Hinds: Edinburgh Labour's transport priorities

Cllr Lesley Hinds at the manifesto launch, with
Scottish Labour Leader Johann Lamont MSP and
Edinburgh Labour Leader Cllr Andrew Burns

The botched handling of the tram project by the Council, along with wider transport issues, are guaranteed hot topics for Edinburgh’s Council elections in five weeks time. 

The current council is run by a coalition of SNP and Liberal Democrats, and it’s a token of transport’s political importance that Edinburgh Labour has chosen former Lord Provost Lesley Hinds to speak for them on the subject.

“There are three immediate priorities for Labour”, says Councillor Hinds. “We want to make the utility companies, who dig up our roads, far more responsive to local people. We want to restore the health of the city centre after the battering it’s taken from the botched tram works by making it much more comfortable for pedestrians. And, most important, we want to set up a Transport Forum of experts and citizens to think through our modern transport needs. Mapping the way forward for our common prosperity is a complex challenge, so we will need some time, a breathing space to do that work.”

Cycling in the capital - let's improve it together

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Edinburgh Labour spokesperson for Transport, believes the council should do more to make cycling in and around the city safer and more widely supported.

Cycling in Edinburgh is increasingly popular, as a recreation and as a way of getting to work or just getting around the city. That’s a good thing – but there have also been two tragic fatal accidents involving cyclists in our city recently. That means, as cycling quite rightly gets more popular, we all need to pay more attention to making cycling safer.

Labour challenges SNP on Edinburgh bus fare hikes

Scottish Labour in Edinburgh and Holyrood have today challenged the SNP on their plans for the future of bus services, and also on the potential legal implications of their decision to cut the fuel subsidy scheme for bus operators which has seen fares in the city hiked.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Spokesperson for Edinburgh Labour, has said that the Scottish Government must review its decision which is due to come into effect next week, and that the increase in fares should be reversed. Richard Baker MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, has also tabled questions for Ministers on the legality of their proposals.

The open transport conversation continues

This week Edinburgh Labour is focusing on transport. Alongside our key pledges - the Transport Forum, the 5% minimum spend on walking and cycling provision, and others, all detailed in our manifesto here - we are continuing our conversation with Edinburgh folk on their transport priorities.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Edinburgh Labour's spokesperson for transport, has her own blog, Lesley Does Transport, where a series of illuminating conversations are taking place around some of the key transport issues for the city. Some great ideas for how we can make things better have already been posted.

Fancy joining the conversation? Come on over!

New today: we're asking you to please consider signing the Pedal on Parliament petition and join in the event at Holyrood on 28th April.

Labour's transport plans: moving Edinburgh forward

If Labour is back in the Administration in the Council after the May election, Councillor Lesley Hinds says there’ll be a moratorium on major new traffic schemes and road alterations for two years, other than smartening up the city centre for pedestrians after the tram works. That two-year pause will give a chance for Edinburgh citizens and elected councillors to get back in the driving seat, setting policy for the way forward after a problematic few years.

“There are three immediate priorities for Labour”, says the former Lord Provost. “We want to make the utility companies, who dig up our roads, far more responsive to local people. We want to restore the health of the city centre after the battering it’s taken from the botched tram works by making it much more comfortable for pedestrians. And, most important, we want to set up a Transport Forum of experts and citizens to think through our modern transport needs. Mapping the way forward for our common prosperity is a complex challenge. So we will need some time, a breathing space.”

Join us on the campaign trail

One of the teams out last weekend
for Super Sunday

With fewer than 1,000 hours until polls open the campaign for Edinburgh Labour's vision of a co-operative capital is picking up pace every day. Volunteers and candidates have been out on the doorsteps all week, and this will continue over the weekend and onwards to 3rd May.

Please get in touch - contact details at the top right of this page - if you want to join us.

Friday (today!)

• at 1.30pm volunteers in Forth ward will be out on Pilton Avenue and Boswell Parkway.

Saturday

• at 10.30am the Forth ward team will meet at the Prentice Centre for more campaigning.
• at 3pm a team in Leith Walk ward will be door knocking in Newhaven Road and Bonnington Road

Sunday

• Stockbridge Street stall! Come down to see us in Stockbridge and help out on the stall from 10am to 5pm.

And next week there'll be even more opportunities to join the teams and help to Move Edinburgh Forward - Together! 

Hustings: teachers' concern over poor management

Councillor Paul Godzik, Edinburgh Labour spokesperson for Education, Children & Families, participated in last night's local election hustings run by EIS (the Educational Institute of Scotland - Scotland's largest teaching union) and here gives us a flavour of the event.


Curriculum for Excellence and the recent changes to secondary school management in Edinburgh dominated the EIS local elections hustings last night, with teachers voicing unhappiness at how both processes have been managed.

Gala Dinner special guests announced

Edinburgh Labour has announced that it is to hold a Gala Dinner on Sunday 22nd April 2012, in the city's Radisson Hotel on the High Street.

Host for the evening will be Alastair Darling MP, and speakers will include Scottish Labour Leader Johann Lamont MSP and Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Margaret Curran MP.

Tony Blair’s former spokesman, press secretary and director of communications Alastair Campbell will also be speaking at the event. And Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Anas Sarwar will be hosting a special reception prior to the main dinner.

Guests will be served a three course meal with wine. Tickets are £35, and proceeds will go towards Edinburgh Labour's campaign for a co-operative capital. Corporate tables can also be purchased.

For further information and to buy tickets, please email Bill Cook at movingedinburghforward@gmail.com or call him on 07854 500619.

We are also holding a Race Night on Friday 27th April - please see full details on our Events page.

Education, children & families: Labour wants our city to be fair

Labour councillors have fought against
cuts in Edinburgh's schools and nurseries

Councillor Paul Godzik, Edinburgh Labour spokesperson for Education, Children & Families, writes about our co-operative plans to refocus the council on doing the best for our schools and our children.


Education, Children & Families is the Council’s biggest department, with a yearly budget of some £380 million. It’s responsible for the city's most important asset, our children. But while it has delivered many excellent services, too many parents and teachers feel that education is no longer this Council’s number one priority.

Imagine a fairer Edinburgh

Imagine a city in which parents have a direct role in agreeing education provision.

Imagine a city in which the staff, students, parents and wider community of each school have the opportunity to shape how resources are applied.

Imagine a city in which a not-for-profit childcare co-operative focuses on affordable, high-quality provision where the greatest need exists.

These ideas are all part of Edinburgh Labour's vision for a co-operative capital, and we'll be looking them in more detail on the site this week.

Let's make Edinburgh fairer, together.

Join us this weekend for Inspiring Saturday and Super Sunday!

Inspiring Saturday!

As announced last week, there's a Community Scottish Labour Action Day on Saturday 17th to include inspiring training sessions on community organising and campaigning as well as a free lunch. Please register in advance - the details are all on the link - and bring a friend!

Super Sunday!

Join us at 78 Buccleuch Street [map] on Sunday 18th at 11am for road tripping, leafleting and door knocking around Edinburgh... followed by the pub! This will be a whistle-stop tour of as many of our wards as possible to lend a helping hand to candidates. Come along at 11am for a lift.

We'll be in two teams, and we're aiming to cover Inverleith, City Centre, Forth, Leith Walk, Meadows/Morningside, Corstorphine & Murrayfield, Liberton & Gilmerton, Craigentinny & Duddingston, and Portobello & Craigmillar! Come along for the ride!

Paul Godzik: Scotland's first co-operative council?

Councillor Paul Godzik, Edinburgh Labour spokesperson for Education, Children & Families, writes about our campaign - and his long-held aspiration - to make Edinburgh a co-operative council.

Rumours abound around the City Chambers in Edinburgh that SNP Councillors have already picked their portfolios. The Convenor for Economic Development, Tom Buchanan, is lining up a bid for the role of Leader of the Council, with current Deputy Leader Steve Cardownie being touted by his SNP chums as a future Lord Provost. Other SNP councillors have picked out what desk they want to stick their feet under when they are duly voted into office on a wave of nationalist sentiment. It’s all agreed; the rest of us might as well pack up and go home!

That’s despite the SNP having only just declared their list of candidates, and having no published manifesto; not even a functioning website.

Andrew Burns: Moving Edinburgh Forward Together

Councillor Andrew Burns, Labour Group Leader on the City of Edinburgh Council, spoke yesterday at the launch of the Edinburgh Labour manifesto for May, Moving Edinburgh Forward Together: Labour's vision for a co-operative capital. Here's what he said.


"Many thanks to everyone present, for making the effort to come along to today’s launch of the Edinburgh Labour 2012 Local Government Election Manifesto.

I’m particularly grateful to Johann for making time, in what I know is a very busy diary, to be here with us this morning and to have opened our proceedings.

As many of you know, we launched a draft version of this manifesto back on the 3rd November 2011, a full-six months out from the upcoming election day of 3rd May.

Manifesto launched: Labour's vision for a co-operative capital

Cllr Lesley Hinds, Johann Lamont MSP
and Cllr Andrew Burns this morning

Councillor Andrew Burns and Edinburgh Labour's 23 candidates, with the help of Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont MSP, have today launched our manifesto for the local elections on 3rd May:

Moving Edinburgh Forward Together

Labour's vision for a co-operative capital

After a 4-month consultation process which attracted well over a thousand responses from across the city, Edinburgh Labour has developed a plan for Edinburgh which includes at its heart the co-operative principle: joining forces with the people who use what the council provides, to do things better, and to make the money go further.

 

Read the full manifesto online or click here then click the blue Download button to download a full PDF (565KB).

Lamont to speak at launch of Edinburgh Labour manifesto tomorrow

Edinburgh Labour is delighted to confirm that Johann Lamont MSP, Scottish Labour leader, will be in attendance at the launch of Edinburgh Labour’s 2012 Local Government Manifesto tomorrow, Tuesday 13th March 2012.

Johann and Councillor Andrew Burns will formally launch Edinburgh Labour’s 2012 manifesto on the day that the formal notice of election is published for May’s council poll.

Edinburgh Labour published an initial draft for consultation on 3rd November 2011, a full six-months from polling day, and has undertaken a wide-ranging consultation process over the last four months.

Marra: Anti-social behaviour strategy is right for Edinburgh

Jenny Marra MSP, Scottish Labour’s Shadow Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, was out this week in Edinburgh helping to promote Labour’s manifesto commitment on tackling anti-social behaviour.

Together with local MSP Kezia Dugdale and Councillor Bill Cook she joined activists out campaigning in The Inch.

Jenny told us:

“Scottish Labour believe that all our people, young and old, have the right to live in safe and secure communities. That is why Edinburgh Labour has developed a clear and long term strategy for tackling both anti-social behaviour and its root causes. I look forward to working with them to put this into action.”

Edinburgh Labour calls for cross-party response to Remploy closures

Sarah Boyack MSP recently
visited the Edinburgh Remploy factory

The sudden decision yesterday to close 4 Remploy factories in Scotland, including one in Edinburgh which employs 28 staff of whom 27 are disabled, has been condemned as "deeply callous" by Edinburgh Labour.

The factories in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Wishaw and Springburn were announced for closure with reports that staff were not even told beforehand. A further four sites in Scotland are identified for “further consideration”.

Scottish Labour figures were quick to condemn the decision, and the way it was made.

New Community action network to launch in Edinburgh 17 March

Kez Dugdale MSP invites you to a sponsored Community Trade Union Action Day with Movement for Change.

This Community Scottish Labour Action Day will include inspiring training sessions on community organising and campaigning as well as the obligatory free lunch.

M4C is all about empowering people to campaign and deliver change in our communities through grassroots activism.

Former police officer welcomes plans for anti-social behaviour unit

Tom McInally, former Inspector with Lothian and Borders police and now Edinburgh Labour candidate for Corstorphine and Murrayfield for May's election, has warmly welcomed plans for an anti-social behaviour unit to improve community safety in Edinburgh.

Tom writes: "When serving in the police in Edinburgh I was heavily involved in community safety. I was impressed by the support given to our local police by the Labour administrations of the time, and by how that support contributed to making our city one of the safest in Europe.

Labour wants our city to be safe

Bill Cook, Community Safety spokesperson for Edinburgh Labour, writes for us today about one way we can make Edinburgh safer for all.

Edinburgh Labour is absolutely committed to restoring the balance in favour of those that were once described as good citizens. We want to move away from the language that describes our people as mere customers rather than citizens of Scotland’s capital city. We believe that Edinburgh City Council is the democratic embodiment of our community, there to serve the people of Edinburgh. As the embodiment of our city wide community we believe passionately that it should play its full role in determining the type of community and society we live in.

The momentum is with Edinburgh Labour

As May's election gets ever closer, teams of Edinburgh Labour volunteers are out pretty much every day across the city, talking to folk on the doorsteps and the phones, and discovering that our plans for a co-operative council are really popular with voters.
Our team of candidates was selected last November, and our consultative manifesto creation process running since then has seen more than 100 people offer comments which have helped shape our plans for Edinburgh. The final manifesto will be published very shortly.

There are now more opportunities than ever to get involved in the campaign, and this weekend is the perfect time to start. Here's a taster of what's happening; feel free to come along and help out at any session! New volunteers always welcome.

Boyack: Community energy co-ops are a win-win for Edinburgh

Sarah Boyack MSP has strongly backed Edinburgh Labour's proposals for promoting sustainable energy projects, including this week's commitment to develop 20 new community energy co-operatives within the next five years.

Sarah told us: “I believe Edinburgh Labour’s local energy proposals are exciting because they will create jobs, reduce harmful green house gas emissions and help people who’ve seen their energy bills rise. Domestic energy prices have shot up over the last few years and we need to see much more done to help people make their houses more energy efficient and to reduce their energy bills by making practical use of renewables such as solar panels. This is a real win win for Edinburgh residents. What’s particularly exciting is the idea that local residents themselves will be involved in identifying what’s needed in their communities and their homes.” 

Yesterday Sarah posted on her own website details of how she has been holding the Scottish Government to account on their energy policy. You can read all about it, and watch a video of Sarah quizzing the Energy Minister in Parliament, here.