Euan Hyslop is standing in the next UK General Election as SNP candidate for Edinburgh West.
Here he tells The Edinburgh Reporter his reasons for standing to become an MP, following his couple of years as an elected councillor for Drum Brae/Gyle ward.
Euan said: “I live in Craigmount with my partner and our 4-year-old boy who goes to nursery in Corstorphine. We own and manage two cafés in Corstorphine and Roseburn. I am the Councillor for Drum Brae/Gyle Ward and previously worked as a Pupil Support Assistant in local Schools and as a Support Worker for care experienced young people for a local charity here in the Constituency.
“I know all to well the impact that the Cost of Living Crisis is having on our local high streets and the living standards of families across the constituency. Like many of my neighbours, I’ve watched on with concern as the price of foodstuff and essentials have increased along with the profit margins of big business while families and local high streets struggle. The government needs to use all the tools at its disposal to tackle obscene price increases and support families through these increasingly difficult financial times.
“I started my business in 2021 as we were emerging from lockdown and have fought to keep our heads above water throughout very challenging economic circumstances. We have a very strong small business community here in West Edinburgh and Queensferry – I am proud to be a part of it.
“More needs to be done to support our local high streets and improve the economic context for businesses looking to invest here. Our town centres could offer so much more than they currently do with the right economic strategy. My local high street of St. John’s Road has certainly seen better times and I’d like to see a renewed strategy for improvement here and across West Edinburgh. I recently brought a plan to the Council to have Queensferry Town Centre officially designated as a Town Centre in planning terms so that it too can benefit from investment and improvements.
“In previous winters I opened my café in Corstorphine as a free and accessible ‘warm space’ and many residents are still struggling to pay their heating bills. I also brought forward a plan for the Council to open public buildings as warm, welcoming spaces.
“This crisis is still very real and won’t go away until the UK Government acts to bring down our energy bills which are the highest of any western European country. The cost of our gas and electricity bills here is a scandal and the government has just watched on as families live in fear of putting their heating on and as businesses close up shop because they cannot afford astronomical price increases. It is within the government’s power to act and they choose not to.
“I accept that many of my neighbours are not yet convinced that these issues would be better handled here in Scotland with independence, and many never will be – a position which I respect.
“However, a vote for me is a vote for the UK Government to do more to tackle the Cost of Living Crisis. My SNP colleagues and I will be demanding powers in Edinburgh to tackle the immediate pressures facing communities here: more powers to tackle energy prices and more powers to lift families and businesses out of this cost of living crisis.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
