A 23-year-old man arrested in connection with a disturbance in Edinburgh has now been charged. He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today – Wednesday, 4th March.
Around 8.25am on Monday, 2 March, 2026, police, including firearms officers, attended the Calder Gardens area following reports of a man with a bladed weapon.
Two people were injured and taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment. A man suffered injuries consistent with being stabbed. A woman suffered a laceration to the head, not believed to be caused by a bladed weapon. Both have since been discharged.
The incident is not being treated as terror related.
Chief Inspector Scott Kennedy said: “I’m aware misinformation continues to be shared online about this incident which could cause further distress in the local community. I’d like to be clear: we did not receive any reports of a man attempting to enter a nursery or any educational establishment and this was not a hostage situation.
“While we understand what happened was frightening, I’d ask people to avoid speculating about the details and be mindful that false information could affect any future court proceedings.
“We still have a police presence in the area for reassurance and I thank the public for their continued assistance and support.”
Last night, a letter signed by dozens of cross-party MPs, celebrities including Dame Joanna Lumley and Amanda Holden, and animal organisations such as Animal Rising and PETA, was sent to the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood MP.
The letter calls for an immediate closure of MBR Acres, the only site in the UK breeding dogs for the animal testing industry, alongside the safe rehoming of all the beagles there.
This comes after years of campaigning against the site, with more than 170,000 people signing a petition to close it down.
MBR Acres is licensed to bleed healthy dogs to death, by directly inserting needles into their heart and surrounding blood vessels, and also to harvest their organs.
In the latest blow for animal testing in the UK, and more specifically the use of beagle dogs, public figures from across politics, television, academia, and more have united to call on the Government to “let Britain lead the world into a future without animal testing” and close the only site in the country breeding dogs for the industry.
Rose Patterson, Animal Rising Director, said: “Dozens of public figures have added their voices to the open letter, and over 170,000 people have signed the petition to shut down MBR Acres. The British public is united on this and expects change at the highest level.
“We call ourselves a nation of animal lovers, but MBR Acres holds a licence to bleed healthy dogs to death by inserting needles directly into their hearts. Those two things cannot coexist. The Government has a mandate to act, and shutting down MBR Acres is the easiest first step they could take.”
The letter is the latest in a series of escalating campaigns calling on the Government to take genuine steps towards phasing out animal testing in the UK, as per their manifesto pledge in the lead-up to the 2024 General Election. MPs from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, SNP, Green Party, and Your Party have all signed to show their support for the campaign.
Carla Denyer MP, Green Party Member of the House of Commons for Bristol Central, said: “Is this another Labour U-turn? On 22nd December, the government published its Animal Welfare Strategy, which recommitted to ‘phase out animal testing’, but on 11th February, the government redefined ‘Key National Infrastructure’ in the Public Order Act to include animal testing sites.
“The charitable interpretation is that the government’s left hand doesn’t know what its right hand is doing, or more concerningly, that they are trying to tell the people what they want to hear while quietly acting in the interest of big businesses instead.
“I hope the government sees that the route to regaining public support involves reversing this decision and closing down MBR Acres for good.”
MBR Acres and their parent company, Marshall BioResources, have been under intense scrutiny for decades. Most notably, in 2015, an Italian facility run by the company, Green Hill, was shut down, and 3,000 dogs were rehomed after undercover footage revealed horrific conditions at the site.
Three senior employees of the company were also jailed. Multiple instances of undercover footage showing the conditions at MBR Acres have also been released since 2021.
Currently, the fourth of five trials relating to two separate rescues of beagle puppies from MBR Acres is ongoing.
The previous three trials have returned one acquittal and two convictions, with sentences ranging from 18-month suspended sentences to conditional discharges.
COSLA is urging Members of the Scottish Parliament to support the passage of the Bill to incorporate the European Charter of Local Self-Government into Scots law, describing it as a historic opportunity to strengthen democracy, empower communities, and improve outcomes across Scotland.
Incorporation of the Charter would, for the first time, establish a clear legal framework for the relationship between national and local government, helping ensure decisions are taken as close as possible to the people they affect. It would also bring Scotland into line with other members of the Council of Europe, where the Charter’s principles are already embedded in domestic law.
Council leaders across Scotland have already expressed unanimous support for the Bill and believe its passage will help ensure local government can continue to play its full role in improving lives and reducing inequalities.
It would also strengthen the rights of local people to participate in decisions and help embed partnership working at the heart of Scotland’s governance.
Cllr Shona Morrison, President of COSLA, said: “This Bill represents a vital step forward for Scotland’s democracy and for the communities we serve. Incorporating the Charter into law will help ensure decisions are taken at the right level and that councils have the powers, flexibility and recognition they need to deliver the best possible outcomes for local people.
“Council leaders across Scotland have emphasised that the Bill would help modernise how governments work together, ensuring local authorities have the independence, flexibility and recognition they need to deliver for their communities.
“It will strengthen partnership working between national and local government, protect the rights of communities, and bring Scotland into line with international democratic standards.
“I would urge all MSPs, from across the political spectrum, to support the passage of this important legislation and help secure lasting benefits for Scotland’s people and places.”
The refugee model will shift from permanent to temporary for those who arrive through illegal routes
Refugee status will become temporary and subject to review every 30 months for all adults claiming asylum from today, the Home Secretary has announced.
Protection will be renewed for all those refugees who still face danger in their home country. Those whose country has now become safe, and therefore no longer require protection, will be expected to return home.
The change follows Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s visit to Denmark last week, which introduced a similar approach in recent years. The Danes have reduced asylum claims by more than 90% in a decade.
Last November, as part of the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration since the Second World War, the government announced that refugee protection would become temporary. At the same time, refugees who want to stay in Britain and have skills will be able to apply for new work and study visas, helping them integrate with and contribute to society.
Britain will also open new, safe and legal routes, with community sponsorship becoming the new norm. The entire approach is designed to shift the asylum system in Britain away from dangerous, illegal crossings, and high levels of applications from those without legitimate asylum claims.
Under these changes, adults and accompanied children claiming asylum from today will receive a 30-month period of protection, if granted. At a 30-month review, refugees with a continuing need of sanctuary will have their protection renewed, while those whose countries are now deemed safe will be expected to return home.
Under the previous system, refugees were granted 5 years of protection and allowed to bring their families – followed by near-automatic, fee-free permanent settlement with continued access to benefits and housing. This was amongst the most generous offers to refugees in any country in Western Europe.
The Home Secretary has argued this has become a pull-factor that has seen asylum claims in Britain rise steeply, including tens of thousands of illegitimate claims each year, as they fall across the rest of the continent.
Refugees under the reformed system will need to renew their permission to stay or apply for a legal visa route. Family reunion remains paused while new rules are designed that bring financial and integration requirements in line with those expected of British citizens.
The reset in Britain’s asylum offer, inspired by Denmark’s success, will encourage those wishing to build a life in the UK to do so via legal routes and reduce the pull factors driving illegal migration. The first step towards a new, ‘core protection’ system will be introduced through a change to the Immigration Rules later this week.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “This country will always provide sanctuary to those fleeing war and persecution. But we must also ensure our asylum system is not creating pull factors that draw people on dangerous journeys across the world, fuelling and funding the human traffickers.
“Genuine refugees will find safety in Britain, but we must also reduce the incentives that draw people here at such scale, including those without a legitimate need for protection. So, once a refugee’s home is safe and they are able to return, they will be expected to do so.
“This is a firm but fair approach, restoring order and control of Britain’s borders, while protecting those fleeing war and repression.”
While Denmark was cutting asylum claims to a 40-year low, the UK saw a 13% increase in the year to September 2025. Across the EU, applications fell by 22% over the same period.
Since 2015, Denmark has made refugee status temporary (subject to review every 2 years), introduced restrictions on family reunion and increased the wait for permanent settlement to 8 years, subject to strict integration and employment requirements.
Under reforms announced last autumn, refugees in the UK will have to wait 20 years for settlement, unless they switch to a legal visa route, as part of the ‘core protection’ model.
New routes will be created as an alternative to ’core protection’ for those who can contribute through work or study, encouraging use of the legal migration system and contributing to better social cohesion. Further details of these will be set out in future Immigration Rules changes.
Unaccompanied children will continue to receive 5 years’ leave, while the government considers the appropriate long-term policy for this group. Further details will be set out in due course.
Robust age assessment measures are already in place to root out false claims by migrants claiming to be under 18. AI technology currently being tested will strengthen this further.
Thursday 26 February was Budget Day for the City of Edinburgh Council. The current Labour administration put their spending plans for 26/27 up for scrutiny and we, along with other unions and organisations, were at the City Chambers to let them know out thoughts.
The day started with a small demonstration outside the City Chambers, demanding Fair Funding for Local Authorities. Unite, the Union’s most recent national campaign is calling on the UK government down in Westminster to properly fund local authorities after years of austerity.
We were told this Labour government was bringing change – instead, local services keep getting starved of funds and people are losing faith in the public sector.
Once inside, we listened and echo the excellent deputations from Living Rentand the Edinburgh Tenant’s Federationabout the need for more support for tenants across town and for proper enforcement to hold rogue landlords accountable.
The Welcoming Associationalso spoke, giving a strong testimony about the important work they do to integrate and welcome “new scots”, requesting core funding from the Council in order to be able to consistently deliver for the communities they support.
TheEIShighlighted the need for further investment after years of cuts but, nevertheless, welcomed the money set aside for more staff and infrastructure for a more robust ASN support.
The Edinburgh Trade Union Council mentioned this year they would be celebrating the 50th anniversary of their first deputation to the CEC where they also addressed the topic of Housing.
Claire and Des spoke of the impact the housing emergency is having on Edinburgh’s families and how this is becoming increasingly visible in children in our schools.
Our deputation echoed some of the points raised by the other speakers and focused on three areas – Housing, Education, and Worker’s Pay.
Housing
While recognising the considerable investment in Housing which will double the amount of homes delivered by the Council in the next 10 years, we stressed this is simply not enough. By the Council’s own assessment, this only amounts to between 1/5 and 1/6 of what is needed. Additionally, although they claim this investment is in affordable housing, it includes mid-market accommodation which are exempt form future rent controls and is still well-above most worker’s budget.
Still, we hope this investment leads to more good council jobs and apprenticeshipsand that the Labour group will keep to their “insourcing” agenda and draws from the wealth of knowledge, skill, and expertise we have in our Housing Property team, rather than outsourcing these projects to non-living wage paying businesses. It’s essential to build an experienced and reliable workforce with good employment conditions to restore the tenant’s and residents faith in the public service across the city’s estate.
Schools
The Council proudly announced the narrowing of the attainment gap with more pupils from deprived backgrounds achieving more qualifications at all levels which an extremely positive development – but let’s not rest on our laurels. Schools in our Edinburgh have become the front line of a social emergency. Teachers who are already under immense pressure are now tasked with supporting pupils facing increasingly complex challenges as a result of high poverty rates in this city. The high standard of council schools is sustained due to the essential and immeasurable contributions and hard-work from some of the lowest paid workers in the whole local authority – Pupil Support Assistants and other School Support workers.
The recent review into School Support failed to address the gap between what is written on a PSA’s job description and what really goes on a daily basis in our schools. Our School Support colleagues work beyond their remits every day to meet the needs of the young people they support because they care deeply about helping them. There is a real need for a proper career progression, non-contact time included in the daily schedule, fair pay, and more protection and training to help deal with the increasing demand and scope of behaviours displayed by pupils in both mainstream and special schools.
Simply deploying more low paid staff does not solve the underlying crisis schools face regarding the complexity of need we are currently witnessing. Instead, it puts workers in situations with a higher level of unpredictability and risk. We sincerely hope the proposed investment translates into a measurable decrease in the amount of violence support workers face on a daily basis – because you cannot bridge an attainment gap while the staff expected to close it are pushed to breaking point.
Pay
We are proud to work for the people of Edinburgh and for this Council and, therefore, expect our employer to value and protect us. Instead, this administration is presenting a pay cut on its own workers and asking them, in their own words, to “continually deliver more with less resources”.
In April, every council worker will see their pay go up by 3.0% – the second part of a 2-year deal negotiated by the unions with COSLA. This budget will increase council tax by 4% and council tenants will see their rents go up by 7%. If the payslips of the people of Edinburgh cannot keep up with the rising cost of living exacerbated in part by this council tax hike, the Council cannot act surprised when more people turn to the local government for support. This regressive mode of taxation is being raised of the backs of ordinary people and some of the most vulnerable among us, instead of high earners living in Council Tax Bands E and above.
Every Councillor got a QR code for our campaign big enough to hang it proudly in their offices.
Finally, we are fully aware that some of the shortcomings of this budget are due to insufficient funding from the Scottish and Westminster governments, which is why we challenged all the Councillors present to subscribe to Unite’s Fair Funding for Local Government and to send a message to their MP down in London.
We left every Councillor in the chamber a big enough QR code so they can proudly display it in their offices You can also sign the petition here and send a postcard for free to your MP here.
Many more aspects of this budget could have been raised but João and Étáin used the limited time they had to speak on the topics that were most relevant to them.
We will keep tabs on this Council to see through promises made in this budget and, in the meantime,we will continue to support our members and fight for a fairer more equal Edinburgh.
A 19-year-old man who was involved in significant disorder in south Edinburgh on Bonfire Night two years ago has been sentenced to 16 months in detention.
Finlay Burns appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 2 March, 2026, after pleading guilty last month to violent offences, including endangering the lives of police officers after he attacked them in the Gracemount area on 5 November, 2024.
Chief Superintendent David Robertson, Divisional Commander for Edinburgh, said: “The scenes we witnessed in Edinburgh that night were wholly unacceptable and Finlay Burns was responsible for some of the most violent and disorderly behaviour.
“His guilty plea earlier this year is a testament to the overwhelming evidence we gathered, and the case built against him by Edinburgh Division.
“His reckless behaviour terrorised the local community and put officers at significant risk of harm.
“The safety of our officers is a priority for Police Scotland, and this incident shows the unpredictable and dangerous nature of situations they can face, while keeping our communities safe.
“I hope the outcome in this case serves as a reminder to everyone that we will not tolerate such conduct and will use all resources at our disposal to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.”
An hour-long collection of episodes from the global TV phenomenon Bluey will be arriving at cinemas in Edinburgh just in time for the Easter holidays, on Friday 27th March.
Bluey at the Cinema: Playdates with Friends Collection is an hour-long cinema experience featuring eight episodes from across the hit TV show’s three series, all celebrating play, friendship and family. The compilation brings together some of Bluey’s most beloved games, including Shadowlands and Octopus, while spotlighting special moments of friendship in episodes such as Circus and Slide, and delivering plenty of joy, laughter and big-screen fun for audiences of all ages.
Bluey first arrived on-screen in Australia in 2018 and has since become a household name, proving popular with audiences across the globe. Bluey at the Cinema: Playdates with Friends Collection builds on the success of previous theatrical compilation releases in the UK, Bluey at the Cinema: Family Trip Collection (August 2024) and Bluey at the Cinema: Let’s Play Chef Collection (May 2025).
Johnny Carr, Head of Event Cinema and Distribution at Vue Lumière, said: “Bluey has become a true event for family audiences, and we’re delighted to be continuing our collaboration with BBC Studios and Piece of Magic on this new collection.
“The success of previous releases across the UK, Ireland and Europe shows how much families love experiencing Bluey on the big screen, and Playdates with Friends Collection is a joyful next chapter.”
To find out more, including to book tickets, visit your local cinemas website.
Cinemas in Edinburgh where you can see Bluey at the Cinema: Playdates with Friends Collection:
A nine-year-old girl from Edinburgh who decided to run the Edinburgh Marathon Festival junior 2K in support of her dad while he was awaiting a liver transplant, is celebrating as he has now received his life-saving transplant and she has smashed her fundraising target with two months to go!
Jessica Elliot’s dad, Calum, was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis when he was 12. His condition was controlled with medication, and it didn’t stop him pursuing a career in professional football.
It was last year, while he was manager of League Two’s Bonnyrigg Rose, that he began to develop other symptoms such as jaundice and extreme fatigue and at his wife, Lindsay’s insistence, he consulted his doctor and was referred for tests.
These revealed that he now also had another rare liver condition, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and within months he was on the waiting list for a liver transplant.
“This came as a huge shock,” says Lindsay. “This was a fit man who had spent his whole life in sport. Being listed for an organ transplant at the age of 38 was not something which had ever crossed our minds.
“We had to let the children, Jessica nine, Olivia eight and seven-year-old Calum Jr, know why daddy was spending so much time in hospital without worrying them, so we explained that his liver was making him poorly and he needed a new one. It was Jessica’s idea to do the Edinburgh 2K in support of her dad. She’d done it last year and really enjoyed it, so she said she wanted to do it again but ‘for livers this time!’
“At the time, we were getting a lot of useful information from the British Liver Trust, both regarding Calum’s condition and his forthcoming transplant, so raising money for the charity sounded like a brilliant idea.
“The last few months have been a real rollercoaster. We had three calls to tell us that a donor liver had been found for Calum, but when we got to hospital, for various reasons the surgery could not go ahead. Finally in January, we got the call we’d been waiting for. The transplant took place and after some initial rejection, it looks like it has been a success, so life is slowly returning to normal. We will forever be grateful to that family who made such a generous decision at such a difficult time.
“It’s great knowing that Jessica’s fundraising will help other families who find themselves in this situation. She was initially so nervous that she wasn’t going to meet her £500 target, but she doubled it in her first day. Now we’re up to £1280 and it’s still climbing! She’s so proud and excited, she can’t wait for the race now.
“And having seen the transformation in her daddy over the past few weeks, she tells us she wants to be a liver surgeon when she’s older, so watch this space!”
Dan Painter, Public Fundraising Manager at British Liver Trust, commented: “As a charity, we are leading the fight against liver disease and liver cancer. We reach over two million people each year; providing information and support to patients and families and providing vital advice to help people improve their liver health.
“But there is still so much to be done. Liver disease is the only major disease in the UK where death rates are rising, and we want to change that. Jessica is an absolute star for taking on the Edinburgh 2K and raising such a fantastic amount.
“We’re so grateful to her and we hope that she had her family really enjoy the day!”
Some voters in England’s May local elections to cast their ballot in a shopping centre and on weekends as part of plans to make voting easier
Some voters in England will be able to cast their ballot in a shopping centre and on weekends as part of plans to make voting easier and more convenient for people during May’s local elections.
The way we vote at the polling booth has not changed since 1872. Four areas are taking part in new pilots which will give people more choice over where and when they vote, by turning popular venues into polling booths and letting people vote before polling day.
In Milton Keynes, voters can have their say in the city’s main shopping centre – centre:mk – rather than being restricted to a single designated polling station. This could eventually be rolled out across the country in future elections along high streets and in town centres.
People in Cambridge, Tunbridge Wells and North Hertfordshire will be able to cast their vote in person ahead of the election, including on the weekend. This will stop people being limited to just one polling day.
Voters in these places will be able to visit central buildings across their area at a time that suits them, such as the Guildhall in Cambridge’s city centre.
This will make voting more convenient, accessible and efficient for local people – and could eventually happen in all UK elections.
Minister for Democracy Samantha Dixon said: “The way we vote in person has not adapted to people’s busy lives, with voters often given no choice but to cast their ballot at strictly set polling stations within limited hours.
“Our trials will make polling days more convenient and test out the first real changes for over 100 years, bringing our democracy into the 21st century.”
Further plans for future pilots could include mobile voting stations that travel to different locations, potentially including care homes, universities, or community centres. Other plans could include voters casting their vote at any polling station within the local authority area rather than being restricted to a designated location.
At the same time the integrity and security of the UK’s voting system will continue to be protected, with participating local authorities using existing safeguards, and robust technology, with strong support from the government throughout.
Local authorities will continue to operate traditional polling stations alongside the new options, and people will still be able to vote by post or proxy, meaning voters can choose the method that works best for them.
This comes alongside the government’s landmark Representation of the People Bill which reduces barriers to participation including a landmark change to give votes to 16 year olds, along with tougher rules on political donations to tackle risks around foreign interference in our democracy.
Peter Stanyon, Chief Executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators, said: “These pilots are a great start to exploring different ways to offer electors greater choice about when and where they cast their vote.
“Weekend and early voting, plus voting hubs at places like shopping centres, are used to good effect in many democracies and we hope will also be successful here. Well done to the election teams who have stepped up to take these pilots forward, we look forward to learning from you.”
William Benson, Chief Executive and Returning Officer for Tunbridge Wells borough said: “I am very pleased that Tunbridge Wells is part of the pilot scheme. It’s important that every eligible elector uses their vote and three hubs in key locations across the borough will make it even easier.
“Voters can be assured these new arrangements are just as secure as the polling stations they’re used to, and the same helpful staff will be there to guide people through the process.”
Leader of Milton Keynes City Council, Cllr Pete Marland said: “Milton Keynes is proud to be leading the way as the UK’s first pilot area for a central voting hub, making it easier and more convenient for people to vote.
“We’re committed to improving democratic participation, and this innovative approach will give residents greater flexibility.”
Melanie Stimpson, Democratic Services Manager and Returning Officer for North Hertfordshire said: “We are very pleased to have been selected to take part in the flexible voting pilots.
“We know that people lead busy lives and face real challenges in finding time to vote. Being able to explore new approaches is important to understand how we can better support of residents and collaborate our Council priorities of thriving committees and accessible services.”
Robert Pollock, Returning Officer for the City of Cambridge: “Cambridge is renowned for science and tech innovation.We want to bring that mindset to test how we can make voting more inclusive and convenient for all our residents.
“We already have higher than average turnout in Cambridge. I’d really like this trial to help us get to over 40% at the May local elections.”
