Tag: campaign

Youth convicted for the murder of John McNab in Leith

A 17-year-old male youth has been convicted of the murder of John McNab that happened in Leith in September, 2025, and a further serious assault in Portobello in March, 2025.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday (Wednesday, 6 May, 2026). He will be sentenced at a later date.

John McNab, aged, 22 was found injured on Great Junction Street at the corner of Bonnington Road in the Leith area around 2.10am on Tuesday, 2 September, 2025. He died at the scene.

A 17-year-old male youth was stabbed around 8.45pm on Friday, 21 March, 2025 at The Promenade in the Portobello area. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Detective Inspector Kevin Tait, senior investigating officer, said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of John McNab at what is a very difficult time for them. And also with the victim seriously injured in the separate incident.

“An extreme level of violence was used in these incidents. This kind of behaviour is never acceptable and will not be tolerated. This conviction sends a message to anyone carrying knives that they will be apprehended and dealt with robustly.

“I would like to personally thank the officers who worked on these harrowing investigations and the public who significantly assisted my investigation team.”

Superintendent Neil Wilson said that proactive work is being carried out across Edinburgh to educate young people and tackle knife crime and violence.

“I can’t stress enough the devastating impact weapon carrying and use has on our communities and our thoughts go out to all who have been affected by this type of crime.

“Officers regularly carry out patrols in areas where knife crime is reported and we urge the public to support us and get in touch with any information or concerns that they have.

“While bringing offenders to justice is vital in keeping communities safe, education to prevent offending happening in the first place is key, along with promoting positive life choices.

“We have a number of new initiatives on violence prevention in Edinburgh involving partners and young people and details will be unveiled in the coming months. These will focus on raising awareness of the dangers of carrying weapons and the impact of violence.

“Edinburgh is a safe place to live, work and visit but we will not be complacent. We know that violence remains a concern in our communities and we’re determined to do everything we can to reduce harm and keep people safe.”

Since her son’s murder Lisa Petrie has tirelessly campaigned to address knife crime and has embarked on a mission to increase access to blood kits across the city:

My name is Lisa Petrie. On 2nd September 2025 my son, John McNab, was fatally stabbed on a street in Leith, Edinburgh. He was 22.

We were best pals, we were inseparable at times, and now it feels like I’ve lost my right arm and my left leg.

No family should ever get that phone call.

I’m determined that John’s death will not be in vain, and one simple change could help stop other families going through this.

Right now in the UK you often need ID and staff checks to buy alcohol, razors or even energy drinks. But in many supermarkets, kitchen knives sit openly on shelves, easy to steal or buy with minimal challenge.

We’re calling on major supermarkets and retailers – including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl and others – to:

  • Put all kitchen knives in locked cabinets or behind customer service counters
  • Fit security tags to knife packaging so alarms trigger if someone walks out with them
  • Only allow knives to be brought to the till by staff, with strict over-18 ID checks

We’re also asking the UK Government and Scottish Government to work with retailers and Trading Standards so secure storage and display of knives becomes the norm, building on existing laws that already restrict knife sales to under-18s.

This won’t end knife crime on its own and it won’t stop online sales. But letting lethal weapons sit unsecured on supermarket shelves is an obvious weak point we can fix now – just as we already do for alcohol and razors. It’s a basic safety measure, not a ban.

Please add your name. I will deliver this petition, and John’s story, to the CEOs of the major supermarkets, the Scottish Government and the Home Office.

The more signatures we have, the harder it is for them to ignore us. I don’t want any other family to live with the pain we do.

Please consider signing Lisa’s petition (below):

https://www.change.org/…/lock-away-knives-in…

More than fifty MPs, Celebrities and Organisations call for immediate closure Of MBR Acres

  • 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.

Hospitality Group launches campaign to STOP hospitality rates hike

A campaign to halt the planned rise in hospitality rates, organised by the Scottish Hospitality Group, aims to amplify the voice of Scotland’s family-run restaurants, bars, pubs, and hotels, by calling on the Scottish Government to halt the current non-domestic rates revaluation for hospitality properties until after the Gill Review, a government examination of how licensed premises are valued for rates purposes.

Visible on giant advertising sites throughout the Central Belt from today (25th February)  the campaign comes ahead of the Scottish Budget being rubber-stamped today. SHG says the Scottish Government can and should still act to stop the rates hikes before they come into force in April.

The initiative highlights the devastating impact of rising non-domestic rates on Scotland’s hospitality sector – effecting premises including local and long-established family-run restaurants and hotels.

The Gill Review, commissioned to examine the valuation methodology for licensed premises, seeks to ensure the system is fair. Currently, hospitality is effectively rated on turnover, a methodology SHG says is no longer fit for purpose. Until the review concludes, it is unfair for businesses – especially those with higher turnovers – to face dramatic rate hikes in April, even with new relief measures for smaller premises.

“Hospitality businesses are being taxed on turnover,” said a spokesperson for the Scottish Hospitality Group. “Revenue growth is swallowed by wages, energy, food costs, and regulatory pressures, so even successful businesses are being punished simply for growing.

“There should be a pause on the current revaluation increases until after the Gill Review. Even after the Budget is rubber-stamped, the government can still act – to protect jobs, sustain communities, and safeguard the future of Scotland’s hospitality sector.”

Many SHG members, and other hospitality businesses – including Signature Group, DRG Group, Buzzworks Eusebi Deli, Lisini Group, McGintys Group, Scoop Restaurants and Rusk & Rusk, fall outside the thresholds for existing relief schemes and face crippling cost pressures.

Established businesses that have invested heavily over decades report that development and expansion projects are being mothballed, shifting operators from growth into survival mode.

Said Susan Young, Editor of trade publication, DRAM, “The Scottish Government knows that the current methodology is flawed and has commissioned the Gill Review. Despite this, it has not halted the planned, unprecedented rates increases for hospitality businesses due to come into force in April. It is time for it to reconsider.

“The people I have spoken to across the country are disheartened and dismayed. They are cutting staff and shelving development plans.

“Having looked at the increases on the rates assessors’ websites, I have been dismayed at some of the exorbitant rises. It is time a decision was made to STOP the rates increases until the methodology is fit for purpose.”

Support for Mossmorran workers

£9 million to boost skills and job opportunities

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has set out that Scottish Government funding will be deployed to boost skills and employment opportunities for workers facing redundancy at ExxonMobil’s ethylene plant at Mossmorran.

Options being considered include apprenticeships, a college-led training programme and investing in new employment opportunities at the plant.

A taskforce led by Fife Council meets for the first time today in response to the planned closure. The Scottish Government will use the meeting to further understand the needs of the workforce and local community to inform its decisions regarding the deployment of the £9 million investment.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “This is a worrying time for the workforce at Mossmorran and they rightly expect urgent action. I met worker representatives earlier this month to assure them that we are doing all we can to support them and the wider community.  

“We have allocated £9 million over three years in our draft Budget to help staff and communities affected by the plant’s closure. Today’s meeting is an opportunity to engage with the UK Government, Fife Council, unions and local partners to agree how we best support individuals impacted by ExxonMobil’s decision.

“In the meantime, our Partnership Action for Continuing Employment initiative is providing skills and employability support for workers.”

#Education Needs Youth Work

Find out how you can get involved in YouthLink Scotland’s #EducationNeedsYouthWork campaign happening next week (1st to 5th December)

“Alongside schools, youth work improves the wellbeing, readiness to learn and educational outcomes of children and young people.”   PEF National Guidance, Scottish Government                

Next week, YouthLink Scotland’s #EducationNeedsYouthWork campaign will spotlight the role of youth work in:

  • Nurturing health and wellbeing
  • Tackling the poverty-related attainment gap
  • Enabling learner engagement – in communities and in primary school and secondary school settings
  • Supporting employability

Please join the campaign by posting examples and evidence from your local practice that demonstrate the impact that youth work can have in building skills, improving young people’s experiences and outcomes in education.

Use the #EducationNeedsYouthWork hashtag and tag YouthLink Scotland and we will share more widely across our social media channels.

Thank you!

Edinburgh TV presenter opens up on Cancer Diagnosis after noticing ‘Unusual Lump’

BE THE EARLY BIRD CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED

BBC Scotland Reporter, David Cowan, has opened up on his experience with mouth cancer after finding a lump in his neck led to his diagnosis and successful treatment.

After looking up his symptoms on the NHS website, the Edinburgh journalist booked a GP appointment, in a decision that meant his mouth cancer was detected early, giving him a 90% chance of successful treatment.

David says the treatment was tough, but by June 2018 he was given the all-clear. Seven years on, he’s living well, enjoying life with his family and their dog, and supporting Mouth Cancer Action Month to raise awareness as part of Scottish Government’s ‘Be The Early Bird’ campaign:

‘BE THE EARLY BIRD’ CASE STUDY – DAVID COWAN

David Cowan, 58, Edinburgh – “It’s far better to know whether you’ve got cancer or not, you need to not delay and get it checked out.”

In late 2017, TV reporter David Cowan, from Edinburgh, noticed a small, hard, painless lump in his neck just weeks after his 50th birthday. After checking the NHS website, he booked a GP appointment, a decision he now credits with saving his life.

“My awareness of mouth cancer was pretty much very, very superficial. I knew it existed. I knew the dentists checked when they examined you, to see if there were any warning signs there, but it never occurred to me that it would happen to me.

“I was also blissfully unaware that the human papillomavirus (HPV) is linked to mouth cancer in a significant number of cases. I knew very little about it and had no real understanding of the risks it can pose.

“A few weeks after my 50th birthday, I noticed a lump in my neck, it was about the size of a wine gum. It was hard, just underneath my jaw line, and it wasn’t sore, and it just appeared.

“I thought that’s strange. I didn’t do anything about it for a few days. I thought it would go away, then I decided to look up my symptoms on the NHS website, and the advice came up very clearly that if you’ve got a painless, hard lump in your neck that doesn’t go away, you should contact your GP practice.

“They immediately referred me to specialists.  My GP later told me she thought straight away that it could be cancer.

“I was sent to a NHS Lothian clinic in Edinburgh for tests and about a month later, another doctor felt the lump on my neck and said, ‘that’s cancer.’  

“Because it had been found early, I was told there was a 90% chance of the treatment being successful.

“The treatment process was hard, I lost two stones and was off work for five months, but of course it was worth it, because I’m still here.

“It’s not pleasant treatment if you have mouth cancer, and my consultant had warned me about that from the start.

“They explained what was going to happen, and I remember, during treatment, thinking, ‘they did warn me this would happen.’

“I had no real hesitation in getting my symptom checked out because the NHS website told me to do that, and I’m very glad I did. Thinking that you might have cancer is scary, but it’s far better to know than just sitting there in the dark and delaying getting symptoms checked out.”

“I felt like I was in the expert embrace of the NHS; my experience was extremely positive throughout the whole thing. People talk about fighting cancer, I felt the NHS fought my cancer for me, and I just went along for the ride.”

“I also had fantastic support from family, friends and work colleagues. They helped me approach the whole experience in a positive way, which the doctors told me was very important.”

“I got the all-clear in June 2018. It was a massive relief. Lots of great things have happened in the seven years since I had cancer that I might have been deprived of had I not got back to full health with the help of the NHS.”

“I now try to appreciate the smaller things in life more and just remember how fortunate I am to be here.

“Having cancer is a life-changing event, but now I’m living well and enjoying life with my family and our dog.”

David was asked to share his story and the benefits of early detection as part of the Be the Early Bird campaign and to raise awareness amidst Mouth Cancer Action Month in November.

“We do need to raise more awareness of mouth cancer. I was told my mouth cancer was relatively rare, but was becoming more common. I’m delighted to see that young boys, as well as girls, are now getting human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations in school to help prevent this happening to them.

“It doesn’t matter where the cancer is, if you get it detected early, you’ve got a better chance of successful treatment. The crucial thing about cancer is getting treated as early as you possibly can, and that means if people are worried about something, they have to seek help, no matter how scary it might be.

“I feel very lucky to be here. The message of the Be the Early Bird campaign this Mouth Cancer Action Month is, if you’re worried about something, no matter if you have reservations about going, please go and get it checked out.”

Go to getcheckedearly.org to find out more

Letters: Stop MS Appeal

Dear Editor, 

Ten years ago, the MS Society launched the Stop MS Appeal – a campaign to raise £100 million for life-changing multiple sclerosis research. 

This came at a time when I was coming to terms with my own MS diagnosis , and hearing about their ambitious goal gave me much-needed hope. Now they have just two months of the appeal to go – and £1.5 million left to raise. 

I was lucky to be able to start on a treatment that helps me manage my MS, but for thousands of people there are still no treatments that work for them. This winter people with MS across the country are writing letters to their younger selves and loved ones about the unpredictability of life with MS. And about hope for the future. These letters show how important is it that we reach the £100 million target, so I wanted to write my own. 

So far, the money raised by generous supporters has funded the world’s largest ever academic-led trial for progressive MS, and shown that repairing myelin – a potential gateway to slow, stop, or even reverse disability – can be achieved. 

I hope your readers will consider helping us write an end to MS, for everyone. 

Kadeena Cox OBE – Paralympic gold medallist and MS Society Ambassador  

National Roadshow shines a Spotlight on Edinburgh’s Small Businesses 

Campaign celebrates the people and passion driving Scotland’s local economy as part of the countdown to Small Business Saturday 

Edinburgh’s small businesses are set to take centre stage this week as the Small Business Saturday nationwide roadshow rolls into town. The month-long Tour kicks off the official countdown to Small Business Saturday on 6 December.  

Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign that celebrates small businesses and encourages consumers to support and spend with small firms. 

Arriving in Edinburgh tomorrow – Wednesday, 5 November – the Small Business Saturday roadshow team will visit and profile independent businesses across the city, shining a light on the people, passion, and innovation driving the local economy and community. 

Inspiring stories of local entrepreneurs will also be shared across social media, alongside top-tips, behind-the-scenes tours, and demonstrations, giving people across the UK the chance to follow the journey and discover the talent powering Edinburgh’s small business scene. 

Supported by BT, the roadshow is visiting over 20 locations throughout November, including Belfast, Durham and Manchester, as it travels more than 3,000 miles across the UK. 

“We are so excited to be visiting small businesses in Edinburgh and all across the UK with this year’s Tour, leading up to Small Business Saturday on 6th December” said Michelle Ovens CBE, Director of Small Business Saturday UK. 

“This year’s campaign is all about shining a light on the nation’s favourite businesses, full of creativity, resilience, and heart that make them the backbone of local communities like Edinburgh.

“We can’t wait to share their incredible stories and celebrate their impact.” 

As the roadshow travels around the UK, small business owners across Edinburgh and beyond can also take part in the campaign’s wider month-long online programme of free business support, including daily workshops, mentoring sessions, and insight events with industry experts and entrepreneurs. 

A Small Business Happy Hour on Instagram will also take place every week, featuring giveaways from local businesses all over the country. 

“Small businesses are vital to the UK economy, and giving entrepreneurs the right support and guidance is crucial to their success,” said Chris Sims, Chief Commercial Officer, UK Business, at BT.

“The Tour provides a valuable opportunity to connect directly with small businesses across the country, offering tailored guidance and practical resources to help them grow and adapt.

“It’s a powerful initiative that brings businesses together to drive innovation, strengthen local communities, and build a more resilient economy.”

Backed by principal supporter American Express, Small Business Saturday has been running for over a decade since 2013. Over this time it has engaged millions of people and seen billions of pounds spent with small businesses across the UK on Small Business Saturday, with an impact that lasts all year round. 

On Small Business Saturday, customers across the country are encouraged to go out and support all types of small businesses, whether online, in offices, or on the high street, with many small firms marking the day with special events and offers. 

The Small Business Saturday Tour team will travel across the UK in branded electric vehicles, reflecting the sustainable choices many small business owners are making as part of their vital role in the journey towards net zero. 

To follow The Tour’s journey visit @SmallBizSatUK on Instagram.

Small businesses can head to the Small Business Saturday website to access free business support and get involved in the campaign:-

 https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/the-tour

#VirtualRoadshow  

Dobbies Edinburgh to donate Christmas trees to local community

Dobbies Garden Centres is lifting community spirits this season with a Christmas tree donation at its Edinburgh store, in partnership with Needlefresh.

Dobbies Community Christmas Tree campaign will see stores across the UK giving away more than 220 Christmas trees to local schools and nurseries to help spread joy during the festivities.

Participants will need to fill out a short application form, entries close Thursday 6 November at 5pm.

https://www.dobbies.com/community-christmas-trees

Crimestoppers launches campaign in Scotland to tackle domestic violence

Crimestoppers Scotland is today (Wednesday 9 July 2025) spotlighting how the charity can empower people to speak out against domestic violence.

As part of the month-long national campaign -an initiative dedicated to tackling domestic abuse and violence against women and girls (VAWG) across Scotland – the charity is urging the public to come forward with vital information.

This campaign will specifically target males aged 18 and above, with a focus on reaching those attending sporting events across Scotland. By raising awareness and encouraging reporting, Crimestoppers aims to confront this critical issue—one that continues to devastate communities nationwide.

Domestic abuse can take many forms—physical, psychological, emotional, sexual, or financial. Often, neighbours, family, and friends may suspect abuse but hesitate to intervene due to embarrassment, split loyalties, or fear of revenge.

Crimestoppers in Scotland has shared nearly 400 anonymous reports about domestic abuse with police and partners, and 350 reports concerning rape and sexual offences from April 2024 to March 2025.

These figures highlight the urgent need for collective action.

Angela Parker, National Manager Crimestoppers Scotland, said: “Domestic abuse and violence against women and girls is a serious issue that affects far too many people in Scotland. We hope to empower more people—especially men—to speak out and play a part in ending this violence.

“If you suspect domestic abuse, don’t stay silent. Your voice could be the key to protecting someone from harm. Speak out anonymously—because everyone deserves safety and support.”

Please note: With Crimestoppers-uk.org and Fearless.org, computer IP addresses are never traced and no-one will ever know you contacted them. For telephone calls to Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111, there is no caller line display, no 1471 facility and calls have never been traced.