The council by-elections, in the wards of Southside / Newington and Portobello-Craigmillar, are likely to be early September. They have been signalled in local press today.
Simita Kumar, the SNP councillor, is standing down from Southside-Newington following her appointment as a Scottish Government minister. Meanwhile longstanding SNP councillor Kate Campbell has also signalled her departure after her election to Parliament.
Green councillors have welcomed the contests, claiming that they are in a strong position to win by-elections in Edinburgh for the first time.
Co-convenor of the 11-strong Green councillor group, Alys Mumford said:
“The Southside Newington contest was always on the cards as soon as Simita was appointed as a minister. It is one of three wards in Edinburgh which first elected Green councillors back in 2007 and has been represented by well-known and respected Green councillor Steve Burgess ever since. In 2022 it was competitive between five parties but since then voting patterns have shifted dramatically in favour of the Greens.
“An election in my my own ward of Portobello / Craigmillar was less expected but I know from my own experience and that of Green councillor Mary Campbell before me, how much Green support has grown and I don’t think Kate’s personal support from 2022 will simply transfer to a new SNP candidate.
“Only 4 weeks ago Greens won our first ever parliamentary constituency in Edinburgh Central and, across the city, Greens topped the poll in Scottish Parliament list votes. That’s why I believe that we will attract many of those voters looking for a greener, fairer, welcoming city.
“We are in both contests for the win.”