Cllr Sue Webber is the Edinburgh Conservatives’ Transport Spokesman in Edinburgh Council and candidate for Edinburgh Western in the Scottish Parliamentary elections:
In May 2020, the SNP-Labour Council used emergency Covid-19 powers to rush through several road closures, an unnecessary Low Traffic Neighbourhood in East Craigs and the widespread introduction of segregated cycleways along Comiston Road and Duddingston Road.
These schemes were first introduced as a temporary measure during the pandemic. But the SNP-Labour Council now intends to make these changes permanent.
Local opposition has been substantial but the SNP-Labour Council have continued to ignore residents. One group, Get Edinburgh Moving (GEM), had to resort to threats of Legal Action against the Council to stop the introduction of the LTN in East Craigs.
I have led opposition on the Council, consistently voicing the public’s concerns about the negative impact these immensely unpopular measures are having on livelihoods and local businesses.
From the outset, I demanded greater community involvement and political scrutiny on the schemes. I too have been ignored.
If you oppose the SNP-Labour Council’s undemocratic and reckless changes to our city then please sign below to fight back against the permanent imposition of these measures.
Local vaccination figures show that 80,066 people have been vaccinated in NHS Lothian, equivalent to 10.6% of the population over the age of 16.
Last week NHS Lothian said the Scottish Government vaccination figures were invalid, because they did not include vaccinations that had happened at GP practices in NHS Lothian.
At the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday Health Secretary Jeane Freeman admitted that “we do need to vaccinate faster in Scotland than we have been doing.”
Scotland is lagging behind the rest of the UK in the number of people vaccinated so far, with SNP Ministers rearranging their target for all over 70s to receive a letter to be vaccinated by the end of last week, to end of this week.
The delivery of vaccines to GP practices has been highlighted as a crucial area where the delivery of the vaccines is being held up, with GP practices limited to 100 vaccines doses a week.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“It is worrying that SNP Ministers are lagging behind other parts of the United Kingdom in the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.
“An efficient vaccination rollout is vital for protecting elderly and at risk people from Covid-19, but also so that our schools can fully reopen and businesses get going again.
“Every day that the vaccinations rollout is delayed is another day where pupils aren’t able to get back to school and businesses won’t be making any income.
“In NHS Lothian it is not clear whether GP practice vaccination numbers have been included in the total, and it is very concerning that SNP Ministers don’t know how many people have been vaccinated.”
The Conservative Lothians list MSP also expressed concern over Accident and Emergency waiting times figures released on Tuesday.
They revealed that 83.4% of patients were seen within the 4 hour waiting time target at A&E departments in Lothian, for the December 2020, the latest figures available.
The figure seen within 4 hours is comparable to December 2019, when 80.4% of patients were seen within the 4 hour standard in NHS Lothian, despite attendance dropping from 23,724 to 16,916.
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine warned that staff had been working relentlessly for 11 months and “Studies have shown many have face psychological distress, stress and even PTSD as a result of the pandemic.
Lothian MSP has called on SNP Ministers to step up their efforts to support NHS Lothian frontline staff, and said they that SNP Ministers have not done enough, despite unprecedented funding from the UK government to overcome Covid-19.
Mr Briggs said that members of the public also have a role to play in alleviating pressure on NHS services.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“NHS Lothian frontline staff have been working flat out to overcome Covid-19 for almost a year and we must all do everything we can to alleviate pressure on them as the Covid-19 vaccines is rolled out.
“It is important that people still go to A&E if they have an emergency, and not be put off by Covid-19, but people must make an appointment with their GP if they have a condition which doesn’t need immediate medical attention.”
“SNP Ministers have not done enough to support NHS Lothian frontline staff, despite record funding from the UK Government, with waiting times growing for A&E despite fewer people attending.
“Keeping socially distanced and following Covid-19 rules is crucial for a bit longer, as the vaccines is rolled out, so that our NHS doesn’t get overwhelmed.”
The highest number of vaccinations in one day was recorded on Wednesday: 45,085 people had a jab, taking the total of those who have had a first injection to 694,347.
Details of how £11.6 billion of funding from the Scottish Government will be distributed to individual local authorities in 2021-22 have been published.
The settlement provides councils with an increase in day to day revenue spending of £335.6 million, including £90 million to compensate local authorities which choose to freeze council tax and a further £259 million will be added in one-off funding to support ongoing COVID-19 pressures.
In total, councils will receive additional revenue funding of almost £600 million to support vital local government services in 2021-22.
The Scottish Government will also increase a scheme which compensates councils for the loss of income from sales, fees and charges due to the pandemic from £90 million to £200 million in 2020-21.
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said: “This budget is being delivered in exceptional circumstances as we continue to battle a pandemic that has shaken our society and economy to the core.
“The local government settlement will help to fund those vital public services that are much valued and needed.
“It includes additional funding of £59 million to complete the expansion of early learning and childcare to 1,140 hours a year, £72.6 million for investment in health and social care and £7.7 million to support the inter-island ferries in Shetland, Orkney and Argyll and Bute.
“Just as we have chosen not to increase tax rates, ensuring people pay no more than last year, I have taken the significant step of offering funding equivalent to a council tax increase of around 3% to councils who choose to freeze council tax. I look to local government to join with me in providing the much needed financial reassurance to those who are struggling.
“We need to focus on how we rebuild and renew our country, and the funding I am providing to local authorities reflects the key role that they will continue to play in that journey.”
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE 2021-22: TOTAL REVENUE SUPPORT
Local Authority
2020-21
2021-22
Change
Change.
£m
£m
£m
%
Aberdeen City
364.6
376.0
11.4
3.1
Aberdeenshire
460.2
479.2
19.0
4.1
Angus
220.2
226.9
6.7
3.1
Argyll & Bute
208.8
213.3
4.6
2.2
Clackmannanshire
103.0
105.7
2.7
2.6
Dumfries & Galloway
306.8
314.6
7.9
2.6
Dundee City
320.1
327.7
7.7
2.4
East Ayrshire
249.9
256.9
7.0
2.8
East Dunbartonshire
202.1
208.0
5.9
2.9
East Lothian
189.2
194.7
5.5
2.9
East Renfrewshire
191.3
196.1
4.8
2.5
Edinburgh, City of
799.6
831.9
32.3
4.0
Eilean Siar
99.8
101.6
1.8
1.8
Falkirk
308.2
315.7
7.5
2.4
Fife
702.4
725.3
22.9
3.3
Glasgow City
1,333.1
1,362.9
29.8
2.2
Highland
493.0
506.3
13.3
2.7
Inverclyde
177.6
181.9
4.3
2.4
Midlothian
178.9
183.7
4.8
2.7
Moray
173.6
180.2
6.6
3.8
North Ayrshire
296.7
303.9
7.2
2.4
North Lanarkshire
673.1
691.2
18.1
2.7
Orkney Islands
78.2
82.7
4.5
5.7
Perth & Kinross
271.0
281.3
10.3
3.8
Renfrewshire
341.9
351.2
9.3
2.7
Scottish Borders
224.0
233.2
9.2
4.1
Shetland Islands
90.0
97.3
7.3
8.1
South Ayrshire
217.4
223.7
6.3
2.9
South Lanarkshire
610.4
625.8
15.5
2.5
Stirling
183.5
188.7
5.2
2.9
West Dunbartonshire
203.0
207.4
4.4
2.2
West Lothian
344.5
353.3
8.8
2.6
Undistributed
51.9
75.1
23.2
44.8
SCOTLAND
10,667.8
11,003.4
335.6
3.1
Speaking after last week’s Budget announcement, COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Gail Macgregor, said: “Given the context this year, perhaps it is not overly surprising that the Budget is very much a mixed bag for Local Government –the main issue is that the overall allocation adds very little into our core financial settlement which has been eroded over the years.
“The Cabinet Secretary, in her speech, recognised Councils’ role as deliverers of vital services and yes on the face of it there is more money but that is predominantly for Government priorities.
“The addition of £259 million flexible funding for 2021/22 will help councils address Covid related costs next year, including providing the support that the most vulnerable in our communities will require but we need solid assurances that if this figure falls short, as is expected, that further funding will be forthcoming.
“To deal with pressures this year, the announcement of an additional £110 million to help compensate Councils for loss of income, which when added to the money we have already had, makes £200 million, is to be welcomed.
“However, for many councils this won’t be enough – income loss will leave a very large hole in their finances for years to come. We welcome that the Cabinet Secretary for Finance has listened to Leaders requests for further funding to cover loss of income but there is still work to do where there is a shortfall.
“We welcome elements of today’s announcement but overall this budget falls short of what we would consider a fair settlement for Local Government. We would anticipate further constructive discussions with the Cabinet Secretary in the next few weeks.”
Significant new investment to drive economic recovery, bolster public services and support families underpins the Scottish Government’s spending and taxation plans for the coming year.
Presenting the Scottish Budget 2021-22 yesterday, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes announced support for jobs and skills totalling around £1.1 billion.
Job creation is a priority, with measures including a commitment to launch a new Green Workforce Academy to help people secure work in the low carbon economy, a £100 million Green Jobs Fund over the next parliament, £7 million towards making Scotland a world class hub for digital business and an additional £125 million for the Young Person’s Guarantee, employability and skills.
Health receives record funding of over £16 billion, an increase of 5.3% on 2020-21, along with a further £869 million to continue tackling coronavirus (COVID-19), including funding for the vaccination and test and trace programmes. This means that, over the course of this parliament, investment in health has increased by £1.8 billion in real terms – more than tripling the commitment to increase health funding by £500 million more than inflation.
To support family budgets, £90 million is being made available for local authorities to freeze council tax.
Public sector workers earning up to £25,000 can receive at least a 3% pay increase via a £750 cash underpin, while there is a 1% rise for those earning above that amount, capped at £800 above £80,000.
Economic recovery, supporting public services and helping families are at the heart of this year’s Scottish Budget.
£11.6 billion for local government, which represents a £335.6 million increase in core revenue funding, including the £90 million to compensate local authorities which choose to freeze Council Tax, plus £259 million in one-off funding
£1.9 billion for primary health care to help deliver more services in the community. A further £550 million is earmarked to build new Elective Care Centres and the Baird Family Hospital and Anchor Centre in Aberdeen
£98.2 million to improve Scotland’s digital infrastructure and deliver access to high quality broadband and mobile coverage.
£711.6 million for affordable housing and £68 million for the first full year of the Scottish Child Payment, tackling child poverty
a new £55 million programme to support town centres and community-led regeneration projects
more than £3.1 billion in resource and capital investment for education and skills, and £567 million to provide 1,140 hours of early learning and childcare, supporting implementation of the UK’s most ambitious childcare programme
£1.3 billion for the Scottish Police Authority, including a £60 million increase in Police Scotland’s revenue budget – exceeding an earlier pledge of a £100 million boost over five years
£1.6 billion for rail and bus services and £100.5 million for active travel to consolidate changes to healthy, green travel options seen during the pandemic
doubling the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund, helping tourist attractions and local communities make improvements to cope with increased visitors
an additional £27 million to expand woodland creation and the associated infrastructure, supporting green jobs
Business support remains a priority and the Finance Secretary confirmed that the Local Authority Discretionary Fund will be doubled to £60 million in this financial year to allow councils to respond to local needs. In addition, businesses eligible for the Strategic Framework Business Fund will receive full Level 4 payments on 22 February, regardless of any future changes to local restrictions.
The Scottish Government will also increase a scheme which compensates councils for the loss of income from sales, fees and charges due to the pandemic from £90 million to £200 million in 2020-21.
Ms Forbes said: “This budget is being delivered in exceptional circumstances as we continue to battle a pandemic that has shaken our society and economy to the core, and as we face the harmful impacts of Brexit.
“It promotes innovation and reform, new beginnings, new directions. And while it continues to target support in the immediate term, it also tracks a course over the next year to build a fairer, stronger and greener country.
“To help drive our green economic recovery I am providing the stability and certainty that businesses have asked for through the most competitive reliefs packages in the UK. There are innovative measures to promote sustainable growth and we are investing more than £1 billion in jobs and training.
“The budget sets out a distinctive Scottish pay policy that again supports the lowest paid, charting a different course to the ill-judged pay freeze announced by the UK Government. It also bolsters our health service, delivers more affordable homes, provides additional childcare places and helps young people into work.
“Throughout these dark times we have never given up hope. This budget seeks to build on that hope and, by focusing on how we rebuild and renew our country, make the light at the end of the tunnel shine that bit brighter.”
Our budget helps to deliver stability now, but it also looks forward to the future.
Watch Finance Secretary @KateForbesMSP explain our priorities for the coming year ⬇
The STUC has expressed its disappointment at what effectively amounts to a real-terms pay freeze for thousands of public sector workers as the Budget offers 1% for those earning pay above £25,000 per year including most teaching staff, firefighter and civil servants.
The STUC General Secretary, Roz Foyer pointed to the real terms increase in the Scottish Budget of nearly 4% and contrasted that with today’s pay offer.
“Whilst it is right and proper that the pay of low paid workers should be underpinned, for most workers this increase is still below the budget uplift received by Holyrood from Westminster. Far too many of our key workers have been left out in the cold.
While supporting Scottish Government calls for greater borrowing powers, Foyer also questioned whether tax cuts for high earners were the right priority and whether funding for Local Government was sufficient.
“We strongly support the Scottish Government’s calls for greater borrowing powers. However, the Cabinet Secretary has managed to find wiggle room to provide £125 million in blanket tax cuts. She has also reduced income taxes for high earners – a policy that raised £51 million last year. Given this, it is deeply disappointing that she hasn’t been able to better reward key workers.
“While the Cabinet Secretary spoke about an increase in funding for Local Government, it appears this amounts to less than a 1% increase, a level that is nowhere near sufficient to cover gaping cuts to services from years of austerity.”
Responding to the Budget announcement, Dr Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:“The position of Scottish businesses has never been so precarious. The Scottish Government’s announcements today are welcome but do not go nearly as far enough to avoid risk of widespread business collapse and job losses.
“Yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccination programme but restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus have been devastating. We understand that the Cabinet Secretary for Finance faces difficult choices in setting the budget particularly ahead of that of the UK, in a time when the country faces extraordinary challenges.
“Business will be disappointed that further details on an economic route map on how we will exit this crisis aligned with the roll out of the vaccine were not provided today. This is a critical component if businesses are to unleash the investment our country so desperately needs.”
On Non-Domestic Rates:
“The Cabinet Secretary has listened to us and has delivered a reduction in the Non-Domestic Rate (NDR) poundage rate. However, longer-term, we believe the system is unfair and needs significant reform.
“Plans for a three months extension of rates relief is a too short a reprieve. We need commitment to a 12-month reliefs package to provide the certainty business needs. Clearly there is more to do, and we await further announcements from the Chancellor to see what further support can be made available and expect Scottish Government to pass on the equivalent consequential funding to businesses.”
On Business Support:
“The doubling of the discretionary fund is good news particularly for those businesses who have fallen through the gaps of other support packages. However, it is imperative that the process for businesses is clear, transparent and quick across all local authorities to ensure funding is available for businesses quickly and immediately.
“Now is the time to pull out the stops and redouble efforts to ensure business support comes through. We need to see a significant ramping up to get those funds that have been promised out the door and to businesses.”
On Infrastructure:
“The Scottish Government’s commitment to infrastructure investment is absolutely necessary for Scotland and the UK to be in a position to build back better and meet net zero ambitions. Now is the time for a vision driven by ambition and a willingness to collaborate like never before. This must be put first and foremost ahead of any political point scoring this year.”
On skills and training:
“SCC welcomes these important steps to support jobs, employment and training. We called for training academies and we are pleased to see the Cabinet Secretary has acted on our recommendations, particularly the focus on green jobs. It is now critical that the government and academia works in partnership with the private sector to ensure benefits are fully realised.”
On Protecting Jobs:
“We maintain our call to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to extend the furlough scheme beyond April 2021 and outline further initiatives to protect business and jobs at the UK Budget in March.”
On mental health support:
“Business will welcome this as we understand the toll the pandemic has taken on our customers, employees and communities.
“Recovery of our wellbeing is just as important as economic recovery, with many employers investing in their own employee support programmes. This commitment from the Scottish Government will enhance these efforts.”
Responding to Kate Forbes’ announcement that public sector workers on salaries up to £25,000 a year will receive a 3 per cent increase, GMB Scotland Senior Organiser Drew Duffy said: “This will be met with fury among the lowest paid in Scotland’s public sector.
“Kate Forbes was among the many politicians applauding our frontline heroes, now she is saying ‘thank you’ with a rise that won’t amount to more than a tenner a week for most.
“There is no value here, and it’s an insulting response from the Scottish Government to the ongoing struggles of our key workers in this pandemic.”
Tracy Black, CBI Scotland Director, said:“The Finance Secretary is right to put business support and economic recovery front and centre of this year’s draft Budget. With jobs, firms and livelihoods still hanging by a thread, Scotland can’t afford to wait until the pandemic is over before initiating plans for a sustained recovery.
“Health must come first and lowering transmission rates remains the priority. Yet with so many struggling companies across Scotland, it’s only right that proper consideration is given to reopening the economy when it is safe to do so. This should be driven by data and done in dialogue with business.
“The private sector is critical to a successful recovery and moves to protect firms’ immediate futures are welcome. Continuing rates reliefs for the hard-hit hospitality, retail and tourism sectors is welcome, however a three-month window remains a challenging timetable for firms under real pressure. Companies will also be relieved to see a continued commitment to Covid business support and no further changes on income tax.
“The UK and Scottish governments must now work together to provide certainty over business support, ensuring that the firms we need to drive economic recovery survive the tough weeks and months ahead.
“Longer term, the figures from the Scottish Fiscal Commission paint a worrying picture and highlight the scale of the challenge ahead. Maintaining a laser focus on boosting productivity and protecting competitiveness are key.”
Responding to the Scottish Government’s Budget statement delivered today by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes MSP, Director of CAMRA Scotland Joe Crawford said: “Extending the business rates holiday for pubs and social clubs for a further three months into the next financial year is a desperately-needed lifeline for pubs who have struggled for almost a year now.
“But three months won’t be enough. CAMRA will be joining the Scottish Government in calling on the Chancellor to use his Budget on 3rd March to give the Scottish Government enough money to extend this Business Rates holiday for the entire 2021/22 financial year.
“Pub-goers and licensees will now want to see the Scottish and UK Governments work together to make sure pubs and breweries get enough long-term financial support to thrive when they can reopen. This must include grants, furlough support as long as there are restrictions on trading, extending the VAT cut on beer to help pubs that don’t serve food, and cutting tax on beer served in pubs to help them compete with supermarket booze.
“Pubs and social clubs are a force for good in our communities, bringing people together and tackling loneliness and social isolation. They will be a crucial part of our national healing process after COVID and deserve to be supported until they can trade again.”
SLTA Managing Director, Colin Wilkinson said:“The Scottish Licensed Trade Association welcomes today’s announcement by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes that the Scottish Government will extend 100% non-domestic rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure for at least the first three months of the new financial year. However, it doesn’t go far enough.
“Today’s announcement is good news, as is the promise of further ongoing business support and it gives us a much-needed stay of execution. The reduction in the poundage rate, from 49.8 pence to 49 pence, is also very welcomed.
“Further support from the Westminster Government is crucial and our hope is that UK Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, steps up to the mark by extending the current furlough scheme, committing to retain the Commercial Rates Relief and the temporary 5% reduced rate of VAT for hospitality beyond March 31 and well in to 2022.
“Our sector is battered and bruised and the sooner both the Scottish and UK Governments can provide clarity on support and an indication of an exit strategy out of this pandemic the better.”
Chief Constable Iain Livingstone has welcomed the Scottish Government’s Budget announcement.
Mr Livingstone said: “I welcome the announcement to eliminate the structural deficit in policing’s funding.
“The reform of policing in Scotland has brought many benefits to all communities across the country, while £200m has been returned to the public purse every year compared to legacy arrangements.
“The last 12 months have demonstrated the relentless nature of policing. Our mission to prevent harm, support communities and keep people safe has been evident throughout the pandemic.
“We will continue to enhance capacity and capability to protect the people of Scotland in the public, private and virtual spaces.
“Responsive and accessible local policing is deeply valued by our fellow citizens and will always lie at the heart of Police Scotland’s purpose and approach.”
Prime Minister’s statement on coronavirus: 26th January 2021
I am sorry to have to tell you that today the number of deaths recorded from Covid in the UK has surpassed 100,000, and it is hard to compute the sorrow contained in that grim statistic.
The years of life lost, the family gatherings not attended and, for so many relatives, the missed chance even to say goodbye.
I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one: fathers and mothers; brothers and sisters; sons and daughters and the many grandparents who have been taken.
And, to all those who grieve, we make this pledge: that when we have come through this crisis, we will come together as a nation to remember everyone we lost, and to honour the selfless heroism of all those on the front line who gave their lives to save others.
We will remember the courage of countless working people – not just our amazing NHS and care workers, but shop workers, transport staff, pharmacists, teachers, police, armed forces emergency services and many others – who kept our country going during our biggest crisis since the Second World War.
We will commemorate the small acts of kindness, the spirit of volunteering and the daily sacrifice of millions who placed their lives on hold time and again as we fought each new wave of the virus, buying time for our brilliant scientists to come to our aid.
In that moment of commemoration, we will celebrate the genius and perseverance of those who discovered the vaccines and the immense national effort – never seen before in our history – which is now underway to distribute them, one that has now seen us immunise over 6.8 million people across the United Kingdom.
And when those vaccines have finally freed us from this virus and put us on a path to recovery, we will make sure that we learn the lessons and reflect and prepare.
And, until that time, the best and most important thing we can all do to honour the memory of those who have died is to work together with ever greater resolve to defeat this disease.
And that is what we will do.
Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party, said: “This is a national tragedy and a terrible reminder of all that we have lost as a country.
“We must never become numb to these numbers or treat them as just statistics. Every death is a loved one, a friend, a neighbour, a partner or a colleague. It is an empty chair at the dinner table.
“To all those that are mourning, we must promise to learn the lessons of what went wrong and build a more resilient country. That day will come and we will get there together.
“But for now we must remember those that we have lost and be vigilant in the national effort to stay at home, protect our NHS and vaccinate Britain.”
Katrina Faccenda, Scottish Labour prospective candidate for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, has called for Scottish Water reserves to be used for Leithers and those further afield who have put up with the Seafield Stench for decades.
“The scandal of not using the cash stash of £391m to fully resolve the problem of the Seafield Stench just stinks. Less than a third of this is what is needed to meet the demands of local residents and fully resolve the problem,” she said.
“Huge growth and development of housing in the area means an ever increasing number affected. In power since 2007 the SNP Scottish Government have still not solved this problem despite a promise made then to do so. Kicking it into the long grass until 2030 is not good enough when the money is there.
“I call on local MSP Scottish Government Minister Ben McPherson to use his position to make this happen. The money is there – all that’s needed is the will to make it happen.”
Long-surrering Links residents are raising funds to take legal action against the SNP -Labour run City of Edinburgh Council.
Early evidence suggests the variant of coronavirus that emerged in the UK may be more deadly, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the nation last night.
The Prime Minister made the announcement in a televised statement from Downing Street:
Since the beginning of this pandemic, we have tried to update you as soon as possible about changes in the scientific data or the analysis.
So, I must tell you this afternoon that we have been informed today that, in addition to spreading more quickly, it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant – the variant that was first identified in London and the South East – may be associated with a higher degree of mortality, and I’m going to ask Patrick (Vallance) in a minute to say a bit more about that.
Because it is largely the impact of this new variant that means the NHS is under such intense pressure, with another 40,261 positive cases since yesterday. We have 38,562 COVID patients now in hospital, that’s 78 per cent higher than the first peak in April and, tragically, there have been a further 1,401 deaths.
So, it is more important than ever that we all remain vigilant in following the rules and that we stay at home, protect the NHS and thereby save lives.
But I also want to answer a key question that I know will be uppermost in your minds: All current evidence continues to show that both the vaccines we are currently using remain effective both against the old variant and this new variant.
And so, you will also want to know that our immunisation programme continues at an unprecedented rate.
5.4 million people across the UK have now received their first dose of the vaccine and over the last 24 hours we can report a record 400,000 vaccinations.
In England one in ten of all adults have received their first dose, including 71 per cent of over-80s and two thirds of elderly care home residents.
Having secured orders for hundreds of millions of doses, the U.K. government has supplied vaccines to the Devolved Administrations, according to population size.
First doses have been administered now to 151,000 people in Northern Ireland, 358,000 in Scotland and 212,000 in Wales.
And I am glad that the whole of the U.K. is able to assist the Devolved Administrations in deploying the vaccine and I know everyone across the country is grateful for the logistical skill of the British Army.
There is much more to do, and the target remains very stretching indeed, but we remain on track to reach our goal of offering a first dose to everyone in the top four priority groups by the middle of February.
And I want to thank all the doctors and nurses, especially at the GP-led sites who are vaccinating at a phenomenal rate, as well as, as I say, all those in our armed forces, our local authorities, our pharmacies and volunteers, who are making this extraordinary national effort possible.
And I want to thank all of you who have come forward to get your jabs, because, by doing that, you are protecting yourselves, your communities and, of course, our NHS.
And I say to everyone, when that letter arrives, please don’t hesitate to book that appointment and get this life-saving protection, because this is the best and fastest way for us all to defeat this virus and get our lives back to normal.
Commenting on the new variant of COVID-19 in the UK the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said: “The new UK variant comprises a significant number of the our cases.
“It is spreading 30 to 70% more easily than the old variant. It doesn’t differ in terms of age distribution to the original variant.
“When we look at severity and mortality, data for patients who are in hospital with the virus suggest the outcomes for those with the original variant look the same as the new variant. However, when looking at the data for people who have tested positive, there is an indication that the rate for the new variant is higher.
“Although these data are currently uncertain, it does appear that this variant has increased mortality compared to the old virus, as well as increased transmission. For context, with the original variant, if you took a group of 1,000 infected men in their 60s roughly 10 would die. But with the new variant, roughly 13 or 14 of that group might be expected to die.
“There is increasing evidence from studies that vaccines will still work against the UK variant.”
Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater has been selected by local party members to stand in Edinburgh Northern and Leith in the Holyrood election.
Ms Slater is an electro-mechanical engineer working in marine renewable energy, most recently project-managing the construction of powertrains for the world’s most powerful tidal turbine, which is currently being assembled in Dundee.
A Leith resident, she stood in in the Leith Walk by-election in 2019 where she beat Labour to claim a strong second and was then elected co-leader of the party.
The Scottish Greens already have two councillors representing the area.
Commenting, Lorna Slater said: “I’m delighted to have been asked to run in the place I call home.
“Voters in Edinburgh North and Leith frequently see property developers put before people, our streets showing illegal levels of traffic pollution and our skies lit up by the Mossmorran gas plant in Fife. We have too many short-term lets and not enough affordable housing. That’s why we need a local Green MSP that pushes the SNP to take action on these issues and the climate emergency.
“We do things differently in Leith. I’m excited that this is the first time in the constituency vote here that voters will have the option to back the bold proposals the Scottish Greens have, for our future, for rejoining the European family as an independent country and leading the charge on renewable energy.”
LothiansMSP Miles Briggs has expressed concern at theLevel of Covid-19 vaccinations in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
The Tory MSP said: “It is concerning that Edinburgh is lagging behind in the number of people who have received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccinations.
“Edinburgh has a higher number of care home residents, who take longer to vaccinate, than other local authorities, which may have slowed down the process.
“What is important now is that the level of Covid-19 vaccinations in Edinburgh and the Lothian’s is ramped up to get everyone in the community vaccinated as soon as possible.
“the pandemic has pulled families even deeper into poverty, while many more have been swept into poverty for the first time. A rising tide of child poverty now threatens to overwhelm many in our communities.”
John Dickie, Child Poverty Action Group Scotland
All political parties in Scotland should commit to at least doubling the value of the new Scottish Child Payment to stem the rising tide of child poverty, a coalition of anti-poverty groups, children’s charities and women’s organisations have urged today.
The End Child Poverty coalition in Scotland made the call in A Manifesto for Ending Child Poverty: Our Priorities for the 2021 Scottish Parliament Election, launched today, in which it set out its key asks ahead of the Holyrood elections in May.
While warmly welcoming the new £10 per week per child benefit for low income families – due to begin its roll out for under 6s next month – the manifesto warns that it will not go far enough in helping to meet Scotland’s child poverty reduction targets. By increasing the payment to £20 per week, the coalition say, at least another 20,000 children could be lifted out of poverty.
As well as doubling the Scottish Child Payment, the coalition are also calling for all parties to commit to:
• Bolstering other support for low income families, including by increasing the value of School Clothing Grants and Best Start Grants;
• Ensuring crisis support is adequate and accessible, including by investing in the Scottish Welfare Fund;
• Guaranteeing holistic whole family support to all families needing help;
• Supporting migrant children and caregivers, including increasing financial support to families with No Recourse to Public Funds;
• Setting out a child poverty-focused labour market policy, including action to tackle the gender pay gap.
Launching the manifesto, John Dickie (Director, CPAG in Scotland) said: “Even before Covid-19, almost one in four children in Scotland were growing up in the grip of poverty.
“Now, the pandemic has pulled families even deeper into poverty, while many more have been swept into poverty for the first time. A rising tide of child poverty now threatens to overwhelm many in our communities.
“That’s why we have set out this range of measures that would help to stem that tide, by putting much-needed cash into the pockets of families who are struggling to stay afloat. We urge all political parties to commit to the action we’ve set out, and to use the next Scottish Parliament to loosen the grip of poverty on the lives of Scotland’s children.”
Anna Ritchie Allan (Executive Director, Close the Gap), said: ““The existing inequalities women face in the labour market means they’ve been hardest hit by COVID-19 job disruption.
“The pandemic has starkly illuminated the link between women’s in-work poverty and child poverty. Women who were already struggling are now under enormous financial pressure as they and their families are pushed into further and deeper poverty.
“The End Child Poverty Coalition manifesto calls on Scotland’s political parties to commit to bold action to reduce child poverty. Close the Gap welcomes the focus on substantive action to address women’s inequality in the labour market including tackling women’s low pay and boosting the provision of funded childcare.
“Ensuring economic recovery policymaking prioritises measures to build a labour market that works for women is a necessary step in tackling the growing child poverty crisis.”
The manifesto – along with a summary version – can be found here.
