It was fascinating to see how Edinburgh could look in the future if all sides work together to make a modern city with less congestion and more green space.
David Naylor, the latest participant of the Opening Doors shadow scheme, shares his insight into the work of Edinburgh city councillors and members of the Scottish Parliament. Over to David to tell us more’¦
Continue reading “Behind the scenes at City Chambers and Parliament”We are delighted that Marion Donaldson has become our first ‘shadow’ to stand for election. Marion is the Labour candidate for the Leith Walk by-election on 10 September, and it promises to be an unusually energetic campaign with not just one but two seats to fill.
Continue reading “Out of the shadows into the political arena”Who is Leith Open Space? What is a shadow scheme? Can you get arrested for that? Is it a mentoring programme? Similar to an internship? Do you get paid? Some of the diverse and rather amusing questions I was asked during my time shadowing on Opening Doors to Democracy, facilitated by Leith Open Space.
Continue reading “Opening Doors to civic engagement in Edinburgh”“As a small business owner I had always wondered how decisions were made by the Council…”
Tracy Griffen signed up with Opening Doors to find out more about local politics. Here she explains what she learned by shadowing Councillor Nick Gardner at his work in the City Chambers and out and about in the community of Leith Walk. Our thanks to Tracy for taking part in the shadow scheme and for providing us with such excellent feedback. Now, over to Tracy…
Continue reading “Discovering the inner workings of Edinburgh political life”
“It’s never ending”, says David Ng Hop, describing the work of an MSP. David had asked to take part in the Opening Doors shadow scheme because he wanted to see every aspect of what it means to be a member of the Scottish Parliament. Here is his report…
I spent four days with two very different MSPs, one a shadow minister the other an opposition back bencher. The four days allowed me the opportunity to see the variety of work which is done day to day through Parliament and also within the constituency office. I discovered one thing very quickly – this is not a 9 to 5, Monday to Friday job. The work of an MSP is never-ending.
Over the four days I spent two with Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central and two with Malcolm Chisholm, MSP for Edinburgh North and Leith. In many ways their work is very different. Sarah is the shadow Minister for the Environment while Malcolm’s main area of work is as a member of the Equal Opportunities Committee and the Finance Committee.
But their constituency responsibilities are similar. Both send out regular updates to people in their constituency, both get huge numbers of emails and letters every day and every single one has to be answered.
Inside the Parliament I had the chance of sitting in and listening to the Equal Opportunities Committee and from the gallery of the debating chamber I saw the vote on the Public Service Reform bill as well as general questions and First Minister’s Questions. Following Sarah in her duties outside Parliament I visited the new Tynecastle High School (which was built under the last Labour-LibDem coalition in the Scottish Parliament) and sat in on a meeting with the Head Teacher.
I didn’t spend all the time watching. I also had the chance to help with work in the office, stuffing envelopes with letters replying to constituents campaigning against the cuts proposed by the council.
It was all very interesting. I would like to thank both Sarah and Malcolm for allowing me to be with them over four days – and to thank their teams of Personal Assistants who all made me very welcome. I would like to thank them all.
David is a support assistant in the City of Edinburgh Council health and social care department. We would like to thank him for his enthusiastic support of the Opening Doors shadow scheme which aims to encourage ethnic minority representation in politics.
Politicians, preoccupied with political rivalry, can forget the most important thing – the needs of people they represent
Read Ola Kasprzak’s fascinating and forthright report of her experience of shadowing two politicians in the Scottish Parliament and City of Edinburgh Council – she says they changed her negative opinion of politicians but her conclusions should be read by anyone standing for election this year. Or any other year.
Continue reading “Politics out of the shadow”
Sarah Boyack MSP and Francis Kahembwe photographed between meetings on another busy day at Holyrood.
“How interesting to see kids of 9-11yrs with so much interest in politics. I was exposed to something new which I could communicate to my parliamentary friends in Uganda.”
During his last few days as a ‘shadow’ in the Scottish Parliament, Francis Kahembwe somehow found time to keep a diary. Here is his fascinating observation of Scottish politics at work – and his hope for the future.
Continue reading “This is what politics is about”‘I have found out that there is still a gap that needs to be filled. At the local level, there is an immense need to involve the minority community.’?
Doris Koyabe reflects on what she has learned from Opening Doors.
Why did I join the shadowing scheme?
There were three simple reasons. First of all, politics affects everything we do from the water we drink to the things we buy. Why should we leave matters relating to our well being in the hands of politicians? I have always been interested in knowing how politicians and policy makers come to a consensus since they affect each one of us on a daily basis. Given that policies and the politics of a country go together, I thought this was the best way to experience exactly how decisions are made. Continue reading “Time to involve the minority”
My aim is to encourage Sikh women to be more involved in politics. I wanted to be able to show how we can help to influence decisions that have an impact on our lives.
“As a Scottish Sikh I can see both sides of the coin.”
It’s a cold winter day but a warm and spicy smell greets you as soon as you open the door. Wednesday is curry day at Dr Bell’s Family Centre in Leith and that is why Asha Devi Singh suggested meeting here for lunch.
Over a delicious plate of chick pea and potato curry with poppadom and coriander relish on the side, Asha explains why she decided to take part in the Opening Doors Shadow Scheme. ‘My aim is to encourage Sikh women to be more involved in politics,’? she says, ‘I wanted to be able to show how we can help to influence decisions that have an impact on our lives.’? Continue reading “A helping hand”
The Opening Doors visit to the Scottish Parliament was a first for Subash Punn. Here he describes why it made a lasting impression.
Subash Punn on the Scottish Parliament: “Never judge this building by the cover”.
My first and as yet only visit to the Scottish Parliament was full of profound surprises, the three-hour experience as monumental as the building itself. Continue reading “The essence of democracy”
