Category: Craigmillar

Communist candidates condemn city council and ask: What is a feminist vote?

The Communist Party of Britain (CPB) has spoken out on  women’s rights and opportunities in its campaign for the September 3rd City of  Edinburgh Council by-elections. They ask ‘What is a feminist vote?’, ‘How do  council policies affect women and girls?’  

They condemn the City of Edinburgh Council for opposing the updated Equality and  Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Code of Practice on single-sex spaces, and for  failing to implement it.  

The party is standing candidates Richard Shillcock (Southside/Newington ward)  and Peter Olech (Portobello/Craigmillar ward). They are offering distinct feminist  policies within a socialist alternative to the mainstream parties.  

They say the lives of girls and women in Scotland are under attack—from the widening gap  between rich and poor, from cuts and underfunding and from an epidemic of male violence.  

Women’s lives.

We need to rebuild women’s ‘social wage’ by investing in public  services that lift the load from women in childcare and social care, and by  increasing bargaining power and raising wages for the women who work in them.  

Women’s rights.

We need to urgently implement the Supreme Court ruling on the  definition of sex in the Equality Act 2010. Edinburgh City Council must fully uphold  women’s rights and protections under the Act, including the right to single-sex  services. The Scottish Government should require all public bodies to fully  implement the Act.  

Violence against women.

We need to strengthen domestic abuse and sexual  assault services for women and children, with secure long term investment in  prevention. We need to support women to exit prostitution, with zero tolerance  towards the sexual exploitation of women by men.  

The local by-elections were triggered following the resignation of two local SNP  councillors who were recently elected as MSPs to Holyrood.

The Communist Party urges voters across Southside/Newington and Portobello/ Craigmillar to use their first vote and their numbered preference votes to opt for the  policies they believe in—ones that will defend and extend the rights and the quality  of life of working people.  

Communist candidates make Gaza City twinning central to Edinburgh by-election campaigns

Richard Shillcock and Peter Olech are launching a campaign featuring Palestinian flag leaflets to challenge UK complicity in the Gaza genocide and the involvement of local arms manufacturers.

Richard Shillcock, the Communist Party of Britain candidate for the Southside/Newington council by-election, has declared that the formal twinning of Edinburgh with Gaza City will be a key issue in the party’s campaign.

Speaking ahead of the 3 September 2026 council by-elections, Shillcock condemned the ongoing humanitarian crisis, uniting with fellow Communist candidate Peter Olech (standing in Portobello/Craigmillar ward) to call on all candidates to join a cross-party pledge supporting this international friendship move.

The Communist Party campaign features a unique election leaflet that folds out into the Palestinian flag for window display.

“As a father myself, it breaks my heart to have been protesting against the genocide in Gaza for nearly three years and to have been unable to prevent the murder of some 20,000 children there by the US-backed Israeli state, and the damaging and wounding of untold more children,” said Shillcock.

“I don’t need to describe this further—we’ve seen it on our screens every day.”

The move deliberately revives a contentious local political debate. In 2022, a citizen-led petition and a subsequent motion brought by Green councillors to explore twinning options were rejected by the City of Edinburgh Council following legal objections and administrative delays.

Richard Shillcock and Peter Olech are asking voters to use these elections to overturn that precedent.

In a joint statement, the candidates said: “We welcome other candidates and parties joining the pledge to pursue the twinning issue, whether or not elected to the council. Let’s see a majority of voters choosing candidates who support twinning Edinburgh with Gaza City.”

Richard Shillcock made three points linking Palestine directly to the Scottish capital:

  • Universal Humanity: The crisis is the defining moral issue of our generation.
  • State Complicity: The UK government continues to provide extensive military, economic, diplomatic, logistical, and intelligence support to the Israeli state.
  • Local Financial and Military Links: Corporate entities operating within Edinburgh connect the city directly to the Israeli state and military apparatus: the Leonardo UK arms company and Barclays Bank, a primary trader in Israeli government bonds.

The Communist Party of Britain is urging Southside/Newington and Portobello/Craigmillar voters to send a clear message against domestic complicity in overseas conflicts.

GATHER Community Arts Exhibition

🟡 Gather Exhibition 🟡

A Creative Community Hubs Network Event

We are hugely excited for Gather, a new exhibition showcasing work by artists and community members from across Edinburgh for the very first time.

This is a very special exhibition, and we’d love you to join us for it!

🟡 Gather Exhibition

📆 Private View: 11th September 2026, from 4:30pm

📆 Main Exhibition: 12th – 26th September 2026

📍St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road, Edinburgh EH7 6AE

🎫 Free. No need to book.

#creativecommunityhubsnetwork

#creativecommunities

#edinburghevents

#whatsonedinburgh

#edinburghexhibition

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The Creative Community Hubs Network consists of eight partner organisations based across Edinburgh: WHALE Arts, The Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Granton:hub, North Edinburgh Arts, Duncan Place Leith, The Crannie, Lyra and Craigmillar Now

Candidates confirmed for Edinburgh by-elections

The candidates standing in the upcoming Southside/Newington (Ward 15) and Portobello/Craigmillar (Ward 17) by-elections have been confirmed.

23 candidates will stand in these by-elections, which will elect one new councillor per ward, on Thursday 3 September 2026.

The candidates standing for election in the Southside/Newington ward are:

  • Ruth Elliot: SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY
  • Derrick Emms: EDINBURGH & EAST LOTHIAN PEOPLE
  • Isabella Gastel Alejandre: SCOTTISH GREENS
  • Roisin Keirdashian: INDEPENDENT
  • Artie Khovanov: SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
  • Nick Layden: SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE AND UNIONIST
  • Richard Crewe Lucas: SCOTTISH FAMILY PARTY – CHRISTIAN VALUES
  • Sam Alexander Mackenzie: SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY (SNP)
  • Sean McGregor Moffat: ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM
  • Gary Neill: REFORM UK
  • Markham Rowbotham: EDINBURGH & EAST LOTHIAN PEOPLE
  • Richard Shillcock: COMMUNIST PARTY OF BRITAIN
  • Marc Wilkinson: EDINBURGH & EAST LOTHIAN PEOPLE

The candidates standing for election in the Portobello/Craigmillar ward are:

  • David Craig Ballantine: ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM
  • Niel Deepnarain: SCOTTISH FAMILY PARTY – CHRISTIAN VALUES
  • Pete Gregson: WORKERS PARTY OF BRITIAN
  • Lorenzo Martinico: SCOTTISH GREENS
  • Silas McGilvray: SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY (SNP)
  • Andrew McLaughlin: REFORM UK
  • Peter Olech: COMMUNIST PARTY OF BRITAIN
  • Liss Owen: SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
  • Jim Patrick Wyke: SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY
  • Haris Young: SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE AND UNIONIST

The final candidate lists and further information are also available on the Council website.

Returning Officer for the City of Edinburgh, Paul Lawrence said: “With nominations now closed and just over a month to go until polling day, residents in these wards can start thinking about who they will vote for.

“Councillors play a key role in our democratic system, making crucial decisions that impact our city.

“I’d encourage everyone who is eligible to register to vote in plenty of time, and then make their voices heard in September.”

Poll cards will be delivered to registered voters in the area from today, with further information on when and where to vote.

If you live in these wards, the deadline to register to vote in these by-elections is 18 August. For new postal vote applications, it’s 19 August and for new proxy votes it’s 26 August.

Find out more about registering to vote on the Council website.

The election will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, where voters rank candidates in order of preference, rather than using a single cross. Voters can rank as many or as few candidates as they like.

Polling places will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 3 September.

Please check your polling place as this may have changed since the last time you voted. If you bring your polling card to vote this will help us and speed up the process, but this isn’t mandatory.

Polling Places (Ward 15):

  • Nelson Hall Community Centre (New for 2026)
  • Blackford and Grange Parish Church Centre
  • St. Catherine’s Argyle Church
  • Newington Trinity Church
  • Reid Memorial Church Hall
  • 75th Braid Scouts’ Millar Hall
  • Cameron House Community Education Centre

Polling Places (Ward 17):

  • Portobello Library (New for 2026)
  • Branch Out Together
  • St Mark’s Episcopal Church (New for 2026)
  • Bingham Community Centre
  • St Martins Parish Church
  • Craigmillar Library
  • Hays Business Centre
  • Newcraighall Leith Victoria FC

The electronic count will take place at Waverley Court, starting at the close of poll at 10pm on September 3. 

Scottish Storytelling Centre marks 20th Anniversary with Fringe 2026 Programme and Opening of Craigmillar Tapestry Exhibition

Celebrating its 20th anniversary as the world’s first purpose-built home for live storytelling, the Scottish Storytelling Centre (SSC) is marking Fringe 2026 with one of its most ambitious programmes to date – presenting 33 shows spanning storytelling, theatre, music and spoken word and becoming the first venue on the Craigmillar Tapestry’s city-wide exhibition tour. 

This year for Fringe, audiences can journey from Shetland to Ancient Greece and beyond through contemporary retellings of myths, legends and traditional tales while acclaimed theatre explores Scottish language, identity, history and culture with exciting new work from home-grown and international artists.

The community-created Craigmillar Tapestry will take pride of place in the SSC’s exhibition space from 24 July to 31 August before continuing its tour across Edinburgh to Portobello, Craigmillar, Newcraighall and The Inch.

The Craigmillar Tapestry has been stitched by over 500 residents of Craigmillar and Niddrie, documenting the rich history of the area with makers weaving in elements of their own experience and cultures into the work – including traditional Syrian stitching, names of local activists and important landmarks around the area.

Each panel has been designed by Craigmillar-born artist Andrew Crummy MBE in consultation with communities around the Greater Craigmillar area.  Crummy has also worked on the Great Tapestry of Scotland, now housed in a purpose-built venue in Galashiels, and several other community-stitched tapestries.

The Craigmillar Tapestry is a particularly personal project, as the artist returns to his roots in Craigmillar and honours the legacy of his mother, the extraordinary activist and founding leader of the pioneering Craigmillar Festival Society, Helen Crummy MBE.

Andrew Crummy said: “All the tapestries I am involved with, like The Great Tapestry of Scotland are based on Community Arts ethos developed by The Craigmillar Festival Society.

“A way of using the Arts that has inspired and travelled the world. It is an honour to be involved in developing this Tapestry, with many involved, telling fantastic stories from an amazing community.

“It was originally an idea from my mother, the late Helen Crummy in 2010, who wanted to celebrate not only the history of Craigmillar, but all those who helped Craigmillar become a vibrant and rich community. As Helen’s favourite song says “History will be made, when the people play their part.”

The twenty tapestry panels celebrate the area’s history – with many illustrating historic sites that can be visited today such as the Neolithic ‘Niddrie Standing Stone’ on Greendykes Road, the remarkable, Medieval Craigmillar Castle. 

Other highlight pivotal historic contributions local people have made to Scottish life over the centuries, such as a panel dedicated to Agnes Moffat, a child coal-bearer who gave evidence to a national inquiry into child labour practices by the ‘Children’s Employment Commission’ in 1842.

Local stitcher Heather Henderson said: “I have been involved with the Craigmillar Tapestry since the start. I have enjoyed watching, taking part & teaching in helping to bring Andrew’s drawings for every panel, come alive with the stitches.

“I am so proud when I see every panel finished. It’s such an honour to see them. It’s done leaps and bounds with my mental health and it gives me a purpose to go out.”

Scottish Storytelling Centre’s Interim Head of Programming, Lauren Paterson says: ‘Our Fringe 2026 programme explores the connections and common ground we share across time, language and culture and it is therefore fitting that for Fringe 2026 and for the Centre’s 20th Anniversary celebrations, we can house this wonderful piece of art that champions community connection and collective local history.

“We’re so looking forward to welcoming the Tapestry and all those who will come to see it. The Tapestry will be displayed in the Storytelling Court, where every single audience member attending a show will get to see and engage with it, making it the real heart of our programme this year.”

SSC Fringe 2026 Prog – WebDownload

Police appeal for information following assault and robbery

POLICE are appealing for information following the robbery and assault of a man in Craigmillar.

The incident happened around 8.30pm on Monday, 22 June, 2026, on Niddrie Mains Road near Jack Kane Park.

The man’s phone was taken. He was taken to hospital for treatment.

One suspect is described as male, white, around 5ft 10in tall, around 30-year-old, of medium build, with dark hair. He was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie.

The other suspect is described as female, white, around 5ft 8in tall, around 30-years-old, of slim build, with dark hair. She was wearing a light-coloured top, leggings, and white trainers.

Constable Daniel Mackintosh said: “This was a busy area and we are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to contact us.

“We’d also ask anyone with private CCTV or dash-cam footage which could assist our enquiries to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident 3465 of Monday, 22 June, 2026. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Six arrested and charged following Edinburgh incidents

Six people have been arrested and charged in connection with various offences following a series of incidents in Edinburgh.

The first incident took place around 2.40am on Tuesday, 26 May, 2026 when officers were called to a disturbance at a property on Balderston Gardens North in Gilmerton.

Three men aged 29, 33 and 40 and a 40-year-old woman were arrested and charged in connection and released on an undertaking to appear before Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.

The second occurred around 4am on Wednesday, 27 May, where a vehicle struck a property before being set on fire on Balderston Gardens North.

Five men aged 19, 29, 29, 33 and 40 and a 40-year-old woman were arrested and charged in connection and released on an undertaking to appear before Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.

Officers were called to the third incident around 5.05am on Wednesday, 27 May, where a number of windows were smashed at a property in Niddrie Marischal Drive.

A 29-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection and released on an undertaking to appear before Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.

Detective Sergeant Chris Docherty said: “This type of criminal behaviour, which has a direct impact on local people, will not be tolerated.

“We are committed to ensuring people feel safe in their communities and will continue to be proactive in our approach to tackling crime and holding those involved to account.

“Support from the public is essential to this work and I would encourage anyone with information or concerns about criminality in their area to please get in touch with us.”

Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Two jailed for attempted murder following arson attack

Two men have been jailed for attempted murder following a wilful fire-raising incident on 4 April, 2025, in Hay Drive.

Kurtis Young, 42, was sentenced to 11 years in prison at the High Court in Glasgow and 19-year-old Richard Ordish was sentenced to seven years in prison on Tuesday, 16 June, 2026.

Both men pled guilty to wilful fire-raising, causing danger to life and attempted murder, in connection with serious organised crime.

The investigation was part of enquiries into violent incidents in the East and West of Scotland under Operation Portaledge.

Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry said: “This was a reckless and dangerous act and Kurtis Young and Richard Ordish will now face the consequences of their actions.

“Today’s sentence sends a message that there is no place for this type of behaviour in our communities.”

New exhibition celebrates the life and legacy of Edinburgh photographer Sandra George

This summer, the City Art Centre will present Start from the Level, the largest exhibition ever staged of the work of Sandra George (1957–2013).

Start from the Level is produced in partnership with Craigmillar Now, an arts and heritage centre based in Craigmillar, who hold Sandra’s collection in their community archive, and is part of the Edinburgh Art Festival.

Opening on 27 June and running until 27 September 2026, the exhibition brings together photographs spanning more than two decades, many of which will be shown publicly for the first time. Drawn from Sandra’s extensive archive, the exhibition offers a powerful portrait of Edinburgh’s communities and explores themes of identity, activism, motherhood, belonging, and social justice.

Born in Nottingham and raised between Jamaica and the UK before settling in Edinburgh, she became widely known for her work as a community organiser and advocate. Alongside this, she developed a prolific photographic practice, documenting everyday life across Edinburgh and beyond from the late 1970s through to the early 2000s.

Through her lens, she captured both intimate personal moments and wider social movements, creating a remarkable visual record of the city and the people who shaped it. Her photographs are united by a deep sense of humanity and a commitment to representing people with dignity, openness, and care.

The exhibition takes its title from Sandra’s own words: her desire to “start from the level people are based”. This guiding principle informed her work throughout her life, resulting in an extraordinary body of photography that remains as relevant and resonant today as ever.

Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said: “Sandra George’s photographs offer an invaluable record of Edinburgh and its communities, seen through the eyes of someone deeply committed to social justice, equality, and human connection.

“This landmark exhibition celebrates not only her extraordinary talent as a photographer, but also her lasting contribution to the cultural and community life of our city.

“We are proud to bring this important body of work to audiences and ensure that Sandra’s legacy continues to inspire future generations.”

In addition to the exhibition at City Art Centre, a special outdoor presentation of Sandra’s work will be displayed on street-side billboard and poster sites across Edinburgh from 22 June for three weeks in partnership with BuildHollywood.

Featuring photographs taken throughout the city, the displays will appear in Fountain Park, Teviot and Meadowbank, bringing George’s images directly into the public spaces she documented.

Find out more on the Culture Edinburgh website.