Moving Women Forward, and other upcoming events

On Wednesday 7th March at 7pm, Moving Women Forward is a discussion event to explore the issues that matter to women in Edinburgh & the Lothians, and the action that should be taken to address them, bringing together women from the Labour Party and beyond.

The event will be introduced by Johann Lamont MSP Leader of the Scottish Labour Party; to be followed by group discussions with Kezia Dugdale MSP (on unemployment), Sarah Boyack MSP (on local government), Ann Henderson Deputy Secretary STUC (on trade unions), Cllr Lesley Hinds (on transport), Cllr Angela Blacklock (on childcare) and Irene Kitson (on justice).

The event will be held at the Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace Edinburgh EH1 2JL. Please email lothianwomenslabourforum@gmail.com to give us an idea of numbers. All women welcome!

Edinburgh Labour MPs in final push for Green Investment Bank

The four Edinburgh Labour MPs - Alistair Darling, Ian Murray, Mark Lazarowicz and Sheila Gilmore - have written to Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable, the Prime Minister, and the Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore in a final push to have the proposed Green Investment Bank situated in Edinburgh.

Labour MP for Edinburgh South, Ian Murray, said:

"With the announcement of the decision on the Bank’s location due shortly, we have made one final push to highlight why Edinburgh is the obvious choice for the Green Investment Bank. Our city has the required skilled and specialist staff and is an established financial hub in Europe. Indeed the Bank would be at the heart of the financial services sector in Edinburgh which would be hugely important to residents across the city."

Labour MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, Mark Lazarowicz, added:

"I have reiterated to Vince Cable that if the Bank is sited in Edinburgh, it will be able to link up with local companies and the top-class universities that we have to offer. This connection will be vital in ensuring that the technology we need for our green economy to flourish is developed. This is a campaign I have supported from the start and it would be great for it to come to fruition."

Labour MP for Edinburgh East, Sheila Gilmore, said:

"The Green Investment Bank will play a big role in greening the economy. It will step in to back green infrastructure projects where the private sector cannot do so. The Government should base the bank in Edinburgh to allow it draw on expertise from institutions such as the University of Edinburgh in my constituency. This would then provide hundreds of good quality well paid professional jobs for people in the city – something that would be welcome during these difficult economic times."

Labour wants our city to be well cared for

Ian Perry, Environment spokesperson for Edinburgh Labour, writes for us today about one way we can ensure Edinburgh is well cared for.

There is no doubt one of the biggest challenges facing Edinburgh in the next twenty years is to reduce the amount of carbon that is discharged into the atmosphere. The council needs to play our part in reducing carbon emissions in order to stabilise the world’s climate. We cannot expect other cities - particularly in developing counties – to reduce their emissions if we cannot do it in Edinburgh.

That is why we have a manifesto commitment to protect the world climate by not only reducing the council’s own carbon footprint but also to help others do the same.

Chisholm: Targeted leisure spending is a boost for the city's health

Former Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm MSP today welcomed the news that Edinburgh Leisure, the not-for-profit trust which manages Edinburgh's sport and leisure services, had managed to secure £650,000 additional funding to develop activity programmes aimed at those most in need.

Malcolm told us "Targeted funding being used in this manner will save the health service in the long run. This is public service thinking at its best. This is exactly what Edinburgh Labour are arguing for - making our city fairer by working to make it healthier. Quality of life is for all, not just for those who can afford it."

Labour Culture and Leisure spokesperson Gordon Munro added "First steps in Leith costs £15,000 to run and this small investment gives a large dividend. The people involved have moved from unhealthy lifestyles and in doing so will save the NHS money in the long term by leading healthier lives. This money benefits the people involved, supports local sports centres such as Leith Victoria, and is an example of co-operative working between City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Leisure and Lothian Health Board."

Edinburgh council housing: running to catch up

Cllr Cammy Day

Yesterday afternoon Edinburgh Council proudly handed to its newest tenant the keys of the first new council home delivered by the 21st Century Homes programme. We congratulate Lynsey Carmichael and her family on their new home in Gracemount, and we wish them all the best.

The SNP/Lib Dem council is using this as an opportunity to showcase their "commitment to tackling the desperate affordable housing shortage in Edinburgh". We share their view that the city is desperate for affordable housing, and applaud this small step in the right direction. But what the council aren't mentioning is that during the last five years the number of affordable council houses in Edinburgh has dropped by a staggering 3,000, with the council having disposed of or demolished housing stock across the city - affordable housing that is yet to be replaced.

Edinburgh Labour moves to defend bus services

Yesterday Lothian Buses announced that, under pressure from reduced revenues and the slashing of its grant funding in the coming year, it will be increasing fares from next month.

Cllr Lesley Hinds, Edinburgh Labour's transport spokesperson, responded in yesterday's Transport Committee by persuading other parties to agree to an all-party meeting with the Minister for Housing and Transport to take up the issue with him.

You can read more on the background of this issue, and the three-pronged attack from the Scottish Government on Edinburgh's bus services, on Lesley's dedicated transport blog, Lesley Does Transport, where you can also join in the ongoing discussion on future plans for transport in Edinburgh.

Labour wants our city to be a good place to live

Gordon Munro, Culture, Sport & Leisure spokesperson for Edinburgh Labour, writes for us today about how we can make Edinburgh a good place to live.

Local libraries, parks, pitches and pavilions

A library is a place where, no matter what your income level or background, you can take part - and that is why libraries are so well loved.

In Edinburgh the current SNP/Lib-Dem council took a different view when they removed £52,000 this year - and £550,000 in 2012/13 - from the Libraries budget. Despite clawing some of this back this year in their budget, the SNP/Lib-Dems have still taken over £300,000 from libraries in Edinburgh. These were cuts Edinburgh Labour did not make in its budgets, and this demonstrates how Labour would aim to make Edinburgh a better place to live in by investing in libraries, rather than disinvesting as the SNP/Lib-Dems have done.

A great weekend's campaigning to make Edinburgh a good place to live

Teams of candidates and volunteers were out in force all over the city this weekend, bringing Edinburgh Labour's plans for a co-operative council to people's doorsteps and, just as importantly, finding out what Edinburgh folk think are the most important issues in their local areas.

On Friday, Kezia Dugdale MSP joined candidates Cllr Bill Cook and Cllr Norma Hart in Liberton / Gilmerton for a chilly but warmly welcomed canvassing session. Meanwhile Craigentinny / Duddingston candidate Alex Lunn was joined in Mountcastle by Sheila Gilmore MP and two other candidates - Leith Walk's Nick Gardner and Forth's Vicky Redpath.

On Saturday morning in Corstorphine / Murrayfield, Tom McInally was joined by Karen Keil and Cllr Lesley Hinds, along with a team of other volunteers, around the streets of Roseburn. In the afternoon this team moved on to Karen's Drumbrae / Gyle ward and had some great discussions on the windy doorsteps of South Gyle.

Meanwhile, following a great week of campaigning in Broughton, Karen Doran's City Centre team, including Sheila Gilmore MP and a host of other volunteers, hit the doorsteps of Abbeyhill. Cllr Cammy Day and Vicky Redpath braved the weather in Pilton. And there were also teams out over the weekend in Pentland Hills with Cllr Ricky Henderson, Portobello / Craigmillar with Cllr Maureen Child, and Meadows / Morningside with Cllr Paul Godzik.

All in all we spoke to well over 1,000 Edinburgh households this weekend, a terrific effort from all the teams and a further sign that our message of a co-operative council for May 3rd is capturing the public mood.

Alex Lunn: Team Labour

Alex Lunn, Edinburgh Labour candidate for Craigentinny/ Duddingston, gives us an update from the campaign trail:

Gordon Brown once said "Labour is best when it's boldest, best when we are Labour."

Boldest is a certainty. In the ward I am looking to represent - Craigentinny and Duddingston - we certainly have been the boldest. We are seeking to rectify the SNP/Lib Dem council's failure to build a New Portobello High School.

The Labour Party has always been the party of progressive education. Concerned parents who have never voted Labour before are pledging their support to Labour on May 3rd. They know that we will put right the failure of the SNP and Lib Dems to deliver this badly needed new school. People are also impressed with our commitment to a living wage and on modern apprenticeships.

Stay informed, keep in touch, get involved

It's 75 days until the local elections in Scotland.

Edinburgh Labour's 23 candidates, contesting every ward in the city, were all selected and in place more than 6 months in advance of the election, and have been actively campaigning since the autumn. As ever, this means teams of candidates and volunteers have been out on the doorsteps across the city, from the Meadows to Drumbrae, from Broughton to Gilmerton and from Corstorphine to Leith, as well as being on the phones and staffing campaign stalls across the city.

But we've also been taking the campaign online. As well as this website, where you'll find all the background info, manifesto detail, lists of candidates, dates for your diary and links to further information that you could possibly want, we're also on:

• Twitter - as @EdinburghLabour. Follow us to get the very latest info from the campaign, links to relevant stories and comments on emerging issues.
• Facebook - at EdinburghLabour. Join the group to get full details of where we're campaigning, how you can get involved, and who you already know who's taking part.

Darling: Employability projects can really help in Edinburgh

Edinburgh South West MP and former Chancellor Alistair Darling has today joined calls for further investment in projects to improve employability in our capital city.

Alistair told us "Youth unemployment is a growing problem in Edinburgh. The Council could do more to help alleviate the problems being faced by those leaving school and trying to enter the jobs market. By further increasing the funding for employability projects, local unemployment could be lowered, benefits costs reduced, and we would go some way in tackling the worryingly high levels of child poverty in the city."

Labour wants our city to be prosperous

Today, Councillor Norma Hart, Edinburgh Labour's Economic Development spokesperson, outlines how we would work towards keeping the Capital prosperous ...

"In the last five years we have seen cuts to every kind of council service. The administration’s decisions have reduced the number of schools and nurseries in our city. They have reduced school budgets, forcing head teachers to go to the parent council for money for books, decorating and repairs to basic facilities like toilets and roofs. They have reduced the amount of time spent on vital home help visits for our older people and attempted to privatise the basic care for the disabled and vulnerable, a move which was prevented by our concerted opposition.

Looking back on that budget

Two further articles have been published in recent days, which may be of interest, looking back at that local Edinburgh budget set last Thursday in the City Chambers:

- Councillor Ricky Henderson, Edinburgh Labour's Finance Spokesperson, has written for The Edinburgh Reporter outlining how we would manage the process differently in future years; if in a position to do so.

- and Councillor Andrew Burns, Edinburgh Labour's Group Leader, has written for the Evening News outlining a bit more of the detail contained within the Labour Group's alternative budget.

More on specific policy areas to follow in the coming weeks - but meantime, don't forget that Edinburgh Labour has published Moving Edinburgh Forward - Together, the draft version of our manifesto for May's elections, which calls for Edinburgh to work towards being a Co-operative Council and we'd warmly welcome further comments.

Budget update

Edinburgh's budget for 2012/13 was finally set yesterday, in a meeting with more than a whiff of farce about it. As predicted, the SNP/Lib Dem budget proposal was not published until after the meeting started, hugely restricting the opportunity for meaningful debate. But the final page of the motion wasn't distributed until 1pm - just 50 minutes before the debate concluded and the vote was taken. In the end no amendments were passed and the SNP and Lib Dem members combined to vote through their just-published plans.

Budget day

Budget day is upon us, and no sign yet of the ruling SNP/Lib Dem council's budget motion.

Because we published our draft a week in advance we've had chance to take in comments, and some updates to the Edinburgh Labour alternative budget motion have now been made. The final motion being taken to today's full council budget-setting meeting is reproduced below.

Labour are committed to introducing co-operative methods of working, and a Council Budget Committee made up of councillors and external groups is one of the new approaches which could radically improve openness and accountability. 84 days to go before the people of Edinburgh have the opportunity to vote for these plans.

Don't forget that our full draft manifesto is also available for your comments!

Edinburgh Labour says co-operative approach could start now

UPDATE: What's the antithesis of an open, co-operative budget-setting process? One which not only keeps discussions secret, but which then leaks plans to the media a day before presenting them to the democratically elected council which is due to scrutinize them!

Yesterday Edinburgh Labour published Moving Edinburgh Forward - Together, the draft version of our manifesto for May's elections, which calls for Edinburgh to work towards being a Co-operative Council.

Andrew Burns, Labour Group Leader, said "Our central idea is that the Council must change fundamentally; it must stop working for local people and start working with local people in the way we run the city and manage local services."

But with the annual budget-setting meeting of the council tomorrow (Thursday 9th Feb), Labour is pointing out that there is already a great opportunity for co-operative principles to be applied. As part of our alternative budget we are proposing the establishment of a new Council Budget Committee to improve the scrutiny and effectiveness of the budget process.

Edinburgh Labour launches draft manifesto

We invited the Edinburgh public to join us in developing Labour’s manifesto for the Council elections in May. We did that through the press, meetings and a leaflet through the door, as well as via an online survey here on this website.

Our central idea was that the Council must change fundamentally; it must stop working for local people and start working with local people in the way we run the city and manage local services. That idea has been welcomed enthusiastically by the many people who’ve responded to our invitation. They agree the way forward is for Edinburgh Council to work towards becoming a ‘Co-operative Council’.

We’ve changed much of the detail in the light of what people said and have written our draft Manifesto: “Moving Edinburgh Forward – Together”. It’s almost in its final form and we welcome any more thoughts, comments and reactions. They need to be with us by 19 February.

Edinburgh Labour calls on ruling SNP/Lib Dems to publish budget plans

This Thursday (9th Feb) is the annual budget-setting meeting of Edinburgh council. This will be a full council meeting at which the budget proposals from the ruling SNP/Lib Dem coalition are debated, and other parties have the opportunity to move amendments.

A week ahead of the meeting, last Thursday, Edinburgh Labour released its alternative budget proposals, allowing plenty of time for scrutiny and criticism following the co-operative model that we support for our council. We have released our budget proposals ahead of time every year since 2008.

Last week we called upon the SNP/Lib Dem ruling coalition to follow our lead and release their budget plans in advance of the meeting, so that other parties and the wider public can have the opportunity to review and assess them. We reiterate that call today.

Buses, bicycles and banter

The conversation is truly underway at Lesley Does Transport, the new blog set up by Councillor Lesley Hinds who speaks for Edinburgh Labour on transport issues. A wide range of views have already come in, including some very interesting ideas about cycling provision in the city, and we've had more via email that will be posted up soon too.

Meanwhile, as Councillor Ricky Henderson posted on his blog, the Evening News is reporting that due to a massive cut in government grants, our award-winning Lothian Buses may be forced to increase fares and cut services, including the well-used 48/X48 service. This is likely to cause great concern amongst bus passengers.

Do you have a view about cycle provision, bus service cuts, fare increases or any other transport issues for Edinburgh? Head over to Lesley Does Transport to help feed into Edinburgh Labour's plans to get our city moving again.

Labour Group alternative-budget proposals

Councillor Andrew Burns, leader of the Labour Group in Edinburgh, writes for us today as Edinburgh Labour unveils its final draft budget amendment a week in advance of the budget-setting meeting of the council.

Ever since I took over as Edinburgh Labour's Group Leader (back in June 2008) we've enforced a discipline of publishing our budgets just prior to the actual budget-setting meeting of the Council:

- February 2009 budget here
- February 2010 budget here

And last year, we published a full week in advance:

- February 2011 budget here

Well, its Local Government election year! --- and we've had a healthy internal debate about standing by that discipline in 2012 :-)

And, on balance, given all the arguments we've made in recent years about how flawed the Council's budget-setting process is, we concluded it would simply be hypocritical not to publish our budget proposals early again this year.

Trams, Transport and Trust in the Council

As we mentioned earlier this month, Councillor Lesley Hinds held a consultation meeting a few weeks ago to discuss transport, as part of Edinburgh Labour's continuing Moving Edinburgh Forward manifesto consultation. The day was so successful, and so many ideas were generated, that Lesley has decided to set up a new transport blog to share those ideas and bring in further comment from more people.

Lesley Does Transport is now live and ready for your input!