On Wednesday 14th May 2025, #MEAction Scotland held Millions Missing Scotland outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. The rally sent a clear and urgent message to the Scottish Government to act on the £4.5 million pledged in the 2025-26 budget for specialist support for ME, Long Covid, and other similar conditions.
This year’s theme, ‘Red alert for ME’, highlighted the dire situation for people with ME in Scotland and the need for the government’s recent warm words to turn into action. #MEAction Scotland volunteers were joined by people with ME, their carers, families and friends, and the event was live-streamed on Facebook for people at home to join virtually. Thanks to an effective email campaign from the ME community, 19 MSPs from across political parties came outside to show their support.
Paul Sweeney MSP, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP, Ben Macpherson MSP, Sue Webber MSP and Brian Whittle MSP spoke to the crowd. The Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, Jenni Minto MSP, also came out to speak. She thanked #MEAction Scotland for submitting their priorities for the research funding and confirmed that the government is discussing with NHS Health Boards how the allocated funding could be spent. The Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring the NICE Guideline is followed by NHS Health Boards over the, now outdated, Scottish Good Practice Statement. This is a welcome and much needed step and #MEAction Scotland will continue to ask about how this is progressing and what it looks like in practice.
Other MSPs who joined demonstrators to show their support were Alexander Burnett MSP, Foysol Choudhury MSP, Katy Clark MSP, Murdo Fraser MSP, Christine Grahame MSP, Rachael Hamilton MSP, Monica Lennon MSP, Michael Marra MSP, Oliver Mundell MSP, Alex Rowley MSP, Colin Smyth MSP, Alexander Stewart MSP and Tess White MSP.
Alongside MSPs speaking, there were powerful contributions from people with ME, both in person and read out by #MEAction Scotland volunteers. Thanks to everyone who supported the rally – these events aren’t possible without the support of the ME community, but living with ME means it often comes at great personal cost.
With the support of Stuart Murdoch of the band Belle and Sebastian, who also lives with ME, the event was covered across multiple news outlets, including STV News, the National, the Herald, Yahoo News and the Edinburgh Reporter.
On the same day, inside the Scottish Parliament, a motion was published for ME Awareness Week which has had cross-party support from MSPs. The motion reinforces the messages of the rally and was lodged by Annie Wells MSP with #MEAction Scotland’s support. It’s hoped this will lead to a parliamentary debate and, if that’s the case, we will share information on how the ME community can support it.
The success of Millions Missing Scotland 2025 has once again shown the strength and resilience of the ME community. Voices from across Scotland came together to call for the care and support that people with ME deserve, and they were heard. #MEAction Scotland will continue to press the government for urgent action and remind them of the renewed commitments the Minister made.
To keep up to date with #MEAction Scotland’s activity, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, X or Bluesky.
