Edinburgh City Council has suffered substantial budget cuts in the past five years, forced on it by the SNP Scottish Government, and further severe reductions are expected in future.

In a difficult financial climate, our priorities should be fixing basic services and supporting vulnerable people.

After a month of delay the news is finally in that the Labour and the SNP have signed a coalition deal to run Edinburgh City Council.

City Lib Dem Group Leader Dobbie Aldridge said, "This deal could have been signed weeks ago. However, Labour's dilly-dallying and indecision left the city facing weeks of uncertainty.

Edinburgh Liberal Democrats are celebrating a successful General Election in the city with the news that Christine Jardine has been elected as the new Member of Parliament for Edinburgh West with a majority of 2988 over the SNP.

Liberal Democrats in Edinburgh are on the rise again and intent on winning more seats in the council elections. Liberal Democrats swept to victory in the Scottish Parliament elections in Edinburgh Western against the pundits’ predictions and people are recognising that our hard work, enthusiasm and common sense approach to politics are needed more than ever.

Underpinning all of our work is a commitment to make a real difference in the communities we represent: listening, offering feedback and keeping in touch with local people all year round and campaigning on issues which are important to the community.

Mike Crockart, MP for Edinburgh West, has welcomed a statement this week from junior Home Office Minister Lynne Featherstone, announcing arrangements to deliver two key commitments in the coalition agreement on the use of animals in scientific research.

Mike Crockart, MP for Edinburgh West, has welcomed today’s announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, of a new Coastal Communities Fund to support the economic development of coastal communities, which includes £4 million for Scotland.

Liberal Democrat MSP for Edinburgh Southern Mike Pringle has revealed that 218,600 people in the City of Edinburgh will pay reduced income tax from April this year, thanks to the Liberal Democrat-led increase in the personal tax allowance.

Mike Pringle MSP and student groups have welcomed major concessions on further education funding secured by the Scottish Liberal Democrats in this years budget.