Analysing the Budget: Short-changed or delivering for Scotland?

The Budget committed £1 billion in extra money for Scotland, maintained the freeze on whisky and fuel duty, and saw a £150 million investment in the Tay City Region Deal. The Chancellor also committed to progress growth deals in Ayrshire, Moray and Borderlands. A good deal for Scotland, then? Aye, right! was the response from Holyrood. Continue reading Analysing the Budget: Short-changed or delivering for Scotland?

Mackay: UK budget must end austerity

Promises must be backed up by action

The UK Government must deliver on its pledge to end austerity in its budget, according to Finance Secretary Derek Mackay. Continue reading Mackay: UK budget must end austerity

Homes for Everyone: Solidarity protest with homeless people

END THE HORROR of SLUM HOMELESS HOSTELS IN EDINBURGH
Wednesday 17 January 10am – 11.30am
Abbots House 10 Links Place EH6 7EZ Continue reading Homes for Everyone: Solidarity protest with homeless people

Report sets out ‘”devastating impact” of Westminster’s welfare cuts

Low income families across Scotland will be thousands of pounds a year worse off per year because of welfare cuts imposed by the UK government, a new report has found. The Scottish Government report, ‘the Impact of UK Welfare Policy on Families with Children’, looks at what the policies implemented since 2015 will mean for families. Continue reading Report sets out ‘”devastating impact” of Westminster’s welfare cuts

People’s Assembly demands action on austerity

The People’s Assembly Scotland has written to all group leaders in Scottish councils urging them to protect local services by challenging austerity. In return it has pledged to build a major campaign to support councillors prepared to make a stand. Continue reading People’s Assembly demands action on austerity

A lost generation

An alliance of leading independent and third sector service providers has warned that Scotland faces a ‘lost generation’ of children and young people with Additional Support Needs (ASN) if cuts in public services continue, making it extremely challenging for the Scottish Government to close the educational attainment gap. Continue reading A lost generation

I, Daniel Blake: Action Against Austerity event this Saturday

Around 500 activists are planning to take the message of ‘ I, DANIEL BLAKE‘ from the cinema into our communities and will be calling on the Scottish Government to do everything in their power to eradicate the draconian elements in the UK Welfare provision. Continue reading I, Daniel Blake: Action Against Austerity event this Saturday

Sturgeon: time to end austerity

The UK Government must reverse its austerity policies and give people more grounds for hope, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will say in a speech in Sheffield today. Ms Sturgeon will challenge the UK government to address some of the underlying causes of the vote to leave the European Union. Continue reading Sturgeon: time to end austerity

I, Daniel Blake anger spills out of the cinema

Campaigners across Scotland are calling on the Scottish Government to do everything in their power to eradicate the draconian elements in the UK Welfare provision. The opportunity arises as elements of the Welfare Budget are transferred to the Scottish Parliament.

‘I Daniel Blake’ shows the impact of the UK Government’s attack on welfare provision. It depicts the disrespect and de-humanisation and the creation of a blame culture on those who find themselves relying

on welfare provision.

Following previews of the film across Edinburgh at Friday 21 st October’s opening night over 50 community campaigners pledged to take their distress and anger at the demonisation of those who need benefits to the Parliament.

Campaigners, organisations and Unions will be outside the Scottish Parliament at 1pm tomorrow (Thursday 27 October) after First Minister’s Question Time.

We will be asking all MSPs to sign a large ‘I Daniel Blake’ poster to show their support for a radical change to the welfare system in Scotland.

A meeting is being arranged for Saturday 26th November to mobilise all parts of Scotland to pressure their MSPs to maximise the opportunity that any transfer of welfare provision to the Scottish Parliament allows.

Community groups throughout the east of Scotland will be holding showings of the film when the DVD becomes available in January to continue the mobilisation.

Willie Black – Action against Austerity