Ben Parker

What did I get up to in October 2025? 5 updates from October 2025

Read the post here 📝
open.substack.com/pub/cllrbenp...

Screenshot of blog post. There is picture of Ben smiling against a backdrop of a hedge. The text above the image reads: Cllr Ben Parker's Blog. What did I get up to in October 2025? 5 Updates from October 2025.

My latest blog post for October 🗓️ is now live, covering:

Council culture 🎭
Supporting migrants and refugees 💚
Environmental concerns with data centres and AI 🌍
Retrofitting homes and issues with Scottish Government funding 💷🏠

and more (!)

People gathering in a busy room for a workshop. There are posters around the room with post it notes added to them. A text overlay reads: What did I get up to in September 2025? 5 updates from September 2025.

My latest blog post is now live covering action and updates on: rogue landlords 🏚️, purpose built student accommodation 🧑‍🎓, artificial intelligence 🤖, BDS 🕊 (and more!)

Subscribe and read my blog here: open.substack.com/pub/cllrbenp... 🗒️

The National. Edinburgh becomes first city in Scotland to boycott Israel. Councillors voted in favour of a Green motion which moves the capital closer to implementing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel.

This month the Scottish Parliament backed Green calls for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel and companies complicit in the genocide and occupation.

Now it's time to put those words into action at all levels of government.

Find out more about the Astley Ainslie Community Trust here: www.aact.scot

A busy room of people talking / wandering around. There is a map on the floor and posters on the wall with post it notes where people are sharing their ideas.

Lots of folk at the Eric Liddell Centre contributing their ideas for the Astley Ainslie as part of the local place plan development 🗺️📍

What’s on my list? More space for nature, co-operative / co-housing development, accessibility at the forefront and (of course!) protecting the trees 🌳

I’m pleased to be proposing this motion today 🇵🇸

The Scottish Government took a big step forward in supporting BDS calls from Green MSPs, but now they must do the same for Councils ⚖️

New powers need to be granted to local authorities or else the government position is just warm words ❌ 💬 🤷

“In what appears to be pandering to the demands of a small group of CEOs, political parties – and not just Labour – are showing their true colours.” 🟥🟧🟦

Thank you to @rachaelrevesz.bsky.social for this excellent overview of a complex topic ⤵️ 📰

Ben smiling next to a black noticeboard for the Braid Hills. The words "Welcome to the Braid Hills" are visible at the top of the noticeboard in white text. A text overlay on the image reads: What did I get up to in August 2025? 6 updates from August 2025.

A little bit later than usual, but August's blog post is now up 📝

Read on to hear about what I've been doing for tree protection in the Fringe 🌳, local traffic improvements in Marchmont 🚧 🚶‍♀️, tourist tax spending on accessibility ♿ and lots more (!)

open.substack.com/pub/cllrbenp...

Please do submit your views on this excellent project! And for what it’s worth, I support the option advocated by the Community Council ✅

I will ask about this — thanks for flagging!

Absolutely delighted that, at the 3rd time of asking, we have successfully banned arms companies from commercial activity (including testing) in Council parks and greenspace 🌳🚫

Thank you to everyone who wrote into the consultation earlier this year to make your views known .. we did it! 💬📝

This issue is back at committee tomorrow where the new park management rules are being decided 🌳

After the Council's own consultation saw lots of write-in objections to the use of parks by arms companies, we are once again calling for a ban 🚫

Fingers crossed for a better result tomorrow ✅

I remain very concerned about this and will be raising this further - watch this space! 🌳

The Tour de France is coming to Edinburgh in 2027, but sponsors include fossil fuel giants the city should not be advertising.
🚫 ⛽✈️🛢️ 🚫
@cllrbenparker.bsky.social was asked if council rules mean that logos of climate-destroying brands should be removed from the picture when the Tour passes through.

Surgery poster. In the top half of the image, Ben is smiling against a background of tenement buildings set against the blue sky. Text overlay in "bubble" style writing reads: Surgery with Councillor Ben Parker. A banner is in the middle of the image with contact details: cllr.ben.parker@edinburgh.gov.uk; @CllrBenParker; 0131 529 4055 x 34055. The bottom half of the image reads: "at Morningside Library, every 2nd Thursday of the month from 4-5pm. At my surgery I am happy to: Help with any issues you are experiencing; Discuss any ideas you have about the city or local area; Sign documents and take declarations. Please note that surgeries will only be held during school term time."

As your Councillor, I hold a monthly drop-in surgery at Morningside Library from 4-5pm on the 2nd Thursday of each month 💬📅📚

There is no need to book — just call in! The library is wheelchair accessible and I'm happy to accommodate any access needs you might have, just let me know how 👨‍🦯🧏

Kate and Ben sitting in the sun on a wall in Marchmont, holding up a Vote Green clipboard and a copy of Green News

Had a lovely morning doorknocking with Cllr Ben Parker in Marchmont yesterday. Lots of great conversations; gathered some council casework to take forward; and got a few folk registered to vote 💚

@cllrbenparker.bsky.social
@edinburghgreens.bsky.social

What did I get up to in June 2025? 5 updates from June 2025

What did I get up to in June 2025? 🌳🙋‍♂️

Read my latest blog post now and subscribe for future updates: cllrbenparker.substack.com 🖥️📝

Campaign poster for Q Manivannan, Scottish Greens candidate for Fountainbridge-Craiglockhart, encouraging people to vote in today's by-election

Polls are open in Fountainbridge-Craiglockhart! A Green [1] vote can stop a second Tory councillor for the ward, deliver fresh ideas and new energy to Edinburgh council.

I’m so excited for Thursday — fingers crossed we can get @qmanivannan.bsky.social elected! I’d be so excited to work with them in the City Chambers #VoteQ1 🗳️🌱

Edinburgh council to look into giving workers four-day week One councillor argued that it could help tackling staffing and morale problems at the council.

Edinburgh Council has agreed to evaluate a four day week for our workers after my motion was passed yesterday at our full council meeting

“Council to look into giving workers four-day week” www.bbc.com/news/article...

📐🚗🚶‍♀️🚴🏾‍♀️👩🏼‍🦼We have seen draft plans for the new Polwarth junction design, and they look good! We believe these improvements address our community's safety concerns.

🗓️Public consultation starts later in the summer.

🗣️Your voice will be crucial at this stage – we need to show support for these changes!

And a reminder that you can subscribe to my blog here: cllrbenparker.substack.com .. thanks!

What did I get up to in May 2025? 5 updates from May 2025

It's that time of the month again where I share my latest blog post 📝📅

Read on to find out more about work I'm doing on the Tour de France, supporting BANZAI's cargo bike library, Council retrofitting and more! ⤵️ 🚲 🏡

open.substack.com/pub/cllrbenp...

Fantastic evening out in Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart for our great candidate Q‼️

So many people excited on the doors to #VoteGreen1 on the 26th of June💚

I’ve certainly got a good feeling about this one 👀

Thanks Nigel

Thanks Sara — I’ll flag it as a problem stretch in case it’s not been raised previously ✅

Calling for a ban on arms companies testing in public parks After hearing news that arms company Leonardo were testing equipment in the Braid Hills, I brought a motion to the Council calling for a ban on such activities in the future.

You can read my full speech 💬 from the meeting here ⤵️

This was incredibly disappointing 🙅‍♂️

In speaking, I mentioned the inspirational actions of Labour Cllrs in 1986 when opposing apartheid in South Africa ✊

How far Labour has fallen that, now, in the face of a genocide, they refuse to use their power to oppose arms companies testing on Council land 🥀

I am happy to flag to police too as they can try and be more present — is it happening frequently at the same spot?