SNP must invest extra £200m in GP services, says Briggs

The Scottish Conservatives have called for an extra £200million to be invested in GP services across Scotland. 

Scotland will receive an additional £200million as a result of a Conservative pledge, announced today, to create 50 million more appointments in GP surgeries in England. Continue reading SNP must invest extra £200m in GP services, says Briggs

General election: Greens announce Edinburgh candidates

The urgency of tackling the climate emergency must not be crowded out by Brexit in the looming Westminster election. That is the message from Edinburgh Greens as the party announces its plans to contest seats across Edinburgh in the election on 12 December. 
The party will contest all five seats in the capital with a central focus on a Scottish Green New Deal: tackling climate change, creating jobs and transforming the economy.

Continue reading General election: Greens announce Edinburgh candidates

Westminster committee calls for drugs decriminalisation in Scotland

The possession of illicit drugs for personal use should be decriminalised, a report by MPs has said. Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee also recommends the UK government should allow so-called fix rooms in Scotland in a bid to tackle drug misuse.

Drug-related deaths in Scotland reached an all-time high of 1,187 last year. Continue reading Westminster committee calls for drugs decriminalisation in Scotland

‘Team Edinburgh SNP’ calls for strong action on short term lets

Edinburgh’s SNP MPs, MSPs and Councillors have jointly written to Kevin Stewart MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, calling for new initiatives to tackle problematic short-term letting in the capital. Continue reading ‘Team Edinburgh SNP’ calls for strong action on short term lets

General Election looms as Westminster unable to resolve Brexit impasse

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Bill “will now be paused” after MPs voted against the accelerated timetable for the Brexit Bill. The withdrawal is now subject to weeks of scrutiny.

It was the second vote of the night. The first was a win for the government – a rare occurrence in recent times – when MPs supported Boris Johnson’s withdrawal agreement in principle. This result was notable in that it was the first time MPs have shown their backing for any Brexit deal, but it was soon back to ‘business as usual’ as parliament voted to reject the government’s proposals to railroad the Bill through in just three days.

With the Bill now ‘in limbo’, it’s clear that the 31 October date for leaving the EU will not be met.

EU leaders will now consider whether to grant a delay to the 31 October Brexit deadline and what length it should be. It is possible, if unlikely, that EU members won’t approve the extension and if that’s the case the UK will ‘crash out’, leaving the EU without a deal on 31 October.

With parliament seemingly incapable of reaching agreement over Brexit, a general election is looking increasingly likely. And while all political parties say they would welcome a general election, there is a real possibility that, depending on the result, a general election may resolve nothing at all.

Brexit Bill: Opposition, Scotland and Wales all want more time to have their say

Another day, another drama at Westminster yesterday. The Government attempted to bring forward a “yes” or “no” vote on its Brexit deal but was rebuffed by Speaker John Bercow (above), who said it would be “repetitive and disorderly” to debate it again. Continue reading Brexit Bill: Opposition, Scotland and Wales all want more time to have their say