Christmas cutbacks - 'Santa really has got the sack this year'

All the high-profile, free events that have become a staple of recent festive seasons in the city centre won't be taking place. There will be no taking the kids to see Father Christmas feeding his reindeer in Princes Street Gardens, or riding on the Santa Express, or watching the bearded hordes in the Great Scottish Santa Run.

While it is disappointing to see the end of these popular attractions, dropping them before they lost any more public money was the only sensible thing to do.

Last year's celebrations were unsustainable after going 100,000 over budget - and that was before private sponsorship and public funding started to dry up.

Far more important is that the biggest attractions, such as the ice rink, German market and the big wheel, are still going ahead. They not only give Edinburgh an extra sparkle at Christmas, but are also a serious draw, bringing extra money into the city by attracting more visitors.

The city council and Scottish Government are right to view continued funding of them as an investment in Edinburgh's economy.

And, while we may be kissing Santa goodbye, we are also being promised new attractions. That is something we can all look forward to with anticipation, which is after all a big part of what Christmas is about.

Take a stand

mUM Kelly Brogan's attack on two city social workers as they went about their duties is another reminder of the risks faced every day by our frontline public sector workers.

Sadly, many of them will regard what happened to the pair in the reception of their own office in Muirhouse, where they were spat on and had lumps of hair pulled from their heads, as nothing more than they expect to face.

But what other employees would put up with being physically assaulted in this way without at least considering walking out on the job?

It is encouraging to see the courts taking a stand and Sheriff Kenneth McIver warning Brogan that she faces going to jail. Our dedicated public staff deserve all the protection we can give them.