Tag: Politics

Samaritans Scotland: Why Suicide Prevention Belongs at the Centre of Government Policy

“In an increasingly turbulent economic climate, people need the support of frontline services like Samaritans all the way down to local community services that outreach to the most rural areas of Scotland.” –  Joel Borseth

It’s a new year, and many people will think of a fresh start, a clean slate, and they may have some personal goals they’ve set for the year ahead. Whether they last longer than January is a different story. But this year, there’s a renewed opportunity for Scotland, and the people who call it home. A chance that we at Samaritans want to take with both hands. 

When politicians and parties bring their manifestos to the people of Scotland, with promises of a brighter future ahead, what kind of difference is really possible? 

The kind that saves lives. 

Life can be wonderful. Life can be tough. Relationships. Work. Money. Loneliness. Mental health. Self-harm. We can all struggle. Any place. Any time. One in four of us have had suicidal thoughts.  

Suicide is often viewed as a health issue only – but this isn’t the way we need to look at suicide to be able to save lives. Suicide is complex, and often suicidal feelings arise from a multitude of factors rather than one single issue. The next Scottish Government needs to treat suicide in the same way.  

We need to do more to help people before they reach crisis point. Suicide prevention needs to be embedded across government policy, from social care to finance to employment.  

We recently launched our manifesto, ‘Five Priorities to Save Lives’ ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections in May this year. We’re asking the next Scottish government to make prevention a priority. 

Our asks are based on research and evidence, and on the insight of people with lived and living experience of suicide. If delivered, we believe that it we will begin to see a fairer, more compassionate Scotland where fewer lives are lost to suicide. 

Our five priorities to save lives: 

·       Increase funding for frontline mental health services  

·       Deliver a Minimum Income Guarantee for Scotland  

·       End harmful stigma through workforce training  

·       Increase support for people in prison 

·       Increase resourcing for community services 

At the heart of our manifesto is our Lived Experience Advisory Group. This group of people come together with us to share their insights and perspectives as people with lived or living experiences related to suicide or bereavement by suicide.  

Joel Borseth, one of the group members, shared why these five asks are fundamental in helping others through suicidal crisis and into recovery: “As an individual who has had Lived Experience of crisis, mental health services – both in the local community and from frontline services – played a pivotal role in not just my recovery, but in enabling me to see my own worth in supporting others on their journey to recovery.  

“Committing to provide more funds to mental health services, both within the NHS and other national to local services, can enable some individuals, such as myself, to not just to have a better mental wellbeing, but to ‘pass on’ that support to other individuals both in a volunteer and employed setting. 

“It is with this experience and confidence that I am able to contribute to the Lived Experience Advisory Group at Samaritans Scotland. 

“If I had not had support from these services at the right time over ten years ago, I would have never been able to contribute to society and likely continued to struggle with my wellbeing for many years.  
 
“In an increasingly turbulent economic climate, people need the support of frontline services like Samaritans all the way down to local community services that outreach to the most rural areas of Scotland.  

“For myself, it was just one simple conversation from that made me believe I could have positive life experiences twelve years ago again that changed everything for the better.  

“I know that I have provided similar moments for others in their journey to recovery. Funding for mental health services does not vanish into a void – people like me can change their whole lives around from the support this funding provides.”   

Join us in calling for the next Scottish Government to make suicide prevention a priority. 

Visit www.samaritans.org/manifesto for more information and how to contact your local candidate. 

Donate to Samaritans | Donations | Samaritans Charity Donations 

European Movement in Scotland: Political heavyweights limber up for rejoin EU debate at Glasgow Uni

SNP’s Alyn Smith leads for rejoin while Political scientist Dr. Michael Scanlan opposes motion

Two heavyweight political thinkers will go head-to-head on Friday 16th January when they debate the motion ‘that Scotland and the UK should rejoin the European Union.‘

Leading in support of the motion is former SNP MP and MEP Alyn Smith. Glasgow University political scientist Dr. Michael Scanlan will oppose the proposition.

The debate has been organised by Glasgow University Dialectical Society. Several of its student members will speak respectively for and against the motion.

The debate was proposed and is being supported by the European Movement in Scotland (EMiS). Alyn Smith, who is a vice-president of EMiS, says: “There are undergraduates at universities across the UK who were still in primary school when the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016.

“They were not given a vote or a voice. They didn’t get to engage in the arguments for Remain or Leave. The debate at Glasgow University Union will help to engage a new generation in the case for Europe.”

Colson Merrill, Convener of Debates, says that Glasgow University has a global reputation for its debating. “Our debates are famous for the quality of the oratory and the expertise and intellectual grasp of speakers, both guests and students.

“Part of our tradition is that we encourage speakers to be respectful of their opponents. Speakers who deeply understand their subject and deploy facts, logic and humour are usually the most persuasive.”

Erasmus returns

Following sustained campaigning by organisations including EMiS, the London government announced in early December that the UK will rejoin the Erasmus + scheme. The Erasmus student exchange scheme was previously mainly accessed by students in higher education.

However, Erasmus will now be open to young people from a wide range of education, training courses and jobs, including apprentices and those in specialist training, including agriculture and sport, and people with disabilities.

David Clarke, chair of EMiS says: “The UK returning to Erasmus is very welcome. Our young people deserve to live in a Scotland and a UK where they can benefit from being Europeans.”

Stronger parental leave rights to give millions of working families the “security they deserve”

New day one rights to parental leave set for April

  • Over 18 million workers across the UK to benefit from stronger protections at work, with most insecure workers set to gain the most.   
  • New day one rights from April confirmed for parental leave, whilst bereaved partners set to gain further rights to paternity leave. 
  • Changes create more secure jobs and raise living standards, ensuring economic growth is felt by working people in every part of the UK.   

Millions of workers who were previously denied time off for the birth of their child will become eligible for new day one rights to parental leave from April, through measures being laid at Westminster today (Monday 12 January). 

The changes, which stem from the recently passed Employment Rights Act, will see parents no longer be forced to make the heart-wrenching choice between being there for the first weeks of their child’s life or going back to work to avoid losing their job.  

An additional 32,000 more dads per year will be able to access Paternity Leave immediately, as a mother would with maternity leave.  

This comes as the Government continues its Parental Leave and Pay Review, which will assess the whole system – from maternity and paternity leave to shared parental leave – to see how it can work better for parents and employers.  

Around 390,000 people are estimated to be out of work due to caring responsibilities but want a job, including parents. The reforms to parental leave include the right to take Unpaid Parental Leave from the first day in a new job, giving a further 1.5 million parents more flexibility to share caring responsibilities.

If even 1% of those out of work were able to take up a part-time job as a result of this move, it could boost economic output by around £150m a year. 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “For too long, working people were left without the basic rights and security they deserve. That ends now.

“The changes we’re bringing in will mean every new parent can properly take time off when they have a child, and no one is forced to work while ill just to make ends meet. This is about giving working families the support they need to balance work, health and the cost of living.

“We’re delivering a modern deal for workers. Stronger sick pay, parental leave from day one, and protections that put dignity back at the heart of work. Because when we respect and reward those who keep Britain running, we build a stronger economy for everyone.”

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: “No one should have to worry about whether they can take time off when their baby arrives, or lose pay simply because they’ve fallen ill.   

“Our improvements to sick pay and parental leave are about giving workers and their families the security they deserve. They will ensure our drive for growth reaches everyone through providing secure, fair paying jobs and giving support to people when they need it most.”

Following campaigning from individuals such as Aaron Horsey, a new Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave will also be introduced from April, providing up to 52 weeks of leave for fathers and partners who lose their partner before their child’s first birthday. This fixes the previously unfair system where bereaved partners had to rely on the compassion of an employer in order to be granted time off to grieve and care for their child. 

Aaron Horsey, campaigner for Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave, said: “Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave ensures that new parents and their employers have a clear route for support at one of the most difficult moments imaginable. It gives them the time and space they need to grieve, care, and begin to rebuild their lives with dignity. 

“By embedding this protection in law, it shows how listening to lived experience can lead to practical, compassionate change that will support families for generations to come.”

Analysis published last week showed that over 18 million workers are set to benefit from the Government’s wider Plan to Make Work Pay, with it particularly supporting the lowest-paid workers, those in insecure jobs, and people facing unfair treatment at work.   

The benefits in the Employment Rights Act significantly outweigh the costs. By restricting exploitative practices like unscrupulous fire and rehire, and giving more workers access to flexible working and guaranteed hours contracts, this country will see improved worker wellbeing, boosted productivity, and a more level playing field for employers. This is all worth billions of pounds per year and is expected to deliver a small yet positive impact on economic growth. 

The government is also bringing in changes to ensure up to 1.3 million additional workers in lower-paid or part-time roles are able to access Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and make sure everyone can access it from the first day of illness.   

This is a substantial shift from the former three-day wait for SSP to kick in, which left people working whilst ill risking increased long-term sickness, one of key factors draining British businesses and the wider economy. 

By improving the quality of work and ensuring that everyone has job security when it matters most, the Government is delivering on its mission to drive growth that is felt by everyone. 

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “The Employment Rights Act will deliver vital common-sense reforms for millions of people across the country – including sick pay for all workers and better leave for parents.  

“Britain will now be brought into line with other countries where workers already have better protections. And crucially, the legislation will give working people the higher living standards and secure incomes that are needed to build a decent life. 

“Good employers will also welcome these changes – the Act protects them from competitors whose business models are built on low-paid, insecure employment.” 

Simon Kelleher, Head of Policy and Influencing at Working Families, said: “Day-one rights for paternity and unpaid parental leave are a positive step forward. Removing the 26-week qualifying period means parents can change jobs without losing essential leave entitlements, something we know has held many people back and can trap families in roles that no longer work for them. 

“To build on this progress, we are looking forward to continuing our engagement with the Government’s ongoing Parental Leave Review to ensure all parents can access a meaningful period of leave.”

Niall Mackenzie, Acas Chief Executive, said: “It can be hugely stressful if a worker is not paid during an illness or dealing with a major life upheaval like a birth or bereavement.  

“These new measures give greater protections for working people that get ill, and create capacity to handle unpredictable moments when they need it the most. Reducing stress and anxiety for staff can also help support good relationships with employers and support business growth.”

Resident Doctors’ strike action averted in Scotland

Unions consider revised pay and contract reform offer

Resident Doctors have called off proposed strike action across Scotland after the British Medical Association (BMA) Scottish Resident Doctors Committee agreed to ballot members on an offer of 4.25% in 2025-26 and 3.75% in 2026-27.

The committee is recommending that their members accept the two-year pay deal offered by the Scottish Government – that matches one already accepted by nurses and other healthcare staff – alongside a separate package of contractual reform.

The combined offer will see an 8.16% cumulative pay uplift over two years and an additional investment in contractual reform over the same period.

The total investment in the offer for both pay and contract reform over the two-year period will be £133 million. The BMA will now consult their members on the deal with planned industrial action on 13 January no longer going ahead. 

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “It is great news that we have reached an agreement that has allowed next week’s industrial action to be halted.

“This avoids the cancelled operations and disruption to patient care that no one, including resident doctors, wanted to see. Days of intensive and constructive talks have got us here and I thank the BMA, and my team, for getting us to this point.

“The combined offer will see the same pay deal which nurses and NHS support staff agreed. It also includes additional investment in contractual reform over the same period, providing a total investment of £133 million over this time. 

“It further underlines our commitment to the 2023 pay and contract reform agreement. I hope Resident Doctors will now vote to accept.” 

Scottish Budget: Carers Can’t Wait!

STATEMENT from NATIONAL CARERS ORGANISATIONS

On Tuesday 13 January, the Scottish budget will be announced.

Right now, unpaid carers and local carer organisations are under huge pressure. Cuts to services mean carers are caring for longer and more intensively, often while living in poverty.

This cannot continue.

The National Carer Organisations are calling on the Scottish Government to:

🔵 Provide secure, long‑term funding for local carer organisations

🔵 Properly fund the Right to a Break so carers can take time to rest

🔵Take real action to reduce carer poverty and improve health and wellbeing

Read the statement from the National Carer Organisations in full:

National Carer Organisation’s Statement on the Scottish Budget

The Scottish Budget will be announced on Tuesday 13th January 2026. Unpaid carers and local carer organisations are facing considerable challenges as the pressure on our health and social care system mounts.

Cuts to budgets and services mean more unpaid carers are caring for longer and more intensively, often while living in poverty.

The National Carer Organisations urge the Scottish Government to ensure the upcoming budget provides secure and sufficient funding to support both unpaid carers and local carer organisations. This support must include sufficient funding to support the implementation of the right to a break, as well as targeted measures to alleviate poverty and improve health and wellbeing.

Unpaid carers, including young carers, encounter a range of complex and diverse challenges that affect many aspects of their lives. The estimated value of unpaid care in Scotland is £15.9 billion annually. It is imperative that no unpaid carer experiences poverty due to their caring responsibilities.

The National Carer Organisations believe that the Scottish Government has a significant opportunity through the Scottish Budget to take decisive action, reinforce its commitment to recognising unpaid carers, and address some of the primary challenges they face.

We are calling on the Scottish Government in its budget to:

  • Invest to ensure unpaid carers can have a break from caring, including in developing the Right to a Break from Caring and by increasing voluntary sector short break funding.
  • Invest in support for unpaid carers by sustaining local carer organisations, in particular compensating for the extra costs they face from increased employer National Insurance Contributions and the forthcoming rise in the Real Living Wage from April 2026.
  • Invest in reducing poverty amongst unpaid carers and those they care for by delivering on commitments to improve Carer Support Payment, introducing a new payment for older adult unpaid carers, and making meaningful progress towards abolishing social care charges.

About the National Care Organisations

 The National Carer Organisations in Scotland are Carers Trust Scotland, Carers Scotland, Coalition of Carers in Scotland, MECOPP, Shared Care Scotland and the Scottish Young Carers Services Alliance.

Together we have a shared vision that all Scotland’s unpaid carers will feel valued, included and supported as equal partners in the provision of care. We aim to achieve this through the representation of unpaid carers and giving them a voice at a national level.

We believe we can deliver more for unpaid carers by working together to share our knowledge and experience, and by focusing our collective efforts on achieving improvements in areas of policy and practice that are of greatest concern to unpaid carers.

https://www.carersnet.org/national-carer-organisations…/

£10m emergency support for families

Two-child limit mitigation funding for 2025-26 reinvested to tackle child poverty

More support will be available to families and households to help cover the cost of life’s essentials and to deal with emergencies.

First Minister John Swinney has confirmed that £10 million originally earmarked in 2025-26 to support the two-child limit mitigation payment in Scotland will be reallocated to tackling child poverty.

The majority of the funding will be split between charities and government programmes that provide emergency financial support, including:

  • £5.5 million additional funding for the Scottish Welfare Fund. The fund is administered by local authorities and provides people on low incomes with emergency grants if they are facing crisis, homelessness or other housing or caring challenges
  • An additional £0.55 million for Aberlour Children’s Charity and £1.5 million for Children First to provide extra emergency support to families in crisis
  • £1.5 million for the Corra Foundation to distribute additional emergency funds via local organisations

A further £1 million will support various strands of the Scottish Government’s national Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2022-2026, including parental employability schemes, funding to support women back into the workforce, additional investment into the King’s Trust’s NHS employability programmes, and targeted support for households experiencing homelessness.

Visiting children’s charity Children First, First Minister John Swinney said: “When I became First Minister, I said that I will pursue priorities that will make Scotland the best our country can be, and the most important priority that I have pursued in government has been that of eradicating child poverty.

“We have made progress. Scotland is the only part of the UK where relative child poverty rates fell in the last year. Our investment in a more dignified and generous social security system, funded childcare, free school meals and free bus travel for under-22s is putting more money in families’ pockets.

“However, as we start 2026, there are still far too many children in Scotland growing up hungry, or cold, and unable to reach their full potential. That is unacceptable.

“Today’s announcement will provide some immediate short-term relief for individuals and families facing the most challenging of circumstances. Our local authorities and charities have well-established means of getting support out quickly to people in need.

“Next week we will set out in more detail our intention to put tackling child poverty at the heart of the next Scottish Budget and I look forward to unveiling landmark interventions to drive this work forward.”

Chief Executive of Children First, Scotland’s national children’s charity, Mary Glasgow said: “These funds from the Scottish Government will allow Children First to offer life changing and immediate support to thousands of children as part of the national mission to eradicate child poverty.

“Through our national support line we will be able to reach more children and families to offer the financial, practical and emotional support they need to improve their circumstances and tackle the hardships they face in the short and longer term.

“Any family in Scotland in need of help can contact Children First’s friendly, specialist support line team  365 days a year by calling 08000 28 22 33 or starting a web chat at www.childrenfirst.org.uk/supportline.”

Chief Executive of Aberlour Justina Murray said: “Aberlour is delighted to receive this funding boost from the Scottish Government for our Urgent Assistance Fund.

“We know that families living in poverty particularly struggle with the cost of living during the winter months, with the post-Christmas period particularly challenging and often very bleak.

“This additional funding will be used to provide emergency cash grants via our UAF to families in desperate need for essentials like heating, food, warm clothing and bedding.

“This generous contribution by the Scottish Government will ensure that around 1,660 families living in poverty will have the basic essentials they need this winter such as food on the table, adequate clothing for their children and a warm home at night.”

The Scottish Welfare Fund is made up of two different grants (Crisis Grant and Community Care Grant) which can be applied for through your local authority and do not need to be paid back.

To apply for a grant from the Scottish Welfare Fund you must be 16 or older and on a low income or getting certain benefits.

Labour’s handling of Foysol Choudhury MSP raises serious questions of Racism and Due Process

THE PUZZLING CASE OF FOYSOL CHOUDHURY

The administrative suspension and effective deselection of Scotland’s first Bangladeshi Muslim MSP—without a concluded investigation or formal complaint exposes troubling inconsistencies in Labour’s internal processes and raises wider concerns about Islamophobia and racial bias within the party.

The treatment of Foysol Chowdhury MSP by the Labour Party raises profound and troubling questions about fairness, due process, and whether institutional racism and Islamophobia continue to operate within the party (writes Cllr HABIB RAHMAN, Independent Councillor, Former Lord Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne).

Foysol Chowdhury made history in 2021 when he became Scotland’s first Bangladeshi Muslim MSP. Since his election, he has served his constituents diligently, taken on multiple shadow cabinet roles, and built a strong reputation as a hard-working and effective parliamentarian.

Within the British Bangladeshi community across the UK, his political success was widely seen as a breakthrough moment—proof that politics could finally reflect the diversity of modern Britain.

Beyond politics, Foysol is a successful businessman, human rights campaigner, and philanthropist. He is also a devoted family man, married for over 30 years with two adult children.

In August 2025, Foysol underwent the standard reselection process for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. At a full members’ hustings held on 13 August, he received unanimous support and was democratically selected as Labour’s candidate for Edinburgh Northern.

What followed has been nothing short of a political and personal ordeal.

On 25 September 2025, Foysol was informed by email that he had been placed under “administrative suspension” by the Labour Party’s Governance and Legal Unit (GLU) following an alleged serious conduct complaint. No details were provided. He was not told the nature of the allegation, when it was made, who made it, or even whether a formal complaint existed.

Almost immediately, media speculation erupted, falsely portraying Foysol as a sexual predator and suggesting allegations involving a female staff member.

This speculation was later publicly corrected by the GLU, which confirmed that reports of sexual misconduct were false and that the matter related instead to an allegation of bullying. By that point, however, the damage to Foysol’s reputation had already been done.

More than three months later, Foysol remains suspended. He has not been interviewed, asked for a statement, or given any meaningful opportunity to respond. His solicitors were informed by the GLU in November that the “assessment could not be completed unless the complainant decided to submit a formal complaint”.

This raises an extraordinary question: how can an elected representative be suspended indefinitely on the basis of a complaint that may not even formally exist?

Despite this unresolved situation, Scottish Labour proceeded as though Foysol no longer existed. In December 2025, party officials announced that applications had opened to “fill the vacancy” in Edinburgh Northern, using an all-women shortlist. This is despite the fact that Foysol had already been selected by members and no finding had been made against him.

A shortlist of three candidates was approved, with a hustings scheduled for January 2026. Notably, the shortlist contains no candidates of colour. For a party that routinely speaks about diversity and representation, this is deeply concerning.

I want to be absolutely clear on one point. Foysol Chowdhury is a friend. However, as a lifelong campaigner against bullying and harassment, I would be among the first to condemn him if he were found guilty of bullying or harassment of any kind. No one should be above accountability. But accountability requires evidence, due process, and fairness—not whispers, leaks, and indefinite suspension.

I also speak from personal experience. I left the Labour Party in January 2024 after repeatedly challenging Islamophobia and racism within its structures. I did so in the hope that the party would reflect, reform, and improve. Sadly, I see no evidence that this has happened. If anything, under the current leadership, the situation has worsened.

There is also a clear and troubling precedent that exposes a double standard. I submitted a formal complaint to the Labour Party on 8 March 2022 against a sitting Labour councillor. Despite this, that councillor—who is white—was permitted to remain on the ballot paper as a Labour candidate in the May 2022 local elections.

The GLU delayed imposing any administrative suspension until after the councillor had submitted their nomination papers to Newcastle City Council. Only then was a 12-month suspension imposed. That councillor went on to win the seat as a Labour candidate, served the suspension period, and later returned to the party.

This stands in stark contrast to the treatment of Foysol Choudhury—a Black Muslim MSP—who has been suspended without a concluded investigation, without a formal complaint, and effectively removed from selection.

What we are witnessing in Foysol Choudhury’s case is an effective deselection without investigation, a punishment without a verdict, and a complete abandonment of one of Labour’s most prominent minority representatives. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that this case would have been handled very differently had Foysol not been a Bangladeshi Muslim man.

Under Keir Starmer’s leadership, Labour increasingly appears detached from the principles of justice, equality, and solidarity it once claimed to uphold. The handling of this case by Scottish Labour and the GLU risks reinforcing the perception that the party is comfortable sidelining minority voices when they become inconvenient.

The Labour Party must act urgently. Either there is a formal complaint that can be investigated promptly and fairly, or there is not. If there is no formal complaint, Foysol Choudhury should be reinstated immediately, his suspension lifted, and his democratic selection respected.

An unreserved apology is owed—not only to him, but to the communities who saw his election as a symbol of progress. Anything less will confirm the belief that Labour has failed one of its own—and in doing so, failed the values it claims to stand for.

Taken together, the evidence in this case leads to a deeply troubling conclusion: that racism and Islamophobia remain real, unresolved problems within the Labour Party’s internal culture and decision-making processes.

HABIB RAHMAN

Venezuela: Starmer shies away from criticising illegal US action

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued the following statement yesterday:

‘The UK has long supported a transition of power in Venezuela. We regarded Maduro as an illegitimate President and we shed no tears about the end of his regime.

‘I reiterated my support for international law this morning. The UK government will discuss the evolving situation with US counterparts in the days ahead as we seek a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate government that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people.’

Other political leaders have been braver in their condemnation:

First Minister John Swinney has commented on the unfolding situation in Venezuela, urging the international community to ensure that de-escalation, diplomacy and democracy are the foundations of what follows.

YOUR PARTY leader Jeremy Corbyn said: The US has launched an unprovoked and illegal attack on Venezuela. This is a brazen attempt to secure control over Venezuelan natural resources.

“It is an act of war that puts the lives of millions of people at risk — and should be condemned by anyone who believes in sovereignty and international law.”

Your Party has launched a petition

Senator Bernie Sanders’ statement on President Trump’s actions in Venezuela

Former Democrat US Presidential candidate Kamala Harris said: “Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable.

“That Maduro is a brutal, illegitimate dictator does not change the fact that this action was both unlawful and unwise.

“We’ve seen this movie before. Wars for regime change or oil that are sold as strength but turn into chaos, and American families pay the price. The American people do not want this, and they are tired of being lied to.

“This is not about drugs or democracy. It is about oil and Donald Trump’s desire to play the regional strongman. If he cared about either, he wouldn’t pardon a convicted drug trafficker or sideline Venezuela’s legitimate opposition while pursuing deals with Maduro’s cronies.

“The President is putting troops at risk, spending billions, destabilizing a region, and offering no legal authority, no exit plan, and no benefit at home.

“America needs leadership whose priorities are lowering costs for working families, enforcing the rule of law, strengthening alliances, and — most importantly — putting the American people first.”

SCOTTISH GREENS: ‘Trump’s illegal invasion and occupation of Venezuela must end. We stand in full solidarity with the people of Venezuela.

“This kind of blatant US imperialism cannot be allowed to stand.’

The UN has issued the following statement:

‘The Secretary-General is deeply alarmed by the recent escalation in Venezuela, culminating with today’s United States military action in the country, which has potential worrying implications for the region.

‘Independently of the situation in Venezuela, these developments constitute a dangerous precedent. The Secretary-General continues to emphasize the importance of full respect – by all – of international law, including the UN Charter. He’s deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected. 

‘The Secretary-General calls on all actors in Venezuela to engage in inclusive dialogue, in full respect of human rights and the rule of law.’

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL said: “Today’s military action by the Trump Administration in Venezuela, which resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, raises grave concerns for the human rights of the Venezuelan population and most likely constitutes a violation of international law“.

COSLA calls for investment in social care funding

Social care pressures are spiralling. Integration Joint Boards have faced £497m pressures in 2025/26. A £750m investment in the Scottish Budget could stabilise the system, says COSLA:

COSLA is urging the Scottish Government to provide a £16 billion boost in revenue in the Scottish Budget, to secure fair and sustainable funding for councils.

A demand for a £844 million general capital settlement has also been requested, plus a restoration of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme to £955 million, to maintain, repair, expand and secure the future of Council estates.

COSLA has launched a lobbying campaign urging the Scottish Government to use the upcoming Scottish Budget to provide councils with the fair, sustainable and multi-year funding needed to protect essential local services.

The campaign – ‘Strong Councils, Strong Communities’ – highlights growing pressures facing local government and the very real consequences of continued underfunding for communities across Scotland. The financial pressures in social care and housing are two key areas COSLA are asking the Scottish Government to specifically address in their upcoming budget.

COSLA warns that without urgent action in January’s Budget, councils will be unable to maintain essential services such as social care, education, housing support, roads, and community safety.

COSLA Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Ricky Bell, said: ““Scotland’s councils deliver the services that people rely on every single day — from caring for older and vulnerable people to keeping schools open, streets safe and communities thriving.

“Councils are facing greater demand than ever and are required to do more with significantly less. This is unsustainable.

“The upcoming Scottish Budget is a pivotal moment. The Scottish Government must deliver a settlement that matches the scale of the challenge. Without fair funding, communities will see services reduced and inequalities deepen, and we will struggle to meet national targets in key areas such as child poverty, housing, and net zero”

This year, councils continue to face rising inflation, increasing demand for services, and the continued impact of workforce pressures across social care and education. COSLA’s analysis shows that even maintaining current services requires substantial additional investment.

As a fair and sustainable overall financial settlement COSLA’s key asks from the campaign include:

  • An immediate £750m investment in social care.
  • Flexibility for councils to make local decisions that respond to community needs.
  • Recognition of local government as an equal partner in delivering national priorities and tackling inequalities.

COSLA President, Councillor Shona Morrison, added: “Councils work tirelessly to deliver for Scotland’s communities, however, continued pressure on resources makes this increasingly challenging.

“This is about safeguarding what matters most, support for the most vulnerable, opportunities for young people, support for families, and safe, thriving communities.

“We hope the Budget will reflect the vital role Local Government plays in Scotland’s public services.”

Scottish public inquiries should have defined timescales and fixed budgets, says new Holyrood report

Scottish Ministers should set defined timescales and fixed budgets for public inquiries, says a new parliamentary report.

The recommendation is one of a raft of measures from Holyrood’s Finance and Public Administration Committee to improve the cost-effectiveness of public inquiries.

The committee’s report says inquiries are “over-stretched and poorly defined” and subject to limited financial control.

It also says there is a “lack of clarity and openness” on the decision-making process leading up to inquiries being established.

The report follows an eight-month investigation into the cost-effectiveness of public inquiries – the first time a Holyrood committee has examined the subject.

The cost of inquiries in Scotland alone has risen by £30 million this year to £258 million since 2007.

Impact on frontline services

The committee also highlights the impact on frontline services when staff and resources are redirected to an inquiry.

For example, a trial judge presides over 34 trials a year on average. If a judge is involved in an inquiry lasting years, it has an impact on the justice system.

The committee says its recommendations are practical and can be implemented quickly.

Finance and Public Administration Committee convener Kenneth Gibson said: “Our investigation was prompted by increasing concern over the escalating cost of public inquiries.

“In practice, there is currently limited ability for Ministers to control expenditure and stop costs spiralling – or to stop an inquiry dragging on for years once it’s up and running.

“Our study of international models shows there are better alternatives for cost effectiveness and effective delivery. For example, Sweden normally requires its public inquiries to conclude within two years and within a set budget.

“We are also concerned at the impact on existing services if resources are redirected to inquiries that may last for years.

“We therefore recommend the Scottish Government amends its devolved Inquiries (Scotland) Rules 2007, to require a defined timescale and fixed budget at the start of every inquiry. Any subsequent justification for an extension should be brought before Parliament.

“In the longer term, the Scottish Government should work with the UK Government to update the Inquiries Act 2005 – which is reserved – to make this a primary legislation requirement.”

Practical actions, quickly

Mr Gibson added: “Our recommended package of measures is designed to strike the right balance. Retaining flexibility to meet the unique circumstances of individual inquiries, while strengthening financial controls and promoting fiscal sustainability.

“Our focus is on practical actions that can be implemented quickly within Scotland. It will benefit everyone – not only people seeking answers and justice, but taxpayers and everyone who uses public services.

“The Finance Committee urges the Scottish Government to act decisively on these recommendations to ensure Scotland’s public inquiry system is cost-effective, transparent and accountable.”

A summary of the committee’s recommendations is set out in Annexe B of the committee’s report.

The committee’s report covers themes including:

  • Limited transparency of government decision-making prior to inquiries being established
  • A lack of sufficient financial control of inquiries and the timeline for delivery
  • The rising cost and frequency of public inquiries in Scotland
  • The opportunity cost of public inquiries and the impact on frontline public services
  • The need for financial transparency and regular, consistent publication of costs – both cumulative and disaggregated
  • The need for clarity on the core purpose of an inquiry and its terms of reference
  • Views from relatives and families with experience of public inquiries
  • Judge-led inquiries – its impact on the courts and effective alternative models
  • International comparisons from Sweden, New Zealand and Australia
  • Implementing report findings – the lack of tracking and evaluation of the implementation of findings following an inquiry.

The committee’s report says its package of measures aim to:

  • increase transparency within the public inquiry system
  • promote consistency and openness in Scottish Government decision-making
  • provide greater support for inquiry teams
  • strengthen oversight and scrutiny, and importantly
  • improve cost-effectiveness and fiscal sustainability of the system.

Read the committee report