The elections to the City of Edinburgh Council were held on Thursday 4 May 2017, on the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland.[1] single transferable vote (STV) electoral system.
2017 City of Edinburgh Council election Turnout 50.5% ( First party Second party Third party Leader Adam McVey Cameron Rose Cammy Day Party SNP Conservative Labour Leader's seat Leith Southside Forth Last election 18 seats, 26.87% 11 seats, 19.75% 20 seats, 28.13% Seats before 17 11 21 Seats after 19 18 12 Seat change Popular vote 49,994 51,212 33,916 Percentage 27.1% 27.7% 18.4% Swing 8.8% Fourth party Fifth party Leader Steve Burgess Party Scottish Green Liberal Democrats Leader's seat Southside Corstorphine Last election 6 seats, 11.44% 3 seats, 9.34% Seats before 5 2 Seats after 8 6 Seat change Popular vote 22,907 25,154 Percentage 12.4% 13.6% Swing
Overall Result SNP vote share by wards Conservative vote share by wards Labour vote share by wards Green vote share by wards Liberal Democrats share by wards Election result by council wards
Leader of the Council before election Andrew BurnsLabour
Leader of the Council after election Adam McVeySNP
The election saw the SNP become the largest party on the council for the first time, whilst the Conservative party overcame Labour to become the second largest party. Following the election Leith councillor Adam McVey took over control of the SNP group from Frank Ross. Conservative group leader Cameron Rose was similarly replaced by Iain Whyte. The Labour group elected Cammy Day as their leader.[2]
The Labour-SNP administration formed in 2012 lost their majority however were able to continue in office in a minority administration, with Labour now being the junior partner to the SNP.
Boundary changes Following the implementation of changes recommended by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland the number of councillors to be elected was increased from 58 to 63. This was also the first election contested on new boundaries since the 2007 election. While the number of wards remained at 17, five wards:
Almond Pentland Hills City Centre Craigentinny/Duddingston Portobello/Craigmillar elected four councillors instead of three.
The fourth placed and losing candidate in four wards was SNP and one ward a Lib Dem. In a re-run of the 2017 election the boundary changes would have likely lead to an increase of +4 SNP Councillors and +1 Liberal Democrat.
The Meadows/Morningside ward was also renamed as Morningside .[3] [4]
Election result
Ward summary
Ward results
Almond 2012 : 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem2017: 2xLib Dem; 1xCon; 1xSNP2012-2017 Change: One Lib Dem gain.Almond - 4 seatsParty Candidate FPv% Count 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Liberal Democrats Kevin Lang 42.8% 6,079 Liberal Democrats Louise Young 8.0% 1,138 3,652 Conservative Graham Hutchison 16.9% 2,395 2,727 2,995 SNP Norrie Work (incumbent )13.9% 1,971 2,055 2,105 2,108 2,111 2,117 2,123 2,225 2,387 3,744 SNP Pamela Mitchell 8.7% 1,240 1,286 1,306 1,309 1,321 1,326 1,342 1,485 1,691 Labour Bruce Whitehead 5.5% 786 869 966 985 996 1,014 1,037 1,167 Scottish Green Iain McKinnon-Waddell 2.6% 375 430 495 502 510 537 558 Scottish Libertarian Daniel Fraser 0.7% 99 113 119 123 134 139 Independent John Longstaff 0.4% 56 69 89 102 120 UKIP Otto Inglis 0.5% 68 79 85 100 Electorate: 25,455 Valid: 14,207 Spoilt: 129 Quota: 2,842 Turnout: 56.3%
City Centre 2012: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab2017: 1xCon; 1xGreen; 1xLab; 1xSNP2012-2017 Change: One Green gain.City Centre - 4 seats[6] Party Candidate FPv% Count 1 2 3 4 5 6 Conservative Jo Mowat (incumbent )32.68% 2,904 SNP Alasdair Rankin (incumbent )25.07% 2,228 Scottish Green Claire Miller 20.52% 1,823 Labour Karen Doran (incumbent )13.25% 1,177 1,372 1,512 1,534 1,566 2,424 Liberal Democrats David Stevens 8.00% 711 1,185 1,304 1,318 1,388 Scottish Libertarian Peter Sidor 0.48% 43 91 135 137 Electorate: 20,451 Valid: 8,886 Spoilt: 52 Quota: 1,776 Turnout: 8,938 (43.7%)
Colinton/Fairmilehead 2012: 2xCon; 1xSNP2017: 2xCon; 1xLab2012-2017 Change: One Labour gain from SNPColinton/Fairmilehead - 3 seatsParty Candidate FPv% Count 1 2 3 4 5 6 Conservative Jason Rust (incumbent )33.25% 3,783 Labour Scott Arthur 20.59% 2,343 2,423 2,541 2,855 Conservative Philip Doggart 16.51% 1,879 2,580 2,602 2,724 2,727 3,430 SNP Richard John Lewis (incumbent ) 20.73% 2,359 2,387 2,610 2,712 2,714 Liberal Democrats David Richard Walker 4.64% 528 584 680 Scottish Green Sara Marsden 4.28% 487 500 Electorate: 19,085 Valid: 11,379 Spoilt: 111 Quota: 2,845 Turnout: 60.2%
Corstorphine/Murrayfield 2012 : 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem2017: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem2012-2017 Change: No change.Corstorphine/Murrayfield - 3 seatsParty Candidate FPv% Count 1 2 3 4 5 6 Conservative Scott Douglas 33.41% 3,819 Liberal Democrats Gillian Gloyer 30.64% 3,502 SNP Frank Ross (incumbent )21.65% 2,474 2,503 2,566 2,577 2,680 2,956 Labour June Whitelaw 7.68% 878 1,089 1,289 1,316 1,386 1,633 Scottish Green Kate Nevens 5.23% 598 670 780 792 852 Independent John Ferguson Scott 0.80% 92 221 281 316 UKIP James Nisbet 0.58% 66 150 165 Electorate: 19,328 Valid: 11,429 Spoilt: 101 Quota: 2,858 Turnout: 11,530 (59.7%)
Craigentinny/Duddingston 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP2017: 1xCon; 1xGreen; 1xLab; 1xSNP2012-2017 Change: One Labour loss, one Conservative gain and one Green gain.Craigentinny/Duddingston - 4 seatsParty Candidate FPv% Count 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Conservative John McLellan 23.7 2,521 SNP Ian Campbell ††††††23.1 2,458 Labour Co-op Joan Griffiths (incumbent )17.4 1,845 1,910.2 1,928.9 2,095.5 2,124.2 2,727.4 Scottish Green Alex Staniforth 11.7 1,244 1,266.8 1,286.6 1,427.3 1,579.3 1,623.6 1,785.8 2,656.4 SNP Alex Lunn (incumbent , elected as Labour) 7.6 813 819.4 1,049.4 1,076.3 1,602.6 1,615.5 1,675.8 SNP Mridul Wadhwa 6.3 674 676.8 716.8 731.4 Labour Co-op Lyndsay Martin 5.9 627 660.6 665.6 740.5 747.2 Liberal Democrats Patrick Hadfield 4.2 448 548.6 554.9 Electorate: 22,793 Valid: 10,630 Spoilt: 262 Quota: 2,127 Turnout: 10,892
Drum Brae/Gyle 2012: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem2017: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem2012-2017 Change: One Conservative gain from Labour.
Forth 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon2017: 2xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLab2012-2017 Change: One SNP gain from Labour.Forth - 4 seatsParty Candidate FPv% Count 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Conservative Jim Campbell 28.38% 2,951 Labour Cammy Day (incumbent )15.18% 1,579 1,710 1,731 2,157 SNP Eleanor Bird 17.94% 1,866 1,879 1,894 1,917 1,923 2,313 SNP George Gordon 13.37% 1,390 1,402 1,421 1,457 1,463 1,638 1,836 2,207 Liberal Democrats Tim Wight 7.81% 812 1,073 1,149 1,200 1,220 1,572 1,582 Scottish Green Gillian Mackay 9.99% 1,039 1,085 1,130 1,165 1,178 Labour Heather Pugh 5.55% 577 623 651 Independent Nicola Ross 1.78% 185 269 Electorate: 23,348 Valid: 10,399 Spoilt: 214 Quota: 2,080 Turnout: 45.5%
Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart 2012: 1xGreen; 1xLab; 1xSNP2017: 1xCon; 1xGreen; 1xSNP2012-2017 Change: One Conservative gain from Labour.Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart - 3 seatsParty Candidate FPv% Count 1 2 3 4 5 6 Conservative Andrew Johnston 31.80% 2,908 Scottish Green Gavin Corbett (incumbent )27.61% 2,525 SNP David Key (incumbent )21.04% 1,924 1,939 2,028 2,043 2,125 2,755 Labour Anne Wimberley 13.84% 1,266 1,395 1,458 1,482 1,864 Liberal Democrats Jenni Lang 5.04% 461 659 705 732 Independent Rojan Subramani 0.68% 62 91 101 Electorate: 17,032 Valid: 9,146 Spoilt: 59 Quota: 2,287 Turnout: 9,205 (54.0%)
Inverleith 2012 : 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLab; 1xGreen2017: 2xCon; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP2012-2017 Change: One Conservative & Liberal Democrat gain from Labour and Green.Inverleith - 4 seats[6] Party Candidate FPv% Count 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Liberal Democrats Hal Osler 16.59% 2,251 2,253 2,388 2,870 Conservative Max Mitchell 19.79% 2,685 2,691 2,707 2,840 SNP Gavin Barrie (incumbent )††18.96% 2,572 2,576 2,611 2,811 Conservative Iain Whyte (incumbent )17.12% 2,323 2,325 2,371 2,411 2,459 2,571 2,573 3,103 Scottish Green Nigel Bagshaw (incumbent ) 12.30% 1,669 1,674 1,748 2,182 2,244 2,248 2,316 Labour James Dalgleish 12.39% 1,678 1,681 1,704 Independent Tina Woolnough 2.63% 357 362 Scottish Libertarian Tom Laird 0.24% 32 Electorate: 24,275 Valid: 13,567 Spoilt: 147 Quota: 2,714 Turnout: 56.5%
Leith 2012: 1xLab; 1xGreen; 1xSNP2017: 1xGreen; 1xLab; 1xSNP2012-2017 Change: No change.Leith - 3 seatsParty Candidate FPv% Count 1 2 3 4 SNP Adam McVey (incumbent )36.16% 2,753 Scottish Green Chas Booth (incumbent )22.26% 1,695 2,213 Labour Co-op Gordon John Munro (incumbent )20.35% 1,549 1,690 1,821 2,106 Conservative Paul Penman 15.93% 1,213 1,236 1,246 1,354 Liberal Democrats Sanne Dijkstra-Downie 5.29% 403 448 552 Electorate: 17,432 Valid: 7,613 Spoilt: 62 Quota: 1,904 Turnout: 7,675 (44.0%)
Leith Walk 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xGreen2017: 2xSNP; 1xGreen; 1xLab2012-2017 Change: One SNP gain from Labour.Leith Walk - 4 seats[6] Party Candidate FPv% Count 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Scottish Green Susan Rae 19.69% 2,097 2,105 2,125 2,246 SNP Lewis Ritchie (incumbent )†17.84% 1,900 1,901 1,903 1,923 1,949.4 2,052.2 2,090.4 2,125.9 2,209.4 SNP Amy McNeese-Mechan 16.62% 1,770 1,772 1,777 1,788 1,817.5 1,870.9 1,912.9 1,971.4 2,107.7 Labour Marion Donaldson (incumbent )†††††15.04% 1,602 1,605 1,617 1,692 1,715.9 1,821.6 2,529.8 Conservative Cristina Marga 14.42% 1,536 1,541 1,544 1,600 1,602.6 1,683.2 1,719.3 1,784.5 Labour Nick Gardner (incumbent ) 7.45% 793 795 803 839 849.3 912.7 Independent Harald Tobermann 4.06% 432 459 463 511 522.6 Liberal Democrats Vita Zaporozcenko 3.74% 398 400 403 Socialist Labour David Don Jacobsen 0.62% 66 67 Independent Alan Gordon Melville 0.52% 55 Electorate: 24,160 Valid: 10,649 Spoilt: 167 Quota: 2,130 Turnout: 10,816 (44.8%)
Liberton/Gilmerton 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon2017: 2xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLab2012-2017 Change: One SNP gain from Labour.Liberton/Gilmerton - 4 seatsParty Candidate FPv% Count 1 2 3 4 5 6 Labour Lezley Marion Cameron 24.81% 2,911 Conservative Stephanie Smith 23.24% 2,726 SNP Derek Howie †††††††17.49% 2,052 2,086 2,093 2,200 2,292 2,564 SNP Lesley MacInnes 16.17% 1,913 1,931 1,938 2,095 2,168 2,401 Labour Tim Pogson 7.46% 875 1,295 1,376 1,511 1,881 Liberal Democrats John Christopher Knox 5.52% 648 682 794 941 Scottish Green John Nichol 5.17% 606 617 637 Electorate: 25,648 Valid: 11,731 Spoilt: 264 Quota: 2,347 Turnout: 11,995 (46.8%)
Morningside 2012: 1xCon; 1xGreen; 1xLab; 1xSNP2017: 1xCon; 1xGreen; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab2012-2017 Change: One Liberal Democrat gain from SNP.Morningside - 4 seatsParty Candidate FPv% Count 1 2 3 4 5 Conservative Nick Cook *22.17% 3,010 Scottish Green Melanie Main (incumbent )19.36% 2,629 2,631 2,721 Liberal Democrats Neil Ross 15.02% 2,039 2,054 2,508 2,510 3,477 Labour Mandy Watt 18.21% 2,473 2,480 2,699 2,701 3,441 SNP Sandy Howat (incumbent ) 17.87% 2,427 2,429 2,450 2,452 Conservative Chris Land 7.37% 1,001 1,260 Electorate: 23,861 Valid: 13,579 Spoilt: 103 Quota: 2,716 Turnout: 13,682 (57.3%)
* = Outgoing Councillor from a different Ward.
Pentland Hills 2012: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon2017: 2xCon; 1xLab; 1xSNP2012-2017 Change: One Conservative gain.
Portobello/Craigmillar 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP2017: 1xCon; 1xGreen; 1xLab; 1xSNP2012-2017 Change: One Labour loss, one Conservative gain and one Green gain.Portobello/Craigmillar - 4 seatsParty Candidate FPv% Count 1 2 3 4 5 6 Labour Maureen Child (incumbent )22.80% 2,378 Conservative Callum Laidlaw 19.48% 2,032 2,057 2,114 SNP Kate Campbell 16.96% 1,769 1,785 1,799 1,800 1,906 3,355 Scottish Green Mary Campbell 15.10% 1,575 1,621 1,702 1,705 1,950 2,073 SNP Mike Bridgman (incumbent ) 15.60% 1,627 1,640 1,652 1,653 1,749 Labour David Walker (incumbent ) 7.59% 792 941 1,001 1,010 Liberal Democrats Callum Leslie 2.47% 258 271 Electorate: 22,360 Valid: 10,431 Spoilt: 223 Quota: 2,087 Turnout: 10,654 (47.6%)
Sighthill/Gorgie 2012 : 2xLab; 2xSNP2017: 2xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLab2012-2017 Change: One Conservative gain from Labour.Sighthill/Gorgie - 4 seats[6] Party Candidate FPv% Count 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 SNP Catherine Fullerton (incumbent )18.5% 1,574 1,575 1,582 1,888 Conservative Ashley Graczyk †††19.09% 1,621 1,625 1,694 1,701 Labour Donald Wilson (incumbent )11.69% 993 995 1,048 1,063 1,071.4 1,071.7 1,821.9 SNP Denis Dixon (incumbent )14.01% 1,190 1,191 1,204 1,452 1,596.7 1,596.8 1,621.8 Scottish Green Dan Heap 14.9% 1,264 1,269 1,356 1,405 1,421.3 1,421.6 1,471.4 Labour Carmel Smith 9.94% 844 845 902 909 914 914.5 SNP Simon Hayter 7.63% 648 648 653 Liberal Democrats Devin Scott Scobie 3.91% 332 338 Scottish Libertarian Calum Strange 0.32% 27 Electorate: 21,885 Valid: 8,493 Spoilt: 219 Quota: 1,699 Turnout: 8,712 (39.8%)
Southside/Newington 2012: 1xGreen; 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon2017: 1xCon; 1xGreen; 1xLab 1xSNP2012-2017 Change: No Change.
Changes since 2017 † On 20 February 2018, Leith Walk SNP councillor Lewis Ritchie resigned from the party and became an Independent, following complaints about his behaviour arising out of allegedly punching someone in a taxi.[7] †† On 23 April 2018, Inverleith SNP councillor Gavin Barrie resigned from the party and became an Independent, after losing his position in the ruling administration as Economy Convener, following a vote at the SNP group AGM.[8] ††† On 4 July 2018, Sighthill/Gorgie Conservative councillor Ashley Graczyk resigned from the party and became an Independent, saying the UK government’s policies on disability issues and social justice are “incompatible with her beliefs and conscience”.[9] †††† On 17 July 2018, Drum Brae/Gyle SNP councillor Claire Bridgman resigned from the party for undisclosed reasons and became an Independent.[10] ††††† On 28 January 2019, Leith Walk Labour councillor Marion Donaldson announced she was resigning from the Council citing reports of internal party tensions. A by-election was held on 11 April 2019 and was won by Robb Munn of the SNP.[11] [12] [13] †††††† On 21 February 2020, SNP Craigentinny/Duddingston councillor Ian Campbell stood down for health reasons. A by-election was held on 12 November 2020 and was won by the SNP's Ethan Young.[14] ††††††† On 30 July 2020, SNP Liberton/Gilmerton councillor Derek Howie resigned from the SNP Group to become an Independent.[15]
By-elections since 2017 Leith Walk By-election (11 April 2019)[16] Party Candidate FPv% Count 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 SNP Rob Munn 35.7 2,596 2,598 2,598 2,598 2,612 2,616 2,630 2,721 2,763 3,021 4,487 Scottish Green Lorna Slater 25.5 1,855 1,856 1,856 1,856 1,865 1,869 1,904 2,093 2,223 2,765 Labour Nick Gardner 15.5 1,123 1,124 1,124 1,126 1,136 1,140 1,157 1,320 1,497 Conservative Dan McCroskrie 10.7 777 777 779 781 784 811 825 912 Liberal Democrats Jack Caldwell 8.6 623 624 624 626 628 633 652 Independent Kevin Illingworth 1.5 110 112 112 122 126 143 UKIP Steven Alexander 1.2 85 88 97 97 98 Socialist Labour David Jacobsen 0.8 56 56 56 56 Independent John Scott 0.2 16 16 17 For Britain Paul Stirling 0.2 14 14 Scottish Libertarian Tom Laird 0.2 12 Electorate: 24,197 Valid: 7,267 Spoilt: 67 Quota: 3,634 Turnout: 30.3%
Craigentinny/Dunningston By-election (12 November 2020)[17] Party Candidate FPv% Count 1 2 3 4 5 6 SNP Ethan Young 38.9 2,920 2,924 2,936 3,004 3,716 3,818 Conservative Eleanor Price 18.9 1,420 1,428 1,448 1,582 1,620 Labour Margaret Graham 16.1 1,205 1,205 1,216 1,359 1,682 2,085 Scottish Green Benjamin Parker 15.8 1,185 1,189 1,203 1,340 Liberal Democrats Elaine Ford 8.4 631 634 647 Independent Andrew McDonald 1.2 93 100 Scottish Libertarian Tam Laird 0.6 42 Electorate: 23,972 Valid: 7,496 Spoilt: 86 Quota: 3,749 Turnout: 31.6%
Retiring Councillors † Originally elected as a Liberal Democrat candidate.
References
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