SNP win Leith Walk by-election

SNP candidate Rob Munn has won the Leith Walk by-election. The victory strengthens the SNP’s position as senior party in the city’s ruling ‘Capital Coalition’.

The Leith Walk By-Election result was announced at Waverley Court early on Friday morning by Returning Officer for Edinburgh, Andrew Kerr.

Andrew Kerr said: “Thanks to everyone who took part in the Leith Walk By-Election, helping to elect a new councillor to represent their views on matters affecting the ward and the entire city.

“I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Rob Munn and I look forward to working with him. I also want to thank our elections team who have worked hard over recent months to make sure this by-election ran so smoothly.”

The turnout was a disappointing 30.3%.

It was a decisive victory for the SNP, who received 35.7% of first preference votes. There was a strong showing by the Scottish Greens and their candidate Lorna Slater came a surprise runner-up in the polls with Labour, the Scottish Conservatives  and the Liberal Democrats trailing.

The full result (alphabetical):

Steven Alexander, UK Independence Party (UKIP) – 85
Jack Caldwell, Scottish Liberal Democrats – 623
Nick Gardner, Scottish Labour Party – 1123
Kevin Illingworth, Independent – 110
David Don Jacobsen, Socialist Labour Party – 56
Tom Laird, Scottish Libertarian Party – 12
Dan McCroskrie, Scottish Conservative and Unionist – 777
Rob Munn, Scottish National Party (SNP) – 2596
John Ferguson Scott, Independent – 16
Lorna Slater, Scottish Green Party – 1855
Paul Mitchell Stirling, The For Britain Movement – 14

The by-election was called following the resignation of Labour councillor Marion Donaldson in January.

Final_Results_Spreadsheet_for_Web_2019

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davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer