Local MP calls for North Edinburgh tram to remain a  priority 

Tracy Gilbert MP has written to councillors ahead of the City of Edinburgh Council  Transport and Environment Committee considering the city’s future tram network,  warning Councillors that any moves to scrap tram proposals to Granton would entrench  inequality and poverty in North Edinburgh. 

Tomorrow (Thursday 10 September), Councillors on the Transport and Environment Committee  will consider the Strategic Business Case for the Trams to Granton, the BioQuarter and  beyond. The officer recommendations are to prioritise the southern section of the  proposed tram extension. 

Tracy Gilbert is concerned that communities in North Edinburgh, including some of the  poorest areas of the city, could once again be left waiting for investment in public  transport. 

In her letter to councillors on the Transport and Environment Committee, she sets out  the case for North Edinburgh to remain firmly within the city’s transport priorities and  that a failure to progress trams to Granton could entrench inequality and poverty. 

Tracy Gilbert MP said: “In part of my constituency the economic and social benefits of the trams are realised  every day. That lived experience and the Strategic Business Case being considered by  the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee this week makes the strong case  for investment in both the South and North to spread these benefits further. 

“Trams to Granton would directly serve three of the 5% most deprived communities in  Scotland and six of the 10% most deprived. We are talking about communities that  already face significant inequalities, where access to reliable, affordable public  transport can open opportunities for training education and employment. 

“That is why I have written to councillors ahead of this week’s committee meeting. I am  very clear that a failure to realise the ambition of the trams that has been shared by a  number of political parties over the last three decades will entrench inequality and  poverty in Granton, Pilton and Muirhouse. 

“I hope that Councillors will make the ambitious decision this week. Either way I will  continue making the case for the strategic investment needed in Granton, Muirhouse  and Pilton because our communities deserve better.”

Ms Gilbert’s letter reads:

Since July 2024, I have had the privilege of representing Edinburgh North and Leith. In one part of the  constituency the benefits of the trams to local people and businesses are being realised every day, in  another part of the constituency the potential benefits of the tram are well known but need political  support to become a reality.  

Success of Trams to Newhaven 

In and around Leith, Leith Walk and Newhaven local people and businesses have enjoyed the benefits  of the tram since the extension to Newhaven was opened in June 2023. The recent closure of the line  between the City Centre and Newhaven has perversely demonstrated the importance of the trams for  connectivity and trade. 

Over the tram closure I received a number of e-mails from residents on the increased difficulty they  had in travelling to work and into the city centre generally. Most residents experienced severe delays  on buses running through Newhaven, Ferry Road, the Shore, Easter Road and Leith Walk. In addition to  delays, many buses were full before going up to the City Centre or leaving the City Centre before going  along Leith Walk. 

Similarly, although the deployment of an additional 200 Voi Bikes was welcome in the wake of the fire  there was a tram to bike shift from constituents travelling to and from work which meant many Voi  Bike stops were empty across Leith during the day. 

In terms of the economic impact there was a visible decrease in the number of people visiting cafes,  pubs and restaurants around the Shore and Leith Walk. I am aware that at least one pub and one  restaurant have decided to close following the impact of poor summer sales for a second year in a row  following Leith Connections project delays and now the impact of the trams. 

Argonaut Books have shared data on their Instagram page which shows that in every August since  2022 their sales from July to August have increased. In August 2025, they had a 30% increase in sales  compared to July 2025. However, the impact of the tram closure meant in August 2026 they saw a 5%  decrease in sales compared to July 2026.  

Over the last two months I have repeatedly heard from businesses and residents on the positive  impact the trams have had on them. Many of those businesses and residents were sceptical in the  past. This lived experience of the trams over the last few years for communities in Leith, Leith Walk,  Newhaven and the Shore demonstrate the opportunity of following through on the vision that was  developed through the early 2000s for trams in Edinburgh for the other side of my constituency in  Edinburgh North and Leith 

The Case for Trams to Granton 

The Strategic Business Case for consideration by the Transport and Environment Committee makes the  case for progressing the whole of the route. Due to my constituency interest, I will focus on the route  to Granton. 

The proposed routes through Roseburn and Orchard Brae meet the Transport Planning Objectives  (TPOs) set in accordance with Strategic Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG). 

TPO1 – To support inclusive and sustainable economic growth 

The route between the City Centre and Granton would increase connectivity of major centres of  employment such as Craigleith Retail Park, Leonardos and the Western General to the City Centre and  beyond. In reverse the increased connectivity would open up employment opportunities for residents  in Granton, Muirhouse and Pilton. 

A number of major employers in Edinburgh have informed me of the difficulty they have in recruiting  people in this area due to the lack of direct public transport connections especially to accommodate  shift work. 

TPO2 – To respond to climate change, delivering net zero 

The route between the City Centre and Granton would increase public transport connectivity between  Granton, Muirhouse and Pilton and the West of the city. At present only one bus route serves these  communities and the West to the Airport.  

The tram extension would help provide the option for residents to use public transport rather than  private cars for intra-city and airport journeys. The option would be extended to new residents in the  community through the Granton Waterfront Development. 

TPO3 – To promote equality and inclusion and help tackle the city’s housing emergency  The route between the City Centre and Granton would drastically increase connectivity between the  rest of the city and Edinburgh College (Granton Campus). The Campus delivers over 70 qualifications in  hospitality, construction, travel operations and the arts with many of the qualifications essential for  key growth areas for the city and not delivered at alternative campuses. 

The route to Granton would directly service three communities in the 5% most deprived areas of  Scotland according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) (Muirhouse – SO1008929 and  SO1008930 and Granton South and Wardieburn – SO1008919) and directly service 6 communities in  the 10% most deprived areas (adding Muirhouse SO1008933, Granton and Royston Mains – SO1008921 and Granton South and Wardieburn – SO1008918). 

Furthermore, the route would directly serve 12 communities which are in the 20% most deprived  communities in Scotland.

TPO4 – To improve health, wellbeing and safety and TPO5 – To protect and enhance our environment The route between the City Centre and Granton would improve connectivity for the whole city to the  Western General which provides a range of medical specialisms including geriatric, infectious diseases,  diabetes, stroke medicine and breast surgery for the whole of Edinburgh and is the regional cancer  centre for the whole of the South East of Scotland. 

The route could also see a major upgrade to the Roseburn Path which at present is poorly lit and  unsafe during the dark. 

In addition, there is considerable development planned across the area. The Granton Waterfront  Development which will deliver 3,500 new homes and the Art Works which will help open up Scotland’s National Collection. Ensuring that the trams are extended to Granton will help the public  transport network to cope with the increase in demand from these developments alone. A number of  these public and private investments have been made on the understanding over the last two decades  that the tram network would extend to Granton in one form or another. 

Current Position 

Despite widespread political support for the trams at various points over the last three decades, it is  clear that political will for the route to Granton is falling. I also suspect that there will be calls at the  Transport and Environment Committee to only proceed with the South route for trams to the  Bioquarter.  

Taking such a decision would entrench the inequality and poverty experienced by too many in  Granton, Muirhouse and Pilton. Such a decision would be based on political will, not the facts. The  Strategic Business Case sets out the performance of both the North route to Granton and the South  route to the Bioquarter against the TPOs and the STAG criteria. The appraisals were favourable for  both routes and is demonstrated by the analysis below. 

Table 1: Analysis of Multi-Criteria Assessment Framework Scoring Framework for each route (Section  4.5.6 of Strategic Business Case) 

Benefit/ Impact Roseburn Orchard Brae South East  Corridor
Major Benefit (+++) 2 0 2
Moderate Benefit (++) 9 6 10
Minor Benefit (+) 2 4 2
No benefit or impact (0) 1 6 1
Minor cost or negative impact (-) 1 2 3
Moderate cost or negative impact (–) 3 0 0
Major cost or negative impact (—) 0 0 0

Table 2: Analysis performance against STAG Criteria (Section 4.5.7 of Strategic Business Case)

Benefit/ Impact Roseburn Orchard Brae South East  Corridor
Major Benefit (+++) 3 2 3
Moderate Benefit (++) 8 7 7
Minor Benefit (+) 4 4 5
No benefit or impact (0) 5 3 3
Minor cost or negative impact (-) 1 6 5
Moderate cost or negative impact (–) 2 1 0
Major cost or negative impact (—) 0 0 0

Next Steps 

At the Transport and Environment Committee on Thursday 10th September, I encourage Elected  Members to proceed with the officer recommendations on Agenda Item 6.  

For the past three decades there has been wide spread support for the vision and ambition for trams  to run between the City Centre and Granton in one form or another. Councillors of many groups have  championed the route over the past three decades because of the transformative benefits it can have  for Granton, Pilton and Muirhouse. The legacy of those Councillors is a legacy of ambition, proceeding  

with the officer recommendations allows that ambition to take a further step in being realised. Tearing  up that ambition would entrench inequality and poverty, particularly in Granton, Muirhouse and Pilton  and would be a dereliction of responsibility by Councillors. 

I hope you will take the ambitious decision for Granton, Pilton and Muirhouse and the whole of  Edinburgh on Thursday. 

Yours sincerely, 

Tracy Gilbert MP 

Member of Parliament for Edinburgh North and Leith

Letter to Cllrs from Tracy Gilbert MPDownload

Three arrested in connection with crash on the A8 at Newbridge

Two women aged 23 and 19 years and a 32-year-old man have been arrested in connection with a crash on the A8 Glasgow Road at Newbridge near Edinburgh.

The incident happened around 9.25am on Monday, 7 September, and involved four vehicles.

The driver of one vehicle, a 58-year-old woman, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Four others were taken to hospital for treatment and released.

Sergeant Mike Thomson said: “Our thoughts remain with the family of the woman who died.

“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”

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Murrayfield Stadium incident: Do you know this man?

POLICE have released images of a man they believe can assist with their investigation into an incident that took place around 7.30pm on Saturday, 8 March 2025 at Murrayfield Stadium.

The man is described as around 6ft, of slim build, with grey hair.

At the time, he was wearing black glasses, tartan peaked cap and a long dark grey/black jacket.

Constable Ewan Mitchell said: “I would urge the man pictured, or anyone who has information relating to him, to contact police.

“Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 1254 of 10 March 2025.”

Palestine ‘Death, destruction and dehumanisation on an apalling scale’: UK government to act at last

Foreign Secretary’s oral statement to the House of Commons on Israel-Palestine

 Madame Deputy Speaker, with permission, I would like to make a statement on Israel and Palestine:

I do so as a proud British Jew, someone with the deepest gratitude to the State of Israel for giving a home to my grandmother after she lost her husband, my grandfather, and 60 other family members at the hands of the Nazis.

I remember visiting her in the 1970s in Tel Aviv and seeing the life and the sanctuary Israel had provided. Indeed, some of my most joyful childhood memories were picking oranges as a kid on the kibbutz where my cousins lived.

Madame Deputy Speaker, my personal story and that of thousands of British Jews is one of the many reasons why I say to anyone here or around the world who questions Israel’s right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people: you are wrong and we will call you out whenever you engage in this attempt at the erasure of Israel.

Madame Deputy Speaker, I know what the trauma of Hamas’s terrorist atrocity of October 7th meant and still means to people across Israel and to Jews across the world. It was a murderous act by a murderous terrorist organisation designed to massacre and instil fear across a whole population.

October 7th makes plain the grave threats that Israel faces. And it has every right to defend itself.  We should not only condemn those threats but act against those who carry them out.

Iran continues to threaten Israel and Jews across the world.

We have already designated Iran’s IRGC and we will do more today on Iran’s proxy groups. So today I can also announce we are sanctioning Lebanese Hezbollah’s financing arm, Al-Qard Al-Hassan.

Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. So we are also acting this week to report Iran to the UN Security Council for its nuclear violations, alongside our allies. And I can announce today that we are also reimposing major economic sanctions on Iran in line with the European Union and the United States.

Madame Deputy Speaker, tackling these threats is just one of the important, shared national security interests we have with Israel, on which we will continue to co-operate.

I know too that so many members of the Jewish community now live in fear in the face of rising antisemitism, including here in the UK.

Last week we commemorated the anniversary of the Heaton Park attack—Jews murdered at their place of worship simply for their religion.

An outrage that was followed by antisemitic attacks in Golders Green, including on the Hatzola ambulances.

And the everyday life of Jews in Britain is deeply affected by the climate that such hate creates.

When I went to school in the 1980s, I did so without fear.

Today we need to face the truth: that is not the case for thousands of Jewish children across the UK, children who have to go to school with security guards outside their school.

Mr Speaker, no child should have to go to school facing this. And no teacher should face antisemitism either.

Whether it happens in our schools, universities or workplaces or online or on our streets, antisemitism is a scourge and an evil.

We are rightly putting in place an additional investment of £250 million for community security. But we all have a responsibility to do more.

As part of this, I will in October host representatives of the J7, the countries with the largest Jewish populations from across the world.

We will meet in the UK to discuss the different ways we can work across borders to tackle antisemitism, including tackling online hate.

So Madame Deputy Speaker, I am proud of my Jewishness and unwavering in my support for the State of Israel.

And there is absolutely no contradiction between this and my support for the State of Palestine. Indeed quite the opposite.

The two state solution is based on an explicit belief that the only route to security for both peoples is to live side by side in peaceful co-existence with freedom, security and self-determination.

Securing the two-state solution in its fullest form is the North Star of this government’s policy, and indeed of successive British governments over decades.

And it is precisely this belief in the rights and freedoms of the Israeli and Palestinian people that leads many, including me, to a deep sense of shame about what has unfolded in Palestine under the eyes of the international community.

In Gaza, the most unimaginable trauma and suffering in the last three years – death, destruction and dehumanisation on an appalling scale.

A stain on the conscience of the world and of this country too.

And in the West Bank, the clear attempt to – in the words of Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich – and I quote – “bury the idea of a Palestinian State”.

So Madame Deputy Speaker, there is a deeply painful contrast between our professed commitment to a two state solution, and the reality on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank.

I pay tribute to my predecessors, the current Health Secretary and the Right Honourable Member for Tottenham, for their tireless efforts on this issue as well as my Right Honourable Friend the Member for Lincoln.

We should always be proud that it was a Labour government that took the historic step of recognising the State of Palestine. 

But the Prime Minister is right to say that the Labour government has not done enough in the face of what is happening.

So today marks the beginning of a new approach.

An approach that not only calls out injustice and suffering but acts.

And in taking this stance, I make a very clear distinction – which is crucial for all of us in this debate:

Our argument is not with the people of Israel, with whom the UK has unshakeable bonds. Our argument is with the conduct of its government.

And I also want to say emphatically to people in Britain and across the world:

Holding British Jews responsible for the actions of the Israeli Government is antisemitism, plain and simple.

What we seek today is to salvage the only course for peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians – the two state solution.

Let me start with the situation in the West Bank.

Madame Deputy Speaker, at the time of the Oslo peace accords in 1993, around 270,000 settlers lived in the occupied Palestinian territories. Today it is some 770,000.

More settlements have been approved under the four years of this Israeli government than in the previous twenty years. 

Let us spell out what this has meant for Palestinian communities.

Houses bulldozed. Roads and public infrastructure destroyed. Families displaced from their homes.

Community by community.

Family by family.

Person by person.

Madame Deputy Speaker, sixty-five Palestinian communities completely expelled since 2023 – a total of over 4,000 Palestinians evicted from their homes due to settler violence and state actions.

And in August, the crossing of a long-standing red line: the issuing of E1 tenders for over 1,200 homes.

I visited a community in the area covered by E1 in 2014. The Bedouin communities I met in Khan Al Ahmar had lived on that land for generations.

E1 proposals would evict them and place settlements directly between East Jerusalem and the West Bank cutting through the heart of Palestine.

Let’s be clear what this means: the creation of a set of facts on the ground to make the two state solution unviable.

And on top of official state policy, settler terrorism is rampant.

The UN reports an average of six violent settler attacks against Palestinians per day this year, the highest on record.

Take one example

In Al Mughayir, twenty miles north of Jerusalem, settlers have encircled the village and mounted a campaign of intimidation, largely under the protection of the Israeli military.

Families in the village are increasingly cut off from accessing their land, squeezed into ever smaller areas and have olive trees uprooted and livestock stolen.

In the same community, just last week, two teenagers were shot when settlers entered the village under police and military escort. Both died before reaching hospital. Madame Deputy Speaker five teenagers have now been killed from their school this year.

Ehud Olmert, the former Israeli Prime Minister, has described what is happening as – I quote – “a violent and criminal effort to ethnically cleanse territories in the West Bank’.

The former Minister of Health and retired Brigadier General from the IDF, Ephraim Sneh has said – and I quote again – “this is ethnic cleansing to put it simply”.

Ethnic cleansing is defined by the UN as ‘a purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means the civilian population of another ethnic or religious group from certain geographic areas.’

The British government agrees that there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank – perpetrated by settler terrorists.

And all too often the Israeli government has turned a blind eye to this and worse, members of it have made statements and taken actions to support the forced displacement of Palestinians.

Now Madame Deputy Speaker, I recognise the gravity of saying this but the truth is, it is the least the people who face such suffering deserve. And it should be the prelude to justice.

Now for a long time, the British government has rightly said settlements are illegal.

But we have remained silent on the question of the legality of the occupation as a whole, which in 2024 the International Court of Justice concluded was unlawful.

Today I announce that the official view of the British Government is that the occupation is unlawful.

Because of Israel’s entrenchment of its control, its intention to extend permanent sovereignty, and its expansionist agenda via illegal settlements.

Madame Deputy Speaker, our position is not just an overdue statement of reality.

The government believes the unlawfulness of the occupation should be reflected in the economic relationships we choose to have with the occupied territories.

I do not believe that the British people want us supporting the occupation by accepting products from settlements in our shops and supermarkets.

So I can announce today that we will introduce an import ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied territories.

To do so, we will introduce a new comprehensive sanctions regime working with my Right Honourable Friend the Business Secretary, with appropriate religious exemptions.

And as part of this regime, we will go further.

We will take action against specific companies and individuals who provide services such as construction, infrastructure, financing, or real estate for settlement expansion.

So to those who finance or facilitate illegal settlements, let me say this, you will face the full force of UK sanctions.

Settlements are illegal. They should not be promoted in our country.

Earlier this year, shamefully, just a few miles from here, we saw an expo advertising illegal settlement land. 

We must and we will ensure this never happens again, so we will ban the advertising in the UK of illegal settlements.

The sanctions regime will target illegal settlements and settlement expansion, not Israel.

We will continue to support important and valued trade with green line Israel precisely because we support the two state solution, including security and prosperity for Israel.

For this reason, I wholeheartedly oppose the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions or BDS campaign.

The legislation I have announced today will be in place within 6 to 9 months and we will also take more immediate steps.

Today we are sanctioning a further set of extremist settlers who have supported or incited acts of violence against Palestinian communities.

And I can also announce that we are extending the existing global human rights regime such that it will enable swifter action to deter settlement expansion, including crucially seeking to present the development of E1.

I also want to address the question of arms sales. We have already suspended over 30 arms licences used by the IDF in Gaza. That suspension remains fully in place.

We will now also refuse all licence applications for arms and other exports that materially contribute to the occupation, in effect a double lock against arms sales. This means the ban on such exports will now remain as long as the occupation persists. 

To advance the two state solution, we also need viable and effective Palestinian governance.

So I urge the Palestinian Authority to accelerate reform and I urge Israel to lift its withholding of revenues that is financially crippling the provision of essential services in the West Bank.

The set of measures I have announced represents a clear message to the government of Israel, to the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, and to the world that we will not acquiesce in the destruction of the two state solution.

I turn now to Gaza.

The horror of October 7th appalled the world and had terrible echoes of the centuries of persecution of the Jewish people.

Men, women, children and babies killed, mutilated, and tortured by Hamas terrorists. People murdered whilst seeking to protect their families. Young people massacred at a music festival. People abducted from their homes.

As the 20 point peace plan for Gaza sets out, this is one of many reasons Hamas can play no role in the future governance of Gaza, it must decommission its weapons and must dismantle its terrorist infrastructure.

Israel has the right not to live in fear of vile terrorism, and the Israeli State has the right to protect its people and defend its territory.

But Madame Deputy Speaker that cannot justify what has happened in Gaza.

Over 70,000 people have been killed, at least 20,000 of them children. 20,000 children.

The vast majority of the population is now displaced – nearly two million people – who are now penned into just one third of the territory.

Life-saving humanitarian aid and access has been routinely blocked.

Hospitals and clinics have been destroyed.

Over 60% of homes are in ruins.

Mr Speaker, international humanitarian law imposes clear rules for states fighting wars – including to ensure access to food and medical supplies, to avoid mass displacement of civilians, and to avoid the targeting of civilians.

Serious and intentional violations of this law, if proven, amount to war crimes.

What has occurred, including the actions of the IDF, have been examined in depth by a number of organisations, including the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry.

The conclusions of these reports represent increasing evidence that war crimes appear to have been committed.

And we support legal processes to determine this.

On the question of genocide, the UK has always supported full, robust and fair judicial processes to consider allegations, with final determinations made by competent courts before the British government reaches a conclusion.

This has been the case for all of the genocides since the 1948 Genocide Convention: Rwanda, Srebrenica, Cambodia, and acts against the Yazidi people.

This will remain our policy. It is right that this issue has been brought before the ICJ and I want to make it clear that we support the Court in coming to its determination.

So accountability for what has happened in Gaza matters.

But even more urgent is action to address the ongoing crisis. 

Because today in Gaza, the death and suffering continue.

Nearly a year ago, Madame Deputy Speaker, a ceasefire was declared. Yet over 1,200 Palestinians have been killed since.

And the people of Gaza are experiencing a totally avoidable humanitarian catastrophe, I am afraid, driven by decisions of the Israeli government.

Last week I talked to courageous doctors and humanitarian aid workers who have served in Gaza. It was a heartbreaking conversation.

They recounted:

Children dying waiting for medical treatment.

People forced to live next to open sewage and without shelter.

And food insecurity rampant.

I’m sure the whole House agrees, this is unconscionable.

So I pledge we will continue to do everything we can to provide all the humanitarian support possible to help the people of Gaza.

UK-supported hospitals in Gaza will enable around 800,000 medical consultations this year and essential health services for patients. 

UK expertise will deliver care to over a thousand child amputees.

And we recently welcomed another wave of students from Gaza coming to study in Britain and we will welcome more.

But in truth, unless Israel changes course, the situation will remain dire.

So we are taking further steps – both ourselves and with others. 

Our extension of the global human rights sanctions regime will enable us to target those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law, whether in Gaza or anywhere else in the world.

And we will at the UN General Assembly in New York later this month shine the clearest and harshest spotlight on what is happening and what must change.

And with Jordan, we will convene countries across the world to lead a call for action on health and humanitarian access.

We will also lend the UK’s voice to the growing global alliance of countries – led by Arab partners in the region – calling for the full implementation of the US-led 20 point plan, the rejection of extremism, and for a lasting end to the cycles of violence.

As we implement the policy measures I have announced today, we will continue to assess the government of Israel by its actions. We want to see a new approach – in both Gaza and the West Bank.

Madame Deputy Speaker, today we refuse to be bystanders to further suffering and to the destruction of the two state solution.

We call out what is unlawful.

We act on the import of goods from illegal settlements.

We ban advertising of illegal settlements

We act on services to prevent new settlement expansion.

We act on settler violence.

We support accountability for what has happened in Gaza.

And we pledge to galvanise the international community to confront the ongoing and urgent humanitarian crisis.

Above all, we say: Britain is not silent in the face of deep injustice and nor is it powerless.

And today we act in concert with others in a broad international coalition.

I can tell the House that today France and Canada are announcing, alongside Britain, that they will also ban the import of goods from illegal settlements. 

Joining the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Spain and Norway – which have either banned goods or are in the process of doing so.

With many other countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden – pledging today they will support further action.

Madame Deputy Speaker, this is what Britain can achieve leading with others.

And this is in our fundamental national interest because if there is one lesson of recent decades, it is that we will never have stability in the Middle East without a two state solution.

And it is also the case that if we fail to stand up for the values that this country has long held and fought for, we lose credibility and influence in the world.

Madame Deputy Speaker, my parents came here as Jewish refugees and found sanctuary and a country that stood up for the rule of law, freedom and self-determination.

Those are the values this government is standing up for today.

And I truly believe that the vast majority of the British people, including in our communities with ties to the region, are united in their desire to see humanitarian suffering end, and all sides commit to a durable peace process.

And just as we want Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side, so we have to live out those values in Britain.

Jews in Britain, Muslims in Britain, people of all faiths and none have a right to live without prejudice or fear.

Madame Deputy Speaker, a Britain that upholds its values at home and around the world.

A Britain that fights against oppression and suffering wherever it occurs.

A Britain that stands up for what is right.

And I commend this statement to the House.

JEREMY CORBYN: Britain must end all support for Israel’s system of apartheid, occupation and genocide.

Plans unveiled for world-class science and tech facility at Edinburgh school

New Science and Innovation Centre to be built on campus at Fettes College

Fettes College has revealed plans to build a new world-class hub for science, technology and innovation following a multi-million-pound donation.

The Science and Innovation Centre will provide students with access to best-in-class modern laboratories, collaborative learning spaces, and cutting-edge technology that will support hands-on scientific exploration and creative thinking.

Designed by award-winning Edinburgh architects Reiach and Hall, the centre will sit in the heart of the school’s city centre campus and replace the existing 1970s facility that is reaching the end of its planned lifespan.

The plans have been unveiled shortly after the opening of the school’s Allardice Centre, a specially designed and sustainable on-campus hub to cater for the physical and mental wellbeing of all students and staff.

New Head of Fettes College, Richard Girvan, joined the school in August. On the new Science and Innovation Centre, he said: “This is a hugely exciting development made possible thanks to a very generous donation.

“The new centre will be world-class and reflect our dedication to fostering a culture of creativity, inquiry and achievement in these vital fields of study. It builds on our vision for Fettes.”

Libby Heathcote, Associate Director, Reiach and Hall Architects, said: “We are thrilled to have been chosen to design the new Science and Innovation Centre at the heart of Fettes College’s stunning and historic campus. 

“Our design focuses on simplicity, adaptability, and sustainability, using a rigorously organised plan to deliver modern laboratories and generous classrooms connected by open and inviting communal spaces.”

The facility reflects the growing importance of science and innovation to Fettes College and its curriculum, catering for both GCSE/A Level and International Baccalaureate (IB) pathways, and will create a focal point for science, technology, robotics and engineering education. 

RIBA Stage 3 Design is now underway and once planning approval has been obtained, a full timescale for construction will be determined.

The institution recently celebrated a record-breaking year for A Level and IB results. The only school in Scotland to offer both IB and A Level pathways in Sixth Form, August’s results were its best ever for combined A Level and IB results.  

The combined A Level and IB results saw 22% of students achieve A*/7; 63% achieve A*-A/7-6; and 89% achieve A*-B/7-5. At GCSE level, nearly a fifth of all grades were at Grade 9 with 40% at Grades 9–8 (A*). 

Fettes is the top IB school in Scotland and a top 10 IB school within the UK.

Behind Every Business is a Person: ASSC Launches Mental Health & Wellbeing Campaign

The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) has launched Behind Every Business is a Person, a month-long campaign putting the mental health and wellbeing of the people behind Scotland’s self-catering businesses firmly in the spotlight.

Self-catering businesses do more than provide a place to stay. Behind the warm welcomes, memorable stays and contribution these businesses make to Scotland’s visitor economy and communities are people managing the everyday realities of running a small business – often alongside significant and sustained external pressures.

The latest ASSC Barometer survey provides a clear reason for starting this conversation: more than two-thirds of operators said running their business had negatively affected their mental health or wellbeing, against a backdrop of rising costs, cumulative regulation, concerns about profitability and continued uncertainty.

Running throughout September, the campaign brings together ASSC evidence and member experiences with practical advice and support from specialist groups Hospitality Health and the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH).

Hospitality Health has contributed guidance specifically relevant to self-catering operators – from setting a communications cut-off and switching off business notifications, to scheduling proper time away and talking to someone when pressure begins to build. The campaign will also signpost members and the wider sector to trusted mental health and wellbeing resources available through SAMH.

At the heart of the campaign are ASSC members themselves. Over the coming weeks, the Association will share some of the faces and voices behind Scotland’s self-catering businesses, alongside practical wellbeing advice, information about where to find support, and simple ways operators can look out for themselves and one another.

The campaign has two aims. First, the ASSC wants members and the wider self-catering community to know they are not simply statistics – that their wellbeing matters. The Association will continue to listen, build connections across its community, and work with trusted specialist organisations to help members access appropriate support.

Second, the campaign will support the ASSC’s ongoing advocacy by ensuring the human impact of the pressures facing the sector is recognised, with the Association continuing to gather evidence and use members’ experiences in its conversations with government and policymakers.

Fiona Campbell MBE, Chief Executive of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said: “Our members are at the heart of everything we do, and our evidence is telling us very clearly that the cumulative pressures facing the self-catering sector are having an impact on the people behind these businesses.

“Behind every licence, booking, regulation and statistic is a person – someone running a business, supporting their family, welcoming visitors and contributing to their local community.

“We have a responsibility both to support those people and to make sure their experiences are heard. This campaign is about saying to our members: we see you, we are listening and we have your back.

“This is not something we intend to talk about for four weeks and then move on from. We want this campaign to be the beginning of a longer-term commitment to wellbeing within our sector.”

Gordon McIntyre MBE, Founder and Chairman of Hospitality Health, said: “Running a hospitality business can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be demanding. For self-catering operators in particular, the boundaries between work and home can easily disappear, making it difficult to properly switch off.

“As another busy summer season draws to a close, this is an important opportunity to remind people that looking after their own wellbeing matters too.

“Small changes, honest conversations and knowing where to turn for support can all make a difference.

“Hospitality Health is delighted to work alongside ASSC on Behind Every Business is a Person, helping to bring practical wellbeing advice and support to the people who work so hard to look after Scotland’s visitors.”

Community Litter Pick at Saltire Square

SATURDAY 26th SEPTEMBER 10AM – 12 NOON

55°N Residents’ Association have organised a litter picking event. Saturday 26th September 2026 – 10am – midday.

Meet at Saltire Square, EH5.

Bin bags and litter pickers will be provided!

Dads, Babies and Beer: Community group to launch in Leith pub

A brand-new community group, ‘Dads, Babies, & Beers’, has launched in Edinburgh to help new fathers bond with their babies, meet like-minded Dads, and help give mums a much-needed break through a new weekly meetup.

The group’s inaugural event will take place on 16th September from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Campervan Brewery Taproom, widely regarded as Edinburgh’s most family-friendly pub. Following this launch, the group will continue to meet on a weekly basis.

The initiative was launched by Chris Batchelor, founder of communications agency Feel Good Comms and Joe Pratt, Field Sales & Customer Service Administrator at Campervan Brewery. The idea was born out of personal experience after Chris took his newborn son, Ellis, to the pub to give his wife a chance to have some time to herself. While enjoying a pint and some quality time with his son, Chris realised there were likely many other new dads in the exact same position, looking for ways to step up as partners while navigating the early days of fatherhood.

Chris, Founder of Dads, Babies, and Beers, commented: “I originally just wanted to give my wife a break and get out of the house with Ellis.

“Whilst sitting with Ellis, I realised that there aren’t many spaces or clubs specifically for dads to take their new children to, and just generally chat about what it is like to be a dad.

“This group is for guys who enjoy going out for a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic!), want to be great fathers and supportive partners, and want to get some quality one-on-one time with their kids.”

The group offers a relaxed, pressure-free environment for fathers to share the highs and lows of parenting over a local craft beer or soft drink. By hosting the event at the Campervan Brewery Taproom, attendees are guaranteed a welcoming, safe, and highly accommodating space for prams and babies.

Event Details:

  • What: Dads, Babies, & Beers – Inaugural Meetup (Meeting weekly thereafter)
  • When: 16th September 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
  • Where: Campervan Brewery Taproom, Jane Street, Leith
  • Cost: Free to attend
  • RSVP: Dads can turn up on the night for free, or confirm their attendance in advance by emailing dadsbabiesbeers@feelgoodcomms.co.uk

All fathers are welcome to come along with their babies and toddlers to grab a drink and join the community at this new weekly gathering.

For more information, visit: https://www.feelgoodcomms.com/dadsbabiesandbeers