The list of Labour candidates standing in this year's East Lothian Council election is its shortest in 20 years.
Only ten candidates have been put forward to battle for a possible 22 seats meaning the minority Labour administration will be unable to form a majority leadership - even if they win all contested seats.
READ MORE: East Lothian councillors to rule on 'big shed' plans for former power station site
It is the fewest candidates fielded by the party since it held power in the 2003 election with 17 of the then 23 ward seats taken by Labour councillors.
Since then elections have produced split results, with the SNP forming an alliance with the Lib-Dems in 2007 to oust the Labour administration, which returned in 2012 with its own minority administration of ten councillors and has remained in charge since.
At the last two council elections in 2017 and 2012 East Lothian Labour put forward 12 candidates, giving them a chance of taking the majority.
Despite the lower numbers this year, council leader Norman Hampshire, who is defending his seat as the lone Labour candidate in the Dunbar and East Linton ward, welcomed the "strong local champions" standing for the party.
He said: "I’m delighted with the team of candidates we have selected to contest May’s election.
"They’re a diverse group of people, all embedded in their communities, with a mix of youth and experience.
"Crucially, they all have the desire and ability to be strong local champions for their wards."
The party said it had decide to field two candidates in each four seat ward in the county with one in each of the remaining two wards which have three seats.
In Musselburgh where deputy provost Andy Forrest is the only Labour councillor, he is joined by candidate Ruaridh Bennet, a part-time student from the town, to battle for votes.
Former council leader Willie Innes died in October last year while still in office and was replaced by Colin Yorkston following a by election in January in his home ward of Preston, Seton, Gosford (PSG).
Fellow PSG councillor and former MP Fiona O'Donnell steps down from the role at May's election so Mr Yorkston, a secondary schoolteacher in Edinburgh, will be joined on the ballot paper by student Brooke Ritchie, who works part-time with East Lothian MP Martin Whitfield.
In Tranent, Wallyford and Macmerry Labour's two serving councillors Colin McGinn and Fiona Dugdale will defend their seats and in North Berwick where sole Labour councillor Jim Goodfellow is stepping down Carol McFarlane, an ex primary school teacher and EIS rep is standing.
Provost John McMillan and Councillor Shamin Akhtar will restand in the Haddington and Lammermuir ward for Labour.
