The ALLIANCE manifesto for the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election sets out our blueprint for the future of health and social care.
Ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, the ALLIANCE and our members call for all political parties to make several commitments, including to renew social care.
To do this, we call on parties to:
Develop national oversight and scrutiny of social care to end the postcode lottery and improve standards, access, quality and accountability.
Reform commissioning and procurement to take a collaborative and human rights based approach.
Abolish non-residential care charges.
Substantially increase financial investment in social care, to ensure demand is met and third sector providers are adequately funded.
Joint Statement from the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the USA and the High Representative of the EU
We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, express support to our partners in the region in the face of the unjustifiable attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies.
We condemn in the strongest terms the regime’s reckless attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Iraq, in line with UNSC Resolution 2817.
The Iranian regime’s unjustifiable attacks against these states also threaten regional and global security. We call for the immediate and unconditional cessation of all attacks by the Iranian regime.
We reaffirm the importance of safeguarding maritime routes, and safety of navigation, including in the Strait of Hormuz and all associated critical waterways, as well as the safety and security of supply chains and the stability of energy markets. We stand ready to take necessary measures to support global supply of energy such as the stockpile release decided by International Energy Agency members on March 11.
The G7 has repeatedly stated that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon and that it must halt its ballistic missile program, end its destabilizing activities in the region and around the globe, and cease the appalling violence and repression against its own people.
We support the right of the countries unjustifiably attacked by Iran or by Iranian proxies to defend their territories and protect their citizens. We reaffirm our unwavering support for their security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
We condemn the brazen attacks in Iraq by Iran and its militias against diplomatic facilities and energy infrastructure, particularly in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, and against U.S. and Counter ISIS Coalition forces, and the Iraqi people.
Here’s a listing of all of our fantastic weekly classes, events, and cafes:
**** NEW MONDAY CAFE **** Currently every Monday 9-11am. Drop in for a cuppa, sausage roll, or bakery. Come and meet locals, hang out in our beautiful space, or volunteer for a couple of hours for that feel good factor.
How can we reduce the prejudice and judgement that’s too-often placed on people on low incomes?
Our research team worked with SPIRU at Glasgow Caledonian University and the Wales Centre for Public Policy | Canolfan Polisi Cyhoeddus Cymru to see what the evidence says.
The first part of a Framework Agreement to support the delivery of new, affordable homes in Edinburgh, worth around £350m, is now live.
The City of Edinburgh Council’s four-year New Build Housing Framework Agreement will provide an efficient route to procure the construction of new build housing. This will help tackle the city’s housing emergency by aiding the Council’s ambition to deliver 25,000 affordable homes.
Lot 1, the first of two lots encompassed by the Framework, was approved by Finance and Resources Committee in January and, after a mandatory standstill period, is now live. The Lot is split into three sub-Lots based upon the size of prospective sites – one to 30 homes, 31 to 100 homes and 100+ homes. By splitting Lot 1 into sub-Lots the Council aimed to encourage greater participation from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), reducing overall reliance on a small number of contractors.
Now that successful contractors have been awarded a place under the Agreement, the Council can progress housebuilding projects with them more quickly, without the need for a full tender process each time.
Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, Councillor Tim Pogson, said: “We’re fully committed to addressing the housing emergency in Edinburgh, pledging a record £1.6bn to housebuilding in this year’s budget, helping to realise our ambition to build 25,000 new affordable homes across the city.
“Procuring the right contractors to deliver these homes can take time, so I’m pleased that Lot 1 of the New Build Housing Framework Agreement is now in place, helping to streamline the process and letting us tackle the issue at pace.
“Our Procurement Service’s innovative approach to the Framework has opened opportunities to a broader range of contractors, including SMEs, increasing capacity for house building projects.”
Lot 2 will focus on collaboration, allowing the Council to work with other partners to jointly procure sites to achieve economies of scale.
A further award report for Lot 2 will be presented to Finance and Resources Committee in the coming months. Contracts awarded under both Lots of the New Build Housing Framework Agreement are valued in total at an estimated £600m.
A robust tender process carried out by Commercial and Procurement Services involved engagement with the market and attracted 22 responses across both Lots.
According to the Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA3) for the South-East Scotland area, there is demand for between 36,000 and 52,000 new homes in Edinburgh between 2021 to 2040, between 24,000 and 35,000 of which need to be affordable.
POLICE appealing for information following a fatal crash on the A1.
The crash involved a Renault Austral and Land Rover Defender and happened around 9.05am yesterday – Saturday, 21 March – near Torness Power Station.
The female front passenger of the Austral was pronounced dead at the scene. The male driver and the rear passenger were taken to hospital for treatment.
Her next of kin have been informed, however formal identification has yet to take place.
The male driver of the Defender was also taken to hospital for treatment.
Sergeant Barry Sommerville of the Road Policing Unit said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the woman who sadly died.
“Our enquiries are continuing and I would ask anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or who may have dash-cam footage, and has not yet spoken to or provided this information to officers, to contact us as soon as possible.
“The road re-opened at 4.15pm on Saturday 21 March, 2026. I want to thank members of the public for their patience while we investigated this serious crash.”
Anyone with information should call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0753 of 21 March, 2026.
An international aid network has received £200,000 Scottish Government funding to support its work responding to humanitarian crises around the world.
The Start Network, bringing together more than 145 non-governmental organisations, provides critical responses to small and medium‑scale crises that often receive little international attention – ensuring communities are not left waiting for support while longer-term solutions are pursued.
Millions of people worldwide have already been supported by the network’s rapid response action in the first days of crises, including support to people displaced by conflict in Ethiopia and Colombia and to those affected by the measles outbreak in Chad.
External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson said: “Not all humanitarian crises make the headlines and this money will help some of those that do not attract the world’s attention.
“This funding will strengthen the Start Network’s ability to respond quickly to smaller, often overlooked crises, ensuring that help reaches communities when they need it most. It also reflects the Scottish Government’s commitment to localisation, supporting frontline organisations who are best placed to act early and save lives.’
“Regardless of the deeply worrying decision from the UK Government to cut its own Overseas Development Aid allocations, I want to be clear that the Scottish Government’s commitment to international development is absolute and we are proud of the role Scotland plays on the international stage.”
Ira Paredes, Business Development Director of Start Network said: “We would like to thank the Scottish Government for its contribution to the Global Start Fund, one of our key pooled funds.
“We are very excited about this new partnership and the impact it will have on transforming emergency response and locally led humanitarian action.”
Find further information on the work of Start Network here
Tomorrow is a special day for us here at FetLor, as some of our staff and young people will be taking part in a 10K fun run to raise funds for our Duke of Edinburgh Programme.
This is hosted by Fettes College who we will be running alongside
Improvements needed to ensure successful completion of Afghan resettlement programme
37,950 people arrived in the UK under Afghan resettlement schemes between April 2021 and December 2025.
Government expects to spend a total of £5.7 billion on Afghan resettlement up to 2032-33, of which £2.6 billion has yet to be incurred.
The resettlement programme needs to urgently complete the key elements of effective programme management, including having better cross-government management information.
The government must overcome ongoing challenges including a lack of available housing and poor data to ensure its programme to resettle thousands of Afghan citizens in the UK is successfully completed, according to a new National Audit Office (NAO) report.
Since 2010, the government has offered resettlement in the UK to certain groups of Afghan citizens, including people who worked with the UK government in some capacity during its military presence in Afghanistan. This work sometimes came with significant risk to those Afghan citizens and their families, who feared reprisals from the Taliban.
Although the schemes closed to new applicants in July 2025, thousands of Afghans are still being processed for resettlement.3 As at November 2025, 29,655 people were waiting to hear the results of their eligibility assessments.
Between April 2021 and December 2025, 37,950 people arrived in the UK under the schemes and, as at February 2025, the government estimated it would ultimately resettle around 9,000 more. Of those resettled, as at December 2025, 80% were living in settled accommodation.
The government anticipates that its work to resettle and integrate people will continue until 2032-33, costing a total of £5.7 billion. It spent £3.1 billion on the schemes between April 2021 and December 2025, meaning a significant proportion of the costs have not yet been incurred.
Several government departments worked at pace under complex and demanding circumstances when establishing the schemes,especially after the Taliban takeover resulted in a far greater number of people applying and becoming eligible for resettlement than had originally been envisaged.
The need to respond quickly, coupled with departments being responsible for different groups of people and resettlement stages, meant that the schemes became complex and inefficient. This is likely to have led to higher costs and worse outcomes for resettled people.
To address these challenges, in December 2024 the government merged the resettlement schemes into a combined Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), which aims to bring all eligible Afghan citizens to the UK by March 2029 and to have moved those citizens out of transitional accommodation by December 2029.
Although the creation of the ARP has led to some improvements, significant risks remain. These include poor data on the people to be resettled and their needs, and a lack of available housing, resulting in greater than anticipated levels of resettled people becoming homeless.
To ensure the successful completion of the ARP, the NAO recommends that the UK government:
urgently completes the outstanding elements of effective programme management
undertakes scenario analysis to understand the potential barriers to completing the resettlement of all eligible people to the UK, and how these can be overcome
monitors the effect of the changes under the ARP, particularly the introduction of a nine-month limit for transitional accommodation
uses the results of pilot programmes involving local authorities and community organisations to identify innovative approaches and spread good practice
identifies measures of successful integration for Afghan resettled people and uses these to assess outcomes
Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: “Government departments have worked together in challenging conditions to resettle thousands of Afghan citizens who were at risk of reprisals from the Taliban.
“Although progress has been made under the new Afghan Resettlement Programme, the government has more to do to successfully resettle the affected people in the UK.”
A new active travel route from the Foot of the Walk to Dock Street was officially opened this week by the Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson.
The route was supported by over £4.6 million investment from Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Infrastructure Fund for construction in 2024-25 and 2025-26. There was also over £360,000 Scottish Government funding for the design, through Walk Wheel Cycle Trust’s Places for Everyone programme.
This marks the completion of the most recent phase of the Leith Connections project, which aims to improve connectivity, safety and accessibility for everyone who lives in or spends time in the area.
Under this phase, we have now completed 850 metres of two-way segregated cycle track which connects to existing segregated infrastructure installed on Leith Walk, Portobello, the Water of Leith path and on to the North Edinburgh Path Network.
Other improvements include a new signalised junction with pedestrian crossings, new paving, seating and planting, alongside sustainable drainage. Full details are available on our website.
Alongside this progress, we’ve also seen encouraging new data on active travel not just in the north of Edinburgh but across the city.
This showed that 69% of residents walk or wheel at least five days a week, alongside overall increases in walking and wheeling journeys, and improved safety perceptions when walking and cycling.
Over 40% of respondents also said they’d like to walk and cycle more, with a further 57% of supporting shifting investment from road-building schemes to fund walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport.
Just last month Cycling Scotland released new data from their September 2025 surveys, showing an increase in cycling journeys at 11 different sites citywide.
West Coates on the City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL) recorded its highest cycling rate yet of 9.3%, with York Place seeing 1,921 bikes in the 48-hour survey period. Leith Walk also saw a new record rate of 9.71%, with 4,744 journeys. ‘Cycling rate’ here refers to the percentage of trips using a specific transport mode. Other examples include walking or using public transport.
We’re now looking ahead to the next phase of Leith Connections which will span from the Hawthornvale Path to Seafield.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “Today is a key milestone in our plans to transform Leith and the north of the city into a better place for everyone.
“From making it easier to get around through to creating more pleasant places to spend time in, whilst ensuring safety and connectivity are at the heart of the scheme – I’m very excited for these benefits to start becoming a reality.
“I’m grateful for the patience and understanding of local residents and businesses as we complete this important work.
“On the wider picture of active travel in Edinburgh, the data speaks for itself. When we invest in good, sustainable infrastructure then people will use it.
“I look forward to seeing how the next phase progresses as we continue to work alongside our partners and the local community.”
Fiona MacLeod, Director for Scotland, Cymru and Northern Ireland at Walk, Wheel and Cycle Trust, said:“It’s fantastic to see this phase of Leith Connections completed, a project that is creating real transport choice for local people. This new route makes it easier, safer and much more pleasant to travel between Leith Walk and the Shore – whether you’re walking, using a wheelchair, pushing a buggy, or hopping on the bike.
“As well as creating healthier and fairer options for getting around, the improvements have revitalised the surrounding public spaces into a welcoming and inclusive area that people want to spend time in with friends and family, and by visiting local businesses.
“With more projects like this being constructed across the city, the data shows that people in Edinburgh support this investment – recognising the benefits active travel brings to their health and wellbeing, their pockets, and to their communities.”
Keith Irving, Chief Executive of Cycling Scotland, said:“It’s clear from the data that new, well-connected, protected cycle lanes are helping more people to travel efficiently and affordably by bike, with notable morning rush hour peaks.
“The rapid success in Edinburgh, and increases in cycling where other routes are being built in Scotland, show just how strong the appetite is for safe, dedicated cycling infrastructure that takes people conveniently from A to B.
“Supporting more people to travel by bike benefits our health, reduces harmful pollution and our impact on the climate. Beyond this, it also gives people a meaningful way of saving money on everyday transport. We need more cycling routes just like these and safer roads for everyone, to bring these advantages to more people across the country.”
