ECCAN’s annual fund for community-led climate action is back – supporting projects, ideas and collaborations working towards a greener, fairer and more resilient Edinburgh.
This year we’re particularly excited to support:
• Youth-led initiatives
• Climate adaptation & resilience projects
• Work that widens access and participation in climate action
Whether you’re part of a community group, local organisation, neighbourhood initiative or have an idea you’d like to develop with others – we’d love to hear from you.
We’ll also be running online and in-person support surgeries from mid-May to help people shape ideas and applications.
New legislation to be announced in the King’s Speech on Wednesday will give government the option to bring British Steel into public ownership
Government to introduce legislation which would give it the option to nationalise British Steel, subject to public interest test being met.
Primary legislation would give Government a route to safeguard UK steelmaking capacity and avoid sudden halt of production at Scunthorpe, while it considers options for British Steel to help deliver on government’s Steel Strategy ambitions.
Move strengthens economic resilience and backs Government’s long‑term ambition for a resilient, modern UK steel sector.
British Steel could be back in Government hands for the first time since being sold off in 1988, thanks to powers that will be included in new legislation to be set out in the Kings Speech tomorrow.
The new powers would be subject to public interest tests, and if used to nationalise British Steel, they would boost national security while giving stability to workers at Scunthorpe, and British Steel’s suppliers and customers.
The Prime Minister announced the new legislation in a speech yesterday (Monday 11 May) where he set out his plan to boost our sovereign capabilities, protect British industry, and prioritise British jobs and industrial communities.
The Government intervened at British Steel in April 2025 under the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act to ensure uninterrupted steel production and to avoid the sudden closure of the blast furnaces, which would have disrupted supply chains and risked thousands of jobs.
Since then, the Government has been in discussions with British Steel’s owner to find a pragmatic and realistic solution for the business on acceptable terms.
It has not been possible to agree a commercial sale with the current owner, and government does not believe an agreement could be reached which would deliver acceptable value for money for taxpayers.
The Government believes introducing legislation to provide a route to public ownership is the appropriate next step, while recognising that any decision to use the powers in the Bill would be subject to the Bill’s public interest test being met.
The public interest test considers factors including national security, maintaining critical national infrastructure and supporting the economy.
The announcement today follows the launch of the Government’s landmark Steel Strategy in March, which set out its long‑term plan to revitalise the UK steel sector and bolster economic resilience by meeting up to 50 percent of UK steel demand domestically.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Steel is strategically important to our economy and our national resilience. That’s why we acted last year to avoid a sudden halt to production at Scunthorpe, protecting workers and the community that depend on the site, and why we’re now bringing forward legislation to give us options to protect Britain’s steelmaking capability.
“This is what an activist state looks like – taking decisions in the national interest. This Bill would allow us to take action if we need to, while we continue rebuilding our steel sector.”
Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Strong domestic steel production is vital for our economy, and this legislation would allow us to ensure stability for British Steel’s workers, suppliers and customers and avoid damaging disruption to crucial supply chains, while we consider options for the site’s future.
“Revitalising our steel sector is a top priority for this government, and bringing forward this legislation would allow us to explore potential future options for British Steel. The government recognises that securing the long-term future of the UK’s steel sector relies on both public and private investment for modernisation.”
Following the Government’s intervention in April 2025, British Steel has continued operating at the Scunthorpe site, protecting steelmaking capacity and supporting jobs across the local economy and supply chain, providing reassurance and stability for the town and its workforce.
The new Bill will be formally introduced to Parliament this week. Any decision to bring British Steel into public ownership would only be taken after the Bill receives Royal Assent, and if the public interest test set out in the legislation is met.
Changes to Edinburgh Airport’s pricing will raise pick-up and drop-off charges to £8.50 to help cover an extra £8 million business rates bill recently imposed on the terminal.
The move follows a 142% rise in business rates, meaning the airport – already the highest rates payer in the Lothians – will now pay more in business rates than the next three largest ratepayers in the region combined. This represents the largest increase in costs faced by any airport in Scotland and the UK.
It stands in stark contrast to the treatment of comparable Scottish airports, including Glasgow (+51.5%) and Prestwick (+39.1%).
As a result, Edinburgh Airport now faces difficult decisions to cover the cost and will also be forced to remove the 50% reduction for electric vehicles. This will come into effect on 18 May.
The free drop-off and pick-up area, where passengers can park for up to 30 minutes without charge, will remain in place with more spaces added. A free bus service from the free area to the terminal will also resume.
Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: “This decision to impose an unplanned and wholly disproportionate £8 million rates increase has an immediate and negative impact on our business.
“We made this clear in correspondence with the Lothians Assessor, who set the increase, and in discussions with the Scottish Government, which has endorsed it.
“A 142% increase reduces our ability to invest, grow and compete. In practical terms, it equates to funding around 200 jobs, two aircraft stands, or five new security lanes. It is not a cost that can be absorbed; it must be covered, and trade-offs like this are unfortunately unavoidable.
“Like many across the hospitality and tourism sectors who have seen business rates soar, we have no choice but to pass part of this cost on to passengers. We had not planned to raise fees this year, but the absence of a transitional relief scheme – equivalent to that available in England and Wales – leaves us with no alternative.”
Edinburgh Airport has written to the Convenor of the Lothian Valuation Joint Board, which sets non-domestic rates, as well as the First Minister and the Public Finance Minister, to outline its concerns about the current rates process.
Mr Dewaradded: “We have always accepted that, given our size, we should pay more, but the scale of this increase is simply unacceptable.
“We have made clear to both the Assessor and the Scottish Government that a system which produces such markedly different outcomes for comparable assets operating within the same national economy cannot credibly be described as fair, proportionate or fit for a modern Scotland. This systemic inconsistency lies at the heart of our concern.
“While we welcome the manifesto commitment to review the business rates system, the harm caused by the current framework is already confirmed and must be addressed. We hope a fair and meaningful review can be concluded within this parliamentary term, and we will continue to engage with Ministers, including through early discussions, to help drive that process.”
Newly elected MSPs will take part in their first formal meeting at the Scottish Parliament at 9.30am on Thursday 14 May.
All MSPs will start their work in the Parliament by making an oath or affirmation, which must happen before they can take part in any other parliamentary business at Holyrood.
John Swinney MSP, as leader of the largest party in the Scottish Parliament, will be the first to be sworn in, followed by the other party leaders. Other MSPs will be called forward in alphabetical order.
This initial meeting will be chaired by current Presiding Officer, Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP.
In the afternoon MSPs will be asked to elect a new Presiding Officer, who will serve for the rest of the new parliamentary session. It is expected that two Deputy Presiding Officers will be elected later in the afternoon.
Ahead of their first meeting in the Chamber, MSPs will have taken part in the first part of an induction programme in the parliament building. The programme aims to welcome MSPs to their roles and will:
allow MSPs to establish a temporary office within the Parliament
help MSPs establish their constituency or regional offices
inform MSPs about what support is available to them to help their constituents
give MSPs information about how to take part in debates and votes in the Chamber
let MSPs know more about the parliamentary roles and responsibilities
Speaking ahead of the MSPs arriving at the Scottish Parliament, David McGill, the Parliament’s Clerk/Chief Executive, said:“It is great to be able to welcome new MSPs into the Parliament, where our dedicated staff team will be on hand to help them get acquainted with their roles and responsibilities.
“This Parliament’s first formal meeting, on Thursday 14 May, will be particularly significant for those performing their first duties as MSPs, and for those seeking to become Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officers.
“The first sitting day has an important role in formally introducing MSPs to the public, but the election of the Presiding Officer in particular starts to set the agenda for the session ahead.”
The first sitting day will be able to be view live on the Parliament’s website.
KEIR Starmer’s future as Prime Minister is looking increasingly untenable this morning as he faces growing calls for this resignation.
Labour suffered the worst set of election results in it’s history last week and anger over the party’s performance – and Starmer’s poor decision-making in particular – has built to boiling point.
Keir Starmer came out fighting with another ‘reset’ speech yesterday but critics were unconvinced by the latest pledges and clamour for the beleaguered PM to step down have continued to grow.
It’s understood some cabinet members are among the 70+ Labour MPS who are urging Starmer to go and this morning’s cabinet meeting promises to be a particularly difficult one for a PM who is seeing support evaporating by the hour.
Labour-supporting trade unions have been calling for a change of direction for some time and some have withdrawn funding from the political party they united to form in 1900. Last Thursday’s catastrophic defeat was the final straw:
JOINT STATEMENT FROM LABOUR’s AFFILIATED UNIONS
‘Labour’s affiliated unions are deeply concerned by the Party’s catastrophic election results. They show a stark disconnect between this Labour Government and the working people and communities that it was elected to represent.
‘Voters right across the country have sent a clear message: that this Government are not delivering on the promised change they so desperately want to see. This cannot continue. Voters want to see a radical new direction from Labour, that stems the tide of division and unites workers and communities in every part of the country.
‘TULO unions are united in calling for a fundamental change of direction on economic policy and political strategy, so that Labour do what it was elected to do: govern in the interests of workers.
‘Labour must also deliver the rebalancing of power in the workplace promised in the New Deal for Working People, in full, without any carve-outs or loopholes. The stakes are too high to continue on this path.
‘Labour’s unions have a responsibility to the Party that we created, and as a result TULO have demanded a meeting with the Prime Minister and Party Leadership to discuss the urgent change in direction that we all know is needed.’
Great British Bake Off winner, Peter Sawkins, is partnering with Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy to host an intimate ‘cook along’ masterclass event for foodies and baking enthusiasts in the heart of Edinburgh on Saturday 30 May.
The youngest ever winner of The Great British Bake Off, Peter will deliver a live demonstration on how to master the French classic dessert, Croquembouche, at Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy on Queen Street.
The 12 attendees will then cook along with Peter, creating an Almond, Ricotta and Strawberry Celebration Cake, learning professional techniques, tips and insider secrets to create their very own competition-worthy bake.
Rounding off the event, delegates will sit down with Peter for an informal Q&A over a cup of tea or coffee and freshly baked goods, before taking home their finished cake. Taking place from 2pm – 5pm, the three-hour masterclass is suitable for all capabilities and costs just £140.
Edinburgh Food and Drink Academy Launch Event
Commenting on the event, Peter said: “I’m looking forward to being back in the kitchen at Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy and helping local bakers create their own delicious and beautiful bakes.
“Hosting an intimate event like this allows me to really engage with attendees and help them develop their skills and confidence in the kitchen, before we sit down together over a cuppa and cake for a chat.”
Edinburgh Food and Drink Academy Launch Event
Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, executive chair at Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy, commented:“A great friend of Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy, we’re delighted to be able to offer keen bakers the opportunity to meet with and learn directly from Peter.
“Tackling the famously tricky croquembouche, a staple challenge on the Great British Bake Off, Peter will be demonstrating the skills that won him the competition and helping delegates to pick up some tips and tricks along the way.
“At Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy we have one central mission – to create, connect and elevate the food and drink industry, and events like these are just one of the ways in which we do this.”
Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy (EFDA) relaunched earlier this year, following 17 years as the Edinburgh New Town Cookery School, with a clear mission to create, connect and elevate the food and drink industry.
Based in the centre of Edinburgh, which is regarded as a vibrant food and drink destination, it brings together innovation and experience to deliver a range of professional chef courses and recreational classes and events for home chefs with an interest in mastering the kitchen.
With only 12 spaces available for the event, tickets can be purchased online at www.efda.co.uk.
Five emergency responders in Aberdeen will take part in the Edinburgh Half Marathon later this month to raise money for Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA).
Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) staff Saoirse Killian (Paramedic), Katie Ross (Paramedic), Mia Bremner (Paramedic), Lauren Dunridge (Technician) and Sophie Fraser (Technician) will run the 13.1 miles on 24 May.
SCAA operate two helicopters which supplement the two helicopters and two fixed- wing aircraft which are operated by SAS and are government funded.
Mia said: “We have all experienced first-hand the life-saving impact of the charity air ambulance, from providing vital support to ground crews to enabling a rapid response in rural areas and ensuring patients are conveyed to the most appropriate setting for definitive care.”
Criona Knight, SCAA’s Director of Development and Engagement, said: “As a charity, we work in close partnership with the experienced clinical and paramedic teams at the Scottish Ambulance Service, and we see their expertise and dedication every day.
“We are very grateful to Saoirse, Katie, Mia, Lauren and Sophie for their fundraising efforts. We will all be right behind them on Sunday 24 May, supporting them as they take on this challenge. Lives are saved across Scotland every day thanks to the teams at SAS and SCAA.
“Through this effort, they are going even further by helping to raise vital funds. On behalf of the whole team, I would like to say a huge thank you, and we look forward to seeing you at the finish line.”
Calling volunteers! Help us spread the word of the festival by joining us for our big leafletting event
Whether you are already volunteering with the festival or if you want to just come along and help out for the day – everyone is welcome!
We will start with a quick brief together, then separate into smaller groups to cover different areas across the city and finish with a social picnic at the Edinburgh Meadows. Get to know new people and help us share the festival with more of our local community!
*Posters are printed sustainably by Out of the Blueprint in Edinburgh
Find out more via the link in bio.
