and gifts he presented to his favourites, such as an intricate silver watch and a 17th-century penknife believed to have belonged to his son, Prince Henry Frederick.
Skillfully hand-painted manuscripts by the Edinburgh-based writer and artist Esther Inglis, which were dedicated to the king and members of the court, are on display for the first time. The first known letter written by King James, when he was just seven years old, is also included in the exhibition. In the letter the King thanks his guardian’s wife, the Countess of Mar, for sending him fruit.
Embrace the pageantry and ceremony of the Jacobean court through sumptuous dress, jewellery, objects and designs from the 16th and 17th centuries. Come up close to original textiles, including a beautifully constructed ladies’ waistcoat on loan from the Fashion Museum in Bath. Embroidered with delicate flowers and adorned with ribbon fasteners, this stunning example of courtly fashion brings to life the lavish outfits depicted in the portraits on display.
The impressive Eglington Jewel (1610), on loan from The Fitzwilliam Museum, also features in the exhibition alongside related artworks. A rare surviving example of work by Edinburgh jeweller George Heriot, it comprises of a miniature portrait of Anna of Denmark enclosed in a crimson enamel case and adorned with the Queen’s initials set in diamonds beneath an imperial crown.
Visitors have the unique opportunity to view this exquisite jewel alongside a portrait of Lady Anne Livingstone, Countess of Eglinton (1612) in which she can be seen wearing it.
Delve into the belief system in Scotland during a time where spirituality, healing and folklore were entwined with strict religious views. The World of King James VI and I includes an early example of the revolutionary King James Bible, on loan from the National Library of Scotland.
The King ordered a new translation of the Bible in 1604, with the version on display dating to 1611. Along with his deeply religious beliefs James was very superstitious and fixated on the occult, particularly the perceived practice of witchcraft.
His beliefs lead him to become instrumental in the origins of the Scottish witch trials. Amongst a variety of objects related to witchcraft will be an original copy of Daemonologie (1597), also from the National Library of Scotland.
This book was written by King James himself and documented the evils of Satan and the covens of witches who acted on his behalf. Daemonologie would go on to set a standard for identifying and persecuting thousands of people, mostly women, as witches, causing lasting notoriety to King James’s legacy.
Travel across the seas to explore James and his government’s reach into North America and East Asia in the 17th century as the exhibition uncovers Jacobean trading ventures and early colonisation projects.
The establishment of the first British colony on North American soil took place under James’s reign. In May 1607 the king granted a warrant to The Virginia Company and The Virginia Colony was founded on the indigenous lands of the Powhatan people called Tsenacommacah.
The colony base was named ‘Jamestown’ in the King’s honour. These colonial projects and settlements lead to the displacement and objectification of many indigenous peoples.
Artworks and objects on display include a print of the Powhatan woman Pocahontas, loaned by The British Museum. Taken captive by the English colonists when hostilities between the Powhatans and the settlers escalated into conflict, Pocahontas was converted to Christianity and married to an English tobacco merchant John Rolfe.
Pocahontas and Rolfe travelled from Virginia to England in 1617. The print shows Pocahontas aged 21, dressed in Jacobean fashions, which she may have worn when she was presented at court to King James and Queen Anna.
Pocahontas died in England and is buried in the cemetery of St George’s Church in Gravesend, Kent.
Experience the great loves and relationships that influenced King James’s time as monarch, from his marriage to Anna of Denmark, to his role as a father to Prince Henry Frederick, Princess Elizabeth and the future King Charles I.
The exhibition sheds light on the King’s own identity and his role within contemporary queer culture, through exploring his relationships with his court favourites. Personal letters and portraits spotlight King James’s inner circle and favoured courtiers, including George Villers, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Robert Kerr, 1st Earl of Somerset, with whom he established close, intimate relationships and who harnessed great influence over his reign.
Kate Anderson, Senior Curator of Portraiture at the National Galleries of Scotland said: “We’re so excited to bring the world of King James VI & I to life for our visitors.
“The wide range of material in the exhibition comes together to illustrate the visually and materially rich world that the King lived in. The artworks and objects on display give us the unique opportunity to delve into King James’s life and reign and uncover the people, places and events that shaped him.
“From impressive portraits to tiny jewels and exquisite embroidered textiles, the exhibition also gives visitors insight into the highly skilled work produced by the artists and craftspeople who were working in Scotland and England in the Jacobean period.”
The World of King James VI and I at the Portrait gallery in Edinburgh is a unique exhibition experience, painting famous historical figures in a new light and connecting the people of the past with the people of today.
The exhibition is yours to discover at National Galleries Scotland: Portrait from Saturday 26 April 2025.
‘Consciously cruel’ – UK social security system is pushing people beyond the brink, says new Amnesty report
- Human rights in the UK in crisis as new report exposes crushing evidence of a social security system ruining lives
- Discrimination and dehumanisation reported as rife as punitive system drives poverty by policy
- ‘They told me to go in for an assessment, and my baby had passed away… not even two days before…. And they were like, well if you need the money, you will come in. It’s not my fault your baby is dead’ – Claimant
- ‘I would often be asked the same question three times to see if I’d change my answer. The process feels like you are on trial for murder, they act like they are trying to catch you out and that you are begging’ – Peter
- ‘Lives are being ruined by a system that is consciously cruel – it erodes dignity by design. We are in a state of severe human rights violations’– Jen Clark, Amnesty
Amnesty International UK’s new report takes a deep dive into the murky and divisive world of the UK social security system. The unique research is an extensive look through the lens of human rights violations across our basic rights to housing, food, education, healthcare and social security.
The evidence delivers damning conclusions on how the system processes, punishes, harms and dehumanises people and fails to meet international legal obligations. Successive UK governments have ignored the UN’s pleas to take urgent action to fix this.
Poverty is a visible sign of a failing social security system. When the government knowingly makes choices to make poverty worse, it is deliberately violating basic human rights. We have moved from a society that supports people to a punitive system that drives poverty by policy.
The rate of poverty in the UK is now higher than at any point in the 21st century. Sixteen million people in the UK are living in families in poverty – almost a quarter of the UK*. Of these, 5.2 million are children, 9.2 million are working-age adults, and 1.5 million are pension-age adults.
For its report ‘Social Insecurity’ Amnesty’s collaborated with over 700 benefit claimants and advisors to provide a platform for the people most gravely affected and show how politicians are playing with people’s lives and ignoring our most basic rights. In 2024 86% of low-income families on Universal Credit went without essentials such as heating, food and clothing.
With the backdrop of the Spring Statement and devastating disability social security cuts, Amnesty’s report delivers a crushing blow of evidence on the UK’s social security system and political choices that have pushed people into poverty and centres real-life experiences throughout, demonstrating the depth of dehumanisation.
Recommendations from the report
- System overhaul: A landmark, independent Social Security Commission with statutory powers to overhaul the UK’s broken benefits system—rooted in dignity and human rights.
- Urgent protection from harm: The UK Government to urgently reverse harmful social security cuts, sanctions and caps including the two-child limit and ensure upcoming reforms of PIP, ESA and Universal Credit, meet international human rights standards and are shaped by those most affected.
- Legal protections: The UK Government to put in place legal frameworks protecting economic, social and cultural rights to ensure everyone’s basic human rights to food, housing, and dignity are protected in law and prevent failures in social security policy from causing wider harms.
Sections of the report expose
Systemic failures and lack of dignity and respect: Reports of hostile attitudes and judgmental behaviour within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) illustrate systemic shortcomings. The current system fails to meet its obligations to treat claimants with humanity and compassion, contributing to distrust and trauma of vulnerable individuals.
“Client had a Personal Independent Payment claim terminated as they would only offer a telephone appointment, despite them being profoundly deaf”. (Social Security Advisor)
“They told me to go in for an assessment, and my baby had passed away. Like not even two days before…. And they were like, well if you need the money, you will come in. It’s not my fault your baby is dead”. (Claimant)
Restricted access to Social Security and discriminatory practices
There are discriminatory conditions that restrict access for marginalised groups, inadequate transparency in eligibility criteria, and insufficient efforts to ensure effective, fair and transparent appeal processes.
“Every time someone is assessed inappropriately for benefits, it takes extra time and money for the mistake to be corrected. Most often the claimants suffer, but the taxpayers also suffer owing to the additional administration and resolution costs which need to be met”. (Advisor)
Social Security advisors across the country described how difficult access to information about entitlements and processes are. 64% of advisors rated it very difficult or difficult to get access to information on Universal Credit, and 68% of advisors said the same for PIP and 58% for ESA.
Of 416 claimants who responded to the question, 52% rated access to Social Security schemes as difficult or very difficult.
Unjust and ill-informed decisions on sanctions and deductions
23% of the claimants who completed Amnesty research had experienced being sanctioned or having a deduction. Within this, 78% of people said it worsened their mental health. 55% told us they reduced the food they ate and 35% went without food. 47% of people stated that it worsened their physical health. 44% of people told us they were forced to borrow money to make ends meet.
“Client lost benefits and home after being turned down for not attending the assessment as he soiled himself on the train to assessment centre and had to go home”. (Advisor)
“I’ve been sanctioned loads of time because I’m working. Borrowed off my sister and mother. Without them, I would probably be dead in the gutter because I couldn’t afford to live” (Claimant)
“They look down on you when you walk into the job centre. I had a panic attack in the job centre. I couldn’t breathe, and she went “you better get upstairs now and see your work coach, or we are going to sanction you” (Claimant)
“The actual interview is on the phone when they talk to you. They only give you one call…. If you missed that one call, they sanction that. They should give at least 3 rings at least give you a chance.” (Claimant)
Jen Clark, Economic and Social Rights Lead at Amnesty International UK, said: “Lives are being ruined by a system that is consciously cruel – it erodes dignity by design. We are in a state of severe human rights violations.
“The social security system is impenetrable, inadequate, and for some completely inaccessible.
“There can be no tinkering of the system – it has gone too far, and it is too late. There must be full reform. It is broken from start to finish and intentionally sets people up to fail. No-one would want political choices in this country to deliberately diminish dignity and perpetuate poverty.
“I’ve worked to highlight human rights violations for more than two decades and witnessed many awful situations. But never have I encountered such raw and widespread distress from people sharing their experiences in the UK.
“We need a landmark, independent Social Security Commission with statutory powers to overhaul the UK’s broken benefits system. It must be rooted in dignity and human rights and designed by and for the people. This must protect us all – be that today or in the future where we all may need it.”
Voices of the campaign
John, 60’s, from Hampshire was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) quite late on in life – in his 60s. It progressed much faster than he could have ever expected. “In August 2021, before I even knew what was happening to me, I was still working at the Ministry of Defence as a Policy Advisor. I was deployed to Afghanistan to help with the evacuation. Before my diagnosis, I had spent years working and contributing, and I never once thought I would be in a position where I needed to rely on benefits.”
In speaking about the experience of applying for Personal Independence Payment (PiP), John said:
“Applying was a nightmare. The process was so difficult and one-sided. When I finally received my assessment, DWP had scored me zero for the impact MS had on my daily life. Zero. If they had at least acknowledged some of the difficulties, if they had scored me a five or six or even a seven instead of the eight, I needed, I might have accepted it. But to say that MS had no impact on my life at all? That was infuriating.
“There is a bus stop 100 meters from my house. Usain Bolt could get there in less than 10 seconds whereas it takes me 10 minutes, but we would both score a zero for impact of MS on our lives. It’s ridiculous.”
Carly, 39, London is a single mother to a young son. She was recently receiving Universal credit, with contributions towards housing and her son’s childcare costs. Despite having good knowledge of the process from a prior job, she found navigating the social security system difficult.
In speaking about Universal Credit and the challenges that occur when benefits are wrongly cancelled, Carly said:
“As a single parent, working in a temporary role, I was not earning enough to cover private rental fees. My son had just started nursery, and I had a lot of expenses that my salary couldn’t cover. I applied for benefits with a five week wait – which was a very difficult time.
“When my role was made permanent, I got a lump sum of holiday pay in my paycheck – meaning I was paid more that month than usual. Unexpectedly, this led to my benefits claim being incorrectly cancelled. I wasn’t contacted about this and had no idea until the money didn’t appear in my bank account. I was crying on the phone telling my landlord I couldn’t pay my rent. I had a terrible ten-week wait until my social security payments started again and had to borrowed money from friends and family. I was offered an advance before the claim came through – but I’d already had one to pay for nursery fees and didn’t want to get into further debt.
“I did lodge a complaint about the cancellation of my benefits, but the claim wasn’t upheld, and I felt I didn’t have the time or energy to fight it.
“The hardest thing about the social security system is the uncertainty and insecurity around it all. It was very mentally challenging to not know when or how much my payments would be. I lived in fear of uploading the wrong information and having my benefits cancelled again. The worst part is the feeling like you have no control over anything. You always feel insecure. I was always relieved when universal credit went in, and it was the amount you were expecting.
“The stigma is real, navigating the system only amplifies it, making an already difficult situation even harder. You have no autonomy, no choice, there’s nothing you can do. It creates a feeling that you aren’t deserving or worthy – that you should be grateful and not challenge anything.”
Philip from Leeds
“I lost my job suddenly in September 2023. I did my applications early to get ahead, but I didn’t realise the claim automatically starts from the day you fill the form in, and you can’t change the date. It made my claim invalid which meant I missed my initial payment. I also never received the support I was due towards my home costs, despite chasing and asking many times. When I contacted the Job Centre to request a face-to-face appointment with a work coach, but it took me over a month to be able to get the appointment and sadly, it wasn’t helpful at all.
“Around this time, my father was ill with dementia. I live far from my parents and don’t drive, and being on such a low income meant I didn’t have the funds to travel there by public transport. I couldn’t afford to visit my father in his final days, and he passed away in November 2023. Not being able to see him before he died was extremely difficult and after going to my GP, I was put on anti-depressants.
“Having to chase my social security claim and not getting responses or offers to the jobs I was applying for, alongside with the grief I was experiencing, had a huge effect on my mental health and made things very difficult. I was struggling to cope.”
Additional case studies
Valerie*
“Being on benefits in the UK can feel almost taboo- something to keep private and feel embarrassed about. This is sad, because the vast majority of us are just normal people trying to live life the best way we can, raise our families and find whatever happiness there is in life despite the hardships we face.”
Peter
“I started receiving social security in 2021, just after I finished university. I applied for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) due to a long-term health condition. The PIP application process was atrocious and ultimately took over a year.
“I had to deal with a lack of understanding about my condition. One of the interviewers mislabelled and misunderstood the medical equipment I use and even went as far as to lecture me about my own illness. I had to get my doctor to write a letter just to confirm what I’d said.
“I would often be asked the same question three times to see if I’d change my answer. The process feels like you are on trial for murder, they act like they are trying to catch you out and that you are begging.
“The PIP application needs to be renewed every couple of years or so – despite my disability being due to a long-term health condition that won’t improve over time. Itt’s like I am starting over again each time.
“Watching my friends from Uni live their lives makes me feel like I am missing out on a lot. I would like to be able to do more things, to get out and about a bit more – perhaps take a day trip to a local area. Even to travel locally is hard as the buses are too expensive and I can’t afford a car. I don’t want to be on benefits, I’d love to be able to work but I simply can’t.”
Steve
“I had to stop working 15 years ago. I’d been struggling with severe pain in my right knee for about two years before finally having surgery. That’s when I was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis. I somehow managed to keep working through the pain, but eventually, it just became too much. I’ve now developed Osteoarthritis throughout my whole body.
“I use a crutch indoors and both crutches whenever I go outside. Getting around is incredibly difficult, but I push myself because if I didn’t get out at all, I’d feel down and alone.
“Appling for Universal Credit and PIP was tough. Being on benefits doesn’t feel great. I’m in a small studio flat and most days I’m by myself. Going out for shopping is the only time I see anyone. Prices have gone up too, which makes things harder.
“Losing my mum in 2020, just before lockdown, hit me hard. I still miss her so much. And visiting and being with my dad brings me comfort. It makes things much better for me. Visiting my dad is really hard with my condition. He’s 92 now and lives over three and a half hours away. My sister moved closer to him to help out. I try to go see them when I can, but the journey is a lot.
“I have to get a train into London, struggle through the underground to catch another train, then a bus, and finally a taxi to his place. Before COVID, I used to take the National Express coach straight to his, then just a taxi. But that route’s been cancelled and it’s now so much longer and more exhausting.”
TODAY: Cherry Blossom Picnic at Starbank Park
A quick ask for folks to bring baking donations and plants for the stalls please.
We are very excited about our picnic and look forward to seeing you all there this afternoon!
Bowel Cancer: Get Checked Early
Early signs of bowel cancer are often hidden, so it’s important to look out for changes in your bowel movements.
For a full list of signs and symptoms visit http://getcheckedearly.org/bowel-cancer
If you’re worried about your symptoms, your GP practice wants to know.
Foysol Choudhury Congratulates Anisa Khan, the First Finalist of Bengali-descent on BBC’s The Apprentice
Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, congratulates Anisa Khan, a 26-year-old entrepreneur who has made history as the first finalist of Bengali descent to appear on BBC’s The Apprentice.
She is the owner of Bombay Pizza, an Indian-Italian fusion pizza company in London. She identifies as a British-Bangladeshi woman and her heritage plays a significant role in her business and her identity.
She is a national Kabaddi player from London and has founded Bombay Pizza with the plan to redefine success with the incorporation of South Asian influence.
As the first finalist of Bengali descent, she blends her cultural pride into her work, representing her passion for food, family, and culture.
The Apprentice is one of the UK’s most influential reality TV shows, showcasing ambitious entrepreneurs competing for a business investment from Lord Alan Sugar.
Over nearly two decades, it has become a cultural phenomenon, inspiring viewers with high-stakes challenges, strategic decision-making, and entrepreneurial ambition.
The 2025 finale, which aired on Thursday, April 17, drew around 3.5 million viewers, with Dean Franklin, founder of ADL Air Conditioning, named Lord Sugar’s newest business partner.
Since 2020, Anisa has been operating Bombay Pizza from a dark kitchen in Wallington, Sutton, crafting hand-crafted pizzas inspired by South Asian flavours.
Due to high demand, Bombay Pizza currently offers in-person orders only, but Anisa recently launched Bombay Pizza by Post, a nationwide delivery service.
Last month’s postal orders sold out quickly, but customers can sign up for the mailing list to be the first to know when they’re back in stock. In celebration of her Apprentice journey, Anisa has introduced a special edition of Apprentice-inspired pizzas on Bombay Pizza by Post, each named after one of the final five contestants.
‘The Anisa’ features Bengali chicken naga, peppers, red onions, and mozzarella on a spicy masala base—bringing the heat in true Apprentice fashion.
Anisa approached The Apprentice with confidence and ambition, believing in the immense potential of Bombay Pizza’s unique concept and its overwhelmingly positive reception.
Reflecting on her time on the show, she shared, “I didn’t realise how resilient I was as a person. I’m someone that if I have a goal, I’ll make it happen.”
Over 12 gruelling weeks, she showcased determination and drive, making her one of the standout contenders of the season.
In the series finale, Anisa finished as runner-up. She remains undeterred, leveraging her experience and connections to propel Bombay Pizza to even greater heights. This is truly a world-class achievement and has given a sense of pride to the Bangladeshi and South Asian community in the UK. For those eager to taste the flavours that took her so far, a visit to Bombay Pizza in Wallington, London is a must.
Commenting, Foysol Choudhury MSP said: “Anisa has brought great pride to the Bangladeshi community in Scotland and throughout the UK.
“Her contemporary ideas and fusion of South Asian flavour and Italian cuisine have been a wonderful addition to the restaurant sector in London.
“I am proud to call her father, Mr. Yawar Khan, a dear friend and I look forward to witnessing the success of her business continue.”