Alex Cochrane smiled after being reminded by a member of the media pack that he had been red carded on the last occasion Hearts met Celtic in the cinch Scottish Premiership.
That was on August 21 at Celtic Park and Cochrane walked in the 89th minute. He was followed by Toby Sibbick two minutes later and Cochrane said: “Thanks for reminding me for that one.”
Kyogo Furuhashi opened the scoring after 13 minutes with his right foot from inside the six-yard box after a ball from the right, and Giorgos Giakoumakis added a second in the 94th minute, bundling the ball home when Hearts were down to nine men for a 2-0 win, one of nine the Parkhead side have collected out of ten starts in Scotland’s top division.
Ange Postecoglou’s men had 594 passes on that occasion, Hearts had 262, and Celtic had 70 per cent of the possession, Hearts had 30 per cent.
Now, the Hoops now have 27 points and sit in pole position in the table while Hearts are seventh with four wins and two draws in their ten games.
Manager Robbie Neilson reminded the media this week that his men are only three points out of third position and 22-year-old Cochrane, a defender still learning his trade, is relishing the prospect of running out of the Tynecastle tunnel to face The Hoops again.
The Brighton-born player (pictured second from the left in training by Nigel Duncan) remains confident that the Boys in Maroon can climb the table significantly once their lengthy injury list eases and he admitted: “The results have not been as we want, but when we do have a poor result we can bounce back quickly. We have injuries in key positions at the moment, but we have quality in the team.
“This weekend, we have to go into the game with a winning mentality. There is no doubt that they (Celtic) are a quality team and we have to be at it from the start. Give them a chance and they will punish you.”
Cochrane has been switched into a centre-back position to cover for Hearts’ current injury problems and he said: “It’s been a learning curve for me and I’ve never done it before, but playing in the centre-back role is only going to benefit me in my future career.”
He acknowledged the help that team-mate Stephen Kingsley has offered and Cochrane, a former Brighton and Hove Albion player, who has also played for East Grinstead Town and Union SG, stressed the importance of being defensively strong on Saturday against the current league pace-setters.
He added: “We have to be alert and concentrated from the start. Given past experience, if you give them a sniff then they will punish you. If we have a strong defensive performance we can build from there. Going forward, we have the talent to hurt them and, on Saturday, we will have the crowd behind us.”
Looking at the Hearts squad overall, the defender believes they have players who are able to fill in for absent colleagues and added: “There is no doubt that the players who are missing fill key positions for us, but we can’t use that as an excuse. It is what it is. We are happy to be unselfish and help each other.
“The players who have stepped-in have done the job and have done well and, as a team, we have to move forward together. There is no lack of belief in the squad.
“The mood in the camp is still positive, we never let our heads go down. If you let negativity filter in then performances as a team could drop. We are staying together.
“We are getting in the right positions and we are creating chances but we need to tuck them away and we have quality players like Lawrence Shankland, Stephen Humphrys and Barry McKay in that department.”
The players, he added, were still in good shape despite their hectic domestic and European schedule and Cochrane said: “I prefer playing game after game. Physically and mentally I feel good.”
Cochrane is positive about the introduction VAR and added: “You can see the benefits it has had in other leagues and, hopefully, it will help us and help the league.
“My feeling it that it will take time to get used to it. I don’t think it will make much difference to playing, you have still got to play the game and see what happens.”
He added: “You might have to be a little careful. There will be controversial moments, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Review – Girl from The North Country
Several lost souls gather in the boarding house of Nick Laine (Colin Connor) a character who appears to take the hard knocks of life in his stride.
He and his wife Elizabeth (Frances McNamee), who suffers from dementia, take in boarders, each of them arriving with their own set of problems. At points it seems there are too many characters, many feel immediately familiar with their everyman struggles often present in dustbowl literature.
Set in Bob Dylan’s hometown of Duluth, Minnesota less than a decade before the singer was born, we are introduced to the world that would come to shape many of his songs. Girl From The North Country successfully breathes new life into Dylan’s songbook, Joe Scott (Joshua C. Jackson) is a struggling boxer and escaped prisoner for a crime he didn’t commit. The performance of Hurricane by Jackson is a potent moment rich with the echoes of the original song’s subject, the imprisonment of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter.
GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY by McPherson,Writer/Director – Conner McPherson, Music – Bob Dylan, Olympia Theatre, Dublin, 2022, Credit: Johan Persson/
There are moments such as this that amplify the atmosphere backed by The Howlin’ Winds band who deliver fine arrangements of tracks such as Slow Train and Like A Rolling Stone. While Nick and Elizabeth are parents of an adopted black daughter Marianne, (Justina Kehinde) there’s not enough attention to that aspect of the story, racism of the time is covered more through the character of Joe Scott.
Frances McNamee has a beautiful voice but the closer of Forever Young felt too understated. An unexpected final of Pressing On nearly blew the roof of the Playhouse, leaving us with a transcendent, life-affirming moment that will linger long in the memory and the heart.
At Edinburgh Playhouse until 22 October. Tickets here.
Luminous label lights up new whisky release
In-house designer Hannah Sneddon has created a distinctive luminous label now seen on bottles released by Cask 88 in their series of single cask whiskies sparked by Scotland’s history of witchcraft. ‘The Book of Daemonologie’ is a 13-year-old single malt distilled at a secret distillery (52% ABV, RRP £98).
Hannah’s label features an illustration inspired by the Book of Daemonologie written by King James VI, from which the bottle takes its name. This whisky is available in a limited run of 165 bottles.
The Scottish Witchcraft Series depicts the tensions between Christian and pagan beliefs which resulted in the prosecution of women throughout the 16th and 17th centuries and spotlights some of the most influential players in this dark part of history.
The latest bottling is inspired by the 1597 publication by King James VI of the same name, a tome categorising a wide variety of supernatural phenomena, based on anecdotes and dubious tales extracted under duress.
The whisky was distilled on Orkney, an island surrounded by the North Sea which experiences storms so tempestuous that King James VI was convinced they must have been summoned by witchcraft.
The first release in the Scottish Witchcraft Series, ‘The Trial of Isobel Gowdie’ commemorated the life of the 17th-century woman who gave one of the most vivid and detailed ‘confessions’, extracted over a six week period of interrogation and torture in 1662. Her descriptions have greatly impacted our modern conceptions of witchcraft.
The 14-year-old single malt was finished in a Château Lafite Brq. and distilled at the Linkwood distillery, situated 20 miles from Auldearn, the hometown of Isobel Gowdie and her husband before the fateful trial of 1662.
Cask 88 will re-open what is claimed to be the World’s Smallest Whisky Bar on Edinburgh’s Princes Street for Hallowe’en weekend from 4pm to 8.30pm on October 28, 29 and 30, offering free samples of ‘The Book of Daemonologie’. Herbalist and storyteller Amanda Edmiston (Botanica Fabula) will be there.
Queensberry House Trust distributes £500,000 to local charities
Queensberry House Trust has provided £500,000 worth of funding to charities working with older people in the Lothians in an important anniversary year.
More older people than ever before will benefit from financial assistance from Queensberry House Trust which is celebrating 25 years of giving with an anniversary grants fund of £500,000.
Since 1996, Scottish registered charity the Queensberry House Trust (Scottish Registered Charity: SC017328) has been proud to support charities working with older people in the Lothians. The Queensberry House Trust’s objectives are to improve the health, well-being and welfare of older people, their carers, and communities.
The Trustees of Queensberry House Trust commemorated 25 years of giving by launching a unique grants opportunity: the 25th Anniversary Awards in 2022. The anniversary grants programme was designed to create a lasting impact for both current beneficiaries and future generations. Accordingly, the trustees encouraged capital, infrastructure, equipment, and repair projects. The trustees also encouraged inter-generational projects.
The Anniversary Awards attracted close to 70 applications. Focusing on making a lasting impact, the charity distributed £489,599 in charitable grants, to 16 charities and charitable partnerships working with aligned client groups in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
This takes the total donation made by the charity since its establishment to £2.28 million.
Queensberry House Trust Anniversary Grant Subcommittee chair, Keith Burdon, said: “We were overwhelmed, and delighted, with the response to our 25th Anniversary Awards project. It was a real challenge to come up with a shortlist to visit, given the strength of all applications. We were looking for projects specific to our objectives, where we could make a material difference and create lasting impact. We very much hope that the successful, and unsuccessful, applicants will stay in touch through our website as we re-start our regular 6 monthly grant funding rounds in 2023.”
Remain calm, that’s the message from Robbie Neilson
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson had words of encouragement for the club’s success-hungry fans when he confirmed that two of his injured players could be back against Celtic at Tynecastle in Matchday 12 of 33 in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday (kick-off 12.30).
The playcaller declined to divulge the names of the players and but he also revealed that the long injury list suffered by the club since the start of the season appears to be easing.
Neilson confirmed that Austrian-born midfielder Peter Haring would, however, be absent as he continues the concussion protocol following an incident at Aberdeen, but the manager said the squad have enjoyed an uninterrupted week of training since the 2-0 reverse at Pittodrie.
He said: “This is the first week for a long time that we have had a clear week to prepare properly and train properly. We’re slowly starting to get there, and it’s vitally important to get players back.”
The injuries, he said, had made life difficult but Hearts, he argued had still managed to maintain decent form and he told the media at the pre-match briefing at The Orium (pictured by Nigel Duncan): “Hopefully, with the World Cup break coming up, our injury position will improve. We can move on from there.
“Guys have come in and done really well for us but it is (the injury situation) what is is and we have to deal with it. We had it last season as well. We had a fantastic start to the season and we lost players. We had a little bit of a lull and then we came back again.”
Neilson admitted that Hearts had suffered what he termed “a difficult result” at Pittodrie last Sunday but added: “If you are asking me for a difficult game to play in at home against one of the big teams then this would be the one.
“Celtic have a very good starting 11 but they also have a very good back-up. You have around 18 to 20 top international players there but whoever comes in will be a top player and we have to be at the top of our game to match them.”
A double from Liel Abada, Rio Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi secured a 4-0 Scottish League Cup quarter-final victory for Celtic at Motherwell on Tuesday and they come to Tynecastle having won their last three league games and humbling Hibs 6-1 at Celtic Park last Saturday.
The Hoops lead the table with 35 points from ten games, having won nine and lost one, scoring 35 goals and conceding only six. Hearts are seventh with 14 points from ten starts having scored 15 goals and let-in 16, with one win in their last five league outings.
Neilson said he does not have concerns about the club’s seventh position in the league table and he argued that they have to remain calm. A win, he said, could see the club moving significantly up the table as they are only three points behind third-placed Hibs.
Neilson believes the league will be “very tight” this year as there are a number of teams who will be in and around the third, fourth and fifth spot in the table and added: “We have to make sure we are one of them.”
Video assistant rereree (VAR) comes to Scotland this weekend and Neilson said everybody in Scotland, the players, referees, staff and fans have to be patient.
He added: “Down in England they have had it for a couple of years now and they’ve had teething problems. It is a step forward and we will have some issues and hopefully these can be ironed out.
Be immersed in creative AI experiences with ‘The New Real Salon’
A partnership between the University of Edinburgh, The Alan Turing Institute and Edinburgh’s Festivals, ‘The New Real’ is a unique hub for AI, creativity and futures research which is presenting ‘The New Real Salon’ at the Edinburgh Futures Institute on Friday, 28 October: a launch event for the free, drop-in Showcase continuing over the weekend (29-30 October). The event is part of DataFest Fringe.
‘The New Real Salon & Showcase’ will look at how Artificial Intelligence interacts with people and the planet in fascinating and unanticipated ways, becoming a creative, playful and deep part of new artistic works and our everyday lives. Responding to EFI’s First Breath programme theme, the audiences will discover how Art and Artificial Intelligence combine to fuel delightful new cultural experiences and help heal our planet in crisis.
Those attending the Salon (28 Oct) will be able to hear from a range of experts and leading innovators, including Prof Drew Hemment who The New Real’s project principal investigator, Dr Matjaz Vidmar, (Astro)Physicist by training and The New Real’s co-investigator, Caroline Sinders, machine-learning-design researcher and artist who is part of the team at TNR and Lex Fefegha who works at the intersection of design, code, speculative fiction and art.
Audiences will also hear from leading contemporary AI artists and designers who have created cultural and AI powered experiences to reflect on the role natural environments play within our lives and highlight the impact of Climate Change on local communities. Wandering Mind, performed by Gershon Dublon, is an AI-powered performance platform for shaping dreams with the sounds of our world, and interactive research project Thames Path 2040 by Lex Fefegha which attempts to visualise what Londoners might lose and what might remain in a future where heavy rainfall may lead to flooding on the Thames Path in 2040 – both projects will share unique behind the scenes insights into often hidden processes and challenges of working creatively with AI.
The Showcase (29-30 Oct) comprises The New Real Observatory Platform, a creative AI platform combining raw satellite data and climate modelling with AI processing engines which was co-created by a team of scientists, artists, engineers and designers. Powered by its conceptual architecture, three artworks investigating the entanglements of people, data, machines and environments will be presented at the Showcase, next to the aforementioned Thames Path 2040. They are:
Inés Cámara Leret – The Overlay which looks at artistic concepts such as colour and hue to characterise the outputs of machine learning models, and their impact in enabling or hindering our understanding of the environment.
Adam Harvey – Zone System: Sublime Diffusion presents images created using generative AI algorithms to elicit visual features from commercial fashion, classical art, and stock photography in order to project an extrapolated version of the subconscious biases and subtle religious codes embedded in the dataset.
Keziah McNeill – Photographic Cues explores the future of the photographic image in an algorithmic age and brings to view a speculative future in which features of the natural landscape such as the body of water in a Scottish loch are the only remaining form of analogue lens.
The New Real Observatory Platform aims to create an accessible, usable, low energy AI tool for artists and to enable them to connect global climate data to people’s lives through storytelling and interactive experiences.
With robot artist Ai-Da addressing the House of Lords committee and Microsoft bringing DALL-E 2 (AI software generating images from text) to its users, AI truly is part of our everyday lives. Recent advances in AI mean that as a society we are entering into a whole new context for making, sharing, learning, connecting and consuming creative content. What is the relationship between humans, AI and the environment, and how can art help us to better understand the connection between AI and the planet?
As part of The New Real Salon, a new Experiential AI Art Commission in partnership with the Scottish AI Alliance and The Alan Turing Institute will be announced. It will support the emergence of an enhanced research field for AI and the Arts. The Open Call for this new commission will go live in December 2022.
Professor Drew Hemment, Project Director and Principal Investigator of The New Real said: “At The New Real, we discovered new horizons for digital arts during the dark times of Covid-19 and that astonishing possibilities open up as creative content becomes increasingly digital and AI enables new forms of production and dissemination that were unthinkable only a few years ago.”
Andre Piza, Research Project Manager and AI & Arts Group organiser at the Alan Turing Institute continued, “With The New Real Observatory, the research team is looking at how AI and arts help us come to terms with environmental and social changes necessary to continue to live on a thriving planet, surrounded by different forms of creativity.”
“As The New Real Observatory is shared with audiences in Edinburgh, they are invited to contribute radical ideas for the fair, transparent and creative AI of tomorrow.”
The New Real Salon Opening Time: 19.00-21.00 Day: Friday 28 October Duration: 2hrs Price: Free (booking required) Venue: Inspace, 1 Crichton Street, Newington, Edinburgh Online: This event will also be streamed online
Cask 88 is inviting guests to step through the tiny doors of what is claimed to be the world’s smallest whisky bar at 148 Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4BL (at the corner of Shandwick Place and Hope Street to celebrate the launch of the second bottle in their Scottish Witchcraft Series, The Book of Daemonologie.
Herbalist and storyteller Amanda Edmiston (Botanica Fabula) will ‘haunt’ the bar between 4pm and 8.30pm on October 28, 29 and 30, offering free samples of the single malt release.
While sampling the whisky, a specialised tarot card will be drawn for the visitor and their interpretation of the flavour notes in the whisky will be read through the cards.
The spirits will lure guests towards certain aromas matched to the tarot cards which will then draw on the past to divine what lies ahead. Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn about the botanical terroir of Scotland- the influence that its herbs, flowers and fruits have on its Scotch.
Cask 88’s new single cask whisky is a 13-year-old-old from Orkney (52% ABV, RRP £98). It features a glow-in-the-dark label design inspired by the Book of Daemonologie written by King James VI, from which it takes its name.
Cask 88’s witchcraft series was sparked by Scotland’s history of witchcraft. The first release commemorated the life of the wronged 17th century woman Isobel Gowdie who was famously accused of witchcraft.
The company has partnered with Stirling-based herbal storyteller, Botanica Fabula, and Amanda (pictured by Nigel Duncan at the launch in the library of Cask 88) said: “As a storyteller with a background in herbal medicine it was fascinating learning to taste whisky, it reminded me of one of my first jobs working for a small artisan perfumier, learning to distinguish between top and base notes and spot the subtle nuances of taste and aroma.
“The connection to my herbal practice quickly became apparent, the more I focused in on the subtleties of the whisky the more the botanicals that would have made the peat or been growing around the barley presented themselves, so developing a look at the tastes and properties of the whisky has been an enlightening process.”
Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross said: “I wish Liz Truss and her family well. No matter where you stand on her decisions as Prime Minister, politics can be very tough on people personally.
“She has made a difficult choice but it is the right decision. There were no other options after recent events.
“We must now move forward quickly with the election of a new Leader and Prime Minister to restore stability for the good of the country.
“It is vital that the Conservative and Unionist Party unites and continues the hard work of getting the whole of the UK through the big challenges we face.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “It is right that Liz Truss has resigned.
“But, in truth, this entire Tory government has to go.
“The next Tory leader will have no mandate to be Prime Minister – we need a general election now.”
Midlothian MP Owen Thompson said: “It has been painful to watch the embarrassing spectacle that Westminster politics has become. Even with the resignation of Liz Truss, this shambolic conservative government cannot just change their leader and limp on.
“We need a serious, credible government to steer us through the cost-of-living crisis. Households, community groups and businesses are desperately struggling to pay their bills, while the UK Government has been busy fighting like ferrets in a sack, creating economic chaos and worsening the misery for millions. It is shameful.
“While Liz Truss had to go, it must be borne in mind that she is not the root cause of their woes. We have had 12 years of conservative mismanagement, with austerity policies bringing public services to their knees. We had the self-serving, chaotic and dishonest government led by Boris Johnson, blatantly disregarding the law and putting the international reputation of the UK in disrepute.
“The jaw-dropping incompetence of Liz Truss’s government has simply exposed the rot that already existed at the heart of the conservative party. The wheels are now rapidly coming off the plans of hard-right Brexiteers to create a low tax, unregulated Britain, removing protections for our people and the planet, all in the name of profit for the super-wealthy. Liz Truss was being encouraged to put her foot down and accelerate their plans for an extreme small state, now this has spectacularly crashed and failed.
“It reflects very badly on the system at Westminster that a few Conservative politicians still decide what happens next, when it has such huge implications for us all. The current mess belongs to all of them and they must not be allowed to scramble for another leader this week, then chunter on regardless.
“A general election is urgently needed to get a functioning government in place as soon as possible, but this is not a long-term solution for a broken system. Scotland rarely gets the government in Westminster it chooses and a new government won’t solve the chronic problems of this dysfunctional democracy or fix the disaster of Brexit.
“I’m glad in Scotland we have an alternative. We have a modern, transparent, proportionately elected parliament in place and working well at Holyrood. It’s time the Scottish Parliament had full powers over the economy to make decisions more closely aligned with the people of Scotland’s wishes and build the fairer, more equal society that we want to see. Independence is an idea whose time has come, and it cannot come soon enough.”
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “Boris Johnson failed our country and Liz Truss trashed our economy. The Conservatives have proven time and time again they are not fit to lead our great country.
“We do not need another Conservative Prime Minister lurching from crisis to crisis, we need a general election, we need the Conservatives out of power and we need real change.
“It is time for Conservative MPs to do their patriotic duty, put the country first and give the people a say.”
Liz Truss’s time in Downing Street has been a disaster and a farce, according to the Scottish Greens.
Describing her disastrous tenure as “way beyond anything the Thick of It could have dreamt up”, the Party’s co-leader, Patrick Harvie MSP, went on to say “never in the field of British politics was so much harm done to so many, in so few weeks.”
Commenting on her resignation, the Scottish Greens co-leader, Patrick Harvie MSP, said: “Liz Truss’s time in Downing Street has been a disaster and a farce that goes way beyond anything the Thick of It could have dreamt up. The only positive is that she didn’t stay long enough to really deserve the word tenure.
“But never in the field of British politics was so much harm done to so many, in so few weeks. Truss’s legacy will be the cruel and unnecessary harm she has inflicted, and that will continue to be endured by households and families long after she has become a pub quiz answer.
“Her mini budget hammered millions of people in the name of an extreme economic experiment. But it didn’t come from nowhere. It was the result of decades of Tory fantasy and a totally reckless approach to finance.
“It’s not just Liz Truss that is totally unfit for office. After inflicting Boris Johnson on the country, and then handing the country over to the dark money think tanks, it is clear that the whole of the Conservative Party represents a clear and present danger to Scotland and the whole UK.
“The Tories talk about the importance of stability, but, since the 2014 referendum, Scotland has endured four Tory Prime Ministers that we didn’t vote for and couldn’t remove. Whoever replaces Liz Truss will be the fifth.
“We can’t go on with wave after wave of Tory chaos. With independence, Scotland can take a different path and end this Tory circus for good. We can build a fairer, greener and better future as an independent country in Europe.”
Sara Sheridan withdraws her support for Elsie Inglis campaign
In the wake of the furore engulfing it, the charity behind the Elsie Inglis statue has lost the backing of one of its most prominent supporters.
A Statue for Elsie Inglis halted the process of choosing an artist to sculpt the likeness of the prominent doctor in September. Earlier this week an announcement was made, ignoring the rules around the bidding process, and appointing the King’s Sculptor in Ordinary, Sandy Stoddart to the commission.
Now Edinburgh author, Sara Sheridan, has withdrawn her backing.
Ms Sheridan who wrote the book Where are the Women? explains her reasons in a written statement:
“It’s incredible after such a long campaign that we are going to see the first statue to a non-royal woman in central Edinburgh.
“I was excited to be introduced to the work of the contemporary artist who was going to be honoured by winning the cancelled competition. I’m sorry that isn’t going ahead as it negatively impacts the strong community that has built around the campaign and negates the opportunity to add a fresh visual voice to Edinburgh’s built environment.
“For me, raising of a statue to Elsie Inglis was about recognition of her achievements and her values as a suffragist and an early female doctor.
“The cancelling of the competition and the statement yesterday from Mr Stoddart about his view on Elsie has taken off that shine. It is with great sadness that I no longer feel it would be authentic for me to actively campaign for this cause. I would, however, reinstate my support if the trustees can resolve the situation.”
Ms Sheridan’s book is described in this way: “For most of recorded history, women have been sidelined, if not silenced, by men who named the built environment after themselves. Now is the time to look unflinchingly at Scotland’s heritage and bring those women who have been ignored to light.”
The charity has referred to the regulator OSCR for advice and meantime the discussion between artists who had hoped to win the commission continues on a new public Facebook page.
Sara Sheridan
Elsie Inglis charity refers to Charity Commission for advice
The charity A Statue for Elsie Inglis has come under fire in the last day or so for the U-turn it has made in the process of finding and appointing an artist.
Having set out a clear timeline along with rules about the way the applicants were to make their bids in its Call to Artists at the end of July, the charity stopped the process without warning in September. Then on Monday the appointment of the King’s Sculptor in Ordinary, Alexander Stoddart, was announced.
The original plan had been to invite all entries, whittle them down to three and then make an announcement of the winner who would be granted the commission in spring 2023.
In the face of much adverse comment on the charity’s Facebook page (which has now been paused and no further comments are allowed there) the trustees issued this statement on Tuesday evening: ““We have read the postings on social media and sympathise with the frustration of the artists involved and have therefore sent a detailed account of the proceedings to the Office of Scottish Charities. We will not be making any further comment.”
The charity was registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) on 23 May 2022 and has the following Object or purpose: “The organisation’s purposes are: To ensure the heritage and history of Dr Elsie Maud Inglis (1864 – 1917) is preserved in Edinburgh; commemorating her life and work at home and abroad, whilst educating children and visitors to the city and ensuring her legacy is remembered by future generations.”
The charity may turn to OSCR for advice, and anyone who has donated money or is otherwise aggrieved by the bidding process being abandoned, or at all worried about a charity may also report their concerns to the regulator.
In terms of the duties which a position of trust brings, a trustee must act in such a way that they are above criticism. OSCR explains that in terms of charity law someone appointed to this position has to act with “care and diligence”. In the event that any of the trustees are found to have behaved improperly then OSCR may take action against them. But in the first place the charity has been preemptive in referring the matter to OSCR.
OPEN LETTER
A flurry of objections to the cancellation of the process to find a sculptor were made openly and publicly on social media. More than 100 people have supported the Open Letter published on the charity’s Facebook page.
In the letter the artists say: “We do not support the decision of the trustees in hiring Alexander Stoddart. His consultation was sought during the ‘open for entries’ commission period, he had a financial interest and was therefore not objective.
“It is a clear conflict of interest for the board to have sought him out during this time. He has no clear links with Elsie Inglis or feminism and is very much not in the spirit of the original brief.
“We have no confidence in the trustees’ ability to manage funds raised or their ability to further manage this project.
“No explanations or apologies have been offered. The decisions made have been behind closed doors and without public consultation or scrutiny.”
Natasha Phoenix
Artist Natasha Phoenix who had hoped to submit an entry said on Facebook that it is wrong of the charity to “abort the original process” and questions whether it amounts to discrimination on the grounds of sex that emerging artists have been blocked from making an application.
She also calls the appointment of an established male artist into question. (Stoddart is the creator of the Hume statue on the Royal Mile and the Adam Smith statue there.)
Natasha said: “While the original call to artists was not explicitly limited to women artists, there was certainly mention of encouraging “emerging artists”. Statistically, women artists tend to be underrepresented in established circles.”
Her own work in preparing to make an application to win the commission has been considerable – evidenced here in the heads some of which are now to be placed in the Surgeons Hall museum.
Photo courtesy of the artistOne of the many heads which Natasha Ingram-Phoenix has made during her preparation. PHOTO the artist
We have asked Mr Stoddart for comment but have not heard in reply. On his appointment he said: “I am very pleased and honoured to be asked to undertake this important task in a way befitting the renown of the subject.
“There is something of a dearth of commemorative statuary of historical figures from the last century, owing to the decline, during the postwar period, of the understanding of the noble art of sculpture – and in particular the special challenges, disciplines and matters of aesthetic etiquette inherent in the special field of monument-making. The figure of Dr. Elsie Inglis is to be the first statue of a woman on the Royal Mile. This is of great interest, no doubt.
“But I am most concerned that something distinguished arises to honour this estimable person and to preserve the seriousness of the High Street as a place of immense historical import.”
The City of Edinburgh Council declined to comment saying the this was a matter for the charity. The process of setting up the charity has gradually gathered strength in the last five years with a registration achieved earlier this year.
Cllr Frank Ross, when he was Lord Provost, enabled the Lord Provost’s charity the OneCity Trust to be a conduit for gathering funds to turn the dream into reality from 2017 onwards. The importance of 2017 was that it marked 100 years after Dr Inglis died in Newcastle and a large funeral for her was held at St Giles Cathedral. At that point the campaign to erect a statue was not yet
It was Cllr Ross who lodged a motion at the council meeting of 28 October 2021 to get support from the whole council for the fundraising campaign. Councillors agreed “to give full and unequivocal support to all of these [fundraising] activities to raise funds, enabling the life and work of Dr Elsie Inglis to be commemorated in the form of a statue, to be bequeathed to the citizens of Edinburgh.” We believe Cllr Ross is one of the trustees along with Thea Laurie and Fiona Garwood, but OSCR does not maintain a list of trustees, and we have asked the charity for confirmation.
The current Lord Provost, Cllr Robert Aldridge, has also been associated with the campaign and was at the official launch of the call to artists in August at Powderhall Bronze.
Others involved in fundraising events earlier this year have included Edinburgh author Sara Sheridan who wrote the book Where are the women?, and the Governor of Edinburgh Castle, Major-General Alastair Bruce.
More than £60,000 has been donated or raised and the charity explained earlier this year that their earlier target of £50,000 will have to be doubled due to rising costs. The honorarium for the artist is in the region of £30,000.
Dr Elsie Inglis is best described as a pioneering doctor, setting up The Scottish Women’s Hospitals during the First World War when she had famously been told to “go home and sit down”. Inglis was educated at a private school in Edinburgh on the family’s return from India where her father worked in the East India Company. She studied at the University of Edinburgh when it opened its medical faculty to women and set up a medical practice in the capital. She then opened a maternity hospital called The Hospice at 219 High Street, and it is outside that building that the charity hopes to site the new statue.
While the trustees await guidance from OSCR the artists have formed a cohesive group saying in the words of Dr Inglis that they “will not sit still”. Their hope is to “ensure that we get a sculpture of Dr Elsie Inglis on the Royal Mile through a fair commission process and consultation with the public”.
Grange out to extend winning run
Men’s Premiership: Uddingston v Kelburne; Watsonians v Dunfermline; Inverleith v Western; Hillhead v FMGM Monarchs; Grange v Clydesdale; Erskine Stewart’s Melville v Edinburgh University.
Women’s Premiership: Clydesdale v Uddingston; Dundee Wanderers v Gordonians (15.30); GHK v Watsonians (14.15); Hillhead v Grange (15.30); Inverleith v Edinburgh University.
PACE-SETTING Grange (pictured against Uddingston by Nigel Duncan) look to extend their winning run to six games when they host fourth-placed Clydesdale on Saturday.
Edinburgh University, who are second, two points behind, visit Erskine Stewart’s Melville who prop up the table with five straight defeats.
Third-placed Western visit Inverleith who are sixth while fifth-placed Watsonians host third from bottom Dunfermline.
Watsonians women, the defending champions, visit third-placed GHK on Saturday looking for win No 6 but the Glasgow side have come into form, winning their last three after drawing their first game and losing their second.
Fourth-placed Edinburgh University visit Inverleith who are eighth having lost three of their four fixtures so far.
Home Secretary resigns and Shapps is back in cabinet
During an otherwise tumultuous day at Westminster the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, resigned after a meeting with the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street.
This means that since Liz Truss became Prime Minister two members of her Cabinet have resigned or been sacked.
Ms Braverman has resigned over a technical breach of the Ministerial Code which if she had been so minded, and if the Prime Minister had been so minded, could have been forgiven.
The content of letters written back and forth is often a marker of what has really happened and we provide you with copies of both below for you to read between the lines. Usually both letters are published by the UK Government for the press to use, but Braverman’s letter has not been published there – instead it is available on Twitter.
It appears there is no love lost between the two politicians, and perhaps Ms Braverman, who was a candidate for leader, may have left the door open for a hoped-for comeback.
PMQs in the House of Commons on 19 October 2022 PHOTO UK Parliament/Andy Bailey
Police appeal after unprovoked attack
Detectives are appealing for information after an unprovoked assault on two teenagers in Edinburgh.
The incident happened in the Albert Place and Leith Walk area shortly after 1am on Wednesday, 19 October.
A group of males on electric motorbikes approached the two male teenagers, aged 19 and 18.
The 19-year-old suffered a stab wound to his leg during the incident and was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
The 18-year-old was treated at the scene for an injury to his leg sustained while attempting to get away from the group.
The group of males, all described as white, wearing balaclavas, gloves, rucksacks and dark clothing, then left the scene on their motorbikes in the direction of Albert Street.
Detective Sergeant Steven Dick said: “This was a completely unprovoked incident and we are carrying out extensive enquiries to identify the group of three males on motorbikes involved.
“Our enquiries so far suggest they have been riding their motorbikes a short time earlier in the city centre so I would urge anyone who believes they may have seen them to get in touch.
“Anyone else with any information can get in touch with us by calling 101, quoting reference 174 of 19 October, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Letter from Scotland
It would be fun watching the UK government fall apart, if it were not so serious. But after Liz Truss’ adventures in wonderland, we are back on the straight and narrow, back to “Tory austerity” to try to balance the books. Taking a different way forward, Nicola Sturgeon has published the SNP’s plan to rebuild the Scottish economy through independence.
It’s surprising that there’s no surge in support for independence, given the chaos at Westminster, but the opinion polls show no sign of it. They are still showing Scotland divided right down the middle.
Perhaps we all in a state of shock. How can it be that a mad plan to leap to a “low tax, high growth” economy was ever allowed to see the light of day? It was never going to work. Modern service-based economies operate by being an equal partnership between government and independent organisations.
The way forward…back to the straight and narrow.
The 80,000 Conservative party members who voted Ms Truss into office live in a 19th century wonderland, when Britain was the workshop of the world. Making things and exporting them was our business. Now, manufacturing only accounts for 10 per cent of the economy and exports only a quarter. And even that quarter consists largely of services, like finance, scientific expertise, education and tourism.
And as for “growth”. That too has changed. It must now be green growth to be sustainable, not just a dash to high earnings for the few. As a sign that the Tories have not really changed their spots, the new chancellor is keeping the plan to scrap the cap on bankers’ bonuses and he says his long term aim remains a low-tax economy.
Jeremy Hunt speaking from the back benches to the House of Commons in response to a statement by Health Secretary, Thérèse Coffey. on 22 September PHOTO UK Parliament/Andy Bailey
Outlining the SNP’s way forward, Nicola Sturgeon said she is aiming for a “stronger, fairer and more sustainable” economy. The 108 page paper, “Building a New Scotland” says an independent Scotland would be able to borrow more, and tax the oil and gas companies more, to raise funds for a £20 billion national investment scheme to grow the economy. Scotland would apply to re-join the European Union and use the pound sterling as its currency until introducing a currency of its own.
The plan however raised as many questions as it answered. The unionist parties are demanding to know: how long would Scotland continue to be tied to the British pound and therefore the Westminister treasury? How would cross-border trade be handled? How much oil revenue is there left to tax? How long would it take to get back into the EU and would other countries veto Scotland’s application?
Meanwhile, the existing devolved government is facing as bleak a winter as the rest of us with the cost of living rising at 10 per cent while its budget is likely to be cut under the new chancellor’s austerity measures. Already the NHS is creaking (waiting times at emergency departments hit another record high this week) and there are pay strikes looming in hospitals, on the railways and in the schools.
The pandemic we are concerned about this week is not Covid but bird flu. Poultry farmers are being required to keep their free-range flocks in fenced areas and to observe strict hygiene and access rules.
It’s the biggest outbreak of avian flu in Britain on record. Cases have been reported at over 30 chicken farms in the UK in the past month, two of them in Scotland – in Orkney and the Western Isles. And the outbreak has devastated our sea bird populations. The Scottish Government has set up its own task force to deal with the disease, but for wild birds at least, there is no vaccination programme. We can only watch in horror as bird carcases are washed up on the shore.
The annual Gaelic festival, the MOD, has been fiddling and blowing and singing all week in Perth. Some 2,000 musicians are taking part and over 7,000 visitors have added an estimated £1m to the local economy. But that’s nothing compared to £4 million brought in by the Celtic Festival in Stornoway in the summer. Or the £300m generated by the Edinburgh Festivals.
This week the new director of the Official Edinburgh International Festival, the violinist Nicola Benedetti, has been outlining her way forward: “to celebrate the profound stories that lie within our nation’s identity.” So there will be a heavy influence of home-grown music and art but it will have to be of the highest quality. And, while popular acts will be booked, there’s to be no eroding of the classical core.
Believe it or not, Ms Benedetti is the first woman and the first Scot to be appointed director in the festival’s 75 year history. And she’s the first celebrity performer, which prompted questions about how much she knows of festival organising. But she says she’s been playing at international festivals all over the world for 20 years and has learnt a thing or two.
By next summer we will all need a lot of cheering up and a lot of inspiration.
Clan skid to shootout defeat but Stars sparkle in Sheffield
Adam Brady netted in a shootout to earn inconsistent Nottingham Panthers a comeback win at Elite League bottom club Glasgow Clan.
The Braehead combine led Nottingham Panthers 2-0 thanks to goals from Gary Haden after 17 minutes and Steven McParland two minutes later.
Mike Hammond pulled one back after 39 minutes and Craig Puffer levelled three minutes later.
The scoreline stayed that way until the final whistle and the game went into sudden death overtime and then a shootout when Brady kept his cool to score.
In Yorkshire, Carter Folk fired the game-winner as Dundee Stars grabbed a valuable 2-1 road win at Sheffield Steelers despite being outshot 38-23.
He struck after 44 minutes and to add to a strike from Fabrizio Ricci after 22 minutes. Martin Latal levelled two minutes later but Folk was set up by Ricci to claim the vital second.
PICTURE: Stars v Sheffield from Al Gould courtesy of the Premier Sports Elite League
Change of registration venue for winter sea angling league
The organisers of the inaugural Edinburgh shore angling winter league have been forced to change their registration point because of new parking restrictions at Seafield.
Anglers should now make their way to Tumbles car park at 20 Westbank Street, Edinburgh EH15 1DR between 6.15pm and 6.30pm on Friday, October 28. The peg draw will be made there.
Organiser Ian Campbell, a regular match angler in sea fishing events around Scotland, confirmed that there had been an encouraging response to his social media posts advertising the eight-leg event.
It’s being held because Ian noted a gap in the competition calendar. Last winter the Falkirk-based fishermen and a few work colleagues got together to hold matches.
Then, the Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers (SFSA) hosted one of their Scotland team qualifiers at Newhaven in February.
Ian, who is retail manager at the Edinburgh Angling Centre, is now filling the Capital match gap and venues will include Seafield and Newhaven (pictured by Nigel Duncan. Gipsy Brae towards Silverknowes could also be an option, but that will be decided later.
However, none of the chosen venues will be outside the Edinburgh boundary and prizes have been donated by The Fishing Megastore and the winner will receive a £100 voucher, runner-up £60 and third placed £40. They can be spent in-store at the company’s Granton outlet or at the Glasgow Angling Centre or online.
The best five scores during the series will count towards the final score and all matches will be £10 entry with a sweepstake and a 100 per cent pay-out.
Entry to the league will be automatic upon entry to the sweepstake and Campbell said the matches would be fished on a catch and release basis, with a 15mm minimum size limit. Undersized fish will not count.
Ian explained: “Three hooks are a maximum, but there are no bait and hook size restrictions. Matches will be on a Friday night with registration and the peg draw from 6.15pm to 6.30pm and fishing will be from 7pm to 10pm.”
Lugworm, mackerel and ragworm are the generally used in the Edinburgh area on flapper rigs and cod, whiting and flounders among the regular species landed.
Anybody interested is asked to register on his Facebook portal and Campbell plans to posting regularly on the Scottish Shore Angling Match Group site.
Gabby becomes a champion of sustainable train travel
Photographer Gabby Secomb-Flegg from Edinburgh has been crowned one of National Rail’s ‘Chief Environment Officers’ (CEOs) who will champion sustainable travel by train around Britain.
Her prize includes all expenses paid trips to ditch the car, discover 10 of Britain’s hidden green attractions and locations, and vlog her experiences to inspire others to make green journeys by train.
Originally from Australia, Gabby moved to Edinburgh in 2020 and fell in love with the Scottish landscape. Last year, she and her partner took on the NC500 route around Scotland, sharing their experiences with her followers. The trip ignited Gabby’s passion for championing positive, sustainable travel, as a self-described ‘wild-swimming, castle-chasing, Munro-hiking Scotland enthusiast’.
After finding the National Rail CEO competition on Instagram, Gabby says she had a ‘gut feeling’ she should enter.
She added: “Creating beautiful content that showcases sustainable positive and impactful travel in the UK is a dream opportunity for me. My goal is always to encourage more people to travel while taking care of the planet at the same time, so I can’t wait to get started.”
The CEO competition was judged by explorer and broadcaster Simon Reeve, who said: “Gabby’s CEO competition entry was visually stunning and authentically showed her passion for sustainable travel. I feel confident that her reviews of some of Britain’s best trips by train will inspire others to opt for green trips of their own, and I look forward to following along with her adventures.”
Travelling by train is one of the greenest forms of public transport, and a ready-made solution for a low carbon future where our roads are quieter, safer, and the air we breathe is cleaner. Taking the train already helps tackle climate change – it cuts carbon emissions by two thirds compared to traveling by car – and it can do more in the future. That’s why National Rail began the search for three Chief Environment Officers and will be promoting their inspirational vlogs to inspire others to go green and get onboard.
Jacqueline Starr, CEO at Rail Delivery Group comments, “Travelling by train cuts carbon emissions by two thirds compared to driving, but many Brits are unaware of the sustainability credentials of rail. Therefore, we are proud to appoint Gabby as one of our Chief Environment Officers who will champion sustainable travel and enjoy visiting some of Britain’s greenest and most beautiful destinations over the next three months.”
Edinburgh North and Leith MP, Deidre Brock, said: “As Gabby’s local MP, I’m delighted to congratulate her on successfully becoming one of only three ‘Chief Environment Officers’ for the National Rail group. It’s an exciting role, promoting greener travel by ‘ditching the car’ for rail to discover some of the UK’s loveliest hidden gem destinations. As my party’s COP 26 spokesperson I fully back that objective! So, I look forward to following Gabby’s vlogs and wish her every success with her exploration.”
If you want to follow Gabby on her adventure as National Rail’s CEO follow her @scotlandmagic.
Fans invited to celebrate Horne testimonial
Alan Horne is the longest serving player of the books of Bonnyrigg Rose and he has played on over 300 occasions for the cinch Scottish league Two club.
The 33-year-old was originally brought to New Dundas Park from Tranent Juniors by then Rose manager Max Christie and he enjoyed an outstanding first season, winning the Players’ Player of the Year and Supporters’ Player of the Year awards.
The man nicknamed the Tranent Pele can play across midfield and defence and has earned plaudits for his composure.
Horne has already enjoyed testimonial lunch and, on Sunday, his service is celebrated with a match at New Dundas Park.
It’s at 2pm and admission is £5 and features a Rose v Tranent Legends game.
Of course, Rosey Posey are at Sauchie Juniors on Saturday on Scottish Cup duty. It’s the second round and the match kicks-off at Beechwood Park at 3pm.
Jones believes Clan can snap losing streak
Defiant defenceman Mitch Jones and the Glasgow Clan squad welcome inconsistent Nottingham Panthers to Braehead on Wednesday (19.30) in the Premier Sports Elite League and the Scots are determined to snap a depressing 12-game losing run in all competitions.
Clan prop up the ten-strong Elite League and Panthers, who are seventh, have lost their last three league games, including a 4-2 defeat at Dundee Stars on Friday.
The 27-year-old American admitted: “It’s been tough and the way we’ve been playing hasn’t been up to standard at times.As a group, we have to do a lot better.”
Jones joined Clan last season from a Romanian club and added: “It’s not fun right now but we’re confident we can turn that around. We want that first win and it’s as good a time as any to stop this slide.”
PICTURE: Action from Fife v Clan earlier this season captured by Al Goold and courtesy of the Premier Sports Elite League
Iona House looking for new tenants
NEW LOOK IONA HOUSE SEEKS NEW TENANTS
Major internal refurbishment works are underway at Iona House in Kirkcaldy, thanks to £300,000 investment from Fife Council’s Property, Investment and Development team.
The 28,000 square feet building, situated in the well established John Smith Business Park (JSBP) will undergo redecoration, electrical repairs, have new windows installed, and an upgrade of its toilet facilities to prepare it to welcome new tenants from late November.
A thriving business location, JSBP is already home to a diverse mix of businesses including Marston’s, Commscope Technologies, Vericall, Flexispace, and most recently Copart, who moved into Iona House last month.
Fife Council has appointed agents DM Hall and Knight Frank to jointly promote its vacant business space at Iona House, which ranges in size from 4000 square feet.
Commenting on Iona House’s fresh appeal for businesses considering new premises, Paul Carr of DM Hall said: “This is a modern, well-run building with superb facilities, perfectly situated in JSBP, the premier office location in and around Kirkcaldy.
“It is extremely pleasing to have attracted a multinational business of Copart’s standing to Iona House. The letting is proof that Fife’s reputation as an office location continues to improve in the eyes of occupiers who may previously have limited their searches to Edinburgh and the Lothians.”
Paul Carr finished by saying that he and joint agent, Simon Capaldi of Knight Frank, had already had an interest in some of the remaining accommodation within the building.
He said : “Iona House rates are very competitive, with a ground floor show suite available for viewing now by interested parties. As the refurbishment nears completion, we are keen to attract existing Fife businesses who may need more space, along with those who may wish to relocate to Fife, which strives to be the best place in which to do business. Please don’t hesitate to contact myself at DM Hall or Simon at Knight Frank with any enquiries.”
Commenting on Iona House, Pamela Stevenson, Service Manager for Fife Council Economic Development, said: “Iona House is a flagship property for Fife Council, comparing favourably with any other building in the area in terms of quality, management and specification. We look forward to welcoming more new tenants in the coming months.”
Artists react angrily to “conflict of interest” surrounding the Elsie Inglis campaign
Following the appointment of the King’s Sculptor in Ordinary to create the Elsie Inglis statue, other artists, who thought they still had a chance of winning the commission, have reacted angrily, claiming that the process has not been conducted properly.
The original call to artists was made at the beginning of August and was due to run until the end of October. That process was summarily suspended in September, and artists who have invested many hours and money in preparing a bid feel both cheated and let down. An open letter to the board has been posted on the Elsie Inglis Facebook page suggesting that the appointment of Alexander Stoddart has breached the charity’s own rules.
Fiona Maher said on Facebook: “I was more than a little surprised at this announcement- having also begun preparations for a submission… the postponement gave me a wee bit more breathing space. We fight hard to hold our place in the world and earn a living from our work , and this was a rare opportunity ( particularly for women artists ) to prepare and make a submission for sculpture in honour of someone so significant in woman’s history.”
Linda Bates questioned the appointment of the artist and regarding his comments on being commissioned she said: “His emphasis is all about classical architecture, not about the celebration of an incredible woman who fought against the odds.
“And his assessment that the lack of statues is down to “the decline…of the understanding of the noble art of sculpture” is about as tone-deaf as you can get: so much of this campaign is an antidote to *men* having the power, money, opportunity and contacts to reflect the world as *they* – not women – see it, and women don’t tend to have the money to spend on public statuary.
“I sincerely hope that the organising committee will reconsider their decision and open the call for female artists again.”
THE OPEN LETTER
The letter is reproduced in full below, but it includes this paragraph: “We do not support the decision of the trustees in hiring Alexander Stoddard. His consultation was sought during the ‘open for entries’ commission period, he had a financial interest and was therefore not objective. It is a clear conflict of interest for the board to have sought him out during this time. He has no clear links with Elsie Inglis or feminism and is very much not in the spirit of the original brief.”
The board of trustees responded on Facebook. Their most recent post says: “The Trustees have read all the comments since their announcement yesterday. We are considering the position and will respond fully once we have done so.
“As Trustees for a charity, we are entitled to take all steps we consider necessary within the constants of our powers to pursue the purpose of the charity.
“The purpose of this charity is to erect a statue in tribute to Elsie Inglis – no more no less.
“At the moment the action of certain parties seems to be to promote women’s rights rather than honour the work of Elsie Inglis.”
The call to artists was made on the Elsie Inglis website with a full brief and deadlines and rules set out. That article seems to have disappeared now from the site but the pdf of the Call to Artists is embedded below. It was accompanied by a stern warning on the Facebook page dated 28 July: “So today…the Call to Artists for the statue is now LIVE
“Full details are now available on the website – the commissioning document is ready to download with all information and deadlines.
“This is a major milestone and we are so delighted to share this with you! An important and exciting stage. We have raised enough money to start on the commissioning of an artist.
“A polite request please: no contact/lobbying should be made in this group by artists throughout this process. If we find this happening in a manner to promote their own work, these posts/comments will be removed immediately.”
The call to artists
The process was to be this: “Sculptors will be invited to submit their tender; a long list will be whittled down to a short list of three in November 2022 and the winning design will be announced at the end of April 2023. It is planned that Dr Elsie will be unveiled in November 2024.” Our previous article outlined the fact that an initial £50,000 had been raised and it was now believed that a further £40,000 was needed.
Without warning on 22 September the campaign posted this on their Facebook page: “The Call to artists has been suspended indefinitely, owing to considerations that have been brought to the attention of the trustees in recent weeks. This information has therefore rendered the brief, as published, sub optimal to ensure the successful outcome of the project at design, scheduling and budgetary levels.
“Notwithstanding the suspension of the Call, the campaign to raise the funds to commission and deliver an outstanding statue for Dr Elsie Inglis on the Royal Mile continues during this short period of repositioning.
“Further bulletins will be published in due course.’“
Following that on 7 October the charity trustees again intimated the halting of the artistic process and said on Facebook: “Two weeks ago we took the difficult decision to suspend our call to artists. We acknowledge the artists who have invested their time, energy and enthusiasm preparing and, in a few cases, submitting their entries. It is our intention to make an announcement on 17th October when we will make clear the reason for the suspension of the call and our strategic direction of travel. Please watch this space…
“We are continuing to work hard to deliver our goal of an outstanding statue of Dr Inglis to grace the Royal Mile.
“In the meantime, we want to thank you all once again for your ongoing support and generosity towards this wonderful cause. It is very much appreciated.”
Sculptor Natasha Phoenix
Natasha Phoenix, an East Lothian based sculptor, told us this morning that she had spent around 650 hours of preparation time on applying for the commission.
She said: “I want to stand up for the artists. I personally have put 650 hours of prep time in.
“I have been all over the world training with classical artists and sculptors to get good enough, to upskill and be good enough to sculpt Elsie Inglis. She is one of my heroes.
“I have no doubt that other artists have put in huge amounts of work. I have spent days in the Lothian Archives.
“We have done our research we’ve done our work so that we can make a sculpture which is good enough for Elsie and good enough for the Royal Mile. We have basically been told that we will never be good enough as we are not a royal sculptor.
“They opened the call for artists and then closed it two weeks ahead of closing they stopped it without any explanation.”
Natasha continued: “Sandy Stoddart is always picked for everything. I believe that the trustees approached him while the call was open which they should not have been doing. There is a conflict of interest.
“He also has a conflict as he has a financial interest in winning the commission which could be worth about £30,000.
“They also approached Scottish sculptor, Angela Hunter – she is brilliant but she said no as she has hurt her shoulder. What they did not know is that Angela was supporting me. She was backing me and training me. As a new emerging artist – which is what they asked for I needed to make sure I could make something that was good enough for that spot.
“That is why I went to some of the best teachers in the world. I had the backing of people who had done public commissions.
“I had all of this going on in the background and I am sure other people did but we were never given the chance. So basically we have been told you will never be as good. That’s what it feels like.”
Natasha’s bronze of Elsie which will now be displayed at Surgeons Hall Museum.
Natasha was doing lots of practice pieces and sharing with her huge following on social media.
She explained that her work will have a home. She said: “Surgeons Hall Museum contacted me said it was a true likeness of Elsie Inglis and asked if I would donate a sculptural portrait. I made bronzes for the campaign thinking that whoever won the commission it would not mater – that these practice pieces could be auctioned for her legacy. The trustees know this.
“Other well known artists offered paintings and other works but to my knowledge most of that has now been withdrawn.”
We asked the Elsie Inglis campaign for a comment but were told that they will only make a comment when the situation becomes clearer. They feel “it would be imprudent whilst all these threats are doing the rounds”.
They then put a comment on their Facebook page saying: “The Trustees have read all the comments since their announcement yesterday. We are considering the position and will respond fully once we have done so.
“As Trustees for a charity, we are entitled to take all steps we consider necessary within the constants of our powers to pursue the purpose of the charity.
“The purpose of this charity is to erect a statue in tribute to Elsie Inglis – no more no less.
“At the moment the action of certain parties seems to be to promote women’s rights rather than honour the work of Elsie Inglis.”
Crowdfunding
The crowdfunding campaign which was run in the name of the OneCity Trust (the Lord Provost’s Trust) has raised around £11,000 online. The page explains the background to the statue: “After raising our initial target of £50,000 to commission the statue for Dr Elsie Inglis on the Royal Mile, we are stunned by the current rise in the costs for bronze to create a statue.
“Our mission for the campaign for ‘A Statue for Elsie Inglis’ is to ensure the heritage and history of Dr Elsie Inglis is commemorated with an outstanding statue.
“The site of the statue will be at the High Street location on Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile where her hospice where Dr Inglis worked tirelessly for the ordinary women and children of Edinburgh. This will be the first statue of a woman on the Royal Mile amongst a dozen, honouring men.
“Elsie’s statue will become an enduring and immutable memorial to one of Scotland’s greatest women.”
The open letter to members, donors and Board of Trustees for the Elsie Inglis Statue and City of Edinburgh Council.
We are writing this open letter on behalf of the campaign supporters, those who have donated money, and artists blocked from entering the commission.
We thought it was a fantastic idea that the Trust originally created a public art submission process to encourage local artists, and many artists championed the project and it’s fundraising.
We do not support the decision of the trustees in hiring Alexander Stoddard. His consultation was sought during the ‘open for entries’ commission period, he had a financial interest and was therefore not objective. It is a clear conflict of interest for the board to have sought him out during this time. He has no clear links with Elsie Inglis or feminism and is very much not in the spirit of the original brief.
We have no confidence in the trustees’ ability to manage funds raised or their ability to further manage this project.
No explanations or apologies have been offered. The decisions made have been behind closed doors and without public consultation or scrutiny.
We strongly believe Dr Elsie Inglis would not support the sudden cancellation of the original open call for submissions and hiring of the Royal sculptor and the resulting blocking of women from entering the commission. This decision goes against the aims of the campaign. It stands in direct opposition to the core beliefs expressed by Dr Elsie Inglis herself. The Trustees’ actions are unreasonable, not transparent and the unjust and disorganised situation that has resulted reflects poorly on Dr Elsie Inglis’ legacy.
Many people donated on the premise that this would be open to all artists providing opportunities specifically for women and emerging artists who are hugely underrepresented in the Arts and public commissions. Donations have been specifically in support of emerging artists.
The Board has not been transparent or communicative with the public. The Board has seriously failed in its duty to the artists preparing to submit.
We call for transparency and honesty from the charity. We hope that the charity will consider a new Board of Trustees and ask for volunteers. That the Commission is reopened and the decision is made with an open consultation, reflecting a positive light on Dr Elsie Inglis.
Together we can honour the legacy of Dr Elsie Inglis with respect, community spirit and equality.
Rare Birds Books is ushering in the festive period ahead of time with a new era of advent calendar – one that offers romance, suspense, thrills and spills.
The home of female writing, Rare Birds Books, has redesigned and relaunched its best-selling 24 Days of Reading (£50) which sold out quickly last year.
To play along, each door on the calendar is opened daily as usual, discovering an invitation to a new world behind every door, a secret blurb ready to take readers on a journey. Each of the 24 descriptions corresponds to one of Rare Birds Books favourites from the past year, which include 10 book club picks and 14 brand new titles. This ensures that whether the reader is already a subscriber or just a book worm, there is a story for everyone.
At the end of December, the reader chooses their favourite four blurbs and redeems them for the four physical books. A gift that just keeps giving, the books will be despatched from 28 December onwards, meaning the start of 2023 will be filled with a host of new reading material.
With postage included, this is the perfect early present for the bibliophile. And for those voracious readers, there is no need to panic, all book choices will be revealed before the final order is made, meaning readers can confirm there are no duplicates.
Pre-orders begin in September for guaranteed copies, with all calendars begin shipping in November. They will be available to purchase online via the website, in store and at Stylist Live weekend.
So, which story will you choose for yourself this Christmas?are
Todd Dutiaume was once again left to rue missed chances as Fife Flyers skidded to defeat at high-flying Sheffield Steelers. Fife lost the first session 2-0 but blanked the second before the men from The House of Steel fired four goals in the final session to emerge 6-0 winners.
Dutiaume admitted: “If you don’t take your chances in this building you could be in for a long night.”
Fife were outshot 34-27 by the home side in this Premier Sport Elite League clash, watched by more than 6,000 fans, but Steelers didn’t secure the points until they fired three goals inside the final 13 minutes.
And Sheffield’s 27-year-old, American-born netminder, Matthew Greenfield, made a huge save at the start of the third period which proved pivotal.
Dutiaume said: “It is always tough to come into this building and I thought that we withstood some of the early pressure and looked ok.
“Unfortunately, one of the problems we had on Saturday night (in a 4-2 home defeat to Dundee Stars) was offensive production.
“We made plenty of chances but the puck was not dropping in the back of the net.”
Also worryingly for Fife’s coaching team are the goals against total of 29, the third worst in the league behind Manchester Storm (35) and Dundee Stars (34) and goals for total stands at 14, the second lowest in the league behind Glasgow (13).
Contrast that with Sheffield who have scored 37 and let in 13.
Aaron Fox, Dutiaume’s opposite number, said: “These are the games you have to be ready for. We did not have a ton of energy after getting in at 3am on Sunday morning (after winning 5-2 at Cardiff Devils).
“This one scared me a bit before it started but I was happy to see how we finished that hockey game off.”
Fife are in ninth position in the ten-strong Premier Sports Elite League with two points from seven fixtures, one point ahead of bottom-markers Glasgow Clan.
Nottingham Panthers are eighth with four points from their seven games with Dundee Stars seventh on five points from the same number of games.
Sunday’s win pushed Sheffield into top spot in the table with 15 points from nine starts, the same points as Guildford Flames.
PICTURE: Fife v Glasgow by Al Goold, courtesy of the Premier Sports Elite League
US Consulate General in Edinburgh needs help choosing their tartan
The United States Consulate General in Edinburgh has launched an online poll asking the Scottish public to help choose its official tartan.
One winner will be chosen from three designs, which incorporate colours and patterns influenced by the shared history between Scotland and the United States. The poll will close on Monday, November 21, with the winning design announced on St. Andrew’s Day, November 30.
Officials at the Consulate which was first established in Edinburgh 224 years ago, partnered with tartan designer Clare Campbell of Prickly Thistle, based in Evanton, north of Inverness, to develop the three options.
Prickly Thistle has a strong history creating innovative, bespoke tartan including those used at the 25th Annual New York City Tartan Day Parade in April 2022 and on previous occasions.
She also designed “Aliam” commemorating Alan Cumming and Miriam Margoyles’ 2021 “Lost in Scotland” TV special and “Sassenach” for Outlander actor Sam Heughan.
The Consulate General’s winning design will be registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans, where it will be publicly accessible among thousands of other tartans.
The Consulate General’s team is engaging online audiences throughout the competition. The winning tartan will form a distinctive part of the U.S. diplomatic presence in Edinburgh, symbolising the deep connections between the United States and Scotland and boosting awareness of the Consulate General’s activities.
U.S. Ambassador to the UK Jane Hartley said: “Tartan is embraced internationally as a symbol of Scotland, and we are thrilled to be one step closer to finally having an official tartan to call our own. All three designs up for a vote are representative of the deep historic and contemporary ties between the United States and Scotland. I hope our tartan will come to symbolize the continued growth of our relationship.”
U.S. Consul General Jack Hillmeyer said: “The United States has maintained a diplomatic presence in Scotland since 1798, when President John Adams appointed the first U.S. Consul. Since then, the ties between our nations have grown wide and deep. Millions of Americans claim Scottish ancestry, including dozens of U.S. Presidents.
“Americans harbour a deep love of Scotland, and the United States boasts more than 1,000 Scottish associations and clubs. Hundreds of thousands of Americans visit Scotland annually, in addition to the thousands more who choose to study in Scotland each year. We are proud to be Scotland’s principal international trading partner, and our bonds continue to grow in new and emerging industries. This tartan aims to celebrate all we have in common with each other.”
Clare Campbell from Prickly Thistle said: “I was delighted to work with the U.S. Consulate General on their tartan project. Tartan is an expression of history, geography, and self-expression. These designs are instantly recognisable as Scottish but help visually tell the story of the different ways America and Scotland are interlinked. No matter the winner, Scotland will be welcoming a wonderful new tartan onto its national tapestry.”
Chancellor makes second statement of the day to the Commons
The new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, made two speeches about his future plans for the economy today.
The first was delivered on TV with the permission of the Speaker of the House, making more u-turns on the mini budget announced by then Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, and the second was delivered to MPs in the House of Commons.
Jeremy Hunt speaking to the House of Commons in response to a statement by Health Secretary, Thérèse Coffey. PHOTO UK Parliament/Andy Bailey
The last photo we have for Mr Hunt show him asking a question of the new Health & Social Care Secretary Thérèse Coffey from the back benches – sitting next to John Redwood MP who was himself a candidate for leader in the past. This is the scale of his meteoric rise and his change of address to Number 11 Downing Street (although the news cameras still spotted him jogging from home this morning).
On Friday morning he was a back bench MP and a failed leadership candidate. By the afternoon he was Chancellor of the Exchequer following the resignation or sacking of Kwasi Kwarteng. Now questions are being raised both inside and outside Westminster about the Prime Minister’s future.
The Rt Hon Liz Truss was not in the Commons to listen to the statement or to answer questions. When the leader of the opposition, Sir Keir Starmer stood up to “ask the Prime Minister” he was met by Penny Mordaunt MP, the Leader of the House, who said that the Prime Minister had urgent business to attend to and sent her apologies to the House. This allowed Starmer to come back with this: “I guess under this govt everybody gets to be PM for 15 mins”.
Ms Truss arrived later to sit beside her great friend, Thérèse Coffey, and next to the Chancellor who was left to do the heavy lifting.
This is the speech Mr Hunt made:
Mr Speaker,
The central responsibility of any government is to do what is necessary for economic stability.
Behind the decisions we take and the issues on which we vote are jobs families depend on, mortgages that have to be paid, savings for pensioners, and businesses investing for the future.
We are a country that funds our promises and pays our debts.
And when that is questioned, as it has been, this government will take the difficult decisions necessary to ensure there is trust and confidence in our national finances.
That means decisions of eye-watering difficulty.
But I give the House and the public this assurance: every single one of those decisions…
…whether reductions in spending or increases in tax, will prioritise the needs of the most vulnerable.
That is why I pay tribute to my predecessors for the Energy Price Guarantee, for the furlough scheme…
…and indeed for even earlier decisions to protect the NHS budget in a period when other budgets were being cut.
Mr Speaker, I want to be completely frank about the scale of the economic challenges we face.
We have had short term difficulties caused by the lack of an OBR forecast alongside the mini-budget…
…but there are also inflationary and interest pressures around the world.
Russia’s unforgivable invasion of Ukraine has caused energy and food prices to spike.
We cannot control what is happening in the rest of the world, but when the interests of economic stability mean the government needs to change course, we will do so – and that is what I have come to the House to announce today.
In my first few days in this job, I’ve held extensive discussions with the Prime Minister, Cabinet colleagues, the Governor of the Bank of England, the OBR, the head of the Debt Management Office, Treasury officials, and many others.
The conclusion I have drawn from those conversations is that we need to do more, more quickly, to give certainty to the markets about our fiscal plans.
And show through action, not just words, that the United Kingdom can and always will pay our way in the world.
We have therefore decided to make further changes to the mini budget immediately, rather than waiting until the Medium-Term Fiscal Plan in two weeks’ time, in order to reduce unhelpful speculation about those plans.
Mr Speaker I am very grateful for your agreement on the need to give the markets an early, brief summary this morning, but I welcome the opportunity to give the House details of the decisions now.
We have decided on the following changes to support confidence and stability.
Firstly, the Prime Minister and I agreed yesterday to reverse almost all the tax measures announced in the Growth Plan three weeks ago that have not been legislated for in Parliament.
So we will continue with the abolition of the Health and Social Care Levy, changes to Stamp Duty, the increase in the Annual Investment Allowance to £1 million, and the wider reforms to investment taxes.
But we will no longer be proceeding with:
The cut to dividend tax rates, saving around £1 billion a year.
The reversal of the off-payroll working reforms introduced in 2017 and 2021, saving around £2 billion a year.
The new VAT-free shopping scheme for non-UK visitors, saving a further £2 billion a year.
Or the freeze to alcohol duty rates, saving around £600 million a year.
I will provide further details on how those rates will be uprated, shortly.
Second, the Government is currently committed to cutting the basic rate of income tax to 19% in April of 2023.
This government believes that people should keep more of the money they earn, which is why we have continued with the abolition of the Health and Social Care Levy.
But at a time when markets are asking serious questions about our commitment to sound public finances, we cannot afford a permanent, discretionary increase in borrowing worth £6 billion a year.
So I have decided that the basic rate of income tax will remain at 20% – and it will do so indefinitely, until economic circumstances allow for it to be cut.
Taken together with the decision not to cut Corporation Tax, and restoring the top rate of income tax, the measures I’ve announced today will raise around £32 billion every year.
The third step I’m taking today, Mr Speaker, is to review the Energy Price Guarantee.
This was the biggest single expense in the Growth Plan and one of the most generous schemes in the world.
It is a landmark policy for which I pay tribute to my predecessor.
It will support millions of people through a difficult winter and will reduce inflation by up to 5%.
So I confirm today that the support we are providing between now and April next year will not change.
But beyond next April, the Prime Minister and I have agreed it would not be responsible to continue exposing the public finances to unlimited volatility in international gas prices.
So I am announcing today a Treasury-led review into how we support energy bills beyond April next year.
The review’s objective is to design a new approach that will cost the taxpayer significantly less than planned whilst ensuring enough support for those in need.
Any support for businesses will be targeted to those most affected. And the new approach will better incentivise energy efficiency.
There remain many difficult decisions to be announced in the Medium-Term Fiscal Plan on October 31st…
…when I confirm that we will publish a credible, transparent, fully costed plan to get debt falling as a share of the economy over the medium term…
…based on the judgement and economic forecasts of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility.
I would like to thank the OBR, whose director Richard Hughes I met this morning, and the Bank of England whose Governor Andrew Bailey I have now met twice.
I fully support the vital, independent roles both institutions play, which give markets, the public, and the world confidence that our economic plans are credible, and rightly hold us to account for delivering them.
But I want some more independent, expert advice as I start my journey as Chancellor.
So I am announcing today the formation of a new Economic Advisory Council to do just that.
The Council will advise the government on economic policy with the first four names announced today:
Rupert Harrison, former Chief of Staff to the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
Gertjan Vlieghe, Element Capital
Sushil Wadhwani, Wadhwani Asset Management
Karen Ward, J. P. Morgan
Mr Speaker,
We remain completely committed to our mission to go for growth, but growth requires confidence and stability – which is why we are taking many difficult decisions, starting today.
But while we do need realism about the challenges ahead, we must never fall into the trap of pessimism.
Despite all the adversity and challenge we face, there is enormous potential in this country.
We have some of the most talented people in the world.
Three of the world’s top ten best universities.
The most tech unicorns in Europe.
One of the world’s great financial centres.
Incredible strengths in the creative industries…
…in science, research, engineering, manufacturing, and innovation.
All that gives me genuine optimism about our long-term prospects for growth.
But to achieve that, it’s vital that we act now to create the stability on which future generations can build.
The reason the United Kingdom has always succeeded is because at big and difficult moments we have taken tough and difficult decisions in the long-term interests of the country. That is what will we now do.
And I commend this statement to the House.
Body found on Cramond Island
Police Scotland report that around 2.50pm on Monday 17 October, 2022, the body of a woman was found on Cramond Island as part of their ongoing inquiries to locate a missing person.
No formal identification has taken place, however, the family of 47-year-old Averil Shepley, reported missing from Edinburgh, has been notified.
Officers remain at the scene and enquiries are ongoing.
Cleaning up in Wester Hailes – a week of action begins
A week of action has been launched this morning to clean up Wester Hailes.
Residents will be encouraged to carry out a large-scale community clean-up of their local area.
During the ‘Wester Hailes Week of Action’, people living around Barn Park, Harvesters Way, Clovenstone and in Wester Hailes, will spend the week working with their Housing Associations and the council to carry out litter picks and remove bulky waste and illegally dumped items from common stairs, gardens and communal spaces.
With several skip loads expected to be collected in the following locations, interested residents are invited to turn up to lend a hand.
Bags, pickers, and gloves will be provided.
Monday 17October – City of Edinburgh Council, Barn Park Clear Up – meeting point Central playpark Barn Park 10 am and 1pm.
Tuesday 18October – Places for People Scotland – Harvesters Clear Up – Harvesters Community Centre, 75 Harvesters Way at 10am
Wednesday 19October 2022 – Prospect Community Housing – Clovenstone Clear Up – 19 Clovenstone Drive at 10am and Clovenstone Community Centre at 1pm
Thursday 20October 2022 – City of Edinburgh Council – Wester Hailes Park Clear Up – Wester Hailes Park Main Square 10am and 1pm
Friday 21October 2022 – Wester Hailes Library between 10am and 12pm – please come along and join us for a thank you celebration.
Coordinated by Place for People and The City of Edinburgh Council’s Housing Operations team, the initiative is being supported by colleagues from Waste & Cleansing, Street Enforcement and Parks & Greenspace.
Police Scotland, The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Prospect Community Housing, Keep Scotland Beautiful are among the council’s commercial partners who will assist this week.
Wester Hailes
UK-wide group acquires office equipment giant
Family and colleagues honour wish of Capital Document Solutions founder.
One of Scotland’s best known B2B specialists has been acquired in a deal which was begun by the firm’s founder – then completed by his family and close-knit team following his death earlier this year.
Capital Document Solutions remained fiercely independent and Scottish-focused under Tom Flockhart, who launched it in 1979 and built it into a 150-strong business with £15m in revenue. Sadly Tom Flockhart died earlier this year after a short illness.
After years of discussion on succession planning, and rebuffing potential acquirers, Tom finally found a match in UK-wide workplace technology specialist, Agilico.
Now Tom’s family and closest business colleagues have revealed how they were able to see through the completion of his deal, which was completed during an emotional meeting in Edinburgh. It creates a business with 475 staff, 13 UK offices and £70 million in annual revenues.
Andrew Aikman, Managing Director of Capital Document Solutions, who worked with Tom for 41 years, said: “It means a lot to everyone who worked with Tom and given all the circumstances it was incredibly emotional. We knew this was what he wanted for the business that he had devoted almost his entire working life to growing and developing, and for all of the staff, for whom he felt a great duty of care.”
Pam Flockhart
Pam Flockhart, the late businessman’s daughter who is also a director with the firm, added: “This is something that has taken a lot of consideration and planning over a number of years. Rather than a reaction to Dad’s death, the impact of Covid or anything else, this is about all of us who were closest to him delivering on Dad’s wishes.
“He had many approaches over the years but insisted that none of those potential acquirers were the right fit. That changed when he met Simon from Agilico. He was convinced this was the right deal for our staff, customers and suppliers.”
That first meeting was two years ago, with Simon Davey, the CEO of Agilico, who has helped build the firm into the biggest, independent managed print services (MPS) business in the UK. Since 2018 he has overseen the successful acquisition of nine other family businesses across the UK.
Capital Document Solutions, a copy-scan-print expert, with 14,000 multifunction devices in the field (MiF) is the biggest acquisition to date. However, Simon revealed how his first meeting with Tom could have ended in disaster.
He said: “Tom was a straightforward character and larger than life. When we first spoke, I told him that Capital Document Solutions was the one business I wanted in the group more than any other.
“Fortunately, he knew of me and Agilico and was prepared to listen. But he also told me that there was absolutely no way he would let me into Scotland – he said I had to build his trust first. Our first face-to-face meeting was therefore in Berwick.
“Over dinner Tom absolutely grilled me for the first ten minutes and it would have been easy to think there was no chance of a deal, but I decided to push back and grill Tom – he really loved that.
“Thereafter, we clicked and over countless meetings, negotiations, dinners – and whiskies – we built a great relationship and I made a promise to Tom that I would look after the business. I intend to keep it. Sadly, he lost his battle against cancer before we managed to complete, but I know Tom would be immensely proud of his board and family for honouring his wishes.”
Both Capital Document Solutions and its Inverness-based subsidiary, Highland Office Equipment, will retain their names and identities for as long as the staff want them. Capital will remain as an autonomous limited company and as a 100% owned subsidiary of the Agilico Group and will be led by the existing management teams.
Agilico’s existing Falkirk office will become part of the Capital infrastructure, meaning that in aggregate 25% of the firm’s UK-wide revenues will be north of the border.
Capital Document Solutions has been a constant on one of The Scottish Government’s procurement frameworks, supplying an extensive range of managed print services to government departments and public bodies. The firm is keen to expand this great relationship and the same experienced and dedicated team at Capital will continue to look after all Scottish Public Sector accounts, providing the highest level of service and support from its regional branches across Scotland.
Now Simon has toured the Scottish offices during a “fantastic week” to announce the details of the takeover, praising the staff for the warm welcome and reaction. He added: “We’ve shared our vision and it is very much a growth story.
“It would make no sense to buy and break a business like this which has run successfully for 43 years. I am in this for the long-term and that means investing in people, products and infrastructure.
“Agilico has a range of proprietary software and services, and the incredible relationships Capital
Document Solutions has with its customers represents a huge growth opportunity. Indeed, that chance to grow the Scottish business was one of the main attractions for Tom.”
Building a New Scotland – third document published today
The Scottish Government has published the third part of a series, Building a New Scotland, which aims to provide information to voters before any independence referendum is held.
This paper deals with the economic proposals to “build an inclusive, fair, wellbeing economy that works for everyone in Scotland”.
The government promises:
to have lower energy prices and security of supply
improved access to flexible working and greater job security with stronger workplace rights
an escape from the London-centric economic model
to allow Scots to regain their European citizenship with a right to work, live or study in the EU
that there will be a benefit from investments in a new fund with up to £20 billion to be spent on major infrastructure
to use the pound until the time is right for a new currency
to allow communities to own and steer economy with involvement in local developments
to develop inclusive consensus-driven economic policies which serve European countries “so well”
It is touted as an escape from the effects of Brexit which the government believes will end in a long-term reduction in productivity of 4% than if the UK had remained in the EU. The independent nation would also trade within the European Single Market.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The UK economy is fundamentally on the wrong path and there is no real alternative on offer within the Westminster system.
“The establishment consensus on Brexit – despite the harm it is causing – illustrates that.
“For Scotland, not being independent means we are being dragged down the wrong path too: one people in Scotland did not vote for.
“To build a more stable, sustainable economy – with fairness and human wellbeing at heart – independence is therefore essential.
“That is the fundamental point we make in this paper. Independence is not an abstract argument separate from people’s daily lives.
“It has at its heart the ambition – and crucially, it equips us with the essential tools – to build a fairer, wealthier, greener, happier country.”
False statements
The document also promises to rely on the country’s renewable energy resources. The fact checking service Full Fact has announced that senior SNP politicians (Nicola Sturgeon, John Swinney and Iain Blackford) have made misleading statements on renewable energy in recent days.
One of these statements is that 100% of Scotland’s electricity production comes from renewables. This is false. What is true however is that the country generates sufficient renewable energy to cover its annual consumption. BUT it often needs to supplement energy demand with nuclear or non-renewable according to need from time to time.
Full Fact clarifies the statements made and says that for the year to September 2022, 63% of electricity actually used in Scotland came from renewable sources, 20% from nuclear and 14.5% from gas.
The document, Building a New Scotland, a Stronger Economy with Independence is the result of a development process which has involved substantial input from the Scottish Greens, as provided for in the Bute House Agreement which saw the party join the Scottish Government last year. It presents a progressive, ambitious and forward looking vision for the economy of an independent Scotland.
The paper includes major improvements to workers rights, specifically proposing a significant expansion of collective bargaining to improve pay and conditions, enhancing the minimum wage to reflect the cost of living and repeal of the UK government’s anti-worker 2016 Trade Union Act.
It also includes a £20bn New Scotland Fund focused on transitioning to a zero carbon future through measures such as a substantial home energy efficiency programme, helping households cut their bills and reduce their energy use.
Ross Greer MSP, Scottish Greens finance spokesperson, said: “This is a positive, optimistic and forward looking vision for an independent Scotland. It demonstrates clearly how the powers of a normal independent nation will let us build an economy that works for people and the planet.
“With Greens in government we are doing all we can to tackle the cost of living and climate emergencies. But there is so much more that we could do by taking our future into our own hands and gaining the economic powers of a normal nation, like set a decent minimum wage to eradicate poverty pay.
“By investing in new renewable technologies as we phase out oil and gas, and refocusing on an economy which works for everyone rather than just those at the very top, we can transform Scotland for the better.
“We only need to cast our eyes a few miles north to see how our Nordic neighbours have delivered stable, successful economies by putting people’s wellbeing first. Fairer economies are consistently stronger economies.”
Maggie Chapman MSP, the Scottish Greens economy spokesperson said: “Independence will allow us to finally break from the cruel, inhumane and anti-climate policies of Downing Street and ensure that wellbeing and social and environmental justice are at the heart of our economy.
“By expanding collective bargaining rights and ensuring that all workers are paid a real living wage we can build a fairer economy and tackle the appalling levels of poverty and inequality that are so prevalent.
“But we can’t do these things when we have one hand tied behind our back by a vicious and incompetent Westminster government that is more concerned with its wealthy friends and donors.
“Scotland has changed a lot since 2014, with a reckless and costly Brexit that we voted against and another 8 years of disastrous Tory rule.
“The debate on independence has also moved on since then. The vision presented in this paper includes many of the principles and policies that the Scottish Greens and the wider radical independence movement have been calling for.
“With the powers of independence we can deliver even more of the change that is so badly needed.”
Scottish Labour finance spokesperson Daniel Johnson said: “While economic chaos reigns, the SNP is focused on plunging Scotland into even greater turmoil.
“The truth is this – the SNP government has no answers to the key economic questions surrounding independence.
“They have no plan for a central bank worthy of the name and no plan to balance the books in the event of independence.
“Scotland using the currency of another state without a shared political system is a recipe for mayhem.
“Those with mortgages are right to be alarmed at this slapdash fiscal policy. The SNP’s plan for homeowners to pay off mortgages in a different currency is a disaster waiting to happen.
“What Nicola Sturgeon and her nationalist government plan to do is to drive Scotland into decades of economic chaos and austerity so that they can pursue their constitutional obsession.
“Rather than deliver solutions to this economic crisis, the SNP want to gamble with the finances and public services of the people of Scotland.
“The solution to Tory economic crisis is not SNP economic crisis – it is a reforming Labour government.
“The people of Scotland should not pay the price for the SNP’s independence pipedreams.”
Award-winning restaurant lives up to billing
It is no surprise to anybody who has enjoyed dining at The Radhuni that this restaurant is a consistent award winner.
Accolades of Best of Scotland curry winner in 2018, 2019 and 2020 plus an AA Rosette recipient for culinary excellence speaks volumes.
The Loanhead restaurant was also included in the top ten of Britain’s leading 20 curry houses and one of the team won Chef of the Year 2018 in the Scottish Curry Awards.
I could go on, but let’s move on to the food. The Radhuni does not use any processed beef, chicken or lamb, only 100 per cent meat in all dishes.
It caters for allergies, so important these days, and they deliver in a six-mile radius, including Penicuik and parts of Edinburgh including Liberton and Swanston.
Their classy website is packed with information and booking a table online could not be easier.
The menu is extensive and my choice was a Radhuni Classic, lamb cooked Ceylon-style, a rich combination with a delicate sauce using coconut, spices and fresh herbs.
Even more impressive to the eye and taste buds was the chicken hyderbadi biryani, layered basmati rice and sauce cooked in a clay pot and flavoured with saffron and mild oriental spices, garnished with mint leaves. It comes with raita, a minty sauce with a creamy yoghurt base, a classic Indian side.
We loved the experience and could not fault this immaculate, stylish restaurant which features starched linen tablecloths and distinctive, classy cutlery.
The staff could not have been more helpful and The Radhuni, 93 Clerk Street, Loanhead, Midlothian EH20 9RE is, undoubtedly, a cut above and certainly one to savour. Ring 0131 440 3566
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