David Walker: Portobello / Craigmillar

I am a hardworking, enthusiastic professional worker with twenty years’ experience of voluntary work, community regeneration and the functions of local government. For sixteen of those twenty years I worked as a Project Manager with responsibility for fourteen members of staff and the day-to-day operations of a successful local charity. I was also one of the founder members of Craigmillar Credit Union and helped develop the Credit Union from a small savings club in the Thistle Foundation into a well-established and much used local service, with over a thousand members and over a quarter million pounds in assets.

Vicki Redpath: Forth

Vicki was born in Essex but has spent most of her life in Hull before moving to Edinburgh in 2001.

She has studied Fine Art and Documentary Photography and has an HND in Business Studies. After completing this she worked as part of a software implementation team. This kick started a career in testing software and training. After many years in private companies she moved to the voluntary sector.

Karen Keil: Drumbrae / Gyle

Karen Keil:

• Was born and raised in Edinburgh, and graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a BD in 1982.
• Worked for the Church of Scotland Counselling Service at Simpson House in Queen Street as an administrator and counsellor.
• Subsequently worked for development charity Christian Aid for nearly 20 years.
  

Billy Fitzpatrick: Almond

Billy Fitzpatrick, 58, is a father of two. He was born and educated in Edinburgh.

Billy works in Edinburgh for the Western General Hospital as a health worker, caring for the needs of the general public and patients.

He has dedicated most of his political career trying to better the provisions by the local and district council and governing bodies for the people.

On the campaign trail

Alex out campaigning with his team, including
Ken Macintosh MSP and Kezia Dugdale MSP.

Alex Lunn, Edinburgh Labour candidate in Craigentinny/Duddingston, has been out campaigning with his team and here shares some thoughts on the conversations he's been having and his motivation to be part of a winning team in 2012.

I have been out speaking to the people of Craigentinny/Duddingston regularly since I was selected at the end of October.

I chose to stand as a candidate for Labour because I care about where I live and my city. I joined the Labour Party because it's the party that most closely identifies with my socialist beliefs of fairness, equality and opportunity for the many not just the few.

Full council meeting

UPDATE 2: Joint Labour-SNP amendment, backed by Greens, succeeded in overturning privatisation plans. Well done to all involved!


Today's full council meeting at the City Chambers is a key moment for Edinburgh. Councillors are to vote on the so-called Alternative Business Model, which is the SNP/Lib Dem plan to privatise frontline services and start running Edinburgh for private shareholders' profit rather than the common good. Decisions taken today could tie the council's hands for years, preventing even the democratic will of Edinburgh folk from overturning plans which did not feature in the manifesto of either ruling party in the last election.

A very secret privatisation plan

This week, the SNP/Lib-Dem Coalition that runs Edinburgh will return to the question of the Alternative Business Model - privatisation of council services. Here Councillor Andrew Burns, Labour Group Leader on the City of Edinburgh Council, issues a plea for them to see sense and kill off these damaging proposals.

Back in February 2009, nearly two years after they took control of the local Council, the SNP/Lib-Dem Coalition that runs Edinburgh approved a budget that included the decision to look at the potential privatisation of essential front-line services.

The main Opposition, Labour Group on the Council opposed that budget, and have continued to oppose the privatisation plans ever since. The Green Group on the Council has done likewise. Sadly, from my perspective, the SNP and the Lib-Dems (with Conservative support) have pursued the proposals for over 2-years now, spending some £3.6million in the process.

ELwib 1: the week in blogs

Tom McInally and team out in
Corstorphine this weekend.

A fair number of Edinburgh Labour folk have regularly updated blogs. The latest post from each of them is highlighted in the right hand panel, and there's the beginnings of a bit of rivalry amongst the high fliers to try to hit the top spot on that list...

But because only the latest post is shown in our list, it's possible you might have missed an interesting snippet through the week, especially from some of our more prolific contributors. But worry not, we can help. Here's a run down of the Edinburgh Labour week in blogs, or ELwib, for short. :-)

Fundraisers this weekend

Two unmissable events are happening this weekend to help folk get to know each other and to raise much-needed funds for Edinburgh Labour's 2012 campaign.

Paul Godzik: Meadows / Morningside

Paul was elected councillor for the Meadows and Morningside area in 2007, becoming Labour’s first councillor in the Morningside area. He is the Labour Spokesperson for Education, Children & Families in the City Chambers, and has been at the forefront of campaigns against the Lib Dem/SNP council’s cuts to local schools and services.

Originally from the Stirling area Paul has lived locally in for some 10 years, previously in the Polwarth and Merchiston areas. He now lives in Shandon with his wife Elinor. Paul has campaigned on a number of key local issues including the refurbishment of the King’s Theatre, and the protection of green spaces such as the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links and the Craighouse Campus.

Lesley Hinds: Inverleith

Lesley Hinds first became a Councillor in 1984. She has been a member of Edinburgh District Council and the City of Edinburgh Council. Currently the Councillor for the Inverleith ward, she has held numerous positions in the council, including Leader and Lord Provost.

Born in Dundee she has lived in Edinburgh for over 30 years. Drylaw, the area she represents, has been her home while bringing up her three children. Lesley is a qualified primary school teacher. In addition she is a Past Chair of NHS Health Scotland-appointed by the Health Minister. She is a member of Unite the Union, CND, the Co-op Party and Scotmid.

Bill Cook: Liberton / Gilmerton

Bill Cook was first elected to Edinburgh City Council in September 2010. In June he took on the portfolio for Community Safety. He is a member of Lothian and Borders Police Board.

Bill is 57 years of age. He is married to Elaine. Bill was born and brought up in the Inch. He attended the Inch Primary and Liberton Secondary. He raised his sons David and Richard in Alnwickhill. Both were educated at Gracemount Primary and High schools. David is a teacher and Richard works in the Scottish Parliament.

Live discussion today at 10am

This morning from 10am we have the opportunity to discuss with Andrew Burns, Ricky Henderson and other members of the Edinburgh Labour council group the public consultation document Moving Edinburgh Forward, what they are really thinking about in anticipation of the council elections, and how they might get back in charge of the administration at the City of Edinburgh Council.

Joining in with the liveblog event is as simple as clicking this link around 10am today.

For those on Twitter, if you use the hashtag #EdinCouncilLab your comments will be passed through to the liveblog event and you can join in the discussion that way too.

Telfer underpass CCTV petition

Since a spate of criminal and antisocial behaviour, including violent assaults, occurred in and around the Telfer underpass in Dalry, Sarah Boyack MSP has been campaigning for additional CCTV coverage for this underpass. See the details in Sarah's blogpost from April.

Yesterday Sarah and councillors (and Edinburgh Labour 2012 candidates) Andrew Burns, Donald Wilson and Eric Milligan were in Dalry collecting signatures on a petition to the council to have new safety cameras installed.

Consultation launched

The Moving Edinburgh Forward consultation document was launched this morning by Councillor Andrew Burns.

"I’m sure the observant amongst you will have registered the fact that today marks six-months to go until polling day, next year on Thursday 3rd May 2012.

Now, many of my colleagues think I’m somewhat obsessed with the countdown to the next local government elections – and I have to admit that they are basically correct.

Moving Edinburgh Forward

Today, with 6 months to go before the Scottish local elections, Edinburgh Labour is proud to set out our ideas to get Edinburgh moving forward again. And we're asking for your thoughts about our plans, and your ideas for Edinburgh.

If you agree with us that it really is time for better in our city; if you agree that the SNP/Liberal Democrat coalition has stalled Edinburgh; if you agree that it’s time for a change - then please have your say.

In the news

With the launch of Moving Edinburgh Forward only hours away, Edinburgh Labour's vision of a co-operative city is making waves.

Labour sets out its stall for the Council elections says The Edinburgh Reporter, the hyperlocal news website for Edinburgh.

Proposal of co-operatives to run key Capital projects says the Edinburgh Evening News, Edinburgh's main daily newspaper.

Introducing the team

Edinburgh Labour presents... the team to move Edinburgh forward!

Some familiar faces and some bright new recruits, here we have a selection of MPs, MSPs, councillors and candidates, full of ideas and ready for the challenge.