Change for the better happens when people stand together and demand it. Scotland Demands Better is the march and rally for all of us.
On Saturday 25 October thousands will come together in Edinburgh to demand that politicians make the changes we need for a society where every household can thrive and prosper.
We’re holding a series of public meetings across the country, and we’ve just got dates for the first three – in Glasgow on 4 Sep, Edinburgh on 9 Sep, and Dundee on 11 Sep. We’ll be sharing further details on the Scotland Demands Better website in the coming days.
On the updated Scotland Demands Better website, you can also download our new toolkit, with lots of inspiration and ideas about how you can get involved and mobilise people in your communites. You can also order a Promo Pack, with posters, leaflets, badges, and stickers.
On Thursday 14 August at 1pm and then again at 7pm we’re hosting free online events where activists can join to talk about how the campaign is going so far, and how we can best organise transport to get people to Edinburgh on the day.
Changes were introduced in 2022 to improve flexibility and choice in how disabled people are supported to vote at polling stations. The changes mean councils are now required to provide equipment in polling stations to help people vote independently and in secret, and to allow anyone who is over the age of 18 to act as a companion to assist a disabled voter.
The Commission’s role is to provide guidance for electoral administrators on how to provide this support at polling stations.
The Commission has looked at how the changes have worked to date and engaged with a range of organisations representing disabled people. Ahead of elections in May 2026, it has reviewed and updated its guidance, and is now seeking feedback on these changes through a consultation, which opens today and runs until 26 October.
Jackie Killeen, Director of Electoral Administration and Regulation, said:“Everyone should be able to vote in secret and without barriers. The Commission’s guidance is intended to support electoral staff in making accessibility arrangements at polling stations that can have a real and positive impact for disabled voters.
“To ensure we are getting the right feedback and information, we will be listening to the advice of the electoral community, electoral administrators, and civil society, charity and third-sector organisations representing disabled people.
“We are keen to hear from voters, so if you have views on the accessibility guidance, please share them with us.”
More information about the consultation and how to respond is available on the Commission website, including in easy read and BSL formats.
The Commission expects to publish its updated guidance ahead of the Scottish Parliament and Senedd elections and English local elections taking place in May 2006
Liberal Democrat Kein Joseph McKay have won the Fountainbridge /Craiglockhart by-election – but fewer than ONE in THREE people chose to cast their vote..
The result declaration was made in the early hours of this morning (Friday 27 June) by Returning Officer for Edinburgh, Paul Lawrence.
Returning Officer for Edinburgh Paul Lawrence, said: “Thanks to everyone who took part in this by-election. I would like to welcome Kevin as a new councillor, and I look forward to working with him. Kevin will now have a key role in representing his constituents on matters affecting the ward and the wider city.
“My thanks also go to our elections team and other council colleagues who have been working hard to deliver this by-election smoothly and securely.”
The current electorate is 18,945. The turnout for the by-election was 33.1% (6,264).
The by-election was initiated by the sudden death of Labour councillor Val Walker in April. Labour actually came first in the first preference vote, beating the Lib-Dem candidate by just 14 votes, but lost out in subsequent rounds of the transferable vote PR system.
Labour continues to lead the city council, however, despite now having just ten of the city’s 62 councillors.
Holyrood committee seeks views on proposals aimed at protecting future generations
A proposed new law that aims to ensure public bodies consider the long-term impact of their decisions on sustainable development and the wellbeing of future generations is the subject of a new call for views from a Scottish Parliament committee.
The Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill, introduced earlier this year by Sarah Boyack MSP, would place a legal duty on public bodies to promote sustainable development and wellbeing in the work they undertake. It also proposes the creation of a Future Generations Commissioner to support and oversee this work.
The Social Justice and Social Security Committee has launched its call for views to inform its Stage 1 scrutiny of the Bill during which it will also take account of the findings of a recent parliamentary committee report that recommended against the creation of more commissioners.
Sarah Boyack MSP has set out her hopes that the Bill will encourage more joined-up thinking across public services. She also believes that her proposals will help Scotland tackle long-term challenges such as climate change, inequality, and environmental degradation.
The Bill also sets out definitions of “sustainable development” and “wellbeing” and aims to embed these principles into public decision-making in Scotland.
The Committee’s call for views will be open until Sunday 24 August 2025, with the Committee due to start taking formal evidence in the Autumn.
Collette Stevenson MSP, Convener of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, said: “This Bill could have a significant impact on how decisions are made across Scotland’s public sector.
“We’re keen to hear what the public sector and local authorities make of the proposals, and we’d also like to hear from professionals, academics, children and young people, as well as anyone else with an interest in wellbeing and sustainable development.
“By sharing your views with us, you’ll help us explore how the proposals could work in practice and what the changes could mean for Scotland’s future generations.”
Changes to the law which would give children a greater say in decisions around being withdrawn from religious instruction or observance in schools will be considered by a Scottish Parliament Committee, which has today launched a call for views on the proposals.
The Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill would require schools to inform pupils if their parent has requested that they be withdrawn from religious education or observance.
It would also give pupils the opportunity to express their views and object to the withdrawal. Under the proposals, where a pupil objects, and is considered capable of forming a view, the school would be required to follow the pupil’s wishes.
In addition, the Bill, which was brought forward by the Scottish Government, seeks to clarify how public authorities should act when duties under the UNCRC conflict with other legal obligations.
The Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee wants to hear the views of children and young people, parents and carers, teachers, local authorities, human rights organisations and any stakeholders with an interest in the proposals.
Karen Adam MSP, Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, said: “This proposed change to the law would give children and young people more say in whether they want to take part in religious education or observance at school.
“It also aims to update how public bodies, like councils and schools, make sure they are respecting children’s rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“We want to hear what people across Scotland think about these changes. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, pupil, or just interested in children’s rights, we want to understand how these proposals might work in practice and what impact they could have.”
Your local councillors could be in line for a national award at the 2025 Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) and CCLA Cllr Awards – the only national ceremony that celebrates the outstanding contributions of councillors across England, Wales, and Scotland.
For the 16th year, the Cllr Awards will once again shine a light on the achievements of local elected representatives who have made a tangible impact in their communities.
Nominations can be made by anyone – whether you’re a member of the public, a fellow councillor, or a council officer – who wishes to acknowledge a councillor’s exceptional commitment to improving their community and achieving remarkable results over the past year. But the deadline for all nominations closes at midnight on Wednesday 11 June next week.
Submitting a nomination is free and takes just eight minutes. Applicants must provide details about the nominated councillor, outlining why they deserve recognition and how their initiatives have positively impacted the community.
The 2025 Cllr Awards has five categories: Community Champion, Leader of the Year, Young Councillor of the Year, Innovator of the Year and Lifetime Legend. The shortlisted candidates will be announced in the autumn.
Winners will be revealed at the Cllr Awards ceremonies taking place at Glasgow City Chambers hosted by Glasgow City Council, on the evening of Wednesday 5th November at 7pm and at the Guildhall, London hosted by the City of London Corporation, on Tuesday 18th November 2025 at 7pm. All shortlisted councillors will be invited to attend.
Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, LGIU,said: “LGIU is delighted to once again present the annual Cllr Awards, a celebration of the outstanding commitment and creativity shown by our locally elected officials.
“Councillors play a crucial role in the wellbeing of our communities — from improving public spaces to championing local initiatives — and their efforts touch our everyday lives in countless ways.
“Though much of their work happens quietly behind the scenes and without fanfare, their contributions are vital. That’s why the Cllr Awards are so important — they shine a spotlight on the dedication and impact of those who often go unrecognised and we’re excited and humbled to see the inspiring nominations that are already coming in.
“These awards would not be possible without the continued support of our founding partners, CCLA.”
Using Artificial Intelligence in legislatures was the focus of a meeting of Speakers from the British Overseas Territories.
At a conference hosted in London by Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons – the representatives heard that AI could have multiple applications in Parliaments.
However, Speakers from Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands (BVI), Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena, and the UK, also conceded that using AI did not come without its risks.
Hon Tara K Carter, Speaker of Anguilla’s House of Assembly, who led the debate on Artificial Intelligence, joked that her island was the ‘birthplace of AI’ as it had been assigned ‘.ai’ internet address in the 1990s.
While there was ‘a lot of fear and resistance’ to the use of AI in parliamentary proceedings among smaller islands, she said, as a lawyer, AI had reduced her legal drafting and analysis – from three hours to half an hour.
‘If we are AI based, there’s no reason why I can’t have the transcript coming up in real time,’ she added.
Hansard – the Official Record of the UK Parliament – has been experimenting with auto speech recognition.
Judge Karen Ramagge, Speaker of the Gibraltar Parliament, expressed concerns about ‘the reliability of what is being produced. ‘What holds us back in constitutional practice is the fear and responsibility to produce accurate transcripts,’ she said.
Hon Corine N. George-Massicote, Speaker of BVI’s House of Assembly, added her fears about the use of ‘deepfakes’ on social media, where the voice and image of parliamentarians has been manipulated.
‘If you see something on Facebook, it seems very real – the face of a Member; the voice is very close. How do you hold the person responsible or accountable for this?’ she said.
In their communique at the close of the four-day conference, the Speakers agreed to focus on the challenge of transcribing chamber proceedings over the next year, and to share resources, solutions and virtual training ‘to use AI for good’.
During the gathering, COTSC also discussed the role of Speakers during election times, and keeping Parliaments secure and resilient in the face of natural and humanmade disasters.
The candidates standing in the upcoming Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart by-election have been confirmed.
13 candidates have been nominated to stand in the by-election, which will elect one new councillor, on Thursday 26 June 2025.
The candidates standing for election are:
Bonnie Prince Bob, Independent
Derrick Emms, Independent
Lukasz Furmaniak, Scottish Libertarian Party
Mark Hooley, Scottish Conservative and Unionist
Richard Crewe Lucas, Scottish Family Party
Q Manivannan, Scottish Greens
Kevin Joseph McKay, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Catriona Munro, Scottish Labour Party
Gary Neill, Reform UK
Mark Rowbotham, Independent
Murray Visentin, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Steve Christopher West, Independent
Marc Wilkinson, Independent
Returning Officer for the City of Edinburgh, Paul Lawrence said: “With nominations now closed and just over a month remaining until polling day, residents of the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart ward can start thinking about who they will vote for in the upcoming by-election.
“Councillors play an important role in our democratic system, making crucial decisions that impact our city.
“I’d encourage as many residents as possible to take part in this by-election. Please make sure you register to vote before the deadline and make your voice heard.”
The election will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, where voters rank candidates in order of preference by assigning numbers rather than just marking a single cross. You can choose to vote for as many or as few candidates as you wish.
Poll cards will be delivered to registered voters in the area from Friday 23 May, including further information on when and where to vote.
If you live in the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart ward you must register to vote by midnight on Tuesday June 10. For new postal vote applications, the deadline is 5pm on Wednesday June 11 and for new proxy votes its 5pm on Wednesday June 18.
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm and will be at:
Kingsknowe Golf Club
Edinburgh Corn Exchange
St Michaels Church Hall
Fountainbridge Library
Boroughmuir Rugby & Community Sports Club
Craiglockhart Parish Church Hall
Tollcross Community Centre
The electronic election count will take place on Thursday 26 June starting at the close of poll at 10pm.
The by-election follows the sad passing of Councillor Val Walker in April 2025.
Find out more about this by-election Edinburgh and how to register to vote on the Council website.
A new report published by a Scottish Parliament committee is calling for a world-leading pilot project, which puts people at the heart of politics, to be made permanent.
The Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee wants to see the Scottish Parliament continue its cutting-edge approach to embedding deliberative democracy in its work.
It follows the success of a series of ‘People’s Panels’ which brought together groups of randomly selected people, who reflect the makeup of the Scottish population, to learn about and discuss an issue, before making recommendations about what action should happen and how things should change to tackle it.
The Committee has published a plan as to how People’s Panels could be rolled out from the start of the new parliamentary term in 2026.
Committee Convener, Jackson Carlaw, MSP, said: “The idea that the people of Scotland can and should play an important role in the work of the Scottish Parliament forms part of its founding principles.
Engaging better with communities, particularly when understanding whether laws and policies that affect them are working properly, is essential.
“We have seen how people’s panels have positively impacted the work of committees by supporting their role scrutinising Scottish Government policy and driving recommendations for change.
“By giving committees access to this innovative tool, Parliament can better connect with individuals, groups and communities from every part of Scotland, building trust between the public and politics, and involving the public directly in the important issues of the day.”
The plan sets out proposals for four people’s panels to operate in the next session of the Scottish Parliament, one a year from 2027 to 2030. It also provides clear guidance and criteria for how and when a panel can be used, what the selection process should be and how committees use and respond to their work.
Impact of People’s Panels
The most recent People’s Panels took place in 2024 – one on climate change and the other looking at reducing drug harm and deaths.
These brought together two groups of approximately 25 randomly selected citizens who broadly reflected Scotland’s demographics across gender, age, region, ethnicity, disability and educational level. Tasked by committees to answer a question, they spent two weekends learning about the given topic, hearing from and questioning subject experts, before debating, deliberating and making informed recommendations to the relevant Scottish Parliament committee involved.
The Panels’ recommendations had a direct impact on scrutinising legislation and have since influenced policy, informed debates, and been used by MSPs suggesting amendments to legislation.
Of the 19 recommendations that were made by the People’s Panel on reducing drug harm and deaths, the Scottish Government accepted, either in full or in principle, the 18 recommendations directed at them. One recommendation was for further Parliamentary scrutiny focused on drug supply in the prison sector, which is being taken forward by the Criminal Justice Committee.
The Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee’s recommendations are set to be debated by the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 3rd June.
Panel member quotes
Caroline Bunce from Renfrewshire took part in a People’s Panel set up to make recommendations to answer the question: ‘What does Scotland need to do differently to reduce drug related harms?’
She said: “For me, it felt that maybe the Government would listen to our recommendations as we were the spokespeople for the public and more help could be made available.
“I would strongly recommend anyone who is selected to go on a People’s Panel in the future to participate as it is a great experience and a unique opportunity.”
Gillian Ruane, from Dumfries, took part in a panel on Public Participation.
She said: “I was given the opportunity to participate in discussions and listen to various perspectives from a diverse group representing all of Scotland. Together, we made our recommendations as a group and its fantastic to be part of shaping decisions on public participation.
“I now know there is a difference between the Parliament and the Government. As citizens we have a lot more power than we believe we have. Parliament is held accountable by the citizens, and the government is held accountable by the parliament. It’s up to the individual to make their voice heard and make an impact.”
Former panel member, Alan Currie, from Glasgow, said: “The most valuable thing about the panel was to see my input and other citizens ideas from our deliberations with experts lead to meaningful contributions.
“It enabled all attendees, irrespective of background, an opportunity to contribute to the workings of the Parliament.”
