Edinburgh & Lothian East
Constituencies:
In recent times, the old Lothian region has been largely painted yellow with a splash of gold in Edinburgh West & red in Edinburgh South. This election, the polling is a bit tighter with Labour seeking to regain East Lothian, NE Edinburgh & Central Edinburgh. The Greens & LDs might also throw a curveball in a couple of seats. If you are thinking of voting tactically, there are opportunities.
East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs
- Miles Briggs -Conservative and Unionist Party
- Morgwn Davies – Independent
- Nigel Douglas – Reform UK
- Tim McKay – Liberal Democrats
- Paul McLennan – Scottish National Party (SNP)
- Martin Whitfield – Labour Party
The old East Lothian seat has lost Tranent and has been relocated from the South Scotland region. Paul McLennan of the SNP won in 2021 with a 1,179 majority over Martin Whitfield. It was previously held by Iain Gray of Labour. YouGov predict that Labour could take this seat from the SNP.
Paul McLennan sat on the LGBTI+ Cross Party Group in Parliament which pushed for Gender Recognition Reform. He introduced a motion last November with the assistance of Scottish Trans to mark Trans Day of Remembrance.
Both Miles Briggs (Con) & Martin Whitfield (Lab) were MSPs in the last Parliament.
Edinburgh Central
- Bonnie Prince Bob – Independent
- Chris Creighton – Independent
- James William Dalgleish – Labour Party
- Charles Dundas – Liberal Democrats
- Tam Laird – Scottish Libertarian Party
- Jo Mowat – Conservative and Unionist Party
- Craig John Murray – Alliance to Liberate Scotland
- Gary Neill – Reform UK
- Robert Neill Pownall – Independent
- Angus Robertson – Scottish National Party (SNP)
- Lorna Jane Slater – Scottish Green Party
Edinburgh Central has changed a great deal for this election, losing Stockbridge, Murrayfield and Comely Bank and gaining most of Merchiston, Marchmont and Bruntsfield.
It is gearing up to be a major battle ground, with most saying it’s a three horse race between Labour, SNP, & Greens. The seat has been held since 2021 by Angus Robertson who won it from the Conservatives (prev MSP Ruth Davidson). Recent polling indicates that he may lose out, but pundits are split on whether Labour or SGP will win. See the article in the Edinburgh Inquirer: Inside the battle for Edinburgh Central.
Neither Robertson nor Slater have been receptive to women’s concerns and both have been heavily criticised for failure to engage with or respond to constituents. Labour are best placed to deny them the seat.
Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent
- Kate Campbell – Scottish National Party (SNP)
- Alan Grant – Liberal Democrats
- Tim Jones – Conservative and Unionist Party
- Angela Ross – Reform UK
- Katherine Sangster – Labour Party
- Joe Smith – Alliance to Liberate Scotland
Edinburgh Eastern was Ash Regan’s seat from 2016. In 2021, she won it with over 50% of the vote. The main challenger to the SNP here is Labour and Katherine Sangster is very clear that she supports women’s rights.
Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith
- David Lees – Reform UK
- Ben MacPherson – Scottish National Party (SNP)
- Kate Nevens – Scottish Green Party
- Liss Owen – Liberal Democrats
- Oliver Philip Thomas – Labour Party
- Haris Young – Conservative and Unionist Party
Another new constituency which largely covers the former Edinburgh Northern and Leith which has been held by Ben MacPherson of the SNP since 2016.
This is the seat contested by Kate “abolish prisons” Nevens of the SGP and it has been reported that polling earlier this month suggest it might be a close fight between Nevens and Oliver Thomas of Labour.
Edinburgh North Western
- Irshad Ahmad – Labour
- Rachel Cairns – Conservative
- Alex Cole-Hamilton – Liberal Democrats
- David Henry – Workers Party
- Lyn Jardine – SNP
- Davie Thomson – Reform
The old Edinburgh West has been a solidly Lib Dem seat with current leader Alex Cole-Hamilton holding it since 2016.
Edinburgh Northern
- Christopher Cowdy – Conservative
- Sanne Dijkstra-Downie – Liberal Democrats
- Euan Hyslop – SNP
- Kayleigh Kinross-O’Neill – Green
- Andrew McLaughlin – Reform
- Abu Meron – Workers Party
- Eleanor Ryan-Saha – Labour
This is a new seat made up of parts of the former Edinburgh Northern and Leith and Edinburgh Western. The strong Lib Dem inheritance has made this a target seat for the Lib Dems making this a fight with the SNP.
Edinburgh Southern
- Jane Alliston Pickard – Liberal Democrat
- Deidre Brock – SNP
- Daniel Johnson – Labour
- Marie-Clair Munro – Conservative
- Charles Turner – Reform
- Marc Richard Wilkinson – Edinburgh & East Lothian People
A safe Labour seat held since 2016 by Daniel Johnson, the nearest challenger will likely be former MP Brock who replaced Sally “gravy bus” Donald. Marie-Clair Monro of the Conservatives has been a prominent voice for women in Edinburgh council.
Edinburgh South Western
- Simita Kumar – SNP
- Catriona Munro – Labour
- Cameron Rose – Reform
- Sue Webber – Conservative
- Andy Williamson – Liberal Democrat
The former Edinburgh Pentlands was held by Gordon McDonald (SNP) who has now retired. The SNP are expected to retain the seat with the main challenge from Lab followed by Con and Reform.
Sue Webber of the Conservatives is standing in this seat. She’s been a leading voice in the Parliament on women’s rights.
Midlothian North
- Colin Beattie – SNP
- Jenny Butler – Liberal Democrats
- Pal Chidambaram – Reform UK
- Phil Doggart – Conservative
- Caitlin Stott – Labour
Polls vary on challengers to the incumbent, Colin Beattie, with some suggesting this could be an opportunity for Reform while others put Labour in second. The SNP are forecast to hold.
Regional Lists:
List votes top up the constituency votes. Candidates from political parties are ordered, so if you vote for a party on the list, it’s useful to know who the top candidates are.
SNP: Unlikely to get additional seats on the list.
- Tommy Sheppard
- Deidre Brock
- Simita Kumar
Conservatives: Polls say 1-2 seats. We would like to see Sue re-elected.
- Miles Briggs
- Sue Webber
- Marie-Clair Munro
Labour: There has been controversy over top placed Ahmed ahead of sitting MSPs Johnson and Whitfield (Labour’s lists are “zipped” meaning men and women alternate). It’s hard to predict how many list spots Labour will win as it depends on success in some of the marginal constituencies.
- Irshad Ahmed
- Katherine Sangster
- Daniel Johnson
Liberal Democrats: success in Edinburgh West has previously meant Lib Dems fail to take list seats here.
- Sanne Dijkstra-Downie
- Jane Patricia Alliston Pickard
- Charles Dundas
Reform: polling indicates that the 3 top Reform candidates could be elected.
- Angela Ross
- Pal Chidambaram
- Nigel Douglas
Greens: predictions are for 2-3 seats. Manivannan is a “queer Tamil immigrant” and a they/them.
- Lorna Slater
- Kate Nevens
- Q. Manivannan
The list is also an opportunity to vote for independents and smaller parties who might not be standing in constituencies.
Independents:
- Ash Regan
- Jeremy Balfour
- Bonnie Prince Bob
- Morgwn Davies
Ash and Jeremy are two of the MSPs who moved us the most in the Gender Recognition Reform debate. They both deserve to be re-elected and we would be delighted to see them back in Holyrood.
Other List Parties:
- Advance UK
- Alliance to Liberate Scotland
- Animal Welfare Party
- Communist Party of Britain
- Edinburgh & East Lothian People
- Equality Scotland
- Independence for Scotland Party
- Independent Green Voice
- Scottish Family Party
- Scottish Libertarian Party
- Scottish Socialist Party
- Workers Party Scotland