Cllr. Finlay McFarlane
@finlaymcf.bsky.social
SNP Councillor for Edinburgh’s City Centre & Culture Spox Recipient of the Attitude Magazine Pride Award & MABC Campaigner of the year ‘22.
There we have it - £1.24m worth of funding proposed because the SNP took action to restore Leith Customs House, safeguard the historic Tron Kirk and FINALLY rebuild the iconic Portobello Kilns. Secured via amendment authored and argued for by yours truly as SNP Culture Spox 🙂
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/
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. Rather than staying home under the duvet, photographer Tom Duffin was out in the early hours with his camera to collect images of the weather. On Thursday temperatures reached 31.2C in Threave, Dumfries and Galloway, but on Saturday in Edinburgh the Met Office predicts a balmy 22C with a chance of rain later. And the good news is the pollen count has reduced to moderate.
theedinburghreporter.co.uk
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...
heraldscotland.com
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...
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 <chair@caltonhilldrive.org>. FYI @finlaymcf.bsky.social
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...
Edinburgh city centre: Future of Princes Street and George Street up for debate
Big changes to two of Edinburgh's most famous streets are expected to be the focus of debate at the City Chambers later this year.
edinburghnews.scotsman.com
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...
Upcoming roadworks on Royal Mile to replace “unsightly” security barriers
AS PART of a push to replace “unsightly” barriers on the Royal Mile, roadworks will start soon to install new, retractable security bollards.
theedinburghreporter.co.uk
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...
x.com
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...
Historic Grassmarket memorial in Edinburgh has been restored after years of neglect
The Covenanters Memorial in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, commemorating 17th-century Scottish Presbyterians, has been restored after a major…
heraldscotland.com
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. 👇
The Edinburgh Reporter@edinreporter.bsky.social · 6mo agoCouncil to be asked to help with travel costs for families with children in hospital The council is to be asked to offer extra help with travel costs for families of children who are in the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People at Little France. Cllr Finlay McFarlane, who represents the…
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...
Scottish government makes good on £20m culture boost in draft budget - Arts Professional
The Scottish government has reaffirmed its pledge to increase cultural spending by £20 million as part of its draft budget announcement for the next financial
artsprofessional.co.uk
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 <info@caltonhilltrust.org>.
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 📧 Cllr.Finlay.Mcfarlane@edinburgh.gov.uk
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...
Ex-council leader Cammy Day used fake name to lodge complaint about colleague
The former Labour leader of Edinburgh City Council has issued an 'unreserved apology' after the Sunday Mail uncovered evidence of the bizarre ploy.
dailyrecord.co.uk
