Labour suspends city MSP as party's woes deepen
Plus: Elsie Inglis statue set for go-ahead despite controversy; and need for AI vision
Labour MSP suspended as poll predicts near wipe-out for party in Capital
Lothians MSP Fosyol Choudhury has been suspended by the Labour Party as it launches its UK conference amid dire opinion polling.
Choudhury, who has represented the Lothian region since 2021, will sit as an independent MSP while the party investigates a complaint of inappropriate conduct.
The Bangladesh-born politician - one of the founders of the Edinburgh Mela festival - was chosen last month as Labour’s candidate for the redrawn Edinburgh Northern seat in next May’s Scottish Parliament election.
The move comes as a seat-by-seat YouGov poll predicted the party would lose all the Edinburgh seats it gained last July to the SNP if another General Election was held today.
The party’s UK conference got underway in Liverpool yesterday as a Survation poll for Labour List suggested more than half of party members want Sir Keir Starmer gone as leader before the next election.
The complaint: No details have been made public about the complaint against Choudhury, other than the fact it came from a fellow Labour Party member and alleges inappropriate conduct. It is understood to be unrelated to the recent suspension and arrest of fellow Labour MSP Colin Smyth over allegations of a hidden camera in gents toilets at the Holyrood parliament.
Region’s only ethnic minority MSP: Choudhury, who is also chairman of the Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council, is the only ethnic minority MSP outside of Glasgow.
The polling verdict: The YouGov projection, based on 13,000 samples taken over the last three weeks, predicted a nationwide collapse in support for Labour, leaving the party with Ian Murray as its only Edinburgh MP. It suggests Douglas Alexander in Lothian East and Kirsty McNeill in Midlothian would also survive, but Scott Arthur in Edinburgh South West, Tracy Gilbert in Edinburgh North and Leith and Chris Murray in Edinburgh East and Musselburgh would fall to the SNP. Christine Jardine would retain her seat in Edinburgh West, but a massive surge in support for Reform would see it win five seats in southern Scotland, including the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk constituency in the Borders.
What they said: While Choudhury has not commented, the Labour Party has said it takes all complaints seriously and will carry out an investigation under its internal procedures. SNP MP Kirsty Blackman has called for the party to “come clean” over the reason for the suspension.
YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING
ELSIE INGLIS STATUE: A long-awaited statue of Elsie Inglis is set to be approved for the Royal Mile despite controversy over the design by Royal sculptor Alexander Stoddart. The design sparked widespread objections because it shows Inglis in the uniform of the First World War field hospitals she organised, rather than representing her work in Edinburgh as a maternity care pioneer. Councillors are being recommended to give the go-ahead despite 237 objections. The council also received 408 messages of support.
OASIS TICKET RAP: Ticketmaster is to make changes to the way it sells tickets after the backlash against its dynamic pricing for this summers Oasis concerts at Murrayfield. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found fans facing lengthy queues for tickets may have been misled. They were not warned that standing tickets were being sold at two different prices - and that prices would jump as soon as the cheap tickets sold out. Ticketmaster also didn’t make clear that “platinum” tickets sold at almost 2.5 times the price of ‘standard’ tickets offered no additional benefits.
AMBULANCE WAIT APOLOGY: A young footballer who had to lie injured for five hours at the pitch side waiting for an ambulance has received an apology from First Minister John Swinney. Brooke Paterson, 19, broke her leg playing for Linlithgow Rose away at Cumbernauld. She has since undergone surgery at Forth Valley Hospital.
BREXIT MEANS NO RHINOS: Edinburgh Zoo has been left with no rhinos as a result of post-Brexit regulations. Two young rhinos who had been due to come to the Capital have been left stuck on the continent due to the restrictions. The zoo’s chief executive David Field says breeding programmes across Europe are being “hampered” by the new rules.
PRISON DEATH UNLAWFUL: The Scottish Prison Service has admitted causing the unlawful death of a 30-year-old inmate who was restrained by 17 officers at Edinburgh Prison. Allan Marshall was undergoing a mental health crisis when he died while being held on remand in 2015. Following a campaign by his family, the Crown Office and Police Scotland have also admitted they failed in their legal duty to properly investigate his death.
COP ‘MURDER BID’: A man has been accused of trying to murder a police officer in an hit-and-run in Drumbryden Gardens, Wester Hailes. Lewis Mackie is said to have reversed at high speed at the officer in a stolen car, before the officer was dragged along the road, in December last year.
BOOK FEST DATE: Nicola Sturgeon is to be the star attraction at this year’s Portobello Book Festival which runs from 3 to 5 October.
MUSEUM AT RISK: A military museum featuring artefacts dating back to the Battle of Waterloo is facing an uncertain future as its home is to be sold for housing. The charity Sight Scotland Veterans intends to sell some of its property at Linburn, West Lothian, meaning the Military Museum Scotland is facing closure. Museum founder Ian Inglis is looking for a new hoe for the collection which is regularly toured by veterans and school groups.
ADVENTURE TRAIL: The Archerfield Estate in East Lothian has announced plans for a £1.5m woodland adventure play trail and learning area next to its popular walled garden near Dirleton.
RESIDENT DAYS: Forever Edinburgh, the city’s official destination marketing brand run by the city council in partnership with the private sector, has announced the launch of Resident Days, an initiative giving people who live in the capital exclusive opportunities to enjoy free or discounted access to local attractions, tours and experiences. The three remaining days involved are Carers Rights Day on Friday 21 November, exclusively for unpaid carers in Edinburgh; St Andrew’s Day on Sunday 30 November 2025; and Burns Night on Sunday 25 January 2026.
KING OF THE CASTLE: Sir Mark Jones, the former chairman of the National Trust for Scotland, has been appointed to the same role at Historic Environment Scotland. The heritage agency, which manages properties including Edinburgh Castle, has been the subject of staff complaints about a “toxic” working environment.
NATURE AWARD: Lauriston Farm has been shortlisted for a Community Initiate Award at RSPB Scotland’s Nature of Scotland Awards. The Edinburgh Agroecology Co-op is leading the transformation of the farm from a depleted pasture into a vibrant hub for biodiversity, community connection and sustainable food production.
Pic of the week
THE BUSINESS
City needs vision to maximise AI potential
A vision and plan would help Edinburgh maximise the potential of its outstanding Artificial Intelligence ecosystem, according to stakeholders who attended a meeting convened by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.
The meeting included representatives from data centres, energy providers, Higher and Further Education (HE/FE), national bodies, global corporates, SMEs, microbusinesses, creative and consulting businesses, and the third sector.
It was agreed that the city has one of the most dynamic AI ecosystems in the UK, with advanced computing capability (that will soon include the Exascale super-computer at the University of Edinburgh), data centre capacity, proven start-up and entrepreneurial capability, world class HE and FE institutions, AI accelerator programmes, a city region deal that is focused on data driven innovation, and organisations like Edinburgh Innovations spinning out more than 120 companies a year, amongst many others.
The Chamber said: “What is lacking from that dynamic landscape is a vision and plan around which this ecosystem can coalesce to maximise economic benefit for the city and its wider region. Some of the key points we considered in the session included how we support AI adopters and innovators; how we create a world-class and supportive infrastructure – for example through creating an agile, future-proofed energy system which meets net zero targets; how we focus on developing the future skills we will need to provide the talent that is required; and how we ensure that what develops is inclusive…
“However, the size of the prize for Edinburgh is significant. With the potential to create thousands of new knowledge economy jobs and deliver breakthroughs in fields as diverse as medical research, social care, technology, and climate solutions, the opportunity in front of us is transformative.”
INVESTMENT EVENT: First Minister John Swinney and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes will join an international guest list at Scotland’s Global Investment Summit in Edinburgh on 6-7 October. The event at the RBS campus at Gogarburn is being hosted by Scottish Financial Enterprise and the Lord Mayor of London, and attendees include Andrew Bailey, the Governor of the Bank of England, Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority and Juergen Maier, chair of Great British Energy.
WINDFARM SALE? The Chinese owner of Edinburgh-based Red Rock Renewables is looking to sell a portfolio of UK energy assets that includes the 1.1GW Inch Cape offshore wind farm development off the Angus coast. According to Bloomberg news agency, SDIC is working with advisers on the potential sale, with a reported value of £500m-£700m.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
MIXING IT UP: Edinburgh Cocktail Week returns for its eighth year with 10 days showcasing some of Britain’s best mixologists and their work. Buy a wristband and enjoy five pound cocktails at more than a hundred bars across the city, plus entry to the Cocktail Village at Festival Square.
BIER’S HERE: If German bier is more your thing, then head to Princes Street Gardens West on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, when Oktoberfest brings a taste of Bavaria to the Capital.
PUPPET MAGIC: The extraordinary puppetry of War Horse returns to the Festival Theatre, from Thursday until Saturday, while physical comedy and puppetry brings the incredible story of Hercules the Bear to the stage of the Studio Theatre, Potterrow, tomorrow night.
QUICK BITES
HIDDEN GEMS: Italian favourite Locanda de Gusti on Dalry Road has been named the UK’s top “hidden gem” restaurant in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice awards, and 20th in its world list. Also making the list are two others from the Lothians, Hot Toddy on the Royal Mile and and Parrilla Argentinian Grill in Musselburgh.
FORT CREOLE: Popeyes opening its second store in Edinburgh this autumn. The company has announced they will bring more of the taste of New Orleans to Scotland’s Capital when their second store launches at Fort Kinnaird, following their existing store at Princes Street.