WHEN we talk health and social care in Scotland, the debate tends to orbit big numbers and long-term policy frameworks (writes Councillor PAUL KELLY, COSLA Spokesperson for Health and Social Care) .
But from where I sit, speaking to councils and communities every day, the reality is far more immediate. It’s about people waiting longer for help, care workers stretched too thin, and a system close to burnout.
The £750 million COSLA is calling for isn’t a throwaway figure. It’s what’s needed just to stabilise social care and start rebuilding confidence, and right now, integration authorities are staring down a half-billion-pound deficit. That’s not theoretical. It means fewer care packages, longer waits, and more families left in limbo.
We can’t keep papering over the cracks. Care isn’t a luxury – it’s the infrastructure that allows people to live with dignity in their homes and communities and if we fail to fund it properly, we’re choosing crisis over prevention every time.
I’ve seen what good looks like, councils across Scotland are proving that when local partners are trusted, empowered and resourced, they deliver. Hospital admissions go down, delayed discharges drop and people get to stay in their homes, with the right support around them.
But the truth is, those successes are happening despite the system, not because of it.
Short sighted one-year budgets force local authorities into short-term firefighting, providers can’t plan, good staff leave for more stable work elsewhere.
The same goes for prevention, everyone talks about it but few fund it. Yet we’ve known since the Christie Commission in 2011 that unless we shift spending upstream, public services will buckle under the weight of demand. Fourteen years later, the shift still hasn’t happened.
The result? Hospitals are under strain, community are services stretched, and the most vulnerable people keep falling through the cracks. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Across Scotland, local authorities are already delivering services that tackle inequality at the source. From mental health and suicide prevention work to alcohol and drug partnerships, councils are embedded in the places where support makes the most difference, but they’re doing it with one hand tied behind their backs.
The evidence is clear, outcomes improve when decisions are made locally and in partnership with communities, we need government to match that ambition, not with more centralisation, but with trust, flexibility and proper funding at local democracy level.
If we want to get serious about health inequalities, that starts with recognising that most of the determinants of health – housing, transport, education, employment – sit within the remit of local government and you can’t improve population health without improving people’s lives.
So, here’s the ask: fund social care properly. Commit to multi-year budgets, back prevention, and most importantly, hand decision-making power back to local communities.
If we keep waiting for someone in the centre to fix this, we’ll still be having this conversation in ten year’s time, and the system will be in a worse place.
Local government is ready to lead, it just needs the tools to do the job.
Tracy Gilbert, MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, has welcomed the Chancellor’s confirmation that the Scottish Government will receive an additional £921 million in funding through Barnett consequential in the Spring Statement.
Since the General Election in July 2024, the Scottish Government has received nearly £12 billion in extra funding.
Commenting, Tracy Gilbert MP said: “The Scottish Government has received £12 billion in additional funding since 2024. People in Edinburgh North and Leith will rightly ask what that money has delivered for them.
“With pressures on our NHS, housing and local services, this funding must be used to improve people’s day-to-day lives. It’s time to focus on getting the basics right and delivering for communities across Scotland.”
The chair of Ireland’s Online Health Taskforce, Jillian van Turnhout will urge Scotland’s key decision-makers to do everything in their power to protect children from online harm through a public health approach at a round table in Edinburgh today (4 March) convened by Children First, Scotland’s national children’s charity.
Speaking in advance of the roundtable, which will include Siobhian Brown MSP, Minister for Victims and Community Safety and Natalie Don-Innes MSP, Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, Jillian van Turnhout, Chair of Ireland’s Online Health Taskforce, said: “When we built Ireland’s Online Health Taskforce, we started by listening to young people – and what they told us was both sobering and clarifying.
“Children aren’t asking for perfection; they’re asking for adults to take this seriously and act. The data from Children First shows Scottish children are saying exactly the same thing. The question now isn’t whether to act, but how quickly and how comprehensively.
“This needs collaboration between governments at all levels, with every government committing to do everything they can to secure a safe digital world for children. In Scotland huge strides can be taken to protect children from online harm through areas that are in the Scottish Government’s power, including education, justice and health.”
In December, Children First warned that “childhood is being eroded by the digital world and children’s basic right to safety is not being upheld.”
Research by the charity of over 2,460 young people in Scotland shows that:
79 percent are worried about seeing harmful online content.
78 percent are anxious about the impact of social media.
71 percent are worried about the impact of smartphones.*
A separate survey of adults conducted by the charity showed that 84% of Scots are very or extremely worried about the impact of social media on young people and 81% are worried about children’s access to violent content online.**
On Monday the UK Government opened a consultation on protecting children on social media, gaming platforms and AI Chatbots, calling it “one of its most wide-ranging national conversations on a public issue in recent years.”
Mary Glasgow, chief executive Children First said: “While some progress is being made, there is no silver bullet to halt the rapidly advancing digital destruction of childhood.
“Scotland’s senior leaders in justice, public health, children’s rights and the third sector are coming together at today’s round table to show their depth of concern about the unprecedented threats that children and young people face to their health, wellbeing and development in a digital age and focus on the solutions.
“Children are telling us they need adults to keep them safe, now. We must act on learning from the international community or risk being left behind in protecting children online. Scotland has a strong track record in delivering holistic transformational public health responses to address some of the most pressing problems this country has faced.
“By quickly applying the learning from Ireland’s online health taskforce and building a consensus about how Scotland can tackle online harm we can keep children safe and preserve their childhoods.”
Minister for Children and Young People Natalie Don-Innes said: “Protecting children from online harm is critical in the modern digital age. It’s a continually evolving issue that requires the utmost thought and technical expertise to provide the best possible protections for young people.
“That is why it is so important for leaders across sectors, including justice, public health, children’s rights and the third sector to meet and discuss how to best protect our children from online dangers.
“Online regulation is reserved to the UK Government, and the Scottish Government have been clear in our calls for greater controls to reduce online harms to children, and our desire to work constructively with the UK Government to that end.
“However, we are striving to improve and do more with the devolved powers we have – through education, community safety, and child protection. This will be set out in the Online Safety Taskforce Action Plan which will be published shortly.”
Ireland’s Department of Health established the Online Health Taskforce in September 2024 to develop a public health response to digital harms.
In December 2025 the Taskforce’s final report set out four foundational principles to establish overarching policy and 10 recommendations for action in five key areas – children and young people’s rights, safety by design, critical digital literacy, enforcement and accountability, and regulatory frameworks.
The round table has been supported by Inspiring Scotland and Changing Ideas through their fund committed to reducing the impact of online harm on children and young people.
HMS Dragon set to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to ‘defend British interests and support the collective self-defence of our allies‘
The UK is deploying its cutting-edge warship, HMS Dragon, and drone-busting Wildcat helicopters to the Eastern Mediterranean to boost British defences in the region.
The Type 45 destroyer is one of the most capable air defence warships in the world, and will strengthen the UK’s ability to detect, track and destroy aerial threats, including drones.
The ship is fitted with the world-leading Sea Viper missile system, which can launch eight missiles in under ten seconds and guide up to 16 missiles simultaneously. Type 45 Destroyers have already been proven on operations, including when one successfully intercepted a Houthi missile in 2024.
The deployment comes as the UK armed forces successfully shot down multiple drones across the region over the previous 24 hours:
RAF F-35B jets shot down drones over Jordan – the first time an RAF F-35 has destroyed a target on operations – supported by Typhoon jets and a Voyager tanker aircraft. A British counter-drone unit neutralised drones in Iraqi airspace heading towards Coalition forces, whilst an RAF Typhoon operating with the joint UK-Qatar 12 Squadron shot down an Iranian one-way attack drone directed at Qatar using an air-to-air missile on Monday.
The decision comes as Iran’s reckless attacks continue to target British interests in the region, as the UK Armed Forces continue to adapt to the changing threats.
It follows the UK bolstering its defensive presence in the region in recent weeks, including deploying radar systems, air defence, and F-35 jets.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “We are moving quickly to further reinforce our defensive presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“HMS Dragon brings world-class air defence capability, and our Wildcat helicopters are armed with Martlet missiles to counter the growing drone threat.
“I am deeply proud of the professionalism and bravery of our Armed Forces personnel who have in recent days, successfully taken action across the region to protect our allies and defend British interests.”
In a further boost, two Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet drone-busting missiles are also deploying.
The helicopters will be able to hunt and shoot down aerial threats, adding a powerful counter-drone capability to the region.
FOREIGN Secretary Yvette Cooper Foreign has reiterated the UK’s top priority is the safety and security of British nationals in the Middle East
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The safety and security of British citizens is our top priority, and we know that hundreds of thousands of people have been affected by the conflict and escalation in the Middle East and the Gulf. This includes holiday makers, business travellers and visitors who can’t return home because of airspace closures or strikes.
“That’s why we have the Foreign Office crisis centre that is open 24/7 and why we’ve asked people to sign up to register your presence, so that we can make sure there is up to date information and to follow travel advice across the region.
“But most importantly, we are working with airlines, with the travel industry, with governments across the region to make sure that there will be safe ways for people to return home.
“For Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the airlines have been able to reinstate some commercial flights and will be working to help existing passengers, and we are working with them and the government to try to maximise the number of seats for British nationals.
“For Oman, in addition to commercial flights, we are also working to secure a government charter flight in the coming days, to prioritise vulnerable citizens who need to return home.
“And we will continue to work with the travel industry. We’ll continue to ensure that we do everything possible to find more routes for people to return home.
“Do follow the local travel advice in the area, follow the travel alerts, and keep in touch with your airline as well.
“The team here will keep doing everything possible to make sure that advice is updated and to do everything possible to keep British citizens secure and safe.”
Sustained improvement in mental health care for children and young people
Scotland has met its Programme for Government commitment on specialist children’s mental health waiting times, with new statistics confirming that 90% of children and young people referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) started treatment within 18 weeks of referral by the December 2025 target date.
The Scottish Government has invested significantly in CAMHS over the past decade, with staffing increasing by 53%. The commitment to fund 320 additional CAMHS posts by 2026 has been exceeded, increasing capacity for cases by over 10,000.
CAMHS provides specialist NHS support for children and young people with serious mental health needs. To provide alternatives to this specialist service, over £80 million has been invested in community mental health services, plus £16 million a year for school counselling. From this year, £15 million annually will go to local authorities to maintain community-based support for children and young people who need it.
CAMHS waiting times of over 18 weeks are now at their lowest level since June 2013 and CAMHS targets have been met consistently for over a year.
Mental Wellbeing Minister Tom Arthur said: “Meeting our Programme for Government commitment on the CAMHS waiting times standard by the December 2025 target is a real and meaningful achievement.
“It has been made possible by the hard work and dedication of NHS staff across Scotland who support children, young people and their families through some of the most difficult times of their lives.
“The progress is sustained and it is clear — waiting lists are at historic lows with over 52 week waits dropping by over 30% in the last year and half of all young people referred are being seen within five weeks.
“I am encouraged by the real progress that has been made in recent months to clear backlogs and we will continue to work closely with those NHS Boards where some challenges remain over the next few months as they complete this work.
“Despite progress, there is more to do, and we remain committed to supporting all NHS Boards to sustain and build on this momentum.”
A 23-year-old man arrested in connection with a disturbance in Edinburgh has now been charged. He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today – Wednesday, 4th March.
Around 8.25am on Monday, 2 March, 2026, police, including firearms officers, attended the Calder Gardens area following reports of a man with a bladed weapon.
Two people were injured and taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment. A man suffered injuries consistent with being stabbed. A woman suffered a laceration to the head, not believed to be caused by a bladed weapon. Both have since been discharged.
The incident is not being treated as terror related.
Chief Inspector Scott Kennedy said: “I’m aware misinformation continues to be shared online about this incident which could cause further distress in the local community. I’d like to be clear: we did not receive any reports of a man attempting to enter a nursery or any educational establishment and this was not a hostage situation.
“While we understand what happened was frightening, I’d ask people to avoid speculating about the details and be mindful that false information could affect any future court proceedings.
“We still have a police presence in the area for reassurance and I thank the public for their continued assistance and support.”
Last night, a letter signed by dozens of cross-party MPs, celebrities including Dame Joanna Lumley and Amanda Holden, and animal organisations such as Animal Rising and PETA, was sent to the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood MP.
The letter calls for an immediate closure of MBR Acres, the only site in the UK breeding dogs for the animal testing industry, alongside the safe rehoming of all the beagles there.
This comes after years of campaigning against the site, with more than 170,000 people signing a petition to close it down.
MBR Acres is licensed to bleed healthy dogs to death, by directly inserting needles into their heart and surrounding blood vessels, and also to harvest their organs.
In the latest blow for animal testing in the UK, and more specifically the use of beagle dogs, public figures from across politics, television, academia, and more have united to call on the Government to “let Britain lead the world into a future without animal testing” and close the only site in the country breeding dogs for the industry.
Rose Patterson, Animal Rising Director, said: “Dozens of public figures have added their voices to the open letter, and over 170,000 people have signed the petition to shut down MBR Acres. The British public is united on this and expects change at the highest level.
“We call ourselves a nation of animal lovers, but MBR Acres holds a licence to bleed healthy dogs to death by inserting needles directly into their hearts. Those two things cannot coexist. The Government has a mandate to act, and shutting down MBR Acres is the easiest first step they could take.”
The letter is the latest in a series of escalating campaigns calling on the Government to take genuine steps towards phasing out animal testing in the UK, as per their manifesto pledge in the lead-up to the 2024 General Election. MPs from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, SNP, Green Party, and Your Party have all signed to show their support for the campaign.
Carla Denyer MP, Green Party Member of the House of Commons for Bristol Central, said: “Is this another Labour U-turn? On 22nd December, the government published its Animal Welfare Strategy, which recommitted to ‘phase out animal testing’, but on 11th February, the government redefined ‘Key National Infrastructure’ in the Public Order Act to include animal testing sites.
“The charitable interpretation is that the government’s left hand doesn’t know what its right hand is doing, or more concerningly, that they are trying to tell the people what they want to hear while quietly acting in the interest of big businesses instead.
“I hope the government sees that the route to regaining public support involves reversing this decision and closing down MBR Acres for good.”
MBR Acres and their parent company, Marshall BioResources, have been under intense scrutiny for decades. Most notably, in 2015, an Italian facility run by the company, Green Hill, was shut down, and 3,000 dogs were rehomed after undercover footage revealed horrific conditions at the site.
Three senior employees of the company were also jailed. Multiple instances of undercover footage showing the conditions at MBR Acres have also been released since 2021.
Currently, the fourth of five trials relating to two separate rescues of beagle puppies from MBR Acres is ongoing.
The previous three trials have returned one acquittal and two convictions, with sentences ranging from 18-month suspended sentences to conditional discharges.
COSLA is urging Members of the Scottish Parliament to support the passage of the Bill to incorporate the European Charter of Local Self-Government into Scots law, describing it as a historic opportunity to strengthen democracy, empower communities, and improve outcomes across Scotland.
Incorporation of the Charter would, for the first time, establish a clear legal framework for the relationship between national and local government, helping ensure decisions are taken as close as possible to the people they affect. It would also bring Scotland into line with other members of the Council of Europe, where the Charter’s principles are already embedded in domestic law.
Council leaders across Scotland have already expressed unanimous support for the Bill and believe its passage will help ensure local government can continue to play its full role in improving lives and reducing inequalities.
It would also strengthen the rights of local people to participate in decisions and help embed partnership working at the heart of Scotland’s governance.
Cllr Shona Morrison, President of COSLA, said: “This Bill represents a vital step forward for Scotland’s democracy and for the communities we serve. Incorporating the Charter into law will help ensure decisions are taken at the right level and that councils have the powers, flexibility and recognition they need to deliver the best possible outcomes for local people.
“Council leaders across Scotland have emphasised that the Bill would help modernise how governments work together, ensuring local authorities have the independence, flexibility and recognition they need to deliver for their communities.
“It will strengthen partnership working between national and local government, protect the rights of communities, and bring Scotland into line with international democratic standards.
“I would urge all MSPs, from across the political spectrum, to support the passage of this important legislation and help secure lasting benefits for Scotland’s people and places.”
The refugee model will shift from permanent to temporary for those who arrive through illegal routes
Refugee status will become temporary and subject to review every 30 months for all adults claiming asylum from today, the Home Secretary has announced.
Protection will be renewed for all those refugees who still face danger in their home country. Those whose country has now become safe, and therefore no longer require protection, will be expected to return home.
The change follows Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s visit to Denmark last week, which introduced a similar approach in recent years. The Danes have reduced asylum claims by more than 90% in a decade.
Last November, as part of the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration since the Second World War, the government announced that refugee protection would become temporary. At the same time, refugees who want to stay in Britain and have skills will be able to apply for new work and study visas, helping them integrate with and contribute to society.
Britain will also open new, safe and legal routes, with community sponsorship becoming the new norm. The entire approach is designed to shift the asylum system in Britain away from dangerous, illegal crossings, and high levels of applications from those without legitimate asylum claims.
Under these changes, adults and accompanied children claiming asylum from today will receive a 30-month period of protection, if granted. At a 30-month review, refugees with a continuing need of sanctuary will have their protection renewed, while those whose countries are now deemed safe will be expected to return home.
Under the previous system, refugees were granted 5 years of protection and allowed to bring their families – followed by near-automatic, fee-free permanent settlement with continued access to benefits and housing. This was amongst the most generous offers to refugees in any country in Western Europe.
The Home Secretary has argued this has become a pull-factor that has seen asylum claims in Britain rise steeply, including tens of thousands of illegitimate claims each year, as they fall across the rest of the continent.
Refugees under the reformed system will need to renew their permission to stay or apply for a legal visa route. Family reunion remains paused while new rules are designed that bring financial and integration requirements in line with those expected of British citizens.
The reset in Britain’s asylum offer, inspired by Denmark’s success, will encourage those wishing to build a life in the UK to do so via legal routes and reduce the pull factors driving illegal migration. The first step towards a new, ‘core protection’ system will be introduced through a change to the Immigration Rules later this week.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “This country will always provide sanctuary to those fleeing war and persecution. But we must also ensure our asylum system is not creating pull factors that draw people on dangerous journeys across the world, fuelling and funding the human traffickers.
“Genuine refugees will find safety in Britain, but we must also reduce the incentives that draw people here at such scale, including those without a legitimate need for protection. So, once a refugee’s home is safe and they are able to return, they will be expected to do so.
“This is a firm but fair approach, restoring order and control of Britain’s borders, while protecting those fleeing war and repression.”
While Denmark was cutting asylum claims to a 40-year low, the UK saw a 13% increase in the year to September 2025. Across the EU, applications fell by 22% over the same period.
Since 2015, Denmark has made refugee status temporary (subject to review every 2 years), introduced restrictions on family reunion and increased the wait for permanent settlement to 8 years, subject to strict integration and employment requirements.
Under reforms announced last autumn, refugees in the UK will have to wait 20 years for settlement, unless they switch to a legal visa route, as part of the ‘core protection’ model.
New routes will be created as an alternative to ’core protection’ for those who can contribute through work or study, encouraging use of the legal migration system and contributing to better social cohesion. Further details of these will be set out in future Immigration Rules changes.
Unaccompanied children will continue to receive 5 years’ leave, while the government considers the appropriate long-term policy for this group. Further details will be set out in due course.
Robust age assessment measures are already in place to root out false claims by migrants claiming to be under 18. AI technology currently being tested will strengthen this further.
Thursday 26 February was Budget Day for the City of Edinburgh Council. The current Labour administration put their spending plans for 26/27 up for scrutiny and we, along with other unions and organisations, were at the City Chambers to let them know out thoughts.
The day started with a small demonstration outside the City Chambers, demanding Fair Funding for Local Authorities. Unite, the Union’s most recent national campaign is calling on the UK government down in Westminster to properly fund local authorities after years of austerity.
We were told this Labour government was bringing change – instead, local services keep getting starved of funds and people are losing faith in the public sector.
Once inside, we listened and echo the excellent deputations from Living Rentand the Edinburgh Tenant’s Federationabout the need for more support for tenants across town and for proper enforcement to hold rogue landlords accountable.
The Welcoming Associationalso spoke, giving a strong testimony about the important work they do to integrate and welcome “new scots”, requesting core funding from the Council in order to be able to consistently deliver for the communities they support.
TheEIShighlighted the need for further investment after years of cuts but, nevertheless, welcomed the money set aside for more staff and infrastructure for a more robust ASN support.
The Edinburgh Trade Union Council mentioned this year they would be celebrating the 50th anniversary of their first deputation to the CEC where they also addressed the topic of Housing.
Claire and Des spoke of the impact the housing emergency is having on Edinburgh’s families and how this is becoming increasingly visible in children in our schools.
Our deputation echoed some of the points raised by the other speakers and focused on three areas – Housing, Education, and Worker’s Pay.
Housing
While recognising the considerable investment in Housing which will double the amount of homes delivered by the Council in the next 10 years, we stressed this is simply not enough. By the Council’s own assessment, this only amounts to between 1/5 and 1/6 of what is needed. Additionally, although they claim this investment is in affordable housing, it includes mid-market accommodation which are exempt form future rent controls and is still well-above most worker’s budget.
Still, we hope this investment leads to more good council jobs and apprenticeshipsand that the Labour group will keep to their “insourcing” agenda and draws from the wealth of knowledge, skill, and expertise we have in our Housing Property team, rather than outsourcing these projects to non-living wage paying businesses. It’s essential to build an experienced and reliable workforce with good employment conditions to restore the tenant’s and residents faith in the public service across the city’s estate.
Schools
The Council proudly announced the narrowing of the attainment gap with more pupils from deprived backgrounds achieving more qualifications at all levels which an extremely positive development – but let’s not rest on our laurels. Schools in our Edinburgh have become the front line of a social emergency. Teachers who are already under immense pressure are now tasked with supporting pupils facing increasingly complex challenges as a result of high poverty rates in this city. The high standard of council schools is sustained due to the essential and immeasurable contributions and hard-work from some of the lowest paid workers in the whole local authority – Pupil Support Assistants and other School Support workers.
The recent review into School Support failed to address the gap between what is written on a PSA’s job description and what really goes on a daily basis in our schools. Our School Support colleagues work beyond their remits every day to meet the needs of the young people they support because they care deeply about helping them. There is a real need for a proper career progression, non-contact time included in the daily schedule, fair pay, and more protection and training to help deal with the increasing demand and scope of behaviours displayed by pupils in both mainstream and special schools.
Simply deploying more low paid staff does not solve the underlying crisis schools face regarding the complexity of need we are currently witnessing. Instead, it puts workers in situations with a higher level of unpredictability and risk. We sincerely hope the proposed investment translates into a measurable decrease in the amount of violence support workers face on a daily basis – because you cannot bridge an attainment gap while the staff expected to close it are pushed to breaking point.
Pay
We are proud to work for the people of Edinburgh and for this Council and, therefore, expect our employer to value and protect us. Instead, this administration is presenting a pay cut on its own workers and asking them, in their own words, to “continually deliver more with less resources”.
In April, every council worker will see their pay go up by 3.0% – the second part of a 2-year deal negotiated by the unions with COSLA. This budget will increase council tax by 4% and council tenants will see their rents go up by 7%. If the payslips of the people of Edinburgh cannot keep up with the rising cost of living exacerbated in part by this council tax hike, the Council cannot act surprised when more people turn to the local government for support. This regressive mode of taxation is being raised of the backs of ordinary people and some of the most vulnerable among us, instead of high earners living in Council Tax Bands E and above.
Every Councillor got a QR code for our campaign big enough to hang it proudly in their offices.
Finally, we are fully aware that some of the shortcomings of this budget are due to insufficient funding from the Scottish and Westminster governments, which is why we challenged all the Councillors present to subscribe to Unite’s Fair Funding for Local Government and to send a message to their MP down in London.
We left every Councillor in the chamber a big enough QR code so they can proudly display it in their offices You can also sign the petition here and send a postcard for free to your MP here.
Many more aspects of this budget could have been raised but João and Étáin used the limited time they had to speak on the topics that were most relevant to them.
We will keep tabs on this Council to see through promises made in this budget and, in the meantime,we will continue to support our members and fight for a fairer more equal Edinburgh.
