SNP landslide predicted
The polls have closed. The exhausted candidates and their campaign teams have done all they can. They’ll fret and wonder if they’ve done enough. Could we have chapped more doors? Delivered more leaflets? Attended more events? It’s too late now – the polls have closed, and the voters have made their minds up. Continue reading And now … the only poll that counts
Due to Muirhouse Millennium Centre being a main venue for voters during all elections bingo has been cancelled this month. Next session will be advertised on our Facebook page and N.E.N website, and we hope to see you all soon, especially as he weather gets a a bit kinder to us!
James McGinty
With less than a week to go until the Scottish Parliament Election 2016, Edinburgh is gearing up to run its own part in the vote. Preparations are already well underway across the city’s polling places and count venue, while training is in progress for staff working on the day and the first postal votes are being processed.
Craigleith Blackhall Community Council are hosting a Scottish Parliament hustings event at St Columba’s church main hall tomorrow ( Thursday 28 April) from 7.30 to 9pm. Continue reading Holyrood hustings at Blackhall tomorrow
The Scottish Parliament elections take place on Thursday 5 May – one week to go! See below for all the information you could ever wish for!
Your local constituency candidates are:
EDINBURGH CENTRAL
BETTSWORTH, Hannah (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
BOYACK, Sarah (Scottish Labour Party)
DAVIDSON, Ruth (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)
DICKIE, Alison (Scottish National Party (SNP))
JOHNSTONE, Alison (Scottish Green Party)
LAIRD, Tom (Scottish Libertarian Party)
EDINBURGH NORTHERN & LEITH
CALDWELL, Jack (Independent)
HINDS, Lesley (Scottish Labour Party)
MACPHERSON, Ben (Scottish National Party (SNP))
MCGILL, Iain (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)
VEART, Martin (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
EDINBURGH WESTERN
BATHO, Sandy (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)
COLE-HAMILTON, Alex (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
GIUGLIANO, Toni (Scottish National Party (SNP))
HEADLEY, Cat (Scottish Labour Party)
Other Edinburgh Constituencies:
Edinburgh Eastern
COOK, Nick (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)
DENHAM, Ash (Scottish National Party (SNP))
D’INVERNO, Cospatric (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
DUGDALE, Kezia (Scottish Labour Party)
Edinburgh Pentlands
FARTHING-SYKES, Emma (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
HEARY, Blair (Scottish Labour Party)
LINDHURST, Gordon (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)
MACDONALD, Gordon (Scottish National Party (SNP)
Edinburgh Southern
BRIGGS, Miles (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)
EADIE, Jim (Scottish National Party (SNP))
JOHNSON, Daniel (Scottish Labour Party)
SUBBARAMAN, Pramod (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
LIST VOTE
The names of the parties for the Lothian Region are listed below in the order that they appear on the ballot paper.
Seven candidates will be elected to the Lothian Region as Members of the Scottish Parliament, from the following list:
RISE – Respect, Independence, Socialism and Environmentalism
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Scottish Green Party
Scottish Labour Party
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish National Party (SNP)
Scottish Women’s Equality Party
Solidarity – Scotland’s Socialist Movement
UK Independence Party (UKIP)
THE VOTING SYSTEM
The Additional Member System (AMS) is used to elect members to the Scottish Parliament.
How it works:
There are 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)
There are two ways an MSP can be elected.
Each elector (voter) has two votes.
Scotland is divided into 73 constituencies and each constituency elects one MSP. These are known as constituency MSPs and are elected by ‘first past the post’ in exactly the same way as MPs are elected to Westminster. This is the elector’s constituency vote.
The regional vote is used to elect 56 additional members. Scotland is divided into 8 parliamentary Regions and each region elects seven regional MSPs.
In the second vote the voter votes for a party rather than a candidate. The parties are then allocated a number of additional members to make the overall result more proportional. The regional MSPs are selected from lists compiled by the parties. These MSPs are also sometimes referred to as List MSPs.
HOW DO I VOTE?
Always read the instructions for filling in the ballot papers carefully, even if you have voted before.
You will receive two ballot papers.
On the lilac coloured ballot paper you will vote for your constituency MSP. The ballot paper lists the name of each candidate along with their party name and party logo.
Simply put a cross (X) next to the one candidate that you wish to vote for.
On the peach coloured ballot paper you vote for a party or independent candidate competing for the seven regional seats for your region of Scotland. The ballot paper lists political parties and independent candidates.
Simply put a cross (X) next to the one party or independent candidate that you wish to vote for.
If you make a mistake then you can ask the polling staff to give you another ballot paper.
WHERE DO I VOTE?
Your polling place will be noted on your Poll Card, or you can check it online. You should go to your polling place to vote on 5 May, between 7am and 10pm.
WHO DO I VOTE FOR? THE MANIFESTOS …
What do they stand for? What are they offering?
RISE
SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE & UNIONIST PARTY
Scottish-Conservative-Manifesto_2016
SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY
Scottish Greens Manifesto_Online
SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY
Scottish Labour Manifesto 2016
SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
Manifesto_-_Be_The_Best_Again-_Scottish_Liberal_Democrats_2016
SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY
SCOTTISH WOMEN’S EQUALITY PARTY
SOLIDARITY – Scotland’s Socialist Movement
Manifesto available on Solidarity website
UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY (UKIP)
FURTHER READING
Keep up on Twitter:
#SP16 #VoteSocialEnterprise #Holyrood2016 #SP2016
#VoteRISE #GreenHolyrood #VoteGreen2016 #BothVotesSNP #BothVotesLabour #VoteLibDemTwice #TeamRuth
CRAIGLEITH BLACKHALL COMMUNITY COUNCIL
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT HUSTINGS
Thursday 28th April, 7.30 – 9.00pm
Blackhall St Columba’s Parish Church, Columba Road
Representatives are confirmed from:
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Scottish Labour Party
Liberal Democratic Party
Scottish National Party
Scottish Green Party
RISE Alliance
UK Independence Party
Women’s Equality Party
An opportunity to meet your local candidates
All welcome, bring your tricky questions!
Scottish Parliament Elections Thursday 5 May
Voters are being encouraged to check they are on the electoral roll with less than four weeks until the Scottish Parliament Election.
You must be registered if you want to vote on 5 May.
This is the first time 16 and 17-year-olds will be able to vote in an election, other than the Scottish Independence Referendum, following the passing of the Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Bill last year.
Members of the public, including students and people who have moved home since the last time they registered, should check they are on the electoral roll ahead of the registration deadline on 18 April – that’s next Monday.
MAKE SURE YOU CAN HAVE YOUR SAY ON 5th MAY!
Dear Editor
Between now and the election of members for the Scottish Parliament in May, prospective candidates will claim and counter-claim that they are the ones we can trust. When we make our choice we hop that trust is not misplaced – the only help we have in choosing is the past record of the individual or their party.
A close look is needed to avoid being taken in by words and promises that flow freely during election times. Promises made, then broken, are usually blamed on others – whether here in Scotland, the UK or abroad.
After voting we cannot sit back and let them have free rein: this has happened so many times, resulting in a dreadful cost to most of us.
A. Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens
Local community organisations have organised two Question Time events in the run-up to May’s Holyrood elections
TUESDAY 22 MARCH 6 – 8 pm
at Craigroyston Community High School
THURSDAY 24 MARCH 10am – 12 noon
at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre
Contact Anita on 0131 551 1671 if you need childcare.
These events are being organised by Pilton Community Health Project, North Edinburgh Community Learning and Development, Craigroyston Community High School, North Edinburgh Timebank, Living in Harmony and Edinburgh and Lothian Regional Equality Council.
Ask candidates for the Scottish Parliament the questions that matter to you!
Leith Walk will be represented by new SNP and Labour councillors following yesterday’s double by-election.
The councillors were elected using the Single Transferable Vote system – the first time this method has been used to elect two members.
SNP’s John Lewis Ritchie was elected at Stage One of the voting process, while Labour’s Marion Donaldson had to wait considerably longer to learn of her success … she was finally elected at Stage Ten.
The result strengthens the Labour – SNP Capital Coalition’s grip on power at the City Chambers.
The double by-election was brought about by the resignations of Deirdie Brock, who became an MP in May’s general election, and Green councillor Maggie Chapman, who is bidding to become an MSP in North East Scotland at next year’s Holyrood elections.
Returning Officer, Andrew Kerr, said: “I would like to welcome the two newest Councillors to the City of Edinburgh Council and look forward to working with them on matters affecting the Leith Walk Ward and the city as a whole.
“I also want to thank our elections team for all the work they have put into ensuring this by-election ran smoothly.”
The turnout was a disappointing 25.1%
For further details of the results and the Leith Walk By-Election, visit the Elections section of the Council website.
