Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Sanne Dijkstra-Downie responds to Daily Express article

Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for Edinburgh Northern, has made a statement in response to an article published in the Daily Express, SNP Government fund group which wants police and councils to not cooperate with immigration raids in Scotland which can be found HERE:

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Sanne Dijkstra-Downie said: “I am deeply disappointed to see the rhetoric of Reform UK and their attack on Project Esperanza, which does immeasurable work for some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

“Project Esperanza provides support for migrant, refugee, and racially minoritised women, children, and families across Edinburgh and Scotland who are navigating poverty, insecure immigration status, racialised policing, gender-based violence, housing precarity, and barriers to healthcare, employment, and education. Without them, people in my constituency and beyond would lack life-changing support.

“A vital service such as this does not deserve to have its work demonised, nor should charities and community organisations representing the needs of the communities they serve have their legitimacy challenged simply because of the people they support.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe in the place they call home, and organisations like Project Esperanza help make that safety a reality for women, children and families in Edinburgh.

“The Scottish Liberal Democrats firmly stand in solidarity with targeted communities and rejects racism across the city.”

You can read the Reform UK article HERE

Edinburgh Climate activists declare war on Reform UK as election looms

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.

Facebook: here

X  (formerly Twitter): here

Instagram:here

Linkedin:here

Another U-Turn as plans to cancel England’s council elections reversed

‘DEMOCRACY IS NOT AN INEFFICIENCY’

With local government reorganisation looming in England, Local Government Secretary Steve Reed controversially approved delays in 30 council elections in England until 2027.

However Reform UK launched a legal challenge to this decision, and the Government has now been forced to abandon plans to postpone elections after receiving advice that the move could be unlawful.

Florence Eshalomi, Chair of Westminster’s Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee commented on the Westminster Government’s decision to scrap plans to delay 30 council elections in England:

“I welcome this development. As I argued previously, democracy is not an inefficiency that should be cut out during local government reorganisation process.”
 
“Councils should not have been put in the position of choosing between frontline services or elections.

“I welcome the indication that the Government will provide additional resources to ensure that local council elections can take place and look forward to seeing more detail on this”.

Reform UK wins Runcorn & Helsby by-election in closest recount ever

STARMER PAYS PRICE FOR BENEFIT CUTS ‘BETRAYAL’

REFORM UK’s Sarah Pochin won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just SIX votes following a knife-edge recount this morning.

Former Conservative councillor Sarah Pochin overturned a 14,696 Labour majority to take the Cheshire seat for Reform UK, originally called the Brexit Party when it was founded in 2018.

Reform UK now has five MPs and the party has made sweeping gains across England in the council elections, winning more seats than any other party in results declared so far.

The Runcorn by-election was called following the conviction of former Labour MP Mike Amesbury, who was captured on film assaulting a constituent.