Tag: Politics

ALBA Party to fight on?

Alba Continuation Group welcomes leader MacAskill’s ‘positive engagement’

Hopes for Scottish independence in the next Parliament through the election of Alba MSPS on the list heightens after constructive engagement with Kenny MacAskill following recent correspondence, marking meaningful progress toward a clear and democratic way forward.

In his latest communication, Mr MacAskill acknowledges that a full indemnity has now been offered, to remove all risk from the current Alba leadership.

He sets out a number of constitutional and financial questions requiring clarification. These questions are legitimate and reflect the seriousness of the responsibilities involved.

They provide not an obstacle, but a structured and democratic route to resolving outstanding matters in a transparent and credible way.

Earlier this week The ALBA Continuation Group set out a ‘confident and forward-looking’ proposal aimed at securing the Party’s future and maximising it’s impact in the forthcoming Scottish Parliament election.

The group – made up of Angus Brendan MacNeil, Tommy Sheridan, Christina Hendry and Suzanne Blackley, all elected with substantial support from party members – has confirmed it’s willingness to offer an unconditonal indemnity to facilitate an orderly and dignified transition in the Party’s leadership.

Commenting today, Angus Brendan MacNeil said, “Central to this pathway is democratic legitimacy. Any transfer of responsible officer roles, as defined by the Electoral Commission, must command the confidence of members.

“That legitimacy can be secured straightforwardly through an online ballot of members, organised efficiently and transparently. Such a ballot would provide a clear democratic mandate from the elected membership, ensuring that any organisational changes rest on firm constitutional foundations.

“Addressing financial clarity is equally important. Establishing certainty around liabilities, ongoing costs and indemnity arrangements is essential to protecting members and ensuring long-term stability. These are practical issues that can and should be resolved through open engagement and good faith.

“This moment represents a crossroads. Small decisions taken now may have significant consequences over the next two years. By choosing a democratic, member-led route, there is an opportunity to strengthen credibility, rebuild confidence and position Alba to stand at the forthcoming Scottish Parliament election, which is vital in Scotland’s independence journey.

“Independence is within our grasp. With unity, transparency and democratic endorsement from members, Alba can enter the next Parliament as a clear, forceful and principled advocate for Scotland’s constitutional future.

“We look forward to continued constructive dialogue and to progressing matters swiftly, so that energy and focus can return to the central objective: delivering independence for Scotland through democratic means.”

Scotland needs to stop centralising care and start trusting councils

WHEN we talk health and social care in Scotland, the debate tends to orbit big numbers and long-term policy frameworks (writes Councillor PAUL KELLY, COSLA Spokesperson for Health and Social Care) .

But from where I sit, speaking to councils and communities every day, the reality is far more immediate. It’s about people waiting longer for help, care workers stretched too thin, and a system close to burnout.

The £750 million COSLA is calling for isn’t a throwaway figure. It’s what’s needed just to stabilise social care and start rebuilding confidence, and right now, integration authorities are staring down a half-billion-pound deficit. That’s not theoretical. It means fewer care packages, longer waits, and more families left in limbo.

We can’t keep papering over the cracks. Care isn’t a luxury – it’s the infrastructure that allows people to live with dignity in their homes and communities and if we fail to fund it properly, we’re choosing crisis over prevention every time.

I’ve seen what good looks like, councils across Scotland are proving that when local partners are trusted, empowered and resourced, they deliver. Hospital admissions go down, delayed discharges drop and people get to stay in their homes, with the right support around them.

But the truth is, those successes are happening despite the system, not because of it.

Short sighted one-year budgets force local authorities into short-term firefighting, providers can’t plan, good staff leave for more stable work elsewhere.

The same goes for prevention, everyone talks about it but few fund it. Yet we’ve known since the Christie Commission in 2011 that unless we shift spending upstream, public services will buckle under the weight of demand. Fourteen years later, the shift still hasn’t happened.

The result? Hospitals are under strain, community are services stretched, and the most vulnerable people keep falling through the cracks. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Across Scotland, local authorities are already delivering services that tackle inequality at the source. From mental health and suicide prevention work to alcohol and drug partnerships, councils are embedded in the places where support makes the most difference, but they’re doing it with one hand tied behind their backs.

The evidence is clear, outcomes improve when decisions are made locally and in partnership with communities, we need government to match that ambition, not with more centralisation, but with trust, flexibility and proper funding at local democracy level.

If we want to get serious about health inequalities, that starts with recognising that most of the determinants of health – housing, transport, education, employment – sit within the remit of local government and you can’t improve population health without improving people’s lives.

So, here’s the ask: fund social care properly. Commit to multi-year budgets, back prevention, and most importantly, hand decision-making power back to local communities.

If we keep waiting for someone in the centre to fix this, we’ll still be having this conversation in ten year’s time, and the system will be in a worse place.

Local government is ready to lead, it just needs the tools to do the job.

Tracy Gilbert MP welcomes £921 million additional funding for Scotland in Spring  Statement 

Tracy Gilbert, MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, has welcomed the Chancellor’s confirmation  that the Scottish Government will receive an additional £921 million in funding through  Barnett consequential in the Spring Statement. 

Since the General Election in July 2024, the Scottish Government has received nearly £12  billion in extra funding. 

Commenting, Tracy Gilbert MP said: “The Scottish Government has received £12 billion in additional funding since 2024. People in  Edinburgh North and Leith will rightly ask what that money has delivered for them. 

“With pressures on our NHS, housing and local services, this funding must be used to improve  people’s day-to-day lives. It’s time to focus on getting the basics right and delivering for  communities across Scotland.”

Delivery must be at the heart of the Scotland’s Climate Change Plan, says Holyrood Committee

Concrete policies backed by clear targets and timelines must be at the heart of the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan, says Holyrood’s Net Zero Committee.

In its report published this week, the Committee says that key policies must also state clearly who will lead on delivery and, wherever possible, be costed.

A clear and accessible system to monitor progress will also be vital to catch policies and interventions at risk of going off track.

The report highlights the Plan’s reliance on electrification for delivery across many sectors. The Committee calls on the Scottish Government to work with the UK Government and other UK administrations on a joint plan of action for more affordable electricity.

The report also identifies areas of potential risk in plotting a pathway to net zero emissions, either because the Scottish Government is dependent upon others for key actions or because they have set ambitions that look stretching. These include, for example, a quite fast-paced switchover to electric vehicles; decarbonising Scotland’s homes; and using negative emissions technology at scale over the next decade to abate hard to decarbonise areas.

The Plan sets out how the Scottish Government intends to meet emission reduction targets across all portfolio areas and sectors of the economy. It covers the period 2026-2040 as Scotland looks to be ‘net zero’ in carbon emissions by 2045.

10 committees took part in the Scottish Parliament’s scrutiny of the draft Plan. Leading the cross-parliamentary effort, the Net Zero, Energy & Transport Committee considered the draft as a whole; including governance, monitoring, and fiscal arrangements; as well as three sectors relevant to its remit; energy supply, transport and waste.

Convener of the Net Zero, Energy & Transport Committee, Edward Mountain MSP, said: “Scotland has lost momentum in reaching net zero and a new Climate Change Plan is the key opportunity for a reset. The Plan must be focused on delivery, with credible proposals and clear lines of accountability for each major policy.

“There are some good aspects to the draft Plan but it often falls short, with insufficient detail on key policies and the mechanisms to achieve specific outcomes, or on costs and who they will fall on.

“Public engagement is central to net zero delivery as it requires actions at a household level. People rightly want assurances that changes they are being asked to make are affordable and sensible. We reached out to the public and to grassroots community groups as widely as we could, within the time we had.

“Getting the Plan right also means the Scottish Government must listen to industry, NGOs and scientific experts, as well as the Parliament.“The Scottish Government has given itself a maximum of just three weeks to reflect on our recommendations and its own public consultation. This is not good practice. It lowers confidence that consultation is meaningful and will help shape the new Plan. It must not happen again.”

The Scottish Government has committed to publishing its final Climate Change Plan in advance of the dissolution of Parliament for the 2026 election.

Key committee recommendations:

In their reports, Committees highlighted a range of issues including, for example:

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

In relation to energy supply, transport & waste:

  • Proposals to decarbonise the transport sector are heavily reliant on EV switchover, with challenges around affordability and convenience of charging etc. The Scottish Government holds only some of the levers in this area. This poses a risk that should be monitored carefully. The Plan should encourage EV uptake but have more measures to enable less car usage.
  • Placing a high level of reliance on negative emissions technologies, a developing technology that is untested at scale, is a significant delivery risk that will require careful monitoring and reappraisal in the light of new evidence and data.
  • Ambitions on electrifying and decarbonising the freight sector look unrealistic, with insufficient detail on delivery.
  • Revised projections for emissions from energy from waste are required in light of the recent delay in banning biodegradable waste going to municipal landfill.

Read the Net Zero, Energy & Transport Committee’s report

Rural Affairs & Islands Committee
  • The agriculture emissions pathway in the draft Plan was unclear due to a lack of clarity around the sector’s reform plans and the absence of a Rural Support Plan (RSP).
  • The final Plan must show how RSP policies will deliver sectoral emissions targets and the next Parliament must scrutinise the links between the RSP, wider reform programme and the Plan, to ensure sufficient leadership and ambition for the sector.
  • While the draft CCP signals strong long-term ambition for forestry and peatland, it should also set out how sites will be prioritised – using spatial analysis or mapping – and provide clearer detail on long-term financing, including the Scottish Government’s position on multiannual funding.

Read the Rural Affairs & Islands Committee’s report

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
  • The Committee is concerned that the projected rates of heat pump installations will not sufficiently scale up by 2030 in order to put Scotland on course to reaching the 2045 target. There needs to be national leadership from the Scottish Government in partnership with the UK Government to deliver this through a coherent delivery plan.
  • Having sufficient numbers of trained tradespeople to deliver retrofitting is clearly critical, and the Scottish Government should set out a plan as to how a recognised skills gap will be addressed, particularly in rural areas where the skills shortage is greater, and with a focus on supporting SMEs to grow their retrofit workforce.

Read the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee’s report

Economy and Fair Work Committee
  • The Plan needs to include more information, be clearer on the priority of actions and involve workers and professional bodies. If not, there’s a real risk we repeat past mistakes, with industries closing and skilled workers leaving Scotland to find jobs elsewhere.
  • The Committee calls for a change in the way electricity prices and charges are set. Until this is addressed, it warns against adding new requirements for industries to cut emissions, as this too could risk more closures and job losses.

Read the Economy and Fair Work Committee’s letter sent to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee (246KB, pdf)posted 02 February 2026

Other Committee correspondence 

Read the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s letter sent to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee with further findings due to be published shortly (136KB, pdf)posted 30 January 2026

Read the Criminal Justice Committee’s letter sent to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee (97KB, pdf)posted 08 December 2025

The Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee sent two letters to the letters the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee:

Read the letter sent on 9 December 2025 (121KB, pdf)posted 15 December 2025

Read the letter sent on 23 January 2026 (158KB, pdf)posted 26 January 2026

Read the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs & Culture Committee’s letter sent to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee (217KB, pdf)posted 26 January 2026

Read the Social Justice & Social Security Committee’s letter sent to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee (117KB, pdf)posted 01 December 2025

Read the Public Audit Committee’s letter sent to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee (192KB, pdf)posted 07 November 2023.

US and Israel attack Iran

UN CHIEF CONDEMNS AGGRESSION

“The use of force by the United States & Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region, undermine international peace & security.” – @antonioguterres condemns military escalation in the Middle East.

I condemn today’s military escalation in the Middle East. The use of force by the United States & Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region, undermine international peace & security.   All Member States must respect their obligations under international law, including the Charter of the @UN.

The Charter clearly prohibits “the threat of the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.”  

“I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities & de-escalation. Failing to do so risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians & regional stability. I strongly encourage all parties to return immediately to the negotiating table.  

“I reiterate that there is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes, in full accordance with international law, including the UN Charter. The Charter provides the foundation for the maintenance of international peace and security.”

PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER STATEMENT

Earlier this morning, the United States and Israel struck targets in Iran.

Iran has since launched indiscriminate strikes across the region.

I know the British people and communities across our country will be deeply concerned about what this means for security and stability and for the fate of innocent people across the region – which for so many of us includes friends and family members.

So while the situation is evolving very quickly, I want to set out our response.

The United Kingdom played no role in these strikes.

But we have long been clear – the regime in Iran is utterly abhorrent.

They have murdered thousands of their own people, brutally crushed dissent, and sought to destabilise the region.

Even in the United Kingdom, the Iranian regime poses a direct threat to dissidents and the Jewish community.

Over the last year alone, they have backed more than 20 potentially lethal attacks on UK soil.

So it’s clear – they must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.

That remains the primary aim of the United Kingdom and our allies – including the US.

I condemn Iran’s attacks today on partners across the region, many of which are not parties to this conflict.

We extend our support and solidarity to them.

As part of our commitments to the security of our allies in the Middle East we have a range of defensive capabilities in the region – which we’ve recently taken steps to strengthen.

Our forces are active and British planes are in the sky today as part of coordinated regional defensive operations to protect our people, our interests, and our allies – as Britain has done before, in line with international law. 

We’ve stepped up protections for British bases and personnel to their highest level.

We are also reaching out to UK nationals in the region and doing everything we can to support them.

I have been speaking with leaders today – from the E3, and across the region.

It is vital now that we prevent further escalation and return to a diplomatic process. 

We want to see peace and security, and the protection of civilian life. 

Iran can end this now. (EH? – Ed.)

They should refrain from further strikes, give up their weapons programmes, and cease the appalling violence and repression against the Iranian people – who deserve the right to determine their own future, in line with our longstanding position. 

That is the route to de-escalation and back to the negotiating table.

FIRST MINISTER JOHN SWINNEY

First Minister @JohnSwinney has called for de-escalation and a diplomatic solution, following the US and Israel’s strikes on Iran:

JEREMY CORBYN MP:

The attacks on Iran by Israel and the United States are illegal, unprovoked and unjustifiable. Peace and diplomacy was possible. Instead, Israel and the United States chose war.

This is the behaviour of rogue states — and they have jeopardised the safety of humankind around the world with this catastrophic act of aggression. Our government must condemn this flagrant breach of international law, and urgently pursue a foreign policy based on justice, sovereignty and peace.

STOP THE WAR COALITION:

ALBA turmoil: Formal Demand for Members’ Ballot

ALBA Continuation Group has written to the party leadership calling for an emergency all‑members ballot on whether ALBA contests the May Holyrood regional lists or de‑registers altogether.

“Clear pathway” should be negotiated urgently to allow for any future indy ref, says Holyrood Committee

COMMITTEE SPLIT ON FINDINGS

The Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee has published the findings of its inquiry on options for a legal mechanism for triggering any independence referendum.

The Scottish and UK Governments should negotiate a “clear pathway” allowing Scotland to exercise its democratic right to determine its constitutional future as a matter of urgency, according to a majority of the Constitution Committee.

In a new report, a majority of the Committee’s MSPs (*) found that it is problematic that no established mechanism exists to ensure that, in appropriate circumstances, the wishes of the people of Scotland can be expressed.

This represents a democratic “disjuncture” where the “democratic mechanism may not work”, and as the Committee heard during evidence from Professor Alan Renwick of University College London, “it is the UK electorate that chooses those with the power to trigger a referendum, whereas the electorate whose wishes are to be respected is that of Scotland.”

The majority of the Committee’s view was that this creates a “democratic anomaly”.

The report follows the Committee’s inquiry into options for a legal mechanism for triggering any independence referendum.

Over several weeks, it gathered evidence from academics, lawyers and political science experts as it explored how any future vote could be legally brought.

The report’s conclusions, agreed by a majority of the Committee, set out a number of statutory and non-statutory options that should be considered as part of negotiations between the Scottish and UK Governments.

Clare Adamson, Committee Convener, said: “The majority of the Committee recommends, that steps should be taken to address this democratic anomaly.

“This should include the agreement, regardless of the UK’s political priorities, of a trigger mechanism which would allow the people of Scotland to exercise their democratic right to determine Scotland’s constitutional future if they so wish.”

(*) The report’s conclusions were agreed by Keith Brown MSP, Patrick Harvie MSP, George Adam MSP and Clare Adamson MSP.

Neil Bibby MSP, Jamie Halcro Johnston MSP and Stephen Kerr MSP did not agree to the report’s conclusions.

CEEACS062026R02Download

Arthritis UK probes Scotland’s political parties on arthritis services

ACT NOW FOR ARTHRITIS

Arthritis UK Scotland is calling on each political party to have a credible plan to improve the lives of people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions like arthritis, as the countdown to the Holyrood elections starts.

The charity is calling for a better deal for the 1.7m people in Scotland living with arthritis and other MSK conditions, including 48,000 children and young people, in its manifesto for the 2026 Scottish Elections, published today Scottish Parliament Election 2026 | Arthritis UK

This is because there is currently no plan that considers the needs of this group, which totals one in three people in Scotland, living with the pain, fatigue, disability and the mental and financial strain these conditions cause.

In Scotland, one in three people with arthritis/MSK conditions say their condition severely or very severely impacts their life. And one in three people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis on the first day of the new Scottish parliament will have been forced out of work due to their condition, by the end of that same parliament, reports Arthritis UK Scotland’s manifesto.

The document sets out the steps the next Scottish government must take to tackle the impact of these conditions, currently causing unnecessary chronic pain and disability. It calls for:

·       A relentless focus on tackling orthopaedic waiting times. Parts of Scotland continue to lose out and overall, demand continues to grow. A national plan that sets out how targets will be met must be created.

·       Access to surgery to be based on need and adheres to guidance, not applying body mass index policies as eligibility criteria.

Bobby from Stranraer was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in 2020, but it was more than two years before Bobby was even added to the waiting list for surgery. He said: ‘I’d been suffering with a great deal of pain in both knees for some time. It was like someone was hitting my knees with a mash hammer.

“It played havoc with my thoughts, my mind, my life. The mental impact was phenomenal. You feel like you’re a burden when you can’t do things. You try to keep going through the pain.’  

Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Arthritis UK, said: ‘The next Scottish parliament must tackle orthopaedic waiting times, improve services and deliver a long-term plan for better musculoskeletal health.

‘These are urgent priorities. People with arthritis in Scotland are being let down. They can wait years for diagnosis, struggle to access treatment and face barriers to work and independence. They are twenty percent less likely to be in work than people without arthritis, and people in the poorest communities are hit hardest. It is a public health issue, an equality and workforce challenge.’  

Alan McGinley, Policy and Engagement Manager for Scotland, Arthritis UK, said: ‘None of the political parties in Scotland have a credible plan on how to tackle musculoskeletal conditions, yet one in three people in Scotland living with them.

“Of these people, sixty-two percent say they live in pain most or all the time due to their arthritis. This means the needs of this group are not being addressed and that just isn’t good enough.’

A recent survey commissioned by Arthritis UK and carried out by YouGov, surveyed nearly 8,000 people with arthritis in the UK. Of these, over 1,000 were from Scotland.

The results showed:

·       Over sixty percent (62) are living in pain most of the time due to their arthritis

·       Nearly forty percent (37) felt their condition was not well managed

·       Forty five percent said their ability to exercise was affected severely or very severely by their symptoms

·       Nearly seventy (69) percent said waiting for treatment had an impact on their mental health

·       Nearly fifty percent (49) said their symptoms were not taken seriously by healthcare professionals

·       Fifty-six percent said arthritis had impacted on their working lives.

arthritis_uk_scotland-manifestoDownload

First Minister John Swinney receives cake from Islamic Relief UK to support Syria campaign

First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney received a chocolate cake from Islamic Relief UK yesterday as part of the charity’s Cake Campaign, which raises funds for Syria during Ramadan. 

Islamic Relief’s UK Programme Manager, Nadeem Baqir, presented the cake to the First Minister at Bute House in Edinburgh and personally thanked him for the Scottish Government’s generous support for Islamic Relief’s work.

The Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund (HEF) has worked closely with Islamic Relief UK to help deliver lifesaving relief to families across the world.

Last year in Sudan, with support from HEF, Islamic Relief reached more than 7,000 people with cash assistance, food and dignity kits. Thousands more have been supported to rebuild their lives with the support of the Scottish Government in places such as Somalia, Afghanistan, Kenya and Libya.

The Cake Campaign is celebrating 13 years of selling cakes and saving lives. Since 2013, more than £3m has been raised, helping to save and transform the lives of thousands of Syrian people.

Syrian families continue to struggle to rebuild their lives amid widespread destruction and food shortages. The situation remains dire, with millions of people still displaced and enduring extreme hardships. 

The award-winning Cake Campaign sees volunteers across the UK raising funds for people affected by the Syria crisis by delivering cakes during the sacred month of Ramadan.

First Minister John Swinney said: “I am delighted to support Islamic Relief’s Cake Campaign – an inspiring initiative to raise funds to help people in Syria who are still suffering from the impacts of conflict and displacement.  

“Scotland has a long history of supporting responses to global humanitarian crises, and we will continue to do so. Through our Humanitarian Emergency Fund, the Scottish Government supports humanitarian organisations including Islamic Relief to carry out vital work to provide support including food, medical care and shelter to people affected by conflict, climate change and natural disasters.” 

Nadeem Baqir, UK programme manager for Islamic Relief UK said: “We are delighted to have delivered a cake to the First Minister as part of the Cake Campaign. This initiative is crucial in providing vital aid, offering hope, and standing in solidarity with the Syrian people during their time of need. 
 
“The Scottish government has always been supportive of international development. We are extremely grateful to the First Minister, John Swinney, and the Scottish Government for their generous funding for Islamic Relief’s work in places such as Sudan, where more than 7,000 people received cash assistance, food and dignity kits last year.”


“This generosity also helped more than 7,000 people in Kenya who were affected by devastating floods in 2024, as well as transforming many other lives in humanitarian emergencies in Libya and Somalia.


“We hope the First Minister enjoys his cake!”

Edinburgh’s Budget: Councillors agree record spend to tackle housing emergency and reduce poverty

Thousands of new homes are set to be delivered in Edinburgh over the next five years thanks to an additional £1.6 billion agreed by councillors yesterday.

The Council’s Budget, passed on 26 February, includes a record spend on providing affordable housing alongside significant investment in frontline services, children and education.

Ending poverty and protecting vulnerable residents is at the heart of the spending plans, which prioritise homelessness prevention, sustaining Edinburgh’s third sector partnerships and investing significant sums in education and health and social care services.

Thanks to a change in loan financing arrangements, officers have been able to address budgetary challenges and preserve frontline services while enabling members to limit Edinburgh’s Council Tax rise to 4% – set to be the lowest increase across Scottish councils this year.

Councillors also agreed a freeze on most fees and charges for the next 12 months, including parking permit and pay and display charges.

Alongside today’s decision, the Edinburgh Visitor Levy scheme, the first set of spend programmes of which were agreed earlier this month, is set to generate an additional up to £29 million this financial year to help sustain and promote Edinburgh’s status as one of the world’s favourite visitor destinations.

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “I’m proud that we’ve once again delivered a balanced budget that focuses on meeting the needs of Edinburgh’s residents. It is a budget that reinforces our commitment to tackling poverty, prioritising prevention and protecting frontline services for those most in need of our support – all while keeping the increase in Council Tax to one of the lowest, if not the lowest, in the country.

“We were the first city in Scotland to declare a housing emergency and are now putting our money where our mouths are with an additional investment over the next five years – one of the largest housing interventions by a local authority in modern times. This will provide thousands of much-needed affordable new homes for families, while reducing the use of costly and unsuitable temporary accommodation and helping us to reduce the scourge of poverty on this city.

“Alongside the additional £6 million we’ve pledged towards social care, we’re prioritising support for some of our most vulnerable children and young people across the city. We’re investing in early family support, keeping children with their families wherever we can.

“We’re expanding support for pupils with additional support needs, with extra staff in both our special schools and mainstream schools. And we’re committing £86 million towards progressing major extensions at both Craigroyston and Queensferry High Schools.

“It’s important to remember that we’re not working in isolation and, having listened to our third sector partners, we’re today committing an additional £4 million to help them continue playing an essential role in supporting our residents – and, crucially, to plan with more certainty and security. This ambitious budget clearly demonstrates the strength of listening to our communities and working across party lines to do what’s best for the residents of Edinburgh.”

Finance and Resources Convener Mandy Watt added: “We remain the lowest funded council in Scotland, which poses a real challenge when setting our budget each year. Despite this, officers have produced an innovative budget that prioritises the services that most matter to the people of Edinburgh – from investing in our roads, pavements and parks to caring for our youngest, oldest and most vulnerable residents.

“This is a budget that protects, and in many cases enhances, these frontline services. But it also allows us to protect our residents and businesses from bearing too much of the financial burden that goes with it. I’m proud, then, that we’ve been able to limit our Council Tax rise to only 4% and to freeze most fees and charges for the next 12 months.”

SNP Group leader Simita Kumar tweeted: “A Tory–Lib Dem budget passed today with Labour’s backing—despite warnings from officers and the Accounts Commission.

“£700k in cuts agreed, with Labour using homelessness funds as leverage for Tory votes. Edinburgh deserves better than grubby deals made in the back room!”

EDINBURGH’s BUDGET – KEY FACTS

Tackling the housing emergency

  • Tackling the housing emergency with an additional £1.6bn investment for affordable homes and temporary accommodation – 2,500 homes for temporary accommodation, funding to unlock around 1,100 settled homes at affordable rents and investment capacity for up to around 2,300 additional settled homes.
  • Further key investments totalling £3m directed towards homelessness prevention, including additional staffing to work directly with those at risk of homelessness and creation of a grants budget to bring empty homes back into use as part of the Private Sector Leasing scheme.

Maintaining and improving the city’s roads, schools and public buildings

  • Continue ongoing investment in roads and pavements programme with a further £25m for two years, following the initial investment of £37.5m over three years, which brought a significant improvement in the state of city’s roads. An additional £480k was agreed today towards pothole repairs and white line painting.
  • Craigroyston and Queensferry High Schools will benefit from investment totalling £85.8m to progress major extensions as part of the City Plan 2030. This is in addition to the investment of £296m in five new schools and five extensions, together with the replacement of Fox Covert Campus, which was approved last year.
  • £13.2m for the development of a new permanent Blackhall Library, £7.5m for Portobello Swim Centre and an additional £18.3m over ten years to enhance a co-ordinated Council-wide Buildings Improvement Programme.

Getting it right for every child

  • Budgeted spend on Children, Education and Communities in 2026-27 of £587m, an increase of £14m compared to last year’s budget.
  • Continued investment in education and children’s services, including expanded ASN staffing and facilities, ensuring inclusive education and better life chances for every child in Edinburgh and support targeted investment to improve safety and address violence and aggression at work, recognising the duty of care owed to Council employees and the importance of safe service delivery.
  • Prioritising early family support and keeping children with their families where safe, rather than costly and disruptive external care placements.

Preventing poverty

  • Rolling out Neighbourhood Prevention Partnerships across five local areas to join up services and make help more accessible.
  • Funding for advice and benefits services (building on a £1m allocation in 2025/26).
  • Improving affordable childcare access, expanding affordable housing, and creating a citywide community wealth-building plan.
  • Prioritising the acceleration and improvement of the city-wide early intervention actions needed to prevent poverty in Edinburgh.

Supporting the third sector

  • A sustainable and strengthened package of support for the third sector, including a £1.4m income maximisation fund, providing support for third sector providers of money, welfare, and debt advice in Edinburgh and a £2.0m Local Community Organisations fund – with a further £500k agreed today to support small third sector organisations.

Extra support for health and social care

  • The budget includes an additional £6 million uplift to support the Integration Joint Board budget pressures. This approach provides short-term financial stability for the IJB, allowing focus to remain on service sustainability, transformation and delivery of strategic priorities.
  • Invest £50k towards installing Bleed Kits in Council buildings across the city

New Council Tax bands

A            1,084.03

B            1,264.71

C            1,445.38

D           1,626.05

E            2,136.45

F            2,642.33

G           3,184.35

H           3,983.82