Ben Macpherson

My New Year Message. Happy New Year to all.

Improving Scotland’s public services is one of our key priorities. Here’s how we’ve made progress in 2025 ⬇️

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍.

Edinburgh's annual Torchlight Procession returns on Monday 29th December, lighting up the city as the New Year celebrations begin. 🔥 15,000 torch bearers and friends from around the world will make Edinburgh glow in a river of fire - joined by Street Theatre, Fire Performers and Drummers, before the Massed Pipes and Drums and Vikings from Shetland’s South Mainland Up Helly Aa’ Jarl Squad (SMUHA) lead the procession through the capital’s historic Old Town. 📸 Edinburgh's Hogmanay © Andy Catlin

The streets of Edinburgh are full of festive decorations, with beautiful trees and sparkling lights around every corner. There's something truly magical about this time of year, when the whole city is glowing and Christmas spirit is in the air. Where have you spotted beautiful decorations this year? 🎄

First Minister @JohnSwinney has wished everyone a very happy Christmas.

This is excellent news - and a great first step in understanding the sustainability challenge for the HE sector. @RoyalSocEd - an important step from @uni_scot and @ScotGovEdu - important that it has cross-party support in the Scottish Parliament ahead of the Holyrood elections in May.

We are pleased to announce the launch of a joint process between Universities Scotland and @ScotGovEdu, the "Framework for the Sustainability and Success of Scotland’s Universities". universities-scotland.ac.uk/future-framewo…

♦️Revealed: Scottish economy performance has been superior to that of the UK as a whole @heraldscotland ⬇️ heraldscotland.com/news/25704718.…

The proportion of pupils reaching expected levels of literacy and numeracy in Scotland’s schools is at the highest level on record, officials statistics show. @ScotGov is determined to continue driving forward educational improvements in schools. ➡️gov.scot/news/achieveme…

This is what investing in Scotland’s young people looks like. 👇

The events at Bondi beach are an appalling act against the Jewish community at a precious moment in the Jewish calendar. Such acts are despicable at any time but ever more so at this moment. I express my sympathy and solidarity to the Jewish community at this time.

Please follow the weather warnings and stay safe.

Over the next 24 hours or so there are Amber weather warnings in place in Scotland. Please follow the advice and stay safe.

👇 Here’s 5 ways we are improving education in Scotland, explained in 20 seconds.

New study from LSE, York & Glasgow universities shows the Scottish Child Payment is transforming lives. Without it, 70,000 more children would face deprivation and food insecurity. We will keep investing in families and lifting children out of poverty. lse.ac.uk/news/deprivati…

A new report shows business investment in Scotland has risen to a 20-year high - in contrast to a fall across the UK. It confirms we also have the UK's most educated workforce, with 53.7% attaining higher-level qualifications. More➡️gov.scot/news/business-…

We are delivering improvements in Scotland’s schools. New statistics show real progress is being made. Find out more: gov.scot/news/deliverin…

The number of pupils reaching expected levels of literacy and numeracy in schools is at the highest level on record. The poverty-related attainment gap has also narrowed to a new low at all levels. ➡️gov.scot/news/deliverin…

Our NHS still faces challenges after the pandemic, but we’re making real progress: ✅ Reducing long waits ✅ More operations ✅ More GPs Thank you to our NHS staff for all your hard work. 👏