Leith Open Space Events – Page 2

Politics, homelessness and scuba diving: Iain McGill

I thought to myself if I’m so hacked off about the decisions they make affecting people’s lives, it might be easier and more productive to kick them out and become the MP myself…

Iain McGill, Scottish Conservative candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith explains why he’s standing for election on 8 June. Welcome to Leith Open Space #onlinehustings: five questions for five candidates.

Five open questions for Edinburgh North and Leith candidates

Dear Deidre Brock, Gordon Munro, Iain McGill, Lorna Slater and Martin Veart. We would be delighted if you would take part in our friendly online hustings.

We understand that as candidates for Edinburgh North and Leith you will be working all hours of the day and night in the short time left before the general election on 8 June.

But we would love to learn a little bit more about you and why you are stending for election. There has probably never been a moire challenging time for our elected representatives. Many voters do not get the chance to meet their local candidates face to face and it is often difficult to see the real person beneath the media stereotype.

The aim of this simple questionnaire is to provide an opportunity for you to share your politicial and personal motivations and inspirations – and for us to meet the human individual who is taking the risk of standing for election and asking for our votes.

Questions

What are the most important issues for people in the constituency? Name perhaps three.
How would you use your seat in Westminster to address local issues, using powers not held by the Scottish Parliament?
What or who motivated you to become a politician – were you inspired by anyone in particular and if so what did you admire about them?
Being an MP is a hugely demanding job, how do you like to unwind, relax and recharge your batteries?
Can you share with us a quotation from a favourite poem or song?

Our five local candidates are (in alphabetical order of first name)

Deidre Brock, SNP standing for re-election after winning the seat from Labour’s Mark Lazarowicz in 2015

Gordon Munro, Labour, local councillor since 2003, re-elected Leith Ward 4 May.

Iain McGill, Conservative, stood for Westminster in 2010 and 2015, and Scottish Parliament in 2016.

Lorna Slater, Green, engineering project manager, standing for election for the first time.

Martin Veart, Lib Dem, formerly oil and gas industry, studying for MSc Heriot Watt.

A Community Manifesto: can we shift the balance of power in Leith?

A new way of working is in the air. That’s the bold, cheering and challenging statement at the start of the Community Manifesto which has emerged from a series of community discussion events in Leith and north Edinburgh. Can we turn words into actions?

Taboos, temptations and a little Eve’s pudding

What to cook for the Being Human Festival event? Treading softly through food taboos, World Kitchen in Leith has drawn up a tempting menu with dishes sending aromas sizzling through cyberspace in a rapid exchange of emails between the cooks.

Faith and food taboos: what can we cook?

How does converting from one religious faith to another (or none) change family relationships? What happens to individual sense of identity and belonging? And how does that affect simple choices in everyday life?

Share your secrets of success at The Gathering

What does success look like? How does it feel and taste? Who makes it happen? How long does it last? Maybe you have some or all of the answers. If so we’d love you to come and share the secrets of success at The Gathering.

Five priorities for community action

Could community co-ops help to solve local housing and childcare shortages? These were two of the most radical proposals to emerge from a Community Manifesto meeting for Edinburgh Northern and Leith. Other priorities included zero waste strategies for the local economy, an empty space audit and devolving more resources to community level.

Blue sky thinking? Let’s write a bold community manifesto

Chimney tops against a blue sky — Through the roof: Edinburgh house prices

Let’s invest in more affordable housing, a sustainable local economy, better care for young and old, better use of public space….these were among top issues at our Open Space event in December. Let’s turn them into a community manifesto for the Scottish Parliament elections in May.