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The Herald Scotland
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Edinburgh Council by-election a ‘toss-up' as all bets off
The election was triggered following the tragic death of Labour councillor Val Walker in April. Walker was elected to the City Chambers for the first time in 2022 and served as convener of the authority's Culture and Communities Committee. In the last local election the Conservatives, SNP and Labour emerged as victors in the ward. But with all three parties having seen shifts in support since 2022, the outcome of this contest is far from certain. On the ballot, often a crowded one in Edinburgh by-elections, are candidates representing the five mainstream parties - Scottish National Party, Scottish Labour, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Scottish Liberal Democrats and Scottish Greens - alongside the Scottish Family Party, Scottish Libertarian Party and five independents. Though the vote will still use the Single Transferrable Vote (STV) system - where candidates are ranked in order of preference - a single-seat by-election means it functions more like a winner-takes-all contest, making it harder to predict and less proportional than a full multi-member race. So when it comes to predictions, all bets are off. Read more: As one campaign source put it, "I have absolutely no earthly idea what will happen'. They told The Herald it was the 'most open election I've seen in my nearly 20 years in Edinburgh politics'. Similarly, polling and elections website Ballot Box Scotland predicts a 'Holyrood five tossup'. According to analysis published by BBS, the 2022 result run as a single seat election sees the Conservatives finish in third place after transfers despite having the most first preference votes, with Labour going 'the opposite direction, starting from third but climbing to a relatively solid victory over the SNP of just over 10%'. BBS writes: 'Not so very long ago that'd mean we could just say that this was going to be a Labour win, done and dusted, no questions asked. 'Obviously, circumstances have rather changed lately. "Labour have been doing appallingly badly at by-elections, and have even begun to lose wards they were the 2022 winners in. "That's not to say things have been particularly rosy for the SNP either; they've been piling up the wins not because they're gaining or even holding onto votes, but just because Labour are falling that much harder and not getting the transfers.' As for the insurgent Reform UK - who recorded their best ever parliamentary election result in Scotland in this month's Holyrood by-election in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, finishing in third place with 26% - the respected pollster expects a solid share in Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart, but not 'comparable to other recent by-elections'. 'Edinburgh is the least favourable part of Scotland for them,' BBS adds, 'and it's not the posh Conservatives in wards like this that Reform have been siphoning their votes from. Even so, the Conservatives have been doing poorly over the past couple of years as well. 'In other words, in general I'd expect all of the top three to be doing worse now than in 2022. That makes this difficult to predict. 'On top of that, the Greens really weren't that far behind either so should be considered in contention, but remember that their voters are the least likely to turn out at by-elections, which is a mark against them too. "Plus, we can't forget the Lib Dems. Despite relatively weak results in this ward specifically, they are the only Holyrood party clearly and unarguably on the up right now, especially in Edinburgh.' BBS told The Herald that the Greens "have been absolutely gunning for this one" and they had seen "substantial SNP and Labour groups posting too". The bigger picture in Edinburgh City Chambers is that Labour is under pressure to hold on to this seat. Labour has controlled the 63-member council since 2022, despite winning just 13 seats, thanks to support from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Since dropping to 11 councillors, those two parties have continued to lend support to the Labour group in crucial votes, helping it retain control of the local authority. Read more from our Edinburgh Correspondent: Any further loss of seats would further weaken their credibility as a ruling party in the Chambers, although their 'majority' would still be safe if the other two 'pro-union' parties continue to offer support. A result from the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart by-election is expected around midnight on Friday. The Herald will be at the count to provide live results and reaction. Returning officer for Edinburgh, Paul Lawrence said: 'With the by-election fast approaching, I'd encourage all residents of the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart ward to head to their local polling station this Thursday. Please remember to bring your poll card. 'The councillor you elect will represent your community on key issues both within the ward and across Edinburgh - so make sure you take this important opportunity to make your voice heard. 'To make sure your vote is counted, if you've received a postal ballot, please return it as soon as possible.' The candidates standing for election are:
Scotsman
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Labour prospects of 10th councillor at by-election look slim
At the moment Labour heads a coalition administration in the City Chambers despite only having nine councillors in its group The electorate of Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart will have the opportunity tomorrow to elect a councillor to fill the vacancy brought about by the untimely death of the sitting Labour Councillor, Val Walker. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... However, Labour's prospects of filling the vacant position are in some doubt to say the least. Last time around in May 2022, the Conservative candidate Christopher Cowdy came first in the Single Transferable Vote election and the Tories are confident that their candidate in the current contest will do likewise. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad At the moment Labour forms the administration up in the High Street despite only having nine councillors in its group. Edinburgh City Council is comprised of 63 councillors and after tomorrow's election that number will be restored, but Labour, unfortunately for them, are unlikely to increase their number to ten. Of course, it is remarkable that they form the administration in the first place and only do so with the support of the Liberal Democrat and Conservative groups who banded together to thwart the aspirations of the SNP/Greens who had the combined total of 29 councillors, just three short of an outright majority. The SNP and Greens assumed that they, and not Labour, would form the administration – with some justification I might add. So why did the Liberal Democrats and the Tories decide to use their combined forces to catapult Labour into power and block the SNP's bid for the spoils? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It has been said that both those parties are 'Unionist' and so would naturally want to limit to the role of a party of 'Independence' to that of a by-stander but there would seem to be more to it than that. After all, when I was fortunate to lead the SNP group in the City Chambers, I successfully negotiated coalition deals with first the Liberal Democrats in 2007 and then Labour in 2012, with both coalitions lasting their full term of five years. So it would appear that the reluctance to allow the SNP to run the council along with the Greens was borne out of resentment at the way they were treated by the SNP when it formed the previous administration with the Labour Group. Accusations of arrogance and failure to consider proposals from others were cited as examples of how some SNP members in that particular administration dealt with members from other groups and the Liberal Democrats and Tories did not fancy more of the same, thank you very much. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad So, the outcome of tomorrow's by-election will have no bearing on who runs the council because that ship has already sailed and the only way that it can be sunk is if the Labour Group scuttle it by so incensing their two political allies, the Lib Dems and the Tories, to the extent that they jump ship. Even the current Labour group, inexperienced as it is, surely cannot be so foolish as to jeopardise its position – after all the opportunity to run a council with nine members out of a total of 63 doesn't land in your lap every day!
Scotsman
a day ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Edinburgh by-election: Voters in Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart choose new councillor to replace Val Walker
Voters in Edinburgh's Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart ward go to the polls tomorrow, Thursday June 26, in a by-election where almost no-one is willing to predict the result. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The by-election was caused by the death of Labour councillor Val Walker, who served as convener of the council's culture and communities committee. There are 13 candidates bidding to replace her. As well as Labour, the Conservatives, SNP, Greens, Lib Dems and Reform UK, there are also five independents standing and representatives of the Scottish Libertarian Party and Scottish Family Party. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad At the last council elections in 2022, four of the five main parties all finished within six per cent of each other. Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm on Thursday June 26. | stock The Tories topped the poll with 26.6 per cent of first preferences, just enough to get their candidate elected in the first round of counting. It was almost a dead heat for second place between the SNP on 22.7 per cent and Labour on 22.4 per cent and they each took one of the two remaining seats. But the Greens were not far behind on 19.9 per cent. The Lib Dems got 7.1 per cent. Privately, sources in all the main parties confessed they had no idea who would win the by-election. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One said: "This is at least a four-way marginal and the Lib Dems are trying where they didn't try before, so does that make it a five-way marginal?" Another said: "This may be the most open election I've ever been involved in - and I've been involved in quite a lot." With only one seat to fill, unless one candidate gets more than 50 per cent of first preferences - which is extremely unlikely here - the result will depend on how votes transfer as low-polling candidates are eliminated and their votes are redistributed according to second and further preferences. As well as Fountainbridge and Craiglockhart, the ward takes in Slateford and Kingsknowe. The current electorate is 18,945. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Any resident in the area aged 16 and over and who has registered can vote. Even though there is only one seat to fill, voters are asked to rank the candidates in order of preference, by writing 1, 2, 3, etc on the ballot paper, choosing as many or few as they like. Polling stations will be open on Thursday, June 26, from 7am until 10pm. The electronic counting of votes will take place on Thursday night, after the polls close. Conservative candidate Mark Hooley | supplied Conservative candidate Mark Hooley grew up in the Parkgrove area of the city, studied politics in Dundee and then lived in the US and in Holland. Currently he is studying for a MSc in Journalism at Edinburgh Napier University, lives in the ward and works for a large national bookmakers. He ran as a Conservative candidate in the Sighthill/Gorgie ward in the 2022 council elections. The theme of his campaign is 'back to basics' and he thinks that too much focus has been put on what he calls 'vanity projects' such as trams, cycle lanes, pedestrianisation of George Street and road closures, with the result that the day-to-day basics of potholes, road safety, residents' parking and graffiti. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad SNP candidate Murray Visentin | supplied SNP candidate Murray Visentin was born and raised in the ward and has lived in it his whole life and says he wants to become a voice for the community that shaped him. He is part of the leadership team at the big Asda off Slateford Road, where has has worked for 20 years. Just before the pandemic he was diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer. He pulled through - thanks, he says, to aggressive treatment, a determined and positive mindset, and a lot of support. He says it changed how he sees life. He has been an activist for Scottish independence since he was 12 years old and believes every national and local issue we face would be better served in an independent country. Labour candidate Catriona Munro | supplied Labour candidate Catriona Munro has lived in south Edinburgh for over 25 years. Sh was a partner in one of Scotland's leading law firms, but has now retired from full-time practice. She has been an active member of the Labour Party throughout her adult life, first in London and for the last 25 years, in Edinburgh Southern. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She says as a partner in a major law firm, she was a business owner and has extensive management experience at a senior level, as well as navigating through large organisations, dealing with and advising senior business people and interacting with various arms of government, advocating for clients and negotiating with opposing parties. Lib Dem candidate Kevin McKay | supplied Lib Dem candidate Kevin McKay has lived in Craiglockhart for the last 12 years. He is a member and the current treasurer of Craiglockhart Community Council. He is recently retired from work, having spent his career in the water industry tackling pollution issues, including through setting up his own business. He says if elected, he would join a City Chambers Lib Dem team fighting for road safety, investment in schools, and fixing our pavements and roads. Green candidate Q Manivannan | supplied Green candidate Q Manivannan is from the Tamil community and was born in India, making Scotland home since 2021. He has worked in the United Nations, in trade unions, voluntary organisations, and as an award-winning scholar in universities and won the Kavya Prize for Scottish writers of colour in 2023. He co-convenes the Palestine Solidarity Group for the Scottish Greens. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Greens say Q would bring fresh new energy and new thinking to the City Chambers, together with a deep personal commitment to a kinder, caring politics that listens to people and communities. He names his priorities in the ward as road safety and traffic; tenants' rights and rents; and protecting green spaces. Full list of candidates Bonnie Prince Bob, Independent Derrick Emms, Independent Lukasz Furmaniak, Scottish Libertarian Party Mark Hooley, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Richard Crewe Lucas, Scottish Family Party Q Manivannan, Scottish Greens Kevin Joseph McKay, Scottish Liberal Democrats Catriona Munro, Scottish Labour Party Gary Neill, Reform UK Mark Rowbotham, Independent Murray Visentin, Scottish National Party (SNP) Steve Christopher West, Independent Marc Wilkinson, Independent
Scotsman
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Edinburgh council by-election: 13 candidates for one seat in Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart following death of Val Walker
Thirteen candidates will stand in the council by-election caused by the death of Labour councillor Val Walker. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The contest in ward, will take place on Thursday, June 26. Cllr Walker, who was convener of the council's culture and communities committee, died suddenly and unexpectedly last month. Colleagues paid tribute to her as a 'gentle, yet fierce and loyal' champion for her city and community. Voters in Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart go the polls on Thursday, June 26. | TSPL Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The by-election is to choose a new councillor for Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart to fill the vacancy left by her death. As well as candidates from Labour, the Conservatives, SNP, Greens, Lib Dems and Reform UK, there are also five independents standing and representatives of the Scottish Libertarian Party and Scottish Family Party. The full list is: Bonnie Prince Bob, Independent Derrick Emms, Independent Lukasz Furmaniak, Scottish Libertarian Party Mark Hooley, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Richard Crewe Lucas, Scottish Family Party Q Manivannan, Scottish Greens Kevin Joseph McKay, Scottish Liberal Democrats Catriona Munro, Scottish Labour Party Gary Neill, Reform UK Mark Rowbotham, Independent Murray Visentin, Scottish National Party (SNP) Steve Christopher West, Independent Marc Wilkinson, Independent Council chief executive and returning officer Paul Lawrence said: 'With nominations now closed and just over a month remaining until polling day, residents of the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart ward can start thinking about who they will vote for in the upcoming by-election. 'Councillors play an important role in our democratic system, making crucial decisions that impact our city. I'd encourage as many residents as possible to take part in this by-election. Please make sure you register to vote before the deadline and make your voice heard.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The election will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, where voters rank candidates in order of preference by assigning numbers rather than just marking a single cross. You can choose to vote for as many or as few candidates as you wish. Poll cards will be delivered to registered voters in the area from today, including further information on when and where to vote. Residents in the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart ward must register to vote by midnight on Tuesday June 10. For new postal vote applications, the deadline is 5pm on Wednesday June 11 and for new proxy votes its 5pm on Wednesday June 18. Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm and will be at: Kingsknowe Golf Club Edinburgh Corn Exchange St Michaels Church Hall Fountainbridge Library Boroughmuir Rugby & Community Sports Club Craiglockhart Parish Church Hall Tollcross Community Centre The electronic election count will take place immediately after the polls close at 10pm on Thursday June 26.
Edinburgh Reporter
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
Date set for Edinburgh by-election
A by-election for the seat of late Labour councillor Val Walker will be held on Thursday, 26 June, it has been announced. Cllr Walker, who represented the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart ward, passed away unexpectedly last month. Edinburgh's chief executive and returning officer Paul Lawrence said: 'I want to reiterate my condolences to Councillor Walker's family, friends, and colleagues. 'Her passing has resulted in the vacancy for the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart ward. I'd urge all residents in the ward to make sure they are registered and have their details or preference of how they would like to vote up to date in plenty of time. 'Details on how to register, where to vote or how to vote by post can be found on the Council website.' The Green group has already announced their candidate as Q Manivannan, a member of the Tamil community who moved to Scotland in 2021. They said: 'My heart goes out to the family, friends and colleagues of Val with her very sudden passing. In the wake of all the harsh things happening in the world right now, I want to bring new energy, new ideas and a more caring style to the City Chambers. 'I am excited to be standing here in Fountainbridge-Craiglockhart. Ours is a Green area which twice elected former councillor Gavin Corbett, with the highest Green vote in Scotland.' Next month's vote will take place using the Single Transferrable Vote system, with electors ranking their preferences for candidates and being free to select as many or as few candidates as they like. Polls will be open from 7am to 10pm on election day. The deadline to register for the election will be midnight on Tuesday, 10 June. If registering for a new postal vote, the deadline is 5pm on Wednesday, 11 June, and if registering for a proxy vote, the deadline is 5pm on Wednesday, 18 are currently 18,563 electors on the roll in the ward. By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
