Spectacular lightning shots As the capital basked in warm weather during the last week some spectacular thunder and lightning also appeared in the skies early on Friday morning.... https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2026/06/spectacular-lightning-shots/

Thanks to the Herald for covering - proud to champion the brilliant Oaklands School Community and to work for a world where everyone can enjoy what Edinburgh has to offer equally! www.heraldscotland.com/news/2620445...

Huge congrats and well done to all volunteers involved in this years #MeadowsFestival - it takes a LOT of work but such a great community event 😍

It’s a privilege to be in the position to recognise the work (often voluntary) of citizens of Edinburgh. We have so much to thank David Black for in the Old Town and beyond. www.scottishlegal.com/articles/dav...

#WaverleyStation 🚲🚲 🤔 Where do #AbandonedBikes go? Here-> www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/edinbur... 👍 @networkrailscot.bsky.social @thebikestation.bsky.social via @edinburghminute.com @edi.bike @edfoc.bsky.social @finlaymcf.bsky.social @cllrcmiller.bsky.social @davesthompson.bsky.social

No library closures in Edinburgh? You have Edinburgh SNP councillors to thank. Delighted with this outcome of the (necessary) libraries review. A credit to the hard work of senior officers, trade unions and our excellent librarians who are lynchpins of communities. 📖

Polls closed. Hope you all used your vote (no matter how). There are people across the world who don’t have the opportunity, it’s something worth protecting. 🗳️

So happy to see this commitment in the SNP Manifesto. I have so many friends trapped with extortionate and dubious factor fees and have seen first hand the damage an absentee / negligent landlord can do in the process of their neighbours trying to organise a common repair.

Calling CLARINDA! Calling SYLVANDER! Would you like to read a few lines of Burns? We are hoping to have readers for our Agnes 'Nancy' Maclehose walk on 26 April. Write to <[email protected]>. FYI @finlaymcf.bsky.social

🎭 ❤️ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

❤️‍🔥

Spent this morning with Dumbiedykes residents holding a wee town hall in The Braidwood & then Voy biked over to the EICC for SNP Campaign Conference 🙂

My concern here is we have spent a decade discussing George Street and delivered nothing. Unless there is some compromise across the political groups in the Council we’ll still be talking about ‘what should be done’ with Princes Street in 2036! www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinbur...

As the city rushes to catch up and create a policy to manage AI, I was proud that my addition to the cities AI policy passed unanimously and was adopted. As a UNESCO city of literature renowned for our festivals and art scene the world over we must ensure we lead from the front.

One year ago the Old Town Community Council was functionally extinct. Tonight we had to hastily shift our digs to a meeting room in the City Chambers tonight because there were too many people to fit into The Crannie… 😍👍

Open sesame! Historic Environment Scotland works to mitigate the castle rockfall have enabled this much loved local cut-through in Princes St Gardens to reopen. Work still to do to open remaining closed parts of the garden 👷 🪏

More good news for the auld toon 🫶 theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2026/02/upco...

Yet again - Labour found cash to buy a deal with the Conservatives who keep them in power - but nothing for youth work. Bookmark this for a few months time when yet again there is not enough to go around and services are left underfunded. No hope 👍

“Finlay McFarlane says he feels as if it is his "mission" as a councillor to ensure visitor levy funds are used constructively in the Old Town” Yes, he does! x.com/finlaymcf/st...

Rest In Power 🤍

Great to see coverage of this most recent ward win! Thanks to Grassmarket Residents, Edinburgh Council's Archaeologist, Edinburgh World Heritage and the Scottish Covenanter Memorial Association for the collaborative working to get to this point. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2586313...

When I met with the Children’s Hospital charity late last year, they highlighted the sudden financial burden placed on families who have a seriously ill wee one. This includes travel expenses to and from the hospital. We own a bus company, and could do something about this. 👇

5 ways our Budget delivers for people in Scotland, explained in under a minute. 👇

Much to welcome in SNP Scottish Government Budget but Edinburgh Kings Theatre receiving an extra £1.25m towards its magnificent redevelopment is a real highlight. Comes alongside £11.65m for the new Art Works Project in Granton. www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/scottis...

13th LITTER PICKUP: Saturday, 17 January 2026, 10.00 from outside the City Observatory/Collective. Lasting 90 minutes. Equipment & refreshments provided. All welcome — members and NON-MEMBERS. Please bring gloves. Let us know you are coming — via <[email protected]>.

Great to be out and about in the Auld Toon this morning offering assistance and listening to residents views 🌞

Back at my desk and busy! 💼 Live / Work here? Run a business / theatre / castle? Have something to say about Edinburgh’s magnificent city centre? I want to hear from you 🫡 📞0131 529 4005 📧 [email protected]

This behaviour continues to bring the whole council into total disrepute which affects trust in all of us. Labour are hell bound to protect / promote him though incl suspending a Lab Cllr who (rightly) wouldn’t give up her committee place for him. 🤷‍♂️ www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottis...

That’s the last meeting of 2025 wrapped and I will now take a few days to be with family. Outwith urgent cases, bear with me and I will be back to you in the New Year. Thank you constituents for all your support through 2025, it’s an honour representing you. Merry Christmas 🎄

“If I could turn back time…” 🎤 🕰️ Restoring some civic pride to Tollcross! www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2025/12/19/t...

With a few weeks to go, I’ve logged & resolved nearly 500 constituent cases this year. I publish these figures annually to try to be open and accountable to those I have the privilege of representing. These figures exclude committee, community council & spokesperson work.

🌲 If buying a #ChristmasTree get it delivered by #CyclingGardeners 🚲 #CargoBike --> www.tollcrosstreeworks.com @edi.bike @edfoc.bsky.social @thecockburn.bsky.social @tollcross-cc-edin.bsky.social @finlaymcf.bsky.social @cllrcmiller.bsky.social @cllrbenparker.bsky.social @bjpaddy.bsky.social

THANK YOU to our volunteers & our donor, Alan Lawson & the Seven Hills Race, for +60 square metres (m2) of turf laid today (18 Nov.) on the top of the hill. 300 m2 in total — responding to Erosion Emergency. Statement by the community & local media. @spurtle.bsky.social @edinburghminute.bsky.social

BRAVO & THANK YOU to all our skilled, hard-working volunteers. We laid 240 square metres today (12 November 2025) in a great concerted effort. The turf came late — and the weather forecast was bad for tomorrow — but the job was completed just in time!

What a mission! Huge effort from @caltonhill.bsky.social, volunteers from around the city and council parks officers! Massive amount of ground reinstated in front of the National Monument 😎 Time for a hot bath!

Cause & Effect ☺️

Trust & partners now returfing 240 square metres: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for 12 and 13 November. Please write <[email protected]>. FYI @spurtle.bsky.social @edinburghminute.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @scotsman.com @scotnational.bsky.social @finlaymcf.bsky.social @cllrjomo.bsky.social

Have been so proud to support the Truat since it was a Friends Group… local people rolling their sleeves up to protect one of Edinburghs most iconic landmarks 😎

Hey @finlaymcf.bsky.social well done on what you said yesterday during the community centre review. It was helpful for you to be so clear about the concerns. Fingers crossed for the months ahead. Thomas

Looks great! A brilliant bit of citizen science. Naysayers said the barren ground would be forever so - it only took a bit of muscle and thinking to prove that wrong. Future looking bright for Calton Hill 💪

✍️I want to hear constituents’ views on use of the Edinburgh’s Tourism Visitor Levy. While it is great to see the City in festival full swing, Edinburgh residents’ priorities must come first. Get in touch at [email protected]

Huge thanks to City Centre Cleansing Teams for lending some muscle to the Tron Square residents Day of Action! The results are so impressive and speak for themselves. 🧼

Well The Spurtle knows what’s up! Really looking forward to seeing what can be achieved in our parks with the council looking to find Friends and Trusts Groups in recognition of their mammoth voluntary efforts! 🌳 🌲 🌷

This is a big day for me. It has been such a privilege helping Ginnie, Rod and Team Filmhouse since the awful day CMI went into liquidation. A herculean effort from all involved. Now we have to support it with our patronage! The doors - they did open!

I know for certain how Tommy Sheppard would have voted. Chris Murray MP, can disabled residents in Dumbiedykes, the Old Town and Tollcross count on you? www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

UPDATE! Lush….! 🌱

At Full Council I asked the Council Leader if she condoned arms testing in council parks and green spaces. (A move to ban this activity was blocked on 5th June). You’d think it would be an easy ‘no’ for Labour, but Lib Dem and Tory bedfellows make for some strange ‘principles’.

Today @ehyslop.bsky.social and I paid a visit to Oaklands. Special Schools are close to my heart as my wee brother was unable to go to mainstream. We are both fully committed to supporting these places of learning, mischief and fun.