Edinburgh Northern and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson is holding a special surgery on housing to give constituents the opportunity to access expert advice from Shelter Scotland representatives. Continue reading Ben Macpherson to hold special surgery on housing
No evidence the Committee received was “more compelling than that against the imposition of conditionality and sanctions on people with a disability or health condition. It does not work. Worse, it is harmful and counterproductive.” Continue reading “Pointlessly cruel”: Commons committee publishes damning report on benefits sanctions
Figures from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) have shown that the predicted number of “winter deaths” are expected to soar this winter in Lothian. Continue reading Briggs: Winter deaths expected to soar
Continue reading FM: ‘UK Government must come clean on Brexit cost to NHS’.
Scottish Green MSP Alison Johnstone today highlighted the Scottish Government’s inactivity over a proper fox hunting ban, three years after the SNP group at Westminster voted against attempts to relax the ban in England and Wales. [1] Continue reading Foxes: Greens highlight SNP hold up as Hunt season begins
Holyrood’s Equalities and Human Rights Committee is launching a call for views on proposed changes that would remove the defence of ‘reasonable chastisement’ from Scots law. Without this legal defence, parents and guardians would not be able to physically punish their children. Continue reading Smacking: share your views
UK Budget stands up for Scotland, says Briggs Continue reading Miles Briggs: What the UK Budget means for people in Lothian
Scottish ministers must respond to an embarrassing report that claims that Scotland is the ‘least locally democratic country in Europe’ by devolving new powers to councils, says a Green MSP.
Andy Wightman, the Scottish Greens’ local government spokesperson, says his party supports the Common Weal report’s recommendation for a new tier of councils in Scotland, insisting that two, and in many cases three tiers, are typical in other European countries.
Mr Wightman, a Green MSP for Lothian, said: “This report (see below) adds to the wealth of evidence highlighting the poor state of local democracy in Scotland. Its findings are welcome and while many will perceive its recommendation to create another tier of local democracy in Scotland to be radical, having just a single tier of councils goes against the norm across much of Europe.
“Scotland’s status as the ‘least locally democratic country in Europe’ is not one to be proud of, in fact it’s embarrassing. Ministers at Holyrood can however revive local democracy by devolving more powers to councils and require them to include local communities in decision making.
“Local government needs substantial and far-reaching reform to make it more local and more democratic and we’ll continue to honour our manifesto commitment to challenge ministers on their slow progress.”
Edinburgh Northern and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson is holding a series of advice surgeries in supermarkets around the constituency. These pop-up surgeries aim to give more constituents the opportunity to talk to Ben about any issues, concerns or ideas they may have. Continue reading Local MSP sets up shop in supermarkets
Briggs blames SNP for ‘workforce crisis’
According to ISD figures the last time that the A&E waiting time target of 95% of patients to be seen within four hours, was met in NHS Lothian was 29th October 2017. Continue reading ONE FULL YEAR since NHS Lothian met A & E waiting times
