Edinburgh black cab drivers who took part in Poppy Cabs gave free transport to more than 40 veterans for Remembrance Sunday services across Edinburgh and the Lothians. Angela Ross, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, lodged that account in a Holyrood motion on Monday 9 November 2026.
The motion thanks the drivers for volunteering their time and their vehicles, so veterans could attend the services and travel home. The same motion welcomes the money raised by selling taxi poppy badges for veterans' charities. The figure of more than 40 veterans is the number given in the motion, not an official passenger count. Edinburgh and Lothians East is described there as home to approximately 25,000 veterans.
The plan lodged in September
Miles Briggs, MSP for the same region, lodged the September motion on Wednesday 23 September 2026. The date given for the Poppy Cabs 2026 campaign is 8 November, Remembrance Sunday. Members of the Edinburgh black cab trade were to give up time, as in previous years, and carry veterans free of charge to and from remembrance services across Edinburgh and the Lothians. Two versions of the taxi poppy badge were to be sold, with the money going to veteran charities in the region.
The November motion records that the free journeys went ahead. Colin Beattie, Julie MacDougall, Mark Simpson, David Smith and Paul Sweeney supported it.