Many things must change if we’re to end homelessness in Scotland. Since 2012, Social Bite has always pushed for innovation.
Ahead of the Scottish Parliament election, we’re launching our first manifesto. More than a political wish list, the manifesto asks every party, every leader, every MSP: stop managing homelessness. End it.
The actions we’re calling for are practical, cost‑effective, and achievable. Most importantly, they will change lives:
1. High standard homes
Ensuring Scotland’s housing stock is of a high standard and fit for purpose across all tenures, including high quality temporary supported accommodation.
2. Work as a way out
Focusing on getting people experiencing homelessness into work, with employment support and welfare systems matching individuals’ needs to retain roles and afford living.
3. Build now, build faster
Recognising that we need homes and we need them quickly. Systems and solutions need to match the level of urgency.
‘Sensational’ Opinion Poll Predicts Alliance to Liberate Scotland Party Breakthrough in May – Tommy Sheridan and Craig Murray set for election to the Scottish Parliament?
Find Out Now is a reputable opinion polling organisation belonging to the British Opinion Polling Council. They were commissioned by former MEP Hugh Kerr to add three specific questions to their monthly poll of Scottish opinion regarding the forthcoming election of May 7th – and the results are outstanding for the new Alliance to Liberate Scotland Party which was only officially registered with the Electoral Commission in February.
Find Out Now specifically asked voters in the Glasgow Region, the Lothians East Region and across Scotland if they would consider voting for the Scottish independence party at May’s election. Around 500 voters were polled in Glasgow and Lothians East and 1,000 voters were polled nationally.
In Glasgow former MSP and well-known independence campaigner Tommy Sheridan is the lead candidate for the Alliance to Liberate Scotland Party.
In the critical ‘Definitely’ of ‘Very Likely’ category 7% of voters said they would vote for the Alliance Party and Sheridan which would mean Sheridan’s re-election to Holyrood. In past elections 5% of the regional list vote has been enough to be elected and last time in 2021 the 7th list seat in Glasgow was won by the Tories on 6.1%. This opinion poll predicts Sheridan will replace a Tory to represent the Glasgow Region.
The poll across Lothians East where former British Ambassador and outspoken champion of Scottish independence Craig Murray is leading the Alliance to Liberate Scotland election challenge the result is even better.
A ‘very encouraging’ 8% of voters say they are definite or very likely Alliance voters, and that level of support will see Craig Murray elected in place of another Tory.
At a national level the level of support is also extremely encouraging for the new Alliance Party. Across 1,000 voters polled a significant8% say they will vote for the single-issue party on May 7th.
The Alliance to Liberate Scotland Party are promoting only one issue and that issue is Scottish independence. If the support for the Alliance stays as high as 8% or increases the new party will send 8 MSPs to the Scottish Parliament on a mission to pursue Scottish independence as the priority issue.
In most of the regional list seats around 6% of the list votes is enough to secure election and win one of the seven regional seats. With the Alliance to Liberate Scotland Party running at 8% it seems an electoral breakthrough is certain.
Alliance for Liberate Scotland has four candidates in Glasgow, Tommy Sheridan, Dhruva Kumar, Gail Sheridan and Hilda McMahon.
Lead Alliance candidate in Glasgow Tommy Sheridan said:“This opinion poll is sensational for the Alliance to Liberate Scotland Party. We were only registered in February and are not yet widely known but our determination to make Scottish independence the primary issue is clearly attracting votes from those sick and tired of Westminster corruption and the constant exploitation of Scotland.
“Independence supporters in Glasgow know list votes for SNP don’t count for them because they win the constituency seats. This poll shows I will take a list seat from a unionist Tory. That is good news for Glasgow and Scotland.
“I will demand our independence from Westminster is front and centre of the agenda after May’s election”.
Responding to the polling which suggests he is in line for election to the Scottish Parliament Craig Murray said:“More and more independence voters realise the utter folly of giving Regional List votes to the SNP. They simply don’t count because the voting system penalises parties that do well in constituency votes. The SNP will win most constituencies which is why they win no List seats.
“By giving their List votes to the Alliance to Liberate Scotland Party the independence community is blocking unionists from Labour and the Tories and racists like Reform from getting elected. They understand a List vote for the Alliance helps the independence cause”.
The Alliance to Liberate Scotland Party is standing in all eight of the regional list seats with over 32 candidates. They are also fielding candidates in several constituency seats in protest at the lack of progress by the SNP in advancing the cause of Scottish independence.
A man has been convicted of sexual offences while he was working as a politician.Jordan Linden, 30, was convicted of ten offences following a trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court of crimes which included sexual assault, stalking, and sexual communication.
The victims were all boys or young men, and the offences took place between 2011 and 2021. The age of the youngest victim was 14.
One of the offences saw Linden sexually assault two victims at a house party in Dundee after a Pride march in 2019.
Linden, who was former leader of North Lanarkshire Council and earlier chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, was arrested and charged by specialist officers from Police Scotland in February 2024.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Diane Barr said: “This was a protracted investigation which involved speaking with a broad range of people, many of whom regarded Linden as being in a position of trust.
“He abused this position to befriend young males who were seeking his support and the opportunity to learn from his work, however his conduct toward them was far from professional.
“I’d like to thank the victims who came forward to report their experiences to police. Their testimony and support ensured that we were able to bring Linden before the courts.
“No-one should be subjected to sexual offending, and we will always investigate reports, regardless of when they occurred or who the perpetrator is.”
Linden was placed on the sex offenders register and is due to be sentenced in May.
Hi Drylaw, Telford and Edinburgh Northern Constituents,
Thank you to everyone that has shown an interest, and to those of you who have your tickets booked, we look forward to welcoming you to our event on Monday evening!
If you have a ticket booked, but can no longer attend, please cancel your ticket, contact us at hustings@drylawtelfordcc.org.uk or message the FB page as we do have a waiting list of people that would also like to attend.
For those that have received a waiting list spot, we will contact you if a ticket becomes available.
ALL those in attendance, must have a valid ticket due to fire regulations.
As his term as a Member of the Scottish Parliament comes to a close, Foysol Choudhury reflects on five years of representing the people of the Lothians, highlighting key achievements and defining issues during his time in office.
Since being elected in 2021, Foysol Choudhury has worked to address the most pressing concerns facing constituents, including NHS waiting times and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. He has concluded thousands of constituency cases, the majority of which relate to health, housing, and civil law and rights.
Many of these cases involve highly complex issues that Mr. Choudhury has supported his constituents with over several years.
Healthcare has remained a central focus of his work. Choudhury consistently advocated for improved access to GP services, reduced waiting times, and increased funding for diabetes treatment and brain tumour research. His work in this area contributed to progress in diabetes care and earned recognition through a Holyrood Awards nomination.
In 2025, he led the Parliament’s first Members’ Business debate on access to medical devices, placing patient experience at the forefront of policy discussions and pushing for improved access to essential treatments.
Beyond healthcare, Mr Choudhury supported communities on a wide range of local issues. He campaigned against unsafe housing conditions such as damp and mould, helped residents in Westfield Court pause demolition plans, and worked with communities in Eyre Place Lane to challenge over-scaled developments.
His work also covered infrastructure and local services, where he applied sustained pressure to progress projects such as the Winchburgh train station, supported South Queensferry residents seeking improved access to new housing via Ferrymuir Gait Road, and advocated for the revitalisation of Drylaw Shopping Centre.
He further pressed for faster progress on a new East Calder Health Centre and challenged cuts to health, social care, and community funding, warning of their impact on vulnerable communities.
As the first Bangladeshi Member of the Scottish Parliament, Foysol Choudhury worked to bring issues of racism and inequality to parliamentary debate. He called for stronger action to tackle racism, greater clarity on resources for schools, and supported efforts to promote a more inclusive curriculum reflecting Scotland’s diversity.
Foysol Choudhury also played a key role in advancing a petition on swimming provision, backing his constituent’s campaign and calling for a consistent national approach to ensure all children can swim by the end of primary school, emphasising it as a vital, life-saving skill.
Reflecting on his time in office, Foysol Choudhury said:“It has been a true privilege to represent the people of the Lothians. I am deeply grateful to everyone who placed their trust in me, shared their stories, and allowed me to champion their causes.
“This work would not have been possible without the dedication, care, and tireless efforts of so many: my team, colleagues, organisations, and communities driving change. My sincere thanks to you all.“
The BBC must have more Scottish voices telling Scottish stories, be clearer on devolved and reserved issues in its news reporting and give Welsh and Gaelic language services equal status, according to a Scottish Parliament Committee.
A new report from the Constitution, Culture, Europe and External Affairs Committee describes concern at the “long-standing frustration” that the BBC Network continues to fall short in serving the interests of licence fee payers in all parts of the UK equally by missing opportunities to be precise in its reporting of issues which only apply to England or Scotland.
It asks whether the BBC should adopt a more federal structure in which BBC Scotland would be a partner rather than a subsidiary, with greater editorial control and commissioning power.
The report also raises concerns about the downgrading of local news within Scotland, encouraging the regulator OFCOM to be vigilant and use its power to mitigate risks from any plans for centralisation and reduced regional coverage.
The report follows the Committee’s inquiry in to broadcasting in Scotland and will feed into the UK Government’s public consultation on the BBC Charter – the legal document which sets out what the BBC is for and how it should operate.
Changes to BBC Radio Scotland programming and its use of new, emerging and established Scottish artists also feature in the report, with the Committee stating it was “not convinced” by the response to concerns raised by campaigners and encourages the Scottish Government to continue to pursue the matter.
The Committee also expresses its support for greater transparency in how the BBC’s commercial income is used in relation to its public service broadcast obligations and of sustainable funding for minority language broadcasting across the UK, including Gaelic through BBC ALBA.
Committee Convener, Clare Adamson, said: “We know broadcasters – particularly public sector broadcasters – face major challenges as people’s watching and listening choices move towards online platforms. However, local broadcasters continue to play a vital role in the social fabric of Scotland’s communities.
“We support an adventurous, adaptable and accountable BBC and have made a series of recommendations directed at the Scottish Government, the UK Government, Screen Scotland, Ofcom and the BBC to ensure that Scotland and its license fee payers are well served.”
Joint Statement from the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the USA and the High Representative of the EU
We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, express support to our partners in the region in the face of the unjustifiable attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies.
We condemn in the strongest terms the regime’s reckless attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Iraq, in line with UNSC Resolution 2817.
The Iranian regime’s unjustifiable attacks against these states also threaten regional and global security. We call for the immediate and unconditional cessation of all attacks by the Iranian regime.
We reaffirm the importance of safeguarding maritime routes, and safety of navigation, including in the Strait of Hormuz and all associated critical waterways, as well as the safety and security of supply chains and the stability of energy markets. We stand ready to take necessary measures to support global supply of energy such as the stockpile release decided by International Energy Agency members on March 11.
The G7 has repeatedly stated that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon and that it must halt its ballistic missile program, end its destabilizing activities in the region and around the globe, and cease the appalling violence and repression against its own people.
We support the right of the countries unjustifiably attacked by Iran or by Iranian proxies to defend their territories and protect their citizens. We reaffirm our unwavering support for their security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
We condemn the brazen attacks in Iraq by Iran and its militias against diplomatic facilities and energy infrastructure, particularly in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, and against U.S. and Counter ISIS Coalition forces, and the Iraqi people.
Here’s a listing of all of our fantastic weekly classes, events, and cafes:
**** NEW MONDAY CAFE **** Currently every Monday 9-11am. Drop in for a cuppa, sausage roll, or bakery. Come and meet locals, hang out in our beautiful space, or volunteer for a couple of hours for that feel good factor.
Pledge to Turn Wasted List Votes into Working Class Independence Voice at Holyrood
The Alliance to Liberate Scotland (ATLS) has hailed Thursday night’s packed Glasgow candidate launch at the Renfield Training and Conference Centre as “the moment Glasgow’s working class put Holyrood on notice that wasted list votes are no longer acceptable.”
Speaking to an overflowing audience, Glasgow Regional List lead candidate Tommy Sheridan argued that the old “SNP 1 & SNP 2” message has repeatedly failed to deliver additional independence representation for Glasgow on the regional list, and has instead handed list seats to Labour and the Conservatives in a city that votes Yes.
In Glasgow alone, around 245,000 SNP second votes (SNP2-Regional List Vote) across the last two Holyrood elections failed to elect a single SNP list MSP, while Labour and the Tories took all seven regional seats in our Yes city.
Sheridan pointed to the Scottish Parliament elections of 2016 and 2021, where the SNP swept all nine Glasgow constituency seats yet failed to secure a single additional regional list MSP in the city, despite topping the regional vote on both occasions.
In 2021, Glasgow’s regional list MSPs were returned as four Labour, two Conservative and one Green, but zero SNP list MSPs, even though the SNP won the largest share of the list vote.
Tommy Sheridan said: “The facts are crystal clear. In Glasgow, in both 2016 and 2021, tens of thousands of SNP list votes did not elect a single additional pro-independence MSP. Those ‘SNP 2’ votes were effectively wasted, while Labour and Tory unionists walked into Holyrood from the Glasgow list. That cannot be allowed to happen again in a Yes city.
The Alliance to Liberate Scotland exists to give Glasgow’s working class a hard, effective independence vote on the list. A list vote for ATLS is not a gesture – it is the serious business of putting more pro-independence fighters into parliament and cutting the number of unionist MSPs sent from this city.”
Independent analysis of past elections has repeatedly highlighted how large blocks of list votes for parties already dominant in the constituencies can fail to translate into list seats under Scotland’s Additional Member System, particularly in regions such as Glasgow, where one party already holds most or all constituency seats.
Second-placed Glasgow list candidate Dhruva Kumar, who chaired the event, said the campaign would speak directly to working-class voters across all of Glasgow’s communities:
Dhruva Kumar said: “Last night showed that Glasgow’s working people – old and new, from every background – are hungry for a serious, disciplined independence strategy.
“This campaign is about unity and action. When people give their list vote to the Alliance, they are turning frustration into seats, anger into votes, and hope into hard numbers for independence at Holyrood. Glasgow’s working class built this city, now we intend to help them win the power to shape its future.”
Glasgow list candidate Gail Sheridan stressed that ATLS offers determined, grassroots-rooted representation rather than careerist politics. She said: “I’ve stood with Tommy through every major battle for justice and independence in this city.
What we heard from the floor last night was clear: people are tired of politicians who talk about independence but park it the day after the election.
The Alliance to Liberate Scotland is different. We are rooted in working-class Glasgow, we are organised, and we are ready to fight tooth and nail in Holyrood for decent wages, warm homes and real self-determination. A list vote for ATLS is an independence vote that counts.”
Glasgow list candidate Hilda McMahon drew a direct line from Glasgow’s radical history to the new Alliance campaign. She said: “Glasgow has never begged for change; it has organised for it.
“From Mary Barbour to Jimmy Reid and John Maclean, our city’s heroes understood that real power comes when working people stand together. The Alliance to Liberate Scotland is carrying that flame into the 2026 Holyrood election.
“We are deadly serious about increasing the number of pro-independence MSPs and finally delivering the self-determination that the people of Scotland demand.”
The Alliance to Liberate Scotland insists that, in the 2026 Holyrood election, a Glasgow Regional List vote for ATLS is the most effective way for independence supporters in the city to turn previously wasted list votes into additional pro-independence MSPs, strengthening the voice of Glasgow’s working class at the heart of Scotland’s democracy.
To coincide with Reform UK’s Scottish conference on Thursday 19 March activists from Edinburgh Climate Coalition (ECC) are launching a campaign today warning voters across Scotland that voting Reform UK in the Scottish Parliament Election could threaten jobs, increase energy bills and undermine Scotland’s renewable energy future.
The campaign will include social media activism, street campaigning and community outreach across Edinburgh and the Lothians, with volunteers speaking directly to residents about how climate policy affects everyday issues such as employment, energy costs and public services.
The ECC wants to ensure that everyone is aware that Reform UK’s policies that undermine climate action will make the lives of people in Scotland worse.
The coalition argues that Scotland’s renewable energy sector has the potential to deliver long-term economic benefits while helping to tackle climate change.
We’ve created high-quality resources to sound the alarm—and we need your help to spread the word.
SOLD OUT
Hi Drylaw, Telford and Edinburgh Northern Constituents,
