Category: North Edinburgh News

All Together Now!

Edinburgh International Book Festival Programme launched

All Together Now is our rallying call in 2022. This year’s vibrant programme builds on the hybrid format we’ve developed over the past two years, with live, in-person events, many of which are also available to stream or watch at a later date.

Packed with events for adults and with a stunning programme for children and young people, this year’s Book Festival celebrates the imagination, ideas and issues at the heart of books and stories, offering new perspectives on the world around us.

We return to Edinburgh College of Art but with a new site layout to accommodate more events and bigger audiences. You’ll find more than 600 events in this year’s programme featuring over 550 authors, performers, musicians and thinkers from 50 countries.

The big outdoor screen returns for free screenings of selected events, and a range of new theatres and creative workshop spaces host daily events for adults and children in the bustling Book Festival Village.

There’s also the Baillie Gifford Storytime Yurt, dedicated to children’s events and activities, the iconic Wee Red Bar, a great space for performances and writers events, and our biggest new venue, Central Hall, located just off Lothian Road, is a five-minute walk away.

Like last year, we have hybrid events in Central Hall, the Baillie Gifford Sculpture Court and Baillie Gifford West Court theatres, with live audiences as well as multiple cameras.

Amongst the hundreds of authors taking part this year are Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, Vietnamese American poet Ocean Vuong, Outlander writer Diana Gabaldon, as well as Noam Chomsky, Jack Monroe, Alexander McCall Smith, Denise Mina, William Dalrymple and Armando Iannucci.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon joins us for two events, interviewing acclaimed novelist Louise Welsh about her new novel The Second Cut, and screen legend Brian Cox about a life on the Scottish stage and his role in television hit series Succession.

For younger readers there are events with some of the world’s best known children’s authors including Jason Reynolds, Cressida Cowell, Julia Donaldson, Michael Morpurgo and doctor turned writer and comedian Adam Kay.

Nick Barley, Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: “We’ve learned a great deal in the last two years, so that alongside the return of our full-scale in-person festival we can also offer the accessibility and international reach of live-streamed events.

“The world has changed immeasurably since 2019: we’re learning to live with the effects of the pandemic and war in Europe – but we’re also beginning to imagine what a better future should look like.

“Exploring these issues in inspiring conversations with scientists, historians, poets and novelists is exactly where the Book Festival comes into its own. I’m thrilled that thanks to Baillie Gifford, every young person coming to a Schools event gets a free ticket and a free book this year.

“With all online events and a selection of our in-person theatre tickets also available on a Pay What You Can basis, we’re doing everything we can to make the festival accessible to everyone.”

Women’s Prize for Fiction 2020 winner Maggie O’Farrell launches her hotly-anticipated novel The Marriage Portrait.  Also launching new books are some of the world’s best-loved thriller writers: Val McDermid follows up last year’s bestselling 1979 with 1989, the latest in her series chronicling modern Scotland, while Irvine Welsh talks for the first time about his new crime novel The Long Knives.

The most recent winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Abdulrazak Gurnah, talks about his novel Afterlives. Among other leading writers discussing their new books are Booker Prize winners Marlon James, Damon Galgut, Howard Jacobson and Julian Barnes. Douglas Stuart is back on home soil with Young Mungo, the follow up to his Booker-winning first novel Shuggie Bain. And the great Irish writer Anne Enright returns to reflect on finding influence and inspiration in Ireland.

Two more Irish writers making a welcome return to the Book Festival are Colm Tóibín – the new Irish Laureate for Fiction who was recently awarded the David Cohen Prize for a lifetime of achievement – and Small Things Like These author Claire Keegan. Also, Monica Ali introduces her first novel for a decade. Appearing via screen link from their home countries are Helen Garner from Australia, and Jonathan Franzen, A M Homes and Jennifer Egan from the USA.

Artistic boundaries will be crossed in events featuring world-famous musicians including Martha Wainwright, Jarvis Cocker, Vashti Bunyan, and Deacon Blue’s Ricky Ross, who share stories of their journeys through the world of music; while writer Sinead Gleeson discusses This Woman’s Work – the anthology she coedited about women and music, whilst screenwriter Abi Morgan and actor Alan Cumming discuss their luminous memoirs about their fascinating lives.

Questions around the role of Europe and the impact of war remain front of mind. Chernobyl expert and bestselling Ukrainian historian Serhii Plokhy discusses Ukraine’s position at the crossroads of Europe and Russia, while Gideon Rachman, Andrew Wilson and Lea Ypi come together to investigate the rise of authoritarian leaders. Historian Antony Beevor talks about his new book exploring the dramatic story of Russia’s revolution that continues to influence the modern era.

In a story from closer to home, Norman Scott shares his own perspective on his affair with politician Jeremy Thorpe in the 1970s, and a subsequent failed assassination attempt. Meanwhile we explore the relationship between money and power in the post-pandemic world and rising inequality in the UK, in events featuring leading economists Mariana Mazzucato and John Kay; historian Adam Tooze and journalist Oliver Bullough.

Poetry heavyweights, alongside up-and-coming talent, also feature this year with the likes of American poet Ada Limón, while P J Harvey will be in conversation with fellow poet and editor Don Paterson. We also welcome Edinburgh Makar Hannah Lavery, and Michael Pedersen with special guests Shirley Manson and Charlotte Church. And Lemn Sissay, Malika Booker, Kayo Chingonyi and Salena Godden will take the stage together to celebrate the work of Black British poets.

Black perspectives take centre stage in non-fiction events: Howard W French presents a revised history of modern civilisation from the point of view of Africa and its people in conversation with Olivette Otele. Tsitsi Dangarembga from Zimbabwe and Esi Edugyan from Canada join us to discuss their essays on race and representation, and Lord Simon Woolley, founder and director of Operation Black Vote and the first Black man to lead an Oxbridge college, talks about his own inspiring life story with Baroness Lola Young.

The Book Festival features a range of LGBTQIA+ voices. From the continuing fight for equality, recognition and belonging, to tender tales of love against the odds, these stories get to the heart of issues affecting the queer community.

Participants include Imogen Binnie, Torrey Peters and Shola von Reinhold who join Harry Josephine Giles to talk about the evolution of trans literature, and award-winning poet and performer Joelle Taylor who inspires audiences to use personal experience and perspectives to create new forms of poetry.

It’s an unprecedented year for performance at the Book Festival. This is Memorial Device is a full theatre production of a new play based on David Keenan’s novel of the same name, and is presented throughout the Book Festival. Graham Eatough’s adaptation is the latest development in a long-term partnership between the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and the Book Festival.

Performance events also include a series entitled Scotland Through Time – supported through the Scottish Government’s Festivals Expo Fund – looking at Scotland’s past, present and future through new books. Sarah Smith presents Hear No Evil; the new memoir by Chitra Ramaswamy, Homelands, is brought to life using a mixture of images, sound and performance; Deep Wheel Orcadia is a performance written in Orkney dialect and based on the verse novel by Harry Josephine Giles. International performances include the premiere of a major touring production of theatre, music and image, based on Faïza Guène’s book Discretion, directed by its English translator Sarah Ardizzone. And Philippe Sands is joined by RSC and Bridgerton actor Adjoa Andoh to present an illustrated performance of his book The Last Colony.

Stories are part of Scotland’s DNA and with support from EventScotland as part of the Year of Stories 2022, the Book Festival champions books by globally-acclaimed Scottish authors. Amongst the many highlights is Ali Smith with her latest work, Companion Piece; Richard Holloway, who has spoken at every Festival for the last 23 years, returns for an on-stage discussion with his friend, the artist Alison Watt, and the newly-knighted Ian Rankin returns for a conversation with Sam Baker about Murder Island, William McIlvanney and his upcoming Rebus novel.

We welcome firm favourites in the Baillie Gifford Children’s Programme including bestselling author-illustrator Cressida Cowell, Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson, British poet Dean Atta, author Juno Dawson, comedy writer and former doctor Adam Kay, and celebrated comedian and cartoonist Henry Packer.

Michael Morpurgo returns with Carnival of Animals, a musical event for the over fives and, for the first time, the Book Festival hosts the YA Book Prize Ceremony. Also appearing are authors Sinéad Burke, Rosie Jones, Jason Reynolds, Humza Arshad, Elle McNicoll, Ross Montgomery, and Aisha Bushby with their own books and stories in a series of lively events.

Our flagship Citizen programme, which has brought local communities in North Edinburgh, Musselburgh and Tollcross together through shared creativity, showcases some of the inspirational work created by the groups: participants share their own stories in events including at a community meal.

In a separate project, the Citizen Writers’ Group, led by author Eleanor Thom, presents One Day Ticket – a brand new play that takes the audience on a journey through the memories of Edinburgh in a script-in-hand performance by seven actors.

Citizen is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and through the PlaCE Programme.

This is just a small sample of the many joyful, inspirational and thought-provoking events in our programme this year. 

Browse the full line-up here on the website by date, author name, keyword, child’s age, BSL, captioned, or you can use our Theme and Category searches to find out about the different genres and strands that run through the programme and see what piques your interest. 

Tickets go on sale at 10am on Thursday 23 June.

The 2022 Edinburgh International Book Festival runs from Saturday 13 to Monday 29 August 2022. Audiences can enjoy live events in person, or online from home, and relax and chat with fellow audience members at our Festival Village at Edinburgh’s College of Art on Lauriston Place – entry to our Festival village is free.

Mental Health Digital Resources: EVOC Information Session

The voluntary sector continues to face a range of challenges resulting in many staff & volunteers experiencing anxiety/sleep problems, etc.

Join us to find out about the digital therapeutics that @wearebighealth have created to help tackle these issues! Register:

https://bit.ly/3Q47uQZ

Join us to learn about digital help and support for your staff, board and volunteers, as well as the people and communities you support.

About this event

This event is hosted by EVOC, delivered in partnership with Big Health, the NHS Lothian Digital Interventions team and the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership.

The community and voluntary sector continues to face a range of challenges resulting in many staff, board members and volunteers experiencing anxiety, worry, low mood, sleep problems or stress – often while supporting people who are themselves experiencing poor mental health.

In this session you can find out more about digital therapeutics that are free to use and open to anyone, without the need for a referral:

  • Sleepio is a 6 week online program designed by sleep experts and based on cognitive and behavioral techniques.
  • Daylight is a clinically proven digital therapeutic that helps people gain control over their anxiety. After a two-minute quiz to discover their Anxiety Type, individuals receive personalized techniques to help manage it.
  • Silvercloud provides a range of psychoeducational modules on various topics, including managing stress, and supporting an anxious child or young person.

The event will take place on Zoom.

A reminder and the event link will be sent out after registration closes at 10am on Tue 21 Jun.

Democracy Isn’t Working

In an exclusive poll of 10,000 voters – five times the normal sample size for surveys of voter sentiment  – Tortoise has found British democracy isn’t working.

Twelve years since the Conservatives took power and six since the EU referendum, voters are dissatisfied with their representatives, divided by demography and distrustful of a system that seems stacked against them.

  • Barely half of voters think of Britain as a functioning democracy.
  • Nearly a third want a strong leader unconstrained by parliament when it comes to making big decisions.
  • Three quarters think MPs don’t care much or at all about their everyday concerns.
  • Four fifths feel they have little or no say in how the country is run.
  • 45 per cent of voters would vote to rejoin the EU if there was another referendum, compared with 40 per cent who’d vote to stay out.

The full findings can be found here:  Democracy in Britain . The poll was designed with the pollster Peter Kellner, and carried out by Deltapoll.

  • By 2:1, they think it doesn’t make much difference which party is in power
  • Nearly six in ten say “rich and powerful people having more political influence than ordinary voters” tops a list of the worst features of British democracy.
  • More than two thirds (68 per cent) across all age ranges say young people don’t have enough respect for traditional British values. 

James Harding. Co-founder and Editor of Tortoise Media, said: “Democracy is in trouble in the UK.  Only one person in five thinks democracy gives them any real say in how the country is run; nearly a third of people say the country needs a strong leader who doesn’t need to consult Parliament; and the biggest concern is that democracy works for the rich and powerful, not them. 

These are just some of the findings of the poll of 10,000 people that we commissioned at Tortoise to look at the state of democracy in Britain.  It’s the first opinion poll done on this scale to ask the question: “Does democracy work for you?” 

There are plenty of international surveys charting the decline of democracy around the world, where dictators, populists and pseudo-democrats are rolling back the rule of law.  But we’re too complacent about the democracy crisis at home: people are losing faith in Britain’s political system. 

Tortoise is a slow newsroom; we’re not trying to chase more breaking news, but understand what’s driving it.  Over the coming months, we are going to be holding ThinkIns across the country trying to get to the truth about Britain’s broken democracy – and, we hope, gather ideas on ways to mend it.”

Peter Kellner, leadinghttps://mailchi.mp/tortoisemedia/people-minus-power-1 pollster: “We all know the mantra. Britain has its problems but, for all its faults, our nation is a mature, stable democracy whose future is secure.

“That view could be dangerously complacent. Deltapoll’’s research for Tortoise suggests that the risks of our democracy fraying are greater than we might think. Barely half the public think Britain is democratic, and 14 million want a strong leader who does not have to answer to Parliament.

“I have never seen such disturbing figures. They flow from widespread contempt for our politicians. Two thirds of the public think MPs are “mainly out for themselves” rather than genuinely interested in public service and their constituents. Even more, three in four, do not trust MPs to “care about the concerns of people like you”.

“As a result, the adjectives that people choose most, from a list of eight to describe Britain’s democracy these days are “uneasy”, “disgusted” and “angry”, while the adjectives they choose least are “confident”, “happy” and “proud”. It’s impossible to avoid the conclusion that British democracy is in deep trouble with the electorate.”

Joe Twyman, Co- Founder of Delta Poll: “Tortoise has commissioned one of the largest surveys ever conducted in this country to look closely at democracy in Britain, including how the British people feel it works for them and for others.

“A representative sample of more than 10,000 adults from across Britain took part, and while the results may make for some uncomfortable reading, the data paint a very important and necessary picture that invites close examination.

“You cannot address a problem by simply pretending – or even hoping – that it does not exist.”

Construction on net zero homes begins on Granton Waterfront

Construction on Edinburgh’s first ‘net zero’ housing development has begun on Granton Waterfront.

Led by the City of Edinburgh Council in partnership with Glasgow-based contractor CCG (Scotland) Ltd, the 75 home ‘Granton D1’ affordable housing pilot is part of the 1.3bn, 3,500 net zero home Granton Waterfront regeneration project.

Designed by Anderson Bell Christie and located to the rear of the former Granton railway station building, this is the first pilot development in the Edinburgh Home Demonstrator (EHD) Project.

The collaboration between local and national government, academia and the construction industry is testing a new model for designing, procuring and delivering new homes in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal to create a greener future.

Granton D1 is also part of the Council’s ambition to deliver 20,000 affordable homes by 2027 and will contribute towards achieving the city’s target to become a ‘net zero’ city by 2030.

Future residents will benefit from a 20-minute neighbourhood approach, with active travel routes, public transport links and local amenities – including three commercial units on the ground floor level of D1 Homes. Where parking is provided, Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points will also be installed.

To achieve ‘net zero’, the development will utilise a series of innovative measures including improved fabric performance and triple-glazed windows, which will combine to dramatically reduce heat loss and energy demand, and an all-renewable energy strategy delivered by an entirely electric, on-site energy centre and solar PV panels.

Carbon offsetting measures will also be in place with the outcomes reviewed through post-occupation analysis that will be undertaken by Edinburgh Napier University to validate the performance of the homes and inform future strategy for EHD projects.

The homes themselves comprise one, two, and three-bedroom flats contained within a series of blocks, over-looking communal gardens, with the first homes set for completion in summer 2023.

They will each be clad in a rich red brick that corresponds to the former station building, that will become a creative workspace with a public square for community use. Three commercial premises will also be provided and leased to local business operators.

Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “The future of housebuilding is happening here in Edinburgh. Getting construction underway is a huge step for Granton Waterfront and the pilot will help us create much needed new homes and a trailblazing new future for sustainable living in the city.

“Using the most advanced construction methods and materials, these homes will be greener, warmer and more affordable. They will feature EV charging stations and community gardens to support local wildlife. As part of Edinburgh’s new coastal community and 20-minute neighbourhood, this exceptional development will also benefit from new local amenities and low carbon transport links.

“Granton D1 homes really have been designed to improve the lives of tenants and homeowners and will of course help us to meet Edinburgh’s net zero targets. We’re excited to now bring the blueprints to life.”

CCG Managing Director, David Wylie, said: “The aim of the EHD initiative is to prove if net zero housing delivery is affordable, practical, and scalable in order to meet Scotland’s ambitious targets as we transition to become a net zero economy by 2045.

“As the cost of living continues to increase, we are also responsible for understanding how we can tackle the fuel poverty agenda in the here and now by continuing to advance construction methods and adopt new, renewable technologies.

“CCG has pioneered offsite ‘Modern Methods of Construction’ for over a decade and our applied research and development into ‘Net Zero Carbon’ places us at the forefront of sustainable housebuilding in Scotland. Our partnership with the Council fosters early engagement and collaboration which means projects like Granton D1 can be realised much faster and the beneficiaries of this process are both the end-user and the environment.

“This project is hugely significant for the future of housing in Scotland and we thank the City of Edinburgh Council for allowing CCG to play our part in building a more sustainable future.”

Scottish climber makes rare ascent of Britain’s highest sea cliff and completes Sea Stack Hat Trick

Scottish climber Robbie Phillips and his partner Alex Moore have made a rare ascent of Britain’s highest vertical sea cliff.

The climb, called ‘The Long Hope’, is [1617ft or 493m] long and located on the Orkney Islands.

The formidable cliff hangs high above the North Sea around the corner from the famous sea stack ‘The Old Man of Hoy’. The climb rarely sees climbers attempt it due to the scale and difficult conditions surrounding the challenge. At 1,128 feet (335m) St John’s Head is the highest vertical sea cliff in the UK.

‘The Long Hope’ was first climbed free in 2011 by prominent Scottish climber Dave Macleod and is one of the hardest traditional climbs in Great Britain.

Before this it had only been climbed ’in aid style’ using ropes and hooks to help the climber ascend the cliff, taking 7 days to complete their ascent. Since then it has only seen 2 repeats, due to the exposed nature and technical difficulty of the climb.

The grade given to the climb makes it one of the hardest traditional style climbs in the whole of Great Britain. 

The cliff has no fixed protection like bolts, so climbers must place pieces of climbing gear as they climb to protect them from a fall. Not only must a climber be physically strong enough to pull on small holds, but they must simultaneously solve a 3D puzzle to protect their fall.

In total ‘The Long Hope’ is [1617ft or 493m] in length, over 1.5 times higher than the Eiffel Tower, and is split in 23 sections that a climber must complete without a fall to claim a successful ascent. 

Adding to this, the cliff has many sections where a fall could have serious consequences.The first section is made up of less steep grassy ledges, which are less technical but offers little protection.

Robbie explained: “The gear is largely for confidence, because on many pitches a fall will mean hitting ledges, cutting ropes on huge corners, and it’s certainly not something you want to test out.”

Robbie had attempted to complete the climb in summer 2021, but the team had to abandon their attempt following a series of events. Involving poor weather, encounters with the local wildlife, and a fellow team member breaking his ankle. “You need to keep a cool head for the whole day when nearly everything your fingers grab wants to crumble to dust in your hands, or anything you stand on feels like it will explode under the pressure of your climbing shoe.”

Returning in May 2022, Robbie had his sights set on success. He struggled to find a climbing partner due to the infamous reputation of the climb. But Cornish climber, Alex Moore, was intrigued by the challenge ‘The Long Hope’ offered.

Alex explained: “I had just started climbing when Dave made the first ascent of Longhope and I remember my schools outdoor education department buying a copy of the dvd.

“Naturally, I was immediately keen to join Robbie on the trip. I knew Robbie but we’d not climbed together much and I’m better known for a style of climbing called bouldering, which is as far from the Longhope as it’s possible to be!”

But there were still reminders of the risk that they were undertaking. Whilst investigating the rock, Alex fell [30m] after his climbing gear protection failed. 

After spending weeks hanging on a rope to memorise the sequence of movements, the team decided they were ready for an attempt. Robbie and Alex set off at 4am to complete the 2hr walk to the top, before abseiling down to the base of the cliff where they start the climb. 

“Spirits were low before we’d started descending, and they hit an all-time low when the ropes got stuck below on abseil and I had to go retrieve them” – Robbie

The pair set off on the initial grassy pitches of climbing and continued their long climb up the formidable rock face. After already completing 420m of climbing, Robbie arrived at the ominously named ‘The Guillotine’, a sharp ledge before the most difficult section of the whole cliff. 

Robbie described the constant battle against fear and anxiety: “When climbing sustained bold climbing for hundreds of metres it takes a lot of mental energy to continue the fight. You can even suddenly becoming overwhelmed by the exposure and not being able to continue”.

Recounting his ascent on the crux, or most hard section, Robbie said “Out of nowhere the clouds parted and the sun hit the wall casting an orange glow across the rock. My chances were low, but I knew then I had this one opportunity to do it.

“I told myself I had to leave nothing on the wall and commit everything to the final pitch. I pulled on and blocked out all thought as I climbed through the most difficult section, achieving what I can only explain as “flow state”.

“Grabbing the final hold I came out of the trance and screamed in disbelief. I was over the moon, in utter shock at what had just happened. After all the effort and setbacks it finally came together”

Shortly following Robbie in his ascent, his partner Alex also completed the formidable climb: “I went for [the climb], taking my time but keeping a nervous eye on the setting sun. I topped out a little after 10:30pm, elated and exhausted. I would do it all again for the enjoyment we squeezed out of it, but frankly, I’m glad I don’t have to.”

Not content with completing “The Long Hope’, the pair also undertook a 24hr climbing challenge of the famous ‘Three Old Men’ sea stacks.

The team started their challenge at 4am undertaking ‘The Old Man of Hoy’ on Orkney, before crossing to the mainland and ascending ‘Am Buchaille’ near Shegra. The team completed the hat trick of ascents with ‘The Old Man of Stoer’ in Lairg. Robbie and Alex finished the challenge with an hour to spare.

The team have documented their adventures and will be publishing films of their ascents on Robbie’s Youtube Channel and website – www.youtube.com/c/RobbiePhillips

& robbieclimbs.com

People smugglers jailed for 14 years

Two people have been sentenced for recruiting drivers to smuggle migrants in vans

Two men who dangerously smuggled 31 illegal migrants into the UK, including seven children and a pregnant woman, have been sentenced to a combined 14 years in prison.

Akan Brayan, of Nottingham, and Dylan Shwani, of Lincoln, were found guilty of recruiting drivers to hide migrants in hired vans containing various goods before smuggling them into the UK.

The defendants, both aged 37, were sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday (7 June, 2022) following a five-year investigation by the Home Office’s Criminal and Financial Investigations (CFI) unit.

They were each sentenced to seven years in prison.

Between 2016 and 2018, Brayan and Shwani, paid six drivers from the Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire areas to bring 31 Iraqi migrants, on six separate occasions, into the country.

Although the majority of the migrants were men, children as young as one and a pregnant woman were also found in the vans.

People were crammed into the vehicles among stacks of tyres, second-hand furniture and household goods being transported to the UK. Photos show in one of the vans a woman cradling a small child, with other children sat around her in the tightly enclosed space.

CFI teams found boxes of goods deliberately placed to hide people as well as paprika on the floor of one of the vans in an attempt to confuse sniffer dogs from detecting the migrants’ scents.

Minister for Justice and Tackling Illegal Migration, Tom Pursglove MP said: “These brazen attempts to smuggle illegal migrants, including very young children, into the UK in tiny, air-tight spaces with room to barely move, are despicable.

“Our expertly trained officers continue to work round the clock to prevent this illegal activity, which puts lives in extreme danger.

“The Nationality and Borders Act will make it easier to prosecute people smugglers and, by making it a criminal offence to arrive in the UK illegally, we can truly break the business models of these callous criminals.”

Ben Thomas, Deputy Director for Immigration Enforcement’s Criminal and Financial Investigations, said: “My team work tirelessly to bring to justice anyone attempting to smuggle people unlawfully into the country.

“These two evil men endangered the lives of people, including children, to line their pockets without a care in the world for their safety. I hope these sentencings send a powerful message that breaking the law and putting individuals’ lives at risk will not go unpunished.”

Civil service cuts will be deeper than under George Osborne’s austerity

New analysis by the TUC reveals that plans by Boris Johnson’s government to cut 91,000 civil service jobs will be deeper than deepest point of George Osborne’s programme of cuts in the last decade.

The analysis looks at civil service staffing levels relative to the UK population. And it finds that if the proposed cuts go ahead the number of civil servants relative to UK people will fall below the lowest point while David Cameron was Prime Minster and Osborne Chancellor.

YearCivil servants per 10,000 people
2010 (actual)76
201659
202170
2025 (projected)56

`

The reduction from 76 civil servants per 10,000 people in 2010 to 59 in 2016 was a 22% cut to civil service staff.

The reduction now being planned from 70 civil servants per 10,000 to 56 will be a 20% cut, but starting from a lower level, and therefore reaching a lower point.

The cuts under George Osborne set a record for the smallest civil service since the Second World War. If these cuts go ahead, they will break that record.

What do civil service staff do?

The UK has just over 475,000 full-time equivalent civil servants. They work in government departments and many government agencies. This includes:

  • 56,000 staff in the Ministry of Defence, whose work has been intensified by Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine and the need to protect the UK from new security threats such as cyber sabotage.
  • 64,000 staff in HMRC who administered the furlough scheme and who protect honest taxpayers and public services by preventing and detecting tax fraud.
  • 96,000 staff in justice services, including courts, prisons, legal aid, fraud detection organised crime prevention, and victim support who protect the nation, bring criminals to justice and support victims.
  • 84,000 work and pensions staff who make sure that low-income households, disabled people and pensioners get the essential support they need to be fed, housed, warm and safe.
  • 33,000 home office staff who process passport claims, give safe haven to refugees from wars such as the conflict in Ukraine, and make sure businesses and services like the NHS have visas for the skilled workers they need.
  • Agencies that employ smaller numbers of civil servants, but that do vital work protecting the safety and interests of the public, including the Health and Safety Executive, Ofgem, Ofwat, Food Standards Agency and the Coastguard Agency.

Where will the cuts be made?

The government has not yet said where the cuts will be made, but ministers have been instructed to start identifying staff cuts of up to 40% in some departments immediately.

The TUC says that there are no easy places to make cuts without consequences that will harm UK families and businesses, and that some services may have to be stopped altogether.

There could be less resilience if a future pandemic takes place and less security against attacks on our allies or cyber-attacks on the UK by hostile countries like Russia.

There could be less safety for UK families from fraud and crime, unsafe public places and workplaces, and dangerous ingredients or hygiene standards in food production and services.

And there could be backlogs and delays to essential support like disability benefits and universal credit, or the issuing of vital documents like passports, driving licences and work visas.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “They said we would build back better. But the Conservative government has changed its tune. Now it’s cut back harder – with cuts that go even deeper than George Osborne’s.

“It’s like Russian roulette. We don’t know which central government services will take the hit. But if these damaging plans don’t change, we know there will be harm to families and businesses that depend on services.

“Osborne’s cuts made the nation less resilient when we were hit by the pandemic, because he scrapped staff responsible for emergency planning and public health. The price was too high. We cannot make the same mistake again.”

Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, said: “Areas of the civil service and its agencies are already struggling with increased duties following Brexit and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“We have seen imports going unchecked because of a lack of capacity and an increasing mismatch between the size of the armed forces and the vital civilian support staff who help them to operate effectively.

“Cuts of this magnitude will have a huge impact on institutional knowledge, the balance of experience within the workforce, overall capability in vital areas and ultimately will leave the country less secure. The government must think again.

“It is also unclear whether existing funded vacancies will be filled, further reducing capacity.”

FDA Assistant General Secretary Steven Littlewood: “We are still dealing with the consequences of the cuts leading up to 2016 in areas like the justice system, where there remains a historically large backlog of cases.

“It’s clear from the TUC’s research that in terms of providing services to the population, the government proposals actual go beyond where we were in 2016 and will lead to the lowest number of civil servants per head since World War Two.

“Given the new responsibilities the government has post-Brexit for areas like borders, customs and agriculture it is impossible to see how it can provide the services it currently is with the proposed job losses. The government needs to be honest about what services it would cut if it reduces numbers.”

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “Making cuts will only make things worse, make waiting lists longer for those seeking passports and driving licences, make telephone queues longer for those with tax enquiries.

“We shall fight for every job in the civil service. Not just on behalf of our members, but on behalf of every member of the public who relies on the services they provide.”

Royal Highland Show app launched to enhance visitor experience

The Royal Highland Show is launching a free RHS app designed to making visiting the Show a more enjoyable and interactive experience. 

The app has been designed to provide the best way of navigating around the showground, allowing visitors to plan their day so as not to miss out on any of the exciting activities, classes, exhibits and shopping. 

Featuring an interactive map of the Ingliston Showground, users can access an overview of what is going on in each area and be provided with wayfinding routes across the site.  

The app will also enable Show organisers to highlight in real time specific ‘not to be missed’ events and attractions, such as the start of the Grand Parade, celebrity chef demonstrations or the show jumping Grand Prix. 

Users will also be able to quickly access links to live results from the Showground as well as stream RHS TV straight to their devices. 

The app can be downloaded on both iPhone and Android devices and is available for free in both the App Store and Google Play. 

The app release comes as the Show celebrates its bicentenary in 2022, marking 200 years since the very first Highland Show took place in 1822. The app will also compliment the brand-new RHS TV, which will see a dynamic mix of live and pre-recorded content from the Show broadcast online throughout the four days, all available to access for free and featuring the perfect balance of livestock judging, equestrian classes, culture, interviews, food & drink and of course, the grand parade. 

Presenting RHS TV in the mornings will be Dougie Vipond, with Sarah Mack taking the reins in the afternoons. Not only beamed across the globe, RHS TV will also be transmitted across the showground on giant screens throughout the four days.

The content captured will be available to watch back on the Royal Highland Show YouTube channel. 

Mark Currie, Director of Operations at the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), organisers of the Royal Highland Show, said: “The RHS app marks another exciting step forward into the future for the Royal Highland Show, allowing visitors to experience the Show like never before.  

“We know there is simply so much to see at the Show that some people don’t know half of what’s going on, so the RHS app will make sure they can experience as much as possible!” 

The Royal Highland Show, supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland, will take place 23-26th June 2022.

Tickets, including for car parking, must be pre-purchased online this year and no tickets will be available to buy on the gate. Tickets are limited in number this year with sell out days anticipated, so it is advised to purchase early.

The Show will be broadcast online this year via RHS TV, funded by the Scottish Government. 

For further information and to purchase tickets please visit:  

www.royalhighlandshow.org. 

Children learn how to stay safe near Edinburgh construction site

A five-star housebuilder hosted an interactive site safety discussion at Frogston Primary School recently to remind children of the dangers of its nearby building sites at Heritage Grange in Edinburgh.

Barratt Developments PLC, which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, hosted a site safety session during a school assembly on Monday 30th May. The session took the pupils through the dangers of construction sites, how to stay safe near them, the developments themselves and site worker safety.

Lorraine Lawrie, Head Teacher at Frogston Primary School said: “Pupils at Frogston Primary School had a great time during their visit from Stewart at Barratt Developments.

“They enjoyed the site safety presentation, which was both fun and interactive but also emphasised the importance of being safe near building sites. A highlight for the children was dressing up in Barratt’s PPE equipment.

“This was a great educational experience to have ahead of the summer holidays.”

Stewart Ponton, Safety, Health and Environment Operations Manager for Barratt Developments PLC said: “Our site managers are very aware of the attractiveness of construction sites to children. While they might look like fun obstacle courses or play parks, the fact of the matter is that they are extremely dangerous.

“It is our duty of care to the people of Edinburgh, among the many other communities in which we operate, to provide local schools like Frogston Primary School with the proper information on how the pupils can stay safe.”

Barratt Developments have a range of three bed homes at DWH @ Heritage Grange. Situated next to the Pentland Hills in the south of Edinburgh and surrounded by beautiful countryside views and lots of open space, this development makes the perfect location to enjoy a combination of country and city living.

For more information on current availability at DWH @ Heritage Grange, visit https://www.dwh.co.uk/new-homes/dev000330-dwh-@-heritage-grange/

Mental health emergency as child referrals increase by more than 22%

Over 1,300 children waiting more than a year for treatment

The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), an alliance of leading providers of specialist children’s services, has warned of a mental health emergency and called for greatly increased investment as the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the young become clearer.

It notes that the mental health of children and young people is set to further worsen given the cost-of-living crisis, as more people are driven into poverty.

The SCSC has also warned of the devastating impact of cuts in public services on those with mental health issues, as outlined in the Scottish Government’s Resource Spending Review, with an estimated £3.5 billion spending shortfall by 2026/27.

The call comes as new figures published by Public Health Scotland yesterday (7th June 2022), indicate that over the quarter covering January to March 2022, 9,672 children and young people were referred to specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) for treatment.

This includes issues such as anxiety and depression and represents a staggering 22.4% increase in numbers from the same quarter of the previous year when the equivalent figure was 7,902.

With already under-resourced and overstretched services facing overwhelming pressure due to increased demand, the SCSC has raised concerns over a potential “lost generation” of vulnerable children and young people whose mental health is being impacted by Covid-19. 

Even before the pandemic, cases of poor mental health were at unprecedented levels with services in crisis, and there are a growing number of vulnerable children who cannot access adequate support. The pandemic and cost-of-living crisis has exacerbated this, with more children and young people driven into poverty, with the resulting impact on their mental health. This has led to unprecedented demand and backlogs, with services struggling to keep up.

In total, 5, 016 children and young people started treatment at CAMHS during the period January to March 2022, an increase of 7.7% from the previous quarter (4,659). Just over a quarter (26.8%) were not seen within the Scottish Government’s maximum waiting time for the NHS of 18 weeks from referral to treatment (to be met by at least 90% of patients). 

A total of 1,322 children and young people had been waiting over a year for treatment at the end of March 2022.

In addition to increased investment in specialist CAMHS, the SCSC has called for greater workforce planning and a renewed focus on expanded prevention and early intervention services, reducing the need for referral to costly specialist mental health services. It has also called for greater partnership working between the public, private and third sectors as well as greater awareness of the services on offer, especially those at a community level.

A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “We have been warning for some time that we are facing a potential lost generation of vulnerable children and young people, whose mental health is being impacted even further by the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.

“Adding to this are cuts in public services, which will impact especially on local government and the third sector, responsible for many of the preventative and early intervention services supporting those with mental health problems.

“Faced by such a devastating series of factors, there must be a radical transformation of our mental health services, investing in specialist services and with a renewed focus on preventing such problems arising in the first place through intervening early.

“This is a crisis we can overcome, but as the country comes to terms with the biggest hit to its mental health in generations, it will require a similar energy and commitment to that demonstrated for Covid-19 if we are to achieve this and prevent many young people giving up on their futures.”