My latest blog post is now live 📢 Give it a read to find out more about my work on AI, social heating tariffs, the Quiet Route, tree watering and more (!) 🤖🏠🚲🌳📝 Find the blog here: cllrbenparker.substack.com/p/what-did-i...

Excited to be elected as the new Green group Co-Convenor alongside Alys today 👫 💚 Thank you @chasbooth.bsky.social and Kayleigh for all their work in the role for the last year 🫶 The clock is ticking towards next year’s election and I’m excited to Co-Convene the group through this busy period 🕰️ 🗳️

How many Green MSPs in Edinburgh & East Lothian ?

An amazing result for Edinburgh and Lothians East! Not only Edinburgh's first constituency win but also the first time we've had 4 MSPs in the region. This is a massive tribute to our remarkable volunteers. A huge thanks to everyone who voted Green- now is the time to join! greens.scot/join

Today we launched our 2026 manifesto! 🟢 Want free bus travel for everyone? 🟢 Want accessible and affordable childcare? 🟢 Want to tackle the climate emergency? 🟢 Want to tax the rich? We've got you covered. Read the manifesto at: www.greens.scot/LetsDemandBetter

I know passionate supporters of LGBTQ+ equality in Labour who have felt increasingly marginalised in the party and unable to support the leadership's view. But to see the manifesto include anti-trans policies rejected by their own party conference must surely be the last straw for many.

Excited about the prospect of electing more socialist, feminist and climate-conscious voices to Scottish Parliament next month?! There are loads of ways to help... @edinburghgreens.bsky.social @qmanivannan.bsky.social @lornaslater.bsky.social

"Prisons are not safe, they're violent, they're poor for people's health and wellbeing, particularly if you're a woman. And they fail to support rehabilitation. "So actually they do not make those of us who are not breaking the law safer either." Scotland's prison system should be abolished.

Today, the transport committee made a big decision about the future of the Quiet Route I’m pleased that we are finally (!) seeing progress which will (hopefully) see the retention of the route with all active travel measures intact 🚲🌳🚶 Read more on my blog 📝: open.substack.com/pub/cllrbenp...

I’ve had lots of contact about the Greenbank-Meadows Quiet Route 🚲 recently following the Standards Commission decision to censure two Cllrs over their participation in previous decision-making about the route 🙅‍♂️🗺️📍 At Thursday’s Transport committee I will be presenting proposals for next steps ⤵️

Budget Day in Edinburgh and it seems - as in past years - Labour will be teaming up with the Tories to get their budget passed😒 It's depressing when other parties put their own interests above those of the city, but Green Cllrs will continue to fight for public money to be spent for public good ✊

On Thursday, Edinburgh City Council will be setting its budget - find out what the Green Councillors have proposed in their budget for climate, equality and housing justice: edinburgh.greens.scot/blog/a-budge...

My latest blog to capture some of my work at the end of last year and January is now published 📝 Lots of speaking engagements and work on public debt, sustainable drainage and Ramadan provisions in temporary accommodation, plus more! 💬💷🌳🏠 cllrbenparker.substack.com/p/what-did-i...

🚨 It's official! Swift nesting bricks have passed the Scottish Parliament and will now become law. Swifts are in serious decline across the UK. This will help reverse that trend and make our communities more liveable for birds. @markruskell.bsky.social and @writerhannah.bsky.social explain 👇

Several people have contacted me about the Greenbank-Meadows Quiet Route given the news this morning of a hearing scheduled around alleged conflicts of interest in the decision making process by some Cllrs ❌ I've written a short update on my blog here: cllrbenparker.substack.com/p/update-4-g...

What a great AGM for Edinburgh Tenants Federation 👏 We heard an excellent speech from @cllrbenparker.bsky.social about the work of ETF & @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social this year. We also honoured our Convenor Betty Stone with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her long-standing commitment to tenants 💐

Merchiston Avenue junction improvements - share your views by 10 Jan. Do you walk, cycle, drive or wheel through Merchiston Ave at Merchiston Pl/ Rochester Terr? We want to propose changes to @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social Survey at: merchistoncc.org.uk/merchiston-a...

A great launch for the new @banzaiedinburgh.bsky.social cargo bike library this afternoon — I’ve been pleased to do my small bit to help get this up and running, but a big thanks to the many others involved 🚲📦 If you want to try a cargo bike, get in touch and you can hire one for free 🌟

Swifts are in serious decline, with their UK population falling by 66% since 1995. Moments ago MSPs backed our amendment to install low cost swift nesting bricks in new buildings. This small act will make our communities more liveable for birds and help swifts recover.

Locally and nationally, @scottishgreens.org are representing working-class interests and providing a real left-wing alternative - the very things I had hoped to do as a Labour councillor. I will continue to spend every day trying my very best to serve the people of Sighthill/Gorgie.

Hope to see lots of folk there (and delighted to be ticking off “ribbon cutting” ✂️ from the Councillor bucket list)

We want Edinburgh to have community heat networks that keep bills low and cut carbon. To make this happen, we need your input. 👉 Fill in the short survey: tinyurl.com/survey-heat What is your current experience of heating your home? What needs to change? You could win £50 in a prize draw!

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 (!)

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... 🗒️

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.

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 ⤵️ 📰

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 ✅

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.

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 👨‍🦯🧏

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

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 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!

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 👀

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'm proud to be bringing forward this motion to the Council's Culture and Communities committee today. Fingers crossed other Councillors support my calls.

Another great session knocking doors in Shandon today for Q Manivannan @qmanivannan.bsky.social ahead of the council by-election in 1 month. Voters are dismayed at the running of Edinburgh Council by Labour propped up by the Tories and Lib Dems. They are ready to have a Green councillor once again!

I’ve always been sad that my neighbouring ward Cllr @gavincorbett.bsky.social stood down at the last election so we didn’t work on cross boundary issues together 🗺️📍 I’m delighted Gavin is endorsing the excellent @qmanivannan.bsky.social who will make a fab colleague instead (!) 🗳️ #VoteGreen

I’m so excited to share that I’m to be the Green candidate for the Fountainbridge-Craiglockhart by-election on 26 June. I want to bring care back into politics, to commit strongly to solidarity, safer roads, tenants rights, and green spaces in our ward. I look forward to the next 6 weeks!

Read my latest blog about what I got up to in April 💭 It was Council recess so a quieter month to usual but still lots going on, from the (long-awaited) Accessible Housing Summit, to meetings with the Student Housing Co-operative and more (!) 🏠 open.substack.com/pub/cllrbenp... ⬅️ 📝

Today, tomorrow and always.