Stakeholders and organisations have gathered at a roundtable in support of Lothian MSP Sarah Boyack’s Member’s Bill as it aims to put an end to short-term thinking in policy development.
This meeting comes as a consultation has been launched into the bill by the Social Justice and Social Security Committee.
Ms Boyack’s bill would create a clear and legal definition of wellbeing and sustainable development and embed those into the decision-making process.
It would also establish a Future Generations Commissioner to ensure public bodies and government are complying with new national outcomes as well as these newly established duties.
Ms Boyack hosted the roundtable alongside representatives from Carnegie.
Commenting on the roundtable, Sarah Boyack said: “It was great to host such a positive and constructive discussion about my Member’s Bill with so many stakeholders.
“I am glad to see such widespread support for my bill among the sustainability and wellbeing sectors.
“I hope that this consultation will lead members of the committee and Parliament to support this bill and implement it into law.
“We have the opportunity to truly imbed long-term thinking into the decision-making process and create a more just and sustainable Scotland for decades to come.”
Scottish Green Lothian MSP and current party Co-leader, Lorna Slater has officially announced she is running for re-election in the party’s internal election process.
“I am re-standing to bring my years of experience of countering the anti-immigrant, anti-trans, and climate denial rhetoric, to the debates ahead of the Holyrood and local authority elections,” Ms Slater said.
Lorna Slater has been co-leader since 2019 with MSP colleague Patrick Harvie who is stepping down from the role after 17 years. She believes this leadership election is pivotal and will shape the future of the party in the upcoming election years.
She said: “We are on track to win the largest numbers of MSPs and Councillors ever, and with that we can secure the policies and values we believe Scotland deserves.”
Slater’s leadership experience is built on a foundation of tangible achievements. As one of the first Green Government Ministers in the UK, she has led transformative changes including the national upgrade to Scotland’s recycling infrastructure and the creation of the groundbreaking Nature Restoration Fund, which is restoring natural habitats across Scotland.
Ms Slater said: “It was my work in Government that ensured that every organisation in receipt of Scottish Government grants, has to pay the living wage, increasing the wages of thousands of workers.
“My experience as a Minister makes me especially effective, because I know exactly how to press Ministers on their decisions and to follow up when the Government drops a commitment.”
Looking ahead, Lorna Slater notes the issues important to her and the Greens: “In the next term I intend to hold the Scottish Government to account on the cost of living, housing, climate and LGBT+ issues.
“I will continue work to reform Council tax and give Councils more powers, including those to raise funds for infrastructure and tackling the housing emergency.”
Ms Slater concluded: “ It has been my privilege to represent the Scottish Greens in our Parliament since 2021. We can build on our successes and build the Scotland that we want to see.”
Votes open to members on 13th August and will close on 22nd August.
The new co-leader term will start on 1st September.
This August, theSpaceUK presents a provocative and powerful programme of political theatre that tackles urgent issues with creativity, wit and fire.
From global crises to local unrest, these bold productions interrogate the systems we live in and ask: how did we get here – and where do we go next?
Politics in America – Up Close and Personal
Gun control, community trauma, and the fragility of democracy come to the fore in Acts of Kindness, a compelling docudrama from University of Redlands. Inspired by real interviews in El Paso following a devastating mass shooting, it’s a raw and humane portrait of a divided America, where stories of resilience illuminate the possibility of healing.
Meanwhile, Atomic Cabaret, a nuclear-age musical from Lynda Williams (AKA The Physics Chanteuse), delivers a subversive and hilarious takedown of atomic politics, blending science, satire and showtunes in a benefit for Scottish CND. Expect sass, smarts – and maybe even a Nobel Prize shout-out.
Generational Voices and Local Resistance
Burnley is the backdrop for Buried, a visceral piece from FirstByte Theatre, where young people grapple with political apathy, collapsing futures, and the fight to be heard. Across generations, timelines fracture and converge as they ask: when did it all go wrong? Dissonance by Lund finds its conflict closer to home – a school music club forced to reckon with the politics of their performance. Through live music and sharp dialogue, it’s a fresh take on belief, conformity, and what happens when youth hits a moral fork in the road.
History, Legacy and Living With the Past
In Kaddish (How to be a Sanctuary), Sam Sherman conjures conversations with his WWII veteran grandfather – and a mischievous Yiddish creature – to reflect on resistance, family, and inherited courage. In UNCLE TOM’S WAR: Haiti and the Whipping Machine, David Lee Morgan turns revolutionary history into blistering spoken word, connecting past uprisings to the fight for freedom today. Expect rage, humour, and poetry with a political punch.
Modern Power and Political Parody
For those drawn to the theatrical absurdity of real-life government, The General Will is a tragicomic fever dream of political theatre. Think clowns in crisis, Gen-Z disillusionment, and a Prime Minister in freefall.
Equally sharp, Yellow reimagines Twelfth Night’s Malvolio as a disgraced spin doctor, exploring the murky ethics of ambition and spin. Written by a senior political insider, it’s a biting look at the compromise of ideals in today’s corridors of power.
Through a tapestry of voices – from Golda Meir to a Palestinian mother – Laub navigates the complexities of Zionism, liberalism and loss. Honest, human and unflinchingly personal, it’s a courageous call for understanding in a world too often defined by division.
Dystopias, Dilemmas and Difficult Questions
Set in a near future where climate catastrophe has redrawn the rules, The Trials(Bede’s Company) asks a chilling question: who deserves to survive? This abridged version of Dawn King’s play is performed with taut urgency by a cast that delivers both passion and precision.
In Loveless, Tapped Theatre dissects modern intimacy, misogyny and online culture in a surreal, episodic satire that is as disturbing as it is funny – a warped mirror to our digital lives and relationships.
Urgent, fearless and fiercely creative, political theatre at theSpaceUK is essential Fringe viewing.
Foysol Choudhury MSP aims to return to Holyrood as a Scottish Labour MSP. He has been shortlisted as a candidate for the new Edinburgh Northern seat twinned with Edinburgh South Western.
Since his election in 2021, Foysol Choudhury has served as a regional MSP for Lothian, making history as the first Scottish Bangladeshi elected to Holyrood and the first ethnic minority MSP outside of Glasgow.
As one of the few ethnic minority voices in the Scottish Parliament, he brings crucial lived experience to national politics and has been a tireless advocate for equality, representation, and inclusion. His presence continues to challenge the status quo and push for a more diverse and reflective democracy in Scotland.
Now, drawing on his parliamentary experience and strong record of public service, Mr. Choudhury is seeking re-selection as Scottish Labour’s candidate for the newly formed seat of Edinburgh Northern twinned with Edinburgh South Western.
He is standing as a shortlisted candidate in the party’s internal selection process, and will take part in upcoming hustings, where local Labour members will vote to determine who will represent the party in the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.
“It was an honour of my life to represent the people of Lothian,” he said. “Now I am seeking to be the Labour candidate for the twinned seats of Edinburgh Northern & Edinburgh South Western, to continue giving a voice to our communities in Holyrood.”
“I’m honoured to be shortlisted to represent the parts of Edinburgh that have truly shaped my life,” said Choudhury. “I moved here as a teenager, went to Drummond High, built my family and my business in this city, and began my journey as a community activist here. I know the challenges our people face, and I’m ready to keep fighting for them.”
He has spoken out for Drylaw and Wester Hailes, from calling for urgent action housing issues in the region, on the deteriorating Drylaw Shopping Centre to defending essential mental health services like Redhall Walled Garden. He has been a visible and active campaigner on housing, healthcare, education, and environmental justice.
Choudhury currently serves as Scottish Labour’s Shadow Minister for Culture, Europe, and International Development, where he highlights the role of culture in bringing people together and supports international solidarity.
A proud member of Unite the Union and the Co-operative Party, Foysol’s politics are shaped by a strong belief in community, fairness, and standing up for people through collective action.
“I’ve always stood with working people,” he said. “With the backing of ASLEF, the CWU, Co-operative Party, and community organizations, I’m ready to win in 2026, and keep fighting to put power back in the hands of working people.
“That’s what our Labour movement is about, and that’s the fight I’m proud to lead.”
A new report from the Work and Pensions Committee has raised concerns that planned cuts to the health component of Universal Credit (UC health) will push disabled people into poverty despite the above inflation rise in the UC standard allowance.
In its Pathways to Work report, the Committee repeated calls to delay planned cuts in UC health reform until the full impact of the changes are better understood.
The Committee wrote to the Secretary of State in May calling for a pause of the planned reforms to UC health and Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and called for PIP policy to be co-produced with disabled people.
The Government subsequently dropped all the PIP proposals and agreed to co-produce a new PIP assessment process with disabled people and their organisations in a review led by Sir Stephen Timms.
However, under the planned reforms to UC health, from April 2026 although all existing claimants and new claimants with severe or terminal conditions will be protected, other claimants assessed as having limited capability for work and work-related activity will see their awards halved from £423.27 to £217.26.
This is part of the Government’s drive to get more people off welfare and into work, as described in their Pathways to Work Green Paper.
Although the intent to safeguard these people was welcomed, MPs on the Committee raised concerns that some conditions, particularly serious mental health conditions, might not be included under the severe condition criteria; this also applies to people with fluctuating conditions.
The Committee also asked the Secretary of State why an assessment of safeguarding risks had not been conducted before the Green Paper was published.
Committee Chair Debbie Abrahams said: “We welcome the concessions that the Government made to the UC and PIP Bill (now the UC Bill); but there are still issues with these welfare reforms not least with the cut in financial support that newly sick and disabled people will receive.
“The Government’s own analysis published in March indicates that from next April approximately 50,000 people who develop a health condition or become disabled – and those who live with them – will enter poverty by 2030 as a result of the reduction in support of the UC health premium.
“We recommend delaying the cuts to the UC-health premium, especially given that other policies that such as additional NHS capacity, or employment support, or changes in the labour market to support people to stay in work, have yet to materialise.
“We agree in a reformed and sustainable welfare system, but we must ensure that the wellbeing of those who come into contact with it is protected.
“The lesson learned from last month should be that the impact of policy changes to health-related benefits must be assessed prior to policy changes being implemented to avoid potential risks to claimants.”
First Minister of Scotland John Swinney has met with the President of the United States Donald Trump in Aberdeenshire.
The meeting took place at MacLeod House on the Menie Estate ahead of the official opening of the second golf course at Trump International.
During his meeting with President Trump, Mr Swinney urged the President to consider economic protections for Scotland’s whisky and salmon sector, including an exemption for whisky from the 10% tariff applied on UK exports into the US.
The First Minister was also unequivocal in demanding action to tackle the “unbearable, unjust and inhumane” situation unfolding in Gaza, as he urged the President to use his immense influence to bring an end to the humanitarian crisis.
During their meeting, the First Minister also stressed Scotland’s unwavering support for the people of Ukraine, urging President Trump to stand firm in defence of democracy and peace against Russian aggression.
Mr Swinney also presented the President with a proposal to provide Edinburgh Airport with US Customs pre-clearance facilities which the First Minister said would help “demonstrate the strength of America’s enduring relationship with its friend and partner, Scotland”.
Speaking after the meeting, the First Minister said: “During our discussions, I was able to represent the interests and values of Scotland directly with the President, specifically, urging him to make the case for tariff exemptions for our world class whisky and salmon sector.
“I believe there is now a window of opportunity to make the case for whisky and at the invitation of the President, I intend to make further representation to him on this matter.
“I implored President Trump to use his immense influence on the Israeli government to end the unbearable, unjust, and inhumane situation unfolding in Gaza, and to bring an end to the humanitarian crisis we are witnessing.
“As a proud country that stands firm on the principles of equality and freedom for all, I urged President Trump to help make those ideals – American ideals – a reality for the people of Ukraine. Scotland has consistently stood with the people of Ukraine in defence of freedom, peace and a just society, and we want to see a world where those principles apply to all.”
PM SAYS STATE OF PALESTINE WILL BE RECOGNISED– UNLESS ISRAEL ‘TAKES SUBSTANTIVE STEPS TO END THE APPALLING SITUATION IN GAZA’
THE Prime Minister said:
On the 7th of October 2023 Hamas perpetrated the worst massacre in Israel’s history.
Every day since then, the horror has continued.
The hostages are still being held today.
The Palestinian people have endured terrible suffering.
Now, in Gaza because of a catastrophic failure of aid, we see starving babies, children too weak to stand: Images that will stay with us for a lifetime.
The suffering must end.
Yesterday I discussed this with President Trump.
And we are mounting a major effort to get humanitarian supplies back in.
By air, and UK aid has been air dropped into Gaza today.
And – crucially – by land.
We need to see at least 500 trucks entering Gaza every day.
But ultimately – the only way to bring this humanitarian crisis to an end is through a long-term settlement.
So we are supporting the US, Egyptian and Qatari efforts to secure a vital ceasefire.
That ceasefire must be sustainable and it must lead to a wider peace plan, which we are developing with our international partners.
This plan will deliver security and proper governance in Gaza and pave the way for negotiations on a Two State Solution.
Our goal remains a safe and secure Israel, alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. But right now – that goal is under pressure like never before.
I’ve always said we will recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process, at the moment of maximum impact for the Two State Solution.
With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act.
So today – as part of this process towards peace I can confirm the UK will recognise the state of Palestine by the United Nations General Assembly in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a Two State Solution.
And this includes allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid, and making clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank.
Meanwhile, our message to the terrorists of Hamas is unchanged and unequivocal.
They must immediately release all the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza.
We will make an assessment in September on how far the parties have met these steps.
But no one should have a veto on our decision.
So this is the way forward. We will keep working with all our international partners to end the suffering, get aid flooding into Gaza and deliver a more stable future for the Middle East.
Because I know that is what the British people desperately want to see.
Statement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the recognition of a Palestinian State
Our overwhelming concern is for the Israeli hostages and for the people of Gaza. We must do all we can to end the current suffering and change the situation on the ground.
We demand an immediate ceasefire to stop the slaughter, that the UN be allowed to send humanitarian assistance into Gaza on a continuing basis to prevent starvation, and the immediate release of the hostages. We support the US, Qatari and Egyptian governments in their attempts to bring about a ceasefire.
We also need a comprehensive plan to end this misery and to get to a long-term settlement. We are committed to working together with our international partners to develop a credible peace plan for the next phase in Gaza that establishes transitional governance and security arrangements, and ensures the delivery of humanitarian aid at the necessary scale.
This must be accompanied by the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the removal of Hamas leadership from Gaza as key steps towards a negotiated two-state solution. We welcome the steps announced by President Abbas and these should be the basis for a comprehensive reform of the PA.
We have long been committed to recognising a state of Palestine. As our election manifesto said, Palestinian statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. It is not in the gift of any neighbour and is also essential to the long-term security of Israel.
We are committed to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to a renewed peace process which results in a two-state solution with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.
Hamas are a terrorist organisation responsible for the October 7th atrocities. They must never be rewarded. We have been unequivocal in our condemnation of those evil attacks, and our support for the right of the State of Israel to self-defence.
Hamas must immediately release all the hostages, sign up to an immediate ceasefire, accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza, and commit to disarmament.
We are determined to protect the viability of the two-state solution, and so we will recognise the state of Palestine in September before UNGA; unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza and commits to a long term sustainable peace, including through allowing the UN to restart without delay the supply of humanitarian support to the people of Gaza to end starvation, agreeing to a ceasefire, and making clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank.
We will make an assessment ahead of UNGA on how far the parties have met these steps. No one side will have a veto on recognition through their actions or inactions.
But recognition by itself will not change the situation on the ground.
We are therefore taking additional immediate steps to alleviate the humanitarian situation, including air drops of humanitarian supplies along with Jordan, and getting injured children out of Gaza and into British hospitals alongside pressing strongly for UN deliveries of humanitarian assistance to resume.
We also believe that a ceasefire will not last without urgent work on governance and security in Gaza, and the prospect of a long-term political settlement. We are therefore preparing a plan with our key allies for longer-term political negotiations and a two-state solution.
First Minister: Recognition should be irreversible and not conditional
First Minister John Swinney has responded to the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement that the UK intends to recognise the State of Palestine.
The First Minister said: “Having called on the UK Government to recognise the State of Palestine, I welcome the intent behind this announcement. However, recognition of a Palestinian state should be irreversible.
“Recognition must not be conditional and must be backed by sanctions against Israel if the violence continues.
“Israel must today agree to a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid to flow in much more volume to address the starvation being faced in Gaza.
“A two-state solution is the only way that the Palestinian and Israeli peoples can have a future, living side-by-side in peace and security. The Palestinian people deserve no less.
“This announcement comes on the day that the number of deaths reported passed 60,000, a truly horrific milestone that shames us all.
“The Israeli government must commit to end the killing and comply with its international obligations on the investigation of genocide and war crimes. We must see the unconditional release of all hostages.”
Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “Palestinian statehood is not a bargaining chip. It is not a threat. It is an inalienable right of the Palestinian people.
“Our demands on this shameful government remain the same: end all arms sales to Israel, impose widespread sanctions, and stop the genocide, now.”
ISRAELI leader Benjamin Netanyahu said the UK stance is ‘rewarding Hamas terrorism’.
The Prime Minister met US President Donald Trump in Scotland yesterday.
The leaders began by discussing the appalling scenes in Gaza and agreed that urgent action was needed to bring an end to the suffering, which has reached new depths. Humanitarian aid had to be allowed in at scale and pace.
They committed to work together to bring an end to the misery and starvation and continue to press for the immediate release of the remaining hostages, who have been held so cruelly for so long.
They reiterated their calls for an immediate ceasefire to pave the way for peace in the region and the Prime Minister welcomed the President’s efforts to secure this, and shared the plans he is working on with other European leaders to bring about a lasting peace.
Turning to Ukraine, the leaders agreed that they must maintain momentum to bring about an end to the war with Russia, including by putting economic pressure on Putin to come to the table without further delay.
On the landmark Economic Prosperity Deal, the leaders remarked on how beneficial the deal is for working people in the UK and the US and agreed to continue to work together to build further on their close and strong economic relationship.
The leaders discussed plans for the President’s upcoming State Visit in September, which they both looked forward to.
The Prime Minister will update the cabinet on the peace plan proposals at an emergency meeting later today.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney is scheduled to meet the US President this morning.
The Foreign Secretary has issued a statement following yesterday’s announcement of a temporary humanitarian pause by the IDF in Gaza:
Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said :“The humanitarian suffering in Gaza has 2reached new depths.
“The Prime Minister has already announced plans to work with Jordan to get aid into Gaza and to evacuate children who need critical medical assistance to the UK for treatment.
“Today’s announcement of a temporary pause by the IDF to allow humanitarian corridors to open and aid drops to resume is essential but long overdue. Access to aid must therefore be urgently accelerated over the coming hours and days.
“This announcement alone cannot alleviate the needs of those desperately suffering in Gaza. We need a ceasefire that can end the war, for hostages to be released and aid to enter Gaza by land unhindered.
“Whilst airdrops will help to alleviate the worst of the suffering, land routes serve as the only viable and sustainable means of providing aid into Gaza.
“These measures must be fully implemented and further barriers on aid removed. The world is watching.
“The UK supports the efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the US as mediators and urges all parties to resume talks on a pathway for lasting peace and security.”
But in the meantime, the UK continues to arm Israel …WHY ???
As a son of India who has proudly called Scotland home for decades, and as a former Glasgow South parliamentary candidate deeply invested in our nation’s prosperity, I write to share a watershed moment for Scotland’s economic future.
The newly signed UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is not merely a diplomatic achievement, it is Scotland’s passport to unprecedented growth. This landmark deal strategically positions our whisky distilleries, renewable energy expertise, world-class universities, sustainable fisheries, and advanced manufacturing at the heart of a £25.5 billion bilateral partnership.
Why This Matters to Scotland:
Scotch Whisky Revolution: Decades of punitive tariffs (150%) have finally been shattered. With duties slashed to 75% immediately and 40% over 10 years, iconic brands like Douglas Laing will access India’s 250M+ premium consumers—unlocking £700M in exports and 2,200+ Scottish jobs.
Fisheries & Green Energy: Our salmon gains duty-free entry to India’s £2.8 trillion market, while offshore wind collaborations position Scotland as India’s clean-energy partner.
Automotive Resurgence: Jaguar Land Rover and Rolls-Royce will thrive under reduced tariffs (110% → 10%), revitalising Glasgow’s manufacturing ecosystem.
This is a landmark partnership of equals. India’s gains, including zero tariffs on 99% of its exports, such as textiles and engineering goods, will fuel reciprocal growth. Crucially, 75,000 Indian professionals will contribute to our economy while enjoying social security exemptions, deepening our talent pool.
The road ahead presents challenges, including state-level regulations in India, carbon border taxes, and data policies, all of which require vigilance.
Yet this FTA is a “living bridge” uniting Scottish innovation with India’s dynamism. I urge subnational alliances (e.g., Maharashtra-Scotland green pacts) to accelerate ratification.
Scotland’s distilleries powered the Industrial Revolution. Today, they ignite a partnership redefining 21st-century trade.
With £6B in investments and a £190M GDP boost projected for Scotland, this is our moment to weave tartan and turbans into a shared tapestry of prosperity.
I welcome your coverage to spotlight Scotland’s central role in this historic accord.
