Two’s company for visually-impaired Edinburgh and Lothian cyclists

Lothian tandem riders are gearing up for Poppyscotland’s popular Sportive event, proving visual impairment is no barrier to cycling.

Edinburgh-based Vie Velo cycling club pairs sighted “pilots” with blind and visually-impaired riders for regular social bike rides.

Now 30 group members have challenged themselves to complete the Sportive on Sunday 25th September, cycling up to 68 miles on routes through East Lothian and the Scottish Borders.

They will join around 1000 cyclists at the event, which is Poppyscotland’s biggest fundraiser outside the Scottish Poppy Appeal. Now in its seventh year, it has already raised more than £250,000 to support the Armed Forces community in Scotland.

This year’s Sportive aims to be the most inclusive ever, opening up the route to tandems and e-bike users.

Ken Reid, 63, from North Berwick, chair of Vie Velo, took up tandem riding in 1990 when he found his eyesight deteriorating due to retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive condition.

He helped set up the club in 2019 with the support of Cycling UK and grants from RS MacDonald Charitable Trust and Transport Scotland.

They now have almost 90 members, with around one third affected by visual impairment, and meet at Saughton Park for bike rides at least twice a month.

Ken said: “We were looking for a challenge for our group and were keen to support Poppyscotland. We felt there was a close connection since many veterans in Scotland are affected by sight loss.

“I kept cycling solo as long as I could when I realised I was losing my sight. But then I decided to buy a tandem and found a group of mates who would take turns to go out with me.

“We were delighted to be able to set up the club to get more blind and partially-sighted people engaged in cycling. We’d like more people to know about us and be aware they have the option of getting back on a bike again.

“The most important thing in tandem riding is trust. You have to place all your trust in the pilot, and that can be a big change if you’re used to having control. But it’s also great fun and very sociable – we’re not racers and all our weekend rides include stops for coffee and cake!”

The Sportive, sponsored by Fred.Olson Renewables, will start and finish at Prestonpans Community Centre. Entrants can choose between three routes of different lengths, taking in stunning coastal and country roads. The most challenging 102-mile route covers the Lammermuirs, before dipping down to Chirnside and Duns in the Scottish Borders.

Gordon Michie, Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising and Learning, said: “We’re very pleased to welcome the riders from Vie Velo, and very grateful for their support. They are truly inspirational and really do show that cycling can be for everyone, regardless of age or ability.

“We’re excited that the Sportive is returning to East Lothian and the Borders after a two-year break. This year’s event aims to be the most inclusive ever, and we’re encouraging riders of all abilities to take part, whether on a traditional bike, an e-bike or a tandem.

“The Sportive is always very popular, but there’s still time to join in, get fit, and raise funds for a great cause Participants can choose between three routes, taking in stunning coastal views and country roads, with a timed hill climb to challenge the most experienced cyclists.

“We’d like to thank Fred. Olson Renewables for continuing to sponsor us this year. This means 100 per cent of the sign-up fee and any sponsorship raised will go towards providing vital welfare support to veterans, servicemen and women and their families across Scotland.”

The Sportive is an “open road” cycling event, meaning that no roads will be closed in order to minimise disruption to the public. Riders can have a free place if they are supporting a cyclist with a disability.

Cyclists can register at Prestonpans Community Centre on Saturday 24th September between 2pm and 6pm, or on Sunday 25th from 6:30am to 8:30am. 

For more information, visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk/sportive

Truss: ‘A New Britain for a New Era’

  • In UN address the PM will call on democracies to harness the power of cooperation seen since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine to constrain authoritarianism.
  • PM will argue the free world must prioritise economic growth and security – including ending dependency on authoritarians – to win the new era of strategic competition.
  • UN speech will also stress the need to properly invest in our physical security and will recommit to spending 3% of UK GDP on defence by 2030.

Prime Minister Liz Truss will use a speech in New York today (Wednesday) to warn fellow democratic leaders against any complacency when it comes to defending our values and preserving a world order that rewards freedom.

At the first ever session of the UN General Assembly held in the shadow of a large-scale war of aggression in Europe, the Prime Minister will highlight the threat from authoritarian states working to undermine security and stability around the world.

She will outline her vision for this new, more competitive era, which will require likeminded democracies to fight to defend our ideals. This fight begins with ensuring the UK and its partners have the strong economic foundations they need to constrain authoritarianism.

The Prime Minister will outline her plans to build a British economy which attracts growth by rewarding innovation, championing investment and enterprise, and welcoming the best talent around the world.

She will also set out the steps the Government is taking to ensure the British economy is free from malign interference. This includes increasing our energy independence and safeguarding the security of our supply chains.

In her speech, the Prime Minister will tell the UN: “The commitment to hope and progress must begin at home – in the lives of every citizen that we serve…

“We want people to keep more of the money they earn, because we believe that freedom trumps instruction…

“…We are reforming our economy to get Britain moving forward once again. The free world needs this economic strength and resilience to push back against authoritarian aggression and win this new era of strategic competition…

“…We will no longer be strategically dependent on those who seek to weaponise the global economy.”

As the UK boosts the dynamism and resilience of our own economy, the Prime Minister will also make the case for democracies working together to protect one another’s economic security.

The strength of democratic economies, rooted as they are in the aspirations of their people, is a clear counterpoint to autocratic states, which sow the seeds of their own demise by stifling aspiration and creativity.

The Prime Minister will make the case for harnessing that strength and denying authoritarian states the opportunity to manipulate the global economy.

She will tell the UN General Assembly that the G7 and other likeminded partners must act as an economic NATO, collectively defending our prosperity and coming to the aid of any partner targeted by an aggressive regime.

This economic security goes hand in hand with physical security. The Prime Minister will therefore reiterate her commitment to protecting the UK and our allies, including by increasing defence spending to 3% of UK GDP on defence by 2030.

The Prime Minister is expected to say: “Just as we are building a plan for growth at home, we are also developing a new blueprint for our engagement with the world.

“We will build resilience and collective security – because they are vital for freedom and democracy. We will be a reliable, trustworthy and dynamic partner.”

To ensure the UK’s diplomatic, military and security architecture is keeping pace with evolving threat posed by hostile nations, the Prime Minister has commissioned an update to the Integrated Review.

The UK’s Integrated Review of security, defence, development and foreign policy was published in March 2021 – before Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine created the greatest security challenge ever experienced by NATO.

Professor John Bew, the Prime Minister’s special adviser for foreign affairs and defence, will lead a Downing Street process to update the review.

The refreshed strategy will ensure we are investing in the strategic capabilities and alliances we need to stand firm against coercion from authoritarian powers like Russia and China. The update is expected to be published by the end of this year.

By properly investing in defence, the Prime Minister will ensure that the UK maintains our position as the leading security actor in Europe, so that we are ready to stand up for peace, prosperity and freedom across the world – just as we have done in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister will highlight these efforts in her speech. She will pay tribute to the bravery and determination of the Ukrainian people, and commit to continue standing up for human rights and democracy around the world.

The Prime Minister is expected to say: “This is a decisive moment in British history, in the history of this organisation, and in the history of freedom.

“The story of 2022 could have been that of an authoritarian state rolling its tanks over the border of a peaceful neighbour and subjugating its people.

“Instead, it is the story of freedom fighting back …

“But this must not be a one off … Britain’s commitment to this is total.

“Together with our friends and allies around the world, we will continue to champion freedom, sovereign and democracy.

“And we will define this new era as one of hope and progress.”

Call for targeted action on soaring energy bills

Chancellor urged not to pass on costs to struggling households

The UK Government is being urged by the devolved governments to fund its cap on energy prices through a windfall tax, not higher borrowing.

In a joint letter to the new Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng (below), Deputy First Minister John Swinney is joined by Finance Ministers from Wales and Northern Ireland in calling for more targeted support to those impacted the most by the cost of living crisis.

They express their concern that more action is needed to prevent further hardship for households and businesses and say support “should be funded by targeting the windfall gains in the energy sector rather than passing on the cost through higher borrowing”.

The Finance Ministers also call for additional funding to support vital public services in the face of rising prices, energy costs and wage pressures as devolved settlements are worth considerably less in real terms than last October when they were set.

The joint letter reads:

Dear Kwasi,

We want to jointly congratulate you on your new role as Chancellor of the Exchequer. We are committed to working constructively with you and the new UK Government. A productive working relationship will be essential to tackle the economic crisis facing our citizens, communities and businesses.

We wrote to your predecessor on 15 July outlining our considerable concerns with the worsening economic situation in the UK including the cost crisis, funding for public sector pay and the impact of inflation on the Devolved Governments’ budgets. Our letter has been included as an annex here.

The Prime Minister’s announcement of 8 September limiting increases in energy bills will alleviate some of the anticipated additional pressures on households and businesses. However, it is important to recognise that overall this is an expensive package of measures that does not target support to those who need it most. We are deeply concerned at who will bear the brunt of these costs. Support should be funded by targeting the windfall gains in the energy sector rather than passing the cost to households through higher borrowing.

Looking ahead to your forthcoming fiscal statement, we urge you to focus efforts on those most impacted, not just relying on blanket interventions which do not recognise the scale of hardship particular households are facing.  An extended and targeted support package needs to be provided to help those who, even with the cap, are facing the impossible choice between heating their homes and feeding themselves and their loved ones. Even with the price cap, energy costs are still double what they were last year.

In addition to households, early clarity and additional support is also required for businesses and the third sector, who are facing substantial challenges. The current measures provide businesses with only a temporary respite and little certainty to help them plan for the future. Many organisations would be forced to close if they are not supported.

Ministers in the Devolved Governments have exhausted the options available to us to address the cost crisis, stretching every pound available to us to provide support. The main levers that can make a difference are held by the UK Government and it must now take urgent steps to use these to provide much needed certainty to those suffering hardship and poverty.

The crisis has also resulted in a major squeeze on funding for public services and increases in demand. Additional funding is urgently needed to support our vital public services in the face of rising prices, energy costs and wage pressures, alongside unforeseen pressures. Based on recent inflation and widespread inflationary expectations for the next year or two, our respective three-year spending review settlements are worth considerably, potentially billions, less in real terms than when we received them last October.

Further, Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has resulted in many Ukrainians seeking safety across the UK, however it is necessary to increase the funding available to support them here. In particular, there is a lack of parity in the funding available for those arriving under the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, which cannot be right. ‘Thank You Payments’ to host families should also, in line with Lord Harrington’s recommendation, be doubled to ensure that those who have opened their homes to Ukrainians do not lose out financially as a result.

We would welcome early engagement and clarity on planned fiscal events to enable us to set out the implications for the devolved nations and effectively plan our own budgets, which are significantly impacted by UK spending and tax decisions.

Collaborative working between the UK Government and the Devolved Governments in a spirit of mutual respect would be of benefit to all of us.

Given that, now overdue, action is required to tackle the crisis we propose a quadrilateral meeting with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury as soon as possible and in advance of the FISC to agree the immediate steps that must be taken to tackle this issue and support households, businesses and the public sector.

This letter has been copied to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Yours sincerely, 

John Swinney BPA/MSP

An Leas-phrìomh Mhinistear agus Ath-shlànachadh Cobhid, Riaghaltas na h-Alba

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery, Scottish Government

Rebecca Evans AS/MS

Y Gweinidog Cyllid a Llywodraeth Leol, Llywodraeth Cymru

Minister for Finance and Local Government, Welsh Government

Conor Murphy MLA

Minister of Finance, Northern Ireland Executive

M & S Ocean Terminal store to close

Marks and Spencer is to close it’s food store in Ocean Terminal. The store will close before the end of the year, but the company insists ‘the vast majority’ of Leith staff will be offered new jobs other M & S stores.

Scott Munro, M&S’s regional manager for the east of Scotland, said: “Shopping habits are changing and we’re reshaping our store estate across Scotland and the UK to make sure we’re reflecting the needs of our customers.

“As part of this transformation, we have today announced to colleagues our decision to close the M&S Ocean Terminal store at Ocean Terminal later this year.

“Our priority is to support our colleagues through these changes and we are confident of being able to offer new roles to the vast majority of those affected.

“We are committed to Edinburgh and this decision means there are more opportunities to invest in our eight other stores across the city.”

A spokesperson for Ocean Terminal said:  “Proposals by M&S to downsize its portfolio of stores across the UK have been well known for some time. Owing to the changing direction of M&S’s business needs, they have taken the decision not to renew their lease at Ocean Terminal. We wish them well for the future.  

“But their decision does not impact on our plans. Instead, it has allowed us to actively pursue a range of opportunities for partnership with alternative food retailers as part of ongoing plans to reconfigure Ocean Terminal and shape the ongoing transformation of the centre and its important waterfront location.” 

Responding to news of the closure of the Marks & Spencer store in Ocean Terminal, Foysol Choudhury MSP said: “I was shocked to find out today that the M&S store in Ocean Terminal is set for closure with the loss of a number of jobs. This could be the death knell for Ocean Terminal.

“Marks & Spencer is one of Ocean Terminal’s remaining flagship outlets for the area.

“With the tram set to arrive before long, I fear that this is a short-term decision that will damage Leith in the long-term.

“I will be writing to Marks & Spencer to seek a meeting to urgently review this decision.”

Fighting to protect the right to strike

Eleven trade unions, coordinated by the TUC and represented by Thompsons Solicitors LLP, have began legal proceedings to protect the right to strike.

The unions – ASLEF, BFAWU, FDA, GMB, NEU, NUJ, POA, PCS, RMT, Unite and Usdaw – have taken the case against the UK government’s new regulations which allow agency workers to fill in for striking workers and break strikes.

The unions come from a wide range of sectors and represent millions of workers in the UK.

The unions argue that the regulations are unlawful because:

  • The then Secretary of State for business failed to consult unions, as required by the Employment Agencies Act 1973.
  • They violate fundamental trade union rights protected by Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights. 

The change has been heavily criticised by unions, agency employers, and parliamentarians.

The TUC has warned these new laws will worsen industrial disputes, undermine the fundamental right to strike and could endanger public safety if agency staff are required to fill safety critical roles but haven’t been fully trained. 

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), which represents suppliers of agency workers, described the proposals as “unworkable”.

The Lords Committee charged with scrutinising the legislation said “the lack of robust evidence and the expected limited net benefit raise questions as to the practical effectiveness and benefit” of the new laws.

The TUC also recently reported the UK government to the UN workers’ rights watchdog, the International Labour Organization (ILO), over the recent spate of anti-union and anti-worker legislation and proposals, including the government’s agency worker regulations, which it says are in breach of international law. 

TUC affiliated unions UNISON and NASUWT are also launching separate individual legal cases against the government’s agency worker regulations.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The right to strike is a fundamental British liberty. But the government is attacking it in broad daylight.

“Threatening this right tilts the balance of power too far towards employers. It means workers can’t stand up for decent services and safety at work – or defend their jobs and pay.

 “Ministers failed to consult with unions, as the law requires. And restricting the freedom to strike is a breach of international law.

 “That’s why unions are coming together to challenge this change in the courts.

 “Workers need stronger legal protections and more power in the workplace to defend their living standards – not less.”

Richard Arthur, Head of Trade Union Law at Thompsons Solicitors LLP, said: “The right to strike is respected and protected by international law including the Conventions of the ILO, an agency of the United Nations, and the European Convention on Human Rights.

“The Conservative government should face up to its legal obligations under both domestic and international law, instead of forever trying to undermine the internationally recognised right to strike.”

The TUC’s annual Congress has been rescheduled for 18-20 October 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth. The three-day event will take place at the Brighton Centre.

Team Scotland participates in 2022 European MMA Championships

  • 292 Athletes from 36 Nations
  • Bella Italia Efa Village, Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy
  • 27 September – 01 October 2022

The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation today announced the provisional list of national teams and athletes competing in the 2022 IMMAF European Championships, which will be broadcast live from Lignano Sabbiadoro on immaf.tv between 27 September and 01 October.

List of Athletes by Nation and by Weight Division here

Hosted by the Italian Mixed Martial Arts Federation (FIGMMA) at the Bella Italia Efa Village. This tournament will be closed to European nations. Six of the top ten senior teams of the World Amateur MMA Rankings will be in action, including Sweden, Ukraine, Ireland, Spain and Italy while Ukraine, Poland, England and Ireland all sit among the top ten junior teams.

Ukraine boasts the largest squad of the thirty-six participating nations with a team of thirty athletes set to compete, which includes world silver medalists Ivan Pasych and Andrii Stoian.

Italy will bring a squad of twenty-five athletes, with plenty of fresh faces set to represent the host nation for the first time.

Poland’s Magdalena Czaban will look to become a three-time European champion as she moves from atomweight up to strawweight for the first time in an IMMAF competition. Paulina Kontna is also expected to return after her gold medal-winning run in 2021.

A Championship Pass will be available on immaf.tv for the European Championships, providing coverage for each day of action.

Buy your subscription or Championships Pass packages to IMMAF TV here:

2022 IMMAF European Championships – immaf.tv

Holyrood Committee to visit East Lothian’s ancient woodlands

The Scottish Parliament’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee will visit East Lothian tomorrow (Wednesday, 21st September) to explore the issues raised in a public petition.

The Committee will visit Pressmennan Wood, just south of the village of Stenton, as part of its consideration of a petition seeking the introduction of legislation which would provide Scotland’s remaining fragments of ancient, native and semi-native woodlands and woodland floors with full legal protection following concerns that large areas are being lost or damaged each year.

Committee Convener, Jackson Carlaw MSP, Deputy Convener David Torrance MSP, Alexander Stewart MSP and Paul Sweeney MSP will join officials from the Woodland Trust to learn more about the challenges around protecting Scotland’s woodlands.

Owned by the Woodland Trust, Pressmennan Wood has been continuously wooded since the early 15th century but has seen much human intervention throughout its history.

A large part of the woodland is currently classified as Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland, with some large areas of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites.

At an earlier meeting, the Committee heard evidence from Mairi McAllan MSP, Minister for Environment and Land Reform, who indicated that the Scottish Government were undertaking work to develop the register of ancient woodlands and were looking at options to improve existing protections and enforcement measures.

Speaking ahead of the visit, the Committee’s Convener, Jackson Carlaw MSP, said: “Protecting Scotland’s native and ancient woodlands is incredibly important to supporting biodiversity and maintaining our natural environment. This petition has helped to shine a light on the challenges we need to address to ensure their long-term future.

“The Committee has heard directly from the petitioners and a range of experts who have expressed their concerns over the lack of these woodlands protection from inappropriate developments and other threats, which has resulted in large areas of ancient woodland being lost for good over recent years.

“The Citizens Participation and Public Petitions Committee’s visit to Pressmennan Wood in East Lothian alongside the Woodland Trust will help us see the issues first hand and look at what next steps the Committee can take to help protect our ancient woodlands”

Student health advice from NHS 24

During September students all over Scotland are preparing to start or resume their studies at college or university. As many students will be travelling away from home for the first time, NHS 24 wish to highlight the importance of knowing where to get the right health advice in their new area.

NHS 24’s student health campaign provides details on where to access services such as GPs, dentists, pharmacies, out of hours and urgent care in Scotland. Information on subjects such as immunisations, mental health support and Scotland’s Service Directory are also included.

Representatives from NHS 24 are also visiting numerous colleges and universities throughout Scotland through a programme of ‘health roadshows.’

Michelle Sinclair, Engagement Manager for NHS 24 explains: ‘It’s been a tough couple of years for everyone during the COVID-19 pandemic, and students have made adjustments by switching to online learning at various times during the past two academic years.

‘Attending various freshers and welcome events in person has been really brilliant to promote NHS 24’s 111 service and the health information available on NHS inform.  It really makes the difference to be able to provide advice face to face about student’s health requirements, and we get asked a huge variety of questions on a lot of different subjects.’

Dr Laura Ryan, a GP and NHS 24’s Medical Director adds: “It’s an exciting time for students and their families while they prepare to say goodbye to their loved ones to start their studies.

“Health information can quickly slide to the bottom of the ‘to do’ list when you are making plans to move to a different part of the country, but it’s really important you know when and where to access the service you need if you have a health concern.

“If you’ve moved away from your local area to go to college or university, you must register with a new local GP practice. This also includes students who have moved from elsewhere in Scotland, elsewhere in the UK, and abroad. You should also register with a local dentist.

“NHS inform has lots of information on how to access services in your area. By being prepared and following the advice in our student health campaign, this will avoid delays in accessing the care you need, should you require it.”

£150 Disability Cost of Living Payments begin this month

From today (20 September) around six million disabled people in the UK will start to receive their one-off £150 Disability Cost of Living payment

  • Six million people who are paid certain disability benefits will begin to receive a one-off payment of £150 from today
  • Payments are part of the government’s wider £37 billion support package, including the Energy Price Guarantee and cost of living payments totalling £650

Those who had confirmed payment of their disability benefit for 25 May will receive the £150 automatically, with the vast majority to be paid by early October.

The payment will help disabled people with the rising cost of living, acknowledging the higher disability-related costs they often face, such as for care and mobility needs.

The cost of living payments from the government are part of a £37 billion package of support, which will see millions of households receive at least £1,200 this year to help cover rising costs, and follows the Prime Minister’s announcement of a new Energy Price Guarantee for the next two winters saving households on average £1,000 a year on their energy bills.

Work and Pensions Secretary Chloe Smith said: “We know disabled people face additional costs and this government is listening and taking decisive action to protect the most vulnerable in our society.

“In addition to the £150 Disability Cost of Living payment, households will save an average of £1,000 a year through our new Energy Price Guarantee and the lowest-income households will receive at least £1,200 to help with the rising cost of living this year.

“This multi-billion-pound package of support reinforces our commitment to help UK households, particularly those with disability challenges, through the tough times ahead.”

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng said: “The government is providing vital support to shield the most vulnerable from rising prices caused by global economic challenges.

“From today, a one-off £150 payment will automatically land in over six million disabled peoples’ accounts. This is in addition to the decisive action we took last week to hold down energy bills over the next two years, saving the average household £1,000 a year.

“The government is standing behind people this winter, and in the longer term we are focusing on driving economic growth – the only way to permanently boost everyone’s living standards.”