Lib Dems claim victory in close Edinburgh by-election
In a tight race, runners-up Labour were just 24 votes ahead of the Lib Dems after first preference votes were counted.
Mr McKay pulled ahead after a further 12 rounds of transfers and by the final round of counting was 97 votes ahead of Labour's candidate, Catriona Munro.
The Greens came third with 18.2% of first preferences, followed by the SNP on 14.5% and the Conservatives on 13.8%.
A total of 6,264 ballots were cast, reflecting a turnout of 33.1%.
It was a surprise result for the Lib Dems who came fifth in the ward at the last local elections in 2022 with just 7.1%. They now have 14 councillors in the City Chambers and remain the second largest party.
The contest in Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart was triggered by the sudden death of Labour councillor Val Walker in April.
In a speech shortly after midnight on Friday when the result was declared, Councillor McKay said, 'no one I think wanted this by election'.
He said: 'I think we all miss Val Walker, I particularly knew her through the community council.
By election winner Kevin McKay, left, with returning officer Paul Lawrence, right (Image: Newsquest) 'I didn't want to be here, but I am, pleased to try and fill her shoes. She did have big shoes.
'I am overwhelmed by this result. I don't think we expected it, but I'm very pleased and I am really thankful to my constituents who voted for me. I will do my best to disappoint them and to keep their trust.'
When asked afterwards what he believed had secured his victory, he said: 'I think because I care.
'I'm not a professional politician. I don't live and breathe politics.
'I'm enthusiastic about doing good things.
'I really liked Val and I've said to a lot of people I didn't really want to be here, it was so sudden.'
Councillor McKay said his priorities would be 'parking and potholes'.
He said: 'I live in an area that isn't restricted parking at the moment so it's the end of the zones, so we get the commuters coming in.
'That's fine and I can totally understand why they want to do that but it is very annoying for all the residents. Particularly around Craiglockhart there's quite an elderly community and they say 'we can't get our carers to stop outside the house'.'
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Councillor Ed Thornley, Lib Dem group leader in the City Chambers said: 'Kevin is an eminently credible candidate, he's got that local record of activity, he's a lovely guy. People believed him when he said 'I will work hard for you'.'
Asked if the result could lead to the Lib Dems taking control of the council now that they had three more seats than the minority Labour administration, Thornley replied: 'We've been the second largest group for a little while, that is an additional one to our number and what that means we don't know yet because nobody knew who was going to win this by-election and anyone who did is having you on.'
Former Lib Dem group leader Kevin Lang said: 'We won by over 100 votes I believe in the end. It's an astonishing result. We've never done better than fourth place on first preferences in this ward.
'We worked very hard.
'But there's no doubt Kevin McKay, a well-respected community councillor was a huge asset for us in this ward. But we've had other by-elections in Edinburgh where we've moved forward.'
The result, Lang added, 'shows that we are a party that is on the up in Edinburgh' in the lead up to the Scottish Parliament elections and local elections in 2027.
He said: 'This has been probably the most extraordinary council election I've been involved in in 20 years in Edinburgh politics.
13 candidates stood in the by-election (Image: Newsquest) 'I've never known such an even contest. Ever party it felt like was in contention, even as you got to the final number of first preferences cast it wasn't clear who had won. I've never known anything like that, and I'm just glad that on a night of high drama like that it's my party that ends up on top.'
Ms Munro said: 'I'm disappointed but these things happen.
'We ran a really good campaign we got a very positive reception on the doorsteps, we had a good message to deliver and it's disappointing that on the transfers of preferences that we lost out to the Lib Dems but these things happen.'
It was the second Edinburgh Council by-election held this year, following one in the neighbouring Colinton/Fairmilehead ward in January in which Labour and the Conservatives each gained a seat.
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