Alex Cole Hamilton skirted around the question this morning on Good Morning Scotland, but it is now confirmed that Jamie Greene MSP has joined the Liberal Democrats, taking their numbers at Holyrood to five.

Mr Cole Hamilton introduced Jamie Greene as a new Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP after he announced at the party’s conference why he is leaving the Scottish Conservatives to join the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

During a speech to the Scottish Liberal Democrat Spring Conference in Inverness, Mr Greene told party members that “our job is to work together to bring back some decency, tolerance and respect back into Scottish politics”.

Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “I am over the moon to welcome Jamie Greene to the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

“Jamie is respected on all sides of the chamber. He is one of the parliament’s most effective communicators and has a selfless compassion which is seldom seen in our line of work.

“He speaks to a massive constituency of people who voted for Ruth Davidson’s Conservatives and are now dismayed to see that party lurching to extremes. His words have sent a shockwave through our country’s politics.

“He sees in the Scottish Liberal Democrats a chance to do things differently. With us, he can represent a party that’s going from strength to strength, a party where he can be a powerful local champion, get things done and make a difference for his constituents.

“With Jamie on our team, Scottish Liberal Democrat voices will be even louder on the issues that matter – getting you fast access to healthcare, lifting up Scottish education and growing our economy.”

Jamie Greene said: “In politics, I have worked to make life better for the people I represent and to live up to the values of ambition, openness, and freedom that have driven me all my life.

“As my former party misguidedly revels in the worst aspects of our politics, I have chosen to join a party whose values align with mine – the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

“I look forward to working with Alex and my new Lib Dem MSP colleagues on the real issues that matter to communities like mine in the West of Scotland.”

Jamie Greene’s full address to the Scottish Liberal Democrats conference was as follows:

Hello Conference!

I’m not sure who is more surprised to see me here today – me or you?

But here I am and I’m really happy.

As you may have spotted, things in my life have moved pretty fast these last days.

In just 48 hours I’ve gone from being politically homeless, like many Scots are right now, to joining you here, in my new home: the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Everyone deserves a home to feel welcome, supported, and belong in.

Even if my journey was as slow as the A9 itself, it is the destination which matters not how you get somewhere.

I’m sorry if I sound a bit croaky. I hope that coming up from the central belt to the fresh air of the Highlands will help me shift my cold. It certainly feels like a breath of fresh air to be here with you today.

Most folk will know what it’s like to go through a break-up – a relationship in which you both drift apart.

When it happens, your friends tell you not to worry. One day you’ll meet someone better.

Well for me, today is that day.

Party conferences of course are a chance to talk to those present in the room. But I also want to speak directly, now that I am free to do so, to people outside of these walls and outside of the political bubble. Especially to those centre-right, compassionate, and decent Tories

Like the many of you who have written to me these past 24 hours – who are simply scunnered with the endless culture wars and fringe issues that my former party has become obsessed with.

In these dangerous times we live in, the language of hatred, of right-wing populism, and of scapegoating must be fought against and must be defeated.

Like you, I trust in the tolerant, liberal people of Scotland to take on that fight. I’ve been doing it already, perhaps just from the wrong place.

I also say to them: there is light at the end of the tunnel.

If you too want to fight the Trumpism that has appeared in our political backyards, if you feel the same way as I do, then there’s a home for you!

Scottish politics can and must be better.

I started my political journey as a young, working class, gay man from Greenock. I believe that if politicians are not helping Scots from backgrounds like mine to fulfil their potential in life – then we are failing in our duty.

That’s why I got into politics in the first place.

Decency and respect are so important to me, and we clearly have it here.

We must never be afraid to speak out, to speak our minds and do what our conscience tells us is best, no matter how difficult that may be.

These are the liberal values that I know you stand for. These are the values I think most decent Scots stand for. And those, most certainly, are the values I stand for.

Our job is to work together to bring back some decency, tolerance and respect back into Scottish politics.

That’s our challenge, so let’s get on with it.

Council Leader Jane Meagher was joined by Minister for Employment and Investment Tom Arthur, representatives from the main contractor McLaughlin & Harvey, as well as volunteers from Granton Hub and members of Pianodrome, Scran Academy and Craigroyston Youth Football Club to at Gasholder 1 on Friday.

The official opening of the park will take place on Saturday 5 April with a family fun day and ribbon cutting ceremony.

The park has six different zones including three play areas with a wide range of play equipment. There is plenty of outdoor space to explore and an inner ring walk going round the outer edges of the frame with a range of places to sit and relax. An outdoor exhibition has also been created which showcases the history of Granton gasworks as well as the restoration process.

The park which extends to 1.2 hectares is set within the old gas holder frame and was funded by the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme. Funding from the UK Government of more than £16 million allowed the gas holder to be refurbished. The bell underneath was also removed. The gas holder is now permanently lit each evening and is regarded as a beacon in the north of the city.

A new sculpture of a humpback whale was installed recently and is the work of artist Svetland Kondakova Muir.

Council Leader Jane Meagher will be joined by a club member of the Craigroyston Youth Community Football Club on Saturday to officially cut the ribbon. She said: “The Gasholder 1 Park opening is a huge milestone reached for the £1.3bn Granton Waterfront project. It is really inspiring to look out over this important piece of coastal land for our Capital city and see these much needed homes and other facilities literally springing up out of the ground.

“The new park is a fantastic addition for local communities and the hundreds of new tenants including families who have recently moved into the homes we have built for social and mid-market rent in the area. Many of these are on land immediately surrounding the new park and I’m delighted to say that many more homes are being planned or under construction which will be ready for hundreds of new tenants in the next few years.

“The historic gasholder gives the new park a unique look and feel and it will also be seen for miles around as the restored frame is lit up after dark.

“This exciting opening follows the restoration of the former Granton Station building and the new public square also created to provide a sense of place for the local community which opened to great fanfare in March 2023.

“I’m delighted to cut the ribbon on Saturday to open this exciting new space for the local community as well as the thousands of other visitors I’m sure it will attract from Edinburgh and beyond in the years to come.”

Investment Minister Tom Arthur said: “We have contributed £1.2 million towards transformation of Granton’s Gasholder from a derelict site to a vibrant and accessible space for people to enjoy.

“This is part of wider efforts to regenerate the Granton area, including a recent project supported by the Scottish Government to transform derelict industrial units at Granton Waterfront into communal spaces.

“To help communities thrive, we are providing £62.15 million towards regeneration in 2025-26. This will support projects which revitalise green spaces, town centres and derelict sites to benefit people across Scotland.”

UK Government Minister for Local Growth, Alex Norris, said: “Having visited Granton earlier in the year, it is wonderful to see the new Gasholder 1 Park will be opening this week. This green space will really bring the community together, from young families to elderly residents and visitors to the City.

“The refurbishment of the derelict gas holder structure has provided a real beacon of light to Edinburgh, retaining its unique history and character, while wider transformation work is underway to Granton Waterfront. This is exactly the kind of collaboration and locally led growth we want to see all across Scotland and the UK in our mission to boost growth and renewal as part of our Plan for Change.”

Graham Brown, Senior Contracts Manager at McLaughlin & Harvey, said: “Gasholder 1 Park was a unique restoration project to deliver for the City of Edinburgh Council. In deconstructing the old bell, refurbishing the listed steel structure, and repainting the frame, we have solved complex engineering challenges. The ribbon cutting ceremony is a brilliant opportunity for McLaughlin & Harvey to celebrate the vast civil engineering experience of our team as well as the success achieved in our collaboration with our client and supply chain partners.”

The family fun day on Saturday will include:

Community singalong with Pianodrome at 11am
Ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11.15am with Council Leader Jane Meagher
Family arts and craft activities
Penalty shoot-outs with Craigroyston Community Youth Football Club
Free ice cream
Free face painting
Exhibition stalls

All photos courtesy of The Scottish Government

Detectives are appealing for information after a house was deliberately set on fire in Hay Drive, Edinburgh during the early hours of this morning, Friday 4 April 2025.

Around 1.20am officers were made aware of a fire, which also spread to a neighbouring property.

Emergency services attended and the fire was extinguished.

There were no reports of any injuries but substantial damage has been caused to both properties.

Extensive enquiries are ongoing and from the investigations so far, officers believe this incident may be linked to the recent discharge of firearms and other fire-raising incidents in the city.

Detective Superintendent Paul Grainger said: “It is vital that we trace whoever is responsible for this reckless act as soon as possible.

“While we believe this was a targeted attack, the fire has spread to a neighbouring property and the consequences could have been far more serious.

“Our enquiries suggest this incident is linked to groups who are actively targeting each other but we understand this will be concerning for the local community.

“Please be assured we are working hard to trace those involved. Our action this week demonstrates our commitment to tackling this type of crime.”

A motorbike carrying two individuals was seen in the area around the time of the fire and officers are keen to anyone who may have seen this vehicle.

Mr Grainger added: “We would urge anyone with information, or anyone with dash-cam, doorbell footage or personal footage, to review it and get in touch with officers.

“I am keen to hear from anyone who saw this motorbike in the area.

“Please think back – did you see this vehicle? Or did you see anything suspicious in the area around the time?

“If you have any information at all, please contact us.

“Plain-clothed and uniform officers will remain in the area while our investigations continue.

“Anyone with any concerns, or any information, can approach these officers.”

Two further arrests have been made after more warrants were executed this week in Edinburgh following this series of incidents.

On Thursday, 3 April, divisional officers from Edinburgh and the east of Scotland, supported by specialist resources from Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism and firearms officers, attended at five addresses across Edinburgh and Musselburgh.

A number of items relevant to the investigation, including weapons, were seized, along with drugs and cash.

Two men, aged 25 and 33, were arrested and charged with drugs offences. Reports will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. A 38-year-old man was also reported to the Procurator Fiscal, and a 30-year-old man was given two recorded police warnings, for drugs offences.

Detectives, supported by firearms officers, also executed two additional firearms search warrants in the Leith area of Edinburgh on the morning of Friday, 4 April.

The activity was part of an ongoing investigation into the discharge of firearms and fire-raising incidents in the city last month.

So far officers have arrested six people in total, checked around 1600 vehicles and recovered eight which had been stolen. Around 2400 hours of CCTV footage are being examined and officers on patrol have delivered 500 leaflets in the community to reassure them.

Chief Superintendent David Robertson, Divisional Commander for Edinburgh, said: “These incidents could have had much more serious consequences and I want to make it clear this behaviour will not be tolerated.

“Significant enquiries are ongoing in relation to all of these incidents, and we are utilising all available resources to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.

“We will continue to carry out additional high-visibility patrols and disruption activity across the city and I would encourage anyone with any concerns to approach these officers, so we can take action.

“If anyone has information that can help with our enquiries then please contact us immediately.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 0562 of Friday, 21 March, 2025. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.

The Woolly Good Gathering is “an Edinburgh event celebrating knitters, crocheters, weavers, spinners and fibre lovers with a festival of crafts, workshops, talks, food, music and good company”.

It is taking place at the Central Hall and Edinburgh Printmakers on Friday and Saturday.

There is more information on the link below and although general marketplace tickets have now sold out for both Friday and Saturday, anyone can attend a talk or workshop (limited availability) without a marketplace ticket.

More details here.

More than £2.3 million worth of cannabis has been removed from Scotland’s streets following a series of significant seizures in recent weeks.

On Thursday, 20 March, officers recovered a quantity with an estimated street value of around £436,400 from the Glencoe Street area of Glasgow. The following day, police in Aberdeen seized cannabis valued at £1 million.

There have been further large recoveries in Dundee, Glasgow, Livingston, Cumbernauld and Clackmannanshire.

A total of 14 men were arrested and charged in connection with these operations.

Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry said: “These seizures highlight our dedication to tackling drug crime in Scotland.

“Controlled substances are dangerous and cause real harm to individuals, families and communities. They are illegal for that very reason.

“Working closely with our partners, we remain focused on targeting individuals and organised crime groups, who selfishly exploit vulnerable people solely for their own financial gain.

“This shows our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy.

“Results like these rely on the public and anyone with information or concerns about drugs should contact Police Scotland on 101 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

A West Lothian town is fighting plans to pay for parking and demanded wardens be reintroduced to police streets which have become an “obstacle course”. 

A West Lothian town is fighting plans to pay for parking and demanded wardens be reintroduced to police streets which have become an “obstacle course”. 

Just weeks after West Lothian Council unveiled proposals for new parking regulations – which includes plans to charge for parking on town streets in the county – Bathgate Community Council has launched a petition to scrap the move, raising fears it could hit local businesses. 

The community council said this week that the charges “betrayed” townspeople. 

Detailed plans, including maps of the streets which would be affected in the council’s DPE roll-out will soon go before the nine West Lothian Council local area committees on which councillors sit, and the community councils serve. 

Bathgate will be among the first communities to have new parking regulations including metered on street parking which is planned to be introduced within the next three years. 

But they are now calling for public support to stop the proposals – and are encouraging other local communities in West Lothian to join the fight. 

This week Bathgate CC laid down three key changes it wants to see: – 

• No parking charges in car parks 

• Traffic warden enforcement of illegal parking 

• Parking discs to manage time limits on high streets. 

A spokesperson said: “The Council’s proposed parking charges for High Street and train station parking have betrayed previous assurances and could negatively impact local shopping and public transport use.” 

A report presented to West Lothian’s Environment and Sustainability PDSP outlined three options. However, the proposed £5 daily charge at Council-owned railway stations (Linlithgow, Livingston North, Livingston South and Uphall Station) has been criticised as it appears to contradict their Active Travel objectives of encouraging alternative transportation and reducing car dependency.  

Others have pointed out that station car parks owned by Network Rail are free for train users 

The spokesperson added: “The proposed parking charges prioritise revenue generation over addressing community concerns and exploring effective parking solutions. The proposals also fail to consider utilising existing parking revenue, such as that from contracted car parks, to offset implementation costs.” 

Bathgate CC says any surplus revenue from fines would be allocated to Town Centre improvement schemes. “This alternative model could be considered as a potential fourth option”, said the spokesperson. 

The Joint Forum has backed Bathgate Community Council and urged all community councils in West Lothian to review the proposals and consider expressing their support. 

A petition on Change.org, which has so far garnered 231 signatures, says:  “The town that we cherish and live in is gradually turning into an obstacle course because cars are frequently parked on both double and single yellow lines against the regulations. This brazen flouting of the rules makes it nearly impossible to drive through town and poses a considerable and unnecessary risk to our community’s safety. 

The petition adds: “Rather than charging for car parks, which is counterproductive and unfair, efforts should be directed towards enforcing penalties for illegal parking. This would not only alleviate the chaos on our streets but would incentivise responsible parking and allow for better flow of traffic through our town and pay for the parking wardens we need.  We want the council to consider our option when they make the decision on parking which would keep our car park free to use.” 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

The number of passengers killed in horror smashes on Scotland’s roads has rocketed by 800%.

Police Scotland data shows that 18 car passengers died between April and December last year compared with just two the previous year showing a surge in the number of incidents claiming multiple lives.

There were six collisions resulting in multiple fatalities recorded during the nine month period compared with two in the same period the previous year.

In one weekend on Scotland’s roads in July, eight people died. Among the incidents was a single vehicle collision in Falkirk in which three men aged 21, 23 and 24 were killed, with the 20-year-old female driver taken to hospital

Data shows that overall 129 people died on the roads during the period, which is an increase of 2 deaths compared to the previous year. The worst numbers were recorded in May, June and July.

Road deaths and injuries have increased overall in each of the last four years despite The Scottish Government’s no road fatalities or serious injuries by 2050 target known as Vision Zero.

Scottish Conservative shadow transport minister, Sue Webber MSP, said: “My thoughts are with families grieving the loss of a loved one who died on Scotland’s roads.

“Brutal SNP cuts to dedicated road traffic officers and their failure to dual key roads across the country have no doubt contributed to road deaths rising. The SNP government are miles off meeting the target for zero deaths on Scotland’s roads by 2050.

“SNP ministers should show some common sense and fund more road traffic officers and finally fulfil their promise to upgrade dangerous roads and junctions across Scotland.”

According to a force report, the number of children killed on Scottish roads halved from four to two compared with the previous year, while the number of cyclists killed fell to one compared with five previously.

There were also decreases in the number of people seriously (148 fewer – down 9.8%) and slightly injured (470 fewer – down 16.3%).

Consistent rises in the death toll on Scotland’s roads overall means the journey to Vision Zero could prove unachievable as variables such as driver error, adverse weather, drink/drug driving, mechanical failure and tyre blow-outs mitigate against deaths and serious injuries being eliminated.

Edmund King, President of the AA motoring organisation, warned that while it was “commendable” to pursue a Vision Zero ambition for road deaths, it would be “difficult to make that vision a reality”.

He said: “Over the last 50 years road deaths have fallen when radical legislation has been introduced from the breathalyser to compulsory seat belts, to air bags, ABS brakes, Euro NCAP crash testing to assisted technologies. However, in the last few years casualties have broadly plateaued and on some measures increased.

“There are still some basic things that drivers and passengers are getting wrong. A report from The AA Trust showed that 43% of young passenger fatalities were unbelted.

“This is a stunning statistic as car occupants are twice as likely to die without a seatbelt. This suggests more education and effective enforcement is needed.”

Craig Naylor, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS), warned in a recent report that Police Scotland was detecting significantly less crime on the roads despite increasing numbers of deaths and injuries.

He said the number had been increasing every year since 2020 while noting a 63% drop in recorded offences since 2013.

Data shows officer numbers fell from 17,431 in March 2020 to 16,425 in October and, of that total, 3.5% were dedicated to road policing.

Mr Naylor said: “The recent increases in road casualties are complex and there is no single factor that has caused this trend.

“However, we are concerned that at a time when casualties are increasing, Police Scotland has decreased rather than increased its enforcement activity in this high-priority area.”

Police Scotland say they work in collaboration with partners such as Transport Scotland to improve road safety throughout the country in a bid to curb fatalities, running campaigns targeting speeding, wearing seatbelts and mobile phone use along with drink and drug driving.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop’s National Speed Management Review Consultation, launched in November to examine the merits of lowering the national speed limit on single carriageways to 50mph, is due to conclude this month.

Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan, Police Scotland’s Head of Road Policing, said: “Every death on our roads is tragic. We work tirelessly to fully investigate every fatal and serious road collision and provide support to the families of those involved, in conjunction with key partners like BRAKE.

“Road policing remains a priority for Police Scotland and we will continue to work very closely with a range of partners to improve road safety for all users.

“We all have a responsibility to use our roads safely. I urge every driver and road user to think about their behaviour on the road, be considerate towards others and help us make Scotland’s roads safe for everyone.”

Hibs head coach David Gray has been named the Scottish Premiership Glen’s Manager of the Month for March 2025. 

This is the third time this season Gray has won the accolade, having also earned the award in December 2024 and February 2025. 

Gray becomes the first Hibsmanager to win the award three times in the same Premiership season, matching Tony Mowbray’s record – who won three awards over the course of two years between 2004 and 2006. 

During the month of March, Hibs picked up seven points out of a possible nine available. 

That started with a memorable 2-1 win in the Edinburgh Derby, with Martin Boyle and Jack Iredale on target as we secured back-to-back Derby victories. 

A 1-1 draw at Rugby Park against Kilmarnock followed before the Hibees swept aside St Johnstone at the end of the month with a comfortable 3-0 victory. 

Speaking to Sky Sports News after collecting the award, David Gray commented: 

“I’m delighted, to be honest; this award is a reflection of the run we’ve been on and all the effort that has gone into that.  

“The players deserve all the credit for this and then all the staff for their collective effort and hard work that has got us to where we are now. I am very grateful for all their support. 

“We’ve been through difficult times at the start of the season, but the staff, the players and everyone at the Football Club has gone through real adversity and stuck together through that.  

“We’ve come out the other side of that, we are in a really good place now, but we need to keep moving forward. 

“When you think back to the start of December when we were bottom of the league, to get to where we are now is a fantastic achievement and we need to keep pushing forward.” 

Scotland will take on the Māori All Blacks, followed by Fiji and Samoa in their 2025 summer tour. 

The tour kicks off with a match against the Māori All Blacks on Saturday 5 July, and will be the first time the sides have met since 2000, when the hosts edged a narrow encounter 18-15 in New Plymouth. 

It will be just the third match between the Māori and Scotland with the other game coming at Murrayfield in Edinburgh in 1998. 

As per World Rugby’s San Francisco calendar agreement which was decided in 2017, Scotland will then take on Fiji and Samoa. 

The match against Fiji will be played on Saturday 12 July at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, marking Scotland’s first game on Fijian soil since 2017. Scotland’s last match against Fiji took place in November 2024 where the home side ran out 57-17 winners with Darcy Graham scoring four tries. 

The tour will finish on Friday 18 July where Scotland take on Samoa. The last time the two sides played against each other was in 2019 when Scotland won 34-0 during the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The match will take place in Auckland, New Zealand at the historic Eden Park. 

Scotland’s 2024 summer tour, in the Americas, represented a valuable opportunity with 11 players making their debut. The matches allowed the players the chance to impress on the international stage and provided a catalyst for them to shine for the national team with the likes of Max Williamson producing a stand-out performance against South Africa and Gregor Brown playing in every Guinness Six Nations match this year. 

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend said: “It’s the first time since 2000 that we’ve been to New Zealand and spending time in a country with such a deep rugby culture is a unique and special experience. There are players and coaches within our group who have never been there before and I know they are looking forward to the opportunity as well as the challenges we will face on the Tour.” 

“Playing against the Māori All Blacks will be a proper introduction to New Zealand rugby and they will provide a strong test, especially in the contact area. 

“Fiji have shown over the past few seasons that they are a rising force in world rugby and will relish the chance of playing a Six Nations country at home. We will be challenged in attack and defence as well as very different weather conditions that we are used to in the northern hemisphere. 

“Finally, Samoa are one of the most physical teams in world rugby with how hard they hit in the tackle. They were very competitive at the World Cup in 2023 and secured an impressive win over Italy last summer. Playing at Eden Park is a wonderful opportunity for both teams and it will be a great setting to end our tour of the South Pacific. 

“With the Lions tour happening at the same time, I’m expecting that we will have to call up some players that weren’t involved in the Six Nations. But it will be an experienced group overall that we are planning to take out on tour, as we know these are three very tough games for us.” 

Scotland’s 2025 Summer Tour Fixtures 

Māori All Blacks v Scotland: Saturday 5 July 2025, Semenoff Stadium – Whangārei, kick-off 3.35pm local time (Saturday 5 July, kick-off 4.35am UK time) 

Fiji v Scotland: Saturday 12 July 2025, HFC Bank Stadium, Suva, kick-off 3pm local time (Saturday 12 July 2025, kick-off 4am UK time) 

Samoa v Scotland: Friday 18 July 2025, Eden Park, Auckland, kick-off 8.05pm local time (Friday 18 July 2025, kick-off 9.05am UK time) 

Broadcast arrangements are still to be confirmed. 

Retail sales at Edinburgh Waverley during Quarter 3 of 2024 increased by 10.5% making it the fastest growing station outside London.

Network Rail Property is reporting its best ever sales quarter in its portfolio of 19 stations in the UK with an increase of around 7% across the board. This totals retail sales in the quarter of £240.5 million which is up by £16 million on the previous year.

The organisation is especially pleased about the Waverley stats which they say show the resilience of retail performance at the station “creating an exceptional station offer” which is a key part of their strategy.

In Quarter 3 a new Brewdog opened in the station, and there were improvements at M&S and Burger King. All retail spaces in the station are now trading.

In Glasgow Central there has been investment in Greggs and Holland & Barrett in new outlets in the station, but London Waterloo remains the best performing with sales growth of 24.2%.

Hamish Kiernan, Commercial Director, Property at Network Rail, said: “Our retail offering at Edinburgh Waverley station continues to go from strength to strength and our Q3 sales figures are the highest ever, demonstrating the appeal of our offer. Attracting and retaining brands such as Brewdog and M&S who invest and see the value in our destinations are vital to our continued success in Scotland and giving our customers the best possible station experience.”  

Four points separate teams from sixth to ninth in the 12-strong William Hill Premiership, Hearts, St Mirren, Motherwell and Ross County, are involved, and the pressure is really on with only two matched remaining until the split on April 13.

Hearts currently occupy the sixth spot with 39 points from 31 fixtures. St Mirren are seventh and Motherwell eighth and they are only a point behind with Ross Country three back from the Paisley and Lanarkshire sides.

Neil Critchley, Hearts’ head coach, is desperate to make the top six and a home win over Dundee United, who are fifth with 44 points, could go a long way to securing that position with a visit to Fir Park to play Motherwell the final fixture. It has proved a tough travel for the Jambos in recent seasons.

Hibs and Aberdeen are already there thanks to victories over St Johnstone and Motherwell last weekend and high praise must go to 36-year-old David Gray who has steered his Easter Road men into third spot currently after being bottom of the pile earlier this term.

So, the focus for Hearts is on Sunday (kick-off 14.30) in the first instance. United edged the Jambos 1-0 on their last visit, Ross Graham netting after 76 minutes.

Hearts had 14 shots against 12 from United, the Jambos had two on target and United four, but the Men in Maroon enjoyed 66 per cent of the possession, and had 574 passes against 301. The home side also had six corners against four from Goodwin’s men, yet they still lost.

The Jambos have won six of their last ten meetings with Dundee winning once and the Men in Maroon have scored 23 goals with only 12 in reply.

United travel south having earned a narrow victory over Ross County last weekend which meant that they were almost there in their top six quest, a great achievement for manager Jim Goodwin and his squad.

The Tayside team have won 12 and drawn eight of their 31 games so far, losing 11. They have scored 39 goals and conceded 40. Hearts have won 11 and drawn six of their games, losing 14, and scoring 43 goals and conceding the same number.

Not much between the teams then, but Hearts have won three of their last five while United and won two and drawn one of theirs.

PICTURE: Hearts head coach Neil Critchley by Ian Jacobs

Scotch whisky distillers are raising their half glasses and muttering “Slainte Mhath”, more in hope than in expectation. 

Their official response to Donald Trump’s 10 per cent tariff on all imports into America is “disappointment”.  But they must be spluttering into their glasses in outrage – that a son of Scotland should do his motherland such a disfavour.

Does he not realise how big a deal whisky is to Scotland?  It’s our second biggest export, after oil, and the USA is our third largest market, worth £971m last year. The whisky industry as a whole employs 41,000 people in 151 distilleries. There are 22 million oak casks lying in wait in bonded warehouses in quiet corners of Scotland.

Industry leaders and politicians are hoping that a 10 per cent rise in price will not put Americans off drinking whisky – though the last time there was a hike in tariffs, by 25 per cent in 2019, whisky sales to American fell by £600m.  There’s also the hope that Trump might change his mind or that a comprehensive trade deal might remove the levy.

It’s mildly pathetic to watch our leaders go down on bended knee at the court of King Trump in order to win such a deal. There was that fawning performance from Keir Starmer in the Oval Office last month and this week our first minister John Swinney is on a pilgrimage to New York to plead with the Americans during Tartan Week. 

Alongside the whisky distillers at this less-than-cheerful drinks party are Scotland’s salmon producers.  Some 2,500 people work at salmon farms in remote sea lochs in the islands and along the west coast. 

Their £225m trade with America is under threat. Both industries are important but they also have their downsides. Environmentalists question the ethics of rearing salmon in cages. Whisky itself has its dangers. Scotland has one of the worst drink death rates in Europe and we have a culture of alcohol friendliness that is unpleasant late at night on our city streets and, it has to be admitted, in grand houses too.    

I’m also not sure about the consensus in Europe that tariffs and trade wars are a bad thing. Although in theory, free trade and international specialisation, makes us all richer, there are other considerations apart from money. Is globalisation good for the environment?  Does it result in good jobs, either in the country importing or exporting?  Is it right that the rich West lives off poorly-paid workers in the East?

Donald Trump’s “Independence Day” tariffs in America may result in a huge re-organisation of international trade or it may just peter out as individual trade deals are made and we are back to the status quo.  In the meantime it will almost certainly cause prices to rise in the United States, hitting the poorest the most. And if the revenue from the tariffs are to be used to cut taxes for the wealthy, as Trump is planning, then the gap between rich and poor will grow.

The story of the Corn Laws in Britain is a salutory warning on the dangers of tariffs. They were introduced in 1815 to protect farmers (and therefore landowners) from cheap gain imports. The price of bread soared and 90 per cent of the population were worse off.  There were riots in the streets. The poor suffered for 30 years, until the Irish famine shamed Robert Peel, the Tory prime minister of the time, to repeal the Corn Laws. It began the era of free trade and laissez-faire economics, and its successor neo-liberalism, concepts now melting in the heat of modern realities.

Ideologies come and go but the damage they do lingers after them.  Even this week, we are seeing the results of government “austerity” in the form of: cuts and strikes in our universities; an NHS improvement plan that lacks the funding to make it work, schools that don’t have enough teaching assistants to deal with the 40 per cent of pupils who are classed as needing additional support; and a survey which found that 19 per cent of pensioners are living on less than £15,000 a year.

And most shocking of all, a study by Glasgow University’s John Smith Centre found that 63 per cent of young people in Britain believe democracy is in trouble and 27 per cent preferred dictatorship.  

Thinking again of those 22 barrels of whisky, calmly lying in our bonded warehouses, I wonder what the world will be like when they come out of hibernation in three years’ time or seven years’ or seventy-seven year’s. 
Will we still be fighting a trade war or will we have matured, like the whisky in those precious barrels?   

A sporting celebration is being held in Edinburgh on Saturday to showcase 100 years of protecting playing fields across Scotland.

Fields in Trust Scotland will highlight the milestone with a centrepiece rugby encounter between a Murrayfield Wanderers Select and The Co-Optimists at Roseburn Park, one of Edinburgh City Council’s 55 protected parks.

Euan Kennedy, former Scotland rugby international and President of the Co-Optimists – an invitational side – said: “The Co-optimists Rugby Club are pleased to support Fields in Trust in their centenary year as we both believe that preserving our parks and green spaces is so important to promote exercise both in sport and recreation”

Fields In Trust (FIT) is a charity dedicated to protecting valuable playing fields.

Trustee and Chair of its Scotland Committee Ewan Gillies said: “The day will celebrate the value and importance of our parks and green spaces for everyone, from those taking part in sport to those simply enjoying being out in fresh air with friends and family.

“For 100 years FIT has safeguarded these spaces for generations of families and now have 320 parks safe from development in Scotland with Edinburgh City Council protecting more than any other local authority.

“As we enter our second century, we want to at least double that figure and raise awareness of the health and wellbeing benefits of outdoor spaces.”

Protection is achieved through a legal document that means FIT needs to be consulted if anyone tries to develop a park for housing or commercial activity such as offices or warehouses.

On a busy day in Roseburn Park other events taking place include:

• Murrayfield Wanderers ladies taking on Lismore Ladies.
• A skills training session with Murrayfield Wanderers Girls.
• Murrayfield DAFS cricket All Stars and Dynamos showcasing soft ball cricket and drills.
• The rugby encounter will highlight proceedings, kicking off at 3pm before which Robert Aldridge, the Rt Hon Lord Provost of Edinburgh, will unveil a plaque recognising the protection of Roseburn Park and Edinburgh’s foresight in protecting so many Parks and Green spaces.

The Lord Provost said: “For a century, Fields in Trust has championed the protection of Scotland’s green spaces, ensuring future generations have places to play, relax, and connect with nature.

“This celebration at Roseburn Park is a testament to the enduring value of our parks – not just as sporting grounds, but as vital spaces for health, well-being, and community spirit. It will be my pleasure to unveil the plaque and look ahead to the next 100 years of safeguarding these cherished places for all.”

Wanderers President David Young added: “Having the opportunity to participate in sport brings a lifetime of physical and mental benefits for the young and old but that can only happen if we safeguard those spaces where people can come and play.

“Knowing that our home, Roseburn Park, is protected is something we are delighted to celebrate with Fields in Trust. However, while we will showcase our best in sport, we should also remember that every day parks such as ours are also for people socialising, walking the dog, pushing the pram, jogging or running. Theyare vital spaces for all and forever.”

Jim McDonaugh, Chair of Friends of Roseburn Park, expressed their gratitude to City of Edinburgh Council and to Fields in Trust, saying: “Since 1906, generations have enjoyed the 23,000sqm of public green space in the heart of the Roseburn’s Murrayfield’s Community.  Each year, The Park is enjoyed by thousands of visitors. both old and the young, cricket players, rugby players, cyclists, dog walkers, those stopping for coffee at the café and those just passing through. This legal protection from Fields in Trust ensures that this precious space will be retained and protected as a public park for generations to come.

The timetable for the day is:

11.30: Murrayfield Wanderers Ladies Team vs Lismore Ladies (west section of park)

13.00:  Murrayfield Wanderers girls practice session (west section of park)

13.45: Murrayfield DAFS (Cricket) All Stars and Dynamos soft ball cricket and drills. (the Oval)

14.45: Plaque Unveiling

15.00: Murrayfield Wanderers Select vs The Co-Optimists (no1 pitch in west section of park)

16.30: Retire to MWFC Clubhouse.

The Co-optimists have cast a wide net in drawing from 20 clubs to fill a 23 strong squad. The team and replacements is:

15. Matt Wilson (Dunfermline)

14. Tom Pedley (Stirling University)

13. Gregor Smith (Howe of Fife)

12. Craig Jardine (Stirling County)

11. Owen Bonner (Kirkcaldy)

10. Callum White (Dunfermline)

9.   Jay McGuffie (Cambuslang)

8.   David Montgomery (Stirling County)

7.   Alistair Wood (Edinburgh Accies)

6.   Ewan Hunter ( Peebles)

5.   Ewan Stewart (Stewart’s Melville)

4.   William Brown (Heriots)

3.   Ryan Montgomery (Gala)

2.   Lachlan Forsyth (Stirling County)

1.   Lliam Quarm (Stirling County), captain.

Replacements: 

16. Allan Frame (Kelso)

17. Neil Hogarth (Biggar)

18. Lochlan Morris (Corstorphine Cougars)

19. Greg Alexander (Boroughmuir)

20. Johnnie McMillan (Forrester)

21. Freddie Lilley (Melrose)

22. Bailey Donaldson (Langholm)

23. Murray McCowan (Musselburgh)

Hidden Door – this weekend only

A unique exhibition is on at The Paper Factory just off the Maybury Roundabout this weekend. TOLL is a large scale installation artwork and film by artist Andrew J Brooks about the toll of the pandemic.

It consists of 145,652 individual 4cm-tall marks – one for each registered death in the UK in the first year of the pandemic. The resulting work spans six rolls of paper, each 10 meters long and 1.5 meters wide, using over a litre of black ink.

The Paper Factory is open 10am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday and there is an artist talk at 1pm on Saturday.

More details here.

Fettes College Pipe Band off to New York

On Saturday the New York City Tartan Day Parade will feature Fettes College’s pipe band for the first time in a generation.

There will be 28 members of the pipe band and their instructors performing in the parade on 5 April along Sixth Avenue. Old Fettesians (OFs) living in the city have also been invited to join them, together with others from the Fettes community making the journey to New York.

The pipers and drummers taking part in the parade are aged between 13 and 18. They are members of the Fettes College pipe band which is made up of students across its senior and prep schools and currently holds the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships Junior A Trophy.

Cameron Drummond, Master in Charge of Piping and Drumming at Fettes College, said: “Each year our pipe band performs in a number of prestigious locations including Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace and it is a great honour for our band to also perform in New York and showcase Scotland’s musical heritage. We have been practising tirelessly, so we’re all set for this once-in-a-lifetime experience for our students.”

Helen Harrison, Head of Fettes College, who is in New York with the Pipe Band, said: “Fettes has a strong tradition of piping and drumming, and the Fettes pipe band’s performance at Tartan Day highlights their skills and dedication.  It will be a special moment to join the students in the parade, and a great opportunity for the Fettes community to show its support. Fettes is a proudly Scottish school that brings together international perspectives, empowering our students to be successful on a global platform.”

The students will be playing a set of well-loved US tunes, including America the Beautiful, The Marines Hymn and When the Saints go Marching In. Prior to the parade, the pipe band will perform for OFs and others in Bryant Park.

Last year Fettes became the only school in the world to have two piping instructors that took part in the prestigious Glenfiddich Piping Championships.

Ian Prowse in Edinburgh tonight

Ian Prowse celebrates with a special re-release and an anniversary tour around the UK including a stop at Voodoo Rooms on Friday night 4 April.

A song that famously reduced the legendary John Peel to tears live on air, ‘Does This Train Stop On Merseyside?’ is a powerful single that has truly stood the test of time. With Ian Prowse’s heartfelt vocals journeying through the region’s astounding history (including the horrors of the Hillsborough disaster) and a gorgeous sweeping musicality, the track is one of the most noteworthy to originate from the ‘UK Capital of Pop’ this side of the millennium.
Now, the 2005 Amsterdam hit is being celebrated to mark its 20th anniversary, with a re-release lined up for 7th March and an extensive UK tour commencing on the same day. Also to look forward to is a mini-documentary featuring some famous faces, more details on this TBC.
Ian Prowse saidL “Writing “Does This Train Stop on Merseyside?” saved my life. After (first band) Pele ended, I couldn’t get arrested. Then this song arrived, and all the doors reopened for me, that was important.
“That it was John Peel who first recognised its power is an eternal honour. I’m so glad to put it back out there again for its 20th birthday.
“It’s not mine anymore, it’s yours.”

Friday Community Café

At Bellfield in Portobello on Fridays there is a Community Café from 11am to noon.

Leith Late is now the late Leith Late

The trustees of Leith Late decided to close the charity at the end of March. The last of their funding was used for arts projects at the Citadel.

They have said: “We have made this decision due to a combination of reasons including the extreme challenges around funding for all charities, and especially they arts. We are particularly sad to close the charity before being able to co-ordinate a refresh of the Leith History Mural, as that was the last project we were focused on.

“With that said, we appreciated the opportunity in 2024 to work with the Water of Leith Conservation Trust to support the creation of the Coalie Park murals, which involved members of the community developing and painting the design with artist Kate George, and have made such a positive difference to the area.”

Scotland has been hit by a 2000% surge in cryptocurrency offences amid an “industrial scale” explosion of crime on the dark web.

Police Scotland is battling a new frontier of criminality and say that tech savvy organised crime gangs are increasingly leveraging cryptocurrency for drug trafficking, gambling, money laundering, human and wildlife trafficking as well as violent crime.

The force says fleet-footed gangsters are “quick to adapt” and latch on to new methods of obscuring their activities with cryptocurrency being one of their preferred methods of evading detection.

Police Scotland say that in response to “one of our biggest threats to our communities” they too are adapting capabilities and tactics as part of the fightback against cyber criminals.

A force report says: “Since 2019, Police Scotland has experienced a circa 2000% increase in cryptocurrency related criminality.

“As technology evolves, serious and organised crime groups are quick to adapt and utilise new methods to help obfuscate their activities with the use of cryptocurrency being one such method.

“Police Scotland currently have made significant strides forward in terms of capability and now have two track and trace tools aligning them with much of UK and leading international law enforcement.

“Police Scotland’s proposed Cyber and Fraud Command will allow for a refresh of organisational approach and responsibilities in relation to cryptocurrency.”

According to the report, there were 58 enquiries or operations investigated by Serious and Organised Crime Financial Investigation Unit SOCFIU last year with a total value of crime recorded as £188,821,353.

It says: “In relation to these investigations, there have been 153 suspects investigated, 34 warrants executed, 55 persons arrested and £7,655,951 of recoveries/items seized.

“The department supports a variety of Divisions and departments to exploit all Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) opportunities and identify Money Laundering investigations for designation.

“In relation to these investigations, there have been 153 suspects investigated, 34 warrants executed, 55 persons arrested and £7,655,951 of recoveries/items seized.”

One enquiry regarding cryptocurrency was referred to civil recovery via an expedited referral relating to over $40 million of cryptocurrency found on USB devices.

While most cyber and fraud crime is carried out via the ‘surface web’ the dark web is a hidden part of the internet accessible only through specific software offering anonymity providing the perfect environment for an array of illicit activities.

It cannot be reached by standard search engines and is used for weapons trading, trafficking, selling stolen data, fake IDs and passports, malware and hacking tools as well as stolen social security numbers.

The force report says: “As a result, the dark web has become easily accessible for today’s criminals to arrange the supply of commodities – controlled drugs, counterfeits, firearms, data – commit acts associated to human trafficking and be a method for facilitating other crimes, such as extortion, fraud, ransomware attacks and live streaming of sexual abuse.

“Police Scotland are seeking to increase our presence on the dark web and enhance our investigative ability. This will enable us to proactively deploy specialists to enable a greater assessment and understanding of the threat to our communities.”

Police Scotland officers have received training with a view to obtaining dark web tools and threat intelligence software to bring Scotland in line with the rest of UK Law Enforcement.

The report says dark web intelligence development has been brought under Cybercrime Investigations who engage UK wide with the Dark Web Intelligence, Collection and Exploitation (DICE) network.

Cryptocurrency exists solely in digital form unlike traditional currencies which have physical forms like banknotes and coins.

Bitcoin is the most well-known cryptocurrency, but many others exist, often referred to as “altcoins”.

Crypto money laundering involves concealing illegally obtained funds by funnelling them through cryptocurrency transactions to obscure their origin

Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said: “As an organisation, we are continuing to transform our service in how we respond to the evolving threat of cybercrime.

“We are delivering on this commitment through investment in our officers and staff, on the frontline and in specialist roles, so that they have the confidence, training, skills, tools and support to meet these new challenges.

“Police Scotland continue to recognise and respond to online crime, which keeps evolving, being one of our biggest threats to our communities.”

The Stellar Monarchs are back in action on Friday night, warm-ups over, and in facing up to the Glasgow Tigers in the first leg of the Scottish cup, the local rivals are first on track of all the Championship clubs.

It could hardly be tougher because Glasgow at the moment are always in the frame when the honours are handed out, and they have a particularly powerful-looking lineup this season. Monarchs also believe they are set for a good season but on opening night, they will have two riders having their first experience of racing in the UK – Swede Jonatan Grahn and Pole Oskar Polis.

Team manager Alex Harkess can’t wait to get started. He said: “There’s a buzz about the team this year I have to say, and also about the two new guys. We have a solid side, we know what our riders can do, we just need them to do it consistently. We are not underestimating the task on Friday but it is up to us.”

Monarchs have an international lineup with only one rider from the UK, in contrast to Tigers whose team is all-English! It’s the first Scottish Cup contest since 2018, Monarchs are the holders and lead 24-16 in a series stretching back to 1951. But it starts level on Friday.

Friday’s match will be Live Streamed for those who cannot attend, details on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk

FRIDAY’S MATCH:

Friday 4th April: Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers (Scottish Cup 1st leg), Armadale, 7:30pm

STELLAR MONARCHS: Justin Sedgmen, Jonatan Grahn, Kye Thomson, Oskar Polis, Paco Castagna (Capt.), Victor Palovaara, Max James.

ALLIED VEHICLES TIGERS: Chris Harris (Capt.), Ashton Boughen, Dan Thomson, Leon Flint, Kyle Howarth, Freddy Hodder, Max Perry.

The second leg of the Scottish Cup is at Ashfield on Friday 11th April at 7:30pm. 

Over the weekend Justin Sedgmen and Paco Castagna represent the Stellar Monarchs in the Championship Pairs at Workington (Saturday, 3pm), then Justin Sedgmen heads for Scunthorpe for Sunday afternoon’s Championship individual at 3pm. It’s the first time these meetings have been staged so early in the season.

The next meeting after Friday’s at Armadale is the National Development League match between Stellar Monarchs Academy and Middlesbrough Tigers on Saturday 12th April at 7pm.

First Minister, John Swinney, is visiting New York during Tartan Week. Mr Swinney will arrive in the Big Apple around lunchtime on Friday and will then have business meetings.

He will meet investors such as Quantum Capital who will discuss renewable energy investment opportunities in Scotland with him, and also Halon who are investing £28 million in a Glasgow studio creating 250 jobs.

The First Minister will speak at a Scottish Chambers of Commerce reception to support Scottish businesses looking to do business in the US, and he will host an event with senior executives from financial services companies with the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alastair King.

The First Minister said: “Tartan Week is a remarkable celebration of the global reach of Scottish culture, heritage, innovation, and trade. I am delighted to be travelling to New York for this year’s events so I can help promote Scotland and strengthen our ties with the United States.

“Scotland is one of the best places in the world to do business – that is the clear message I will be taking to the USA today. We saw evidence of that recently with the announcement by visual effects company Halon that it would be investing £28 million to create a studio in Glasgow, creating up to 250 jobs over the next three years.

“As a priority trade partner, we already enjoy strong economic links with the United States, links that reflect broader social and cultural ties developed over many years. It is our largest inward investor and second largest export market, so it is crucial we build on existing relationships to seize future opportunities.

“Doing so will benefit businesses in Scotland and create jobs, while contributing to our economic growth, and the prosperity of our nation.”

A new tactile paving set-up to help people struggling with sight move around the city more safely is to be trialled in Morningside.

The trial was approved by councillors after charities for sight impaired people raised concerns over “continuous footways”, or raised pavements at junctions, in the city due to inadequate accessibility provision.

Their main concern is that tactile paving – bumps or strips in the ground that help sight impaired people understand if they are near a road or another hazard – often either don’t exist near junctions or are installed in a haphazard way.

Liberal Democrat councillor Jack Caldwell told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that one of his blind constituents has been afraid of leaving his home since continuous footways were installed on Leith Walk.

Caldwell said: “My constituent told me, ‘I’m too scared to leave the house because of the location of these tactiles’.

“So it’s completely thrown a spanner into the works. It’s been a number of years that this blind resident has been raising this.”

Where tactile paving does exist next to continuous footways, it is often set back from the edge of a cross street by several metres, being placed in line with the edge of the nearest adjacent building.

This reduces its usefulness for sight impaired people, as it is usually placed right before the start of the road.

The study would see this pavement placed directly at the edge of the crossroads at the junction being modified.

Caldwell also said that his constituent was struggling to navigate on his own after the continuous footways were installed.

Many sight impaired people keep track of how many tactile pavements they encounter on a known walking route in order to know where they are.

But along Leith Walk, where some continuous footways have no tactile paving, this can become difficult.

Council officers said that a trial would take place in Morningside, but that further trials could be conducted elsewhere, including Dalmeny Street and Leith Walk.

The main objective of the trial will be to understand the impact of tactile paving on how drivers and pedestrians alike interact with the continuous footways.

Of interest to officers will be how the tactile paving impacts pavement parking in the area.

By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter

Two men have been convicted of drugs offences in the Broxburn area.

Derek Wilson, 36 and Kevin Ramage, 61, were found guilty in February 2025 of a number of offences, including the production and supply of drugs, at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Ramage, was sentenced to four years and six months in prison, while Wilson, was jailed for five years and six months when they appeared in court on Thursday, 3 April, 2025.

They were arrested and charged as part of an extensive intelligence-led operation to target those involved in the production and supply of illegal drugs in the West Lothian area.

On Tuesday, 21 December, 2021, police executed warrants at a commercial premises in Albyn Industrial Estate and properties in West Lothian.

A sophisticated drugs factory set up was discovered. Alongside thousands of Etizolam tablets, officers also seized three automatic pill press machines, and a large amount of other material used in the production of the tablets.

Detective Inspector Mark McCullagh said: “This conviction follows an extensive investigation which led to the disruption of one of the largest drugs factories in Scotland to date, which was capable of producing millions of Etizolam tablets per day.

“I hope this sends a clear message to those involved in serious organised crime, that we are committed to disrupting this illegal, harmful activity in our communities and those responsible will be caught.

“Police Scotland remains committed to targeting serious and organised crime.

“Any intelligence we receive relating to crimes of this nature will be acted upon and those brought to justice. We can’t do this alone and need the help of the public.

If anyone has any concerns regarding criminality in their area, please contact Police Scotland on 101 or make an anonymous report to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Deacon Blue singer, Lorraine McIntosh says the band now appreciate their success more than ever – as they know every album and tour could be their last.

McIntosh’s backing vocals on hits including Dignity and Real Gone Kid have been central to the band’s identity and success over almost 40 years.

Deacon Blue have just released their acclaimed eleventh studio album The Great Western Road, and launched a major UK and Ireland tour at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on Sunday night.

McIntosh, 60, who is married to frontman Ricky Ross, told the podcast, A Kick Up The Arts: “When you’re young and driven it takes a while to learn to appreciate things as they happen.

“We appreciate things a lot more now. You’re older, you realise these things don’t just keep coming round.

“This might be the last record we ever make, this might be the last tour we ever do, who knows?

“Tom, our manager, will say ‘we’re going to push back Australia until January 2026’, and I’ll say ‘Tom, you do realise how old we are? We can’t really keep pushing things back another year’.

“God willing, we’re all here, but you just can’t take them for granted. It’s great, as things happen, to appreciate them as they happen.”

Deacon Blue released their debut album, Raintown, in 1987, and had their first top ten hit the following year with Real Gone Kid.

Their second album, When the World Knows Your Name, went straight to number one in the UK charts in 1989, knocking Madonna’s Like a Prayer off the top spot.

Further hits have included Fergus Sings The Blues, Love and Regret, Queen of the New Year and Dignity, which is regularly voted one of Scotland’s favourite pop songs.

Frontman Ross, 67, admitted when the band recorded their debut album Raintown, he wasn’t even thinking about singles success.

He told podcast host Nicola Meighan: “We were in the middle of making Raintown and I remember someone saying about singles and none of us had given it any thought.

“Jon Kelly, our producer, said, have you got any songs that suit 12 to 14 year old girls, because they’re the ones that buy singles’.

“We didn’t think we had. I thought ‘well I want to go in and just have something that goes on the radio’.”

Deacon Blue’s new album The Great Western Road, was released on March 21. Their UK & Ireland tour, The Great Western Road Trip, started at the Usher Hall and finishes with two dates at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on 10-11 October.

Edinburgh Council will explore getting Scottish Government support to expand free bus travel to carers and companions of under-22 bus pass holders.

A council motion at Thursday’s Transport and Environment Committee Meeting called for carers and companions to be included under the bus pass scheme, in order to help families where children struggle to travel independently.

And councillors could look at funding the scheme themselves if there is no support from the Scottish Government.

The motion was put forward by Kayleigh O’Neill, Green councillor for the Forth ward, who previously said: “I know that a barrier for some children in using their bus pass is the need to travel with a carer, for example a parent or guardian and that cost can be problematic.”

The motion was passed, with an amendment to it requiring that transport convener, Labour councillor Stephen Jenkinson, write to Holyrood transport minister Fiona Hyslop to ask that carers and companions are added to the under-22 bus pass where pass holders require it.

No eligibility criteria were included in the motion, but it has been suggested that a doctor’s note or some other proof of need could be used.

After the meeting Cllr O’Neill told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I’m really pleased – we got cross party support. Every single party agreed that this is for people that genuinely should have more support.

“Wherever in the city you are, or whatever background you have, being able to take your kid on the bus and teach them about independent or active travel is really good for people’s purses and the planet.”

At present, young people can choose whether to apply for the under-22 bus pass or the disability National Entitlement Card (NEC), however the motion said that the disability NEC could be difficult to apply for due to the level of proof required.

The Scottish Government’s response will be discussed at the next meeting of the Transport and Environment Committee after it is received.

If the response is not positive, the council could still explore funding carer and companion free bus travel on its own.

By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter

The new exhibitions which open on 4 April at Edinburgh Printmakers (EP) will include works from some of the best known UK artists.

This is an opportunity for EP to show works by Bridget Riley, David Hockney, Tracey Emin, John Byrne, Victoria Crowe, Eduardo Paolozzi, Lucian Freud, Paula Rego, Barbara Rae, David Shrigley and Rachel Maclean.

This is the third large scale exhibition go printmaking in the last 18 months, and both exhibitions opening this week will show the transformative impact that printmaking has had on British artists and their work.

The first exhibition is Impressions: Selected Works from Jerwood Collection and will be on show from 4 April to 29 June 2025 and includes works by Bridget Riley, David Hockney RA, Tracey Emin DBE, RA, Lucian Freud OM, CH and Paula Rego DBE, RA. This will feature the intricate process of etching and other techniques such as screen printing and linocut.

The second is entitled Story: Selected Works from Edinburgh Printmakers’ Collection and includes works by John Byrne, Barbara Rae, Callum Innes, David Shrigley, Victoria Crowe and Eduardo Paolozzi. There will be around 40 works on show spanning the last 60 years as EP will celebrate its diamond anniversary this year.

EP has had several homes, but is now permanently housed in the former welly boot factory by the canal where there are studios, a shop, café and two galleries. Their vision is “to create an international centre with world-class facilities and exceptional models of support for artists where audiences and communities can connect with our work and we can connect with the world, through:

• “A low cost, accessible printmaking studio 
• Accommodation for visiting artists
• Residency and exhibition programmes
• Printmaking courses for adults
• Print club activities for children and young people
• Learning studio for schools and workshop groups”

The shop, café and galleries are open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am-6pm.

Edinburgh Printmakers CEO, Janet Archer, said: “Printmaking holds an important place in the history of art as a medium, revolutionising artistic practices and accessibility. As one of the first methods for mass producing art, it democratised creativity, and the introduction of editioning made art more widely available to audiences and collections and allowed artists to distribute impressions of their work globally. Being so versatile, printmaking enabled artists to push the boundaries of texture, layering, depth, and colour. This capacity for experimentation and innovation allowed creatives to explore endless possibilities.

“Both exhibitions celebrate that vibrancy and potential for pushing the boundaries of the medium. The generous loan of 20 works from Jerwood Collection gives visitors to the gallery a rare opportunity to see these works from internationally renowned artists, many of which have never been shown in Scotland. In response the selection from Edinburgh Printmakers’ Permanent Collection showcases the exceptional work that has been created in our studio over the years by leading Scottish artists. Together these exhibitions mark a significant moment for the growing prominence of printmaking in contemporary art in Scotland and across the UK and cements Edinburgh’s reputation as a destination for lovers of printmaking.”

• Impressions: Selected Works from Jerwood Collection 
• Story: Selected Works from the Edinburgh Printmakers Collection
• 4 April 2025 – 29 June 2025 
• Gallery 1 & 2 Edinburgh Printmakers
• Castle Mills, 1 Dundee Street, EH3 9FP
• Wednesday – Saturday 10am – 6pm
• www.edinburghprintmakers.co.uk

Hibs are set to introduce a Supporters’ Panel with the aim of providing more open, honest, and transparent communication between the Football Club and its supporters. 

The ‘Hibs Supporters’ Panel’ will be made up of supporters that represent different elements of the Hibernian FC fanbase, and senior Club personnel. 

The Panel will meet three times a season, alongside the Annual General Meeting, creating an open forum for fans to raise issues affecting them, and an opportunity for the Club to engage with supporters on specific topics, projects or ongoing actions. 

At the Club’s Annual General Meeting in February, Executive Director Ian Gordon made a commitment to improving engagement and communication with supporters, which is why at least one Board Member and members of the Club’s senior leadership team will always be present at the panel meetings. 

The ‘Hibs Supporters’ Panel’ will be made up of 15 individuals, comprising of members of supporter groups and individual supporters who would like to have a greater influence on the Football Club. 

If you would like to apply to be a representative on the ‘Hibs Supporters’ Panel’, then go to the Club’s website. 

Supporters interested in being part of the Panel apply before 5pm on Thursday 17 April, 2025. 

Notes from the ‘Hibs Supporters’ Panel’ meetings will be taken by Hibernian Supporters Limited (HSL), and will be published on the Club’s website and across social media. 

A 31-year-old man has been jailed for a total of seven years in connection with sexual offences against two women in Musselburgh and Penicuik, which took place between 2011 and 2022.

Gavin Green was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday, 3 April, 2025. He had previously been found guilty at the same court in March 2025.

Detective Sergeant Lynsey Thomson said: “Green is a dangerous predator who rightly faces a lengthy period in prison as a result of his deplorable actions.

“I would like to commend the women for their strength in coming forward to report his offending and throughout the legal process. I hope this conclusion will help them as they move forward with their lives.

“I’d urge anyone who has been a victim of physical or sexual abuse to report it to us, regardless of when it happened. All reports are thoroughly investigated and we have specially trained officers and partner agencies who will support you throughout.”

Police are appealing for information following a break-in and theft in Peebles which took place around 4.30am on Thursday, 3 April, 2025 at a property in the Whitehaugh Park area.

Two mountain bikes and two ‘Rab’ brand jackets were stolen. One of the jackets was all black while the other was navy blue with an orange-lined hood.

The suspects left via the back garden door of the property.

Detective Constable Jake Gibson said: “We are continuing our enquiries and are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious around the time of this theft.

“In addition, if anyone has any private CCTV or dash-cam footage around this area, please contact police via 101 as this may assist us.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident number 0443 of 3 April. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Schools in Midlothian will no longer be allowed to enforce branded uniforms on pupils under new directions to be introduced from August this year.

Midlothian councillors approved a range of ‘expectations’ drawn up by its school staff and pupils following consultations which aim to reduce the costs for families at a meeting this wee.

And they added an additional directive which will ensure schools cannot promote or demand branding on uniforms in the future.

The additional line, approved by councillors,  and taken from national guidance says “branded items of uniform and blazers should not be compulsory, nor promoted or encouraged by schools”.

Midlothian councillors agreed last summer to direct its schools to adopt unbranded uniforms amid concerns about the additional costs involved.

A report to councillors this week set out the Midlothian Expectations drawn up after its Parent & Learner Liaison Officer (PLLO) consulted with pupils, parents and school leaders on school uniform policy.

It found strong opinions across the schools about some aspects of uniform including a desire to retain items such as P7 leavers hoodies and different colours used by different schools.

The report said that the expectations had been created for all schools but allowed for local decision making ‘based on local context’.

They include all schools having a uniform and clothing policy which meets the needs of pupils and the wider community and is clear and accessible.

Schools are also asked to support families with access to pre-loved uniform and promote the school clothing grant, available via the council and to carefully consider their approach to “special occasions, school trips
and dress-down days” to “mitigate any barriers to participation”.

Councillor Kelly Drummond, who brought the original motion last summer, put forward an amendment to the ‘expectations’ to add the line about branded items no longer being compulsory, which was backed by fellow Councillor David Virgo and accepted by colleagues.

Councillor Ellen Scott, cabinet spokesperson on education, told the meeting the work carried out by the schools to draw up the new policy and address issues surrounding uniforms should be recognised.

And she praised efforts to reduce costs of the school day for families as well as find ways to identify pupils without additional branding.

She said: “Most schools provide uniform banks which not only support the cost for families but are a greener way to live.

“Most of the schools go for colours, something to make pupils visible to teachers. That is quite important in the schools, especially the big schools. You have got to know your pupils and there has been incidents where pupils from outside the area have gone into our schools so having colours at least helps a lot.”

Councillor Scott said one of the most important points was to ensure the views of staff and pupils were taken into account on any uniform policy adding they ‘know what suits their school best’.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Hammer-wielding youths, an attempted murder, attacks on police and tracking the movements of a serious crime gang have all been captured on CCTV in Midlothian, a new report has revealed.

Midlothian Council has invested more than £500,000 in upgrading its CCTV coverage over the last four years introducing fixed and mobile units across the county.

A report on the impact of the coverage in the county revealed a wide range of examples where it had proved valuable to police and the council, from identifying violent criminals to catching fly tippers in action.

A meeting of councillors this week heard the first phase of  work to improve the county’s CCTV coverage was reaching completion and had “significantly enhanced the ability of Police Scotland to conduct investigations and improve
community safety”.

It said the upgraded system provides critical support as well as enhanced community safety.

Among incidents where the report said the improved system had directly helped police were providing valuable evidence for an investigation into a serious organised crime group and its movements through Midlothian, and helping identify who was at fault in a serious vehicle crash.

It said an investigation into an attempted murder where the victim could not described their attacker, saw CCTV provide crucial information to identify the suspect leading to their arrest.

And it said officers had used CCTV footage of youths acting anti-socially to show their parents how they were behaving adding it also led to the identification of youths who were “throwing stones and wielding hammers towards passers-by” leading to them being charged.

The meeting was told that phase two of upgrading CCTV coverage across the county was now being looked into as well as plans to ensure new council vehicles coming in later this year have cameras installed.

Council leader Kelly Parry said the ongoing investment in coverage was welcome and making a difference.

She said: “I think it is really unique. A lot of councils, under financial strain which is understandable, haven’t prioritised CCTV in the way this council has and that should be duly noted.”

And Councillor Dianne Alexander, cabinet spokesperson for community facilities,said: “The council’s investment in modern CCTV technology is a proactive step towards creating a safer environment for all residents.”

“As we’re already seeing, these upgrades are enhancing public safety, discouraging anti-social behaviour, and making it easier for the police to investigate crime.”

The meeting also head that mobile CCTV units have been used to good effect in communities with one notable incident at Butlerfield Industrial Estate, Newtongrange, where a fly tipper was caught on camera dumping asbestos and later charged.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

An appeal has been launched by the Disasters Emergency Committee in Scotland to support those affected by the earthquake in Myanmar.

More than 2,800 people have died, and thousands more are injured in a country already in need of humanitarian aid.

Infrastructure has been destroyed and people are cut off from essential services, with many sleeping in the streets as aftershocks continue.

The DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities at times of crisis overseas where there is significant unmet humanitarian need. Most have been working for some time with expert local partners in Myanmar.  They now urgently need more funds to scale up their work and reach the most vulnerable.

Jamie Livingstone, Head of Oxfam Scotland and spokesman for the DEC in Scotland said: “The earthquake in Myanmar has torn apart lives, leaving thousands dead and many others lost beneath the rubble. Many people are sleeping outside in fear of aftershocks, with nothing but the open sky above them and no shelter to protect them. People are scared, injured, and in urgent need of food, clean water and medical care.

“For people who have already endured years of hardship and instability, this devastating disaster has pushed them beyond the brink. DEC charities are on the ground, and with partners are working around the clock to provide life-saving support. At a time of multiple crises, we are asking people across Scotland to show their solidarity with the people of Myanmar. Every donation, no matter the size, will help us scale up our response and deliver aid to those who need it most.”

The Appeal has been given an early boost here in Scotland with the Scottish Government releasing £200,000 from its Humanitarian Emergency Fund

First Minister John Swinney said: “Our thoughts are with the people of Myanmar following this devastating earthquake. Scotland stands in solidarity with all those affected, and, through the Scottish Humanitarian Emergency Fund, we will support the vital efforts of aid agencies working in extremely challenging conditions to deliver urgent life-saving support.

“I urge the people of Scotland to support the Myanmar Earthquake Appeal and help those in desperate need. Every donation will make a valuable difference in delivering food, clean water, and medical assistance to the most vulnerable.”

Every pound donated by the British public will be also matched by the UK Government through its UK Aid Match scheme, up to the value of £5 million.

UK Minister for Development, Baroness Chapman, said: “The UK government is proud to support the Disasters Emergency Committee’s efforts to do more for people in desperate need in Myanmar. We will match public donations pound-for-pound up to £5 million, meaning your support will go even further.

“UK support is already reaching hardest hit areas, supplying emergency items, including food, water and shelter. For people already enduring so much turmoil, this crisis has only brought more suffering and urgent need to Myanmar.”

Donations can be made at www.dec.org.uk or by phone 0330 123 0555 or via text HOPE to 70727 to donate £10

The Younger Building at Edinburgh Park is to be transformed by the new owners Scarborough Group International who have submitted an application for building warrant to The City of Edinburgh Council.

The owners have appointed a team including AHR architects, Buro Happold structural engineers, Gardiner & Theobald quantity surveyors, Muir Construction as main contractor, and property management after development will be provided by Redpath Bruce.

The vacant building extends to almost 90,000 square feet over six floors and was first built for NatWest Group. Scarborough Group International believe that they can produce an adaptable space with an improved environmental performance.

The mechanical and electrical systems will be upgraded, energy efficiency improved and the atrium spaces will be enclosed to increase the lettable footprint.

Paul Kelly, Managing Director at Scarborough Group International, said: “This is a well-located building with solid fundamentals that just needs the right investment to make it fit-for-purpose in today’s market. By focusing on energy performance, flexibility and functionality, we’re confident the former Younger Building will meet the needs of today’s occupiers. Assembling a strong, delivery-focused team is a key part of that process, and we’re pleased to now be progressing with our plans.”

Gurminder Sanghera, Director at AHR, commented: “This project is a fantastic opportunity to transform a large open-plan office into a vibrant, future-ready workplace. By reimagining the space, we will create a more flexible and sustainable environment that delivers a much wider range of business requirements. With rising demand for high-quality, energy-efficient workplaces that enhance peoples’ health and wellbeing, our design approach focuses on human centric design principles to unlock the building’s full potential— to create attractive workplaces with amenities where people can thrive.”

An independent Edinburgh art gallery has announced details of a new exhibition of work from Scottish artist Stephen Mangan.

Life Tones will be Mangan’s third solo exhibition at Morningside Gallery and includes twenty-five of his new paintings. Finding the right tone and atmosphere for his work has always driven Stephen’s practice, with a sense of place a key element – identifying atmospheric locations and settings for them to inhabit. He was brought up around the beaches of East Lothian, at his family home next to Musselburgh racecourse, and so this seemed a good place to start. Over the years, more settings have been added – railway stations, theatres, and cafés – all places from which his characters continue to tell their stories. He often highlights individuals caught in moments of contemplation, introspection and even melancholy.

Stephen acknowledges a debt to various artists who have inspired him over the years – Seurat, Vermeer and Hopper especially – all artists similarly preoccupied with people and the spaces they live in. Through his imaginatively thought-out compositions and slow, meticulous approach to painting, Stephen creates a world with arresting presence, at once familiar and otherworldly.  Using oils to create bold canvases, Mangan also makes masterful use of geometry within his compositions. There is an elegant stillness to these scenes emphasised by his almost effortless skill in deploying chiaroscuro shading techniques to bolster the emotional atmosphere.

Eileadh Swan, director of Morningside Gallery said: “We’re really excited to welcome Stephen to the gallery on Friday 4 April, for a Private View ahead of the exhibition launch the following day. The ambiguities in Stephen’s work invite a great deal of interpretation from viewers, giving them an irresistible and inimitable allure and we are drawn to ask who are these characters? What stories do they have to share? Lots to talk about and lots to enjoy in the gallery with this much-anticipated new exhibition.”

Based at Church Hill in Morningside, the gallery will display 25 new paintings in the exhibition, which can also be viewed online and toured as a virtual exhibition for anyone who cannot get into the city.

The exhibition will run in the gallery from Saturday 5 – 26 April, and is open to the public. There is an opportunity to meet the artist in the gallery on Friday 4 April, from 6 – 8pm. 

morningsidegallery.co.uk