2017 City of Edinburgh Council election

2017 local election in Scotland, UK

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] It was the third successive Local Council election to run under the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system.

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:

1. Almond
2. Pentland Hills
3. City Centre
4. Craigentinny/Duddingston
5. 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 Dem
• 2017: 2xLib Dem; 1xCon; 1xSNP
• 2012-2017 Change: One Lib Dem gain.

Candidate votes by stage

City Centre

• 2012: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
• 2017: 1xCon; 1xGreen; 1xLab; 1xSNP
• 2012-2017 Change: One Green gain.

Candidate votes by stage

Colinton/Fairmilehead

• 2012: 2xCon; 1xSNP
• 2017: 2xCon; 1xLab
• 2012-2017 Change: One Labour gain from SNP

Candidate votes by stage

Corstorphine/Murrayfield

• 2012: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
• 2017: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
• 2012-2017 Change: No change.

Candidate votes by stage

Craigentinny/Duddingston

• 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
• 2017: 1xCon; 1xGreen; 1xLab; 1xSNP
• 2012-2017 Change: One Labour loss, one Conservative gain and one Green gain.

Drum Brae/Gyle

• 2012: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
• 2017: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
• 2012-2017 Change: One Conservative gain from Labour.

Forth

• 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
• 2017: 2xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLab
• 2012-2017 Change: One SNP gain from Labour.

Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart

• 2012: 1xGreen; 1xLab; 1xSNP
• 2017: 1xCon; 1xGreen; 1xSNP
• 2012-2017 Change: One Conservative gain from Labour.

Inverleith

• 2012: 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLab; 1xGreen
• 2017: 2xCon; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
• 2012-2017 Change: One Conservative & Liberal Democrat gain from Labour and Green.

Leith

• 2012: 1xLab; 1xGreen; 1xSNP
• 2017: 1xGreen; 1xLab; 1xSNP
• 2012-2017 Change: No change.

Leith Walk

• 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xGreen
• 2017: 2xSNP; 1xGreen; 1xLab
• 2012-2017 Change: One SNP gain from Labour.

Liberton/Gilmerton

• 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
• 2017: 2xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLab
• 2012-2017 Change: One SNP gain from Labour.

Morningside

• 2012: 1xCon; 1xGreen; 1xLab; 1xSNP
• 2017: 1xCon; 1xGreen; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab
• 2012-2017 Change: One Liberal Democrat gain from SNP.

* = Outgoing Councillor from a different Ward.

Pentland Hills

• 2012: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
• 2017: 2xCon; 1xLab; 1xSNP
• 2012-2017 Change: One Conservative gain.

Portobello/Craigmillar

• 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
• 2017: 1xCon; 1xGreen; 1xLab; 1xSNP
• 2012-2017 Change: One Labour loss, one Conservative gain and one Green gain.

Sighthill/Gorgie

• 2012: 2xLab; 2xSNP
• 2017: 2xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLab
• 2012-2017 Change: One Conservative gain from Labour.

Southside/Newington

• 2012: 1xGreen; 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
• 2017: 1xCon; 1xGreen; 1xLab 1xSNP
• 2012-2017 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

Retiring Councillors

† Originally elected as a Liberal Democrat candidate.
†† Originally elected as a Scottish National Party candidate.

References

1. King, Hannah. "Upcoming elections". www.edinburgh.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
2. "Adam McVey to replace Frank Ross as SNP group leader". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
3. "Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland - Fifth Electoral Reviews - City of Edinburgh". www.lgbc-scotland.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
4. Edinburgh to have five more councillors from next year, Phyllis Stephen, The Edinburgh Reporter, 14 September 2016
5. Council, The City of Edinburgh. "Local Government Election Results 2017 - The City of Edinburgh Council". www.edinburgh.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
6. Council, The City of Edinburgh. "Local Government Election results 2017". www.edinburgh.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
7. "SNP councillor quits party amid punch claims". HeraldScotland. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
8. "Senior councillor Gavin Barrie quits SNP". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
9. "Edinburgh Tory councillor quits in protest at benefit changes". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
10. "Conservatives are biggest party in Edinburgh after third SNP councillor quits". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
11. "Edinburgh Labour councillor quits amid reports of internal party tensions". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
12. Council, The City of Edinburgh. "By-election for electoral ward 12: Leith Walk". www.edinburgh.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
13. "SNP candidate Rob Munn victorious in Leith Walk by-election". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
14. "Craigentinny/Duddingston by-election result". www.edinburgh.gov.uk.
15. "Edinburgh politicians and residents respond to local councillor's resignation from the SNP".
16. Council, The City of Edinburgh. "By-election for electoral ward 12: Leith Walk result - The City of Edinburgh Council". www.edinburgh.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
17. Council, The City of Edinburgh. "Election Results - The City of Edinburgh Council". www.edinburgh.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
18. Swanson, Ian (23 October 2016). "Half Edinburgh's Tory group to quit at next year's elections". Edinburgh Evening News.
19. Stephen, Phyllis (17 October 2016). "Another Edinburgh councillor who will not be standing in May 2017". Retrieved 6 February 2019.
20. "Edinburgh councillor Paul Edie to step down next year". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
21. "SNP councillor to quit at May local elections". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
22. "Edinburgh leader to stand down from post". BBC News. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
23. "Tory stalwart to join exodus from Edinburgh council". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
24. "City transport leader to stand down". BBC News. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
25. "Edinburgh Conservative councillor gets peerage in David Cameron's honours list". Holyrood Magazine. 5 August 2016. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
26. "Edinburgh's longest serving councillor to stand down in 2017". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.

External links