MSPs on the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee are seeking views from the public, media organisations and publishers, internet firms and other experts on proposed changes to the law on defamation. Continue reading MSPs seek views on defamation reform proposals
Tag: Politics
Tory Erasmus “sell-out” to impact on 3,484 students in Edinburgh
SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald has warned that thousands of university students in Edinburgh could lose out on the opportunity to study abroad – after the UK Tory government pulled support for the Erasmus last week.
New figures from the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (SPICe), show that, between 2014/15 and 2017/18, 3,484 students from the city’s higher education institutions studied abroad through the Erasmus+ programme.
With Boris Johnson’s Tory government choosing to vote against continued membership of Erasmus+ remaining part of negotiations with the EU, Gordon MacDonald MSP has claimed that the same number of students could now miss out over the next four years if Scotland is blocked from the programme.
The Erasmus+ scheme aims to promote and modernise education, training, youth work and sport across Europe, and gives students from a variety of backgrounds the opportunity to live, work and study in other European countries.
SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Gordon MacDonald said: “The Erasmus programme has been hugely valuable to our city’s universities and students over the years, so it’s saddening the Tories have decided to sell out and pull support for the programme.
“Our students here in Edinburgh have benefitted massively from the opportunity to take a year abroad in Europe, giving them the chance to experience new cultures and ways of learning.
“Of course our city’s culture is also richer thanks to students from the continent coming to spend time in our world-class universities, contributing to our economy and society in the process.
“My message to Edinburgh’s students is this – don’t let Boris Johnson cut you off from the world. It’s time to put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands so we can build a fairer, more outward looking nation at the heart of Europe. It’s time for independence.”
Figures from SPICe: (erasmusplus.org.uk/statistics)
- Glasgow 2014/15 – 2017/18: 3,647 outgoing students
- Royal Conservatoire of Scotland – 49
- Glasgow Caledonian University – 545
- Glasgow School of Art – 214
- Glasgow University – 1426
- Strathclyde University – 1413
- Edinburgh 2014/15 – 2017/18: 3,484 outgoing students
- Napier University – 472
- Heriot Watt University – 692
- Queen Margaret University – 27
- Edinburgh University – 2293
- Aberdeen 2014/15 – 2017/18: 1,367 outgoing students
- Robert Gordon University – 628
Aberdeen University – 739
New Year A&E record reveals Scotland’s GP crisis
A record-breaking number of people attending accident and emergency in the first week of January is a symptom of the country’s GP crisis, the Scottish Conservatives have said. Continue reading New Year A&E record reveals Scotland’s GP crisis
Longer terms for politicians?
Plans to extend the term lengths for Scottish Parliament and local authority elections have been supported in a new report by Holyrood’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee. Continue reading Longer terms for politicians?
Prime Minister: NO to Indyref2
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has rejected Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s call for a transfer of powers to enable Holyrood to hold a second independence referendum.
In a letter to the First Minister this morning, Boris Johnson said another independence referendum would cause ‘continued political stagnation’ in Scotland and he urged Ms Sturgeon to work to ‘unleash the potential of this great country.’
I suspect we haven’t heard the last of this …
Car ban and tram extension: Capital Coalition’s ten year ‘vision’
Time to ‘grasp the nettle’, say Capital Coalition leaders
“we are at our best when we take brave steps into the winds of change”
For over a thousand years Edinburgh has grown and thrived, balancing adaptation with conserving strengths (write Cllrs ADAM McVEY (SNP) and CAMMY DAY (Labour)). Continue reading Car ban and tram extension: Capital Coalition’s ten year ‘vision’
Over 3,000 Usdaw members call on their MSPs to stop shops opening on Ne’er Day
Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw has delivered over 3,000 postcards to the Scottish Parliament from shopworkers who are calling for an end to New Year’s Day trading in large stores. Continue reading Over 3,000 Usdaw members call on their MSPs to stop shops opening on Ne’er Day
Capital car commute has become major problem, MSPs warned
Commuting into Edinburgh from Fife by car has become “a problem” which can only be solved by better public transport, MSPs have been told. Continue reading Capital car commute has become major problem, MSPs warned
Regulating short term lets: new powers for councils
Councils empowered to introduce safety and control measures
Continue reading Regulating short term lets: new powers for councils
Decade of Renewal? Chancellor launches Budget process
- Chancellor says Budget will set out ambitious plans to unleash Britain’s potential, level up across the UK and usher in a decade of renewal
- Budget will start a new chapter for the economy, seizing the opportunities that come from getting Brexit done
Continue reading Decade of Renewal? Chancellor launches Budget process