New COSLA president announced

Labour councillor Alison Evison has been elected as the new president of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

Graham Houston, an SNP councillor from Stirling, has been appointed vice-president.

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Evison sits on Aberdeenshire Council and is COSLA’s third female president.

She said: “I am absolutely delighted to be elected president of COSLA, I am delighted that my peers have put their faith in me and it is a job I will relish. 

“I would also like to offer my genuine congratulations to Graham Houston on his election as COSLA’s new vice-president.

“I am determined to be a president that works for all of our membership in partnership with my vice-president and spokespersons. 

“The president of COSLA is still one of the best political jobs in Scotland and I intend giving it my all for the next five years.”

Houston said being elected vice-president was "a great honour” and added that the new team had “a big job ahead” which he was looking forward to getting on with.

COSLA’s new team

• President – Alison Evison (Lab), Aberdeenshire Council
• Vice-president – Graham Houston (SNP), Stirling Council
• Resources spokesperson – Gail Macgregor (Con) Dumfries and Galloway Council
• Health and social care spokesperson – Peter Johnston (SNP), West Lothian Council
• Community wellbeing spokesperson – Kelly Parry (SNP), Midlothian
• Environment and economy spokesperson – Steven Heddle (Ind), Orkney Islands Council
• Children and young people spokesperson – Stephen McCabe (Lab), Inverclyde Council