I wrote a bit in the Evening News on why I've joined @scottishgreens.org It's only been 2 weeks, but I've already learned a lot from Green councillors and I'm loving being part of a group that is so focused and hard-working.

🎄 Wishing everyone a lovely Christmas and New Year when it comes 🎄 📵 I’m on Xmas leave and not checking my notifications until returning on 5th Jan 📵

Every time there's a breaking story about a celeb's treatment of women, everyone in the book world asks, "Is it finally Walliams?" Well, it finally is.

Assuming the festive bus fare holiday follows the same schedule?

Today, Glasgow's Green Councillors wrote to David Lammy demanding urgent action from him in the case of the 8 alleged members of Palestine Action who have been on hunger strike. This is a crisis - the Justice Secretary must intervene & hear their pleas ✊️🇵🇸

In September peak rail fares were scrapped for good. The success is already clear to see.

We need YOUR help to deliver a record number of Scottish Green MSPs next May. We are powered by people like you. People who want real change for Scotland and our planet. Please chip in to our campaign to put people and planet before profit ⤵️ greens.scot/donate

Fallen out of the habit of this and trying to get back on track! What’s Claire been up to in (and around) council this week? 🏛️ Policy & Sustainability Committee - see below for deets 🥳 Welcoming @rosssmckenzie.bsky.social to the Greens 🧑‍⚕️ Round table on safer drug consumption facility for Edinburgh

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.

Welcome to the Greens, Ross @rosssmckenzie.bsky.social ! nen.press/independent-...

Ross is a dedicated and impressive councillor, with a great track record of standing up for his constituents + the planet. Delighted to have him on the team! ✊🏼

Come join us on Sunday December 14th for a series of Trans Solidarity Rides! Three Edinburgh women-led cycle groups (InfraSisters, Queens of Pain and the Edinburgh School of Rocks) have joined forces to show solidarity with our trans sisters in the wake of Cycling UK’s decision to exclude them

I’m delighted to welcome Ross to the Greens where I think he’s going to thrive and really enjoy being part of our movement 🥳

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.

🚨BREAKING We are delighted to welcome TWO left-wing independent councillors to the Scottish Greens! This is a movement dedicated to delivering eco-socialist change for people and planet across Scotland.

It’s frightening that it only takes one sinister, undertaxed billionaire and a tiny minority can be so easily demonised and dehumanised. Maybe people will learn when it’s their turn to be on the receiving end of this. Of course it will be too late by them.

The only person i want to hear from re the latest news on David Coburn is @liamkirkaldy.bsky.social IYKYK

Migrants didn't cut council funding. Migrants didn't raise energy bills. Migrants didn't close community centres. Know what would help solve Scotland’s problems? Taxing the super-rich and building an affordable country for all.

As winter flooding looms, it's worth noting that a young street tree in an asphalt surface can prevent 60% of the rain that falls on it from reaching the ground, even when not in leaf. Increasing the low levels of urban tree cover should be a strategic national priority.

it's so good to hear a british politician on the main bbc news platforms actually saying this stuff though. like we just got used to it not happening for years

So pleased that Greens offer a humane alternative to this dismal and cruel government. Asylum seekers are not to blame for shortages people experience, and Greens will protect and welcome them.

Join us! 👉 Greens.scot/join

And indeed it is fulfilling the “shop window” function

PLEASE SHARE: On Black Friday, I want to draw attention away from the big chains and towards local Edinburgh independent retailers, makers and markets. Please join me from 7 pm - 8 pm on Friday 28 November to share some ideas for Christmas gifting. We'll use the hashtag #EdinburghHour

This would be a more convincing argument if Keir Starmer had not himself made a whole series of promises which he then declared completely undeliverable as soon as he became leader www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Everyone should have an affordable place to call home, but in many communities with high rents, a shocking number of landlords are hoarding property. Greens are going to change that ⤵️

Live in the City Centre or Inverleith? Want to join @scottishgreens.org election campaign? Join us at the Quaker Meeting House next week! RSVP at luma.com/15o4mp2i

📈 The gender pay gap in Scotland has increased by a staggering 20% since last year. Employers need to take a look at themselves if they think they’re doing anywhere near enough to close the gap. #STUCWomen25 @rozfoyer.bsky.social / @hannahmargbrown.bsky.social / @heraldscotland.bsky.social

This heartbreaking statement from asylum seekers in Manchester who are staying in hotels is important reading - please read and share and use this when faced with ignorance or misinformation: gmiau.org/greater-manc...

🆓 Did you know you can borrow a electric cargo bike FOR FREE to transport people 👩‍👧‍👦or bulky/heavy things 📦 @banzaiedinburgh.bsky.social has this fab cargo bike library service based in Bruntsfield and you can get started with a quick sign up banzaiedinburgh.org.uk/banzai-cargo...

‼️ Super important consultation klaxon ‼️ Every year I've been in this council we've been forced to make cuts to services and it's not going to get better unless we fix how councils are funded. Please respond to this consultation and help us replace council tax! consult.gov.scot/local-govern...

📣 The @euansguide.com Access Survey is open! 👩‍💻 This survey gathers real experiences from disabled people, their families, friends and carers and helps identify the barriers that still make going out harder than it should be and only takes around 30 minutes to complete. EuansGuide.com/AccessSurvey

Recent polling has Iain Macwhirter terrified about the prospect of a record result for the @scottishgreens.org next year! 📈 Any decision on the future of our party is a decision for our membership. People want hope right now, and it is Greens who will bring hope back to Scotland!

What's Claire up to in (and around) council this week? 🏛️ Policy & Sustainability Committee meeting 🌱 Signing people up to attend our workshop for potential future Green Councillors (see below!) 🪧 Scotland Demands Better march and rally edinburgh.greens.scot/events/whats...

Super excited to be organising this for potential new Green Councillors! If that's you, please register to attend. Or perhaps you know someone who would make a great Green Councillor, and you can share this event with them.

Can you join me and donate to Lorna’s re-election campaign: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/re-elect-l...

Beyonce's cycling thoughts: "I was able to get around Dublin because by the time anybody noticed me, I was gone. People just said 'hello' and gave me peace and I just felt so free - it was one of the best memories of my life." www.independent.ie/regionals/he...

Every day thousands of new members are joining the Green Party. And solidarity to our friends in @scottishgreens.org who are also rapidly growing as a party! Get involved: Greens.scot/join

Edinburgh Uni has a couple of really useful opportunities locally just now: 💰 Community Grants – grants of up to £5,000 for projects in the region local.ed.ac.uk/community-gr... 🆓 Community Access to Rooms - – free room bookings for charities and community groups local.ed.ac.uk/community-ro...

I’ve donated to Q’s campaign! Can you join me and help them get elected? www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/elect-q-ma...

The system isn't broken, it's rigged. It's time for real change.

Informative article in the Herald Online today discussing the need for traffic restrictions in the Cowgate, Edinburgh. As Living Streets Edinburgh Convener notes "Clearly a street with no traffic in it is going to be safer than a street with traffic in it." tinyurl.com/EDICowgate1015

What’s Claire up to in (and around) council this week? Mostly around and not in, because it’s recess this week! 🌻 Green Party conference plus other local Green meetings 👩‍💻 Attending New Town & Broughton Community Council 🏛️ Prep for P&S committee next week 📧 And catching up after my week off

Chip in today to elect Q Manivannan – a radical voice to the Scottish Parliament who is ready to fight for change. Any contribution - big or small - will make a huge difference to our people-powered campaign to deliver a record 3 Green MSPs for Edinburgh! www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/elect-q-ma...

Calling all @scottishgreens.org members going to #sgpconf Join us for an evening of food, fun, quizzing and music at our after-conference social! Tickets available NOW members.greens.scot/civicrm/even...

Glad to see Nigel Farage has finally remembered Nathan Gill, former leader of Reform in Wales - found guilty of taking bribes from Russia. Maybe he'll now remember how much he took from Putin's propaganda broadcaster Russia Today for all his TV appearances when he was a MEP?

What was Claire up to last week in (and around) council? 🏨 I jointly proposed a motion at full council condemning protests outside hotels where asylum seekers are living - see below for our cross party statement and my speech to the chamber

What's Claire up to in (and around) council this week? 🎭 Post-festivals resident engagement session at The Pleasance 🤝 Residents drop-in surgery 👩‍💻 Prep for council committees later this month And then from this Friday I'm taking a week of leave - see you back here from Monday 13th October

There's always lots of construction going on in the city centre ward 🏗️ so this new code of conduct for responsible construction is very very welcome. I'm only sorry that it's not mandatory - something for me to work towards! planningedinburgh.com/2025/10/01/n...