2012 City of Edinburgh Council election

Elections to the City of Edinburgh Council were held on 3 May 2012, the same day as the 2012 Scottish local elections. The election was the second using 17 new wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, each ward elected three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation system of election.

Main article: 2012 Scottish local elections
2012 City of Edinburgh Council election
3 May 2012 (2012-05-03)
All 58 seats to City of Edinburgh Council
30 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Andrew Burns Steve Cardownie Jeremy Balfour
Party Labour SNP Conservative
Leader's seat Fountainbridge
/Craiglockhart		 Forth Corstorphine
/Murrayfield
Last election 15 seats, 22.93% 12 seats, 20.32% 11 seats, 22.08%
Seats before 15 13 11
Seats won 20 18 11
Seat change Increase5 Increase6 Steady
Popular vote 39,286 37,537 27,588
Percentage 28.13% 26.87% 19.75%
Swing Increase5.45% Increase6.55% Decrease2.33%
  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Maggie Chapman
 and Steve Burgess		 Paul Edie
Party Scottish Green Liberal Democrats
Leader's seat Leith Walk,
Southside
/Newington		 Corstorphine
/Murrayfield
Last election 3 seats, 8.23% 17 seats, 21.99%
Seats before 3 17
Seats won 6 3
Seat change Increase3 Decrease14
Popular vote 15,978 13,040
Percentage 11.44% 9.34%
Swing Increase3.21% Decrease12.65%
Map of council wards
Leader of the Council before election

Jenny Dawe defeated
Liberal Democrats

 Leader of the council after election

Andrew Burns
Labour

The main feature of the elections was the near obliteration of the Scottish Liberal Democrats as they collapsed from 17 seats on the city council to just 3, which saw them occupying the position as the smallest party. Their leader, and the leader of the council, Jenny Dawe, lost her seat in Meadows/Morningside, epitomising the poor performance. Scottish Labour replaced the Lib Dems as the largest party as they made 5 gains, winning 20 seats in total. The Scottish National Party became the second largest party, gaining 6 seats and 18 seats in total. The Scottish Conservatives retained 11 seats on the council while the Scottish Greens doubled their seat numbers to 6.

After the election a coalition was formed between the Labour Party and the SNP. This replaced the previous Lib Dem – SNP Coalition which had existed from 2007 to 2012.

Election result
2012 City of Edinburgh Council election
Electorate: 331,954
Turnout: 141,552 (42.6%)
Total Valid: 139,684[1]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 20 6 1 Increase5 34.48 28.13 39,286 Increase5.45
  SNP 18 6 0 Increase6 31.03 26.87 37,537 Increase6.55
  Conservative 11 1 1 Steady 18.97 19.75 27,588 Decrease2.33
  Scottish Green 6 3 0 Increase3 10.34 11.44 15,978 Increase3.21
  Liberal Democrats 3 0 14 Decrease14 5.17 9.34 13,040 Decrease12.65
  Independent 0 0 0 Steady 0.00 1.84 2,565 New
  UKIP 0 0 0 Steady 0.00 0.34 480 New
  TUSC 0 0 0 Steady 0.00 0.33 463 New
  Liberal 0 0 0 Steady 0.00 0.26 368 New
  Scottish Socialist 0 0 0 Steady 0.00 0.16 228 New
  Pirate 0 0 0 Steady 0.00 0.14 195 New

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 3 May 2007. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

Ward summary
Map of Council Wards showing parties elected in each ward
Results of the 2012 City of Edinburgh Council election by ward
Ward  % Seats  % Seats  % Seats  % Seats  % Seats  % Seats Total
Labour SNP Conservative Green Lib Dem Others
Almond 14.92 0 32.55 1 26.24 1 6.17 0 15.89 1 4.22 0 3
Pentland Hills 28.85 1 29.16 1 27.70 1 4.05 0 4.66 0 5.59 0 3
Drum Brae/Gyle 26.46 1 27.00 1 16.04 0 3.62 0 18.77 1 8.12 0 3
Forth 34.01 2 29.06 1 22.64 1 7.08 0 5.06 0 2.14 0 4
Inverleith 24.99 1 20.22 1 29.50 1 14.92 1 10.38 0 - - 4
Corstorphine/Murrayfield 20.45 0 24.74 1 24.96 1 6.11 0 22.77 1 1.96 0 3
Sighthill/Gorgie 42.1 2 37.4 2 9.2 0 8.2 0 3.2 0 - - 4
Colinton/Fairmilehead 17.87 0 20.59 1 52.00 2 4.91 0 3.62 0 1.01 0 3
Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart 23.24 1 23.54 1 21.15 0 24.07 1 7.34 0 0.66 0 3
Meadows/Morningside 19.64 1 15.78 1 29.90 1 19.75 1 12.30 0 2.63 0 4
City Centre 21.33 1 24.97 1 27.69 1 17.06 0 7.94 0 1.01 0 3
Leith Walk 33.24 2 28.48 1 8.11 0 20.28 1 5.09 0 4.81 0 4
Leith 32.1 1 32.4 1 6.5 0 18.9 1 9.0 0 1.1 0 3
Craigentinny/Duddingston 36.2 2 36.9 1 10.2 0 7.0 0 8.0 0 1.8 0 3
Southside/Newington 19.78 1 18.34 1 16.72 1 19.97 1 13.97 0 11.22 0 4
Liberton/Gilmerton 40.9 2 31.6 1 12.3 1 5.2 0 7.6 0 2.5 0 4
Portobello/Craigmillar 47.4 2 32.0 1 7.2 0 8.5 0 1.9 0 2.9 0 3
Total 28.13 20 26.87 18 19.75 11 11.55 6 9.34 3 0 58

Ward results

Almond

2007: 1xCon; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2012: 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: No Change

2012 Council election: Almond – 3 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
SNP Norman Work (incumbent) 32.55% 2,722            
Conservative Lindsay Paterson 26.24% 2,194            
Liberal Democrats Alastair Shields†††††† 15.89% 1,329 1,460 1,500 1,515 1,579 1,804 2,426
Labour Billy Fitzpatrick 14.92% 1,248 1,350 1,356 1,373 1,421 1,623  
Scottish Green Moira Dunworth 6.17% 516 651 657 683 768    
Independent John Longstaff 2.49% 208 268 276 338      
UKIP Otto Inglis 1.73% 145 168 181        
Electorate: 18,996   Valid: 8,362   Spoilt: 51   Quota: 2,091   Turnout: 8,413 (44.3%)  

    Pentland Hills

    2007: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
    2012: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
    2007-2012 Change: No Change

    Pentland Hills – 3 seats
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    1234567
    SNP Bill Henderson 29.16% 2,317            
    Labour Ricky Henderson (incumbent) 28.85% 2,293            
    Conservative Dominic Heslop 15.09% 1,199 1,224 1,249 1,335 1,397 1,502 2,446
    Conservative Shelia Low 12.61% 1,002 1,017 1,040 1,099 1,154 1,240  
    Scottish Green Phyl Meyer 4.05% 322 400 468 607 840    
    Independent Mike 'Professor Pongoo' Ferrigan 5.59% 444 491 531 590      
    Liberal Democrats Stuart Bridges 4.66% 370 414 462        
    Electorate: 18,002   Valid: 7,947   Spoilt: 51   Quota: 1,987   Turnout: 7,998 (44.4%)  

      Drum Brae/Gyle

      2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xSNP
      2012: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
      2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem

      Drum Brae/Gyle – 3 seats
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      12345678
      Labour Karen Keil 26.46% 1,981              
      Liberal Democrats Robert Aldridge (incumbent) 18.77% 1,405 1,425 1,431 1,490 1,636 1,695 1,735 2,312
      SNP Ron Cairns * 18.34% 1,373 1,383 1,386 1,406 1,466 2,052    
      Conservative Mark Brown 16.04% 1,201 1,207 1,212 1,233 1,349 1,370 1,383  
      SNP Alison Lindsay 8.66% 648 657 661 699 750      
      Independent Steven Binney 6.92% 518 532 588 663        
      Scottish Green Linda Hendry 3.62% 271 285 296          
      Independent John Scott 1.20% 90 95            
      Electorate: 17,123   Valid: 7,487   Spoilt: 78   Quota: 1,872   Turnout: 7,565 (44.2%)  
        • =Outgoing Councillor from a different Ward.

        Forth
        • 2007: 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab
        • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
        • 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
        Forth – 4 seats
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        12345678
        Labour Cammy Day (incumbent) 27.54% 2,230              
        Conservative Allan Jackson (incumbent) 22.64% 1,833              
        SNP Steve Cardownie (incumbent) 17.01% 1,377 1,407 1,422 1,432 1,443 1,482 1,554 2,377
        SNP George Gordon 12.05% 976 1,008 1,017 1,019 1,034 1,070 1,187  
        Scottish Green Kate Joester 7.08% 573 598 626 637 683 850    
        Labour Vicki Redpath 6.47% 524 962 976 987 1,009 1,099 1,347 1,446
        Liberal Democrats Tim Wight 5.06% 410 423 473 495 500      
        TUSC Ruth Ann Henderson 1.44% 117 127 130 132        
        Liberal Seumas Stiubhard MacMhicean 0.70% 57 64 73          
        Electorate: 21,796   Valid: 8,097   Spoilt: 136 (1.65%)   Quota: 1,620   Turnout: 8,233 (37.8%)  

          Inverleith
          • 2007: 1xLab; 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
          • 2012: 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLab; 1xGreen
          • 2007-2012 Change: Green gain one seat from Lib Dem
          Inverleith – 4 seats
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          1234
          Labour Lesley Hinds (incumbent) 24.99% 2,751      
          Conservative Iain Whyte (incumbent) 17.77% 1,956 1,989 2,019 2,279
          Scottish Green Nigel Bagshaw 14.92% 1,642 1,815 1,865 2,325
          SNP Gavin Barrie 13.03% 1,434 1,489 2,148 2,264
          Conservative Scott Douglas 11.73% 1,291 1,312 1,326 1,487
          Liberal Democrats Tim McKay (incumbent) 10.38% 1,143 1,226 1,252  
          SNP John Young 7.19% 792 820    
          Electorate: 23,235   Valid: 11,009   Spoilt: 118 (1.06%)   Quota: 2,202   Turnout: 11,127 (47.9%)  

            Corstorphine/Murrayfield
            • 2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xCon
            • 2012: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
            • 2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
            Corstorphine/Murrayfield – 3 seats
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            123456
            Conservative Jeremy Balfour (incumbent) 24.96% 2,050 2,100        
            SNP Frank Ross 24.74% 2,032 2,053 2,056      
            Liberal Democrats Paul Edie (incumbent) 21.77% 1,788 1,798 1,817 1,818 1,993 2,798
            Labour Tom McInally 20.45% 1,679 1,698 1,702 1,702 1,884  
            Scottish Green Dominic Hinde 6.11% 502 526 530 530    
            UKIP James Nisbet 1.96% 161          
            Electorate: 17,445   Valid: 8,212   Spoilt: 56 (0.68%)   Quota: 2,054   Turnout: 8,268 (47.4%)  

              Sighthill/Gorgie

              2007: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
              2012: 2xLab; 2xSNP;
              2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem

              Sighthill/Gorgie – 4 seats
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              123456
              Labour Eric Milligan (incumbent) 28.3 2,266          
              SNP Catherine Fullerton 20.3 1,624          
              SNP Denis Dixon 17.1 1,368 1,389 1,396 1,414 1,462 1,688
              Labour Donald Wilson (incumbent) 13.8 1,107 1,677        
              Conservative Susan Dewhurst 9.2 736 745 749 750 808 917
              Scottish Green Lindsay Ashford 8.2 658 674 690 691 776  
              Liberal Democrats Neil MacLean 3.2 253 260 267 267    
              Electorate: 23,877   Valid: 8,012   Spoilt: 240 (2.91%)   Quota: 1,603   Turnout: 8,252 (34.6%)  

                Colinton/Fairmilehead
                • 2007: 2xCon; 1xLab
                • 2012: 2xCon; 1xSNP
                • 2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lab
                Colinton/Fairmilehead – 3 seats
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                1234567
                Conservative Jason Rust (incumbent) 28.71% 2,692            
                Conservative Elaine Aitken (incumbent) 23.29% 2,184 2,427          
                SNP Richard Lewis 20.59% 1,931 1,953 1,962 1,975 2,021 2,187 2,816
                Labour Eric Barry (incumbent) 17.87% 1,676 1,699 1,708 1,724 1,831 2,070  
                Scottish Green Andy Saunders 4.91% 460 474 484 501 647    
                Liberal Democrats Alan Beal 3.62% 339 350 365 368      
                UKIP Malcolm MacKay 1.01% 95 100 105        
                Electorate: 18,521   Valid: 9,377   Spoilt: 74 (0.78%)   Quota: 2,345   Turnout: 9,451 (51%)  

                  Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart
                  • 2007: 1xCon; 1xLab; 1xLib Dem
                  • 2012: 1xGrn; 1xLab; 1xSNP
                  • 2007-2012 Change: Grn and SNP gain one seat each from Con and Lib Dem
                  2007 Council election: Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart – 3 seats
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  12345
                  Scottish Green Gavin Corbett 24.07% 1,789 1,801 2,004    
                  SNP David Key 23.54% 1,750 1,755 1,811 1,848 1,861
                  Labour Andrew Burns (incumbent) 23.24% 1,728 1,734 1,851 1,905  
                  Conservative Will Searle 21.15% 1,572 1,578 1,714 1,731 1,738
                  Liberal Democrats Jim Lowrie (incumbent) 7.34% 546 561      
                  Liberal Tim Strode 0.66% 49        
                  Electorate: 17,069   Valid: 7,434   Spoilt: 70 (0.93%)   Quota: 1,859   Turnout: 7,504 (44%)  

                    Meadows/Morningside
                    • 2007: 1xCon; 1xLib Dem; 1xGRN; 1xLab
                    • 2012: 1xCon; 1xGRN; 1xLab; 1xSNP
                    • 2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
                    Meadows/Morningside – 4 seats
                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                    1234567
                    Conservative Mark McInnes (incumbent) 29.90 3,125            
                    Scottish Green Melanie Main 19.75 2,064 2,209          
                    Labour Paul Godzik (incumbent) 19.64 2,053 2,171 2171        
                    SNP Sandy Howat 15.79 1,650 1,723 1,754 1,767 1,784 1,857 2,390
                    Liberal Democrats Jenny Dawe * 12.30 1,285 1,574 1,615 1,639 1,661 1,730  
                    Pirate Phil Hunt 1.87 195 211 224 230 264    
                    UKIP William Macadam 0.76 79 170 173 175       
                    Electorate: 22,328   Valid: 10,451   Spoilt: 39   Quota: 2,091   Turnout: 10,490 (47%)  
                      • = Outgoing Councillor from a different Ward.

                      City Centre
                      • 2007: 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem
                      • 2012: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
                      • 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
                      City Centre – 3 seats
                      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                      123456
                      Conservative Joanna Mowat (incumbent) 27.69% 1,402          
                      SNP Alasdair Rankin (incumbent) 24.97% 1,264 1,272        
                      Labour Karen Doran 21.33% 1,080 1,093 1,094 1,101 1,235 1,777
                      Scottish Green Julita Mazurek 17.06% 864 887 890 907 1,111  
                      Liberal Democrats Iain Coleman 7.94% 402 439 440 463    
                      Liberal Karen Hetherington 1.01% 51 58 59      
                      Electorate: 13,943   Valid: 5,063   Spoilt: 38 (0.74%)   Quota: 1,266   Turnout: 5,101 (36.6%)  

                        Leith Walk
                        • 2007: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab; 1xGRN
                        • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xGRN
                        • 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
                        Leith Walk – 4 seats
                        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                        1234567891011
                        SNP Deidre Brock (incumbent)††† 22.1 1735                    
                        Labour Angela Blacklock (incumbent) 21.3 1674                    
                        Scottish Green Maggie Chapman †††† (incumbent) 20.3 1593                    
                        Labour Nick Gardner 11.9 937 947 1029 1035 1050 1065 1089 1115 1225 1350 1519
                        Conservative Miles Briggs 8.1 637 640 644 645 651 653 656 675 784 816  
                        SNP Seumas Ross Skinner 6.4 502 630 632 635 639 649 674 708 741    
                        Liberal Democrats Jamie Paterson 5.1 400 403 406 410 424 429 434 445      
                        TUSC John McArdle 1.4 109 110 111 113 119 128          
                        Independent Alex Wilson 1.4 109 110 110 111 112 153 181        
                        Independent Jimmy McIntosh 1.2 91 92 93 93 97            
                        Liberal John Hein 0.9 69 71 72 72              
                        Electorate: 22,147   Valid: 7,856   Spoilt: 156   Quota: 1572   Turnout: 35.47%  

                          Leith
                          • 2007: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab
                          • 2012: 1xLab; 1xGRN; 1xSNP
                          • 2007-2012 Change: GRN gain one seat from Lib Dem
                          2007 Council election: Leith – 3 seats
                          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                          1234567
                          Labour Gordon Munro (incumbent) 32.1% 2010            
                          Scottish Green Chas Booth 18.9% 1181 1306 1331 1427 1780    
                          SNP Adam McVey 17.6% 1104 1140 1145 1163 1228 1280 2240
                          SNP Rob Munn (incumbent) 14.8% 926 984 993 1013 1135 1169  
                          Liberal Democrats Marjorie Thomas (incumbent) 9.0% 565 618 641 825      
                          Conservative Nicola Ross 6.5% 405 428 433        
                          Liberal Irvine McMinn 1.1% 71 85          
                          Electorate: 16,972   Valid: 6262   Spoilt: 122   Quota: 1566   Turnout: 32.6%  

                            Craigentinny/Duddingston
                            • 2007: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
                            • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
                            • 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
                            Craigentinny/Duddingston – 3 seats
                            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                            12345678
                            SNP Stefan Tymkewycz (incumbent) 25.8% 2180              
                            Labour Joan Griffiths 25.7% 2174              
                            SNP Colin Williamson 11.1% 937 989 991 1008 1138 1260 1354  
                            Labour Alex Lunn†† 10.5% 886 887 935 954 1080 1261 1430 1740
                            Conservative Jason Lingiah 10.2% 866 867 868 877 911 1080    
                            Liberal Democrats Gary Peacock (incumbent) 8.0% 673 675 677 688 836      
                            Scottish Green John Palmer 7.0% 590 592 594 661        
                            TUSC Kevin Furguson 1.8% 150 150 151          
                            Electorate: 18,871   Valid: 8,456   Spoilt: 212   Quota: 2115   Turnout: 45.9%  

                              Southside/Newington
                              • 2007: 1xLab; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem; 1xGRN
                              • 2012: 1xGrn; 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
                              • 2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
                              Southside/Newington – 4 seats
                              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                              12345678
                              Scottish Green Steve Burgess (incumbent) 19.97% 1,869 1,883            
                              Labour Ian Perry (incumbent) 19.78% 1,851 1,856 1,858 1,886        
                              SNP Jim Orr††† 18.34% 1,717 1,723 1,725 1,742 1,744 1,886    
                              Conservative Cameron Rose (incumbent) 16.72% 1,565 1,568 1,568 1,570 1,571 1,855 1,857 2,501
                              Liberal Democrats Gordon MacKenzie (incumbent) 13.97% 1,308 1,341 1,343 1,348 1,351 1,548 1,551  
                              Independent Gordon Murdie 9.53% 892 895 896 921 923      
                              TUSC William Black 0.93% 87 90 91          
                              Liberal Margaret Lea 0.76% 71              
                              Electorate: 20,821   Valid: 9,360   Spoilt: 67 (0.71%)   Quota: 1,873   Turnout: 9,427 (45.3%)  

                                Liberton/Gilmerton
                                • 2007: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
                                • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
                                • 2007-2012 Change: Con gain one seat from Lib Dem
                                Liberton/Gilmerton – 4 seats
                                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                12345678
                                Labour Norma Austin-Hart (incumbent) 21.4 1,941              
                                SNP Tom Buchanan (incumbent)† 19.6 1,780 1,789 1,794 1,826        
                                Labour Bill Cook (incumbent) 19.5 1,768 1,868            
                                Conservative Nick Cook 12.3 1,111 1,112 1,115 1,124 1,125 1,171 1,455 1,696
                                SNP Derek Howie 12.0 1,084 1,086 1,090 1,127 1,138 1,268 1,441  
                                Liberal Democrats John Knox 7.6 687 689 694 711 711 848    
                                Scottish Green Joan Carter 5.2 469 473 480 549 550      
                                Scottish Socialist Colin Fox 2.5 228 229 233          
                                Electorate: 23,187   Valid: 9,068   Spoilt: 191 (2.06%)   Quota: 1,814   Turnout: 9,259 (39.9%)  

                                  Portobello/Craigmillar
                                  • 2007: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xLib Dem
                                  • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
                                  • 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
                                  Portobello/Craigmillar – 3 seats
                                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                  12345678
                                  Labour Maureen Child (incumbent) 36.6 2,645              
                                  SNP Michael A. Bridgeman (incumbent) 20.4 1,477 1,559 1,565 1,607 1,649 2,381    
                                  SNP David Manson 11.6 837 879 891 921 953      
                                  Labour David Walker 10.8 784 1,212 1,237 1,270 1,319 1,356 1,431 1,744
                                  Scottish Green Peter McColl 8.5 615 723 768 825 974 1,059 1,203  
                                  Conservative Henry Christian 7.2 523 549 574 601        
                                  Independent Norrie Davies 2.9 213 253 261          
                                  Liberal Democrats Martin Veart 1.9 137 155            
                                  Electorate: 17,603   Valid: 7,231   Spoilt: 169 (2.28%)   Quota: 1,808   Turnout: 7,400 (42%)  

                                    Post-election changes
                                    • † Liberton/Gilmerton SNP councillor Tom Buchanan died on 3 April 2013. A by-election was held on 20 June 2013 and was won by Labour's Keith John Robson.[2]
                                    • †† Craigentinny/Duddingston Labour councillor Alex Dunn defected from the Labour Party and joined the SNP on 4 December 2013.[3]
                                    • ††† On 1 March 2014 Southside/Newington SNP councillor Jim Orr resigned from the party and became an Independent citing disillusionment with internal political spats.[4]
                                    • †††† Leith Walk SNP councillor Deidre Brock was elected as an MP for Edinburgh North and Leith (UK Parliament constituency) on 7 May 2015 and resigned her Council seat on 24 June 2015.[5] Leith Walk Green councillor Maggie Chapman resigned her seat on 30 June 2015 to focus her efforts on winning a Scottish Parliament seat in North East Scotland.[6] A by-election for both seats was held on 10 September 2015, Lewis Ritchie defending the SNP seat and Labour's Marion Donaldson taking the other.[7]
                                    • †††††† Almond Liberal Democrat councillor Alastair Shields resigned from the party and became an Independent after having been de-selected. He originally indicated that he would contest the 2017 local elections as an Independent, but ruled this out in October 2016.[8][9]

                                    By Elections since 2012
                                    Liberton/Gilmerton By-election (20 June 2013)- 1 Seat
                                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                    1234567
                                    Labour Keith John Robson 39.47 2,892 2,896 2,906 2,941 3,070 3,255 3,448
                                    SNP Derek Howie 30.69 2,249 2,251 2,256 2,287 2,403 2,523 2,633
                                    Conservative Stephanie Murray 11.23 823 824 836 903 934 1,098  
                                    Liberal Democrats John Christopher Knox 8.26 605 611 616 625 708    
                                    Scottish Green Alys Mumford 5.62 412 430 440 471      
                                    UKIP Jonathan Stanley 3.21 235 239 251        
                                    Independent John Scott 0.87 64 70          
                                    Pirate Phil Hunt 0.64 47            
                                    Electorate: 24,177   Valid: 7,246   Spoilt: 81   Quota: 3,664   Turnout: 7,327 (30.6%)  
                                      Leith Walk By-election (10 September 2015)- 2 Seats
                                      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                      12345678910
                                      SNP John Ritchie 36.2% 2,290                  
                                      Labour Marion Donaldson 25.7% 1,623 1,650.1 1,653.1 1,659.6 1,661.7 1,680.4 1,697.6 1,798.2 1,990.2 2,717.3
                                      Scottish Green Susan Rae 21.8% 1,381 1,464.6 1,469.8 1,483.4 1,495.3 1,502.7 1,576.1 1,653.3 1,729.9  
                                      Conservative Gordon Murdie 7.9% 501 503.8 505.8 506.9 507 540.2 541.2 574.6    
                                      Liberal Democrats Mo Hussain 4% 255 261.6 263 265.3 265.3 267.4 271.6      
                                      UKIP Alan Melville 1.6% 102 105.6 105.6 106.8 106.8          
                                      Scottish Socialist Natalie Reid 1.5% 97 107.7 107.7 108.2 122 125.2        
                                      Left Unity Bruce Whitehead 0.5% 32 33.6 33.7 33.9            
                                      Independent John Scott 0.4% 26 29 30              
                                      Libertarian Tom Laird 0.3% 17 17.9                
                                      Electorate: 25,521   Valid: 6,324   Spoilt: 83   Quota: 2,109   Turnout: 6,407 (25.1%)  

                                        References
                                        1. "Council Election Results 2012 | The City of Edinburgh Council". edinburgh.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016.
                                        2. "Information for the Public – Ward 16 Liberton/Gilmerton By-Election – City of Edinburgh Council". 25 June 2013. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013.
                                        3. "councillor Alex Lunn defects from Labour to SNP – Edinburgh Evening News". edinburghnews.scotsman.com. 4 December 2013. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013.
                                        4. McCann, David (1 March 2014). "Jim Orr quits SNP over 'internal spats' – Edinburgh Evening News". edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
                                        5. "BROCK STEPS DOWN FROM WARD 12 | Broughton Spurtle". broughtonspurtle.org.uk. 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015.
                                        6. Brooks, Cameron (30 June 2015). "Edinburgh councillor resigns to focus on becoming north-east MSP". pressandjournal.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
                                        7. "Notices for the Leith Walk Ward By-Election | Leith Walk Ward By-Election | The City of Edinburgh Council". 14 August 2015. Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
                                        8. "Alastair Shields leaves Lib Dems after being dumped for vote – Edinburgh Evening News". 13 January 2016. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
                                        9. "Ex-Lib dem councillor to quit at next election".
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