Friday May 29th 2026
Katherine Sangster, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Labour Party writes her first monthly column for Midlothian View.
It is a huge honour to serve as your Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh and Lothians East. To be entrusted with representing communities I know well, communities defined by their warmth, resilience, and enormous potential, is a responsibility I take seriously every single day. I am proud to stand up for you in the Scottish Parliament and support you in any way I can.
As a new MSP, one of the first steps is to make a maiden speech. It’s was an opportunity to speak not only about my own journey into politics, but also about the people and communities I represent. It was especially meaningful to contribute during the childcare debate, where my amended motion on expanding childcare was successfully passed by Parliament.
The motion recognised that every child deserves the best start in life and highlighted the vital role that high-quality, accessible, and affordable childcare plays in tackling poverty, supporting working families, and improving child development. Importantly, it called for stronger action to reduce childcare costs for parents, improve flexibility within the childcare system, better support childminders, and provide families with greater choice and control over the childcare arrangements that work best for them.
It also called on the Scottish Government to produce a fully costed delivery plan and timeline to extend year-round childcare support for every child from nine months old through to the end of primary school. During the debate, I also highlighted concerns raised by many Midlothian parents who struggle to access childcare outside their own local authority area, even where a cross-boundary place would better suit their work or commuting patterns.
This issue is deeply personal to me. My journey into politics began with frustration and determination. As a working parent, I experienced first-hand the pressures families face when trying to balance work, childcare, and financial stability. Too many parents are forced to make impossible choices because childcare is unaffordable, unavailable, or inflexible. Public services should remove barriers, not create them.
In my maiden speech, I spoke about fairness, opportunity, and ensuring no family is left behind. Expanding childcare is not simply about convenience; it is about giving children the best possible start in life while allowing parents, particularly women, to participate fully in education, work, and public life.
Since being elected, I have spent time speaking with constituents about the issues that matter most to them. Time and again, families have raised the rising cost of living, difficulties accessing childcare that fits around working hours, and the pressure this places on household finances. These concerns are real and deserve serious attention from government.
Like so many of you, I feel incredibly lucky to live in such a beautiful and vibrant part of the world. But pride in our communities must go hand in hand with ambition for them. One of my central priorities is creating opportunity for young people and families through access to quality education, childcare, skills, and secure employment.
As your MSP, I am committed to ensuring that the voice of Edinburgh and Lothians East is heard clearly and consistently, both locally and nationally. I look forward to continuing to work alongside you and to keeping you updated on the issues that matter most to our communities.
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