Edinburgh Labour and Edinburgh SNP form coalition

As you will no doubt know by now, Edinburgh Labour last Friday became the largest party in Edinburgh, winning 20 seats on the new council. That's the largest number of seats ever won by any party under STV in Edinburgh. It's a magnificent result which has confounded pundits and predictions.

We'd like to thank everyone who trusted us with their vote. We'll aim every day to live up to your expectations.

We'd like to thank everyone who gave their time and support during the campaign. Your efforts were immense and you can and should be very proud.

There were obviously a number of options available when it came to forming an administration - some of them would have excluded Labour - so speed was of the essence, and after exhaustive attempts (over the weekend) to reach a wider all-Party alliance failed to reach an adequate consensus, the Edinburgh Labour Group formed a coalition with the local SNP on Monday evening.

The News Release from Monday follows:


Labour and SNP to move Edinburgh forward

Labour Party and Scottish National Party form historic coalition at the City of Edinburgh Council.

The Labour Party and the Scottish National Party have signed an agreement to work together to run the City of Edinburgh Council following the local government elections on 3 May.

The agreement follows concerted efforts to reach an all-party alliance between all the groups that had councillors returned by the electors last week. The coalition partners said they hoped to continue to work with the other groups in the interests of the people of Edinburgh.

Andrew Burns, Labour Group leader, said: “After listening to the will of the electorate and after intense negotiations over the last few days I am delighted that we have managed to reach an agreement to lead the city of Edinburgh for the next five years. Edinburgh electors gave a very clear mandate to Labour and the SNP, delivering 38 out of 58 councillors. A Labour-SNP coalition will now provide the stability and certainty needed to move Edinburgh forward.”

Steve Cardownie, SNP Group leader, said: “The SNP looks forward to working in partnership with the Labour group with a progressive and exciting agenda to meet the challenges the city faces. With this strong partnership we are best placed to ensure Edinburgh serves its citizens well and emerges from the recession quickly and strongly. Our groups’ economic policies are almost one and the same and we are confident they will deliver for the people of the city.”

Chief Executive Sue Bruce, who was notified of the agreement today, said: “I look forward to working with the new administration, and indeed all councillors, over the next five years.

“A successful Council needs a partnership between the elected members who set the direction and policies, and the officers charged with putting that into practice. Together, our responsibility is to ensure that we take Edinburgh forward and make a real difference to the people who live and work here.”

The coalition parties have agreed the following division of positions: the Labour Party will nominate candidates for the positions of Leader and Lord Provost; the Scottish National Party will nominate candidates for the positions of Deputy Leader and Deputy Lord Provost.

The first meeting of the new Council is on Thursday 17 May, at which it will appoint a new Lord Provost. It is intended that the other aforementioned positions will be agreed at the same meeting.

Full results of the election can be found here.