Voters in two Edinburgh wards will head to the polls on Thursday in by-elections that could offer an early read on how parties are shaping up before next May’s full council elections.
The contests are taking place in Southside/Newington and Portobello/Craigmillar, with 23 candidates standing across the two wards.
Why the seats are being contested
The by-elections were triggered after Simita Kumar and Kate Campbell, both SNP councillors, resigned following their election as MSPs earlier this year.
Ms Kumar represented Southside/Newington, while Ms Campbell represented Portobello/Craigmillar.
Where and when to vote
Polling stations in Southside/Newington include Nelson Hall, Blackford and Grange Parish Church Centre, St. Catherine’s Argyle Church, Newington Trinity Church, Reid Memorial Church Hall, Millar Hall, Braid Scout Centre, and Cameron House Community Education Centre.
The ward covers much of Edinburgh University’s campus, along with Sciennes, The Grange, Prestonfield and Blackford.
In Portobello/Craigmillar, residents can vote at Portobello Library, Branch Out Together, St Marks Episcopal Church, Bingham Community Centre, St Martins Parish Church, Craigmillar Library, Hays Business Centre and Newcraighall Leith Victoria Football Club Pavilion.
That ward includes Portobello, Craigmillar, Joppa, Brunstane, Bingham, Newcraighall and Niddrie.
The polls will be open from 7 am to 10 pm on Thursday, September 3. An electronic count will take place at the council’s Waverley Court headquarters after polls close, with results expected several hours later, early on Friday morning.
Southside/Newington: a close race expected
In Southside/Newington, Labour and the Scottish Greens are seen as the main challengers to the SNP, after both parties performed well in the ward at the last council elections in 2022.
The Greens are fielding Isabella Gastel Alejandre, an Edinburgh University maths graduate and self-employed gardener. Labour’s candidate is former Edinburgh University sabbatical officer Ruth Elliott, while the SNP is backing student Sam Mackenzie, 19.
Ms Gastel Alejandre said: “I look around and I see and feel the effects of the cost of living crisis and the climate crisis and the rise of hate crimes for immigrants, and I suppose I want to combat that,”
The Liberal Democrats have nominated Artie Khovanov, an Edinburgh University PhD student. Nick Layden is standing for the Conservatives and Gary Neill for Reform UK.
Mr Khovanov said: “I think it’s just about talking to people and listening to people,” he said. “You just want to listen to people’s concerns and you’ve got to come up with sort of plans to address them and fix them.”
Other candidates in the ward include Derrick Emms, Markham Rowbotham and Marc Wilkinson of Edinburgh and East Lothian People, Richard Lucas of the Scottish Family Party, independent candidate Roisin Keirdashian, Sean McGregor Moffat of the Alliance for Democracy and Freedom, and Richard Shillcock of the Communist Party of Britain.
Mr Mackenzie said: “One of the key things which comes up consistently on the doors is that people’s cost of living is too high. People are feeling that, no matter who they vote for.”
Portobello/Craigmillar: SNP aims to hold seat
In Portobello/Craigmillar, the SNP is expected to be competitive, with Labour and the Scottish Greens also seeking support.
Silas McGilvray, a project officer at Healthcare Improvement Scotland, is standing for the SNP. The Greens’ candidate is Lorenzo Martinico, who said: “If we have the level of ambition to properly invest into our public services by spending the money that we’re already spending, either from investment in our pensions or all the money that the council and other institutions are spending, and actually invest them into our local area, that could unlock a lot of potential.”
Labour is represented by Jim Wyke, who said: “I love this city and want to give back to the place that’s given me so much. But I also see the problems it faces: unaffordable housing, infrastructure that hasn’t kept pace with growth, and local politics that’s becoming more polarised.”
The Liberal Democrat candidate is Liss Owen, a charity executive. Also standing are Andrew McLaughlin for Reform UK, Haris Young for the Conservatives, Peter Olech of the Communist Party of Britain, Pete Gregson of the Workers Party of Britain, David Ballantine of the ADF, and Niel Deepnarain of the Scottish Family Party.
Ms Owen said she wanted to bridge the gap between communities in Portobello and Craigmillar. She said: “I look at Craigmillar Park, and wonder if we could be doing more community events there.
“For example, during Pride, they had Porty Pride, which was really good across Portobello, but why could we not do some more of that activity in Craigmillar?”
Live coverage of tomorrow’s results can be found on News Briefing Team’s website and on X at @joshpizpom.