A search for 129 local heroes from all over Scotland has today been launched by the Scottish Parliament.
Each Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) is being asked to nominate a person in their constituency or region who has made an extraordinary contribution to the lives of other people or who has made a significant impact on their community.
Local heroes who have been selected will be invited by the Scottish Parliament, as a special guest of their MSP, to attend the Parliament’s Opening Ceremony. The event will take place on Saturday 27 June to formally mark the new session of the Parliament.
Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, Kenneth Gibson MSP said:“The start of a new Parliament is to me all about optimism, hope and a renewal of the purpose behind why the Parliament exists.
“It’s about bringing the people of Scotland along with us at the start of that journey as well as celebrating the very best of our culture and heritage too.
“People from all over Scotland, from Shetland to Selkirk, from Aberdeen to Arran, are at the centre of our plans to commemorate this milestone. Which is also a reflection of our aim – to be at the heart of communities across the country.
“I am always humbled by the selflessness of people across the country who go to extraordinary lengths to give back to their communities. I look forward to celebrating our local heroes and hearing more about their achievements.”
Local Heroes have taken part in the opening ceremonies of the Scottish Parliament in 2007, 2011, 2016 and 2021. Previous local heroes have included people who have volunteered their time for charities, set up creative ways to fundraise to help local causes or supporting others.
To find out more please contact one of your local MSPs. You can find out who your MSP is by searching by your postcode on our website.
Joint statement from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium and the EU on the situation in the West Bank:
Over the past few months, the situation in the West Bank has deteriorated significantly. Settler violence is at unprecedented levels. The policies and practices of the Israeli government, including a further entrenchment of Israeli control, are undermining stability and prospects for a two-state solution.
International law is clear: Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal. Construction projects in the E1 area would be no exception.
The E1 settlement development would divide the West Bank in two and mark a serious breach of international law.
Businesses should not bid for construction tenders for E1 or other settlement developments. They should be aware of legal and reputational consequences of participating in settlement construction including the risk of involving themselves in serious breaches of international law.
We call on the Government of Israel to end its expansion of settlements and administrative powers, ensure accountability for settler violence and investigate allegations against Israeli forces, respect the Hashemite custodianship over Jerusalem’s Holy Sites and the historic status quo arrangements, and lift financial restrictions on the PA and the Palestinian economy.
We strongly oppose those, including members of the Israeli government, who argue for annexation and forcible displacement of the Palestinian population.
We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on a negotiated two-state solution in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace and security within secure and recognised borders.
MORE WORDS, BUT ALL THE WHILE OUR UK GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO ARM ISRAEL AND IS COMPLICIT IN THE DEATHS OF THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.
JUDGE THEM NOT BY WHAT THEY SAY, BUT WHAT THEY DO – Ed. …
Nation invited to choose its inaugural butterfly champion
Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation is today launching the first-ever vote to crown Britain’s Favourite Butterfly.
From Friday 15 May – Sunday 7 June, people across the country are being asked to choose the butterfly they love most, whether that be a familiar garden visitor like the Red Admiral, Orange-tip or Holly Blue, or an elusive rarity like the aristocratic Duke of Burgundy or the mighty Purple Emperor.
With a plethora of species to choose from, Butterfly Conservation has launched a dedicated website with fun facts about every single species, where people can cast their vote and even take a fun ‘what’s your butterfly personality?’ quiz to choose their champion.
The charity hopes to encourage children and adults to marvel at butterflies this summer, reconnect with nature and celebrate the diversity and importance of the UK’s most iconic insects.
Julie Williams, Chief Executive of Butterfly Conservation, said: “It’s clear Britain is a nation of butterfly lovers. From Sir David Attenborough and the Royal Family, to the hundreds of thousands of people who have taken part in Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count, these incredible insects hold a very special place in our hearts.
“Now, for the first-time ever, we want to find out which of our much-loved butterflies takes the nation’s top spot. From the colourful to the quirky, the common to the elusive, all butterflies are beautiful and we look forward to officially crowning Britain’s favourite.”
The UK is home to 60 species of butterfly, 58 resident including Large White, Small Tortoiseshell and Green Hairstreak, and two regular visitors – Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow.
For many of us, butterflies are one of our earliest memories of wildlife; in a recent survey they were voted most-loved creatures in childhood.
Julie says:“It’s no surprise butterflies are loved by people of all ages. Their journey from caterpillar to adult is both fascinating and joyful.
“It is in this almost magical story of transformation that butterflies have the power to connect people to the natural world, and inspire us to keep fighting for a wilder future.”
But these incredible insects, which evoke childlike joy, delight and visions of balmy summer days, are in trouble. 80% of species have declined in the last 50 years due to habitat loss, land use change, and climate breakdown.
However, all is not lost. Recent scientific evidence proves that, as well as benefiting our wellbeing, as little as 15 minutes watching butterflies can increase people’s feelings of being connected to nature, which has a direct correlation with how motivated they are to protect it.
In short, time spent simply enjoying spotting butterflies could play a vital role in nature’s recovery.
Butterfly Conservation’s President, Sir David Attenborough, famously said:“No one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced.”
“A few precious moments spent watching a stunning Red Admiral or Peacock butterfly feeding amongst the flowers in my garden never fails to bring me great pleasure.”
With different butterfly species appearing in different areas of the UK, the search for Britain’s Favourite Butterfly could prove fascinating and show some big regional variations in voting.
After analysing 50 years of data, researchers have discovered a clear northward spread for some species, including common garden favourites the Peacock, Comma and Holly Blue, the result of climate change creating warmer habitats for them to survive in.
Julie explained:“It will be interesting to see if people in different parts of the UK have different favourites. Some of our native butterflies are garden visitors across much of the UK, some live only in certain areas, and some are more secretive, living in very remote, specialised habitats. But all are equally important as indicators of the health of our natural environment.
“The exciting thing about this vote is that anyone, anywhere can take part and root for their favourite. You don’t have to know anything about butterflies! So whether you choose based on a lovely colour, a fun name, what you spot in your garden, or your fondness for a specialist species, it’s what’s important to you that matters.”
The highly coveted title is up for grabs. The nation will decide…
The vote to find Britain’s Favourite Butterfly takes place from Friday 15 May – Sunday 7 June, and the result will be announced later in June.
Keir Starmer has set out how the government is delivering real progress now while rebuilding Britain’s foundations for the future. But does anyone believe him?
PM says “our plan is working” as government delivers results on costs, migration control and growth
Net migration down sharply to its lowest since 2021, inflation down faster than expected to 2.8%, and UK the fastest-growing economy in the G7 in the first quarter of the year
“Great British Summer Savings” to help families afford more time together this summer
The Prime Minister has set out how the government is delivering real progress now while rebuilding Britain’s foundations for the future.
Recent figures show the plan is working:
Net migration has fallen by almost three quarters to its lowest level since 2021.
Inflation has dropped faster than expected to 2.8%.
The UK is the fastest growing economy in the G7, with growth beating expectations at 0.6% in the first quarter.
Together, this progress is strengthening the UK’s resilience in an uncertain world – easing immediate pressures on families while putting the economy on a more stable footing for the long term.
That progress is being felt more widely across the country, as the government rebuilds the public services working people rely on:
Homicide is at its lowest levels since the 1970s, knife crime is down by 10%, and we have taken more than 63,000 knives off our streets.
NHS waiting lists are at their lowest level for three and a half years, with the largest single month performance improvement in 17 years.
There are 4,000 additional teachers across secondary schools, special schools and further education.
With families still feeling the squeeze – and global instability continuing to drive uncertainty – the government is going further to help households with the cost of living, so people can enjoy the everyday moments that make life better.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We now have the fastest growing economy in the G7, net migration has fallen, and NHS waiting lists are at their lowest level in three and a half years.
“Our plan is working. And as summer begins, we are going further to bring down the cost of living and make life easier for families, so they have more room to enjoy it.
“This government will keep pushing forward to deliver the change the country voted for.”
Building on that progress, the Prime Minister and Chancellor have acted to ease pressure on families, announcing further cost of living support including VAT cuts on hospitality, free bus travel for children aged 5 to 15 in England throughout August, and targeted tariff reductions to bring down the price of everyday essentials. Together, these measures will help families go further while supporting high streets and local businesses.
That action is being underpinned by growing economic strength. GDP has increased every quarter since 2024, forecasts have been exceeded in the first quarter of this year, and the IMF has upgraded the UK’s growth outlook – all clear signs that economic stability is returning and resilience is being rebuilt.
The government is also driving that resilience by backing businesses to invest and expand, including a landmark trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council – the first such deal by a G7 country – and new legislation to give small firms stronger protection from late payments and the certainty they need to grow.
This comes alongside action to make work pay and back working people – with the National Living Wage increased, 30 hours of funded childcare delivering savings of up to £8,000 per child each year, and stronger rights for 11 million renters through the Renters’ Rights Act.
At the same time, the government is restoring control and strengthening security – closing more than half of asylum hotels and taking further action to tackle the criminality that undermines communities.
Alongside this, the government is rewiring the state to support delivery, with a delivery team in every department, led by a senior civil servant, and performance incentives strengthened so that senior leaders are rewarded for driving results.
This week, the government confirmed senior civil servants’ pay rises will be directly linked to performance to reward the doers, not the talkers. As a package, this is the biggest change to senior civil pay in decades.
This is a government taking a different path – not returning to a status quo that failed working people, but building a stronger, fairer Britain.
From lowering costs and backing families to restoring control and driving growth, the government is delivering the security and stability people expect – and laying the foundations for long-term change.
SECURITY? Peter Mandelson scandal
STABILITY? Internal civil war forcing unneccesary by-election
Measures to make the Scottish Parliament more efficient, topical and effective are to be put into place by Presiding Officer Kenneth Gibson MSP.
The changes, which the Parliament was informed of today, will be part of what the Presiding Officer calls “renewal and re-engagement”.
There will now be two First Minister’s Questions a week, with 30 minutes on a Tuesday for backbenchers and 30 minutes on a Thursday from Party Leaders.
MSPs were informed of the changes by the Presiding Officer during a meeting of the Parliament on Thursday.
The Presiding Officer also informed Members that:
Time taken for interventions will be added, to protect the time of speakers who most engage
Labour and Reform will alternate each week in leading off on questions in First Minister’s Questions, debates and statements
Chamber Business will run from 2pm to 5.30pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to provide more time for scrutiny in the Chamber
Chamber Business will run from 1.30pm to 5pm on Thursdays to accommodate more time for committee business in the morning
Questions to the First Minister will no longer be published in advance
There will be 18 general questions a week, 10 more than previously
Members will have to identify relevant procedure when making points of order
Events and cross-party groups will be permitted during Members’ debates to prevent delays to visitors
Informing MSPs of the changes, the Presiding Officer, Kenneth Gibson MSP, said: “Parliament needs renewal and re-engagement – with independent, innovative and open-minded leadership. That’s of critical importance and exactly what I’ll provide.
“We need to de-clutter and simplify how we work, make Parliament more efficient, topical end effective for those we represent.
“The collegiate working anticipated in the 90s, prior to Devolution, has not fully transpired. The status quo is not an option – and I’m keen to push at the boundaries of what’s possible within my remit.”
Drugs worth an estimated £325,000 have been recovered following the search of a property in South Edinburgh.
Officers searched an address in the West Powburn area around 6.25pm on Thursday, 21 May, 2026 and discovered a large quantity of Diamorphine.
A 30-year-old man has been arrested in connection and enquiries are ongoing.
Detective Sergeant Callum Mill said: “Drugs cause misery in communities and we work tirelessly every day to prevent them being circulated on our streets.
“We are committed to addressing the concerns of local people and information from the public is vital to helping us tackle this type of harmful criminality.
“If you have information or concerns about drugs activity in your area please contact Police Scotland on 101 or speak to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
LifeCare Edinburgh has announced the launch of a new weekly watercolour class for unpaid carers in Portobello, offering much-needed opportunities for relaxation, creativity and social connection.
Unpaid carers—those who support family members, friends or neighbours without pay—play a vital role in communities but often face significant challenges, including social isolation, stress, and limited time for themselves. Access to regular short breaks and supportive activities can have a profound impact on their wellbeing.
This new class aims to provide a welcoming and inclusive space where carers can take time out, learn new skills, and connect with others who understand their experiences. No previous art experience is required, and all materials are provided.
Sarah Duckmanton, Community Activities Lead at LifeCare Edinburgh, said: “Caring for someone can be an honour—a deeply meaningful and loving thing to do—but we also understand the toll it can take.
“That’s why we’re here to make sure unpaid carers have the chance to take a meaningful break, so they feel valued, recharged and better equipped to continue in their caring role.
“As part of that commitment, we’re continuing to grow our free support for carers by launching these activities in Portobello for the first time.
“We’ve been delivering day club support for people living with dementia in the area for many years, so it feels like a natural step to expand our carers programme here too. We know there are many carers who need time out, and we’re here to provide that opportunity.
“These groups are about so much more than the activity itself—they create space for people to relax, build connections, and feel supported. We’d encourage carers to get in touch and come along to give it a try.”
The new workshop builds on LifeCare’s wider programme of free health and wellbeing activities for unpaid carers, delivered from its fully accessible hub in Stockbridge. The programme includes a range of physical, creative and social sessions designed to support carers in maintaining their own health while continuing in their caring roles.
The Watercolour Workshop will take place every Monday from 1:00pm to 3:00pm at 53 Milton Road East, Edinburgh (EH15 2NL).
The class is free to attend and is open to anyone who provides unpaid care for an adult. Carers are also welcome to attend with the person they care for.
All activities are funded by the Short Breaks Fund.
We are delighted to share that Drumbrae Hub now has its very own Seed Library, in collaboration with Lauriston Farm. As part of this new project, we are offering free workshops for people to learn more about food growing and seed saving.
Our first workshop, Grow a Row, encourages the local community to dedicate a row, a pot, or a garden bed to growing seeds for our Seed Library. Hannah from Lauriston Farm will be visiting us to talk about the importance of seed saving and how to grow specifically for seed saving. The main focus of this workshop will be on pea and bean seeds, alongside a selection of flowers and herbs.
There will be seeds available to take home so you can get growing yourself. We will then meet again in late summer to learn how to gather and prepare these plants for seed saving, and hopefully restock the Seed Library with what the community has grown.
This session is suitable for adults, and you do not need a large garden to take part. Whether you have a small garden bed, a few pots, or even a balcony, there are plenty of ways to grow for seed saving in small spaces
Here at The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), we’re gearing up for our biggest volunteering opportunities of the year so far.
This June, we’re asking people to take just an hour of their time to help make a vital difference for blind and partially sighted people in their local areas.
Reading and books are absolutely crucial to children with vision impairment and blind and partially sighted adults. Books in accessible formats like audio and large print help to open up a world of information and learning and open doors to the imagination which would otherwise remain hidden.
As RNIB’s Library Services Manager, I am writing to encourage you to take part by visiting your local library between 1-14 June to check what books are available for blind and partially sighted readers.
It only takes a few minutes to ask the library staff and find out whether their library shelves include large print, braille or audiobooks.
We’d then love you to share what you find with us using our quick online form, or by calling our Library Team.
This simple action will help RNIB build a far clearer picture of accessible library services across the UK and support our work to ensure everyone can enjoy reading in a format that works for them.
I would be grateful if readers who would like to take part could complete our quick form online at https://tinyurl.com/7xh99ppz, or if you are unable to do so online, contact our Library Team byy calling 0303 123 9999.
For this opportunity RNIB is working alongside The Big Help Out – a UK-wide event which runs from 5-8 June and sees millions of volunteers turn out to help community causes.
The first two weeks of June also marks Hi-Vis Fortnight – an event organised by charities Share The Vision and RNIB; this celebrates library services for blind and partially sighted people and highlights the importance of books in accessible formats.
By taking just a little time to support us, you will be helping improve access to vital reading resources for blind and partially sighted people in communities right across the country. Thank you!
