Labour holds on to Edinburgh council as SNP-Green challenge falls

Labour has clung on to control of City of Edinburgh Council after defeating a takeover bid by the SNP and the Greens.

Now with just 10 seats on the 63-member local authority, Labour will hold on to the administration after a crunch vote this afternoon.

With Jane Meagher – who joined the meeting remotely during a trip to Tanzania – as the new leader of the local authority, the minority administration is supported by the Conservatives and Lib Dems.

The decision ends a period of turmoil for the council, which followed the resignation of former leader Cammy Day, who reportedly sent sexually explicit messages to Ukrainian refugees.

The SNP and Greens had formed an alliance and sought to take charge of the council.

But councillors voted to keep Labour in power, defeating the rival bid by four votes.

Scottish Green councillor Susan Rae commented: "Despite it being clear that individuals in all parties do not have faith in Labour to provide the solutions to the multiple crises we are facing, it seems that party loyalty and paid positions have more sway for Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Tories than doing their democratic duty to the people who elected them. 

"I have huge respect for those who spoke out against their parties, at potentially great personal and political cost."

Labour backbencher Katrina Faccenda abstained in the vote and said those keeping the administration in place were "putting your own interests above the people of Edinburgh".

Dialling into the meeting, Meagher said the council must work on "getting basic services right".

And she said she would "build consensus" for the aims of eradicating poverty and reaching net zero.

Meagher told the meeting she was willing to "take the type of decisions that will help the people of Edinburgh".

Afterwards, she commented: "This has been an extremely difficult and damaging time for the council. Today was an opportunity to restore stability and to get on with the business of running the city.

"As we count to down to 2025 – and to the challenging budget and other decisions that await us in the new year – we need stability, confidence and consensus.

"I know from speaking to colleagues from other political groups that they agree – and that's what I've committed to today.

"I am, by my nature, a consensus-builder – willing to take on board others’ views, willing to compromise and willing to take the type of decisions that will help and benefit the people of Edinburgh – particularly those most in need of our support.

"That's the kind of leadership we need, and that’s what I’m determined to deliver for the city I've lived in for 50 years."

Congratulating Meagher, SNP group leader Simita Kumar said: "There have been far too few women holding this position over the years.

"However, this cannot be simply more of the same that we have seen over the last two and a half years. I have severe concerns whether continuing this weak Labour administration will bring the change that Edinburgh so badly needs."