The UK’s largest cargo bike delivery network Zedify, which has a base in Edinburgh has secured a further £4m investment from Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital, Mercia Ventures, the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) and Green Angel Syndicate.

The funding will enable the company to expand into more cities in the UK including the launch of a new Midlands hub later this year. The company also plans to enhance its technology and significantly expand its teams of riders, sales and customer care staff.

Zedify expects to create 80 new jobs, including 20 in the new Midlands hub, and to triple its turnover in the year ahead.

Founded in 2018, Zedify works with major retail brands like Zara along with parcel carriers and independent businesses to provide more sustainable last mile deliveries using cargo bikes, which have been shown to save over 80 percent of CO2e emissions per kilometre compared to electric vans.

Currently delivering in Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Norwich and Plymouth, it plans to operate in 51 UK towns and cities within the next five years.

The print edition of The Edinburgh Reporter is distributed by Zedify from its Leith hub.

Rob King, co-founder and CEO of Zedify, said: “We are seeing a real appetite from leading retail brands and UK-wide businesses looking to transform their last mile logistics and invest in more sustainable delivery models, which is why we have ambitious plans to triple in size this year. This investment will be paramount to that growth, helping us scale to meet the needs of our rapidly expanding customer base.”

Ageing Well is looking for participants interested in joining a new 6-week Beginner Introductory Nordic Walking course, which they will be introducing in August.  

The Ageing Well Project is run by Edinburgh Leisure in partnership with NHS Lothian and delivers a range of city-wide activities which support people to become, and remain, active in later life. The emphasis is on meeting new people whilst making physical activity accessible and enjoyable. 

The six-week course will start in August on a date to be decided, depending on interest and is delivered by a Nordic Walking UK trained instructor.  It is likely the sessions will take place every Wednesday, starting at 10.00 am. 

Participants will meet at Saughton Park and would be expected to attend the first four sessions which introduces the use of Nordic poles and covering the skills and techniques of Nordic walking. Each session will last 1-hour, and poles will be provided if people do not already have their own. 

The final two weeks of the 6-week course, participants will put into practice their newfound skills by going out on a walk in the local area turning a walk into a workout. Nordic Walking can help aid recovery if the participant has had an injury or prevent injury by improving strength and fitness and it’s a great way to meet new people and make friends. 

Ageing Well activities have been developed to cater for a wide range of tastes and abilities and all activities are either led by or supported by fully trained volunteers, who are all older adults themselves. 

Cat Wilson, Active Communities Project Officer at Edinburgh Leisure said: “This new course will complement our already popular regular walks which take place in different locations around the city each week. It’s for anyone who would like to try a new activity, meet some like-minded people, and get physically active.” 

“Nordic walking origins are Finnish with more than 10 million people globally enjoying this outdoor activity. The evidence shows that you can burn around 20% more calories compared to conventional walking. The use of poles means the effort is divided across the upper and lower body, so it feels easier, particularly when walking uphill.” 

Ageing Well relies on external funding and donations to deliver its programmes across Edinburgh. A donation of £3 per week is therefore appreciated for this activity. This can be paid online in one go or each week. People’s generous support means Edinburgh Leisure can provide a range of activities to reach more older adults in need of their support, protecting their health and wellbeing and improving their quality of life.  

In 2018 the Ageing Well programme was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), which is the highest award given to UK volunteer groups and is the equivalent of an MBE. The award reflects the tremendous contribution of Edinburgh Leisure’s Ageing Well volunteers and the positive difference they make to the lives of participants.  

To find out more and/or to register your interest in joining the initial 4-week introductory course, contact active@edinburghleisure.co.uk or call 0131 458 2260 

For more information:  www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/activities/be-active/ageing-well 

Richard Shillcock is in the minority and he is gracious enough to laugh a little when asked how that feels. He is standing for the Communist Party of Britain and said that this party has a unique position.

He said the party has a different view of the government deficit, the role of trade unions, fighting against privatisation in the health service and the policies they have on control of capital and the causes of inflation.

A retired psychology lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, he said that his father “genuinely was a toolmaker”.

He explained how the party works, saying : “Every day is an election day in a way because we’re working in a trade union movement, in the peace movement, in the movement against the genocide in Gaza. There are a lot of community campaigns, tenants, associations, things like that, that we’re involved in all the time. But we haven’t had a Westminster MP since 1965.”

So what are the very best coffee places in Edinburgh?

There has been a substantial increase in the amount of places to get coffee in the last 15 years or so. This has partly been driven by the rise of specialty coffee which offers something different to the large chains. As a result it’s far easier to access high quality coffee these days. However, there is still a degree of inconsistency. Too many places remain rather ‘barista-dependent’, by which I mean that the quality of the coffee served can vary markedly depending on who is pulling the shots. It’s no coincidence that the very best places in Edinburgh tend to be small with tight barista teams. In contrast, a number of places which have expanded have struggled to maintain consistency.

In this list, I focus primarily on the quality and consistency of what is served in the cup. There are multiple reasons to visit coffee places; a place to study/ work, a good view from the window, ambience, location, etc. Here I focus on the coffee that trickles down through the portafilter. While you can get great coffee at many other places not on this list, these are the places that offer consistent excellence. One encouraging aspect is that several of the places on this list are relatively new. This indicates that Edinburgh’s coffee scene is a developing one, with new flavours constantly seeping in.

Source
This cool little place, slightly tucked away, offers what specialty coffee aims for. Namely, an interesting variety of beans used but a very high degree of consistency in terms of quality. The highly knowledgeable baristas generally let the coffee speak for itself but are more than happy to engage in coffee chat. The coffees served here have almost red wine-like characteristics, oozing with deep but well balanced flavours.
4 Spittal Street, EH3 9DX

Cult Espresso
This converted passageway at the Eastern edge of the Meadows is a cave for coffee connoisseurs. Because it’s a long been part of Edinburgh’s coffee scene, Cult can sometimes be a little bit overlooked. Familiarity has perhaps bred some degree of indifference. What comes through to the customers is the sheer delight that the baristas have in producing the best brews. The coffees here are full bodied and brimming with flavour.
104 Buccleuch Street, EH8 9NG.

Little Fitzroy

The vibe of this place is immediately attractive and the quality of what they serve lives up to this. Again, it’s the sheer consistency of excellence that shines through. Whatever beans they use, their coffees are beautifully dialled in. I’ve had nothing other than truly excellent coffees on my multiple visits. Every shot of coffee here is, as they put it, ‘dosed, weighed, measured, distributed, condensed, pre-infused, extracted, timed, and for good measure – weighed again’. This care and attention produces great results.
46 Easter Rd, EH7 5PJ

Beatnik
Beatnik has, since November 2022, quickly established itself as one of the interesting places to sample coffee in the city. Here the substance matches the style. It may be a cool, aesthetically engaging place to hang out but there is clearly a determined focus on the coffee itself. This transmits itself to the customer from the baristas and the managers. The Beatnik team have succeeded in creating something a little bit different here, offering coffees from a wider than normal range of countries. Even those who visit regularly will experience interesting new flavours.
2 Brougham Place, EH3 9HW.

Lowdown
Though slap in the middle of the tourist area of the city, Lowdown on George Street offers something very distinct from the chains which surround it. Lowdown is consistently highly rated by others in the specialty coffee scene, such as Robi Lambie of Cairngorm Coffee. It’s not hard to see why. Lowdown’s coffees are not only particularly well made but the beans they use have intriguing flavour profiles. There is much here to whet the appetite of those who are looking for bold and distinct specialty coffee.
40 George Street, EH2 2LE.

Williams & Johnson
Williams & Johnson have, since 2016, been key players in specialty coffee in the city, with their beans used in a number of places across Edinburgh. The minimalist aesthetic of their spot at the rear of Custom House on the Leith Shore is very much typical of the specialty coffee scene. What is very apparent about the place is a seriousness about the coffee they serve; it’s not just a cool place to hang out and tap away at a laptop.
Customs Wharf, EH6 6AL.

Origin
The newest entry is Origin, who have taken over the premises previously used by Brew Lab. The premises have been nicely refreshed and the coffee offer has gone up a couple of notches. Under Origin’s new management, coffee is very much the focus. Origin has long been highly rated, evidenced by their London venues in Shoreditch and the British Library. Though Origin’s proximity to Edinburgh University’s Old College means that business is always going to be brisk, there is plenty here for the real coffee connoisseur to appreciate.
6-8 South College Street, EH8 9AA

A couple are celebrating after beating massive odds of one in 700,000 to give birth to FOUR beautiful baby boys. 

Arlene and John Mitchell, from Longridge in West Lothian, have welcomed a rare set of quadruplets into the world – making them the first naturally conceived quads ever born in Lothian. 

The tiny new arrivals, Ben, Noah, Harrison and Rory, were born on May 14 and tipped the scales at less than 3lb each. 

The smallest of the baby brothers, Harrison weighed in at 2lb 14 oz, while Ben, Noah, and Rory each weighed 2lb 15oz. 

Naturally conceived quadruplets are extremely rare, with doctors estimating the odds at about one in 700,000 births. 

Arlene, 34, and John, 38, who already have a daughter Lauren, 11, and three-year-old son Hunter are now getting used to being a family of eight. 

Arlene said: “It was a total shock when we found out there were four babies at the first scan. The nurse said she thought there was more than one baby and then she said there was more than three babies! I was absolutely speechless and my husband just couldn’t believe it. 

“They are really beautiful and we are so delighted. We can’t wait to take our four boys home to Lauren and Hunter and start our journey as a family of eight!” 

John said: “Life is going to be a bit noisier for all of us but I’m really looking forward to us being one big family.” 

Arlene was closely monitored throughout her pregnancy because of risks associated with multiple births, such as premature delivery and preeclampsia. 

Arlene added: “Having quadruplets is a high-risk pregnancy and at every scan, I was really anxious that there wouldn’t be four heartbeats. 

“The midwifery team were absolutely amazing, they really supported me every step of the way.” 

A dedicated team of 17 doctors and midwives delivered the quadruplets in the Simpson’s Centre for Reproductive Health at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh on May 14. 

Arlene, who is just 5’2, underwent a planned Caesarean section when she was 30-weeks pregnant to reduce risks. 

Each baby had an individual team of four clinicians assigned to look after them as soon as they were welcomed into the world. 

At first, the boys were each given intensive care in the Neonatal Department to help stabilise their breathing and allow them to grow while they were tube fed. 

Two of the boys, Harrison and Rory were then moved to the Special Care Baby Unit in St John’s Hospital to be closer to their family, before Ben and Noah joined them. 

Katy Ruggeri, Associate Director of Midwifery, NHS Lothian, said: “Delivering quadruplets is an extraordinary experience and I am immensely proud of our entire midwifery and neonatal team for their dedication and expertise throughout this remarkable journey. This was the first set of quadruplets delivered in Lothian and it’s something the entire team will remember for the rest of their careers.” 

The boys are now thriving and Arlene and John are preparing for the big move home. 

Arlene said: “Welcoming quadruplets into the world has been an incredible and overwhelming experience. 

“It’s going to be a very different house and probably a bit noisier but we’re so looking forward to taking our babies home.” 

A South African lawyer who arrived in Edinburgh in 2022, Mike is passionate about Edinburgh and Scotland – so much so that he has decided to stand for Parliament.

He said he cannot stand by and watch elderly people get on buses rather than stay at home since they are unable to afford the heating in winter. He said: “There are people who believe their vote doesn’t count that they are not being heard, and I want to restore the trust in politics.”

Deidre Brock has been an SNP MP for the last two terms, and was previously the Depute Lord Provost in Edinburgh as well as Culture Convener.

She said to The Edinburgh Reporter she would very much like to keep the job of representing the folk of Edinburgh North and Leith, and hopes that all SNP MPs retain their seats this time. She also calls out Labour for not addressing the matter of child benefit and the two child cap – one way she believes ought to be used to bring children out of poverty.

An Australian who came to live in Scotland after a holiday, Brock’s claim to fame is that she was previously an actor appearing in Home and Away.

As business spokesperson she faced up weekly to Leader of the House, Penny Mordaunt who said at their last exchange before the dissolution of parliament that Brock was like the Black Knight from Monty Python. This was the character who returned to the battlefield, steadfastly ignoring any hint of defeat despite losing all his limbs in the process.

David Gray and his coaching staff travelled to Holland yesterday with 24 players making the trip. 

Allan Delferrière and Jake Doyle-Hayes haven’t travelled to the training camp due to illness. 

After signing last week, new boys Josef Bursik, Marvin Ekpiteta and Warren O’Hora will now be fully integrated into First Team training, alongside the players who returned to pre-season at a planned later date. 

The Hibs party will return in exactly a week’s time (Monday 8 July, 2024), competing in two games against MSV Duisburg and PAOK.  

Supporters can attend the match against Greek champions PAOK; click here for full ticket information. 

Here’s the full list for the training camp in the Netherlands: 

Goalkeepers : Max Boruc, Josef Bursik and Jojo Wollacott 

Defenders; Rocky Bushiri, Chris Cadden, Riley Harbottle, Marvin Ekpiteta, Kanayo Megwa, Lewis Miller, Jordan Obita, Warren O’Hora and Rory Whittaker 

Midfielders; Luke Amos, Josh Campbell, Nohan Kenneh, Dylan Levitt, Rudi Molotnikov, Nathan Moriah-Welsh and Joe Newell 

Forwards; Martin Boyle, Harry McKirdy, Jair Tavares, Dylan Vente and Elie Youan 

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Gracemount Mansion

On Friday there will be a free talk and community lunch at Gracemount Mansion about the research currently being undertaken.

Dr Bell’s is hiring

Dr Bell’s Family Centre in Leith are hiring a Family Support Officer and if you have the requisite skills then they would be delighted to hear from you.

Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) 2024

The EIFF will launch a new Midnight Madness strand with the UK premiere of Fed Alvarez’s Alien: Romulus. The full programme for EIFF will be announced on 11 July at noon.

EIFF Director, Paul Ridd has said: “We are absolutely ecstatic to be the UK premiere host for this viciously entertaining new vision for the ALIEN franchise from one of the most exciting horror filmmakers currently working. Fede Alvarez brings a sense of tradition and legacy, as well as gory originality and swagger to the table, and we can think of no better way to open our Midnight Madness programme than with this showstopping new film. Plus knowing that Ridley Scott’s seminal original ALIEN also played a midnight UK premiere at the Festival back in 1979 is the icing on a spectacular, albeit very gnarly, cake. Bring it on.”

From August 15 to August 21 2024, the 77th edition of EIFF will take place at unique venues in Edinburgh, including Summerhall and the historic Cameo cinema, allowing audiences to seamlessly experience the best of the Fringe along with the world-class programme of cinema at EIFF. Submissions to EIFF have now closed with more information availableat www.edfilmfest.org.

Read more here.

New online Ukrainian museum

The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine which began on 24 February 2022 has resulted in a significant loss of human lives and the national and international displacement of Ukrainian people.

Cultural heritage has been lost and now an online museum is to be set up to preserve as much as possible for future generations.

Read more here at the Crowdfunder.

Today’s featured image is of Stanley Reilly – there is a small exhibition of his photos just launched on Thistle Street. Read more here

A cricket ball presented to a Scot for his heroics winning the Ashes for England fetched more than £1,900 at auction.

The Test-winning ball was presented to Edinburgh-born Gregor MacGregor after the wicket keeper was the hero of England’s victory over Australia in August 1893.

MacGregor, the first Scot to play Test cricket for England, was instrumental as his team won the second Test at The Oval by an innings and 43 runs, which led to a 1-0 series win over their fierce rivals.

The 131-year-old leather ball, mounted on a silver stand modelled as wickets, on a marble base, was sold at Graham Budd Auctions to a UK private bidder for £1920.

David Convery, head of sporting memorabilia, said: “Gregor MacGregor was a remarkable Scottish sportsman who played both cricket and rugby at the highest level in the 1890s.

“This Ashes winning ball came from one of his finest moments, when he was instrumental in helping England win the second Test against Australia at the Oval in 1893. After the third test resulted in a draw, England won the series one-nil.”

MacGregor was born in Edinburgh in 1869, and educated at Uppingham College and Cambridge University, where he is commemorated as the first Scottish cricket Blue to play international cricket.

He became the first ever Test cricketer born in a non-Test playing nation when he made his debut for England against Australia in July 1890.

MacGregor, whose portrait hangs in the Pavilion at Lord’s, also played cricket for Scotland against Australia.

He also played rugby for Scotland from 1890-96. A full-back for the London Scottish team, he won three Home Nations Championships and two Triple Crowns playing for Scotland and was a member of the first ever Barbarians side in 1890.

The cricket ball, originally gifted by MacGregor to his brother Donald, had been in a private collection for over half a century.

Tommy Sheppard has been SNP MP for the old constituency of Edinburgh East for the last two terms, and was one of the 56 SNP MPs who swept in to Westminster in 2015.

Last time round he increased his vote share and his majority was 10,417. The newly named constituency now includes the Honest Toun in the name with an electorate of 75,705. There are now 57 seats in Scotland with the two being “lost” in Caithness Ross Skye and Lochaber and Central Glasgow.

He told The Edinburgh Reporter that the dogs in the street know that Keir Starmer will become Prime Minister after this election, particularly as the Tories are “split right down the middle”. He said: “Labour is going to have an embarrassing majority in the parliament and they don’t need Scottish votes.”

He continued: “The choice people have here is to put somebody into Parliament, who will do what Keir Starmer says, or put somebody into parliament, who will hold Keir Starmer to account and push him to do a little bit better than he says he’s going to do at the moment.”

Previously the SNP Scotland spokesperson for the SNP, the Northern Ireland born Sheppard has made himself heard in this time. He was involved in setting up The Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh and Glasgow and the little know fact is that he began to study medicine at University of Aberdeen although he graduated with a degree in politics and sociology. He lived in London for a while and became a Labour councillor on Hackney London Borough Council.

The newly drawn constituency boundaries are shown on the map below. Boundaries have been redrawn to include the correct number of constituents – anything between 69,724 to 77,062 voters, and the boundary has pushed a little further east than before.

The Chief Executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, Liz McAreavey has written an open letter to all candidates in the General Election.

The letter reads:

UK GENERAL ELECTION 2024 – EDINBURGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ASKS

Firstly, on behalf of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, I’d like to congratulate you on your recent selection as a candidate in the upcoming UK General Election. As you will be aware, the UK stands at a pivotal point, and there is an urgent need to address our stagnant economy, reverse persistent low productivity rates, find meaningful solutions to our labour and skills challenges and address the economic inequality which exists in our society.

As the voice of the business community in Edinburgh, we firmly believe that a productive and thriving economy is the key to addressing many of the wider societal challenges we face.  We are therefore taking a keen interest in the outcome of this election and the impact that elected members will be able to make on the economic and commercial landscape of our city. For these reasons, we write to you on behalf of our almost 1,000 members from Edinburgh and beyond to highlight some key asks we are issuing to all candidates ahead of polling day:

• We need a re-setting of the relationship between different levels of Government. We have previously called for a re-setting of relations between government and business, however, recent events have brought the state of relations between all levels of government (UK, Scottish and local) into sharp focus.  With a new First Minister in Holyrood and election at Westminster, we believe there is a unique opportunity for governments at all levels to work more closely together to deliver the kind of prosperous economy we need.  Feedback from members reveals a growing frustration with the current blame culture between different elements of government – this needs to fundamentally change to enable the kind of collaborative effort required to grow our economy.
• Aligned to this ask, for some time now, one of the major issues our members have raised with us is the need for an extended period of calm and stability in both our politics and policy making. Uncertainty and instability are the enemies of economic growth, impacting critical investment, forward planning and ambition. Business needs a stable environment to thrive, and we need our policy makers to play their part in creating the best possible conditions to deliver the stable and sustainable growth we need.
• A strong, productive, and successful economy should be a priority and no longer considered something we should be ashamed of.  We believe that the only way the UK Government can address some of the societal and fiscal challenges we face is by growing our way out of them.  Only through sustainable growth, significant improvements to productivity, and the creation of high quality jobs can we raise the vital tax revenues necessary to support our wellbeing ambitions and address inequalities.  We should therefore not hide our economic ambitions, but encourage them and nurture them, for the benefit of all.

In terms of more specific policies:

• Lowering VAT for Hospitality.
• The UK has one of the highest rates of VAT for hospitality in Europe, which is a significant drag on our competitiveness on the world stage. We saw the impact that a lower rate of VAT for hospitality had when it was introduced during the pandemic – stimulating demand and generating revenue.  Data produced by UK Hospitality suggests that a reduced rate would deliver higher growth, boost employment, lead to lower consumer prices and ultimately be cash-generative for the Treasury, contributing to Government debt reduction. Based on a reduced rate of 12.5%, they estimate it would deliver;

  • Growth: Additional sales of £7.7 billion in 10 years – c.5%
  • Inflation: 3% reduction in prices based on 50% pass-through
  • Reducing Government debt: Net fiscal gain for HM Treasury over 10 years of £4.6 billion

• The re-introduction of tax free shopping.
• This is an issue we have long campaigned for both directly and via Scottish and British Chambers of Commerce.  According to the Association of International Retail, the evidence of actual spending by non-EU visitors to Europe in 2022 shows a £1.5 billion spending loss as a result of ending tax-free shopping, whilst the evidence of British people shopping tax-free in the EU suggests that Britain is missing out on a unique new £10 billion market which would not be so focused on London.
• Transform the National Grid and outline plans for future energy sources.
• The UK government should ensure that there is sufficient network capacity and flexibility to deliver energy needs fit for Net Zero. Grid transmission must be dramatically upgraded and increased as proposed by the Electricity Networks Commissioner, and the distribution network should be modernised to facilitate recharging for electric vehicle charging and distributed renewable generation. The government should also set out a strategy for the role of hydrogen in the UK’s future energy mix, and provide a clear, long-term plan that sets out how it will meet its ambitions for nuclear generation, and create an enabling environment to speed up the rollout of renewable energy from all sources.

The platform you seek at a UK Government level is of great significance to our members, and we look forward to working with you to understand more about your plans to support and enhance the business environment in Edinburgh, and how we can work together to deliver a thriving and productive economy that works for everyone.

Yours sincerely,

Elizabeth McAreavey

Chief Executive, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce

The Eric Liddell 100 is running a campaign to promote awareness of the Scottish athlete which operates to remember his legacy with the patronage of HRH The Princess Royal. 

To honour the centenary of Eric Liddell winning a gold medal in Paris, there will be a world-first exhibition opening at The Scottish Parliament on 25 July. 

The exhibition of photos and memorabilia offers a unique opportunity for visitors to explore the life and legacy of Eric Liddell – the Flying Scotsman and 1924 Olympic champion – alongside other legends from the Scottish Sporting Hall of Fame and Scottish athletes competing in the 2024 Olympics. 

Organised by The Eric Liddell 100 campaign, which Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal serves as Patron, this initiative seeks to honour Liddell’s legacy and inspire future generations through a series of events and activities emphasising his core values of passion, compassion, and integrity.

John MacMillan, CEO of The Eric Liddell Community, said: “We are thrilled to see the launch of the Eric Liddell exhibition, as part of our exciting programme of events to celebrate the centenary of Eric Liddell’s gold medal win. All of our partners involved in this initiative spent a significant amount of time considering what Eric Liddell would have wanted and how important it is that we reflect him in our endeavours; we believe that any individual can make a positive impact on the world if they approach the challenges they face with passion, compassion, and integrity, which are our three values for The Eric Liddell 100. We hope everyone who visits the exhibition leaves feeling uplifted, inspired, and motivated to live life with these values in mind.”

Rt. Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, Presiding Officer of The Scottish Parliament, said: “We are delighted to host this exhibition in the Scottish Parliament, which celebrates the significant achievements of Eric Liddell but also serves as a powerful reminder of his legacy. It seems particularly relevant as Olympians from across the world prepare to compete in Paris. The Scottish Parliament is delighted to provide a platform for sharing his inspiring story with the thousands of people who will visit us this summer.”

Eric Liddell: Legacy of an Olympic legend will remain on show in the main hall at The Scottish Parliament until 12 September. The exhibition is free and no ticket is required.

The intention is to inspire future generations with Liddell’s story of passion, compassion and integrity. 

There is an online course available on the Eric Liddell Community (ELC) website developed partly by the University of Edinburgh. The cause covers elements of Eric’s life and explores the way his actions paved the way for using sport as a force for good. An educational resource has also begun at Castlebrae High School to preserve his memory and also add to the knowledge among local young people of his life and legacy. 

Norma Prentice, Head Teacher at Castlebrae, said: “The Eric Liddell 100 Educational Resource provides a fantastic opportunity for Castlebrae High School and schools around the country. Not only will we teach pupils about his extraordinary life but inspire them through the values that Eric Liddell represented every day.”

Each party has published a manifesto setting out what it would do if it has enough MPs to govern – and there are also Scotland specific versions.

Here you will find links to all of the main parties publications. Just click on the front page image to read.

Conservatives

The 2024 manifesto – Clear Plan Bold Action Secure Future.

The Scottish Manifesto is at this link:

Labour

The 2024 Labour manifesto – Change.

The Scottish Labour manifesto is at the link below

SNP

The 2024 manifesto – A Future Made in Scotland.

Liberal Democrats

The 2024 manifesto – For a Fair Deal.

And the Scottish version is here

Greens

The 2024 Green manifesto – Real Hope Real Change

The Scottish Greens is the only manifesto we have discovered which you can listen to.

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Charles Dundas was a councillor in Edinburgh between 2007 and 2012, and is now the Chief Executive of a Scottish conservation charity.

He is CEO of Borders Forest Trust. Originally from West Lothian, and a graduate in History from the University of Glasgow, he has since worked in banking, research, campaigning and lobbying.

Mr Dundas said: “I think I’ve proven myself over the years as a campaigner, and an elected representative in the past to be a strong voice for the people I represent. So in Edinburgh, East and Musselburgh, the big issues I’m hearing about on the doorsteps this time round are about the health service. Access to GPs is incredibly important too.

“it’s a time for change. The Liberal Democrats are standing to offer people a fair deal. For too many years now. We’ve been shortchanged in terms of the health service in terms of housing, and it’s time for that to change and get the priorities right for the country.”

The latest instalment in the horror film franchise Alien will have its UK premiere in Edinburgh this summer.

Alien: Romulus will launch a new Midnight Madness strand at the relaunched 77th annual Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) on 15 August.

The announcement comes 45 years after the seminal original Alien film also had a midnight UK premiere at the EIFF in 1979.

In the latest film from producer Ridley Scott and director/writer Fede Alvarez a group of young space colonisers comes face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe while scavenging a derelict space station.

Starring Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla), David Jonsson (Rye Lane) and Spike Fern (Aftersun), it will screen at the EIFF on August 15 and will be released by 20th Century Studios in the UK and Ireland on August 16.

EIFF Director Paul Ridd said: “We are absolutely ecstatic to be the UK premiere host for this viciously entertaining new vision for the Alien franchise from one of the most exciting horror filmmakers currently working.

“Fede Alvarez brings a sense of tradition and legacy, as well as gory originality and swagger to the table, and we can think of no better way to open our Midnight Madness programme than with this showstopping new film.”

Founded in 1947 when it was known as the International Festival of Documentary Films, EIFF is the world’s oldest continually running film festival.

Hibs defender Oscar MacIntyre has joined Queen of the South on loan for the upcoming 2024/25 season. 

The 19-year-old will join Peter Murphy’s League One side for the duration of the campaign. 

Oscar came through the Hibernian FC Academy, making his senior First Team debut in May 2022. 

The full-back spent the 2023/24 campaign initially out on loan at Queen of the South, before moving to Annan Athletic – managed by Peter Murphy – for the second half of the season. 

Hibernian FC Sporting Director, Malky Mackay said: “This is a good move for Oscar, playing in a competitive league that he knows well. 

“The fact that he has worked with their manager (Peter Murphy) before is a positive and shows that he holds Oscar in high regard. This will give Oscar a good platform to build from and we are hoping he can kick on again this season.” 

Cameron Rose has found his political home in Reform UK for this election.

Mr Rose was a Conservative councillor in this part of Edinburgh for 15 years.

He said that he has lived in the constituency for more than three decades and knows all the local issues well.

He was previously a policeman and is now attracted by the “common sense policies” of the party.

He said: “Our economy has been burdened by the highest taxation in a generation, over regulation, high energy prices and crippling restrictions on personal freedoms. Labour offers more of the same. And the Greens seem to have become anti-science denying the biological reality of male and female (and they are not the only ones to do so!)

“The ‘cancel culture’ of recent years has had a chilling effect; sadly it has often been government and official bodies which have played fast and loose with truth in silencing views other than those they want to impose. I have experienced that in our local council in the attempts to silence whistle-blowers. I want to value and guarantee freedom of expression and individual liberty.”

He said that net zero is ruinously expensive, and there is no evidence for it, and there are other ways to reduce energy costs and with it the cost of living burden on families.

A new political party launched in Edinburgh is urging voters to back ‘people not politicians’ ahead of the general election this week.

After starting up less than two months ago, Edinburgh People is fielding five candidates – one in each of the city’s five constituencies.

Founder and leader Marc Wilkinson – who himself is standing in Edinburgh South-West – described the party as a “people-led movement”.

He said: “The key objective is to represent the interests of the people of Edinburgh first and foremost and to provide them with a voice – but more importantly than that a voice that is listened to.

“Our strategy to achieve that aim is to do it without relying on career politicians . . . who are free to vote without being whipped by their party and free to vote and represent their members from their party from their local area.”

However due to getting “such little notice” about Thursday’s poll, Edinburgh People’s hopefuls will appear on the ballot paper as independents. “It takes two to four months to register a new political party with the electoral commission,” he explained. “So the party’s name will not appear on the ballot paper. The important thing for everyone to remember is our names.”

Until five weeks ago the idea for a new party was a “theoretical construct of mine,” Mr Wilkinson said. “But since Rishi Sunak’s announcement of the snap election we’ve mobilised at an incredible pace.

“Truth be told it hinged on a crowd-funder that was started on Tuesday the 4th of June, and literally on Thursday the 6th we secured £4,500 in funding.

“The following day was the deadline for submitting our nominations to the council, so at 3.30 the following day, we were in the City Chambers and we paid our two-and-a-half thousand pounds, that’s the cost of five candidates to stand. That money was only received the day before. Divine intervention of whatever it may be was making it happen.”

He added Edinburgh People was founded on “very democratic” principles with a “one member, one vote” system. “The members propose policy, if ten per cent of the members support the policy it goes to a vote and we require a two-thirds majority for policies to become party policy.

“At the moment we have voted on some [policies] – one of them includes women’s rights. That policy is to protect safe spaces for women, whether it be in toilets and changing rooms, to not changing the definition of the word woman.

“The objective right now is to really inspire hundreds, if not thousands of people from Edinburgh to join the party because our first bi-annual general meeting is going to be in September where we’re going to have a lot more members and we’ll have a lot more policies being put forward.”

Since launching, he said, “hundreds” of “politically homeless” ex members of other parties have been in touch with him about getting involved.

‘Stepping stone to something more realistic’

Recognising the odds are stacked against his efforts to get candidates sent to Westminster under a first past the post system, Mr Wilkinson admitted this election is “basically a marketing campaign”.

And his sights are set on the next Scottish election where proportional representation will increase his chances of success.

“What we are doing right now is the first stepping stone to something that is far more realistic,” he said. “It is completely unrealistic for Edinburgh People to really have an MP sitting at Westminster.”

Eventually he wants to see a ‘people party’ set up for each of Scotland’s eight regional constituencies.

“In the Lothians region in 2021 the Green Party secured around about 12 per cent of the vote,” he said. “So through the proportional representation system the Greens secured two MSPs from Lothians. Our target is to achieve six per cent of the vote in all eight regions, at which point each of the regional people parties will secure one MSP each, which would actually be one more than what the Greens secured in 2021 which allowed them to become a junior partner in a coalition government.”

Edinburgh People’s Edinburgh East and Musselburgh candidate Jane Gould said she has never been involved in politics before but is “fed up” with the current system.

“I’ve had issues and I’ve tried contacting my own politicians and filling out surveys and petitions and so forth and you just never seem to get a proper answer or make any difference to anything.

“Myself and four others decided to throw our hat in the ring last minute. None of us have come from a political background but we really bought  into the whole theory of this which is never elect career politicians again, elect people. We’re just ordinary people.

“What we won’t be is just people who have been in a political job all their life and have no real experience of life. We are people who have lived in the community, we’ve done jobs, we’ve been parents, we’ve taken part of things, run businesses.

“My personal opinion is there’s far too much corporate money and corporate influence that comes into politics and that’s really what’s disrupting the system – we want to tackle that as an issue.”

All candidates standing in Edinburgh South-West are:

• Scottish Labour Party – ARTHUR, Scott
• Scottish National Party (SNP) – CHERRY, Joanna
• Reform UK – HARPER, Ian
• Scottish Greens – HEAP, Dan
• Scottish Family Party – LUCAS, Richard Crewe
• Scottish Conservative and Unionist – WEBBER, Sue
• Independent – WILKINSON, Marc Richard
• Scottish Liberal Democrats – WILSON, Bruce Roy

All candidates standing in Edinburgh East and Musselburgh are: 

• Scottish Liberal Democrats – DUNDAS, Charles
• Independent – GOULD, Jane Mackenzie
• Scottish Greens – GRIMM, Amanda Faye
• Scottish Conservative and Unionist – MUNRO, Marie-Clair
• Scottish Labour Party – MURRAY, Chris
• Scottish National Party (SNP) – SHEPPARD, Tommy
• Reform UK – WINTON, Derek Steven

By Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

Holiday guests at a seaside flat in North Berwick have been described as “thoroughly irritating” and “frightening” by neighbours in the block.

The owners of the three bedroom property, known as Apartment Sula Bassana, appealed to Scottish Ministers after East Lothian Council refused to allow them to keep operating.

But while they argued that the use of the property had not changed after they turned it into a short term let, the Scottish Government Reporter heard claims by neighbours of disturbances, confrontations and a lack of security.

One neighbour, speaking on behalf of seven other residents, said on one occasion the cleaners sent in when guests had left  had thrown the keys to their van at a resident who returned from work to find it in their space.

And they said although the property is advertised as accommodating six guests a group of eight American golfers had turned up and tried to park their 10-seater minibus in the flat’s sole car park space until they were ‘disuadded’.

They added: “People arrive at all times of day and night and are prone to wakening residents when they don’t understand how to get into the property.

“It can be thoroughly irritating, indeed frightening, to be treated this way by strangers.”

The Reporter rejected the appeal against the council’s decision not to issue a certificate of lawfulness for the holiday let, which would mean it did not need planning permission.

And he acknowledged that guests in short term lets could behave badly towards neighbours.

He said: “Guests in a short-term let have little immediate incentive to get on with their neighbours, other than their own good manners.

“They will often be on holiday, and in relaxed mood, while residents may be working or otherwise following their everyday routine.

“Permanent residents tend to have greater incentive to maintain reciprocal good relations with neighbours.

“The different attitudes and routines of guests and residents can compound
disturbance to neighbours from a short-term let, particularly when let properties can accommodate larger groups.”

Agents for the applicant said the flat, which can accommodate six people tended to be used by families, golfers and walkers and a notice was displayed asking them to be considerate of neighbours and banning any parties.

They said: “North Berwick is not a preferred destination for guests seeking a party atmosphere.”

The Reporter concluded: “, I find that the authority’s reason for refusal is well-founded and conclude that the certificate should not be granted.”

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Legendary status for two players at Kilspindie Golf Club was reinforced in the annual championship.

Bob Humble won the men’s title for the 22^nd time and even such an achievement over five decades was surpassed by lady champion Lynne Fortune winning for the 24^th time!

Pictured in the blue polo shirt is Robert Alexander Gray (men’s B) while in the mauve polo shirt is Brian Thomson (men’s senior champion).

Far right is Lettie Mackinnon (ladies handicap champion) while junior champion is Ava Paterson is centre. Lynne and Bob are to the left of the group having won by a single hole in both instances, in Bob’s case over 36 holes.

The final infant school in Scotland closed its doors as the school holidays got under way last week.  

Dechmont infant school which taught children up to P3 will be mothballed for the 2024/25 school with its adjoining nursery class. All children will attend primary in Broxburn.   

Dechmont is West Lothian’s smallest and there would be no pupils joining come August.  

A new primary school will be built nearby as part of the redevelopment of the Bangour  hospital site- scheduled to open in 2027.- with more than 1,000 new homes.  

Earlier this year some parents had expressed anger at the plan, claiming that the council has taken no account of those who do not drive. However only the community council continued to express reservations during the consultation meetings.   

At a meeting of the Education Executive last week LIb Dem councillor Sally Pattle joked about chaining herself to the school railings in protest saying: “ I just feel it’s incumbent to speak up for the final infant school in Scotland.  

“I really would like it to be marked in some way that we had the last infant school in Scotland, here in West Lothian. I think it’s really sad. It is a sad day.”  

In March Councilor Pattle had echoed praise of school inspectors for the ways both the infant school and nursery provided a positive and nurturing culture  before the children moved on to Kirkhill Primary in Broxburn.  

From August all classes from P1 to P7 will attend Kirkhill being bussed from the village to Broxburn with the youngest pupils being met by staff.  

 Education officer Andrew Sneddon told the meeting: “At present, there are seven children in attendance at Dechmont Infant School, none in the P1 stage, one in the P2 stage and 6 in the P3 stage.  

“By the end of the application process on 31 December 2023, there were no applications for the P1 stage at Dechmont Infant School. No pupil is expected to continue in attendance at any other stage.   

“No first choice applications were received for Dechmont Infant School Nursery Class, and no children will continue in attendance. By the start of school session 2024/25, therefore, the roll for Dechmont Infant School and Dechmont Infant School Nursery Class will both be zero.”  

The mothballing process has to be reviewed each year. Councillors were given assurance that the school building would still be available for use by community groups in the village. The mothballing decision is not being made for financial reasons but for educational ones, councillors were told.  

Local ward member Councillor Tony Boyle said he sympathised with Councillor Pattle’s feelings but added, that at the consultation meetings,:  “It was clear from the low turnout from parents that they were quite comfortable with it. There wasn’t a great hullabaloo about it.”   

Chair of the Education Executive Andrew McGuire said the decision had to be viewed in the context of the new school opening in the village in three years time.  

He told the meeting: “I attended one of the consultation events. There’s a fair amount of excitement in the village about a new school coming along the line. I think we have to bear this decision back to that. We’ ll have a new primary school soon in the village.” 

The Mortonhall boys team of Thomas Easton (who unfortunately missed the photo call), Gregor Logie, Wilson Tervit, Jude Cowan, Hamish Coffey and Matthew Walker came out victorious on maximum points in winning the East of Scotland under-11 tennis league for 2024.

Dan Murray, head coach at Mortonhall Tennis Club, said: “The boys did superbly – great serving, drop shots and some brilliant lobs – well done to the team!”

The outcome followed a two month long programme of matches involving a total of six clubs with the home teams hosting a lunch after every tie.

And, the format of singles and doubles to claim team points added to the competitive scenario.

Andrew Fernie won the Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society championship for the third successive year when he defeated Michael Rolland 5 and 4 in windy conditions.

Andrew is pictured receiving the Chiene Cup from club captain, Graeme Taylor.

Earlier this morning, Monday 01 July 2024, an Act of Remembrance took place in the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle to commemorate the 454 men of The Royal Scots who were killed at Contalmaison in Northern France, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme 1916, 108 years ago today.   

At the exact same time today, a service was held at the memorial cairn in Contalmaison, France, by a party from McCrae’s Battalion Trust, accompanied by The Royal Scots Association’s Standard Party and a piper.    

Colonel George McCrae raised the 16th Battalion of The Royal Scots (16 RS), which became known as McCrae’s Battalion, in Edinburgh in November 1914.  Many rallied to the call, enlisting to fight for King and Country, including players and supporters of Heart of Midlothian FC (the first players to sign up from all UK football clubs) as well as a number from Hibernian FC and many other Scottish football clubs. 

The 15th Edinburgh Battalion of The Royal Scots, also raised in Edinburgh, by the Lord Provost, fought gallantly alongside McCrae’s Battalion at Contalmaison. 

Elaine Hutton, granddaughter of Private Herbert Nisbet, who was brought up in Hillside Crescent in Edinburgh and served in 16 RS on 01 July 1916 at Contalmaison, and survived the War, attended the service. 

  
Elaine Hutton said: “It was so important to be at the Scottish National War Memorial to remember my grandfather Herbert who served as a private soldier in McCrae’s Battalion on the First Day of The Somme 108 years ago today, along with my great uncle Cecil, who was killed on that day. We admire their courage and extreme loyalty.” 

Private Herbert Nisbet’s brother Cecil, who had enlisted into 16 RS on 28th November 1914, was killed at Contalmaison on 01 July.  Herbert’s four brothers all served in The Royal Scots; three of them were killed in WW1. 

At the end of the Remembrance Service wreaths were laid by representatives of The Royal Scots, Heart of Midlothian FC, Hibernian FC and McCrae’s Battalion Trust. 

Scottish National War Memorial Chief Executive Susan Flintoff said: “So many families in Scotland were touched in some way by the Great War and it is very fitting that The Royal Scots were remembering those in their famous Regiment who gave their lives fighting for freedom on the Western Front on the 1st of July 1916”.   

Brigadier George Lowder, President of The Royal Scots Regimental Association commented: “We must never forget those young men of The Royal Scots who died on The First Day of the Somme and in the months that followed”. 

The sporting and fitness institution that was the Edinburgh Club before morphing into “The Club” is celebrating 60 years since it was founded by judo legend, George Kerr, CBE,10^th dan.

Birthday tributes and congratulations have been pouring in, some from those who have been members almost since the club’s inception in Hanover Street, moving on to Hillside Crescent before finding a home in West Bowling Green Street, Leith, where fitness instructor Davina French took over the reins from George in 2019.

Despite the change of ownership George Kerr, now aged 86, still drops by to monitor junior judo and that is only to be expected according to Derek Kerr (no relation) who, as a teenager in 1965, joined what was the Capital’s first club of its type.

“I have experienced both continuity and change. It was all about George but obviously in a good and positive way. George set the culture and made it feel as if it was ‘our’ club” said Derek.

He went on to note how business trends were recognised and introduced with such innovations as the personal trainer, jacuzzi, squash and ladies only classes featuring pop mobility and Zumba all based around the central core of judo where George excelled.

Indeed, the Edinburgh Club might not have happened far less flourished had jealous international rivals not successfully opposed George’s entry into the 1964 Olympics while European champion on grounds that he had “professionalised” himself through coaching.

The snub seemed to galvanise George, now the President Emeritus of Scottish Judo, in a business sense and many who never set foot in the Edinburgh Club will recall his cheeky marketing campaigns with banners hanging outside premises proclaiming slogans such as “if you like a little chocolate on your biscuit join our club” – a blatant reference to a popular advertising slogan at the time adopted by a major food company.

Partly due to George Kerr’s charisma famous figures from the world of sport and entertainment would drop by.

These included Edinburgh-born footballer Graeme Souness, swimmer Sharon Davies and the late Hibs and Scotland star Erich Schaedler.

Davina French recalls Ray Wilson, front man from the band Genesis in succession to Phil Collins, working out at the club.

Today, in the new premises, fitness instructors include Tom Philip, a Scotland rugby internationalist with a glowing future until injury cut short his career.

What others say about the Edinburgh Club.

Pauline Kerr (George’s wife and herself a fitness specialist) said: “We’ve taken The Club through all the phases and crazes of the past six

decades: from the huge popularity of squash to the aerobics boom of the 1980s with leg warmers and leotards; on into the 90s with step, spinning and body-pump; and onward again to pilates, personal training, sport-specific workouts and Zumba’s.”

Tricia Donald who is a long-standing member said: “My late husband, Crawford, was trained, encouraged and inspired by George Kerr at The Edinburgh Club and gained his University Blue for Judo.

“My key memories are of energy and laughter combined with a friendly atmosphere and professional training.”

Scott Bisset, fitness manager, said: “George Kerr is easily the most charismatic person I’ve ever known, and the facilities and the atmosphere he created at The Edinburgh Club were unique.

“Always much more than a gym, a place for connecting people and making friends.”

Ogilvy Gray: “My late wife, Anne, was a member and also George’s accountant. This was in the late 1980s. She had to work hard to keep George’s accounting practices in line; he said she was one of the few women who frightened him.

“Anne persuaded me to join not long before the Hillside Crescent club closed and we all moved down to West Bowling Green Street.

“We had great times.”

And where does new owner Davina French see the club going in the short and longer term? She said: “We just want to ensure the club remains that friendly gym it has always been.”

Do YOU have memories of the ground breaking Edinburgh Club? Let us know.

SNP

The SNP says that only a vote for the SNP will protect Scotland’s Parliament from what they regard as increasing Westminster power grabs, as Scotland marks the 25th anniversary of the official opening of the Scottish Parliament on Monday.

The SNP has challenged Labour to repeal the post-Brexit legislation that has unpicked Scotland’s hard-fought for devolution settlement, like the Internal Market Act.

The party says that in recent years there have been increased incidents of Westminster “power grabs” with legislation blocked by the UK Government, despite receiving cross-party support in the Scottish Parliament.

Fiona Hyslop MSP, who was first elected to the first Scottish Parliament in 1999, said: “Scotland’s Parliament has been transformative for the lives of people who live here. On its 25th anniversary, the SNP affirms our commitment to protecting our national Parliament and its hard-fought-for powers from the shameful power grabs of Westminster.

“Over 17 years in government, the SNP has delivered free university tuition, abolished prescription charges, delivered the ‘game-changing’ Scottish Child Payment, the Baby Box and kept our precious Scottish NHS in public hands. In recent years, Holyrood’s powers have been under threat with Westminster overriding decisions made by our elected national Parliament. On this milestone anniversary, I call on Sir Keir Starmer to repeal the dangerous anti-devolution legislation introduced by the Tories when he becomes Prime Minister next week.

“The SNP will stand against Westminster’s erosion of our Parliament’s powers and always put Scotland first. We want decisions about Scotland to be made right here in Scotland.

“People who want to protect our Parliament from Westminster powergrabs need to vote SNP on Thursday to ensure that decisions about Scotland are made in Scotland, for Scotland.”  

Scottish Labour

Today Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar will visit Methil along with Shadow Scottish Secretary of State Ian Murray and local candidate Richard Baker to promote their election message saying that the party has set out its plans to deliver quality jobs in Scotland.

A Labour government has pledged to deliver: 

• A Green Prosperity Plan that will create 69,000 green jobs in Scotland.
• A New Deal for Working People that will deliver a genuine living wage, ban exploitative zero hour contracts, end fire and rehire and expand day one rights.
• A National Wealth Fund capitalised with £7.3 billion of funding to make strategic investments in key industries.
• A British Jobs Bonus allocating up to £500 million per year from 2026, which will help build supply chains across the country.
• A New Industrial Strategy that will ensure we seize the opportunities of the future to deliver jobs and growth.

Labour warned that “Scotland cannot afford another five years of Tory incompetence”, urging voters to take this opportunity for change.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “This week we finally have an opportunity to call time on 14 years of Tory economic misery and vote for change.

“Working people have been forced to pay the price for Tory failure for too long, but Labour has a plan to stop the chaos and kickstart a decade of national renewal.

“A Labour government will be firmly on the side of working people – creating jobs, delivering growth, boosting pay and tackling insecure work. Change is within touching distance, but we only get change by voting for it.

“Scotland cannot afford another five years of Tory incompetence, sleaze and failure – we need to make sure we take this opportunity to deliver change.

“Together, we can boot the Tories out of office and elect a Labour government that will deliver quality jobs in every part of Scotland.”

Scottish Conservatives

The Conservatives are setting out with an ad van campaign beginning today in East Renfrewshire before moving to other key seats where the party claims they are neck and neck with the SNP.

The Scottish Conservatives say that Reform candidates who are also pro independence could help the SNP win several Scottish seats.

The Scottish Conservatives pointed to evidence from recent polls showing that while Reform will only win a small percentage of the vote, it could be enough to “elect an SNP MP by the back door”.

Party chairman Craig Hoy said Reform candidates may want to help the SNP, since several of them are pro-independence.

Gordon and Buchan candidate, Kris Callander, and Dundee Central candidate, Vicky McCann, both supported independence. 

Reform’s deputy chairman, David Kirkwood, is another independence voter. He is standing in the Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale seat.

When asked directly last week, Reform chairman Richard Tice couldn’t say how many of his candidates are pro-independence.

Scottish Conservative party chairman Craig Hoy said: “The Scottish Conservatives are ready to defeat the SNP in key seats up and down Scotland where it’s a straight fight between us and the nationalists.

“If everyone who wants to beat the SNP votes for the Scottish Conservatives, we can do it and finally end their demands for independence.

“But the result will be so close in many seats. Even a few votes for Reform could elect an SNP MP by the back door.

“We know several Reform candidates are pro-independence, so it may well be that helping the SNP is what they really want.

“On Thursday, in key seats, vote Scottish Conservative to guarantee the best possible chance of beating the SNP.”

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton today used a visit to the Highlands to unveil his party’s plan to deliver £1 billion extra a year to “fix Scotland’s crumbling infrastructure”, saying a vote for the party would deliver new NHS buildings, get dangerous concrete out of classrooms and stop sewage dumping in Scotland’s rivers.

The Liberal Democrats’ spending plans will have benefits for Scotland – on average from an additional £1 billion in capital funding in each year of the next UK Parliament.

This uplift would give the green light for infrastructure projects the length and breadth of the country. The party is proposing fixes including:

Extra investment in local hospitals and NHS equipment to bring down waiting lists and end long journeys for treatment;

A new fund help public authorities deal with the dangerous concrete crisis, making buildings safe and ending the scandal of crumbling classrooms and hospital wards;

Upgrades to tackle the dumping of sewage by the government-owned water company

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said:”People are waiting an age for treatment but the SNP have poured cold water on essential NHS projects all across Scotland. They have left staff working in buildings containing dangerous concrete and paused the National Treatment Centres that were supposed to catch-up on surgeries and diagnostics.

“A vote for the Liberal Democrats on Thursday is a vote to fix Scotland’s crumbling and life-expired infrastructure. Our plans would deliver £1 billion more a year.

“It could get shovels in the ground for new hospitals in Fort William and Lerwick, build a new Edinburgh Eye Pavilion, and end long journeys for the young people and pregnant mums forced to travel hundreds of miles for care.

“This big investment from the Liberal Democrats could also fix cavernous potholes in the roads, get the sewage out of our rivers and give more children the best school buildings.

“People are moving away from the SNP and backing the Scottish Liberal Democrats because they want a local champion who will stand up for local health services, fix crumbling buildings, bring down waits and end long journeys for treatment.”

Scottish Greens

The Scottish Greens say the next UK Government must act quickly to ensure that train travel is cheaper than flying in a bid to cut emissions and reduce flights.

The party is calling for the next government to use taxation on aviation, including a frequent flyer levy, to subsidise rail tickets on the most popular air routes. 

It is part of a package of measures included in the party’s manifesto to reduce aviation, including the removal of tax breaks on aviation fuel and a £1000 per head tax on all private users landing in the UK.

Lorna Slater, Co-Leader of the Scottish Greens, said: “As a matter of principle, taking the train should always be cheaper than flying. 

“Traveling by rail in the UK is far more expensive than in many other countries, so it is no wonder that so many are choosing to fly. We badly need to turn that around. It is ridiculous that people who use the train are being punished for making cleaner and greener choices. 

“The next UK Government must take urgent action to make it easier and cheaper to do the right thing. That means using taxes from aviation to cut the price of trains and increase the number of direct rail connections between cities across the UK.

A Lowland distillery has launched its newest single malt whisky, inspired in name and flavour by the proud mining heritage of its surrounding area.

Exclusively matured in 100% ex-peated casks, Kingsbarns Distillery’s new “Coaltown” will become part of the brand’s core range, with an initial 6000 bottle production run anticipated to be in high demand.

It marks the 2014-established distillery’s first core range whisky harnessing ex-peated casks, that impart soft smoked notes while maintaining the brand’s fruity and floral signature character.

The name Coaltown is a reference to Coaltown of Wemyss, the 1890s-built estate village on the lands of nearby Wemyss Castle in south-east Fife and the ancestral seat of the family behind the distillery. It was created to house mineworkers in several coal mines in the area.

Isabella Wemyss, Production Director at Kingsbarns Distillery, said: “Every new launch is the result of a tremendous effort by our skilled team all local to the distillery.

“It’s unusual to see a whisky that has been exclusively matured in ex-peated casks. This unique approach allows us to offer a distinctive blend that stands apart from whiskies simply finished in ex-peated casks.

“By using ex-peated casks, rather than peat drying the barley, we are able to bring through the smoky notes traditionally associated with peated whisky whilst minimising our carbon footprint.”

Coaltown joins a small number of whiskies that form Kingsbarns’ core range, firm favourites and lines that will continue to be available with production runs throughout the calendar.

Like all whisky produced at the renovated distillery, Coaltown is for the purists – non-chill filtered and a natural colour, with no additives or hidden ingredients.

On the nose it offers hints of grilled banana, sweet smoke and hints of heather. On the initial palate there are subtle flavours: rose water, buttercream, touch of leather and delicate charred citrus zest.

The finish is warming, evoking soft salted caramel, subtle campfire smoke and cinder toffee.

William Wemyss, founder of parent company Wemyss Family Spirts, said: “We are proud to present Kingsbarns Coaltown, a whisky that embodies our innovative spirit while staying true to our Lowland heritage. This release highlights our team’s exceptional craftsmanship and our unwavering commitment to quality.”

Established in 2014, Kingsbarns Distillery is a small, family-run distillery located on Scotland’s picturesque East Coast.

As part of the independent Wemyss Family Spirits portfolio, Kingsbarns is committed to crafting exceptional Lowland-style single malts that highlight the unique character of the region.

The launch of Coaltown comes as Kingsbarns invests a multi-million-pound programme of investment to significantly increase production and capacity for its award-winning malts.

It also follows a bold move to meet net zero targets by phasing out its presentation boxes and cartons, saving over a tonne of carbon each year.

Founded by Isabella and William Wemyss in 2005, Wemyss Family Spirits Malts is an independent, family-owned company with a reputation for creating exceptional spirits that are non-chill filtered and contain no additives.

Presented in 70cl bottles and 46% ABV, Coaltown will be available for purchase from Master of Malt and Luvians with a RRP of £46.

https://wemyssfamilyspirits.com/

The Energy Training Academy (ETA) is expecting to train around 300 Octopus Energy Group engineers in 2024 as part of a key partnership with the renewables giant.

Cohorts of gas engineers are travelling to Dalkeith from south of the Border every month for the 10-day course as they learn how to install heat pumps under the expert guidance of ETA Technical Director Ian Edgeworth.

All those who successfully complete the training programme will be NICEIC accredited and qualified to install heat pumps.

In a huge boost for the academy, it was identified by Octopus, recently confirmed by Ofgem as Britain’s largest electricity supplier, as one of the only facilities in the UK which could deliver the necessary volume with the required quality.

Consequently, the centre is set to play a major role in helping deliver on the UK government’s target of installing 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028.

“There’s nobody more progressive in what they are trying to do than Octopus and we’re delighted to be recognised by them as a key training partner,” said ETA director and co-founder Andrew Lamond.

“It elevates the Energy Training Academy and is a prime example of exactly why we set it up. It’s credit to the team for showing they’re capable of delivering it and a strong endorsement of what the training academy is all about.”

Ian Edgeworth said: “Our partnership with Octopus Energy is all about innovation and collaboration. Working closely with their training management team, we’ve crafted a unique curriculum and unparalleled training experience that sets new standards for delivery excellence.

“From the initial stages of discussion and development, it became evident that our Academy’s bespoke facilities would offer operatives an immersive, hands-on learning experience unlike any other.

“Our mission has always been to mentor and empower engineers for success in the renewable heating sector. This includes a collaborative effort to provide in-house product training on the specific equipment these engineers will encounter in their day-to-day operations and this can only enhance their ability to be ‘job ready’ for the journey and challenges ahead.”

Mark Glasgow, ETA co-founder, added: “We want to partner with manufacturers or service-based businesses looking to do big things in the industry as there are huge changes happening in the sector.

“We’re delighted with the numerous collaborations we currently have but this is the highest profile partnership we have signed. This deal with Octopus has really put the academy project on its feet and will help us put more back into the schools and community, which was one of the main reasons we set it up.”

David Henry is standing as an independent candidate in Edinburgh West at this election.

Previously he was a member of the Alba Party, but he sets out his reasons below why he would be a good MP for the constituency.