Edinburgh’s SNP politicians have backed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s proposals to keep Scotland in the European Single Market. And if support from her own party isn’t particularly surprising there’s support too from Labour’s former health minister Malcolm Chisholm. Continue reading City support for Scotland’s Place in Europe
Rob Shorthouse will be runnning a marathon on Christmas Day for MND Scotland to help Gordon Aikman’s Fightback campaign – and he was joined yesterday by MSPs Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith), Labour leader Kezia Dugdale (Lothians), Alex Cole-Hamliton (Edinburgh Western) and Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson (Edinburgh Central) who have added their support for this cause. Continue reading MSPs unite to support MND Christmas Marathon
Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has unveiled a ‘budget for growth and public services’ as he announced new investment in healthcare, education and local services, combined with support for jobs through lower business rates. However opposition parties are less than impressed with the SNP plans and it’s likely that the government will have to rely on the support of the Greens to get their budget passed.
Continue reading A budget for ‘growth and public services’ – or a ‘massive con’?
It’s the blame game. Local government blames Holyrood for cuts to services. Holyrood blames Westminster. Westminster says it’s Holyrood’s fault – and so the cycle goes on. And on. And on. And while the various democratic structures pass the buck, communities continue to suffer – and, as ever, the poorest communities suffer most …
COSLA President Councillor David O’Neill said that Council Leaders had given COSLA a very clear message over the course of the last week that the Scottish Government have to treat local government fairly in tomorrow’s settlement announcement. Continue reading COSLA: give us a break
Green MSP Andy Wightman delivered the annual Stephen Maxwell Memorial Lecture at SCVO’s annual general meeting at the Royal Society of Edinburgh in George Street last night. The MSP’s theme was ‘how to renew, refresh and revitalise’ democracy and the redistribution of ‘economic and political power’. Continue reading Refreshing democracy: Wightman proposes fiscal framework for local government
Staffing in Scotland’s NHS has increased by over 1,000 in the last year, taking workforce levels to a new record high. Continue reading Local MSP welcomes record high NHS staff levels
The Greens will pressure the Scottish Government to include measures to eradicating fuel poverty in its forthcoming budget after statistics published yesterday revealed the scale of the problem. Continue reading Urgent action needed to tackle fuel poverty, say Greens
Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith has highlighted the need to change the perceptions of gender from a young age. The local MSP was speaking in a parliamentary debate to recognise the start of 16 days of Action to End Violence Against Women and Girls. Continue reading Local MSP challenges gender stereotyping
Every year on 1st December people across the globe mark World AIDS Day: the international day to remember the 35 million people who have died worldwide from AIDS-related illnesses, to prevent new cases of HIV and to stand in solidarity with people living with the virus. Continue reading Local MSP pledges support on World Aids Day
The People’s Assembly Scotland has written to all group leaders in Scottish councils urging them to protect local services by challenging austerity. In return it has pledged to build a major campaign to support councillors prepared to make a stand. Continue reading People’s Assembly demands action on austerity
