I had the perfect end to my day yesterday - I attended Balerno and District Schools Pipe Band's "Showcase".
We were treated to fantastic music, singing and poetry - we even heard the pipe version of Bohemian Rhapsody!
I was great to be in the audience with so many proud mums, dads & grandparents!
Love seeing this. Lots of great school farmers at Sighthill Primary School that Shona has done a great job of nurturing at her sessions there. ❤️
04.03.2026 17:23 — 👍 0 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
I was out in the Calders today helping the "Sustainability Superheroes" from Sighthill Primary School plant some apple and pear trees for the community - the first of many I hope!
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today!
This event is a chance to show solidarity with Edinburgh's UK-Iranian community, and with ordinary people in Iran.
28.02.2026 18:51 — 👍 8 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0I'll always be grateful to Cancer Research UK for the support they have given my Bill.
27.02.2026 16:23 — 👍 7 🔁 2 💬 2 📌 0Thanks Shaun!
27.02.2026 16:21 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Great news that the Rare Cancers Bill passed Third Reading in the House of Lords today.
A reminder of the power of backbenchers in driving forward legislative change - Congrats to @drscottarthurmp.bsky.social MP for all his work on this Bill.
It is now just two hours or so to go until the final vote on my Rare Cancers Bill. This article in today's Independent explains why it is so important: www.the-independent.com/news/uk/home...
If it passes today, the Bill will then go to the King for royal assent!
Today, I was invited to speak at the British Sarcoma Group Conference in Oxford by Sarcoma UK.
It was humbling to speak to Sarcoma experts from across the UK, and thank many of them for support they have given my Rare Cancers Bill... which has its final vote tomorrow.
Well deserved - H/Advisors Cicero won an award this evening for all the work they've done to support my Rare Cancers Bill.
Amazing recognition for all the work from Sonia Khan, who won her own separate award, and her team
The final vote on the Bill is on Friday, so I hope this is a good omen!
🚨BREAKING PMQs🚨
Starmer: "A death threat was shared by Reform's deputy council leader in Lancashire against the brilliant Member for Bolsover"
"If he has any decency he will stand up, apologise, condemn the comments, and sack the individual in his party"
Breaking News - This is in addition to the £150-£300 drop being delivered by the UK Government.
Details -
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"As the Prime Minister said; we are not the Briton of the Brexit years."
"We will repair the unnecessary national self harm of the deals negotiated in the last decade. We will align with the single market where it is in our national interest and in our, sovereign right to do so."
Best seat on the bus!
24.02.2026 22:41 — 👍 5 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
The gift that keeps on giving - these flowers were planted by Petland Primary School kids in 2017!
22.02.2026 11:23 — 👍 10 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
In 2018 a bunch of high-profile companies including KFC, Nando's and Burger King announced that they were signing up to the Better Chicken Commitment, meaning adherence to a set of animal welfare standards no later than 2026. It's 2026 and they just pulled out of the agreement. Shameless PR-washing.
20.02.2026 18:08 — 👍 9 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 0
It's really positive news that the UK is having to spend less to service our debt.
The Governments approach to investing more in our infrastructure (such as $45b for Northern Rail), carrying out planning reform & investing in clean & green energy is all helping.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Walk Wheel Cycle Trust have published their "manifesto" for the Holyrood election, they said it would deliver:
💚 Stronger connections to our communities
and
👩⚕️ Less pressure on our NHS
Details here: www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/our-blog/opi... @spokes.org.uk @livingstreetsedi.bsky.social
Best seat on the bus!
20.02.2026 11:50 — 👍 10 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
The Scottish Government cuts the policing budget, and local Edinburgh South West businesses pay the price.
Story - www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinbur...
Best seat on the bus!
19.02.2026 15:19 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Progress on safety at the main vehicle entrance to two primary schools on Redhall Grove.
-Raised Table ✅
-Tactile Paving ✅
-Red stone chips to indicate pedestrian priority to drivers ❌
- just paint a zebra crossing already @transportscotland.bsky.social
We have a growing economy where inflation is falling. There is more to do, particularly on youth unemployment, but this is welcome progress.
Story: www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cg...
When Reform isn't right wing enough! Maria was first elected as a Tory in 2024, and the switched to Reform. Now she's switched to "Restore Britain", a new right wing party created on Friday.
16.02.2026 08:27 — 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
👉 You can find it on page 23:
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
This is a welcome step - the Government must now accept the recommendation.
Myself and others on the Committee will continue using our roles to push for a transport system that is truly accessible for everyone.
The Transport Select Committee has now published its report on the Railways Bill, and I’m really pleased to see that the concerns raised with me by the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) have been included as a formal recommendation to the Government.
More>>
An update on what I was up to in Parliament this week.
See: drscottarthur.wordpress.com/2026/02/13/m...
Pink roses nearby a red heart on the memorial wall.
Pink roses laid next to another heart.
Pink roses affixed to rough concrete on the memorial wall.
Pink roses fixed above another heart.
Four of our volunteers are widowed. Today, for Valentine's Day, we laid roses for their spouses at the wall. ❤️🌹
#ValentinesDay
This is a welcome u-turn from the SNP Government - A £20k pay rise for NHS bosses when CAMHS is under so much pressure would have been an insult to staff, parents and young people in Edinburgh South West.
Story: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Well done to The Free Company in Balerno - They have been awarded a prestigious Michelin Green Star in the 2026 Great Britain & Ireland Guide for its "outstanding commitment to sustainable gastronomy".
Check them out here: www.the-free-company.com
@edinburghminute.com @edinreporter.bsky.social
