EDINBURGH voters are set to go to the polls following the resignation of former SNP Provost Frank Ross last year.
The councillor had represented the Corstorphine and Murrayfield ward since 2012, and is a former group leader for the SNP on the local authority, but stood down in December 2022.
Now, voters have the choice of nine different candidates to choose from, from the main five Holyrood parties, and a number of independents.
It is the first by-election in the capital since the Labour Party became a minority administration, and the results will be interesting to say the least. It is also the second by-election since First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced her resignation.
The first in Aberdeen City by-election saw Labour win the seat in Dyce, Bucksburn and Danestone.
Who are the candidates in the Corstorphine and Murrayfield by-election and what are their policies?
There are nine candidates hoping to win the seat:
- Fiona Bennet, Scottish LibDems.
Bennet has said her priority is the state of roads and pavements, as well as issues with parking and cycle lanes.
- Richard Fettes, Scottish Family Party.
Fettes campaign has centered on sex education in schools and speaking against LGBT issues.
- Hugh Findlay, Tory.
Findlay has said potholes, drains and cleaning up the streets would be his priority if elected.
- Pete Gregson, Independent.
Parking bays, pavement and pothole repairs, and hanging baskets to beautify the area are on Gregson’s priority list.
- Elaine Miller, Independent.
Miller became infamous for ‘flashing’ the Scottish Parliament after the passage of the Gender Reform Bill, and has run her campaign focusing on women's issues like access to public toilets, and raised issues with the council’s focus on cycling without considering accessibility issues.
- Richard Parker, Labour.
Secondary school teacher Parker has focused his campaign on education, as well as fixing roads and pavements as an immediate priority, as well as reducing air pollution in the ward.
- Donald Rutherford, SNP.
As well as roads and pavements, Rutherford wants to focus on a community asset transfer for the local community centre and make it a hub for locals.
When do voters go to the polls?
On Thursday 9 March, polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm, with nine available for voters to attend.
Andrew Kerr, chief executive of the City of Edinburgh Council and returning officer, said: “The by-election will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system where voters can rank candidates in order of preference using numbers rather than a single cross.
“Voters can choose to vote for as many or as few candidates as they like. We will announce the result once the votes are counted after polls close at 10pm on Thursday, March 9.”
The voters will be counted electronically in the council headquarters at Waverley Court, East Market Street when polls have closed.
