​SCOTLAND MEETS 6,000 PUBLIC EV CHARGER TARGET TWO YEARS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE 
 
Local MSP Colin Beattie has welcomed the news that there are now 463 public electric vehicle charging points available in Midlothian & East Lothian.  
 
The number comes following confirmation last year that Scotland has reached its target of installing more than 6,000 public EV charge points, two years ahead of the 2026 target. 
 
Scotland also has the highest number of public charging devices per head of population of any UK nation – with 113 per 100,000 people in Scotland, 111 in England, 100 in Wales, and 36 in Northern Ireland – with the UK average being 110.  
 
Local MSP Colin Beattie has said that these figures are clear evidence of the SNP Scottish Government’s commitment to making sustainable travel a reality for everyone in Midlothian & East Lothian, and across Scotland. 
  
Commenting, local MSP Colin Beattie said:  
 
“I welcome the news that there are now 463 public electric vehicle charging points working in Midlothian & East Lothian. 
  
"By fast-tracking Electric Vehicle infrastructure, the SNP Government is paving the way for a net-zero Scotland – the target of more than 6,000 public EV charge points has been met two years ahead of schedule - also have the highest number of Electric Vehicle charging points per head of any UK nation -
  
“We now need to create more charging points here in Midlothian & East Lothian. I will work with local businesses and private charge point providers to secure more investment here so that we do not lose out.
  
“These charging points will help us build economic growth and improve the environment in Midlothian & East Lothian.” 
  
ENDS  

COLIN BEATTIE MSP: ONLY THE SNP CAN BE TRUSTED TO KEEP FREE TUITION IN SCOTLAND
SNP MSP Colin Beattie has called out Labour’s “hypocrisy on stilts” and said that free tuition fees for students in Midlothian North & Musselburgh are only safe under the SNP.
Labour’s leader in Scotland, Anas Sarwar claimed yesterday that Labour would maintain the SNP’s policy of free tuition fees if it were elected at Holyrood.
The claim comes despite the fact that it was Sarwar’s Labour Party which first introduced fees back in 1998, imposed back-door fees in Scotland through the graduate endowment, and then subsequently voted against the abolition of the tax by the SNP in 2008.
Tuition fees in England have risen to £9,535 since Labour came to power last year whilst fees have also risen in Labour-run Wales. Meanwhile Sarwar’s own finance spokesperson Michael Marra hinted last year that the party would examine models to reintroduce some form of charges in Scotland.
Record numbers of students from our most deprived areas in Scotland are going to university due to the SNP’s continued support for free tuition.
SNP MSP Colin Beattie said:
“This is hypocrisy on stilts from Labour. History has shown that his Labour party cannot be trusted on tuition fees. Whether in Scotland, England or Wales - fees have gone up under Labour governments.
“It increasingly looks like Anas Sarwar will say anything - and adopt SNP policies - in his desperate attempt to get into power. But why should voters trust him on tuition fees after broken promises on winter fuel payments, compensation for WASPI women and the future of Grangemouth?

“Under the SNP, we have record numbers of Scottish students securing places at our universities, and recent figures showed a rise in students from our most disadvantaged communities.
“This progress has only been made possible because the SNP abolished Labour's tuition fees and we will never let them be reimposed on students from Midlothian North & Musselburgh."

ENDS

SNP SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT'S £6 MILLION BOOST FOR SERVICES PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES
 
Services providing support for families across Scotland, including in Midlothian North and Musselburgh are set to receive an additional £6 million funding in this year's Scottish Budget, First Minister John Swinney has announced. 
 
The announcement comes on the fifth anniversary of the Scottish Government’s ‘The Promise’ to care experienced young people, which committed them to creating a Scotland where all care experienced young people will grow up loved, safe, and respected.  
 
The £6 million additional funding will be made available to Children's Services Planning Partnership’s (CSPP) - a partnership between organisations that work together to improve outcomes for children and young people. 
 
The funding for CSPP’s will increase by £6 million in the next financial year – with children and young people in Midlothian North and Musselburgh set to benefit.   
 
Commenting, local MSP Colin Beattie said: 
  
“I welcome this additional funding for children in Midlothian North and Musselburgh as part of a £6 million increase across Scotland.  
 
“The Promise is a meaningful start in improving the lives of care experienced young people in Midlothian North and Musselburgh, and the SNP’s commitment to the Promise remains as strong today as it was in 2020. 
 
"I look forward to seeing the full detail of how this funding will translate into real tangible improvement on the ground for our young people here in here in Midlothian North and Musselburgh.

ENDS 
 

Local MSP Colin Beattie has welcomed official statistics showing the number of Police Officers in Scotland increased to over 16,500 by the end of 2024, saying that the SNP is making a positive difference to policing in Midlothian North and Musselburgh and across Scotland.  
 
The figures released by Scotland's Chief Statistician show that the number of full-time equivalent officers increased to 16,508 by the end of 2024.
 
The SNP has a strong record on improving policing and making communities safer since coming to power – with recorded crime down by 40% since 2006-7. 
 
Under the SNP Scottish Government, Scotland has more Police Officers per head than England, at 30 and 24 full-time equivalent Officers per 10,000 people, respectively.
 
The SNP is committed to continuing this strong commitment to public safety and safer communities, by allocating an additional £57 million resource funding for the police in the draft Scottish Budget for 25-26.  
 
Commenting, local MSP Colin Beattie said:  
 
“I welcome these statistics, which show that the number of Police Officers in Scotland was higher at the end of last year than it was at the same time the year before – this will have a positive impact here in Midlothian North and Musselburgh.
 
“The SNP has a proud record on improving policing and making our communities safer - recorded crime is down by 40% since the SNP came to power, we have the highest number of police officers anywhere in the UK.
 
“But we won’t stop there – people in Midlothian North and Musselburgh deserve to know that police services are improving – which is why we’ve allocated an additional £57 million in additional resource funding for Police Scotland in the 2025-26 Scottish Budget."
 
ENDS 
 

 

Colin Beattie MSP has challenged Anas Sarwar to clarify “which of Farage’s backward and damaging ideas” he is open to after the leader of Labour in Scotland refused to rule out relying on votes for Reform MSPs after the 2026 Holyrood election.

This follows a Scottish Parliament poll which showed they could win as many as 9 MSPs in 2026, with Reform UK now ahead of the Labour Party in recent polls.

Their policies include privatisation of the NHS, backing Brexit, tax cuts for the wealthy and abolishing devolution. While Mr Sarwar appears open to such ideas, he has refused to back the SNP’s Budget which provides record funding for our NHS, scraps the two-child cap and reverses Labour’s Winter Fuel Payment cut.

Commenting, Colin Beattie MSP:
“People across Midlothian North and Musselburgh will rightly be alarmed that Anas Sarwar is so desperate for power that he’s willing to leave the door open to Nigel Farage. 
 
“Farage's values are a threat to Midlothian North and Musselburgh and it’s crucial we fight their toxic agenda rather than accepting it. Mr Sarwar should now tell us what 'good ideas' he thinks Nigel Farage has for Scotland.
 
“Rest assured the SNP under John Swinney’s leadership will always stand up for Scotland’s values and Midlothian North and Musselburgh’s priorities, fighting Nigel Farage's agenda every step of the way.”
 
ENDS