Ahead of election day on 4 July, the Student sat down with Chris Murray, the Scottish Labour candidate for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, to find out his views on the housing emergency, climate change, and the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
Before entering politics, Murray worked in government offices and for non-governmental organisations, including one based in a refugee camp in Ramallah, West Bank.
Murray said he witnessed things get progressively worse under the Conservative government during his time working with vulnerable people.
Cost of Living and Housing Crises
The cost of living crisis has been a key issue in this election’s campaign, with increasing numbers of people across the country struggling to make ends meet.
“The use of foodbanks in a city as rich as Edinburgh is a scandal”, Murray said.
Labour’s plan to tackle Edinburgh’s cost of living crisis would be multifaceted.
By ending exploitative working contracts, Labour aim to increase employment stability and increase businesses ability to plan.
foodbanks in a city as rich as Edinburgh is a scandal
Meanwhile, Murray identified the lack of a clear, coherent strategy when it came to dealing with the housing issue in Edinburgh.
While housing policy is devolved to the Scottish government, Murray said:
“Planning is something we [Scottish Labour] want to look at”.
In November, Edinburgh City Council unanimously declared a housing emergency in response to rising private rents, a housing shortage and more than 5,000 homeless households.
Climate Crisis
Murray claimed that using renewables to help bring people’s bills down would increase public support for net-zero emissions.
To help achieve this, Labour would establish GB Energy – a publicly-owned company and green-energy investment vehicle based in Scotland.
He said his party’s climate policies “have the potential to be genuinely transformative” and could create employment opportunities for University of Edinburgh graduates in green industries.
Labour has come under scrutiny for going back on plans to invest £28 billion a year in green projects until 2030.
Murray defended the decision, citing the economic challenges faced following the tumultuous Liz Truss’ government.
the defining challenge of our generation
He said Labour “would rather under-promise and over-deliver”, adding that he wants “people to challenge him on climate”.
“I want to be an outspoken person on this […] This is the defining challenge of our generation”.
On the campaign trail
Murray claimed that many people on the doorstep felt that the SNP weren’t meeting changing public demands, particularly since the COVID pandemic.
In contrast, Murray acknowledged Scottish Labour’s efforts to transform the party’s leadership and policy.
Poor election results in the 2017 general election saw the party hold only seven seats in Scotland, falling to only two after the 2019 election.
Israel-Gaza Conflict
Labour have faced criticism from the likes of the SNP for their stance on Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, namely the length of time it took for them to call for an immediate ceasefire.
In February, Labour’s shadow Justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said there had been “a loss of trust” with British Muslims over her party’s position on the conflict.
However, Murray stresses the importance of a “immediate and lasting ceasefire […] to push full humanitarian access and stop further escalation in the region.”
Message to Students
Making a direct appeal to students across his constituency – which includes the University of Edinburgh’s central campus – Murray said:
“You have the future of the country in your hands.”
“The student vote could be decisive. This is a seat we need to win to be in government and [it] will be decided marginally.”
Image via Scottish Labour
Read the full transcript: