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.
Quick Facts All 58 seats to City of Edinburgh Council 30 seats needed for a majority, First party ...
2012 City of Edinburgh Council election
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
5
6
0
Popular vote
39,286
37,537
27,588
Percentage
28.13%
26.87%
19.75%
Swing
5.45%
6.55%
2.33%
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
3
14
Popular vote
15,978
13,040
Percentage
11.44%
9.34%
Swing
3.21%
12.65%
Map of council wards
Leader of the Council before election
Jenny Dawe defeated
Liberal Democrats
Leader of the council after election
Andrew Burns
Labour
Close
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.
More information Party, Seats ...
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
5
34.48
28.13
39,286
5.45
SNP
18
6
0
6
31.03
26.87
37,537
6.55
Conservative
11
1
1
0
18.97
19.75
27,588
2.33
Scottish Green
6
3
0
3
10.34
11.44
15,978
3.21
Liberal Democrats
3
0
14
14
5.17
9.34
13,040
12.65
Independent
0
0
0
0
0.00
1.84
2,565
New
UKIP
0
0
0
0
0.00
0.34
480
New
TUSC
0
0
0
0
0.00
0.33
463
New
Liberal
0
0
0
0
0.00
0.26
368
New
Scottish Socialist
0
0
0
0
0.00
0.16
228
New
Pirate
0
0
0
0
0.00
0.14
195
New
Close
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.
Map of Council Wards showing parties elected in each ward
More information Ward, % ...
Close
Almond
2007 : 1xCon; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2012 : 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change : No Change
More information Party, Candidate ...
2012 Council election: Almond – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
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%)
Close
Pentland Hills
2007: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
2012: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
2007-2012 Change: No Change
More information Party, Candidate ...
Pentland Hills – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
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%)
Close
Drum Brae/Gyle
2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2012: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
More information Party, Candidate ...
Drum Brae/Gyle – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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%)
Close
=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
More information Party, Candidate ...
Forth – 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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%)
Close
Inverleith
2007 : 1xLab; 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012 : 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLab; 1xGreen
2007-2012 Change : Green gain one seat from Lib Dem
More information Party, Candidate ...
Inverleith – 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
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%)
Close
Corstorphine/Murrayfield
2007 : 2xLib Dem; 1xCon
2012 : 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change : SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
More information Party, Candidate ...
Corstorphine/Murrayfield – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
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%)
Close
Sighthill/Gorgie
2007 : 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012 : 2xLab; 2xSNP;
2007-2012 Change : SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
More information Party, Candidate ...
Sighthill/Gorgie – 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
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%)
Close
Colinton/Fairmilehead
2007: 2xCon; 1xLab
2012: 2xCon; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lab
More information Party, Candidate ...
Colinton/Fairmilehead – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
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%)
Close
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
More information Party, Candidate ...
2007 Council election: Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
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%)
Close
Meadows/Morningside
2007: 1xCon; 1xLib Dem; 1xGRN; 1xLab
2012: 1xCon; 1xGRN; 1xLab; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
More information Party, Candidate ...
Meadows/Morningside – 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
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%)
Close
= 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
More information Party, Candidate ...
City Centre – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
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%)
Close
Leith Walk
2007: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab; 1xGRN
2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xGRN
2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
More information Party, Candidate ...
Close
Leith
2007: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab
2012: 1xLab; 1xGRN; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: GRN gain one seat from Lib Dem
More information Party, Candidate ...
2007 Council election: Leith – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
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%
Close
Craigentinny/Duddingston
2007: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
More information Party, Candidate ...
Close
Southside/Newington
2007: 1xLab; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem; 1xGRN
2012: 1xGrn; 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
More information Party, Candidate ...
Southside/Newington – 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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%)
Close
Liberton/Gilmerton
2007: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
2007-2012 Change: Con gain one seat from Lib Dem
More information Party, Candidate ...
Liberton/Gilmerton – 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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%)
Close
Portobello/Craigmillar
2007: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xLib Dem
2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
More information Party, Candidate ...
Portobello/Craigmillar – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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%)
Close
† 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]
More information Party, Candidate ...
Liberton/Gilmerton By-election (20 June 2013) - 1 Seat
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
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%)
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Leith Walk By-election (10 September 2015) - 2 Seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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
Scottish Libertarian
Tom Laird
0.3%
17
17.9
Electorate: 25,521 Valid: 6,324 Spoilt: 83 Quota: 2,109 Turnout: 6,407 (25.1%)
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