Tag: democracy

Town Hall Rich List 2026: record 4,733 council bosses received over £100,000 last year

  • Town Hall Rich List 2026 findsthat a record 4,733 council employees received over £100,000 remuneration in 2024-25, with 1,255 receiving over £150,000 in total remuneration in 2024-25, another record. 
  • The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) provides a council-by-council breakdown of local government executive pay deals. A regional breakdown is available in this press release.
  • Click here for frequently asked questions about the Town Hall Rich List.

In the wake of the largest council tax increase since 2004, the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) launches its Town Hall Rich List 2026 (THRL), the 20th edition of the project. THRL is the only comprehensive list of its kind with a council-by-council breakdown of local government executive pay deals.

The number of council bosses receiving more than £100,000 in 2024-25 stood at 4,733, the highest level since this dataset was first published in 2007 and 827 more than last year’s edition. This is an increase of over 21 per cent on last year, as council wage bills continue to grow.

In contrast, the Yorkshire and the Humber region saw the smallest increase in the number of employees receiving over £100,000, rising by 2 per cent from 204 to 209.

The number of staff receiving over £150,000 has also hit a record high of 1,255. This is a 14.9 per cent increase from last year and almost twenty times more than in the first edition of THRL when Tony Blair was prime minister. The THRL reveals there were 320 council employees who received a higher salary than the prime minister was entitled to in 2024-25.

The highest remunerated council employee in 2024-25 was from Staffordshire council, who received around £457,500. The name and job title of this individual were not provided, nor was the breakdown of what this figure encompassed, though they were a council employee and not teaching staff.

Councils have routinely increased council tax by 4.99 per cent each year, the maximum before a local referendum is mandatory in England, often citing stretched budgets and increased demands.

Despite budget shortfalls, councils have been able to consistently find ever-increasing amounts to pay senior staff. Local councils employed more than double the number of senior managers as the NHS did the year before.

Six councils that issued Section 114 bankruptcy notices since 2020 had 124 council employees receiving over £100,000. 

Some increases in the figures are partially driven by an increase in the number of councils that have published accounts compared to the 2025 edition of this list.

In a positive move towards more transparency, the number who failed to publish accounts in time for this year fell from 15 to five.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT

Key findings:

  • In 2024-25, there were at least 4,733 council employees receiving £100,000 or more in total remuneration. This is a 21.2 per cent increase from 2023-24, representing 827 more people and compared to 2005-06, there were eight times more people in this category. Of these, 1,255 council employees had total remuneration of at least £150,000 in 2024-25, which represents a 14.9 per cent increase or 163 more people from 2023-24. Compared to 2005-06, there were almost twenty times more people in this category.
  • At least 366 local authority employees had total remuneration of at least £200,000 in 2024-25. This is a 39.7 per cent increase from 2023-24, representing 104 people. In 2005-06, there were five people in this category.
  • The prime minister had a salary entitlement of £172,153 in 2024.  320 council employees received a higher salary than this in 2024-25, as opposed to total remuneration. This is a third more than in 2023-24.
  • A total of five councils did not provide accounts for 2024-25. This is lower than previous years, with 15 not producing 2023-24 accounts in time for last year’s note, which was significantly down from 59 in 2022-23.
     
  • In 2024-25, the highest remunerated council employee was from Staffordshire council, who received £457,500. The name and job title of this individual were not provided, nor was the breakdown of what this figure encompassed.
  • The council employee with the largest compensation for loss of office payment in 2024-25 was the unnamed assistant chief executive at Cambridge council, who received £222,559 in compensation and £330,101 in total remuneration.
  • Elaine Allergretti, strategic director, children and adults at Barking and Dagenham council, received the largest bonus payment in 2024-25, at £34,161, with total remuneration of £232,923.
  • Westminster council was the local authority with the most staff receiving over £100,000 in 2024-25. The council had 92 such individuals, 19 more than 2023-24. This is a twelve-fold increase from 2005-06, when the council had seven council employees receiving over £100,000 in total remuneration.
  • Yorkshire and the Humber saw the smallest increase in the number of employees receiving over £100,000 total remuneration from 2023-24 to 2024-25, rising by two per cent from 204 to 209.
  • Six councils have issued section 114 notices since 2020, effectively declaring bankruptcy. There were 124 employees in these councils receiving over £100,000 in total remuneration in 2024-25. Of these, Claire Demmel, interim executive director of place at Thurrock council, had the largest total remuneration in 2024-25, at £283,844.
  • From 2005-06 to 2024-25, band D council tax has risen by 120 per cent in Wales, 79 per cent in England and 30 per cent in Scotland.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers are caught in a pincer movement with a record-breaking tax burden on one side and a bloated public sector feathering its nest on the other.

“Our latest Town Hall Rich List exposes a surging class of council bosses enjoying six-figure packages, even as they plead poverty, slash frontline services, and hike council tax bills far beyond inflation.

“Residents can see exactly how many local bureaucrats are receiving plush packages and judge for themselves whether they’re getting value for money.”

In Scotland:

  • Scotland had 369 council employees who received at least £100,000 in 2024-25, which is 24 more than the previous year.
  • The highest remunerated council employee was Katrina Hassell, chief officer (business and digital) of North Lanarkshire council, who received £281,680.

One week left to register to vote in Scotland

With only one week left to register to vote in the Scottish Parliament election, the Electoral Commission is urging people to register before the deadline at 11.59pm on Monday 20 April.   

Registering takes minutes and can be done online at gov.uk/register-to-vote.  Voters who are already registered will have received a poll card, which tells them where and when to vote. 

Electoral Commission research shows that young people, students and those who have recently moved are less likely to be registered to vote. Anyone previously on the register who has recently moved home or whose details have changed will need to register to vote again. 

Those who do not have a fixed address, whether due to homelessness, being a part of the Gypsy or Traveller community, or because they are, or have been, in care, can still register to vote using a declaration of local connection. 

Cahir Hughes, Acting Head of the Electoral Commission Scotland, said: “On Thursday 7 May, people across Scotland will head to the polls to have their say on the issues important to their daily lives. If you’ve recently moved, or you’re a student living away from home, it’s especially important to check you’re registered and you can do that quickly and easily at gov.uk/register-to-vote.

“If you do not have a fixed address to register to vote at, you can still take part by registering through a declaration of local connection. 

For this election, eligibility for care experienced young people has been extended up to the age of 21, from 16, so we’d encourage those who need to make use of this option to do so. 

“Importantly, voter ID is not required for the Scottish Parliament election. If you’re to vote, all you need to do on the day is turn up and have your say.”

TONIGHT: Debate Night Leaders Special

SUNDAY 12 APRIL at 7pm on BBC ONE SCOTLAND

Debate Night is back with a Leaders Special TONIGHT – Sunday 12th April

Watch #bbcdn live at 7pm, on BBC One Scotland and iPlayer

Get involved and have your say: http://bbc.co.uk/send/u39873202

TOGETHER: Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights launches Holyrood election manifesto

GIRLGUIDING are delighted to have been included in Together – Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights Manifesto 2026. They’ve brought together manifestos from across the sector to highlight how the next Scottish government can ensure children’s rights are upheld.

Our manifesto asks have been featured including:

💙Prevent and eliminate violence against young women and girls, with long-term funding for specialist women’s and youth organisations.

💙Ensure safe and inclusive learning environments for girls.

Take a look at Together’s full manifesto, urging the next Scottish Government to ensure children’s rights are at the heart of the next Government 👇

https://www.togetherscotland.org.uk/…/childrens-rights…

You can also read our full manifesto on our website 👇

https://www.girlguidingscotland.org.uk/…/girls…/…

childrens-rights-manifesto-2026Download

Holyrood candidates confirmed

The full list of candidates standing for election to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh’s six constituencies alongside those contesting the seven seats from the Edinburgh and Lothians East Region has now been finalised.

Nominations closed at 4pm yesterday. The candidates for each constituency at that deadline are listed below and on rhe city council’s website:

Edinburgh Central:

  • BONNIE PRINCE, Bob – Independent
  • CREIGHTON, Chris – Independent
  • DALGLEISH, James William – Scottish Labour Party
  • DUNDAS, Charles – Scottish Liberal Democrats
  • LAIRD, Tam – Scottish Libertarian Party
  • MOWAT, Jo – Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
  • MURRAY, Craig John – Alliance to Liberate Scotland
  • NEILL, Gary – Reform UK
  • POWNALL, Robert Neil – Independent
  • ROBERTSON, Angus – Scottish National Party (SNP)
  • SLATER, Lorna – Scottish Green Party

Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith:

  • LEES, David – Reform UK
  • MACPHERSON, Ben – Scottish National Party (SNP)
  • NEVENS, Kate – Scottish Green Party
  • OWEN, Liss – Scottish Liberal Democrats
  • THOMAS, Oliver Philip – Scottish Labour Party
  • YOUNG, Haris – Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Edinburgh North Western:

  • AHMED, Irshad – Scottish Labour Party
  • CAIRNS, Rachel – Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
  • COLE-HAMILTON, Alex – Scottish Liberal Democrats
  • HENRY, David – Scottish Workers Party of Britain
  • JARDINE, Lyn Ann – Scottish National Party (SNP)
  • THOMSON, Davie – Reform UK

Edinburgh Northern:

  • COWDY, Christopher – Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
  • DIJKSTRA-DOWNIE, Sanne – Scottish Liberal Democrats
  • HYSLOP, Euan – Scottish National Party (SNP)
  • KINROSS-O’NEILL, Kayleigh Ferguson – Scottish Green Party
  • MCLAUGHLIN, Andrew – Reform UK
  • MERON, Abu – Scottish Workers Party of Britain
  • RYAN-SAHA, Eleanor – Scottish Labour Party

Edinburgh South Western:

  • KUMAR, Simita – Scottish National Party (SNP)
  • MUNRO, Catriona – Scottish Labour Party
  • ROSE, Cameron – Reform UK
  • WEBBER, Sue – Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
  • WILLIAMSON, Andy – Scottish Liberal Democrats

Edinburgh Southern:

  • ALLISTON PICKARD, Jane Patricia – Scottish Liberal Democrats
  • BROCK, Deidre Leanne – Scottish National Party (SNP)
  • JOHNSON, Daniel Guy – Scottish Labour Party
  • MUNRO, Marie-Clair – Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
  • TURNER, Charles – Reform UK
  • WILKINSON, Marc – Edinburgh & East Lothian People

Edinburgh and Lothians East (Region):

ADVANCE UK

  • MOFFAT, Sean

ALLIANCE TO LIBERATE SCOTLAND

  • MURRAY, Craig John
  • SMITH, Joe
  • KERR, Hugh
  • DALY, James
  • CARO, Anna

ANIMAL WELFARE PARTY

  • SCOTT, Mark
  • WILLISCROFT-FERRIS, Lee Christopher
  • MOIR, Vivienne Margaret
  • SMITH, Jane Catherine

COMMUNIST PARTY OF BRITAIN

  • CULLEN, Chris

EDINBURGH & EAST LOTHIAN PEOPLE

  • WILKINSON, Marc
  • SISSON, David Henry Alan

EQUALITY PARTY

  • RENTON, David
  • MACKINTOSH, Laura
  • DYKES-JOHNSON, Caitlin

INDEPENDENCE FOR SCOTLAND PARTY

  • HANNAH, John

INDEPENDENT GREEN VOICE

  • BURNS, Megan

REFORM UK

  • ROSS, Angela
  • CHIDAMBARAM, Pal
  • DOUGLAS, Nigel
  • LEES, David
  • TURNER, Charles
  • MCLAUGHLIN, Andrew
  • NEILL, Gary
  • THOMSON, David
  • ROSE, Cameron

SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE AND UNIONIST PARTY

  • BRIGGS, Miles
  • WEBBER, Sue
  • MUNRO, Marie-Clair
  • COWDY, Christopher
  • MOWAT, Jo
  • JONES, Tim
  • CAIRNS, Rachel
  • YOUNG, Haris

SCOTTISH FAMILY PARTY

  • HOLDEN, Philip
  • DEEPNARAIN, Niel
  • LUCAS, Mairi
  • MACEACHEN, Helen
  • COX, Peter James

SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY

  • SLATER, Lorna Jane
  • NEVENS, Kate
  • MANIVANNAN, Q
  • KINROSS-O’NEILL, Kayleigh Ferguson
  • BOOTH, Chas
  • AL-KHATEB, Adam
  • PHILLIPS, Jo
  • WADHWA, Mridul Machindra
  • HEAP, Dan
  • KVASSNES, Astri JS
  • STANIFORTH, Alex
  • CEBULSKI, Mariusz Artur

SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY

  • AHMED, Irshad
  • SANGSTER, Katherine
  • JOHNSON, Daniel
  • MUNRO, Catriona
  • WHITFIELD, Martin
  • STOTT, Caitlin
  • DALGLEISH, James
  • RYAN-SAHA, Eleanor
  • THOMAS, Oliver

SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

  • DIJKSTRA-DOWNIE, Sanne Carlien
  • ALLISTON PICKARD, Jane Particia
  • DUNDAS, Charles Christopher
  • YOUNIE, Lewis James
  • BUTLER, Jenny Claire Marr
  • OWEN, Alissa Jayne
  • GRANT, Alan

SCOTTISH LIBERTARIAN PARTY

  • LAIRD, Tam
  • SMITH, Gary Finlayson

SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY (SNP)

  • SHEPPARD, Tommy
  • BROCK, Deidre
  • KUMAR, Simita
  • ROBERTSON, Angus
  • MCLENNAN, Paul Stewart
  • BEATTIE, Colin
  • JARDINE, Lyn

SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY

  • FOX, Colin
  • REID, Natalie
  • MAXWELL, Ally

SCOTTISH WORKERS PARTY OF BRITAIN

  • HENRY, David
  • MERON, Abu

INDEPENDENT

  • BONNIE PRINCE, Bob
  • BALFOUR, Jeremy Ross
  • DAVIES, Morgwn Carter
  • REGAN, Ash

Paul Lawrence, the Constituency Returning Officer and Regional Returning Officer, said: “Today marks a significant step closer to the Capital going to the polls, crucially we now know who our residents will have the opportunity to vote for on 7 May.

“We want everyone to be able to exercise their democratic rights come polling day. I encourage everyone to make the appropriate arrangements as soon as possible – whether that’s registering to vote or applying for a postal or proxy vote if that is your preference. 

“I want to thank our colleagues who are working hard to ensure this election runs smoothly and efficiently for the people of Edinburgh and the broader region.”

People aged 16 and over can vote in this election. The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday 20 April, to apply for a postal vote it’s 5pm on Tuesday 21 April, and for a proxy vote it’s 5pm on Tuesday 28 April.

Detailed advice on registering to vote, the use of postal and proxy votes and other guidance is available on the Council’s website.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday May 7. You can find your polling place on our website. The count will take place on Friday May 8. 

Poll predicts breakthrough for new Alliance to Liberate Scotland Party

‘Sensational’ Opinion Poll Predicts Alliance to Liberate Scotland Party Breakthrough in May – Tommy Sheridan and Craig Murray set for election to the Scottish Parliament?

Find Out Now is a reputable opinion polling organisation belonging to the British Opinion Polling Council. They were commissioned by former MEP Hugh Kerr to add three specific questions to their monthly poll of Scottish opinion regarding the forthcoming election of May 7th – and the results are outstanding for the new Alliance to Liberate Scotland Party which was only officially registered with the Electoral Commission in February.

Find Out Now specifically asked voters in the Glasgow Region, the Lothians East Region and across Scotland if they would consider voting for the Scottish independence party at May’s election. Around 500 voters were polled in Glasgow and Lothians East and 1,000 voters were polled nationally.

In Glasgow former MSP and well-known independence campaigner Tommy Sheridan is the lead candidate for the Alliance to Liberate Scotland Party.

In the critical ‘Definitely’ of ‘Very Likely’ category 7% of voters said they would vote for the Alliance Party and Sheridan which would mean Sheridan’s re-election to Holyrood. In past elections 5% of the regional list vote has been enough to be elected and last time in 2021 the 7th list seat in Glasgow was won by the Tories on 6.1%. This opinion poll predicts Sheridan will replace a Tory to represent the Glasgow Region.

The poll across Lothians East where former British Ambassador and outspoken champion of Scottish independence Craig Murray is leading the Alliance to Liberate Scotland election challenge the result is even better.

A ‘very encouraging’ 8% of voters say they are definite or very likely Alliance voters, and that level of support will see Craig Murray elected in place of another Tory.

At a national level the level of support is also extremely encouraging for the new Alliance Party. Across 1,000 voters polled a significant8% say they will vote for the single-issue party on May 7th.

The Alliance to Liberate Scotland Party are promoting only one issue and that issue is Scottish independence. If the support for the Alliance stays as high as 8% or increases the new party will send 8 MSPs to the Scottish Parliament on a mission to pursue Scottish independence as the priority issue.

In most of the regional list seats around 6% of the list votes is enough to secure election and win one of the seven regional seats. With the Alliance to Liberate Scotland Party running at 8% it seems an electoral breakthrough is certain.

Alliance for Liberate Scotland has four candidates in Glasgow, Tommy Sheridan, Dhruva Kumar, Gail Sheridan and Hilda McMahon.

Lead Alliance candidate in Glasgow Tommy Sheridan said: “This opinion poll is sensational for the Alliance to Liberate Scotland Party. We were only registered in February and are not yet widely known but our determination to make Scottish independence the primary issue is clearly attracting votes from those sick and tired of Westminster corruption and the constant exploitation of Scotland.

“Independence supporters in Glasgow know list votes for SNP don’t count for them because they win the constituency seats. This poll shows I will take a list seat from a unionist Tory. That is good news for Glasgow and Scotland.

“I will demand our independence from Westminster is front and centre of the agenda after May’s election”.

Responding to the polling which suggests he is in line for election to the Scottish Parliament Craig Murray said: “More and more independence voters realise the utter folly of giving Regional List votes to the SNP. They simply don’t count because the voting system penalises parties that do well in constituency votes. The SNP will win most constituencies which is why they win no List seats.

“By giving their List votes to the Alliance to Liberate Scotland Party the independence community is blocking unionists from Labour and the Tories and racists like Reform from getting elected. They understand a List vote for the Alliance helps the independence cause”.

The Alliance to Liberate Scotland Party is standing in all eight of the regional list seats with over 32 candidates. They are also fielding candidates in several constituency seats in protest at the lack of progress by the SNP in advancing the cause of Scottish independence.

Former council leader convicted of sexual offences

A man has been convicted of sexual offences while he was working as a politician. Jordan Linden, 30, was convicted of ten offences following a trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court of crimes which included sexual assault, stalking, and sexual communication.

The victims were all boys or young men, and the offences took place between 2011 and 2021. The age of the youngest victim was 14.

One of the offences saw Linden sexually assault two victims at a house party in Dundee after a Pride march in 2019.

Linden, who was former leader of North Lanarkshire Council and earlier chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, was arrested and charged by specialist officers from Police Scotland in February 2024.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Diane Barr said: “This was a protracted investigation which involved speaking with a broad range of people, many of whom regarded Linden as being in a position of trust.

“He abused this position to befriend young males who were seeking his support and the opportunity to learn from his work, however his conduct toward them was far from professional.

“I’d like to thank the victims who came forward to report their experiences to police. Their testimony and support ensured that we were able to bring Linden before the courts.

“No-one should be subjected to sexual offending, and we will always investigate reports, regardless of when they occurred or who the perpetrator is.”

Linden was placed on the sex offenders register and is due to be sentenced in May.

Monday’s Holyrood Hustings event at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre is FULLY BOOKED

🎉SOLD OUT🎉

👋 Hi Drylaw, Telford and Edinburgh Northern Constituents,

Thank you to everyone that has shown an interest, and to those of you who have your tickets booked, we look forward to welcoming you to our event on Monday evening!

If you have a ticket booked, but can no longer attend, please cancel your ticket, contact us at hustings@drylawtelfordcc.org.uk or message the FB page as we do have a waiting list of people that would also like to attend.

For those that have received a waiting list spot, we will contact you if a ticket becomes available.

ALL those in attendance, must have a valid ticket due to fire regulations.

Thank you for all your support.

Have a great weekend!

Young journalist from Portobello aims to tackle election misinformation

A new youth-led broadcast project is set to tackle misinformation and disinformation during the upcoming Scottish Elections, giving young people across the country a platform to investigate claims and engage voters with fact-checked reporting.

Launched yesterday (25 March 2026) Future Proof is an innovative initiative led by the Scottish Youth Film Foundation (SYFF). Six young journalists from across Scotland have been recruited to report on election campaigns through the lens of misinformation, disinformation and AI-generated content.

One of the six journalists is Rory Kirkpatrick from Portobello. Rory said: “As misinformation seems to get more and more prevalent, bringing attention to the truth only becomes more important.

“I believe we all must adapt to the ways that the spread of misinformation is changing in the age of social media.

“I’m joining SYFF’s Future Proof newsroom with the aim of helping people stay informed so that they can make decisions based off facts.”

Also joining Rory will be Emilie from Fort William, Robert from Kiltarlity, Rachel and Santi from Glasgow, and Tom from Kirkcaldy. Together, they offer a broad and diverse perspective on the issues affecting young people across the country.

Starting from 8 April, the team will produce four weekly live shows on YouTube, broadcasting every Tuesday at 6pm until 29 April. Each programme will investigate misleading claims, fabricated facts and AI generated content circulating during the campaign, while highlighting the issues that matter most to young voters.

Following each broadcast, the team will host a companion interactive webinar, allowing young people across Scotland to question the journalists directly and engage with expert guests on the key topics shaping the election.

The sessions aim to support engagement among young and first-time voters, while also providing relevant discussion material for teachers and pupils in schools.

David Barras, co-founder of the Scottish Youth Film Foundation, said:
“It’s fantastic that Rory is supporting this really important project. Future Proof puts young people at the heart of one of the most important conversations in modern democracy – how we recognise truth in an age of misinformation.

“By giving young journalists the tools to investigate claims and question narratives, we’re helping ensure that the next generation of voters is informed, confident and ready to engage.

“The project was inspired by a discussion on media literacy and disinformation at the Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics in summer 2025. Building on that conversation, Future Proof invites young people to articulate the issues that go beyond party political priorities and bring their perspectives to the centre of election debate.”

The post-show webinars are being delivered with support from Scotland’s Development Education Centres, working collectively on media literacy as part of global citizenship education under the umbrella of Scotland’s International Development Alliance (SIDA).

The project is being advised by Huw Owen, a former BBC Scotland News Editor who is also the Co-Chair of the Education Committee of SIDA.

Huw Owen said: “The impact of malicious and careless communication via digital and social media is now having a profound effect on all our lives. Supercharged by AI fakes, it is fuelling polarisation and fear within and between many of our communities here in Scotland and beyond. It is a clear threat to civilised debate and long shared democratic values.

“Across the globe, the distortion or misinterpretation of facts about conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and now Iran, or the undermining of well-established research on the climate crisis, must be combated with up-to-date guidance and support to help us turn the tide towards truth, honesty and decency in our politics.

“As a global citizenship community across Scotland and beyond, we firmly believe this effort must start in our schools and other places of learning. We need to reaffirm universal values of fairness and tolerance along with up-to-date tools and techniques to actively combat disinformation. 

“This must be an overarching priority for whichever government is elected at Holyrood. It’s not too late to future proof our democracy.” 

The initiative also brings together a range of national partners supporting young people’s participation in democratic debate.

Global fact-checking organisation Full Fact will provide training to the young journalists. The organisation has warned about the growing threat of AI-driven misinformation during election campaigns and continues to call for stronger responses to protect democratic processes.

Mark Frankel from Full Fact says: “These elections are taking place against a backdrop of an unprecedented distortion of facts. The public feels ill-equipped to deal with the manipulation of information they see before them and the threat of AI as they see it.

“Things are emerging online which are being pushed to them and they don’t know whether to believe it. It’s clear that this is undermining trust in our politicians, trust in the political system and the future of our democracies.”

Additional partners include Young Scot and the Scottish Youth Parliament, whose report “Young People and Politics” has informed the project and whose networks will help bring young voices into the conversation through guest speakers and participation opportunities.

The John Smith Centre will also contribute guest speakers and provide access to a youth hustings event taking place at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh on 26 April.

Future Proof will stream live on YouTube at 6pm on 8, 15, 22 and 29 April. Each broadcast will be followed by an interactive webinar open to schools, youth organisations and young people across Scotland.

Foysol Choudhury reflects on Parliamentary term

As his term as a Member of the Scottish Parliament comes to a close, Foysol Choudhury reflects on five years of representing the people of the Lothians, highlighting key achievements and defining issues during his time in office. 

Since being elected in 2021, Foysol Choudhury has worked to address the most pressing concerns facing constituents, including NHS waiting times and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. He has concluded thousands of constituency cases, the majority of which relate to health, housing, and civil law and rights. 

Many of these cases involve highly complex issues that Mr. Choudhury has supported his constituents with over several years. 

Healthcare has remained a central focus of his work. Choudhury consistently advocated for improved access to GP services, reduced waiting times, and increased funding for diabetes treatment and brain tumour research. His work in this area contributed to progress in diabetes care and earned recognition through a Holyrood Awards nomination. 

In 2025, he led the Parliament’s first Members’ Business debate on access to medical devices, placing patient experience at the forefront of policy discussions and pushing for improved access to essential treatments. 

Beyond healthcare, Mr Choudhury supported communities on a wide range of local issues. He campaigned against unsafe housing conditions such as damp and mould, helped residents in Westfield Court pause demolition plans, and worked with communities in Eyre Place Lane to challenge over-scaled developments. 

His work also covered infrastructure and local services, where he applied sustained pressure to progress projects such as the Winchburgh train station, supported South Queensferry residents seeking improved access to new housing via Ferrymuir Gait Road, and advocated for the revitalisation of Drylaw Shopping Centre. 

He further pressed for faster progress on a new East Calder Health Centre and challenged cuts to health, social care, and community funding, warning of their impact on vulnerable communities. 

As the first Bangladeshi Member of the Scottish Parliament, Foysol Choudhury worked to bring issues of racism and inequality to parliamentary debate. He called for stronger action to tackle racism, greater clarity on resources for schools, and supported efforts to promote a more inclusive curriculum reflecting Scotland’s diversity. 

Foysol Choudhury also played a key role in advancing a petition on swimming provision, backing his constituent’s campaign and calling for a consistent national approach to ensure all children can swim by the end of primary school, emphasising it as a vital, life-saving skill. 

Reflecting on his time in office, Foysol Choudhury said:“It has been a true privilege to represent the people of the Lothians. I am deeply grateful to everyone who placed their trust in me, shared their stories, and allowed me to champion their causes.

“This work would not have been possible without the dedication, care, and tireless efforts of so many: my team, colleagues, organisations, and communities driving change. My sincere thanks to you all.“