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FOOD SUPPORT AVAILABLE in NORTH EDINBURGH

Food Access Points in EH4 & EH5

Stagebox’s free auditions to take place in Edinburgh this April

10th April – Edinburgh Festival Theatre audition date

Leading entertainment industry training programme and talent management, Stagebox, has announced audition dates taking place across the nation from April 2022.

The annual search sees experts audition passionate performers aged 8-18 years old from across the country (and internationally), offering successful members the chance to benefit from world class training and opportunities in a contemporary supercharged industry accelerator for musical theatre, television and film.

Last year’s auditions saw the Stagebox team meet thousands of performers from across the UK and beyond, and this year they anticipate similar interest. This year, auditionees will be able to select whether they are auditioning for an acting or musical theatre membership and their audition day will see them be put through their paces in this discipline.

Many young performers training at Stagebox have already landed dream roles on stage and screen, thanks to the expert training and management.

Stagebox has secured their clients major lead talent screen roles in Oscar nominated and Emmy award winning productions, including Peaky Blinders (Netflix), Sex Education (Netflix), Robin Robin (Netflix), Ted Lasso (Apple TV+), Avenue 5 (HBO), The Power (Amazon Studios), Pistol (Disney +), BAFTA anthology Superdad (Channel 4), Gentleman Jack (Netflix/HBO), Lagging (BBC) and many more.

Stagebox management clients also continue to star in West End and UK Tour musicals including Frozen, Matilda the Musical, School of Rock, Annie, The Grinch, Mary Poppins and Tina the Musical to name a few.

To further the opportunities for their clients, Stagebox Management has also brokered agency partnerships stateside, working alongside Innovative Artists, Paradigm Talent, Luber Roklin Entertainment, Gravity Hill, KMR, Maverick and more.

Commenting on the upcoming 2022 auditions, Stagebox’s General Manager, Jasmine Quinlan Gardner, said: “We are so excited to begin our nationwide search for the stars of today and tomorrow.

“We are proud of our inclusive, diverse and extraordinarily talented community and we can’t wait to meet those who will join us on the journey.”

Kirsti Bagger, Head Agent at Stagebox, adds: “At Stagebox, the training is second to none, preparing our young stars for careers on the stage and screen. 2021 was one of our most successful years ever with Stagebox Management clients wrapping on global award-winning feature films and television series and critically acclaimed theatre productions.

“We’re committed to making auditions for Stagebox free as part of our ongoing dedication to inclusivity in the arts. We only open for auditions once a year, and we’re excited to see our 2022 auditionees’ incredible new talent!”

These auditions are guaranteed to fill up fast and limited spaces apply. To register your spot for your preferred audition date, please visit the Stagebox website to apply.

To find out more about Stagebox, please head to: https//www.stagebox.uk/

*Auditions will adhere to all necessary COVID-19 guidelines.

The Highway Code: Changes you need to know from today – 29 January 2022

Rules for all types of road users have been updated in The Highway Code to improve the safety of people walking, cycling and riding horses.

The changes follow a public consultation on a review of The Highway Code to improve road safety for people walking, cycling and riding horses. It ran from July to October 2020, and received more than 20,000 responses from the public, businesses and other organisations. Most people who responded were in favour of all the changes.

The changes were made to The Highway Code on Saturday 29 January 2022.

Here are 8 of the changes that you need to know about.

1. Hierarchy of road users

The introduction section of The Highway Code has been updated to include 3 new rules about the new ‘hierarchy of road users’.

The hierarchy places those road users most at risk in the event of a collision at the top of the hierarchy. It does not remove the need for everyone to behave responsibly.

It’s important that all road users:

are aware of The Highway Code
are considerate to other road users
understand their responsibility for the safety of others

The 3 new rules are numbered H1, H2, and H3.

Read the new rules

2. People crossing the road at junctions

The updated code clarifies that:

when people are crossing or waiting to cross at a junction, other traffic should give way
if people have started crossing and traffic wants to turn into the road, the people crossing have priority and the traffic should give way
people driving, riding a motorcycle or cycling must give way to people on a zebra crossing and people walking and cycling on a parallel crossing

A parallel crossing is similar to a zebra crossing, but includes a cycle route alongside the black and white stripes.

Read the updated rules

3. Walking, cycling or riding in shared spaces

There is new guidance in the code about routes and spaces which are shared by people walking, cycling and riding horses.

People cycling, riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle should respect the safety of people walking in these spaces, but people walking should also take care not to obstruct or endanger them.

People cycling are asked to:

not pass people walking, riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle closely or at high speed, particularly from behind
slow down when necessary and let people walking know they are there (for example, by ringing their bell)
remember that people walking may be deaf, blind or partially sighted
not pass a horse on the horse’s left

Read the updated rules

4. Positioning in the road when cycling

There is updated guidance for people cycling about positioning themselves which includes:

riding in the centre of their lane on quiet roads, in slower-moving traffic and at the approach to junctions or road narrowings
keeping at least 0.5 metres (just over 1.5 feet) away from the kerb edge (and further where it is safer) when riding on busy roads with vehicles moving faster than them

People cycling in groups

The updated code explains that people cycling in groups:

should be considerate of the needs of other road users when riding in groups
can ride 2 abreast – and it can be safer to do so, particularly in larger groups or when accompanying children or less experienced riders

People cycling are asked to be aware of people driving behind them and allow them to overtake (for example, by moving into single file or stopping) when it’s safe to do so.

People cycling passing parked vehicles

The updated code explains that people cycling should:

take care when passing parked vehicles, leaving enough room (a door’s width or 1 metre) to avoid being hit if a car door is opened
watch out for people walking into their path

Read the updated rules

5. Overtaking when driving or cycling

You may cross a double-white line if necessary (provided the road is clear) to overtake someone cycling or riding a horse if they are travelling at 10 mph or less (Rule 129).

There is updated guidance on safe passing distances and speeds for people driving or riding a motorcycle when overtaking vulnerable road users, including:

leaving at least 1.5 metres (5 feet) when overtaking people cycling at speeds of up to 30mph, and giving them more space when overtaking at higher speeds
passing people riding horses or driving horse-drawn vehicles at speeds under 10 mph and allowing at least 2 metres (6.5 feet) of space
allowing at least 2 metres (6.5 feet) of space and keeping to a low speed when passing people walking in the road (for example, where there’s no pavement)

Wait behind them and do not overtake if it’s unsafe or not possible to meet these clearances.

People cycling passing slower-moving or stationary traffic

The updated code confirms that people cycling may pass slower-moving or stationary traffic on their right or left.

They should proceed with caution as people driving may not be able to see them. This is particularly important:

on the approach to junctions
when deciding whether it is safe to pass lorries or other large vehicles

Read the updated rules

6. People cycling at junctions

The code has been updated to clarify that when turning into or out of a side road, people cycling should give way to people walking who are crossing or waiting to cross.

There is new advice about new special cycle facilities at some junctions.

Some junctions now include small cycle traffic lights at eye-level height, which may allow cyclists to move separately from or before other traffic. People cycling are encouraged to use these facilities where they make their journey safer and easier.

There is also new guidance for people cycling at junctions with no separate facilities.

The code recommends that people cycling should proceed as if they were driving a vehicle where there are no separate cyclist facilities. This includes positioning themselves in the centre of their chosen lane, where they feel able to do this safely. This is to:

make them as visible as possible
avoid being overtaken where this would be dangerous

People cycling turning right

The code now includes advice for people cycling using junctions where signs and markings tell them to turn right in 2 stages. These are:

stage 1 – when the traffic lights turn green, go straight ahead to the location marked by a cycle symbol and turn arrow on the road, and then stop and wait
stage 2 – when the traffic lights on the far side of the junction (now facing the people cycling) turn green, complete the manoeuvre

People cycling have priority when going straight ahead at junctions

The code clarifies that when people cycling are going straight ahead at a junction, they have priority over traffic waiting to turn into or out of a side road, unless road signs or markings indicate otherwise.

People cycling are asked to watch out for people driving intending to turn across their path, as people driving ahead may not be able to see them.

Read the updated rules

7. People cycling, riding a horse and driving horse-drawn vehicles on roundabouts

The code has been updated to clarify that people driving or riding a motorcycle should give priority to people cycling on roundabouts. The new guidance will say people driving and or riding a motorcycle should:

not attempt to overtake people cycling within that person’s lane
allow people cycling to move across their path as they travel around the roundabout

The code already explained that people cycling, riding a horse and driving a horse-drawn vehicle may stay in the left-hand lane of a roundabout when they intend to continue across or around the roundabout.

Guidance has been added to explain that people driving should take extra care when entering a roundabout to make sure they do not cut across people cycling, riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle who are continuing around the roundabout in the left-hand lane.

Read the updated rules

8. Parking, charging and leaving vehicles

The code recommends a new technique when leaving vehicles. It’s sometimes called the ‘Dutch Reach’.

Where people driving or passengers in a vehicle are able to do so, they should open the door using their hand on the opposite side to the door they are opening. For example, using their left hand to open a door on their right-hand side.

This will make them turn their head to look over their shoulder behind them. They’re then less likely to cause injury to:

people cycling or riding a motorcycle passing on the road
people on the pavement

Using an electric vehicle charge point

For the first time, the code includes guidance about using electric vehicle charging points.

When using one, people should:

park close to the charge point and avoid creating a trip hazard for people walking from trailing cables
display a warning sign if you can
return charging cables and connectors neatly to minimise the danger to other people and avoid creating an obstacle for other road users

Read the updated rule

Rule 239 (Waiting and parking)

Find out about all the changes

In total, 10 sections of The Highway Code have been updated, with 50 rules being added or updated.

You can find a summary of all the changes in The Highway Code updates list on GOV.UK.

Stay up to date

The Highway Code is essential reading for everyone. It’s updated regularly, so it’s important that everyone reads it – not just learner drivers.

Many of the rules in the code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you’re committing a criminal offence.

If you do not follow the other rules in the code, it can be used in evidence in court proceedings to establish liability.

The full updated version of The Highway Code is available, free of charge, on GOV.UK.

You can pre-order an updated version of The Highway Code book online now, and buy a copy at most high street bookshops from April 2022. It has a new cover design so it’s easy to recognise.

You can also download The Highway Code iOS app. An Android version is being developed.

Other ways to stay up to date

To stay up to date, you can also:

sign up to get email alerts when the rules change
follow The Highway Code on Facebook
follow The Highway Code on Twitter

Taking time out for National Breathing Space Day

National Breathing Space Day (1^st February) takes place annually to raise awareness of the confidential support the mental health phone service provides for anyone feeling low or stressed.

The theme for the day is ‘You Matter, We Care’ and Breathing Space is delighted that an increasing number of organisations are actively promoting that message through the Breathing Space Bench Project

Over the last year, a range of organisations have teamed up with Breathing Space to encourage Scots to take some time out for their mental health with a moment to sit and reflect or share their feelings, by installing the special benches.

Breathing Space Benches are now sited in locations as varied as Inchinnan Church, Musselburgh Golf Club, Lanarkshire parks, colleges across Borders, Fife, Dundee and Angus and at Strathclyde University.

The Breathing Space Bench Project is aimed at creating welcoming spaces – encouraging people to sit and take some breathing space, to share a bit of time for listening and talking, or by reaching out and showing kindness and compassion.

This has been especially important at a time when the usual ways of meeting up for a chat have been limited.

Tony McLaren, Breathing Space National Coordinator, said: “It’s certainly been a challenging for year everyone, including our own staff who have continued to offer a compassionate listening service while working in new ways and in new office environments to safeguard against the pandemic.

It’s inspiring to see how many organisations are committed to supporting people to stay mentally healthy through taking time to listen and share. They are doing a doing a tremendous job in taking forward this mental wellbeing agenda, offering a place to connect and reflect, and showing that we shouldn’t be afraid to talk about how we are feeling.

“If anyone who is struggling and needs a listening ear, and wants to take a chat beyond the bench, our advisors at Breathing Space are available in the evenings and at the weekends on 0800 83 85 87 or through web chat, to listen and offer information and advice. If you’re worried or feeling down, please get in touch for some ‘breathing space’”

Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care, Kevin Stewart MSP said: “Looking after our mental health and wellbeing is just as important as looking after our physical health.

“That message is especially relevant at the moment, given the continuing challenges which we all face in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Breathing Space is a free service providing vital out-of-hours support to people across Scotland who are feeling low, stressed or anxious. I’m delighted to highlight the help available and to support Breathing Space Day.

“I would urge anyone who is experiencing low mood, anxiety or distress in their lives to get in touch with the service through the helpline; through NHS24 on 111; or by looking at the range of helpful advice on the Breathing Space website.”

Doddie Weir Foundation donates £150k to MND charities

The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, founded by rugby legend Doddie Weir, has donated £50,000 to charity MND Scotland and £100,000 to the MND Association, to support people living with motor neurone disease (MND).

Doddie, who first shared his MND diagnosis in June 2017, has pledged to help others with the rapidly progressing terminal illness, as well as funding for research into finding a cure.

Since 2018, the Foundation has committed annual funding to MND Scotland and the MND Association, to help the charities provide vital support to people who are currently affected by MND.

This new cash boost takes the Foundation’s total donations to MND Scotland and the MND Association to £430,000 and £770,000, respectively. The funds will be used by both organisations to help ease some the financial burden that comes with a diagnosis of MND, through their grant programmes.

These programmes aim to help reduce some of the extra costs that come with living with MND. The grants can be used in various ways, for instance; to help with costs towards home adaptations, such as ramps and stairlifts, for specialist equipment to live life more independently, and for respite activities for carers and families.

Jill Douglas, CEO of the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, said: “We recognise the challenges faced by people who are given this terrible diagnosis and the impact it has on them and their families.

“We speak to people every day who need support and we are committed to doing all we can to help. We are delighted to work with the two MND charities, MND Association and MND Scotland who have the experience and expertise to make sure our grants reach the people who need them most.”

Rachel Maitland, MND Scotland’s Chief Executive, said: “A diagnosis of MND can put an enormous financial strain on people living with the disease, and our grants programme can be life-changing for those affected in Scotland.

“We thank the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation for this very generous donation and for the Foundation’s continued support over the years.

“These funds help MND Scotland provide essential financial support when people need it the most, and by continuing to work together we can make life a little easier for people living with MND right now.”

Sally Light, Chief Executive of the MND Association for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said: “MND will only be defeated through collaboration and partnership, and so we are delighted our care grants partnership with the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation will be entering its fifth year.

“While we are working hard to find a cure for this devastating disease, it is vital we can provide tangible support right now to those living with and affected by MND.

“Our comprehensive grant programme is there to help people living with MND and their families in a number of ways, which can make a real difference when they are desperately in need of support.

“We are incredibly grateful to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and know that this generous donation will help so many people in the MND community.”

For more information visit www.mndscotland.org.uk.

Five-minutes of fame for Scotland’s winning SMEs

Prize-winning SMEs to take the stage at Scotland’s national innovation summit
The Summit announces new keynote speaker, Mari-Anne Chiromo, Entrepreneur and Business Growth & Effectiveness Specialist

Three of Scotland’s most innovative SMEs have secured a global audience spot at the CAN DO Innovation Summit after entering a competition to appear on the events #SMEstage.

The successful candidates; FC Laboratories Ltd, Cheemia ReSET and Danu Robotics Ltd, will join a host of world-class speakers, addressing an audience of over 800 investors, academics, entrepreneurs and innovators at the third-annual event held virtually on 23rd February 2022.

The competition, open to all small and medium sized Scottish businesses, required applicants to submit a short video demonstrating how their business drives innovation that is creating solutions to society’s biggest challenges.

The three winners were chosen from a wide variety of high-quality submissions and will now claim their prize spot on the Summit’s SME stage and will also benefit from two days of support from an Innovation Specialist at Scottish Enterprise worth £2K to help take their idea to the next level.

This year’s virtual CAN DO Innovation Summit will connect start-ups and SMEs with leading innovators, entrepreneurs, and academics from across the globe to explore new opportunities that marry purpose and profitability. It will feature a speaker line-up of over 40 multi-sector SMEs and a range of innovation support agencies across 12 industry-led panel sessions.

Keynotes, panel discussions and live Q&A sessions will run throughout the day covering practical insights on how people power, combined with the right tech, as well as sustainable and inclusive business practices can accelerate and enable a smoother digital transformation journey for businesses.

Mari-Anne Chiromo, Entrepreneur and Business Growth & Effectiveness Specialist at Apple is the latest name to join the selection of world class keynotes speaking at the event.

Further speaker highlights on the day include:

Kate Forbes MSP, Scottish Government
Wade Davis, Feminist, Former NFL Player and Educator on gender, race, and orientation equality (consulted with Netflix, Google and Viacom)
Gayemarie Brown, Forbes Top 25 Futurist, plus many more.

Delegates from a range of sectors – from fintech and health to manufacturing and the creative industries – have already signed up to this year’s event looking to expand their networks, learn about progressive workplace cultures and business models, and make connections for innovative project collaborations.

Dr Laura Bell of the CAN DO Innovation Summit, said: “Recent social and economic changes have created unprecedented challenges for SMEs and we would encourage them to attend the CAN DO Innovation Summit to be part of our vision of making Scotland a world-leading entrepreneurial nation.

“This virtual focal point for business will help SMEs adopt new technologies, build progressive working cultures and access the right support for innovation-led recovery and growth. We have a wide selection of world-leading speakers lined up for the event, as well as interactive sessions which can benefit SMEs across all sectors.

“I’d like to thank our panel of judges for selecting three excellent winners to take their well-earned place in the spotlight at the summit on the #SMEstage. We look forward to welcoming many more SMEs on 23 February.”

The #SMEstage competition winners were selected by an independent panel of judges made up of Evelyn McDonald, CEO at Scottish EDGE, Enoch Adeyemi, CEO at Black Professionals Scotland and Colin Meager, Innovation Team Lead, Scottish Enterprise.

FC Laboratories Ltd, Cheemia ReSET and Danu Robotics Ltd will appear at the Summit at 4pm to showcase how they are building innovation into their daily practices.

Colin Meager said: “It’s inspiring to see that, despite the economic and societal challenges we are facing, there are a wealth of entrepreneurs and businesses in Scotland using digital transformation to develop new business models and more innovative products and services.

“Winning the competition will give these businesses access to useful connections and support as well as linking them into invaluable practical support from Scottish Enterprise.”

Early Bird rates are available for a limited time. If you’re keen to attend the Summit but the cost would prevent you from attending, visit the CAN DO Innovation website for info on how to get access.

For more information on the event and to register, please visit:

www.candoinnovation.scot

City council to progress introduction of LEZ this week

The next stage in the plan to introduce a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Edinburgh is expected to be approved by committee this week.

A finalised scheme was brought to October’s Transport and Environment Committee, when it was agreed that further analysis would be carried out on the LEZ’s role in reducing greenhouse gases, in particular carbon emissions, before final approval.

On Thursday (27 January) committee members will consider a report outlining analysis by SEPA via the National Modelling Framework. This notes that, while the LEZ will take significant steps towards tackling poor air quality caused by harmful NO2 and PM emissions, there are limits to how much the fossil-fuelled vehicles that are allowed within the zone will reduce carbon emissions.

Instead, the wider objectives of the LEZ scheme will help facilitate the Council’s actions toward achieving a net zero city. These include decarbonising transport and encouraging a shift away from private car use towards more sustainable choices of public transport or walking, wheeling and cycling.

It is recommended to proceed with the scheme with no changes to the boundary or grace period, meaning an LEZ would be introduced in the city centre this spring, with enforcement to begin in 2024.

A separate Air Quality Annual Progress report to committee shows a continued decline in air pollution across the city. As a result, one of Edinburgh’s five Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) declared for breaches of national NO2 objectives – Inverleith Row – is set to be revoked, after three consecutive years of compliance, which is a sign of progress.

There are, however, still areas of concern, especially the Central AQMA, though modelling predicts that actions such as introducing an LEZ will have a positive impact.

Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “The LEZ put forward for approval in October followed several years of planning, modelling and analysis, in line with national frameworks, as well as consideration of feedback received through a major public consultation.

“Additional work carried out since then to assess the scheme’s impact on carbon emissions, as well as the proposed boundaries and grace period, demonstrates that these proposals are appropriate for the city.

“The LEZ, alongside a range of ambitious projects to improve air quality, will encourage cleaner transport and support active travel, and is key to achieving cleaner air for everyone.”

Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convener, said: “It’s really encouraging to see a consistent fall in harmful air pollutants across the city, so much so that we’ll soon be able to revoke the Inverleith Row AQMA.

“Of course, there’s still work to be done and we’re confident that the LEZ, paired with companies committing to cleaner fleets, improved signalling and modal shift away from private car journeys, amongst other measures, will see the picture improve even further.”

Edinburgh’s city centre LEZ would apply to all motor vehicles, except motorcycles and mopeds, and with a two-year grace period.

An evidence-led approach was taken when developing the LEZ, adhering to the National Low Emission Framework and based on detailed traffic and air quality modelling and data. October’s proposals followed a major, 12-week consultation with the public.

The city centre boundary was selected based on various factors, including the expected limited impact of a larger zone and predictions that an alternative city centre zone would have longer lasting negative impacts on air quality at its boundary.

Once the LEZ is in place, vehicles must meet a minimum emissions standard to enter the zone freely, and those that don’t will be considered non-compliant and subject to penalties.

Penalty charges are set nationally at £60 for non-compliant vehicles (though halved if paid within 30 days), with the penalty rate roughly doubling for subsequent contraventions to a maximum level depending on the vehicle.

Read the full reports, Low Emission Zone – Carbon Impact and 2021 Air Quality Annual Progress Report, on the Council website.

Watch the discussions live via webcast from 10am on Thursday, 27 January.

You can also find out more about the LEZ on CEC’s dedicated web pages.

Raise a dram! Morrisons has Burns Night covered with Scottish staples and deals on tipples

Morrisons is helping customers celebrate Burns Night on the 25th January, with a selection of Scottish staples, a special bouquet and deals on bottles to raise a dram.

Highlights include:

Glayva Liqueur – £12 down from £18 in Scotland until 25^th Jan
Laphroaig Islay Select Single Malt Whisky – £25 down from £33 until 25^th Jan
Scotch Beef Lean Diced Steak – £8.50 per k/g
Burns Night Bouquet – £8

‘Bonfire of the Banalities’

Unnecessary train announcements to be binned

UK government to review and remove train announcements that add unnecessary noise and disruption to journeys
the Department for Transport will ensure train operating companies retain important safety messages and work with accessibility groups so that passengers receive the necessary information
announcement follows the publication of the government’s Plan for Rail, which puts passengers back at the heart of the railways

Quieter train journeys are set to become the norm after the government announced it will identify and remove repetitive and unnecessary onboard announcements on trains in England.

The changes mean that passengers will no longer be bombarded with unnecessary ‘tannoy spam’ that distracts from important safety-critical messaging.

Working closely with the Rail Delivery Group, passenger groups including Transport Focus, and train operators, the Department for Transport (DfT) will identify how the vast number of announcements can be cut or reduced while maintaining vital obligations to ensure train travel remains accessible for all. Messages that play a safety critical role, or that ensure the railways are accessible for all, will remain.

The review will take place over the course of this year, with redundant messages identified and starting to be removed in the coming months.

Banal announcements set to be culled include self-evident instructions, such as having your ticket ready when leaving the station and contradictory calls for passengers to keep volume levels low while onboard announcements blare out. There will also be new curbs on the maximum frequency at which remaining announcements will be heard.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Train passengers are all too often plagued by an endless torrent of repeated and unnecessary announcements.

“In line with the passenger improvements, we are rolling out with our Plan for Rail we want to see improvements to the railways for those who use them day in day out.

“That’s why I’m calling for a bonfire of the banalities to bring down the number of announcements passengers are forced to sit through and make their journey that little bit more peaceful.”

As passengers come back to the railways, DfT will continue to ensure journeys are more comfortable to all users and that passengers continue to receive the important information they need about their journey.

Officials will work with accessibility groups to ensure that access for all is maintained.

The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, launched last year, ‘puts passengers at the heart of the railway’. To improve the comfort and enjoyment of train travel, customer service will be modernised and upgraded across all stations and, on trains, focused on providing passengers with better communication and a more personalised service.

Anthony Smith, Chief Executive of the independent watchdog Transport Focus, said: “Passengers will welcome a review intended to cut out unnecessary announcements.

“Transport Focus looks forward to helping with the review so passengers get the information they want, including those with additional accessibility needs.

Jacqueline Starr, CEO of the Rail Delivery Group, said: “We know people want the most relevant and timely messages on their journeys and to help with this, train operators are continuing their work to improve customer information, including cutting unnecessary onboard announcements.

“We’re also going further by asking customers what they want to know and using their responses to plan more useful and consistent announcements across the network, helping people have a better experience travelling by train.”

Aye, right! Boris Johnson is UK’s hardest working Prime Minister!

Boris Johnson: Work Hard, Party Hard?

With the revelations that staff inside Downing Street held two staff parties with alcohol and music the night before Prince Philip’s funeral last April – and while social contact remained banned – health and wellness store Eden’s Gate wanted to ascertain the hardest working Prime Ministers of all time.

Using Hansard, they looked into how many spoken parliamentary contributions each PM has made, as well as how many weeks they held office, and ranked them to reveal the hardest working Prime Minister of the 20th and 21st century.

Key points:

Boris Johnson is the hardest working prime minister, making an average of 12.8 contributions in parliament per week.
James Callaghan and Theresa May come second and third, with an average of 11.3 and 6 contributions per week respectively.
The Labour party is the hardest working party overall, with average weekly contributions per PM of 4.8 compared to the Conservative party’s 4.
Tony Blair only made one contribution per week on average, making him the least hard-working Prime Minister of the past decade.

Full data can be found below.

Tyler Woodward, CEO of Health and Wellness store Eden’s Gate, said: “It comes as no surprise to me that Boris Johnson has been named hardest working PM in terms of parliamentary contributions. After all, he has been in office throughout Brexit and a worldwide health crisis!

“I’d suggest he makes sure to make time for himself and ensure he’s sleeping and eating well to avoid burnout.”

Past Prime Ministers	Spoken parliamentary contributions	Weeks in office	Av. Contributions per week
Boris Johnson	1,405	109	12.8
James Callaghan	1,821	161	11.3
Theresa May	960	158	6
Gordon Brown	853	150	5.7
Harold Wilson	2,326	405	5.7
Sir Edward Heath	1,067	193	5.5
Harold Macmillan	1,293	353	3.6
Sir Anthony Eden	328	92	3.6
David Cameron	684	322	2.1
Sir John Major KG CH	668	335	2
Baroness Margaret Thatcher	1,019	603	1.7
Sir Winston Churchill	696	451	1.5
Neville Chamberlain	179	159	1.1
Tony Blair	510	530	1
Stanley Baldwin	198	377	0.5
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman	35	122	0.3
Clement Attlee	0	326	0
James Ramsay MacDonald	1	354	0
Andrew Bonar Law	0	–	0
David Lloyd George	0	–	0
Herbert Henry Asquith	0	–	0
Arthur James Balfour	0	–	0
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil	0	–	0

Methodology: Eden’s Gate used Hansard to find the number of spoken parliamentary contributions each prime minister made whilst in office. They then divided this by how many weeks each prime minister spent in office to get the average number of contributions each PM made per week. They then ranked these in order to find the most and least hard working prime ministers of the 20th and 21st century.