New polling confirms that Scots are united together for dignity and choice

Support for law change on assisted dying in every constituency in Scotland

New constituency-level polling showing consistent, high levels of support for assisted dying published as dying people call on MSPs to make history and give terminally ill Scots the compassion, choice and safety they need, as they form a monument to dignity and choice.

Behind every dying person is a nation believing in choice. Ahead of the upcoming vote on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, MRP analysis of new polling confirms that every constituency and region in the country supports assisted dying, with support soaring to 80% in Moray and Argyll and Bute, and 87% in Banffshire and Buchan Coast. 

The polling also shows strong support for law change in all five party leaders’ constituencies, including 77% support in John Swinney’s constituency of Perthshire North, 72% in Glasgow, Anas Sarwar’s region, 70% in Green co-leader Ross Greer and Conservative leader Russell Findlay’s region of West Scotland and 69% in Green co-leader Gillian Mackay’s region of Central Scotland.

This news comes as three terminally ill Scottish women will today stand on plinths erected outside the Scottish Parliament to form living statues to honour the people the current blanket ban on assisted dying affects most, and show them standing together, demonstrating that while we wait for MSPs’ final Stage 3 vote for the law to be set in stone, the will of the people in Scotland is unwavering.

This installation follows the historic Stage 1 vote on the assisted dying Bill in Holyrood last May, in which MSPs overwhelmingly voted to support the Bill’s principles. The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill would make the choice of assisted dying legal for terminally ill, mentally competent adults, alongside excellent end-of-life care.

Lorna Weir, Tish McEwan, and Lisa Fleming will be forming the installation and are each living with a terminal diagnosis: 

Lisa Fleming, 42, is living with secondary, incurable breast cancer, and founded Edinburgh’s beloved House of Hope, a community-based support and wellbeing centre for women with the same disease. She said: “I fight every day of my life to live for longer. And today I’m standing before Parliament asking MSPs to grant people like me the right to choose when and how we decide that enough is enough, right at the end of our lives.

“There’s not a day that goes by without me thinking about dying, and it scares me. But it shouldn’t have to. My cancer has spread to every bone in my body. I know what pain is. If I knew I had the choice of an assisted death at the end, I could live the rest of my life without that fear.”

Tish McEwan, a 73-year old grandmother from Glenrothes was diagnosed with IPF, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, having spent much of her professional life as a traffic warden. She said: “I was diagnosed with IPF in 2021 and I became part of this whole new community of people going through terminal lung disease.

“Through them, I have seen what it can mean to die from this cruel condition, even with the best possible care, feeling like you’re suffocating, gasping for breath.

“The assisted dying bill is about dying well – but it’s also about living a full end of life; living well for as long as I can, knowing that at the end I’ll be able to make the choice that is right for me.

“That’s why I’m here today with other amazing campaigners to stand together for dignity and choice. I hope MSPs heed the calls from the terminally ill people they represent, and vote yes later this month.”

Lorna Weir, a 67-year-old grandmother from Dundee, is supporting the assisted dying Bill following her diagnosis with Pulmonary Fibrosis and lifelong commitment to tackling social injustice, especially in health. She said: “When you get a diagnosis like mine, there is a period of adjustment while you learn to live a new sort of life.

“My symptoms are currently manageable with oxygen and strong medications – ultimately, Pulmonary Fibrosis is a progressive disease. There will come a time, however, when my symptoms cannot be controlled and will likely be the cause of my death.

“I believe so strongly that what we leave behind when we die is memories. I want my family and friends to remember who I am now, and as I move forward in this new way of living, I do my best to make happy memories with them.

“I don’t want good memories tarnished with who I could become if I’m forced to suffer at the end without choice.”

Ally Thomson, Director of Dignity in Dying Scotland, said: “Today we are honouring the lived experience of those who are watching the progress of the assisted dying Bill in the hope that, if it becomes law, they might be spared agonising fear and suffering as they consider the end of their lives.

“MSPs have a choice before them – to provide a safe, compassionate choice to dying people in their final days and weeks, or to double down on a status quo that leaves dying people in an impossible position – choosing between suffering against their wishes, scraping the money together to travel abroad for an assisted death, or taking matters into their own hands at home. 

“This Bill was first introduced in 2021, and since then it has received public consultation, expert advice and robust parliamentary scrutiny, throughout which it has enjoyed overwhelming public support. Dying Scots felt such hope when MSPs decisively supported it at its Stage 1 vote last May.

“They are now asking that MSPs act for them now and deliver this historic reform for dying people later this month.” 

Opinium conducted MRP analysis of Scottish Parliament boundaries based on a sample of 5,000 adults aged 18 and over in Scotland. Fieldwork was conducted between 30 January and 19 February 2026.

The sample was designed to be politically and nationally representative of the adult population. Results were weighted to reflect the demographic profile of Scotland’s adult population. Multilevel Regression and Post-stratification (MRP) was used to estimate public opinion at the constituency level. 

Full data available: https://www.opinium.com/resource-center/dignity-in-dying-scotland-mrp/

Dobbies Edinburgh launches Spring Garden Savings Weekend

Dobbies Edinburgh store is welcoming the new season with its Spring Garden Savings Weekend, running from Thursday 5 to Monday 9 March, inviting local gardeners to kick-start spring with fresh inspiration and great savings across plants, gardening tools and more.

As the first signs of spring begin to appear across Edinburgh, the Green Team at Dobbies is marking the change in season with five days of offers designed to help gardeners refresh their outdoor spaces.

Customers visiting the store will be able to explore more than 415 own-brand gardening products, alongside new-season plants and new outdoor living ranges as spring gets underway. From colourful primroses and pansies for instant colour, to houseplants that will liven up your interiors, there’s plenty to help you embrace spring vibrancy both indoors and out.

Special offers during the Spring Garden Savings Weekend include:

  • Buy an orchid and pick up a 13cm pot (cream, pink or green) for just £4
  • Spend £15 on bulbs and get a dahlia beds and borders jumbo pack half price (usually £10)
  • 20% off all magnolias and hebes
  • Erysimum 2L – 2 for £15
  • Cottage garden plants (1L) – 3 for £12
  • Carry pack primrose (6x9cm) – 3 for £15
  • 1L primrose – 4 for £10
  • Primrose hanging pot – 2 for £15
  • Half price 3L pansy and viola – now £3.99
  • Yardforce 1500W scarifier – save £30, now £89.99
  • Yardforce 1500W power washer – save £20, now £39.99
  • Miracle-Gro all purpose peat free compost 40L – 2 for £10

Nigel Lawton, Dobbies Plant Buyer, said: “Spring is one of the most exciting times of the year for gardeners, and our Spring Garden Savings Weekend is all about helping our local communities to make the most of the season ahead.

“We’ve got fantastic offers across plants, bulbs, gardening tools and essentials, plus plenty of new arrivals in-store to inspire customers.”

In addition to garden savings, Dobbies Edinburgh store will also be unveiling its new spring summer menu in the restaurant, offering customers the chance to enjoy seasonal dishes and sweet treats as part of their trip.

The Spring Garden Savings Weekend runs from Thursday 5 to Monday 9 March at Dobbies Edinburgh store. For more information, visit www.dobbies.com.

Children with vision impairment will share the joy of World Book Day

THURSDAY 5th MARCH 2026

Children with vision impairment will be able to take part in this year’s World Book Day with books provided in audio and braille editions by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

Lara Marshall, RNIB’s Library Services Manager, said: “For children with vision impairment reading opens up a world of imagination and information that’s vital in enriching their lives and developing their education.

“RNIB’s Library ensures children with vision impairment always have access to books in accessible formats such as braille and audio so they can delve into the stories they love and hear and feel them come to life.

“What better way to celebrate World Book Day than to recognise literature in all its forms – and the life-changing impact accessible formats can have for children – enabling them to access stories on a par with their sighted peers.”

The 2026 World Book Day books are available in braille and audio with help from RNIB. Call 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk.

Children with vision impairment have also been invited to a very special event in partnership with the British Library, World Book Day, Penguin Random House, The Roald Dahl Foundation and VICTA – a charity which supports children with vision impairments –  set to take place at the British Library on March 15.

Author Sibéal Pounder, one of this year’s World Book Day writers will be leading three sessions for children with vision impairment based on her Willy Wonka book, Chaos at the Chocolate Factory. Other events will follow later in the year.

To access books throughout the year, readers of every age with a vision impairment or sight loss will find more than 52,000 books in accessible formats including audio and braille from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

Visit the RNIB Library for audio or braille books at www.rniblibrary.com and RNIB Reading Services for digital downloads at readingservices.rnib.org.uk

Students and Education Professionals can also access education resources in accessible formats through RNIB Bookshare: www.rnibbookshare.org

For more information on reading with vision impairment, take a look at www.rnib.org.uk/reading and Children’s Reading | RNIB Education and Learning | RNIB

Increase in number of NHS operations performed in Scotland

‘Our plan is delivering’ – Health Secretary welcomes new figures

New figures show the number of operations carried out in the 12 months to January 2026 increased by 6.1% compared to the same period the year before.

New statistics from Public Health Scotland show a total of 276,118 operations were performed during the last 12 months, while 756 operations were carried out per day; an increase from 713 for year ending January 2025.

This comes on the back of new waiting times statistics which show waits of over a year have decreased for 8 consecutive months – with new outpatient waits of more than 52 weeks more than halving since July 2025 and waits of over a year reducing by almost 30% for inpatient/day-case procedures in the same period.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “These new figures show that our plan is delivering for Scotland – I am pleased to see sustained and continued improvement in the number of operations carried out, despite on-going pressures and the adverse weather seen over Winter which has impacted activity.

“I thank all NHS staff for their continued hard work – they are driving this progress and these figures are further evidence that our NHS is turning a corner.

“We are seeing waits of over a year come down month after month and we are delivering thousands more operations, procedures and appointments compared to last year – we are determined to build on this momentum.”

Scotland needs to stop centralising care and start trusting councils

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 welcomes £921 million additional funding for Scotland in Spring  Statement 

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.”

Irish expert urges Scottish leaders to make online health their top priority

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. 

UK sends warship and drone-busting helicopters to Eastern Mediterranean

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.”

Scotland meets CAMHS waiting times commitment

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.”

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Child, Adolescent, and Psychological Therapies Data March 2026

Man charged following disturbance in Calder Gardens

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.”