Politics – Page 8 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Greens storm to victory in by-election

STARMER’S LABOUR FINISH A DISTANT THIRD – BEHIND REFORM

The Green Party has won a historic victory in the Gorton & Denton by-election

THE RESULT:

Scotland’s Budget Bill passed

HOLYROOD has approved the 2026-27 Scottish Budget, including a record £22.5 billion for health and social care and enhanced cost of living support.

The Budget Bill sets out funding of almost £68 billion with investment in Scotland’s infrastructure, direct support for household budgets and extra help for families.

The spending plans include:

continued investment in cost of living measures, including free prescriptions, free eye examinations, removal of peak rail fares on Scotrail – and freezing of remaining Scotrail fares
free tuition fees for young Scots, free school meals for thousands of children, including all pupils in P1 to P5, and free bus travel for under-22s and over-60s
an increase in the Scottish Child Payment and, from 2027-28, a premium payment of £40 per week for eligible children under 12 months
an almost £15.7 billion record settlement for local government to support the services communities rely on including social care and education
significant extra funding for universities and colleges, more than £5 billion to tackle the climate emergency and £4.3 billion transport funding
record investment of £926 million for affordable housing supply, record funding for police and fire services and an additional £10 million investment in community justice services

Finance Secretary Shona Robison said: “The Scottish Government’s Budget delivers for the people of Scotland – strengthening our NHS and providing real, practical support with the cost of living.

“It will improve access to healthcare, including funding for a network of 16 walk-in GP clinics open seven days per week, and builds on our game-changing work to eradicate child poverty, with an increase in the Scottish Child Payment.

“This Budget demonstrates our determination to improve lives across Scotland, and our plans mean that 55% of taxpayers can expect to pay less income tax than in the rest of the UK.”

WE CAN THANK THE LIB-DEMS, OF COURSE …

‘The £300m that we have secured in a whole host of areas shows just how serious we are about getting stuff done. With the Scottish Liberal Democrats, you get grown-up, sensible politics.

‘You can get more of that by backing us in May on your second, peach-coloured ballot paper.’

Budget Bill

Scottish Budget

Rising attainment among school leavers

Positive destinations second highest on record

The proportion of young people leaving school with five or more passes at National Courses and Highers, as well as their equivalent vocational and technical qualifications, has increased over the past year.

A record high of 68.6% of young people left school with five or more qualifications at SCQF Level 5 (National 5 equivalent), according to the School Leaver Attainment and Initial Destination statistics 2024-25 published today. Those leaving with five or more passes at SCQF level 6 (Higher equivalent) rose to 40.8%. The gap between those from the most and least deprived areas leaving with five or more qualifications narrowed at Level 5.

Nine out of ten young people (95.7%) were in positive destinations – such as work, training, college or university – three months after leaving school. This is the same level as 2023-24 and the second highest on record.

There has also been a fall in the number of young people leaving school at S4, down by 544 pupils to 7,540, and in S5 (down 370), with more pupils (732) staying on until S6. This starts to reverse the trend seen in the immediate post-COVID period.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “An increasing number of young people are leaving school with five qualifications or more at SCQF Level 5 or better, including National 5s and Highers.

“This underlines the strong recovery we are seeing in education, following the pandemic and the importance of the breadth of choice schools offer to young people in the senior phase.

“It shows the hard work of learners, teachers and parents and carers and comes after we saw record levels of literacy and numeracy in Scotland’s schools in the recent ACEL statistics

“The Scottish Government has invested £1.75 billion in the Scottish Attainment Challenge over the past decade helping improve outcomes for children and young people impacted by poverty – and, while this latest data shows there is more to do, we remain determined to address this.

“The proportion of Scotland’s young people in positive destinations remains at a near record high. The welcome increase among those going on to Higher Education underlines the importance of our commitment to free tuition, ensuring in Scotland education is based on the ability to learn, not pay.

“The recently passed Tertiary Education and Training Bill will also put apprenticeships on a statutory footing for the first time, creating parity with other post-school routes to provide more choices for young people.”

destinations and attainment of 2024-25 leavers

Literacy and numeracy standards reach record high – gov.scot

Choudhury calls for clarity on anti-racist resources in schools

Following enquiries from concerned local teachers seeking clarity on funding for anti-racist curriculum resources, Lothian MSP Foysol Choudhury raised the matter with the Scottish Government in Parliament last Thursday.

During Portfolio Questions, Mr Choudhury asked the Cabinet Secretary: “What specific funding allocations will be made to support participative curriculum resourcing in anti-racist materials, and how will schools be supported to access high-quality materials to ensure racist incidents are handled effectively to prevent far-right narratives from filling the gaps?”

In response, Cabinet Secretary Jenny Gilruth outlined funding already available to support anti-racism work in schools, noting that two additional funding streams are also in place. She confirmed she would write to Mr Choudhury with further details, and he said he looks forward to receiving that information.

As MSP for the Lothian region and a lifelong equality campaigner, Mr Choudhury has repeatedly raised issues around racism in schools, including funding for anti-racism education, improving reporting of racist incidents, and ensuring inclusive curriculum reform.

He has also been a leading voice on equality throughout his career, including serving as Chair of the Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council and supporting minority ethnic communities and anti-racism initiatives across Scotland.

In previous parliamentary questions, he sought clarity on government funding for anti-racism education initiatives, including programmes delivered through organisations such as Education Scotland and Intercultural Youth Scotland as part of the wider Anti-Racism in Education Programme.

Mr Choudhury said: “Our schools must be places where every child feels safe, respected, and represented. Teachers who contacted me were keen to ensure they have the right resources to support their pupils, and well-supported anti-racism programmes are an important part of that work.”

He added that he will continue working constructively with teachers, parents, young people and anti-racism organisations to understand what support schools need and to follow up with ministers as further information becomes available.

Costs of Cairngorm Funicular may outweigh benefits, warns Committee

Concerns have been raised about whether the cost to monitor and repair the Cairngorm Funicular could outweigh the benefits to the local and national economy. This stark warning comes from a new report issued today by the Scottish Parliament’s Public Audit Committee.

The report follows the Committee’s look at the funding and operation of the troubled funicular.

Opened in 2001 at a cost of £19.5 million, the funicular was closed for four years from September 2018 due to issues with the track. It briefly opened again in 2023 before closing once more for further repairs. It finally reopened in February 2025.

During this time, ownership of the funicular has moved into public hands with Cairngorm Mountain Ltd, a company owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

Now, with costs of over £16 million to reinstate the funicular and a reliance on public finance, the Committee has raised concerns about whether the costs of regular monitoring and maintenance may become disproportionate to its benefit.

The Committee has also called on the Scottish Government to be more transparent about its plans for the funicular and to ensure that the project remains value for money.

During the Committee’s consideration, there was also frustration about the level of information available to the Committee to take a judgment on HIE’s decision-making on the future of the funicular.

The report now calls on HIE to make significant improvement in this area as well as ensuring that the governance arrangements in place for the funicular are be simplified and made more transparent.

Speaking as the report launched, Committee Convener Richard Leonard MSP said: “It is safe to say that the Cairngorm Funicular has had a somewhat troubled history, with repeated and lengthy closures and requiring significant public investment.

“This Committee has heard from those in charge of the funicular, the public bodies supporting it, those living and working in the area and nature conservation activists. We have heard both optimism and scepticism about what comes next. And it presents a picture of concern for us that the future benefits are not as clear as they ought to be.

“There also needs to be a much more transparent governance structure in place for the running of the funicular. A simplified structure would allow for better public scrutiny of public money and decisions on the future plans for the Cairngorm Mountain resort.”

Edinburgh Conservatives propose lowest Council Tax increase in Scotland at 2.5%

Edinburgh’s Conservative Group has put forward a Council budget proposing a 2.5% increase in Council Tax — the lowest of any political party on the City of Edinburgh Council and likely to be among the lowest increases anywhere in Scotland this year.

With UK inflation currently running at 3%, the Conservative proposal represents a real-terms reduction in Council Tax — effectively putting money back into the pockets of Edinburgh’s 250,000-plus households at a time when families are already feeling the squeeze from tax rises under Labour in Westminster and the SNP at Holyrood.

While Labour, the SNP and the Liberal Democrats on the Council all back a 5% increase — significantly above the rate of inflation — and the Greens go even further with a 6% rise, the Conservatives have set out a credible alternative that lives within its means without sacrificing the services residents rely on.

The Conservative budget protects key frontline services and includes increased investment in areas residents care most about, including a dedicated fund for graffiti removal at heritage sites including the Union Canal, increased spending on road and pavement repairs, and a new Pest and Vermin Taskforce.

Councillor Iain Whyte, Conservative Group Leader, said: “Edinburgh families are already under enormous financial pressure. The last thing they need is their Council adding to that burden with above-inflation tax rises. Our budget shows you can protect services, invest in the things that matter, and still give residents a real-terms break on their bills.

“Every other party on this Council wants to charge residents more than inflation. We think that’s wrong. With over a quarter of a million households in Edinburgh, a below-inflation increase makes a real difference to real people.

“The SNP’s own First Minister said above-inflation Council Tax rises would not be reasonable. It’s a shame his colleagues on Edinburgh Council didn’t get that memo.”

The Conservative budget also rejects proposed increases to Council Tax premiums on second and empty homes, arguing that Council Tax should remain in part a charge for services used rather than solely a property tax.

The Conservative Group’s 2.5% proposal compares with most Scottish councils expected to implement increases of up to 10% or above for 2026/27.

There are approximately 250,000 households in the City of Edinburgh Council area.

Full details of the Conservative Group budget, along with the budget motions submitted by all other political groups on the Council, are available on the City of Edinburgh Council website at www.edinburgh.gov.uk.

UK steps up support for Ukraine four years on from Putin’s invasion

NEW MILITARY AND HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT

New package of military, humanitarian and reconstruction support announced as UK steps up support for Ukraine.
Prime Minister will lead Coalition of the Willing call today as the Foreign Secretary attends official commemoration in Kyiv and Defence Secretary joins Ukrainians in London.
The UK’s security starts in Ukraine, and the continued support will make Britain and Europe stronger and more secure.

The UK is boosting support for Ukraine four years after Putin’s full-scale invasion with new military and humanitarian support. As the brutal war – which Putin thought he would win in a week – enters its fifth year, the UK Government is clear that Ukraine’s defence is Britain’s security.

Today, the Government is announcing additional support for Ukraine as the Prime Minister today convenes a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing with French President Emmanuel Macron, following their landmark declaration in January with President Zelenskyy of the UK’s intent to deploy British troops to Ukraine once peace is secured. As part of this Multinational Force for Ukraine, a 70 person HQ is up and running and preparations for UK forces are backed by £200 million funding from this government.

In Kyiv, the Foreign Secretary is expected to call out despicable ‘Russification’ tactics being deployed against innocent civilians in the Temporarily Occupied Territories in the east of Ukraine where they are forced to adopt Russian passports, Ukrainian language is prohibited, people are isolated from Ukrainian media and are arrested on arbitrary charges for any demonstration of pro-Ukrainian sentiment.

Defence Secretary John Healey will visit the Ukrainian Cathedral in London to meet those who the UK has opened up its doors to following the invasion. With Bishop Nowakowski and the Ukrainian Ambassador, he will light a candle in memory of all those who have lost their lives in the conflict.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “On this grim anniversary, our message to the Ukrainian people is simple: Britain is with you, stronger than ever. That is why we are announcing new support today and we will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.

“For all the noise in world affairs today, this war remains the most critical issue of our age. It asks the question of whether Ukrainian and European freedom will endure. Our answer, together, is unequivocal. Russia is not winning this war. They will not win this war. Ukraine’s courage continues to hold the line for our shared values, in the face of Putin’s aggression.

“We will stand by their side, until a just and lasting peace – and beyond.

“Slava Ukraini.”

The package of support announced today includes:

£20 million of new funding for emergency energy support to protect and repair the energy grid and provide additional generation capacity – fixing the damage caused by Russia’s brutal attacks over this winter and future proofing Ukraine’s energy systems for next Winter. This brings the UK’s total support for Ukrainian energy since the start of the war to over £490 million.
£5.7 million to provide humanitarian assistance to frontline communities, those who need evacuation or have been impacted by airstrikes or internal displacement. The UN and its partners are targeting 4.1 million people in Ukraine, prioritizing those experiencing the most severe conditions. The UK was the largest donor to the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund in 2025
Medical mentoring – Highly skilled teams of British military surgeons, nurses and physiotherapists are mentoring Ukrainian clinicians in Ukraine. They shadow Ukrainian teams treating complex battlefield surgery, drawing on UK expertise in trauma surgery and wartime injury to help Ukrainian service personnel return to military duties or rebuild their lives as civilians.
Helicopter training – Ukrainian pilots are now training at a UK air base to become helicopter flying instructors, the first time Britain has offered rotary-wing instructor training to Ukraine. Graduates will train the next generation of Ukrainian military aviators, helping Ukraine to defend and deter.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Today I am shining a light on Russia’s disgraceful attempts to erase the Ukrainian identity, in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

“From pumping the education system full of disinformation, deporting and indoctrinating children, to illegally detaining innocent civilians for acts as simple as displaying Ukrainian colours, Russia has proven its ruthless disregard for international law and human rights.

“Four years on, Russia can and must end this war. The UK will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes to achieve a just and lasting peace.”

The Foreign Secretary will also announce £30 million of UK funding to support Ukrainian societal resilience, and drive justice and accountability efforts for victims and survivors of alleged Russian war crimes.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “Four years after Putin launched his war to wipe Ukraine as a sovereign nation off the map, the UK is more determined than ever to stand strong with Ukraine. Together with allies, we’re stepping up military aid to Ukraine, and we will step up pressure on Putin.

“This was a war Putin thought he would win in a week but he underestimates the will of the Ukrainian people. With our support, they continue to fight with huge courage and defiance. Today we also mark the suffering of Ukrainians on the frontline, the families mourning loved ones and the millions displaced from home yearning for the opportunity to return with peace.

“I pay tribute to the people of Ukraine. I am proud of our UK unity and leadership on Ukraine. I am determined that we make 2026 the year this brutal war ends.”

The support announced today follows significant assistance announced by the Defence Secretary earlier this month, including a half a billion pounds of air defence support and 1,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs), produced in Belfast, to defend Ukraine from Russia’s ongoing drone assaults.

Ban liquid BBLs and ‘high harm’ procedures, committee urges

‘High harm’ procedures such as the liquid Brazilian butt lift (BBL) should be banned immediately without further consultation, a new report published today by the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) has recommended.

The Westminster Government is ‘not moving quickly enough’ in introducing a licensing system for non-surgical cosmetic procedures and ‘should accelerate regulatory action’ MPs said, cautioning ‘this lack of timely action is fostering complacency in self-regulation’ within the industry.

The report warned of a ‘wild west’ in which procedures have reportedly taken place in Airbnbs, hotel rooms, garden sheds and public toilets. Individuals without any formal training can carry out potentially harmful interventions, placing the public at risk, MPs concluded.

Non-surgical cosmetic procedures

Liquid BBLs and liquid breast augmentations – procedures deemed high risk and which have already been shown to pose a serious threat to patient safety – should be restricted to appropriately qualified medical professionals immediately, the report recommended. Given the lack of appetite among medical professionals to carry out these procedures, this will act as a de facto ban in all but the most essential cases, it said.

A licensing system for ‘green’ and ‘amber’ lower risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures, in which only those suitably qualified can perform them, should be introduced within this Parliament, WEC recommended.

Currently, there is no regulation as to who can perform procedures that do not require incisions and are commonly used to refer to injectables, such as Botox or dermal fillers, laser therapy or chemical peels. What rules that that do exist, such as on the prescription of Botox, are being circumvented, are under enforced and under policed.

The absence of a legislative framework for training and qualifications in the non-surgical cosmetic sector has resulted in significant variability in standards, with justified concerns about short courses, online training, and the ease of entry into practice, the report warned.

The Government, it said, should bring forward consistent, enforceable standards for the non-surgical cosmetic sector that prioritise patient safety and competency, while ensuring training routes remain accessible and affordable for a predominantly female-led workforce.

The Government should work with the devolved administrations to ensure regulatory alignment across all UK nations on legislation governing non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

Cosmetic tourism

The increasing number of cases requiring medical treatment after cosmetic surgery abroad raises serious concerns for patient safety and places additional financial strain on the NHS, the report said.

It called on the Government to review the need for the NHS to systematically record data on complications arising from cosmetic procedures performed abroad. Publishing such data annually, it said, would enable a comprehensive assessment of the financial impact on the NHS and provide robust evidence to better inform and educate the public about the risks associated with cosmetic tourism. The data could include details of the clinic or practitioner that performed the original procedure to help further protect UK nationals.

Ministers should assess whether outlets in the UK that are recruiting patients for medical treatment overseas should be brought into a regulatory regime and be subject to investigation and, where necessary, sanction, the report added.

Body image

WEC’s report warned of a ‘gap in safeguarding mental health’ in the cosmetic procedures sector. It recommended training curricula required to obtain a licence to perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures should include mandatory modules on informed consent and psychological screening, with a specific focus on identifying Body Dysmorphic Disorder and other vulnerabilities.

Social media platforms and face-editing technologies are contributing to worsening body image and increasing demand for cosmetic procedures, particularly among young women and girls, the report concluded. The normalisation of high-risk procedures by online influencers and the shaping of beauty standards by algorithms which bombard users with posts on body image are particular concerns.

It is clear that social media platforms must take more responsibility for the content they promote, the report said, adding in response to the alarming increase in desire for cosmetic surgery among teenagers, the Department of Health and Social Care should work with the Department for Education to integrate evidence-based body image and social media literacy programmes into school curricula, including content on risks of cosmetic procedures.

Breast implants

The PIP implant scandal exposed failures that continue to affect women more than a decade later, the report said, recommending the NHS should remove PIP implants from women who wish to have them explanted.

Shortcomings on data collection and recording mean that the NHS does not know who received PIP implants and many women may not be aware they have them. The need for further research and improved data collection on implantation must be addressed, it added.

WEC called on the Government to introduce mandatory recording of breast implant and explant procedures and instances of adverse outcomes in the Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry by the end of 2026. Data on adverse outcomes by implant type should be published annually to support informed consent and improve patient safety, the report recommended.

A mandatory cooling-off period of at least two weeks should be introduced between the initial consultation and surgery for breast implants, ensuring patients have sufficient time to consider risks and alternatives before making a commitment. The new post-surveillance regime for breast implants must include regular testing of approved implants to ensure continued compliance with safety standards, it added.

The Committee’s report called on the Government to commission research to better understand the health impacts of breast implants, including their potential impacts on women with pre-existing auto-immune conditions.

The research needs to be a mix of clinical research, including on the health impacts of siloxanes, and longitudinal, following a cohort of women over a period of time. Such studies are necessary to improve patient safety, diagnosis and treatment and for the purposes of informed consent, it said.

The Government should also require all practitioners performing invasive surgical cosmetic procedures to have specialist training and hold appropriate board certification in the procedures they undertake.

Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee and Labour MP Sarah Owen said: “Procedures that are deemed high risk such as liquid BBLs and liquid breast augmentations, which have already been shown to pose a serious threat to patient safety, should be banned immediately.

“There is no need for further consultation and delay. A licensing system for non-surgical cosmetic procedures should be introduced within this Parliament.

“The Government is not moving quickly enough in introducing a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures and should accelerate regulatory action. Currently, individuals without any formal training can carry out potentially very harmful interventions and often do so in unsafe environments. This ‘wild west’ of procedures is placing the public at risk.

“Regulation has not kept pace with the sector’s expansion. In 2013, the head of the NHS warned that a person having a non-surgical cosmetic intervention has no more protection than someone buying a toothbrush. Over a decade later the only thing that has changed is the number of people suffering life changing and life-threatening injuries.

“During our inquiry, the Committee heard a powerful and shocking testimony from a woman who developed sepsis after having a liquid BBL. Her experience and those of many others should act as an urgent wake-up call to Government for change.

“With the concerning rise in cosmetic tourism, there is a strong case for the NHS to systematically record data on complications arising from such procedures performed abroad. Publishing this data annually would enable a comprehensive assessment of the financial strain on the NHS and help raise awareness about the risks.

“Ministers should learn the lessons of the PIP breast implant scandal, and introduce mandatory recording of breast implant and explant procedures and instances of adverse outcomes and commission research to better understand the health impacts of breast implants so that women seeking this surgery can truly give informed consent.”

Scottish Secretary on Trade & Defence Mission to the Indo-Pacific

Douglas Alexander to visit Australia, New Zealand & Singapore

Trade opportunities and international security will be at the heart of Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander’s programme as he embarks on a week-long visit to the Indo-Pacific region.

Mr Alexander will meet government ministers and business leaders across Australia, Singapore and New Zealand. The visit will also see the Scottish Secretary attend two international performances of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo – in Auckland and Brisbane – showcasing one of Scotland’s most important cultural exports.

Strengthening defence partnerships

Australia and New Zealand remain among the UK’s closest defence allies at a time of heightened global instability. Australia is a key part of the AUKUS partnership, and in 2025 we signed a joint treaty with a 50-year commitment to deepening security cooperation in the region. Mr Alexander will hold discussions aimed at identifying further opportunities for collaboration, including in naval shipbuilding and advanced defence manufacturing where Scottish industry has world-leading expertise.

Boosting trade and investment

The Scottish Secretary will meet business leaders to discuss how Scottish companies can expand into new export markets across the region, while making the case for increased inward investment in Scotland. With our free trade agreements and UK membership of the CPTPP, the visit offers an opportunity to capitalise on strengthened trading relationships with all three nations. Boosting trade means well paid jobs and investment at home.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr Alexander said: “This visit is about speaking up for Scottish businesses and Scottish exporters. Scotland benefits from the strength, reach and connections that come from being part of the UK. The UK is a strong and committed partner — in security, in trade, and in the shared values that bind us to our friends in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

“At a time of significant global uncertainty, it has never been more important to stand shoulder to shoulder with our closest allies, and I look forward to discussing how we can deepen our defence cooperation and work together to keep people safe.

“I will also be banging the drum for Scottish business. From whisky and seafood to financial services and renewable energy technology, Scotland has world-class products and expertise that are in demand across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. This visit is an opportunity to open doors for Scottish exporters, attract the investment that creates economic growth and well paid jobs back at home, and show that Scotland is open for business on the global stage.”

Scotland and New Zealand have deep historical links, and Mr Alexander will be the first Scottish Secretary to visit in recent times.