Blackhall St Columba’s Church
Thursday 20 April 7 – 9pm
Tag: democracy
Inverleith hustings at Blackhall St Columba’s
THURSDAY 20 APRIL, 7pm
BLACKHALL St COLUMBA’s PARISH CHURCH
Craigleith and Blachkhall Community Council are hosting a local council election hustings on Thursday 20 April at 7pm in St Columba’s Parsih Church. All welcome. Continue reading Inverleith hustings at Blackhall St Columba’s
Everybody’s Edinburgh: voluntary sector produces council election manifesto
We are delighted to introduce ‘Everybody’s Edinburgh’ – A Third Sector Manifesto
This is a call to action to candidates in the upcoming local elections to prioritise the wellbeing of Edinburgh’s citizens.
Developed in consultation with Edinburgh’s Third Sector, this manifesto calls for a commitment for greater unity between political parties and across sectors to tackle the growing inequalities in our communities, and ensure the best interests of the people of Scotland, and in our Capital, are met. It highlights some of the key issues that affect Edinburgh’s citizens and provides actions and objectives that can be undertaken and achieved through better collaborative working, and by investing in Edinburgh’s communities to create a solid foundation to tackle poverty inequalities and injustice.
Our manifesto is a start to a conversation about inequality that we hope will continue beyond the council elections to improve the wellbeing of our City’s citizens for many years to come, ensuring that no one is left behind.
To further this dialogue we will be hosting hustings for each political party at EVOC’s offices from 5:30pm – 7pm on the 18th, 19th, 20th, 26th and 27th of April.
Spaces are limited so please register your interest using the booking form.
Representatives will be given the opportunity to speak about their election agenda for approximately fifteen minutes before opening up the floor for Q&As.
Granton CC to host Forth hustings
Granton Community Council is holding a hustings event on Tuesday 18 April at 6pm in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre. All welcome.
City Council elections: SNP bids to become Edinburgh’s largest party
Edinburgh SNP has launched its campaign to elect 27 Councillors in the Capital and be the largest party in City Chambers for the first time. The SNP in the Capital are fielding their largest ever number of candidates in an STV Council election with the most diverse group of candidates yet.
There are ten women among the 27 candidates and the group includes EU nationals, BME, LGBTI and disabled candidates all proud to be standing for the SNP.
SNP Council Group leader Frank Ross said: ““In standing 27 candidates in Edinburgh for the upcoming Council elections, the SNP are showing more ambition than any other political grouping.
“We have assembled a group of exceptionally talented individuals which blends the experience of sitting councillors and the fresh talents of our new candidates.
“In 2012 the SNP were the only party to have representation in each of the 17 wards across the city and we want to build on that success to win the Council election in Edinburgh on May 4th.”
Among the new faces is Kate Campbell, who is running for Portobello/Craigmillar. Ms Campbell, who’s priority is to improve housing across the city, said: “As a first time candidate I feel incredibly excited about what we can achieve. Housing is one of the areas where I want to make a big difference.
“This city desperately needs a dramatic increase of affordable homes.
“Sadly, we have too many people in temporary housing and too many in insecure tenancies that they are struggling to afford. An SNP-led administration will address this and I hope that I will be able to play my part in driving this forward.”
Another prominent candidate is Pentlands candidate Ernesta Noreikienek. Ms Noreikienek, who was born in Lithuania, said: “As an EU national in Edinburgh I know that many people are concerned with the direction the Tories are taking our City and our country. Edinburgh Council has a strong role to play in standing up for all its citizens, regardless of where they come from. I would love to have the opportunity to be part of that effort.”
SNP candidate for Liberton and Gilmerton, Derek Howie, is registered blind and he has spoken out about how he believes his experiences will add to the team: ““I have a lifetime of experience that I’m hoping to make use of if elected to the Council. During the campaign I’ve been speaking to hundreds of voters in Liberton and Gilmerton and I’d relish the chance to represent my community. It’s important that the voice of people with disabilities is heard loudly and I’ll be a strong voice ensuring that our city is accessible for everyone.”
Small business owner Simon Hayter is an SNP candidate in Sighthill/Gorgie. He said: “I’ve been proud of the SNP’s achievements on the council in the last 2 administrations. I’m hoping to be elected to represent the people of Sighthill/Gorgie and bring my experience to help find additional ways the Council can support small businesses which provide the backbone of our city’s economy.”
At the last council elections in May 2012 Labour was returned the biggest party with twenty seats, narrowly holding off a strong SNP challenge – the SNP returned 18 councillors. Both parties gained five seats and the Greens doubled their representation from three to six councillors. The big losers at the last election were the Lib Dems, whose fall from grace was quite remarkable. The Lib Dems, who had led the administration in partnership with the SNP, crashed from 16 seats to just three.
The turnout in 2012 was 42.6%. It will be interesting to see if those heady heights can be reached again next month.
ELREC to hold Voter Registration Event
WEDNESDAY 12 APRIL: 2 – 4pm
Is politics racist?
As May’s Scottish local authority elections approach, Diversity in Public Life believes it is time to re-address the issues of Black Minority Ethnic (BME) under-representation in politics. Continue reading Is politics racist?
Local Government Elections: nominations now closed
Nominations have now closed for candidates to stand in Scotland’s forthcoming Local Government Elections. Continue reading Local Government Elections: nominations now closed
City Council Elections: candidates announced
Details have been announced of the 120 candidates standing across Edinburgh’s 17 wards in the Local Government Elections on 4 May. Nominations for candidates closed yesterday.
The nominated candidates for each ward are listed in full below and on the Council website:
1: Almond (4 councillors to be elected)
FRASER, Daniel – Scottish Libertarian Party
HUTCHISON, Graham – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
INGLIS, Otto – UKIP
LANG, Kevin – Scottish Liberal Democrats
LONGSTAFF, John – Independent
MCKINNON-WADDELL, Iain – Scottish Green Party
MITCHELL, Pamela – Scottish National Party (SNP)
WHITEHEAD, Bruce – Scottish Labour Party
WORK, Norman – Scottish National Party (SNP)
YOUNG, Louise – Scottish Liberal Democrats
2: Pentland Hills (4 councillors to be elected)
BRUCE, Graeme – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
FARTHING, Emma – Scottisih Liberal Democrats
GARDINER, Neil – Scottish National Party (SNP)
HENDERSON, Ricky – Scottish Labour Party
NOREIKIENEk, Ernesta – Scottish National Party (SNP)
WEBBER, Susan – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
WESTON, Evelyn – Scottish Green Party
3: Drum Brae/Gyle (3 councillors to be elected)
ALDRIDGE, Robert Christopher – Scottish Liberal Democrats
BRIDGMAN, Claire – Scottish National Party (SNP)
BROWN, Mark – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
KEIL, Karen Ann – Scottish Labour Party
MEYER, Phyl – Scottish Green Party
4: Forth (4 councillors to be elected)
BIRD, Eleanor – Scottish National Party (SNP)
CAMPBELL, Jim – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
DAY, Cammy – Scottish Labour Party
GORDON, George – Scottish National Party (SNP)
MACKAY, Gillian – Scottish Green Party
PUGH, Heather – Scottish Labour Party
ROSS, Nicola – Independent
WIGHT, Tim – Scottish Liberal Democrats
5: Inverleith (4 councillors to be elected)
BAGSHAW, Nigel – Scottish Green Party
BARRIE, Gavin – Scottish National Party (SNP)
DALGLEISH, James – Scottish Labour Party
LAIRD, Tom – Scottish Libertarian Party
MITCHELL, Max – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
OSLER, Hal – Scottish Liberal Democrats
WHYTE, Iain – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
WOOLNOUGH, Tina – Independent
6: Corstorphine/Murrayfield (3 councillors to be elected)
DOUGLAS, Scott – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
GLOYER, Gillian – Scottish Liberal Democrats
NEVENS, Kate – Scottish Green Party
NISBET, James – UKIP
ROSS, Frank – Scottish National Party (SNP)
SCOTT, John Ferguson – Independent
WHITELAW, June – Scottish Labour Party
7: Sighthill/Gorgie (4 councillors to be elected)
DIXON, Denis – Scottish National Party (SNP)
FULLERTON, Catherine – Scottish National Party (SNP)
GRACZYK, Ashley – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
HAYTER, Simon – Scottish National Party (SNP)
HEAP, Dan – Scottish Green Party
SCOBIE, Devin Scott – Scottish Liberal Democrats
SMITH, Carmel – Scottish Labour Party
STRANGE, Calum – Scottish Libertarian Party
WILSON, Donald – Scottish Labour Party
8: Colinton/Fairmilehead (3 councillors to be elected)
ARTHUR, Scott – Scottish Labour Party
DOGGART, Phil – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
LEWIS, Richard John – Scottish National Party (SNP)
MARSDEN, Sara – Scottish Green Party
RUST, Jason – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
WALKER, David Richard – Scottish Liberal Democrats
9: Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart (3 councillors to be elected)
CORBETT, Gavin – Scottish Green Party
JOHNSTON, Andrew – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
KEY, David – Scottish National Party (SNP)
LANG, Jenni – Scottish Liberal Democrats
SUBRAMANI, Rojan – Independent
WIMBERLEY, Anne – Scottish Labour Party
10: Morningside (4 councillors to be elected)
COOK, Nick – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
HOWAT, Sandy – Scottish National Party (SNP)
LAND, Chris – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
MAIN, Melanie – Scottish Green Party
ROSS, Neil – Scottish Liberal Democrats
WATT, Mandy – Scottish Labour Party
11: City Centre (4 councillors to be elected)
DORAN, Karen – Scottish Labour Party
MILLER, Claire – Scottish Green Party
MOWAT, Jo – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
RANKIN, Alasdair – Scottish National Party (SNP)
SIDOR, Peter – Scottish Libertarian Party
STEVENS, David – Scottish Liberal Democrats
12: Leith Walk (4 councillors to be elected)
DONALDSON, Marion – Scottish Labour Party
GARDNER, Nick – Scottish Labour Party
JACOBSEN, David Don – Socialist Labour Party
MARGA, Cristina – Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
McNEESE-MECHAN, Amy – Scottish National Party (SNP)
MELVILLE, Alan Gordon – Independent
RAE, Susan – Scottish Green Party
RITCHIE, Lewis – Scottish National Party (SNP)
TOBERMANN, Harald – Independent
ZAPOROZCENKO, Vita – Scottish Liberal Democrats
13: Leith (3 councillors to be elected)
BOOTH, Chas – Scottish Green Party
DIJKSTRA-DOWNIE, Sanne – Scottish Liberal Democrats
McVEY, Adam – Scottish National Party (SNP)
MUNRO, Gordon John – Labour and Co-operative Party
PENMAN, Paul – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
14: Craigentinny/Duddingston (4 councillors to be elected)
CAMPBELL, Ian – Scottish National Party (SNP)
GRIFFITHS, Joan – Labour and Co-operative Party
HADFIELD, Patrick – Scottish Liberal Democrats
LUNN, Alex – Scottish National Party (SNP)
MARTIN, Lyndsay – Labour and Co-operative Party
MCLELLAN, John – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
STANIFORTH, Alex – Scottish Green Party
WADHWA, Mridul – Scottish National Party (SNP)
15: Southside/Newington (4 councillors to be elected)
BURGESS, Steve – Scottish Green Party
DICKIE, Alison – Scottish National Party (SNP)
FARTHING, Dan – Scottish Liberal Democrats
PERRY, Ian – Scottish Labour Party
ROSE, Cameron – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
16: Liberton/Gilmerton (4 councillors to be elected)
CAMERON, Lezley Marion – Scottish Labour Party
HOWIE, Derek – Scottish National Party (SNP)
KNOX, John Christopher – Scottish Liberal Democrats
MACINNES, Lesley – Scottish National Party (SNP)
NICHOL, John – Scottish Green Party
POGSON, Tim – Scottish Labour Party
SMITH, Stephanie – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
17: Portobello/Craigmillar (4 councillors to be elected)
BRIDGMAN, Mike – Scottish National Party (SNP)
CAMPBELL, Kate – Scottish National Party (SNP)
CAMPBELL, Mary – Scottish Green Party
CHILD, Maureen – Scottish Labour Party
LAIDLAW, Callum – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
LESLIE, Callum – Scottish Liberal Democrats
WALKER, David – Scottish Labour Party Continue reading City Council Elections: candidates announced
Council elections: Meet the candidates at Craigroyston hustings
TONIGHT: WEDNESDAY 29 MARCH, 6.30 – 8.30pm
Craigroyston Community High School
All Welcome
