Labour Lothians MSP, Sarah Boyack has written to Cabinet Secretary for Health, Neil Gray, seeking clarity over the next steps for the recently announced replacement eye hospital.
Last week’s budget brought the news campaigners have long been waiting for, that a new eye hospital is going ahead in Edinburgh.
This is after multiple U-turns from the Scottish Government and the current facility being not fit for purpose for 10 years.
Ms Boyack has been a long-time campaigner for the hospital and is now seeking more concrete next steps following the announcement.
In her letter, Ms Boyack highlights that patients and campaigners ‘need clarity’ and urges Neil Gray to lay out the timeline for delivering the hospital and when the construction work will commence.
She also seeks reassurances about whether Mr Gray will meet with stakeholders and campaigners to update them on the progress with the eye pavilion.
The fate of the current Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion was thrown into the spotlight recently when it was revealed that it would have to shut for a minimum of 6 months due to urgent repairs.
These repairs were further complicated by the discovery of asbestos.
The disrepair and age of the current building is one of the main reasons cited by campaigners as to why a new hospital is so desperately needed.
Commenting on her open letter, Sarah Boyack MSP said: “I am incredibly relieved that this project is finally going ahead.
“However, we have seen multiple U-turns in the past on the eye hospital.
“We need urgent clarity on the next steps.
“This project must be completed as soon as possible so that patients finally get the facility they deserve and require.
“I want to work constructively with Neil Gray on this.
“Patients and campaigners deserve clarity and I hope The Health Secretary takes up my suggestion to meet with stakeholders.”
Gordon Macdonald MSP said the Scottish Budget an “enormous step forward” in achieving the Scottish Government’s mission of eradicating child poverty in Edinburgh as progress begins in ending Labour’s two-child cap.
The two-child cap was introduced by the Tories as part of their programme of austerity and has been subsequently adopted by Labour as one of their policies, despite their previous promises to scrap it.
Across Scotland the cap impacts 83,000 children and 26,000 households – that’s 1,600 families in Edinburgh alone. By ending it the SNP government will lift 15,000 children out of poverty.
Commenting, the SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands said: “The two-child cap is an abhorrent policy that has harmed 1,600 households in Edinburgh.
“Yet it is another Tory policy which Labour has adopted as one of their own.
“With 83,000 children across Scotland impacted, it is right that this SNP Government has made the decision to end the cap once and for all – lifting 15,000 children out of poverty and making progress on the key mission of this government: to eradicate child poverty once and for all.
“It is disappointing that the Labour UK government has chosen to maintain the cap, and I would urge their colleagues in the Scottish Parliament to choose differently and back this budget; made for Scotland, by Scotland.”
“I have today resigned as Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council.
“The recent commentary on my personal life is detracting from the important work this Labour-led Council does for the people of Edinburgh.
“It undermines the dedicated efforts of my colleagues and Council officers. That’s why it’s time for me to step aside as Leader.
“It undermines the dedicated efforts of my colleagues and Council officers. That’s why it’s time for me to step aside as Leader.
“I have yet to be contacted by the police but want to reiterate that I will cooperate fully with their ongoing enquiries.
“I am hugely proud of what we’ve achieved for the Capital during my time as leader and truly believe that Edinburgh is a better, fairer city as a result.
“I’m also proud to have led a way of successfully doing politics across divides, finding a way to deliver on our priorities for our people and our city.”
LIB DEM Group leader Kevin Lang commented: “I’m pleased Cllr Day has resigned. The allegations made against him are extremely serious. The police investigation and other processes need to be allowed to run their course.
“For the Council, it’s now important to choose a new Leader who can focus properly on the big issues facing our City. We need to agree a new budget, grapple with a worsening crisis in homelessness, and have a big decision to take next month on the new visitor levy.
“Liberal Democrat councillors will be considering carefully how all of this is best achieved ahead of the next Council meeting and the election of a new Leader.”
Nominations opened on Friday (6 December) for candidates to stand in the forthcoming Colinton/Fairmilehead by-election.
The by-election is being held following the resignations of Councillor Marco Biagi (SNP) and Councillor Louise Spence (Lib Dems) last month.
On Thursday 23 January 2025, Colinton/Fairmilehead residents will go to the polls to elect two new councillors to represent the ward which also includes Bonaly, Dreghorn, Oxgangs and Swanston.
The current electorate is 19,907 and turnout at the most recent by-election was 37.4%.
A Formal Notice of Election was also published today explaining how to stand as a candidate, who is eligible to vote and how to make sure you are on the Electoral Register.
Voters have a range of options for casting their ballot – in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote.
In order to stand as a candidate, individuals must submit nomination papers, which are available on the Council website, by 4pm on Tuesday 17 December.
Returning Officer for the City of Edinburgh, Paul Lawrence said: “The Notice of Election signifies the official start of the election period for the Colinton / Fairmilehead ward.
“I would urge all residents in the ward to make sure they are registered and have their details or preference of how they would like to vote up to date in plenty of time.
“Anyone unsure about how to register, where to vote or how to vote by post can find more information on the Council website.”
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on 23 January 2025. Details of these will be announced in due course.
The election will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system where voters can rank candidates in order of preference rather than using a single cross. Voters can give a rank to as many or as few candidates as they like.
People aged 16 and over and all those legally resident – including foreign citizens – can register to vote in this election. Find out more about elections in Edinburgh and how to register to vote on the Council website.
The deadline to register to vote is Tuesday 7 January 2025, to apply for a postal vote the deadline is Wednesday 8 January 2025, and for a proxy vote the deadline is Wednesday 15 January 2025.
The leader of Edinburgh City Council, Labour’s Cammy Day, is being investigated by police over an allegation of inappropriate behaviour.
The Sunday Mail reported this morning that Forth councillor Day “bombarded Ukrainian refugees” with messages of a sexual nature.
The newspaper alleges he asked them sexually explicit questions, tried to meet them for wine dates and complimented them on their looks.
The Sunday Mail spoke to two Ukrainians who say Mr Day had been messaging them. They said they felt unable to ignore his unsolicited approaches due to his position within the council.
A spokeswoman for Edinburgh City Council said: “All matters raised with the chief executive and monitoring officer have been progressed through our established processes in consultation [with] our independent whistleblowing service, Safecall, and, where appropriate, Police Scotland.”
A Scottish Labour spokeswoman said: “The Labour Party takes all complaints seriously. They are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate action is taken.”
Labour’s leader in Scotland Anas Sarwar confirmed this morning that Mr Day has been suspended from the party pending the outcome of any investigation, but Mr Sarwar refused to comment further while investigations are ongoing.
A Police Scotland spokesman confirmed: “On Tuesday 22 October, we received a report of inappropriate behaviour. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”
Labour is the only the third biggest party on Edinburgh Council but Mr Day has led the local authority since May 2022 with support from the Lib Dems and the Scottish Conservatives. Both of these groups are now calling for his resignation.
Lib-Dem group leader Kevin Lang said this morning: “I have this morning written formally to Cllr Cammy Day to call on him to step down immediately as Leader of Edinburgh Council.
“The Liberal Democrat group has also tabled an emergency motion for Tuesday’s Policy Committee to agree he must now resign.”
Conservative councillor Iain Whyte said last night: “If Cammy Day has been suspended by Labour he can’t have their support to remain as Council Leader.
“He must step aside immediately. The Council as a whole can then decide a way forward.”
The SNP, the largest opposition party in Edinburgh, have also called for Cllr Day’s immediate resignation.
Cllr Simita Kumar, who leads the SNP group, said Mr Day should resign without delay.
She said on Twitter: “This is beyond shocking, I’m almost lost for words. @cllrcammyday needs to resign as Council Leader immediately.”
She later added: “Serious allegations have been made against Council Leader – Councillor Cammy Day.
“I have written to Paul Lawrence, Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council, to take immediate actions to safeguard the public, protect staff, and offer support to anyone impacted.”
The Scottish Green group have also called for Cammy Day’s ‘immediate resignation’:
Councillor Cammy Day has made no comment but his position is looking increasingly untenable.
It was a Scottish Budget where what was left unsaid was just as consequential as what Shona Robison mentioned in her 30-minute statement to the Scottish Parliament (writes the staff team at FRASER of ALLANDER INSTITUTE).
The Scottish Government will be hoping for many of the headlines to focus on the mitigation of the effect of the two-child limit from 2026-27. The Finance Secretary left this until last in the order to ensure maximum impact.
A very political announcement, then, given the timing of the election, and one that has no money attached to it (as far as we can tell) in the 2025-26 financial year – the year this Budget actually refers to. See more on this below.
There were also significant announcements on health spending, which is forecast to rise by 3.6% in real terms – significant growth, although as we have said frequently, how and where it is spent matters just as much as the envelope. There were also increases to the affordable housing supply programme, which was cut by a quarter last year but is now just only 2.5% below 2023-24 in real terms.
At this point, we must welcome the change in presentation of the Scottish Government’s plans, which are now compared with their best estimate of the position for the current financial year. This has helped us meaningfully scrutinise plans, although some wrinkles remain to be ironed out such as in-year transfers to local government, and which we hope will be baselined in future.
Two-child limit
The biggest surprise in the budget (although social media had got wind of it slightly ahead of time) was the promise to ‘mitigate, as far as possible, the impacts of the two-child limit from 2026.’
This was clearly a last-minute addition to the budget. The Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC) stated they received it too late to add to their figures, and too late for any analysis to be included in the budget document itself or the Equality and Fairer Scotland Budget Statement. This lack of detail is troubling given the potential cost of funding this is likely to be in the region of £200m. There are far too many unknowns to say anything conclusive about impact, but there is no doubt that it would boost efforts towards the statutory child poverty targets (albeit not by nearly enough to meet them by just doing this alone).
How will the Scottish Government fund this? Well, they may be hoping that they won’t have to, and the UK Government will announce the abolition of the policy UK wide (which is widely expected to happen at some point) before the Scottish Government have to put their hands in their pocket.
Whilst early 2026 is their target date, this was heavily caveated in the statement as being dependent on the UK Government giving the Scottish Government the data to allow them to operationalise it. Given recent experience of rolling out the Scottish Child Payment, which took years, there are plenty of reasons why this may take longer than those target timescales set out. Yet in the meantime, the Scottish Government can take the moral high ground.
Relief for hospitality businesses
The Finance Secretary announced a 40% relief for small hospitality businesses that at first glance could appear very similar to the 40% relief offered by Rachel Reeves for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) businesses. However, it is a much more limited measure than the one offered in England – just for hospitality only, and only for those businesses who are “small” i.e. have a rateable value of less than £51,000.
To give a sense of scale, the SFC have estimated that this relief will cost £22m: far short of the Barnett funding generated by the measure in England of £147m.
ScotWind funding (partially) restored
Early in her statement, the Finance Secretary announced that some of the ScotWind funding that had been drawn down to fill gaps in spending in the statement in September has not been used for day-to-day spending, and instead will be retained for capital spending in 2025-26 – “for exactly the kind of long-term investment it should be spent on.”
ScotWind monies are revenues generated from the sale of offshore wind licences to energy companies. As they are one-off windfall payments from the exploitation of Scotland’s resources, they should really be used to invest in infrastructure to ensure that Scotland’s economy benefits on an ongoing basis from this sale. In particular, it should be focussed on capital spending that helps with the energy transition.
However, it is still the case that some of this fund has been used to plug gaps in day-to-day spending, even if some of the money has now been returned. The Scottish Government has used £160 million for resource funding in 2024-25. Now, in 2025-26, the Scottish Government plans to use ScotWind mostly to support £326 million of capital spending, with £10 million still used for resource.
This leaves a remaining balance of £219 million to support capital or resource spending in future years. Here’s hoping it is explicitly set aside for investment spending.
Lessons learned?
A surprising decision was to not account for the certain increase in employment costs due to the employer National Insurance Contributions that will come into effect on 1 April. As we mentioned in the last few days, we expect this will cost around £500m, and it will be an ongoing cost as the increase is permanent.
The Scottish Government doesn’t yet have confirmation as to how much they will receive from the Treasury in compensation, but any of the figures discussed in the media will be below that amount – perhaps around £300m. This means that the Scottish Government has a £200m shortfall in funding – perhaps more if it decides to compensate arms-length organisations providing public services.
What we have learned from the SFC’s documents, however, is that this shortfall remains unaccounted for in the Scottish Government’s budgeting. This is an extremely risky approach, and one which sets up a possible need for further emergency measures during the course of the next financial year – leaving us wondering whether any lessons have been learned from going into a new year without fully setting aside budget cover for what are known costs, as highlighted by the recent Audit Scotland report.
Beyond next year, there are some difficult news on the income tax forecast as well. The Scottish Government is looking at a £700m negative reconciliation in 2027-28, largely due to a much larger deduction to the block grant related to 2024-25 than that which was built into that year’s budget. This is still an early forecast, and much might change until then – reconciliations have changed significantly in the past. But if it comes to pass, it’ll be at a point when growth in funding for public services will be slowing– meaning that difficult decisions have been kicked into the future rather than planned for.
IMPROVING NHS, SCRAPPING TWO CHILD CAP AND DELIVERING UNIVERSAL WINTER SUPPORT
The SNP Government’s Budget will deliver progress for Scotland, by Scotland – after listening carefully to the people of Scotland and taking action on their concerns.
SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands Gordon Macdonald highlighted key SNP policies which will be taken forward in the Budget which will benefit people in Edinburgh including:
· Record levels of NHS funding – throwing the weight of the government behind NHS improvement
· Reintroducing universal winter heating payments for pensioners after they were axed by the UK Labour Government
· Scrapping Labour’s Two Child Cap – lifting 15,000 children out of poverty
· Increased investment in housing, supporting the delivery of 8,000 homes
· Delivering a fair tax system – meaning the majority of people in Scotland pay less tax than in the rest of the UK
Commenting Gordon said: “I am delighted at the support John Swinney’s first Budget is offering for people in Edinburgh. It will deliver real progress on people’s priorities – and will offer hope, putting in place the investment for Scotland to in the future.
“The First Minister has listened to what people have told him on the NHS – that’s why he is investing record amounts and throwing the whole weight of the government behind improving the health service, making it easier for people in Edinburgh to see their GP, bringing down waiting times, and funding the replacement of the Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh.
“People across Edinburgh have been let down by the UK Labour Government. While the UK Government’s Budget treated Scotland as an afterthought – this is a Budget that puts the people of Scotland first.
“While they cut winter fuel payments, the SNP is introducing universal support, while they push kids in Edinburgh into poverty with the cruel two-child cap, the SNP will scrap it and give thousands of kids a better chance in life.
“All this is being achieved while delivering the fairest tax system in the UK – with the majority of people in Scotland paying less tax than south of the border.
“This SNP Government have and will continue to listen to people’s concerns and take strong, decisive action to deliver on their priorities.”
Hundreds of individuals and organisations to benefit
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has said an additional £34 million in culture and arts spending next year will be “game-changing” for the sector.
Wednesday’s draft Scottish Budget 2025-26 will see culture and arts spending increase by £34 million, with £20 million of this being channelled through Creative Scotland for its competitive multi-year funding programme for artists and cultural organisations.
Speaking at the National Gallery of Scotland, Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said significant levels of public investment in the culture and arts sector would be coupled with an examination of the structures around culture funding to ensure as much money as possible goes directly to artists and organisations.
He confirmed that the review of Creative Scotland’s remit and functions will begin early next year and will aim to publish its recommendations in summer 2025.
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “Scotland’s arts and culture are at the very soul of our nation. They speak to how we see the world, how we share ideas, and how our people can give expression to their hopes.
“Our draft budget could not be clearer in our steadfast support for Scotland’s arts and culture sector. We aim to provide an additional £34 million next year to bolster the sector. This is a game-changing increase.
“This will enable Creative Scotland to roll-out its multi-year funding programme – ensuring that the highest ever number of artists and organisations receive regular funding.
“We also plan to increase funding for Screen Scotland, give uplifts to our National Performing Companies, double our Festivals EXPO funding, provide above inflation increase to Sistema and the Youth Music Initiative, and restart the Culture Collective programme alongside with a range of other activity.
“This budget brings us half way to reaching our five-year commitment of a recurring £100 million increase for the sector in just two years. For 2026-27, subject to the normal budget processes, our aim is to deliver a further £20 million increase.”
The draft Scottish Budget 2025-26 was published on 4 December 2024. It commits an additional £34 million resource funding to arts and culture in Scotland.
Within this, a further £20 million will be provided to Creative Scotland for its multi-year funding programme in 2025-26. Funding will also increase by £4.5 million for Scotland’s National Collections and £1 million for the National Performing Companies.
The draft Scottish Budget 2025-26 also commits to an increase of £4 million funding for Scottish Festivals, doubling the EXPO Festival Fund to expand its reach beyond festivals in Edinburgh and Glasgow as well as providing funding for the Festivals Partnership. There will also be an additional £2 million for Screen Scotland to support work to attract international investment and large-scale productions to Scotland.
The Culture Collective programme will be restarted with £4 million to benefit Scottish communities, community organisations, individual artists and freelancers.
In addition, £270,000 has been allocated to enable the creation of a single digital library interface which directs people to Scotland’s public libraries, allowing the public to access information, online content and a national e-resources lending area to ensure equitable access to information and reading material across Scotland.
There will also be £4 million allocated for a new Scottish Culture & Heritage Capacity Fund. This fund recognises the significant challenges faced by heritage and culture organisations across Scotland.
Social Justice Secretary writes to counterpart seeking early engagement
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has written to Liz Kendall, the UK Work and Pensions Secretary, to follow up on the commitment to scrap the two-child limit from 2026.
The Scottish Government’s plan to mitigate the limit on Universal Credit, announced as part of the 2025-26 budget, will require cooperation from the Department for Work and Pensions to enable systems development and data-sharing.
In the letter to Ms Kendall, Ms Somerville said: “Eradicating child poverty in Scotland is a national mission and we believe that this policy will be a key driver in delivering that mission.
“The Scottish Government is committing the resources required to begin the preparatory work in the coming financial year with a view to making the first mitigation payments in 2026-27.
“The Finance Secretary was careful to note that co-operation with your Department will be necessary, which I understand will primarily need to centre around systems development and data sharing.
“We will also want to work with you to ensure that any mitigation payments are disregarded as income for benefit calculations. The Scottish Government is keen to progress this work as soon as possible. I would therefore be keen to meet before Christmas to discuss our policy and how, together, we might best be kept appraised of progress as officials take forward this work.”
First Minister John Swinney will welcome political leaders to Scotland today as he hosts the 42nd Summit meeting of the British-Irish Council.
The First Minister will hold talks with the UK Prime Minister, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, Prif Weinidog Cymru (the First Minister of Wales), the First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, the Chief Minister of Jersey and the Chief Minister of Guernsey.
This main focus of the summit – which marks the 25th anniversary of the first meeting of the British-Irish Council – will see leaders gather for substantive talks on financing a just transition and tackling climate change.
First Minister John Swinney said last night: “Scotland will welcome political leaders to our capital city as we gather for the 42nd Summit of the British-Irish Council – a meeting which also marks 25 years since the first council was held following the Good Friday Agreement.
“As we reflect on 25 years, it is testament to the value of the British-Irish Council that the partnership conceived a quarter of a century ago has prevailed in the midst of unprecedented change and challenge.
“The meeting in Edinburgh provides a forum for us to discuss the greatest challenge facing the next 25 years that of climate change and delivering a just transition. The need to share our knowledge, our efforts and our actions is no less urgent today than it was when the first British-Irish Council meeting was held in 1999.
“As First Minister of Scotland, achieving a just transition is integral to the four main priorities of my government. Scotland needs to attract investment to tackle climate change and grasp the opportunities of that journey to Net Zero in a way that grows our economy and helps provide investment to tackle child poverty and improve public services.”
The Summit will be attended by political leaders from the BIC’s eight Member Administrations and will focus on the theme of ‘Financing a Just Transition’. Leaders will also discuss topical political developments.
This will be the sixth Summit hosted by the Scottish Government. The last was in November 2020 and was virtual owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. Previous BIC Summits hosted by the Scottish Government have taken place in Glasgow (June 2016), Stirling (June 2012), South Queensferry (September 2008) and New Lanark (November 2002).
This Summit in Edinburgh will also mark the 25th anniversary of the very first BIC Summit, which took place at Lancaster House in London in December 1999.
The British-Irish Council was formally established following the Good Friday Agreement and brings together political leaders from the Northern Ireland Executive, the Government of Ireland, the UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government, the Isle of Man Government, the Government of Jersey, and the Government of Guernsey.
The following political leaders are attending the 42nd meeting of the British Irish Council in Edinburgh:
THINK TANK AND FORMER COUNCIL CHIEF EXECUTIVES JOIN FORCES
Reform Scotland and the Mercat Group collaborate on ideas for local decentralisation
Former local authority chiefs ask: “Has Holyrood become Scotland’s biggest Council?”
Reform Scotland, the non-partisan think tank, and The Mercat Group, an informal network of former chief executives of Scottish local authorities with over 220 years of public service between them, including 70 years as chief executives, are today announcing a collaboration.
Jointly, Reform Scotland and The Mercat Group will advocate for decentralisation of power from the Scottish Parliament to local authorities, along the lines originally envisaged by the architects of the devolution project.
The collaboration begins today with an article – Parliament or Council?: 25 years of evidence– written on behalf of the Mercat Group by Bill Howat, former Chief Executive of Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar, in which he states that “any reasonable, rational review of that evidence could only conclude that it has not been a success in terms of devolving power beyond Edinburgh”.
Bill Howat, former Chief Executive of Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar said:“Any reasonable, rational review of that evidence could only conclude that it has not been a success in terms of devolving power beyond Edinburgh. In fact, all the evidence points to growing centralisation of power in Holyrood. That is not good for local democracy, nor does it seem like good governance.
“There is now a need to revisit and reset the way all public services in Scotland are organised, delivered and financed. We should create a Scottish Civic Convention to take forward the public conversation necessary to conduct such a review.
“There may be other options but the central aim should be to develop a transition plan to ensure decisions on the delivery of all public services are taken at the lowest local level consistent with democratic and financial accountability.
“Scottish local government is in danger of becoming the delivery arm of the Scottish Government; indeed some would argue we have already reached that position. We might fairly ask: has Holyrood become Scotland’s biggest council?”
Chris Deerin, Director of Reform Scotland, said:“At a quarter-century old, now is the time to re-examine those areas of devolution which have not delivered as we all hoped they would. Local government is one of these.
“Other countries enjoy the benefits of properly empowered local government, fulfilling most of the day-to-day operational roles upon which people depend, with central government adopting a more strategic outlook.
“In Scotland, we are failing to realise the potential of local freedom and diversity. Decentralisation is long overdue, and we are delighted to be teaming up with the Mercat Group to generate the ideas needed to make it happen.”
Bill Howat’s blog – Parliament or Council?: 25 years of evidence – can be read here
