AN EFFORT is being made to revive a long-standing left-leaning debate group in the county.

The East Lothian Fabian Society had been in existence for more than 100 years before ceasing operations in 2022 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Fabian Society is a left-leaning think tank, a Labour Party affiliate, and a democratic membership society with more than 7,000 members across its UK branches.

The group aims to influence political and public thinking and provide a space for broad debate.

Due to lack of numbers brought about by the pandemic, and the retirement of secretary Noel Foy in 2018, the East Lothian branch, which previously held monthly meetings in the county, stopped operating two years ago.

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Plans have now been launched to start the group again, with the support of Labour’s Lothian East General Election candidate Douglas Alexander.

A meeting will be held tomorrow (Monday) at the Waterside Bistro in Haddington at 7.30pm, to which all are welcome.

Mr Alexander will be in attendance to speak at the event.

Dunbar resident David Raw is one of the driving forces behind the revival.

He said: “We want to get the group back up and running again as a place to allow for some debate and open discussion. We know Douglas Alexander is keen to get it running again and we are backing him to win the election.

“If we get a good turnout on Monday then we hope to hold monthly meetings going forward.”