Tag: Ian Murray MP

Ian Murray opens new permanent home for the Fringe

THE Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society officially opened Fringe Central on Infirmary Street in the heart of the Old Town at the weekend.

The new permanent home for the Fringe Society was opened by Culture Minister Ian Murray, City of Edinburgh Council Culture & Communities Committee Convener Cllr Margaret Graham, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Tony Lankester, City of Edinburgh Council Leader, Cllr Jane Meagher and Chair of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Benny Higgins. 

Fringe Central will be an inclusive, year-round hub for the Fringe community, providing support to artists in preparing and delivering their Edinburgh Festival Fringe experience.  They will be able to access services which include guidance on developing their show, support in achieving their future career ambitions and industry engagement, and advice on how to market and promote their work.

Throughout August, Fringe Central will be open daily, providing a friendly hub for artists and industry to connect and build relationships within the Fringe community. The 2026 Fringe Central programme includes a range of networking and industry events, helping performers build relationships with industry professionals from theatre, film and television to aid onward touring opportunities. 

Practical, in-person support from the Fringe Society team will be available to participants through one-to-one advice and artists will be able to access wellbeing services from local mental health partner Health in Mind.

Throughout the project, the Fringe Society has engaged with co-tenants Canongate Youth, who support young people in Edinburgh aged between 5 and 18, as well as other local community schools and groups, such as Royal Mile Primary School, Sciennes Primary School, James Gillespie’s High School and LGBT Youth Scotland, to ensure a space for local cultural expression and development was co-designed.

The project was made possible due to support from a range of partners, including the UK Government via the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, The Foyle Foundation, SP Energy Networks Transmission Net Zero Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation, and Changing Places Toilets Scotland Fund.

The Fringe Society would also like to thank the City of Edinburgh Council for supporting this project with the signing of a 99-year building lease.

Ian Murray, Culture Minister said:  ‘It was an honour to open the Fringe Society’s official new permanent home today. It’s been a long time coming and I am so pleased that we have been able to support this project with £7 million from the government.

“I know from my experience working at the Fringe when I was young just how transformational it can be, both for aspiring artists, comedians and producers, but also for the entire creative and cultural ecosystem of the UK.

“I hope this permanent new home will enable the Fringe Society to keep Edinburgh on the map as a world cultural hub and deliver more and more for our up and coming artists, as well as their international audiences and local communities, for decades to come.’

Cllr Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said: ‘I’m so pleased that the new home for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is now officially open.  This fantastic year-round city centre hub will provide a welcoming space for everyone involved in the Fringe, while also creating valuable opportunities for local cultural organisations to connect, collaborate and thrive.

“This is an important and significant investment by the Council in the future of the Fringe and in Edinburgh’s cultural life, ensuring that the world’s greatest arts festival has a permanent home at the heart of the city it belongs to and that Canongate Youth will be returning to their familiar home too.’

Tony Lankester, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society said: ‘Opening Fringe Central today marks the realisation of nearly a decade of work for the Fringe Society, and we are incredibly proud to be opening this physical hub for performers and industry.

From today, Fringe Central is a welcome space to the Fringe community with artists able to access practical in-person support to deliver their work at the Festival Fringe. Year-round, Fringe Central will be open to Edinburgh’s residents, stakeholders, and our local arts community through support services and bookable rehearsal spaces.

“We are grateful for the support from the UK Government, the City of Edinburgh Council, and our wider funders and supporters in achieving this ambition.

“We look forward to welcoming the Fringe community into Fringe Central this August, and we encourage them to make the most of the opportunities available this month and beyond.’

Guide Dog puppy raiser Julia receives Community Hero Award

Congratulations to puppy raiser Julia Yarker, who was recently presented with a Community Hero Award by Ian Murray MP. 👏

Julia was chosen for this award for her outstanding contribution to Guide Dogs, helping to change the lives of people with a vision impairment over the last 23 years. 🦮

Guide Dogs’ Puppy Development Advisor, Lynsey Anderson Fell, said: “Julia has been an integral part of our Edinburgh puppy raising scheme for more than two decades and is now on her 22nd puppy, Kristal.

“She has lots of experience but is always willing to try new methods, as training has changed over that time. Julia also supports other puppy raisers to learn and develop, alongside the voluntary work she does in the local community.”

Speaking after receiving the award, Julia added: “I started puppy raising for Guide Dogs in 2003. Life then was quite different with no online training, but monthly classes and meetings with a supervisor.

“Through volunteering with Guide Dogs, I found a group of great people all puppy raising and I’ve made many friends over the years. I have had lots of wonderful pups and lots of great memories of some great characters!”

Thank you to Ian Murray MP for recognising this life-changing contribution, and of course, to Julia herself for 23 fantastic years of giving people with sight loss freedom and independence. 💛

Become a puppy raiser with Guide Dogs Scotland here:

www.guidedogs.org.uk/puppyraising

Scottish Government confirms extension of support from Investing in Communities Fund following letter from Ian Murray MP

Following reports that the Scottish Government’s proposed spending plans will cut funding to community organisations doing vital work across Edinburgh, Ian Murray, the MP for Edinburgh South, wrote to the Shona Robinson, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, at the end of January to urge her to reverse the decision.

A reply from Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, confirmed that the Scottish Government have now agreed to transitional funding of up to a year for affected groups (as reported by NEN last week– Ed.).

Ian Murray, MP for Edinburgh South, said: “While this transitional funding is welcome, it’s not enough – all it really does is delay the financial cliff edge facing local organisations who are supporting some of our most vulnerable communities.

“The financial pressures Kate Forbes mentions in her reply are completely of the SNP’s own making – a result of their mismanagement of the public finances over the last 19 years.

“The UK Labour government has provided the Scottish Government with an additional £10.3 billion in resources since coming to power. Where has the money gone?

“I am in touch with those affected by this locally and will continue to do all I can to support them.”

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New cyber action plan to tackle threats and strengthen public services

New measures will be introduced to make online public services more secure and resilient

  • £210 million plan to strengthen cyber resilience across government
  • Government Cyber Unit to coordinate risk management and incident response across departments
  • Leading firms with strong track record of cyber security to drive best practice through new Software Security Ambassador Scheme

New measures will be introduced to make online public services more secure and resilient, so people can use them with confidence – whether applying for benefits, paying taxes or accessing healthcare. 

Backed by over £210 million, the Government Cyber Action Plan published today (Tuesday 6 January) sets out how government will rise to meet the growing range of online threats. Driven by a new Government Cyber Unit, the plan will rapidly improve cyber defences and digital resilience across government departments and the wider public sector, so people can trust that their data and services are protected.  

It underpins UK Government plans to digitise public services. This will make more services accessible online, reduce time spent on phone queues and paperwork, and enable citizens to access support without repeating information across multiple departments. This approach could unlock up to £45 billion (note) in productivity savings by using technology effectively across the public sector. 

However, realising these benefits depends on trust. As services move online, they must be secure and resilient. Cyber attacks can take vital public services offline in minutes, disrupting lives and undermining confidence. The new plan addresses this challenge head-on. 

Released as the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill has its Second Reading in the House of Commons, the Bill sets out clear expectations for firms providing services to government to boost their cyber resilience.

From energy and water suppliers to healthcare and data centres, strong defences throughout supply chains will help keep the water running and the lights burning – facing down the cyber attackers who want to grind our country to a halt.   

The plan will lead to: 

  • clearer visibility of risks: shining a light on cyber and digital resilience risks across government, so we can focus efforts where it matters most
  • stronger central action on the toughest challenges: taking decisive, joined-up action across departments on severe and complex risks that no single organisation can solve alone with a dedicated team overseeing coordination
  • faster response to threats and incidents: reacting quickly to fast-moving cyber threats and vulnerabilities to minimise harm and speed up recovery by requiring departments to have robust incident response arrangements in place
  • higher resilience across government: boosting resilience at scale, with targeted measures to close major gaps and protect critical services

Digital Government Minister Ian Murray said: “Cyber-attacks can take vital public services offline in minutes – disrupting our digital services and our very way of life.  

“This plan sets a new bar to bolster the defences of our public sector, putting cyber-criminals on warning that we are going further and faster to protect the UK’s businesses and public services alike. 

“This is how we keep people safe, services running, and build a government the public can trust in the digital age.”

Today’s plan is also bolstered by further steps to take the UK’s cyber defences further and faster. 

A new Software Security Ambassador Scheme will now help drive adoption of the Software Security Code of Practice – a voluntary project designed to reduce software supply chain attacks and disruption. 

Software underpins the economy as a core component of all technologies that businesses rely on. Yet weaknesses in software can cause severe disruption to supply chains and the essential services the public use every day with more than half (59%) (note) of organisations experiencing software supply chain attacks in the past year. 

These issues can be addressed by embedding basic software security practices across the software market. Among others, Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, Sage, Santander and NCC Group will come on board as the scheme’s ambassadors, championing the Code across sectors, showcasing practical implementation, and providing feedback to inform future policy improvements. 

Cyber risk to the public sector remains high. The plan responds with £210 million to spark a step change in public sector cyber defences, holding organisations to account for fixing vulnerabilities. This includes setting clear minimum standards and investing in more hands-on support to minimise the impact when incidents do occur.

Cyber resilience is central to the government’s mission of national renewal. Secure, reliable digital public services help protect citizens, support growth, and deliver better value for taxpayers, while maintaining trust in the services communities rely on every day.

Thomas Harvey, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Santander UK said: “We are pleased to be an ambassador for the UK government’s Software Security Code of Practice and it reflects our broader commitment to collective resilience. 

“By advocating for these standards we’re not just protecting Santander and our customers, we are helping to build a more secure digital economy for everyone.”

Theatre in Schools Scotland welcomes local MP to performance at James Gillespie’s Primary School

Theatre in Schools Scotland (TiSS), National Theatre of Scotland and Imaginate’s schools touring project, was delighted to welcome Ian Murray, MP for Edinburgh South, to its final school performance of 2025, at James Gillespie’s Primary School in Edinburgh.

TiSS was at James Gillepsie’s Primary School with three performances of A Home for Hamish, by Just Us, presented by Scottish Theatre Producers.

Created and performed by Deaf Dance Artist, Clare Adam and Autistic Dance Artist, Lesley Howard (Just Us), A Home for Hamish is a colourful, immersive, interactive adventure playfully merging dance and British Sign Language and is made for younger audiences. 

Across a two day visit to James Gillespie’s Primary School over 170 pupils from Nursery through to P3 enjoyed the performances in the school hall.

Following the final performance Ian Murray MP was joined by performers Clare Adam and Lesley Howard, representatives from National Theatre of Scotland, Imaginate and Scottish Theatre Producers along with pupils from the school to fly paper aeroplanes in the school hall.

Ian Murray MP for Edinburgh South said: “It was delightful to see the young people completely captivated by, and participating in, the performance.

“The performers were utterly superb. The impact of the school’s programme was encapsulated in the questions from their audience at the end.

“The interest in British Sign Language, the challenge of the story, and the “can we play more with you” were all testament to the power of the show. Well done to all involved.”

Ben Horsburgh, Head Teacher, James Gillespie’s Primary School said: “We were delighted to welcome Theatre in Schools Scotland to James Gillespie’s Primary School. A Home for Hamish was a truly memorable experience for our younger learners.

“It brought theatre right into the heart of the school and gave the children a chance to engage with themes of belonging and community in a fun, imaginative way.

“Opportunities like this enrich our curriculum and inspire our young people to see themselves as part of Scotland’s vibrant cultural story.”

Belinda McElhinney, Chief Executive, Imaginate said: “It was lovely to watch the children fully absorbed into the world of Hamish. The performers beautifully integrated British Sign Language into the work and kept the children focused on their every move. 

“The excited response from the children encapsulates for me the importance of bringing performance into schools as a key step to ensuring every child accesses their right to culture.”

Liam Sinclair, Executive Director and Joint CEO, National Theatre of Scotland, said: “It was a delightful experience watching the inspiring A Home for Hamish at James Gillespie’s Primary School, Edinburgh and being part of such an engaged and enthused audience. We appreciated Ian Murray MP attending and sharing this occasion with us.

“TiSS is a vital project for National Theatre of Scotland, enabling children across Scotland to benefit from the joy and enrichment that live performance can bring, and we are looking forward to celebrating the Theatre in Schools Scotland 10th year anniversary in 2026”

The performances at James Gillespie’s Primary School concluded a busy autumn term for the Theatre in Schools Scotland project which tours inspiring, live theatre and dance performances to primary schools across Scotland. A Home for Hamish toured to schools from Shetland to Slamannan and will be back on the road with TiSS in March 2026.

Next year will mark ten years of touring world class theatre and dance directly into schools across the country. To celebrate a decade of creativity every Theatre in Schools Scotland performance will be free of charge for participating schools from August 2026 to June 2027, as part of a special TiSS at 10 anniversary programme. Visit the Theatre in Schools Scotland website for more info.

Ian Murray hails South Edinburgh supermarkets’ firework sales ban

Edinburgh South MP Ian Murray has written to all the supermarkets in South Edinburgh – and they’ve agreed to stop selling fireworks for this bonfire night following last year’s disorder. 

Ian Murray explained: “Last year, many got in touch with me after the shocking scenes of fireworks disorder in our community.

“Homes and businesses were attacked, people were left frightened in their own neighbourhoods, and our emergency services were put in danger. This is why I welcome the decision by supermarkets to refrain from selling fireworks this year.

“I’m pleased that following my letter to local supermarkets, all the major stores in Edinburgh South have confirmed they will not be selling fireworks this year.

“This is a big step that will help reduce local availability and make Halloween and Bonfire Night safer for everyone, and builds on wider work across the city by Dr Scott Arthur MP in reducing firework availability.

“This is on top of new Firework Control Zones in Gilmerton and Moredun, dispersal orders to tackle anti-social behaviour, and extra police resources. The Council will also be clearing away wood and materials that could be used for illegal bonfires.

“There’s still more to do, and I’ll keep pressing the Scottish Government to give our police the resources they need. But this is real progress.

“If you have any concerns in the coming weeks, please get in touch.”

Immediate action needed to secure future of Edinburgh South Community Football Club, warns Ian Murray MP

Ian Murray, MP for Edinburgh South, has called on the City of Edinburgh Council in a formal open letter today to take urgent steps to secure the future of Edinburgh South Community Football Club (ESCFC), one of Scotland’s biggest and most successful community clubs.

ESCFC, has over 1,000 players across 75 teams and more than 200 volunteers, collectively contributing over 40,000 hours of unpaid time, is facing severe challenges due to a shortage of pitches and lack of long-term security over its facilities. Every week, 5–10 children are being turned away, while six full teams, around 120 young people, risk having nowhere to train from September.

Despite more than seven years of talks with the Council, the club still does not have the land security or access to facilities it needs. Edinburgh Leisure has not responded since March regarding long-term Astro pitch availability, and without action the club has missed out on major investment opportunities, such as the £8.6m Scottish FA Pitching In fund.

The club’s impact stretches far beyond football, with initiatives including:

  • Free after school club and holiday camps (averaging 600 free places weekly across the year)
  • Free mental health counselling and physiotherapy
  • Racism and disability awareness training
  • Free use of club facilities for local schools
  • Fee waivers and discounts for families in need
  • Completely free Soccer School every Saturday for up to 120 children aged 5-8

ESCFC is a Platinum-level accredited club, the highest recognition awarded by the SFA, and has been nominated for National Community Club of the Year.

Ian Murray MP said: ““Edinburgh South CFC is a shining example of everything that is good about grassroots football. The scale of the club’s impact from free school holiday places to counselling, mentoring, and a boot exchange programme is extraordinary.

“But that success is now under threat. It is simply unsustainable for children to be turned away week after week because of a lack of facilities and security, and miss out on repeated funding rounds.

“This has gone on far too long. The Council must now step up, work with the club, and deliver the long-term security and pitches it desperately needs.”

Joe Sneddon, Chair of Edinburgh South CFC, said: “Our ethos has always been simple: if you want to play, you play. Thanks to our incredible volunteers we’ve been able to make that a reality for decades, but the lack of facilities and long-term backing is now putting that at risk. We don’t want to turn children away, yet that’s exactly what is happening. 

“The Council cannot allow a club of this standing, delivering this scale of community benefit, to be held back by lack of facilities and short-term agreements. The time for warm words is over, we need action to allow us to continue delivering for our communities.”

Ian Murray has written formally to the Council setting out a series of practical steps, including a new Astroturf pitch at Inch Park, guaranteed access to the new Liberton High School Astro, and long-term leases at key facilities across South Edinburgh.

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New government role for Ian Murray

Ian Murray MP has accepted a new role following his dismissal from the post of Scottish Secretary on Thursday.

The Edinburgh South MP has been appointed Minister of State jointly in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s cabinet reshuffle following the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Minister Angela Rayner is now complete.

The new cabinet including junior ministerial appointments is:

  • Rt Hon David Lammy MP as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. He will also be Deputy Prime Minister
  • Rt Hon Darren Jones MP as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. He will remain Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister
  • Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
  • Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP as Secretary of State for the Home Department
  • Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
  • Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
  • Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP as Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade
  • Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP as Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
  • Emma Reynolds MP as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
  • Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP as Secretary of State for Scotland
  • Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip). He is a member of Cabinet
  • Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP as Lord President of the Council, and Leader of the House of Commons. He will attend Cabinet

Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP and Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP have left the Government.

  • Jason Stockwood as Minister of State (Minister for Investment) jointly in the Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury
  • Dan Jarvis MP as Minister of State in the Cabinet Office. He will remain Minister of State for the Home Department
  • Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern as Minister of State (Minister for Skills) in the Department for Work and Pensions. She will remain Minister of State (Minister for Skills and Minister for Women and Equalities) in the Department for Education
  • Lord Vallance KCB as Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. He will remain Minister of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
  • Michael Shanks MP as Minister of State jointly in the Department for Business and Trade and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
  • Alison McGovern MP as Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
  • Dame Angela Eagle DBE MP as Minister of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
  • Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP as Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions
  • Sarah Jones MP as Minister of State for the Home Department

His Majesty has also been pleased to signify His intention of conferring a Peerage of the United Kingdom for Life on Jason Stockwood.

Baroness Gustafsson CBE, Jim McMahon MP, and Daniel Zeichner MP have left the Government.

  • Anna Turley MP as Minister of State in the Cabinet Office (Minister without Portfolio). She will attend Cabinet
  • Alex Norris MP as Minister of State in the Home Department
  • Sir Chris Bryant MP as Minister of State in the Department for Business and Trade
  • Luke Pollard MP as Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence
  • Georgia Gould MP as Minister of State in the Department for Education
  • Rt Hon Ellie Reeves MP as Solicitor General
  • Lucy Rigby MP as Parliamentary Secretary (Economic Secretary to the Treasury) in HM Treasury

Maria Eagle MP and Catherine McKinnell MP have left the Government.

  • Rt Hon Ian Murray MP as Minister of State jointly in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
  • Chris Ward MP as Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office
  • Seema Malhotra MP as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. She will remain as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities) in the Department for Education
  • Mike Tapp MP as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Home Department
  • Louise Jones MP as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence
  • Baroness Levitt KC as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice
  • Miatta Fahnbulleh MP as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
  • Samantha Dixon MP as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
  • Dr Zubir Ahmed MP as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Health and Social Care

Abena Oppong-Asare MP, Catherine West MP,  Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, and Lord Khan of Burnley have left the Government.

Boost for Scottish shipbuilding as Norway selects UK warships

£10 billion boost expected to support 103 Scottish businesses including 54 small and medium enterprises

  • Major partnership with Norway set to secure 2,000 jobs in Scotland until the late 2030s with a further 2,000 roles sustained across the wider UK supply chain. 
  • Deal will see a combined fleet of 13 Anti-Submarine Warfare frigates – eight British and at least five Norwegian – operate jointly in Northern Europe, significantly strengthening NATO’s northern flank 

BILLIONS of pounds will be pumped into the Scottish economy following Norway’s decision to select Glasgow-built warships for their Armed Forces – securing thousands of jobs in Scotland for years to come. 

The UK will supply Norway with Type 26 frigates in a historic deal worth £10 billion announced today, cementing Scotland’s position as a world leader in naval shipbuilding, and on the government’s Plan for Change. 

The deal supports 2,000 jobs at BAE Systems’ shipyards in Glasgow and a further 2,000 roles across the UK maritime supply chain until the late 2030s. The agreement is expected to support 103 Scottish businesses which includes 54 small and medium enterprises 

Norway’s selection of the UK’s world leading Type 26 frigates builds on decades of close cooperation between NATO allies and strengthens both nations’ strategic partnership and maritime security in the face of increasing Russian threats in northern Europe. Both Australia and Canada have also bought a licence to build their own ships based on the Type 26 design for their Navies. 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “This £10 billion deal is what our Plan for Change is about – creating jobs, driving growth and protecting national security for working people. 

“This government has forged new partnerships across the world to deliver for people at home and the export of our world leading Type 26 frigates to Norway will do exactly that, supporting well-paid jobs up and down the United Kingdom, from apprentices to engineers. 

“This success is testament to the thousands of people across the country who are not just delivering this next generation capabilities for our Armed Forces but also national security for the UK, our Norwegian partners and NATO for years to come.”

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “Norway’s decision to choose Scottish-built frigates demonstrates the tremendous success of our shipbuilding industry and showcases the world-class skills and expertise of our workforce on the Clyde.  

“This contract is another ‘defence dividend’ for Scotland and supports thousands of jobs and reinforces Scotland’s vital contribution to both UK prosperity and international security. The deal demonstrates that when we back Scottish industry, it delivers for communities, workers, and our allies.” 

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said: “For over 75 years, Britain and Norway have stood together on NATO’s northern and north-eastern frontiers, keeping the UK and Europe safe. This historic defence deal deepens our strategic partnership.   

“With Norway, we will train, operate, deter, and – if necessary – fight together. Our navies will work as one, leading the way in NATO, with this deal putting more world-class warships in the North Atlantic to hunt Russian submarines, protect our critical infrastructure, and keep both our nations secure.  

“This deal confirms Scotland’s place as a world leader in shipbuilding. It will support 2,000 high-skilled jobs in Scotland for the next 15 years and beyond, driving forward this Government’s Plan for Change and making defence an engine for growth.” 

The frigates are designed for anti-submarine warfare – strengthening the strategic partnership and maritime security of both nations in the face of increasing Russian threats in northern Europe. 

The decision comes ahead of a new UK-Norway defence agreement that will bolster Euro-Atlantic security while bringing the two defence industries closer together to boost jobs, growth, and innovation.

Swinney pays tribute to Scottish recipients of The Elizabeth Emblem

First Minister marks lives given in public service

First Minister John Swinney has paid tribute to the eight Scottish recipients of The Elizabeth Emblem.

The emblem is awarded posthumously to family members of those who died in public service. It is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, which recognises members of the UK Armed Forces who died in action or a terrorist attack.

The First Minister said: “I warmly welcome the awarding of The Elizabeth Emblem to these individuals and their families.

“This recognition enables us to remember their sacrifice and their lives dedicated to public service. They made Scotland a better place for us all and we continue to honour their memory.”

The Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray said: “I pay tribute to all of those Scots who have been recognised today. Every one of these brave public servants gave their life to protect others. They are people who stepped forward when most of us would step back, and they paid the ultimate price.

“I am particularly pleased that Dunblane teacher Gwen Mayor has been recognised. No-one will ever forget the horror of the shooting at Dunblane Primary School in 1996, when Mrs Mayor was killed trying to protect her pupils.

“I hope that the families of all those recognised will take some comfort in knowing that their loved ones, and their service, has not been forgotten.” 

The family of Dunblane Primary School teacher Gwen Mayor including her husband Rodney Mayor said: “As a family we are extremely proud and honoured to be receiving this award on behalf of Gwen. We always believed her actions that day deserved more recognition.

“You would have to have known Gwen to know that she would have done whatever trying to protect the children in her care. She paid the ultimate price for that commitment. Finally we now feel that she has been honoured for what happened that day.”

The full list of Scottish recipients of The Elizabeth Emblem are:

  • Joseph Stewart Drake, a Constable with Stirling and Clackmannan Constabulary. He died on 11 August 1967 when a stolen lorry intentionally struck his car at Dennyloanhead as he tried to intercept it. 
  • Gwen Mayor, Primary 1 teacher at Dunblane Primary School died on 13 March 1996 alongside 15 of her pupils when a gunman entered the school.
  • Rodney (Rod) Moore, a retired NHS paramedic from Falkirk with 40 years’ service, rejoined the Scottish Ambulance Service to support its Covid-19 response and died on 21 November 2020 having contracted coronavirus.
  • Roderick Nicolson, a Scottish Fire & Rescue Service firefighter died at Perth Harbour on 4 December 1995. He was attempting to rescue workers who became trapped in a silo filled with five tonnes of sodium carbonate ash.
  • Richard Paul North, a Constable with Tayside Police died on 17 March 1987. He was on duty driving a marked police patrol car when it collided with another vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was under the influence of drink and drugs.
  • William Oliver of the Glasgow Salvage Corps died at the Cheapside Street whisky bond fire on 28 March 1960. He was instantly killed alongside 18 others when some casks ruptured causing a massive boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion.
  • Ewan Williamson, a Scottish Fire & Rescue Service firefighter with Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service. He became trapped in a fire at the Balmoral Bar public house in Edinburgh and died on 12 July 2009.
  • Alastair Soutar, of HM Customs and Excise died of his injuries on 29 July 1996 after he was crushed between ‘The Sentinel’ HM Customs and Excise vessel and the ‘Ocean Jubilee’ smugglers vessel. Mr Soutar, from Dundee, was participating in Operation Balvenie to apprehend drug smugglers.