Tag: Shelter Scotland

A Budget to ‘fix the foundations’ and deliver change for Scotland?

Chancellor ‘takes long-term decisions to restore stability, rebuild Britain and protect working people across Scotland’

  • No change to working people’s payslips as employee national insurance and VAT stay the same, but businesses and the wealthiest asked to pay their fair share.
  • Record £47.7 billion for the Scottish Government in 2025/26 includes £3.4 billion through the Barnett formula.
  • Funding for Green Freeports, City and Growth Deals, GB Energy and hydrogen projects to fire up growth and deliver good jobs across Scotland.

The Chancellor has ‘delivered a Budget to fix the foundations to deliver on the promise of change after a decade and a half of stagnation’. She set out plans to rebuild Britain, while ensuring working people across Scotland don’t face higher taxes in their payslips.

The UK Government was handed a challenging inheritance; £22 billion of unfunded in-year spending pressures, debt at its highest since the 1960s, an unrealistic forecast for departmental spending, and stagnating living standards.

This Budget takes ‘difficult decisions’ to restore economic and fiscal stability, so that the UK Government can invest in Scotland’s future and lay the foundations for economic growth across the UK as its number one mission.

The Chancellor announced that the Scottish Government will be provided with a £47.7 billion settlement in 2025/26 – the largest in real terms in the history of devolution. This includes a £3.4 billion top-up through the Barnett formula, with £2.8 billion for day-to-day spending and £610 million for capital investment.

Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray said: “This is a historic budget for Scotland that chooses investment over decline and delivers on the promise that there would be no return to austerity.

“It is the largest budget settlement for the Scottish Government in the history of devolution, including an additional £1.5 billion this financial year and an additional £3.4 billion next year through the Barnett formula. That money must reach frontline services, to bring down NHS waiting lists and lift attainment in our schools.

“It will also bring a new era of growth for Scotland and the whole UK, confirming nearly £890 million of direct investment into Freeports, Investment Zones, the Argyll and Bute Growth Deal, and other important local projects across Scotland’s communities, as well as £125 million next year for GB Energy and support for green hydrogen projects in Cromarty and Whitelee.

“The increase in the minimum wage will also mean a pay rise for hundreds of thousands of workers in Scotland, with the biggest increase for young workers ever. This is on top of our employment rights bill which will deliver the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation. The triple lock means an increase in the state pension by £470 next year, on top of £900 this year for a million Scottish pensioners.

“The budget protects working people in Scotland, delivers more money than ever before for Scottish public services and means an end to the era of austerity.”

Protecting working people and living standards

While fixing the inheritance requires tough decisions, the Chancellor has committed to protecting the living standards of working people. The decisions taken by the Chancellor to rebuild public finances enable the UK Government to deliver on its pledge to not increase National Insurance or VAT on working people in Scotland, meaning they will not see higher taxes in their payslip.

  • The National Living Wage will increase from £11.44 to £12.21 an hour from April 2025. The 6.7% increase – worth £1,400 a year for a full-time worker – is a significant move towards delivering a genuine living wage.
  • The National Minimum Wage for 18 to 20-year-olds will also see a record rise from £8.60 to £10 an hour.
  • Working people will benefit from these increases, with there estimated to be over 100,000 minimum wage workers in Scotland in 2023.
  • The Chancellor has made the decision to protect working people in Scotland from being dragged into higher tax brackets by confirming that the freeze on National Insurance Contributions thresholds will be lifted from 2028-29 onwards, rising in line with inflation so they can keep more of their hard-earned wages.
  • The Chancellor is also protecting motorists by freezing fuel duty for one year – a tax cut worth £3 billion, with the temporary 5p cut extended to 22 March 2026. This will benefit an estimated 3.2 million people in Scotland, saving the average car driver £59, vans £126 and Heavy Goods Vehicles £1,079 next year.
  • To support Scottish pubs and smaller brewers in Scotland, the UK Government is cutting duty on qualifying draught products by 1p, which represent approximately 3 in 5 alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This measure reduces duty bills by over £70 million a year, cutting duty on an average strength pint in a pub by a penny. The relief available to small producers will be updated to help smaller brewers and cidermakers.  
  • Over 1 million Scottish pensioners will benefit from a 4.1% increase to their new or basic State Pension in April 2025. This is an additional £470 a year for those on the new State Pension and an additional £360 a year for those on the basic State Pension.
  • Households eligible for Pension Credit will get £465 a year more for single pensioners and up to £710 a year more for couples due to a 4.1% increase in the Pension Credit Standard Minimum Guarantee, benefitting 125,000 pensioners in Scotland.
  • Around 1.7 million families in Scotland will see their working-age benefits uprated in line with inflation – a £150 gain on average in 2025-26.
  • Reducing the maximum level of debt repayments that can be deducted from a household’s Universal Credit payment each month from 25% to 15% will benefit a Scottish family by over £420 a year on average.

Rebuilding Britain

This UK Government will not make a return to austerity and will instead boost investment to rebuild Britain and lay the foundations for growth in Scotland. This includes £130 million of targeted funding for the Scottish Government, of which £120 million is in capital investment.

  • The Budget delivers on the first step to establish Great British Energy by providing £125 million next year to set up the institution at its new home in Aberdeen – helping to develop new clean energy projects in Scotland and across the UK. 
  • The UK Government will deliver £122 million for City and Growth Deals, including the continuation of its contribution to the Argyll and Bute Growth Deal which delivers £25 million of investment in the region over 10 years. This Deal will be supported by a rigorous value for money assessment as part of the review of the business cases for projects within it, to ensure best value is being delivered.
  • The Budget gives certainty to local leaders and investors, confirming funding for the Investment Zones and Freeports programmes across the UK – including Scotland’s Green Freeports. 
  • The Chancellor committed the UK Government to working closely with the Scottish Government on the Industrial Strategy, 10-year infrastructure strategy and the National Wealth Fund – to ensure the benefits of these are felt UK-wide and as part of the relationship reset between governments. These will mobilise billions of pounds of investment in the UK’s world-leading clean energy and growth industries.
  • To support economic growth and promote Scottish culture, products and services through diplomatic and trade networks, the UK Government is allocating £750,000 for the Scotland Office in 2025/26 to champion Brand Scotland as was committed in the manifesto.
  • We are supporting Scotland’s world-renowned Scotch Whisky industry by providing up to £5 million for HMRC to reduce the fees charged by the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme and by ending mandatory duty stamps for spirits on 1 May 2025.
  • Two electrolytic hydrogen projects in Scotland have been selected for UK Government revenue support through the first Hydrogen Allocation Round: Cromarty Green Hydrogen Project and Whitelee Green Hydrogen. Both projects will bring in significant international investment and create good quality, local jobs.
  • An extension of the Innovation Accelerators programme will support the high-potential innovation cluster in the Glasgow City Region.
  • A corporate tax roadmap will provide businesses with the stability and certainty they need to make long-term investment decisions and support our growth mission. It confirms our competitive offer, with the lowest Corporate Tax rate in the G7 and generous support for investment and innovation. 
  • The UK Government will also proceed with implementing the 45%/40% rates of the theatre, orchestra, museum and galleries tax relief from 1 April 2025 to provide certainty to businesses in Scotland’s thriving cultural sector.

Repairing public finances

The Chancellor has made clear that, whilst protecting working people with measures to reduce the cost of living, there would be difficult decisions required. The Budget will ask businesses and the wealthiest to pay their fair share while making taxes fairer. This will go directly towards fixing the foundations of the UK economy.

  • The rate of Employers’ National Insurance will increase by 1.2 percentage points, to 15%. The Secondary Threshold – the level at which employers start paying national insurance on each employee’s salary – will reduce from £9,100 per year to £5,000 per year.
  • The smallest businesses will be protected as the Employment Allowance will increase to £10,500 from £5,000, allowing Scottish firms to employ four National Living Wage workers full time without paying employer national insurance on their wages.
  • Capital Gains Tax will increase from 10% to 18% for those paying the lower rate, and 20% to 24% for those paying the higher rate.
  • To encourage entrepreneurs to invest in their businesses Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) will remain at 10% this year, before rising to 14% on 6 April 2025 and 18% from 6 April 2026-27.
  • The lifetime limit of BADR will be maintained at £1 million. The lifetime limit of Investors’ Relief will be reduced from £10 million to £1 million.
  • The OBR say changes to CGT raise over £2.5 billion a year and the UK will continue to have the lowest CGT rate of any European G7 country.
  • Inheritance Tax thresholds will be fixed at their current levels for a further two years until April 2030. More than 90% of estates each year will be outside of its scope. From April 2027 inherited pensions will be subject to Inheritance Tax. This removes a distortion which has led to pensions being used as a tax planning vehicle to transfer wealth rather than their original purpose to fund retirement.
  • From April 2026, agricultural property relief and business property relief will be reformed. The highest rate of relief will continue at 100% for the first £1 million of combined business and agricultural assets, fully protecting the majority of businesses and farms. It will reduce to 50% after the first £1 million. Reforms will affect the wealthiest 2,000 estates each year. Inheritance Tax reforms in total are predicted by the OBR to raise £2 billion to support stability.
  • From 2026-27 Air Passenger Duty (APD) for short and long-haul flights will increase by 13% to the nearest pound, a partial adjustment to account for previous high inflation. For economy passengers, this means a maximum £2 extra per short haul flight and tickets for children under the age of 16 remain exempt from APD. APD for larger private jets will be increased by a further 50%. Passengers carried on flights leaving from airports in the Scottish Highlands and Islands region are exempt from APD.
  • The rate of the Energy Profits Levy will increase to 38% from 1 November 2024 and the levy will now expire one year later than planned, on 31 March 2030.  The 29% investment allowance will be removed.
  • To provide long-term certainty and to support a stable energy transition, the UK Government will make no additional changes to tax relief available within the EPL and a consultation will be published in early 2025 on a successor regime that can respond to price shocks. Money raised from changes to the EPL will support the transition to clean energy, enhance energy security and provide sustainable jobs for the future.

The Budget also announced a package of measures that disincentivise activities that cause ill health, by:

  •  Renewing the tobacco duty escalator which increases all tobacco duty rates by RPI+2% plus an above escalator increase to hand rolling tobacco (totalling RPI+12%).  
  • Introducing a new vaping duty at a flat rate of 22p/ml from October 2026, accompanied by a further one-off increase in tobacco duty to maintain financial incentive to choose vaping over smoking. 
  • To help tackle obesity and other harms caused by high sugar intake, the Soft Drinks Industry Levy will increase to account for inflation since it was last updated in 2018, and the duty will rise in line with inflation every year going forward.
  • The UK Government will also uprate alcohol duty in line with RPI on 1 February 2025, except for most drinks in pubs.

The UK Government has set out the next steps to deliver its tax manifesto commitments in the July Statement. Having consulted on the final policy details where appropriate, this Budget delivers the UK Government’s manifesto commitments to raise revenue to pay for First Steps, with reforms that are underpinned by fairness, and tackle tax avoidance by:  

  • A new residence-based regime will replace the current non-dom regime from April 2025 and will be designed to attract investment and talent to the UK.
  • Offshore trusts will no longer be able to be used to shelter assets from Inheritance Tax, and there will be transitional arrangement in place for people who have made plans based on current rules.
  • The planned 50% reduction for foreign income in the first year of the new regime will be removed.
  • Reforms to the non-dom regime will raise a total of £12.7 billion according to the OBR.
  • The tax treatment of carried interest will be reformed by first increasing the Capital Gains Tax rates on carried interest to 32% and then, from April 2026, moving to a revised regime – with bespoke rules to reflect the characteristics of the reward.

The Chancellor also ‘doubled down’ on fiscal responsibility through two new fiscal rules that put the public finances on a sustainable path and prioritise investment to support long-term growth, and new principles of stability. Spending Reviews will be held every two years, setting plans for at least three years to ensure public services are always planned and improve value for money.

One major fiscal event per year will give families and businesses stability and certainty on tax and spending changes, while giving the Scottish Government greater clarity for in its own budget-setting.  A Fiscal Lock will also ensure no future government can sideline the OBR again.

Budget marks ‘step in right direction’

Scotland’s Finance Secretary responds to Budget

Finance Secretary Shona Robison has welcomed additional funding in the Autumn Budget, but said the Scottish Government will still face “enormous cost pressures” despite the measures.

The Finance Secretary said: “We called for increased investment in public services, infrastructure and tackling poverty. This budget is a step in the right direction, but still leaves us facing enormous cost pressures going forwards. The additional funding for this financial year has already been factored into our spending plans.

“By changing her fiscal rules and increasing investment in infrastructure, the Chancellor has met a core ask of the Scottish Government. But after 14 years of austerity, it’s going to take more than one year to rebuild and recover – we will need to see continued investment over the coming years to reset and reform public services.

“Indeed, there is a risk that by providing more funding for public services while increasing employer national insurance contributions, the UK Government is giving with one hand while taking away with the other.

“We estimate that the employer national insurance change could add up to £500 million in costs for the public sector unless it is fully reimbursed – and there is a danger that we won’t get that certainty until after the Scottish budget process for 2025/26 has concluded.

“With the lingering effects of the cost of living crisis still hitting family finances, it is disappointing that there was no mention of abolishing the two-child limit, which evidence shows would be one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce child poverty. Neither was there mention of funding for the Winter Fuel Payment.

“As ever, the devil is in the detail, and we will now take the time to assess the full implications of today’s statement. I will be announcing further details as part of the Scottish Budget on 4 December.”

Child Poverty Action Group: Chancellor misses golden chance to scrap two child limit

  • 16 000 more children will now be pulled into poverty by time new UK child poverty taskforce reports in spring
  • “Good news on universal credit deductions, but no bold action on child poverty” 
  • Barnett consequentials must now be prioritised to fund action on child poverty in Scotland

Responding to the UK Chancellor’s Budget, John Dickie, Director of the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland, said; “The Chancellor brought good news on universal credit deductions, but this was not a Budget of bold action on child poverty.  She missed a golden chance to scrap the two-child limit, a policy that will pull 16,000 extra children into poverty by the time the government’s child poverty taskforce reports in spring.

We welcome the new UK government’s ambition on child poverty but this budget played for time, time that children and families can’t afford. The UK spending review next spring will have to deliver much more to make a significant difference for children in poverty.”

Mr Dickie continued: “Here in Scotland and looking ahead to the Scottish budget it is vital that wider Barnett consequentials are now used to fund the action needed to deliver on the First Minister’s number one priority of ending child poverty.

“That must include funding a real terms increase to the Scottish child payment, expanding childcare provision, delivering on free school meal promises and increasing the supply of affordable family housing.”

POVERTY ALLIANCE:

Responding to today’s UK Budget, Poverty Alliance chief executive Peter Kelly said: “People across the UK believe in a nation based on justice and compassion. Today’s Budget was an opportunity for the Chancellor to turn those values into action, and to rebuild trust in government. Despite some welcome changes, there is still some way to go.

“Boosting the minimum wage is welcome, because for decades workers have been getting less and less from our growing economy. This increase will go some way to making up the gap, particularly for younger workers. But we need to remember that today’s Budget will still leave the legal minimum wages far lower than the real Living Wage rate – the only wage rate that is solely based on the cost of living – of £12.60 per hour, or £13.85 per hour in London.

“We know that too many people on Universal Credit find themselves pushed into destitution when they are chased for debt by public bodies, so it’s good that the maximum amount of benefit that can be taken from them has been reduced. But the Chancellor could have gone further, by strengthening our social security with a boost to Universal Credit that would guarantee that households can afford life’s essentials.

“She could have made it clear that every child matters, by scrapping the unjust and ineffective two-child limit, and ditching the unfair benefit cap which stops households getting all the support they are entitled to.

“There was a welcome focus on the importance of our public services to our shared prosperity and wellbeing. But the Chancellor could have done more to use our country’s wealth to tackle poverty and invest in a better society. Even with today’s changes, people who earn money from selling shares and business assets will pay Capital Gains Tax at a lower rate than workers pay in Income Tax. That’s just wrong.

“Freezing fuel duty and keeping the previous cuts in place will cost the Exchequer billions of pounds a year. It’s bad value for money, benefits the wealthiest in society most, and does little to make the transition to the green economy. The money would have been better invested in affordable, accessible, and sustainable public transport for all.

“It’s right that big companies pay their fair share towards building a strong society, but the Chancellor must urgently consider how increases to employer National Insurance will hit charities and community groups.

“The support and advice provided by these organisations is vital for people who have been pushed into poverty, but too many are already struggling through a lack of fair funding, and this NI increase could push many over the edge.

“That would be a disaster for our communities, and leave more low-income households facing destitution and despair.”

TUC: Labour’s investment budget has begun process of “repairing and rebuilding Britain”

Union body says budget is a vital first step towards the growth, jobs and living standards working people desperately need

Commenting on Wednesday’s budget statement from the Chancellor Rachel Reeves, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “The Chancellor was dealt a terrible hand by the last Conservative government – a toxic legacy of economic chaos, falling living standards and broken public services. 

“But with today’s budget the Chancellor has acted decisively to deliver an economy that works for working people. 

“The government’s investment plans are a vital first step towards repairing and rebuilding Britain – securing the stronger growth, higher wages and decent public services that the country desperately needs. 

“Tax rises will ensure much-needed funds for our NHS, schools and the rest of our crumbling public services, with those who have the broadest shoulders paying a fairer share. The Chancellor was right to prioritise hospitals and classrooms over private jets. 

“There is still a lot more work to do to clean up 14 years of Tory mess and economic decline. – including better supporting and strengthening our social security system. But this budget sets us on an urgently needed path towards national renewal.” 

Shelter Scotland has responded to the UK budget set out this afternoon by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

The housing and homelessness charity urged the Scottish Government to commit to investing any new capital funding into delivering the social homes needed to end the housing emergency. 

However, it also expressed disappointment at the continuation of the two-child limit and ongoing freeze to Local Housing Allowance.

Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson, said: “Having declared a housing emergency it’s clear that the Scottish Government must back words with actions.

“It is vital that any capital funding which becomes available as a result of the Chancellor’s investment plans is in turn used by Scottish Ministers to deliver social homes here, but we also need to see growth in the capital budget over a sustained period to support continued investment.

“Delivering more social homes remains the single most effective way to tackle the housing emergency in Scotland, and only the Scottish Government can decide how much of its budget it commits to that endeavour. 

“However, we can’t ignore the role that austerity has played in exacerbating Scotland’s housing emergency.

“The freeze on local housing allowance and the two-child limit has forced thousands into poverty; they will continue to do so as it seems the Chancellor has chosen to keep them in place.” 

COSLA:

ONE PARENT FAMILIES SCOTLAND:

Scotch Whisky industry says UK government has broken commitment to ‘back Scotch producers to the hilt’

Chancellor increases discrimination of Scotch Whisky and other spirits in on-trade

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) says the Chancellor’s decision to further increase duty on Scotch Whisky has broken the Prime Minister’s commitment to ‘back Scotch producers to the hilt.’

In her first Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced an RPI inflation increase to alcohol duty, but cut duty on draught products in the on-trade by 1.7%. Scotch Whisky and other spirits are excluded from this tax relief. 

The SWA had called on the new Chancellor to take the opportunity to reverse the damage done by the 10.1% increase in August 2023. Instead, the damage done to the industry and to government revenue has been compounded by further increasing the tax burden on the sector, which is already the highest in the G7.

Spirits revenue fell by hundreds of millions of pounds as a result of the 10.1% duty increase last year, and the industry has warned that this further tax hike will not deliver the revenue ministers have been promised but will hurt businesses, the hospitality sector and hard-pressed consumers.

Commenting on the Budget, Chief Executive of the SWA Mark Kent said: “This duty increase on Scotch Whisky is a hammer blow, runs counter to the Prime Minister’s commitment to ‘back Scotch producers to the hilt’ and increases the tax discrimination of Scotland’s national drink.

“On the back of the 10.1% duty increase last year, which led to a reduction in revenue for HM Treasury, this tax hike serves no economic purpose. It will damage the Scotch Whisky industry, the Scottish economy, and undermines Labour’s commitment to promote ‘Brand Scotland’.

“She has also increased the tax discrimination of spirits in the Treasury’s warped duty system, and with 70% of UK spirits produced in Scotland, that will do further damage to a key Scottish sector.

“The disastrous 10.1% duty hike last year has now been compounded. This further tax rise means the lessons have not been learned, and the Chancellor has chosen continuity with her predecessor, not change.

“We urge all MPs who support Scotch Whisky to vote against this duty hike and tax discrimination of Scotland’s national drink.”

Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Executive, said: “The Chancellor had difficult choices to make to deliver stability for the economy and public finances. A more balanced approach to our fiscal rules which prioritises capital investment should help to unlock private sector investment in our infrastructure and net zero transition over the long-term.

“This is a tough Budget for business. While the Corporation Tax Roadmap will help create much needed stability, the hike in National Insurance Contributions alongside other increases to the employer cost base will increase the burden on business and hit the ability to invest and ultimately make it more expensive to hire people or give pay rises.

“Only the private sector can provide the scale of investment required to deliver the government’s growth agenda.

“To achieve this shared mission of growing our economy sustainably, it’s vital that the government doubles down on its partnership with business to unlock the investment that is needed to drive opportunity around the UK.”

FSB: Employment allowance rise welcome from Chancellor in tax-raising Budget

The Federation of Small Businesses responds to the Chancellor’s Budget statement

Responding to the Chancellor’s Budget statement, Policy Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Tina McKenzie, said: “Increasing the employment allowance for small businesses by a record amount is a very welcome move and we’re pleased the Chancellor has heard us loud and clear.

“More than doubling it, from £5,000 to £10,500, will shield the smallest employers from the jobs tax, therefore is a pro-jobs prioritisation in a tough Budget.

“The decision to protect small businesses from an inflationary hike in business rates – by freezing the small business multiplier – will help small firms with premises across all sectors. Meanwhile, extending business rates relief, albeit at a lower level, for small firms in retail, hospitality and leisure will mitigate a potential cliff-edge tax hike for those in some of the toughest sectors.

“The true test of today’s Budget will be whether small businesses can grow and end the economic stagnation the UK has been stuck in.

“Larger small, and medium-sized, businesses will struggle with the rises on employer national insurance on top of the large costs from the Government’s employment law plans. We’ve been very clear in our warning of the difficulty SMEs will be confronted with in meeting all of these changes at once – and the potential impact on jobs, wages and prices.

“The Budget documents include plans for a small business strategy command paper, which is a welcome signal that ministers appreciate the central role that small businesses play in driving growth and we look forward to working with the Government closely on that.

“Investment in infrastructure is key to future growth, and the Chancellor’s announcement of additional funding for rail projects and fixing potholes is therefore encouraging. Many small firms, meanwhile, will be relieved at the decision not to raise fuel duty. The commitment to prioritise small housebuilders when it comes to housing investment is also welcome.

“Building a business involves a significant element of risk and personal, as well as financial, investment. But for the economy to grow, we need more people to be incentivised to take that leap and, in turn, create jobs, opportunities and prosperity in all communities across the country.

“The right decision has been taken to retain entrepreneurs’ relief (now branded Business Asset Disposal Relief) up to £1million, which is something we have campaigned hard for. Although the level of relief will gradually reduce over time, resulting in more tax being paid in the future on business sales, we’re pleased to see a differential has been kept.

“Against a challenging backdrop, today’s Budget shows a clear direction in business policy now for the whole of this Parliament to target support at small businesses, rather than big corporates – prioritising everyday entrepreneurs working in local communities in all parts of the country.”

UK Budget fails “3 Key Tests for Scotland”, say Alba Party

Scottish Government must now fund universal entitlement to pensioners winter fuel payment

“To gain pass marks the new UK Labour Government had three key tests to meet in Scotland: it had to reverse its plan to cut the universal winter fuel payment; it had to save Grangemouth; and it had to fund a plan to save North Sea Oil and Gas jobs – on all three counts Labour has failed Scotland.” 

This was said today by Acting Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill reacting to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ budget. 

Alba Party say that the UK Government had three key tests to meet to deliver for Scotland. Former First Minister Alex Salmond helped launch a campaign to save the winter fuel payment last month.

Close to one million pensioners in Scotland are set to lose out on between £200-£300 this winter. Acting Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill has been a leading voice in the campaign to save the Grangemouth Oil Refinery from closure.

Mr MacAskill has today hit out at the UK Government after Labour promised in the General Election to save Scotland’s only refinery that is set for closure next year but has failed to provide funding to save the refinery in today’s budget. 

MacAskill has now called on the Scottish Government to use extra Barnett consequential funding to fully mitigate the cut to the winter fuel payment.   

Alba Party have also hit out as successive UK Government’s have promised investment in Carbon Capture Technology in the North East of Scotland. Alba say the technology is vital to secure the future of the North Sea Oil and Gas industry and to help Scotland play its part in protecting the environment. Today’s UK Budget confirmed £22billion of investment in carbon capture projects in England – but snubbed the Acorn project on the Buchan coast.

Commenting Acting Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill said: ““Today’s UK Budget is a continuity budget that proves that regardless of whether we have a UK Tory Government or a UK Labour Government, Scotland will always lose. 

“To gain pass marks the new UK Labour Government had three key tests to meet in Scotland: it had to reverse its plan to cut the universal winter fuel payment; it had to save Grangemouth; and it had to fund a plan to save North Sea Oil and Gas jobs – on all three counts Labour has failed Scotland.

“ Close to a million Scottish pensioners are to be kept in the cold this winter, the UK Government has chosen to stand by and allow Scotland’s key industrial asset to close, and Labour have betrayed the North East of Scotland. 

“ Nothing for Scotland’s pensioners, nothing for Grangemouth and nothing for Carbon Capture and the North Sea. It is now vital that the Scottish Government steps up to the plate and uses any additional funding consequentials it receives to fully mitigate the cut to the winter fuel payment.”

Budget is a ‘Missed Opportunity’

The budget is a missed opportunity to bring about the transformative change this country needs, said Westminster’s group of independent MPs.

A statement from the Independent Alliance:

LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFORMATION UNIT:

Dr Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, LGIU, said: “The Chancellor billed this as an historically consequential budget of hard choices. That’s certainly true in many areas with £40bn of tax rises announced and significant changes to the government’s debt rules. 
 
“For local government, however, it is a budget of choices deferred. It could have been worse – there’s an additional £1.3bn in funding including money for social care and additional funding for housing and special educational needs: the very areas that are driving many councils to bankruptcy.
 
“But this extra funding is not even half the gap that councils currently face. 
 
“The longer-tem change that the sector desperately needs is all deferred for now. We are waiting on the Local Government Finance Settlement, on the Devolution White Paper and on a broader redistribution of funding through a multi-year settlement from 2026-27.
 
“There were some welcome highlights: retaining 100%  of right to buy receipts and integrated settlements for Greater Manchester and the West Midlands and possibly for other places in future. 
 
“Is this a start? Yes. Is it enough? Not by a long shot. At least not yet. There’s a positive direction of travel set out, but there’s a long way to go and the pressure on council finances means there’s a real risk that some councils will not be able to hang on long enough to get there.”

Housing Bill published

Preventing homelessness and strengthening tenants’ rights

New legislation which aims to keep people in their homes and help prevent homelessness has been published.

The Housing (Scotland) Bill will introduce an ‘ask and act’ duty on social landlords and bodies, such as health boards and the police, to ask about a person’s housing situation and act to avoid them becoming homeless wherever possible.

It also reforms provision for people threatened with homelessness up to six months ahead and includes provisions for tenants experiencing domestic abuse.

The Bill will outline proposals for a New Deal for Tenants, a key part of the Bute House Agreement between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party.

Proposals include long term rent controls for private tenancies, new rights to keep pets, decorate rented homes and stronger protection against eviction.  

Housing Minister Paul McLennan and Tenants’ Rights Minister Patrick Harvie will lead the Bill’s passage through Parliament.

Mr McLennan said: “Scotland already has the strongest rights in the UK for people who become homeless – but nobody should have to experience the trauma and disruption of losing their home.

“Early action, through the kinds of measures included in the Housing Bill, results in fewer people reaching the point of housing crisis. It also means people facing homelessness have more choice and control over where they live, helping them to maintain relationships in their community and stay in work.”

https://twitter.com/i/status/1772914704547033115

Mr Harvie said: “A fairer, well-regulated rented sector is good for both tenants and landlords. Tenants benefit from improved conditions and security, while good responsible landlords will thrive when their good practice is recognised by regulation.

“Scotland has led the way across the UK in improving the experience of people who rent their homes and this reform has been at the same time as significant growth in the size of the private rented sector.  So progressive reform can lead to better conditions and a healthy rented sector overall.

“I want to keep working with both tenants and landlords to achieve that goal.”

THE housing bill published today by the Scottish Government fails to address the systemic issues driving the housing emergency, Shelter Scotland has said.

The charity warned that there was no realistic prospect of councils being able to fulfil new statutory obligations given that local authorities are regularly failing to meet their existing legal duties.

The bill’s publication comes in the wake of figures which show a significant decline in the delivery of social homes, which Shelter Scotland says is essential in tackling the systemic issues driving the housing emergency.

Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson, said: “There is a growing consensus that Scotland is in the grip of a Housing Emergency. Already four local authorities have declared housing emergencies, with more expected to follow in the coming weeks.

“Today’s housing bill was an opportunity to address the causes of that emergency and end the scandal of 10,000 children trapped in temporary accommodation.

“What we need is urgent action to drive up the supply of social homes, invest in local services and stop to councils breaking existing homelessness laws.

“Instead, we have a Housing Bill that does none of that and risks diverting frontline staff from the task in hand. By proposing new additional duties on councils already failing to deliver existing laws, we run the risk of making the situation worse.

“It is time for Scottish Ministers to listen to what our communities are telling them – declare a housing emergency and bring forward a new plan to deliver the social homes we need.”

Responding to the Housing (Scotland) Act being published, Citizens Advice Scotland Housing spokesperson Aoife Deery said: “The pandemic and cost of living crisis underlined the need for better protections for tenants and more affordable housing. In many ways the market is simply broken and urgently needs repaired. 

“The CAB network in Scotland gives out hundreds of thousands of pieces of advice a year on housing, and it was one of the top areas of crossover advice – where people seeking help with housing also needed help with something else, often social security, debt or energy bills. In fact a third of all single working age households contacting CABs do so for advice on housing.

“We welcome this once in a generation opportunity to improve the rented sector and shape a fairer system. We look forward to getting into the detail of the Bill, change needs to happen with both landlords and tenants involved, we will be contributing our evidence as this work moves forward”


Cyrenians welcomes the introduction of the Housing (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament today. Long awaited, the new prevention or ‘Ask and Act’ duties included within it have the power to reach people before they become homeless and get them the right help, much faster.

‘Ask and act’ forms the cornerstone of a wider set of reforms to homelessness legislation. If passed, the Bill will require public bodies – including healthcare and justice agencies to implement systems whereby people at risk of homelessness are easily identified and directed to the appropriate services before they reach crisis point.

These duties will implement recommendations from the Homelessness Prevention Task and Finish Group (co-chaired by Crisis and Cyrenians), published in August 2023 [click here to read the Group’s report].

The group drew on its collective knowledge of the housing sector, as well as the lived experience of people who were homeless, through the All in for Change programme.

Throughout the process, building up to the publication of the Housing Bill, Cyrenians has consistently argued for increased funding to resource new prevention duties. We will continue to advocate for the necessary resource that our public bodies and local authorities will need to make the promise of the Housing Bill possible.

Ewan Aitken, Chief Executive of Cyrenians, said: ““Scotland is in the grip of a housing crisis. Several local authorities have now formally declared a housing emergency as the numbers of people facing homelessness is reaching record levels.

“But we know from our work across 60 services in Edinburgh, the Borders, Falkirk and the Lothians, that in many cases homelessness can be stopped long before people reach crisis point. 

“To do that we need to widen the scope of responsibility, giving people within public bodies the right training and resource to be able fulfil this role. We believe that this, a public health approach to homelessness, is key to tackling the housing crisis.

‘We are very pleased to see the plans for prevention duties within the Housing Bill, published today. This legislation has the potential to prevent homelessness in Scotland. However, to do that, it needs to be properly resourced.  

“As a charity which tackles the causes and consequences of homelessness, we regularly work with people whose situation could have been prevented, if they had received help earlier. We urge the Scottish Government to ensure that these duties are properly funded so that the bill can live up to its potential.”  

Cats Protection has welcomed the new Housing (Scotland) Bill, which will for the first time give renters the right to own a pet.

The charity’s Advocacy & Government Relations Officer for Scotland, Alice Palombo, said: “This is a landmark day for renters in Scotland, who will finally be given the right to own a pet with an end to blanket ‘no-pet’ policies.

“We hope this new law will stop the misery faced by animal lovers who have been denied the chance to ever own a pet cat, simply because they rent rather than own their own home.

“People in rented housing pay significant amounts of their income every year on fees and rent, and it is only right they should be able to feel at home in that property. Pet ownership – whether it’s a cat or another companion animal – provides companionship to all sorts of people. Whether it’s older people at risk of loneliness or young families with children learning how to care for others, pets play a vital role in our lives.

“We’re particularly pleased to see the Bill introduces an obligation for local authority and social landlords to publish a policy relating to domestic abuse. Cats Protection operates a free fostering service for cat owners fleeing domestic abuse, but many victim-survivors can struggle to find cat-friendly housing. We hope that domestic abuse policies will include a commitment to ensuring victim-survivors can keep their pets when they settle into new housing.

“A survey by Cats Protection and Dogs Trust found a lack of sufficient pet-friendly rented housing in Scotland, with only 22% of Scottish landlords allowing pets. This puts a strain on rehoming charities, and landlord-related issues is one of the top reasons for cats coming into our care.”

The Housing (Scotland) Bill was informed by three public consultations and will now by scrutinised by the Scottish Parliament.

Scottish Government confirms funding for Empty Homes Partnership

Bringing empty homes back into use to increase housing stock

The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership will receive £423,000 of funding to continue its work of increasing the supply of homes by bringing empty properties back into use in 2024-25.

The Partnership works with local authorities and private homeowners to provide advice and support to help bring empty homes back into use.  Since 2010, more than 9,000 homes have been brought back into active use through this successful project.

Housing Minister Paul McLennan said: “Bringing empty homes back into use is one of the most cost-effective ways of increasing housing stock.  However, we know the reasons why homes become, and stay empty, are complex and building relationships with owners is often key to unlocking them.

“That’s why I’m pleased to announce further funding for the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership to continue this important work.

“I want to see local authorities engaging with the Partnership to explore all options to bring more homes back into use.  This is essential if we are to address issues such as homelessness and the transition to net zero.  In turn this supports the Scottish Government in its aims to provide warm, safe and secure housing for those in need.”

Shelter Scotland Director Alison Watson said: “We are delighted the Scottish Government has agreed to fund the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership for a further 12 months.

“Over the past year, as well as continuing to support the network of empty homes officers across Scotland, the Partnership has supported several ground breaking projects with third sector organisations and produced our strategic empty homes framework.

“The funding will allow us to continue with this work and encourage more local authorities to see empty homes as something that can make a real contribution to providing the affordable housing Scotland needs.

“We thank the Scottish Government for their continued support.”

Social homes vital for Edinburgh’s future Shelter Scotland tells summit

Delivering more social homes is the only way to end Edinburgh’s housing emergency according to a leading housing charity.  

Speaking at a housing summit hosted by the Edinburgh Futures Institute, Shelter Scotland Director Alison Watson said investing in social homes would be vital in fixing the city’s broken housing system.  

The summit comes just a day after new figures revealed that 1,525 children in Edinburgh are living in temporary accommodation, the highest number on record and more than any other local authority in Scotland. 

The same figures also showed an increase in the number of households in temporary accommodation, the number of open homeless applications, and the number of breaches of the unsuitable accommodation order in Edinburgh. 

Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson, said: “Record numbers of children in Edinburgh have nowhere to call home, rents are out of control, resource starved local services can’t cope and so people’s housing rights are being breached, the law is being broken, with alarming regularity. 

“Undoubtedly the root cause of Edinburgh’s housing emergency is a chronic shortage of social housing. Addressing that shortfall is the only way to fix the capital’s utterly broken housing system.  

“Only yesterday the Scottish Government has pressed ahead with brutal cuts to the housing budget – a choice which is set to make the situation much worse. 

“Our politicians need to understand that you can’t slash funding for social housing then expect those who live in the capital to take you seriously when you say you’re committed to tackling Edinburgh’s housing emergency.”

Shelter Scotland’s Stockbridge shop January Spectacular returns for 2024 

Shelter Scotland’s much loved January Stockbridge new year launch event returns for its 21st year on Wednesday 3rd January 2024. 

Running since 2003, the event attracts excited shoppers from across Edinburgh and beyond.  

Every year, staff and volunteers at the Stockbridge shop offer up a huge range of some of the most exciting and intriguing items donated over the course of the year.  

With a scintillating selection on offer, this year’s extravaganza is sure to create a real buzz among the Capital’s collectors, connoisseurs, and fashionistas.  

Bookworms can grab a signed first edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets or a first edition of HG Wells iconic The War of the Worlds.  

The designer brands on offer include Armani, Gucci, and Ralph Lauren.  

For homeware enthusiasts there are beautiful vintage coffee sets tea-sets, and Portmerion China. 

All that in addition to a range of records, pop-culture collectables, board games, jewellery, art, and more. 

Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson, said: “For more than two decades now the Shelter Scotland’s January Stockbridge launch event has been marked in the calendars of Edinburgh’s discerning shoppers.  

“Scotland is in a housing emergency: there are more than 9,500 children in Scotland with nowhere to call home, more and more people are becoming homeless, while the housing budget has just been slashed. 

“Your support keeps us in the fight against homelessness, so ahead of this exciting event I’d like to thank all our customers and donors for their generosity.” 

Shetler Scotland Stockbridge Shop Manager, Peter Jew, added: “I can’t wait to welcome all our customers to what is at this point an almost legendary event in Edinburgh. 

“This is a chance to showcase and celebrate our donations and we’re immensely grateful to everyone who contributed.  

“This year we have a truly magnificent selection on offer, this is a great opportunity to grab something special while supporting Shelter Scotland in the fight against the Housing Emergency.” 

Ministers have no plan to arrest social housing decline, say Shelter Scotland

A leading housing and homelessness charity has claimed the Scottish Government has no plan to arrest the continued decline in social housing delivery.

Shelter Scotland made the claim last week in response to figures showing that social house building has slowed down significantly.

The numbers show the number of new social homes completed in the 12 months to September 2023 was down 2%, the number new social homes approved was down 18%, while the number of new homes started was down an alarming 29% compared to the year before.

Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson, said last week: “The alarming decline in the delivery of social homes shown in today’s figures reflects Scottish Government choices.

“Ministers can’t claim to be ignorant of what this means; it means that an already devastating housing emergency will get worse and continue to devastate lives. 

“Local housing officers, charities, and the experts in its own working groups have repeatedly and clearly told the Scottish Government that more social homes are needed to effectively fight the housing emergency and reduce the numbers of people trapped in temporary accommodation, but their words have gone unheeded. 

“Scottish Government choices made the decline shown in today’s figures grimly predictable.

“Unless we see something different in the budget the only possible conclusion we can reach is that the Scottish Government has no serious plan to tackle homelessness and end the housing emergency.”

Edinburgh cinema fans’ festive chance to raise funds for the homeless

Christmas cinemagoers in Edinburgh get the chance to enjoy a new heart-warming animated short film this month and raise funds for the homeless. 

The Scotsman Picturehouse on North Bridge, The Cameo Cinema in Home Street and the Dominion Cinema on Newbattle Terrace are among cinemas all over Scotland showing Scottish author Angela Proctor’s festive story Arthur’s Christmas Tale. 

Angela, who writes under the name AH Proctor, initially crafted the story as a poem highlighting kindness and homelessness for schoolchildren doing a charity sleep-in.  

The tale of a brave little dog defying a Scrooge-like misery guts who despises Christmas was so successful that she has now transformed it into a short film, Arthur’s Christmas Tale, to raise funds for Shelter Scotland. 

The animation features a little pug, Arthur, who encounters cold-hearted Jack Frost as he watches over his homeless master, James, sleeping on cardboard in the snow.  The little dog wins over the icy, stranger with an act of kindness demonstrating the true spirit of Christmas. 

“I love Christmas, I’m a big kid at heart, although I’m not really interested in presents,” says Angela, also a successful businesswoman, mentor and mother.  

“It’s family time I love and togetherness and spending time with loved ones is what is reflected in Arthur’s Christmas Tale. The little dog is happy because he’s with James whom he loves unconditionally. He feels sorry for Jack Frost because he’s all alone, so sorry in fact that he gives him the only possession he has in the whole world – a shiny white bone, so that Jack doesn’t feel so alone anymore. 

“It’s a poignant message and I’m hoping it will resonate with cinemagoers, where it is being shown during trailers throughout December, and help raise much-needed funds for Shelter Scotland.” 

Sharryn McKelvie, Shelter Scotland Senior Community Fundraising Area Manager said: “This is a fantastic initiative by Angela at a time of year that can be full of despair for those without a home.

“We hope that those lucky enough to enjoy quality time in the warmth of a cinema will think about others less fortunate and donate what they can to help make sure no one has to fight the threat of homelessness alone. 

“Shelter Scotland exists to defend the right to a safe home and fight the devastating impact the housing emergency has on people and society. Shelter Scotland believes that home is everything. 

“As of 31 March 2023, there were 15,039 households in temporary accommodation, 9,595 of them children, the highest number recorded.  Between April 2022 and March 2023, another 32,242 households became homeless – the equivalent of a household losing their home every 16 minutes.” 

Angela, from the East End of Glasgow, who is best known for her Thumble Tumble series of stories for children, was determined to support art in Scotland by ensuring that all those involved in creating the film came from small, aspiring Scottish companies.  She worked with Glasgow-based independent animation studio Clubhouse Animations and StrangeWorx Productions. 

Arthur’s Christmas Tale is being shown in independent cinemas from Inverness to Dumfries throughout this month. Visitors will be able to donate via the Shelter Scotland Giving Page or by donating cash to collection buckets at cinemas across Scotland.  

Shelter – Housing Drop-In at PCHP

Carol from Shelter Scotland advises Families and Pregnant Women around any housing issues but mainly damp and mould, and overcrowding.

She will be here at PCHP on the first and third Fridays of November and December from 10am until 12pm. Come along to meet her if these issues are affecting you!

EDINBURGH DECLARES HOUSING EMERGENCY

Shelter Scotland welcomes Edinburgh’s housing emergency declaration 

https://twitter.com/i/status/1720109347743666177
Homes for social rent in Edinburgh

Councillors in Edinburgh have overwhelmingly voted to recognise and seek to address the scale of Edinburgh’s housing crisis.

In a first for the city, members agreed to officially declare an emergency today (Thursday 2 November) during a Full Council meeting.

It comes as Shelter calls on local authorities to take concerted action across the country, and as homelessness reaches close to 5,000 households a night in the Capital despite a huge amount of preventative work by the third sector, Council and partners.

Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: Edinburgh is a caring, welcoming city and our council officers, charities and partners do an incredible job supporting our most vulnerable residents. Sadly, however, despite us doubling the Council’s homelessness budget over the last three years, we are now at risk of failing households who need our help most.

“Edinburgh may be a wealthy city on the surface, but we are seeing demand for homes far outstrip supply. Close to 5,000 households including many children will need to live in temporary accommodation this Christmas, because of this housing shortage.

“This is not a new challenge, but it is at the stage of breaking point. Rents are being driven up, the cost of living continues to put pressure on household bills and homelessness is rising. We have ambitious housebuilding plans, but we face rising construction costs as a result of inflation and difficulties securing land. This is against a backdrop of Edinburgh having the lowest proportion of homes for social rent in all of Scotland.

“By declaring a housing emergency, we hope to draw widescale attention to an issue that demands urgent and united action. Every single person deserves a warm, safe, and affordable place to call home and we can address this, if we act now.

“I’m pleased this decision received such powerful support today from Councillors and we will now work towards establishing a Housing Emergency Action Plan, while seeking the resources necessary to achieve its success.”

Shelter Scotland has welcomed the City of Edinburgh Council’s declaration of a housing emergency. 

The capital becomes the first city in Scotland to declare a housing emergency, with councillors backing a motion at today’s full council meeting. 

The motion also commits the council to developing a housing emergency action plan alongside key housing, social justice, and other stakeholders from across the city. 

The housing and homelessness charity pointed to the chronic shortage of social housing in Edinburgh, the record numbers of children stuck in temporary accommodation in the city, and the rising average cost of private renting as evidence of a housing emergency in Edinburgh. 

Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson, said: “Rents are out of control, record numbers of kids have nowhere to call home, more and more people are becoming homeless – Edinburgh is clearly in a housing emergency. 

“The housing emergency is touching communities across Scotland, but a chronic lack of social homes, and the enormous number of properties used exclusively for short-term lets are just some of the factors which have made the situation especially acute in Edinburgh.  

“By coming together to acknowledge that reality today, councillors now have licence to deliver the emergency response we need.

“Of course, there are aspects of the housing emergency that are beyond the council’s control, both the UK and Scottish governments must share responsibility, but it’s clear that a business-as-usual approach isn’t going to cut it anymore. 

“People in the capital are crying out for action – every level of government has a duty to respond.  

“Today’s declaration of a housing emergency is just the start of the journey; Shelter Scotland is ready to support the council as it prepares its action plan and we’ll be monitoring progress closely.” 

Scottish Labour Lothians MSP Sarah Boyack has today called on the Scottish Government to provide targeted and substantial resource to fix Edinburgh’s housing Crisis.

In anticipation of the City of Edinburgh Council declaring that Edinburgh is facing a housing crisis, Sarah Boyack MSP asked the First Minister to provide the resources and funding needed to fix Edinburgh’s broken housing market.

Commenting Ms Boyack said, “Humza Yousaf’s empty words at FMQs do nothing to alleviate the concern of the 5000 families living in temporary accommodation here in Edinburgh.

“With rents skyrocketing and families being forced out of Edinburgh the SNP Government has presided over a national failure in housebuilding.

“We need more affordable and social housing in Edinburgh, and with 84% of Scotland’s population growth being concentrated in the Lothians we urgently need the funding to address Edinburgh’s housing crisis.”

Lesley Anderson, Regional Director at the Scottish Procurement Alliance – which was crucial to the delivery of 567 affordable homes last year, including 193 in Edinburgh – commented on the city’s housing emergency.

She said: “The announcement of Edinburgh’s housing crisis is no surprise and a clear wakeup call that we need immediate action to empower social landlords to get social homes back on track.

“It’s a Scotland-wide problem. By providing better funding and cutting the red tape, we can enable associations to deliver quality, community-driven social housing. 

“With a raft of head winds facing the housing sector at the moment, Scotland’s Housing to 2040 vision will be a major challenge to achieve.

“Other regulations and aspirations aren’t helping the cause. With the uncertainty of the proposed Scottish Passivhaus equivalent standard from December 2024, adding to the hefty load the sector is already carrying.

“Recent rent freezes, soaring prices, inflationary pressures, skills shortages and sustainability of contractors have all played a part in the reduction of new build development and existing unoccupied social housing.

“Housing providers across Scotland need more support and guidance if they are to have any chance of meeting government-led targets and manoeuvre this crisis. “

Shelter Scotland take to Edinburgh’s streets to mark World Homeless Day

 Shelter Scotland staff and volunteers will take their campaign against the housing emergency to the streets of Edinburgh today to mark World Homeless Day. 

Campaigners will be out in force at the foot of Leith Walk issuing a Housing SOS. 

The charity will be highlighting the increasing number of people experiencing homelessness and asking the public to join in it in demanding urgent action to address the capital’s worsening housing emergency. 

At 12:00 activists in Edinburgh will be joining campaigners in Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow in a “minute of noise”, letting our politicians know loud and clear that they need to act now.  

World Homeless Day is marked each year on October 10th and unites activists working across the globe to end homelessness. 

The latest figures released by the Scottish Government showed a 25% increase in the number of people who became homeless in Edinburgh in 2022/23, while more than 2,700 children in the city are stuck in temporary accommodation. 

Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson, said: “Edinburgh’s housing emergency is getting worse; and across the country it is devastating lives so today we’re sending out a housing SOS. 

“A household becomes homeless every 16 minutes on average, while 45 kids each day lose their home in Scotland. 

“What’s so frustrating is that it doesn’t have to be like this, we know that by delivering social homes the government can end our housing emergency and give hope to the thousands of people across Scotland experiencing homelessness. 

“That’s why this World Homeless Day, we’re out on the streets of Edinburgh not only demanding urgent action from those in power but urging the public to join our fight as well. 

“At 12 o’clock we’ll join together to make a noise that politicians can’t ignore, to demand they make sure everyone in Edinburgh has somewhere to call home, and to remind them that none of us will be quiet until the job is done.”