Edinburgh is being ‘short-changed’ by £147 MILLION

Ian Murray and Daniel Johnson call for more power and funding 

Ian Murray and Daniel Johnson, the MP for Edinburgh South and MSP for Edinburgh Southern, have called for increased power and funding for Edinburgh, as new analysis shows the city has been short-changed by £147 million since 2014.

New analysis from the House of Commons Library found that if local government funding in Scotland had kept pace with the Scottish block grant, Scottish Councils would be £2bn better off.

Scottish Labour is arguing for more power and funding to be pushed out of Holyrood and into local communities.

Commenting, Ian Murray said: “Edinburgh is Scotland’s worst-funded local authority, receiving less funding per resident than every other council in the country. Everyone knows a road with a pothole that needs fixed, a school that needs more support for children with additional support needs, or a high street that needs local investment. 

“Instead of empowering local communities and opening up politics and decision making to communities here, the SNP has chosen to hoard power and money in Holyrood and deprive areas of funding which would have made a real difference to the lives of local people.”

Daniel Johnson MSP said: “Too much money and control is centralised in Scotland, we need to reverse that and push funding and powers out of Holyrood and into local communities.”

Labour politicians announce opposition to listing of Brunton Theatre

Local Labour politicians have come out against the proposal to list the Brunton Theatre building.

Their opposition was stated in an open letter to Historic Environment Scotland where they claimed listing the current building would jeopardise plans to build a new theatre in Musselburgh.

The letter was signed by Labour MSPs Sarah Boyack and Martin Whitfield, East Lothian MP Douglas Alexander, Edinburgh East MP Chris Murray and Musselburgh Councillors Andy Forrest and Ruaridh Bennett.

The signatories raised concerns that “preserving the current building also preserves many of the issues it faces, including a lack of accessibility, concerns over safety and vital maintenance”.

The letter also reiterated the elected representatives’ commitment towards a new theatre space in Musselburgh that can continue the cultural legacy of the current building while providing better facilities to improve accessibility.

The current theatre was mothballed last October after it closed its doors in 2023 for the last time due to the presence of RAAC.

Commenting on the letter, Ms Boyack said: “I hope this letter illustrates to Historic Environment Scotland why we oppose the listing of the current building. Our driving priority must be the continuation of a theatre in Musselburgh – listing will jeopardise this.

“I am looking forward to working with the Brunton Theatre Trust and with HES to find a solution that ensures that Musselburgh residents get an accessible and functioning theatre space.”