Taylor Swift Concerts in Edinburgh Drive Up Hotel Prices, Forcing Homeless Out of the City

Taylor Swift is set to perform at Murrayfield Stadium on 7, 8 and 9 June, with tens of thousands of fans expected to flock to Edinburgh – many with prior hotel reservations.

FILE PHOTO: Taylor Swift attends a premiere for Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour in Los Angeles, California, U.S., October 11, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo
Image:Taylor Swift. Pic: Reuters/Mario Anzuon

A number of homeless people face being sent outside of Edinburgh to make way for tourists ahead of Taylor Swift performing in the city.

The City of Edinburgh Council said it is working with those affected to find “alternative accommodation”.

The local authority said as a result of its housing emergency, it must at times use tourist accommodation to house homeless people.

However, as it won’t be available year-round – particularly over the summer holidays – it is “reluctantly” used as a last resort as a short-term fix and is only booked one week at a time.

Taylor Swift performs at the Monumental stadium during her Eras Tour concert in Buenos Aires. Pic: AP
Image:Swift is set to perform three shows in Edinburgh in June. Pic: AP

Swift is set to perform at Murrayfield Stadium next week on 7, 8 and 9 June, with tens of thousands of fans expected to flock to the Scottish capital to see the US singer – many with prior hotel reservations.

If the council fails to source accommodation in the city, then the homeless households will be moved elsewhere in the country.

There is no evidence of homeless people being removed from accommodation where they are currently staying.

Councillor Jane Meagher, housing, homelessness and fair work convener, said: “It is a symptom of the housing emergency we face in Edinburgh that at times we must use tourist accommodation to house homeless households.

“We know it won’t be available year-round, particularly over the busy summer months, so we use it reluctantly as a last resort.

“We’re aware of the situation and are working with the affected households to find appropriate, alternative accommodation.”


Swift fans flock to London pub

Shelter Scotland described the situation as “a blatant injustice”.

Alison Watson, director of the charity, said: “This situation is yet further evidence of the urgency of Scotland’s housing emergency.

“In Edinburgh that emergency now places people experiencing homelessness in direct competition with tourists; a blatant injustice.

“Our frontline services have seen people in need of a bed tonight being told their only option is to leave the city.

“A family going through the trauma of homelessness in Edinburgh should not have to move miles from their job, school, and community to find emergency accommodation.”

There is a legal obligation for people declared homeless in Scotland to be offered emergency temporary accommodation, and this can come in the form of hotels.

The council declared a housing emergency last November in the face of increasing homelessness figures and a lack of supply.

The Scottish government followed suit earlier this month after sustained pressure from campaigners and opposition parties.

Ms Watson is calling for Holyrood to deliver its promise of a national housing emergency action plan.

She said that without change, the council will be facing the same issue during Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August.

Ms Watson stated: “At a time when the City of Edinburgh Council has declared a housing emergency and the Scottish Housing Regulator says the city’s homelessness services are experiencing systemic failure, we need a different response from the Scottish government.

“Scottish ministers must deliver their promise of a national housing emergency action plan that delivers more homes and more money for Edinburgh.

“Without that change we can expect more of the same when the festival kicks off in a few weeks’ time.”

Related Posts

Al Roker’s Secret $1 Million Gift to His First Wife Every Year – Find Out What’s Been Hidden from His Current Spouse Until Now!

Al Roker, the iconic weatherman and co-host of the “Today” show, has been a fixture in American households for decades. While much of his life is under…

TV Star Anthony McPartlin’s Heart-Stopping Rescue of a 10-Year-Old Boy from a Near-Fatal Car Crash and His Jaw-Dropping Act of Generosity to Save the Child’s Family.

In a moment that could have been ripped from the script of a Hollywood blockbuster, beloved British television presenter Anthony McPartlin, one half of the iconic duo…

Rachel Maddow Refuses to Let Go of Stephen Miller’s Scandal Involving His Wife—Find Out Why Her Shocking Comments About His Current Life Are Stirring Up the Media Right Now!

In recent weeks, a persistent media storm has formed around Rachel Maddow’s outspoken comments regarding Stephen Miller, the controversial former senior advisor to President Donald Trump, and…

‘If It’s a Boy, He’ll Be a Superhero. If It’s a Girl, a Disney Princess’—Henry Cavill Reveals Gender Preferences for First Child in Recent Interview 🌟👶

the internet is buzzing with a charming revelation from Hollywood’s beloved Man of Steel, Henry Cavill. In a recent interview, the 42-year-old British actor, known for his…

Declan Donnelly’s Heartwarming Gesture: Secretly Slipping £100 to a Homeless Elderly Woman While Buying Her Bread in a Touching Act of Kindness.

In the bustling streets of West London, where the hum of city life blends with the charm of Chiswick’s leafy avenues, a quiet moment of compassion unfolded…

Rachel Maddow Warns: It’s Not What Trump Will Do, But What the American People Will Let Him Do

Rachel Maddow, the well-known host of MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show,” has been a consistent voice in American political commentary for years. Recently, she has highlighted a…