WEDNESDAY 22 MARCH at 7pm in DRYLAW NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE
Drylaw Telford Community Council meets tonight
Top things we’d love to see one last time before losing sight
- Seeing a loved one’s face, watching the sunrise and watching a football game, all feature in Brit’s top 20 visual memory list
- Nearly three in four (72%) Brits said they’d create a visual memory list of things they’d like to see if they found out that they were losing their sight
- Every day 250 people in the UK start to lose their sight, equivalent to one person every six minutes
- Over a third (37%) said that they’d want to travel and see as many countries as possible, however, the majority (87%) would miss seeing the little everyday things they enjoy such as reading a book
- Charity Guide Dogs is raising awareness of the issue of sight loss and how the impact doesn’t prevent people from living a full, independent life
Seeing a loved one’s face is the number one thing people would most like to see if they were faced with losing their sight.
Viewing their favourite artwork, taking in wildlife during a nature walk and going to a festival, also feature in the top 20 things people would put on their ‘visual memory lists’, with almost three in four (72%) Brits revealing they would create a tick list of experiences to enjoy.
It comes as statistics show every day 250 people in the UK start to lose their sight: equivalent to one person every six minutes.
The new research, by charity Guide Dogs, showed that for three-fifths (60%) of Brits adventure and adrenaline are key – with two-thirds (66%) saying they’d want to see as many countries as possible, and take part in activities such as skydiving, scuba diving and white-water rafting (19%).
However, four in five Brits (81%) would prioritise creating memories with their family or friends to fondly remember. The majority (87%) would miss seeing the little everyday things the most if they were to experience sight loss.
Reflecting if they were to lose their sight, nearly half (46%) of Brits said they would feel isolated and 43% said they’d be worried about asking others for help and support, despite this a large 77% stated they’d be determined to live their life to the fullest.
In fact, four in five (80%) respondents* living with sight loss said they had continued to do and enjoy the things they love after experiencing sight loss. Laura Whitaker, 39-years-old from Manchester, has continued her passion for exercise, completing two marathons with her next goal being an ironman.
Brit’s top 20 visual memory list
- Seeing a loved one’s face (50%)
- Watching the sunset (45%)
- Watching the sunrise (40%)
- Seeing your partner or child’s smile (39%)
- Taking in wildlife and nature during a walk (38%)
- Travelling e.g., visiting other countries (37%)
- Looking at flowers (32%)
- Watching your favourite film (32%)
- Reading your favourite book (26%)
- Taking photographs (22%)
- Seeing a musical/theatre show (21%)
- Watching fireworks (20%)
- Seeing a seventh wonder of the world (19%)
- Playing with your dog (18%)
- Watching a football game (17%)
- Seeing a city skyline (17%)
- Taking your dog for a walk (17%)
- Climbing a mountain (14%)
- Viewing your favourite artwork (13%)
- Going to a festival (11%)
65-year-old guide dog owner Tiggi Trethowan from Somerset has limited eyesight left following a diagnosis of glaucoma. Charity Guide Dogs alongside SAS TV star Billy Billingham surprised Tiggi at Go Ape Bracknell, by giving her the chance to complete an experience from her visual memory list.
Billy supported Tiggi around the Treetop Challenge where she experienced canopy-high tree-to-tree crossings, free-fall Tarzan swings and epic zip-lining.
Guide dog owner Tiggi Trethowan explains: “I am obsessed with adventure and prior to my sight loss I was used to travelling the world as part of a busy job as a television producer. However, a very rare form of glaucoma meant I lost sight in my right eye within two weeks of diagnosis, and I currently have about 6% of my sight in my left eye.
“After a tough period, I was paired with a wonderful black Labrador guide dog Jackie and I’m now trying to make visual memories of places that matter to me before I lose my sight completely.
“Alongside a close friend (and guide) who travels with me, I’ve ticked off swimming with turtles in the Galapagos, visiting Antarctica to study humpback whales and have been able to revisit a beach in Cornwall where I have many childhood memories.
“Next, I want to try flying in a helicopter, even though I don’t know what I’ll be able to see. I’ll continue my adventures because I don’t want my sight loss to define me.”
Regardless of sight loss, those with visual impairments can still enjoy activities and have rich experiences, and these may even be deeper than those of sighted people.
For example, those with visual impairments may experience art they cannot fully see, through descriptions by a sighted person and guided hand movements in front of the pieces, to allow understanding of shapes and forms used.
Alex Pepper, Head of Accessibility from Guide Dogs said, “Research shows that one in five (20%) Brits will live with significant sight loss in their lifetime. While losing your sight can be daunting, it doesn’t mean your life is over – guide dog owners like Tiggi show that you can still live a happy, fulfilled life – whatever that may mean for you.
“Those with sight loss are still able to achieve their memory list items, whether it be running a marathon or reading a book, they might just do things a bit differently. Thanks to generous public donations, we’re able to continue to support those impacted by visual impairments to enable people with sight loss live their life independently.”
Guide Dogs provide a sighted guide service to support people with sight loss live the life they choose.
Find out more on how to become a Guide Dogs ‘My Sighted Guide’ volunteer at www.guidedogs.org.uk
League Cup Final trouble: CCTV images released
Police have released images of 11 individuals they believe can assist with their enquiries into disorder at the Scottish League Cup final.
Officers are continuing to investigate disorder which occurred on the morning of Sunday, 26 February, 2023 outside Hampden Stadium.
Anyone who may recognise those shown in the images, or who has any information which may assist is asked to contact police by calling 101 and quoting incident number 0933 of Saturday, 26 February, 2023.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.
Views sought on school learning hours
Public consultation launched
People are being asked to share their views on a new legal minimum number of school learning hours.
If approved by Parliament, councils will be required by law to provide the equivalent of 25 teaching hours per week in primaries and 27.5 hours per week in secondaries across the school year.
Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville announced plans to introduce the measures last month to protect the school week and give parents greater certainty about the number of learning hours their children can expect to receive.
The consultation is open now and will run until June 13.
Ms Somerville said: “The school week is the backbone of our education provision and benefits all of Scotland’s children and young people. We have been clear that any changes to the school week must be based on educational benefit to pupils.
“Any measures that materially reduce the number of hours children spend learning in school could impact pupil attainment and wellbeing, and undermine our collective efforts to close the poverty-related attainment gap.
“This is an opportunity for parents, children and young people and everyone else with an interest to make their views known about the potential impact of this policy.”
Day of Reckoning? Ex-PM Boris Johnson faces Partygate grilling
Westminster’s Committee of Privileges has published written evidence submitted by Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, ahead of hearing his oral evidence today (Wednesday).
The Committee initially received the written evidence from Mr Johnson on Monday afternoon at 2.32pm in unredacted form.
The evidence submitted had a number of errors and typos, and, a final corrected version was not submitted to the Privileges Committee until 8.02 am yesterday morning.
Redactions have been made in the published version to protect the identity of some witnesses, in consultation with Mr Johnson, particularly junior-ranking civil servants.
Mr Johnson’s written submission contains no new documentary evidence.
The Committee has set out its own views of its processes in reports published in July and September 2022. The Committee will consider carefully the further arguments made by Mr Johnson and respond to them in its final report.
Throughout this inquiry the Committee has received and followed the advice of its legal adviser, former Senior President of Tribunals and Lord Justice of Appeal Rt Hon Sir Ernest Ryder, as well as the impartial Clerks of the House. The Committee remains confident in the fairness of its processes and in its compliance at all times with the rules and practice of the House of Commons.
From the start of its inquiry the Committee has offered Mr Johnson the opportunity to provide written evidence. In its report published on 2 March 2023, the Committee set out a summary of principal issues to be raised with Mr Johnson in oral evidence, at his request, and at the same time disclosed to him all the evidence received by the Committee and the identities of all witnesses.
Mr Johnson has now provided written evidence, which can be read here.
Ahead of the oral evidence session on Wednesday, the Committee will be publishing, again by agreement with Mr Johnson, a “core bundle” of documents to which the Committee and Mr Johnson may refer in the course of the questioning.
These documents will be published on the Committee website at 9.00 am today.
The Committee of Privileges will hear oral evidence in public from Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP from 2pm today (Wednesday 22 March).
The session can be watched on Parliament TV here. There is no approximate end time for the session.
Cycling signs the Pledge: commitment to champion equality, diversity and inclusion
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, alongside partners and key stakeholders, have signed up to the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Pledge to show a tangible commitment to creating an inclusive, diverse, and accessible world-class event in Glasgow and across Scotland between 3rd – 13th August 2023.
The Pledge will support the key principles of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Framework, using the platform of a global event as a catalyst for change, in addition to delivering an event that has inclusion at its core.
Under the Pledge, partners and key stakeholders have signed up to five key commitments:
- Promoting inclusion through the power of the bike, improving wellbeing, and building a fairer, more inclusive society for all
- Committing to the growth and sustainability of women and girls cycling in Scotland.
- Remaining authentic to each of the 13 UCI Championships by embedding inclusivity and accessibility into event planning
- Building partnerships, initiating conversations, and seeking out opportunities to activate programmes in support of EDI
- Using the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships to raise awareness about EDI.
The signatories of the Pledge are:
- Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)
- Scottish Government
- Glasgow Life
- UK Sport
- British Cycling
- Scottish Cycling
- Event delivery partners
Partners and key stakeholders of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships who sign the Pledge agree to abide by its five commitments.
By joining the Pledge, participants will be challenged to actively make a positive difference to the lives of others by harnessing the power of the bike to build a more inclusive Scotland. This entails building a foundation of trust and confidence with people at a local, national, and global level.
The EDI framework also ensures that those who are most vulnerable in society, impacted by stigma and discrimination and excluded from sport and public life are included in this narrative.
Attending the launch were two young people from Glasgow who embody the ambitions of the framework. Farrah Gillespie and Ryan Campbell are two 10-year-olds who discovered cycling through the inspiring work of local social initiative the Urban Fox Programme.
This initiative provides cycling opportunities, led rides and bike repair schemes to young people in areas of need. Both Farrah and Ryan have received donated bikes through their involvement with the Urban Fox Programme.
While the UCI Cycling World Championships remains at the core of everything that the event aims to deliver, the event also strives to act as a catalyst for change across Scotland through the power of the bike.
The power of the bike aims at being a tool to improve lives, wellbeing (physical and mental) as well as bringing a sense of freedom and connection to people in their everyday lives.
Equalities Minister Christina McKelvie, MSP, Scottish Government said: “Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do within the Scottish Government. The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships is an exciting opportunity for partners across Scotland to get involved and embed these ideals throughout this innovative event, which importantly includes Para Road and Track Cycling Championships.
“We want the Championships to inspire people from all backgrounds to help build a fairer, more active and healthier Scotland through the power of the bike. The Scottish Government is proud to be supporting the Championships and the Ride Together Pledge.”
Amina Lanaya, Director General, UCI said: “The beauty of our sport is its ability to unite populations regardless of their gender, religion, race or political beliefs. I am therefore delighted by this Ride Together Pledge.
“It will contribute to an accessible UCI Cycling World Championships where everyone feels welcome and will be encouraged to continue benefitting from the bike even after the event.
“Equality, diversity and inclusion are interwoven into the UCI’s policies and documents, and this Pledge is perfectly in line with our work to ensure everyone can enjoy the wonderful sport of cycling.”
Trudy Lindblade, Chief Executive Officer, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, said: “I would like to thank the UCI, our partners and key stakeholders who have joined us in signing up to our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Ride Together Pledge.
“We are committed to making a difference through the power of the bike using the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships as the platform to not only generate discussion but to enable us to ‘ride together’ to achieve long lasting change with the belief that the power of the bike can mean something to everyone, regardless of who you are.
“We will be using the Championships to amplify the benefits of cycling with a focus on a younger and more diverse audience with women, children and young people at the heart of our activity. It is our aim that everyone who attends the Championships enjoys it at all levels and most importantly feels welcomed and inspired to create their own power of the bike story”
Esther Britten, Head of Major Events at UK Sport, said: “The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships are an excellent opportunity to harness the platform of major events to promote the importance of diversity and inclusion in sport and wider society. UK Sport backs the Ride Together Pledge and are committed to ensuring the major events we host are welcoming to all.
“Along the journey through our ‘Greatest Decade’, we are not only aspiring to unite the nation through extraordinary sporting moments, but also aim reflect the incredible diversity of communities across the UK.
“Our ambition to host world-class, accessible events would not be possible without the ongoing support from The National Lottery and we are truly grateful for their continued contribution to British sport.”
Danielle Every, British Cycling Acting CEO, said: “As we look ahead to this summer’s UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow and across Scotland, we’re proud to join others in signing the #RideTogether Pledge.
“As set out in our 2021 Our Ride diversity and inclusion strategy, we’re wholeheartedly committed to ensuring that our sport and events are inclusive and welcoming for all, and forming purposeful partnerships is a key pillar of this work.
“By bringing together more than 8,000 riders and many more fans from across the breadth of the cycling disciplines, and investing £8 million to benefit cycling facilities, the event is set to be a great example of the power of major sporting events to inspire communities and bring about real change.”
Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life, said: “Our vision for Glasgow is to create a vibrant cycling city where cycling is accessible, safe and attractive to all, whether that be for leisure, transport, tourism or sport.
“Part of achieving that vision is to overcome barriers to participation and make cycling more appealing to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. That is why we have pledged to work with partners towards achieving the five commitments through our delivery of the UCI Cycling World Championships and beyond.
“We are already undertaking EDI projects such as our successful cycling participation programme for secondary school girls that takes groups of 10, many of whom have never learned to ride a bike, through an intensive 10-week programme of BMX, mountain and road biking and track sessions.
“Through this work we will continue to improve our policies, services and facilities to allow everyone fair and equal access to the breadth of events, projects and services that Glasgow Life provides.”
Nick Rennie, CEO at Scottish Cycling said: “We’re delighted to support the Pledge, which not only connects the partners of this event towards a common Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) goal, but provides us with an opportunity to highlight both the breadth and depth of our work that is contributing towards making cycling a sport for all.
“Our refreshed organisational strategy, which we’ll be launching in a few weeks’ time, reaffirms our commitment to provide targeted interventions to increase the number of women, girls and young people cycling, and ensure that EDI is a golden thread throughout everything we do.”
Debbie Dean, Project Manager at the Urban Fox Programme said: “Cycling provides so many benefits to the young people in Glasgow and across Scotland including physical and mental health.
“The Urban Fox Programme is delighted to support the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and the EDI framework that will support cycling, especially in areas of greatest need.”
The general sale for the first-of-its-kind cycling event is now open with tickets having a range of prices suitable for all fans’ budgets.
Tickets can be purchased for as little as £8 with ticket information to be found here:
Hydration for a Healthy Heart
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Hydration for a Healthy Heart
Nutrition and Hydration Week is an annual event that aims to educate and celebrate improvements in the provision of nutrition and hydration.
When thinking about heart health, we often think about nutrition and the impact this can have, but we can forget to consider how inadequate hydration levels can negatively impact our cardiac health.
This week’s Healthy Tip is all about hydration, and how it’s an essential component to our health and optimal functioning of our cardiovascular system.
Why is hydration important?
Water accounts for about 60% of our body weight, and every single cell in our body needs to be properly hydrated to work well.
Water performs many roles in the body, such as regulating body temperature through sweating, lubricating joints, and removing waste products via bowel movements and urination. If we don’t drink enough fluids the amount of blood circulating in our body decreases. When this happens the heart must beat faster and our blood pressure may be affected, which can increase our risk of a cardiac event.
Signs of dehydration
Dehydration occurs when we lose more fluids (through urination and sweating) than we replace with the fluids from the food and drinks we consume.
Symptoms of moderate dehydration include not urinating much throughout the day, dark yellow urine, muscle cramps, thirst and a dry mouth. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms often, it’s a good idea to increase your fluid intake.
Ways to drink more
Drinking water is the easiest and cheapest way to ensure you stay properly hydrated, but there are other drinks that count towards your liquid intake such as herbal teas, sugar-free juice and low-fat milk.
The NHS recommends drinking 6 to 8 cups or glasses of fluids every day, which is about 1.5 to 2 litres.
Fruits and vegetables also contain water, so increasing the amount you consume can improve your hydration levels. Some great options include cucumber, tomatoes, apples, watermelon and peaches.
For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at
Campaign reminds tourists to drive on the left
A campaign by Road Safety Scotland* and Police Scotland, in partnership with the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), goes live today reminding overseas tourists to Drive on the Left when visiting Scotland.
The campaign was launched at Road Safety Scotland’s Annual Seminar by Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth, who was joined by Superintendent Stewart Mackie from Police Scotland, Margaret Spiers from Arnold Clark and Bruce Arell from Enterprise Holdings.
Figures from Police Scotland show inexperience of driving on the left is among the most common contributory factors for fatalities involving foreign drivers in Scotland1, with the five most common contributory factors being:
- Inexperience of driving on the left
- Failed to look properly
- Poor turn or manoeuvre
- Careless, reckless or in a hurry
- Distraction outside vehicle
The new Drive on the Left campaign sets out to help drivers stay safe as they embark on their journey to Scotland, by sharing useful information about Scotland’s roads, which often differ from other countries, including how to navigate singe-track roads and passing places.
Drivers are urged to stay alert and be well rested to avoid switching to autopilot, which can easily happen when the roads are quiet or a driver is tired, and can cause someone to enter a roundabout the wrong way or turn onto the wrong side of the road at a junction.
Tourists are also reminded that weather conditions can change quickly in Scotland, making it even more challenging to navigate long and twisty roads.
Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth said:”We want all visitors to Scotland to return safely from their travels. This campaign aims to raise awareness and remind people to drive on the left at all times, which is particularly important after they’ve taken a break or when the roads are quieter.
“Scotland’s roads can be unfamiliar to visitors and that often demands more concentration. It’s easy to switch to autopilot, particularly if you are distracted, tired or driving in bad weather.
“With the recent number of devastating fatalities on the A9, it’s especially important we reach all drivers travelling on Scotland’s roads this summer. Make sure you plan ahead, take regular breaks and know the rules of the road.”
Drive on the Left wristbands and stickers will be distributed through BVRLA to tourists when they collect a hire car, along with a Driving in Scotland information leaflet, which offers practical advice about driving on single-track roads, looking both ways at junctions, speed limits, planning your journey and taking regular rest stops to avoid fatigue. The wristband is available in 8 different languages.
Advice for drivers will also be shared on the Road Safety Scotland social media channels through digital assets and video content.
Louise Blakelock, head of road policing at Police Scotland, said: “Any serious collision on our roads is absolutely devastating and, while it may seem like a simple message, it’s crucial to remind people of the differences of driving in Scotland and how to drive safely when they’re visiting our beautiful country.
“We fully support this campaign and hope it helps to reduce the number of collisions caused by driving on the wrong side of the road.”
Amanda Brandon, Director of Member Engagement at BVRLA said: “This is an important road safety initiative and we are delighted to see so many of our members getting behind it.
“A significant portion of vehicle hires annually are for people needing a car while away from home. Our members are ideally placed to promote the campaign to help keep visitors safe as they set off on Scotland’s roads.
“We are expecting vehicle hire for oversees drivers to increase again this year, so it’s great to see this campaign go live now ahead of the peak tourist season.”
The campaign is supported by partner organisations including VisitScotland, helping to ensure as many overseas drivers as possible are reminded to drive on the left while visiting Scotland.
For more details and for advice about driving in Scotland, visit bit.ly/DriveOnTheLeft23 or the Road Safety Scotland Facebook and Twitter (@roadsafetyscot) pages.
Musselburgh Racecourse set for a photo finish at Easter extravaganza
Revellers back in the saddle for highest value raceday of 2023
ONE of the UK’s most stylish racecourses is urging revellers to snap up tickets for one of its richest racing events of the year – with a total of £226,000 worth of prize money to be awarded across the day.
Musselburgh Racecourse’s Easter Saturday raceday will take place on 8 April with a series of key races taking place throughout the day including the venue’s highest value race – the prestigious Queen’s Cup.
This year, the Queen’s Cup will be presented by Judy Murray, with £100,000 up for grabs. The race received its name following Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Musselburgh Racecourse for its Bicentenary Raceday in 2016. The racecourse has a proud Royal heritage with The Queen’s Stand also opened by Princess Anne.
The Racecourse’s Easter Saturday event – is set to be the biggest yet, with ITV Racing covering the entire day.
Other exciting races that will take place on Easter Saturday include the Royal Mile Handicap, the Silver Arrow and Scotland’s fastest race, the Scottish Sprint Cup, which attracts top sprinters from across the country.
Gordon Brown, Race Reporter for Scottish Racing, said: “The Easter Saturday event at Musselburgh Racecourse is set to be one of prominence in the horseracing calendar.
“Some of the fastest horses in the country have scorched to victory in the Scottish Sprint Cup with the runners galloping quicker than the legal speed limit on the adjacent road into Musselburgh town!
“The five-furlong track record was smashed in this race in 2018 when the Alastair Rawlinson-partnered Caspian Prince stopped the clock at an electrifying 56.77 seconds.
“Last year’s impressive winner of the prestigious Queen’s Cup was Ian Williams-trained horse Enemy, who has since just been pipped in a contest at Ascot, won a race at the Dubai Carnival and picked up a staggering £416,666 for finishing a close second at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
“The event marks a major day in racing and I’m looking forward to seeing how the entries will perform. For spectators, it really will be a sight to behold and not only that, there will be a host of entertainment throughout the course of the day’s celebrations.”
With a series of packages already sold out, the racecourse is anticipating a capacity attendance with a blend of action-packed racing, music and first-class food offerings.
The East Lothian venue will be bringing back its popular ‘Pommery domes’ for the event – which were a huge hit on New Year’s Day – with a bottle of Pommery Champagne and charcuterie board to enjoy while soaking up the race day atmosphere.
After the last race, racegoers will be able to dance the night away with the memorable ‘Funkwagen’ party experience – a DJ set-up in a vintage Volkswagen van.
Vendors will include some of Scotland’s best street food offerings, such as Well Hung and Tender’s burgers and chips, Dog N Bon’s hot dogs and loaded fries, Bonnie Burrito’s Mexican cuisine and NeeNaw fire engine’s wood fired Neapolitan style pizzas.
Aisling Johnston, Marketing Manager at Musselburgh Racecourse, said: “Easter Saturday is one of our biggest social events in the calendar. It promises to be a day full of music, dancing, delicious food, champagne bars and of course, first-class racing.
“So, strap on your best dancing shoes and come and join us for an unforgettable Easter experience. Tickets are selling quickly, so act now to have the chance of grabbing one for yourself – you won’t regret it!”
Purchasing a ticket before midnight on the 7th April will result in a saving of £5 per person. On the day gate admission will be £35. Children 17 years and under go free.
Gates open at 11:30am, with the first race at 13:50pm and the last race at 17:20pm. Times are provisional and can be found here: https://www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk/fixtures
Musselburgh Racecourse provides year-round racing action, with 27 race days across the flat and jump racing season – weekend, midweek and evening.
Every race day offers quality racing with outstanding facilities and an atmosphere to match. Its ‘Sensational 6’ includes New Year’s Day, Scottish Cheltenham Trials Weekend, Easter Saturday, The Edinburgh Cup sponsored by Edinburgh Gin, Stobo Castle Ladies Day and The Summer Finale weekend.
For further information on Easter Saturday and to book tickets now, visit:
https://www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk/tickets/easter-saturday-08-04-2023
Foysol Choudhury: Time for Scotland to support Asylum Seekers
A new plan brought in by the UK Conservative Government is yet another attempt to remove genuine asylum seekers from the UK (writes FOYSOL CHOUDHURY MSP).
The scheme will require asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Syria, Yemen, and Libya, who may have been in the UK for up to 18 months, to answer the 11-page document that consists of 50 questions, ranging from political persecution to trafficking experiences.
More shockingly, this form must be answered within 20 days to avoid refusal and must be completed in English.
These demands being made of the most vulnerable in society are unreasonable and undermine genuine claims of asylum seekers who are traumatised from experiences of conflict or persecution.
Firstly, the language barrier to filling out highly complex questionnaires will automatically exclude those who do not speak English and may also lead to people paying to use translation tools when they can ill afford to do so.
Secondly, the time frame to complete this is unjustified and will exacerbate inequalities between asylum seekers who do not have the assistance to fill in the form.
Legal experts say that a 20-day timeframe is not enough time to seek and receive any legal advice, which could overwhelm our legal system here in Scotland when the service is already under crippling pressure. Due to the crisis in immigration legal aid, there are simply not enough immigration legal aid representatives to assist all the individuals who must complete their questionnaires within short timeframes or face the grave repercussions of their claim being withdrawn.
This scheme comes at a time when the UK Government is introducing a controversial bill, the Illegal Migration Bill, which means those arriving into the UK by boats are not eligible for asylum claims and could lead to them being deported to a third country, like Rwanda.
Recent rhetoric by Suella Braverman, Home Secretary of the United Kingdom, fuels anti-migration ideology and the tagline “stop the boats” to control the supposed “waves of illegal migrants” create a negative and manipulated image of asylum seekers.
This is echoed by the Prime Minister, who joins in this discourse of hostility towards those fleeing conflict. The UK government are using their ‘fear of the other’ rhetoric to stoke fears and racism to deflect attention from its policy failures and see it as a vote winner for the next general election. They are using people seeking safety for political gain, trying to deflect attention from the cost-of-living crisis, the NHS crisis and their unpopularity in the polls.
Despite the false narrative spread by Westminster of an “invasion” of asylum seekers, the UK accepts fewer asylum seekers than other European countries. Whilst the UK issued 10,492 positive decisions in 2021, seven European countries issued more positive decisions than this. These include Germany (59,850), France (33,875), Italy (21,805), Spain (20,405), Greece (16,575), Austria (12,105) and the Netherlands (12,065).
Furthermore, Westminster is attempting to drive a false narrative that asylum seekers all choose to come to the Global North, and the UK. Suella Braverman has suggested that 100 million displaced people around the world are attempting to enter the UK. Despite this dominant discourse, the reality is very different. Most asylum seekers move to a neighbouring country and currently, 84% remain in the Global South.
Human rights groups and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) claim that the “stop the boats” policy would make the UK an international outlaw under European and UN conventions on protecting asylum seekers.
Fundamentally, seeking asylum is not illegal. The UK was at the forefront of signing the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the 1951 Refugee Convention, which are historic developments to protect and uphold basic human rights.
Under the Refugee Convention, asylum seekers are under no obligation to apply to the first safe country they reach; enter a country by regular means; or provide documentation. It is important to note that the UNHCR has condemned this bill and has urged the UK Government and all MPs to consider the humanitarian impacts of pursuing this bill.
What is also concerning, are the claims that right-wing Tory MPs are attempting to amend the bill which would pull the UK out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Alongside this, Braverman has been advocating for the government to leave the ECHR already, which is worrying to anyone committed to safeguarding fundamental rights. Leaving the convention would put everyone’s rights at risk. It’s a person’s last resort for holding the state to account when it has abused their rights.
Although asylum is a reserved matter for the UK Government, this new plan for applications will have a direct impact on Scotland. Scotland’s Dungavel immigration detention centre will likely see an increase in the number of people detained here, as the process for securing a successful asylum application will become much harder due to these restrictive rules. As this centre is based in Scotland and we will be impacted by the higher number of asylum seekers detained, Holyrood must hold discussions with Westminster to ensure that the UK’s commitment to the UNDHR and the Refugee Convention is upheld.
We must ensure support is provided to asylum seekers to guarantee they face a fair process. The Scottish Refugee Council are working alongside lawyers and experts to propose changes to the current plan.
These suggested amendments to the questionnaire include simplifying the document; providing translations in relevant languages; creating a user-friendly guide for completion of the questionnaire and providing an extension for all unrepresented individuals.
In response to this plan and the Illegal Migration Bill, we need to encourage the Scottish Government to support asylum seekers with the application form and recognise the importance of entering into a discussion with Westminster, so that commitments in international law can be upheld.
To raise my concerns about the new bill, last Thursday I asked Shona Robison, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, what impact the UK Government’s proposed Illegal Migration Bill could have on Scotland’s legal aid services.
The Cabinet Secretary was unable to assess the overall impact this will have but agreed that it is likely to cause a magnitude of issues. I will continue to press these issues in the Scottish Parliament to ensure legal professions are best supported, which will ensure effective assistance is provided to asylum seekers.