The marchers were blind men from sheltered workshops and trade union councils. They wanted pensions and workers’ rights; “Justice not charity” was their motto.
Continue reading “The Forgotten Pioneers: Disability History Month 2017”Making and breaking bread (without Bake Off)
How to make bread? Here’s a long overdue Friday food story to share a basic recipe which produces good, tasty loaves. But first a confession:
Continue reading “Making and breaking bread (without Bake Off)”More power for local people
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 emerged from a series of community discussion events in Leith and north Edinburgh. Can we turn words into actions?
Continue reading “More power for local people”You see something wrong, you want to fix it: Martin Veart
People are not pawns to be traded in some game. Our young people should have the same opportunities to work, study and travel abroad as I, and many others, have enjoyed.
Martin Veart, Liberal Democrat candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith, identifies housing, health and education, as local priorities in his answers to the Leith Open Space #onlinehustings: five questions for our five candidates.
Continue reading “You see something wrong, you want to fix it: Martin Veart”There’s a bucketful of work to be done: Deidre Brock
My daughters were and are a big influence – I want them to inherit a better world and a better country and I want young people to have every chance to enjoy life and do amazing things.
Deidre Brock, Scottish National Party candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith, highlights austerity, foodbanks, immigration and investing in young and old among her responses to Leith Open Space #onlinehustings: five questions for our five candidates.
Continue reading “There’s a bucketful of work to be done: Deidre Brock”A youthful desire to make a difference: Lorna Slater
I would fight to abolish the bedroom tax and reform our chaotic welfare system. Social security should make people feel secure and hopeful, not terrified.
Lorna Slater, Scottish Green Party candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith, identifies priorities for housing, social welfare, green spaces, and a universal basic income, in her answers to Leith Open Space #onlinehustings: five questions for our five candidates.
Continue reading “A youthful desire to make a difference: Lorna Slater”For rights, responsibilities and rewards: Gordon Munro
The most important issue is poverty. We have 42,100 people in work in poverty in this city. We have pensioner poverty, we have fuel poverty, we have nurses using food banks and 21% of all children in this city are growing up in poverty.
Gordon Munro, Scottish Labour candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith, outlines his priorities for tackling inequality – and pays tribute to Joe Strummer – as he answers Leith Open Space #onlinehustings: five questions for our five candidates.
Continue reading “For rights, responsibilities and rewards: Gordon Munro”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.
Continue reading “Politics, homelessness and scuba diving: Iain McGill”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.
Welcome to Leith: how to create a sense of belonging?
Continue reading “Welcome to Leith: how to create a sense of belonging?”We want to break down stereotypes and challenge prejudices. We want a society that welcomes difference and diversity Multicultural Family Base