6 POLITICS
HUGH FINDLAY
CONSERVATIVEFindlay is currently the
Chair of the Edinburgh
Conservative Association,
and he stood in the 2022
local government election. This party were
quick off the mark launching their campaign
at the beginning of January, and of course it
was in Roseburn that the Conservatives had
a constituency office while Ruth Davidson
was their leader.
Hugh attended Roseburn Primary School
and has always lived in the west of the city. He
said: “I became aware of Council politics and
the huge impact it can have on people’s lives
was around the time of the first tram project,
where as a player at Murrayfield Wanderers
RFC, I’d seen large parts of our back pitches
ripped up to build the line and a lot of the club
had been displaced to Roseburn Park away
from the clubhouse which at the time was on
the stadium grounds.
“I didn’t actively get involved in politics until
2012 though, when I applied and was selected
to be a Youth Rep for Better Together ahead
of the 2014 referendum because I felt strongly
that the views of young people should be
represented in the debate about the
country’s future.
“After that, I began to get a lot more involved
with the Scottish Conservatives locally and I’ve
become convinced that making a difference on
local issues can make the biggest difference to
people’s lives every day.
“I was very strongly in favour of Cllr Scott
Douglas’ original motion on support for
Roseburn businesses and I had campaigned
with him and others across the community to
keep public attention on the issue. Following
the local elections in May when every
candidate apart from the Greens had promised
to match our pledge on this, there was a brief
moment when I believed it may finally get off
the ground.
“Sadly though, it was little surprise when
Labour and the SNP turned their backs on this
after they no longer needed people’s votes, and
I respect Cllr Ross for his decision to resign
over the principle of his party’s failure to step
up and do the right thing. “
RICHARD PARKER
LABOURRichard is a teacher. He is an
Irish-American-Scot who
spent his early life moving
about the US before heading
to Aberdeen, in 1995. He fell in love with
Scotland and studied Literature and History at
the University of Aberdeen.
He joined the Labour party in 2006, shortly
after his 16th birthday, as he wanted to be part
of building a fairer, more just and equal world.
After teaching experience in Ireland in 2012
he quickly discovered it was the job for him.
Since August last year, he has had his first
experience working in a Special Education
school having previously taught English at a
mainstream Secondary school.
Richard said: “On the campaign trail last
year, Cllr Frank Ross proved himself to be a
public servant with integrity. It’s no wonder
that he’s resigned from both his party and the
SNP Group. He knows the SNP in Edinburgh
are in disarray and do not listen to the voters in
Corstorphine- Murrayfield. Residents already
have two Lib Dem Councillors.
“At this by-election, voters of Corstorphine-
Murrayfield have the unique opportunity to
elect a teacher, with experience of teaching in
both mainstream and special education
secondaries, directly into the administration.
It’s time to vote Labour. Education is at the
heart of our Labour values and will form the
core of our campaign. I have dedicated my
professional life to helping young people,
I’m standing for election to be their champion.
I have witnessed the transformative power
of the exceptional education present in
our schools and the dedication of my
hardworking colleagues.
“If elected, I intend to work with the Labour
administration to ensure we’re always getting it
right for every child and our hardworking
teachers have all the support they need.”DONALD RUTHERFORD
SNPDonald is a full time carer
for a member of his family.
The SNP point out that it is
believed there has never been
a council Ward represented by one single party
before. Multi member wards were introduced
in Edinburgh in 2007. At present two LibDem
councillors represent the ward and the third
seat was held by SNP councillor, Frank Ross,
who resigned in December. The SNP are full of
hope for their new candidate who is standing
for the first time.
Donald said: said: “I’m proud to be the SNP
candidate here in Corstorphine/Murrayfield
where I grew up, have worked and currently
care for a disabled family member.
“For me, this election is about giving a voice
to the residents that live here. Voting for me is
an opportunity to vote for someone with deep
roots in the community, and that understands
the issues affecting us here. I live in Carrick
Knowe in the ward so I know the best aspects
of the area but also the challenges it faces.
“Many local people understand that having
three out of three councillors for the ward from
the same party would lead to worse
representation for Corstorphine/Murrayfield
as it wouldn’t be a proper reflection of
the diversity of views in the area.
“A lot of people are saying they’ll be
lending their vote to the SNP this time,
as the second placed party in May, as a result.
They know that the Lib Dems have formed
an administration with Labour along with
the Tories which has been failing to deliver
for Corstorphine-Murrayfield or for the city.They don’t want more of the same.
“Only a vote for the SNP on 9th March gives
local residents the chance of electing someone
who will stand up for this area and push
forward the positive change our city needs.”FIONA BENNETT
LIBERAL DEMOCRATThe Liberal Democrats who
already hold two of the seats
in the three member Ward
are extremely confident of
their success in the third. They already have a
presence at Scottish Government level with
party leader, Alex Cole-Hamilton who is one
of the four LibDem MSPs at Holyrood and also
in the House of Commons with Christine
Jardine MP representing Edinburgh West.
The party points out that it doubled the
number of councillors in 2022, but those
of us with longer memories will recall that
the LibDem numbers halved in 2012 after
the tram debacle when the party was in power.
The LibDems have chosen former NHS nurse
Fiona Bennett as their candidate. She is a
mental health care specialist and has been a
leading volunteer campaigner for refugees
and currently works as a senior caseworker
for Scottish Liberal Democrat MP, Wendy
Chamberlain. She lives in Edinburgh with
her family.
Fiona said: “I am delighted to have
been chosen to stand in this by-election.
The Liberal Democrats have such a strong
track record of local service in Corstorphine
and Murrayfield. The huge increase in our
vote during last year’s election shows that
people appreciate the year-round hard work
and communication which only the Liberal
Democrats provide locally.
“Whether it’s fixing our broken roads and
pavements, action on air pollution, measures
to tackle flooding, or supporting local traders,
there’s so much to do. I’m looking forward to
the campaign ahead and being out and about
listening to local residents.”CHRIS YOUNG
SCOTTISH GREENSChris Young is a new
candidate for election, but
has been working hard on
active travel improvements in
the area recently as one of the members of Low
Traffic Corstorphine. This group supported
changes to public spaces on the High Street to
make the roads safer for pedestrians and
cyclists. Young is a landscape gardener and
home maker who has lived in the ward for
more than 20 years
Chris said: “I’m delighted to have been
selected as the Green candidate for the
Corstorphine/Murrayfield by-election on 9
March. As a local resident I know the council
needs to work far harder to tackle local air
pollution and make it easier for people to walk,
wheel and cycle. I’m very keen to see bigimprovements in the provision of reliable
public transport and active travel infrastructure
in Corstorphine/Murrayfield, and there’s much
work to be done to improve road safety around
our schools as well.
“I’m really looking forward to knocking
on doors, speaking to residents about the
positive changes Green councillors have
already delivered at the City Chambers and
listening to local people about their concerns.
“The Greens will be going into this election
with positive ideas for tackling the climate
crisis and ending poverty in the capital. We
have a message of action for positive change, in
contrast to the lip service of the other parties.”ELAINE MILLER
INDEPENDENTElaine Miller (50) is a
Fellow of the Chartered
Society of Physiotherapy
who specialises in women’s
health, as well as being a comedian.
No stranger to the limelight, she is the
person who protested at Holyrood during the
December debates on the Gender Recognition
Reform Bill by lifting her skirt and apparently
exposing herself to MSPs and others in
the chamber.
Now she is standing in the upcoming council
by election as an independent candidate.
Miller is also a visiting lecturer at several
universities across the UK. She says her 2022
sell-out Fringe show Viva Your Vulva: The Hole
Story won “rave reviews”. She is currently
writing a book about women’s reproductive
health. Elaine has lived in Corstorphine for
more than 20 years, with her husband and
three children.
She said: “I am standing as an independent
candidate because I believe councillors should
always put the needs of the people they serve
before any political party.
“As an independent voice for Corstorphine
Murrayfield, I will have the freedom to act and
vote solely in the interests of local residents
and be forceful and effective in the scrutiny
of decisions which affect our area.
“I have lived in the Corstorphine/
Murrayfield ward for 20 years and I strongly
believe that a council which is not
representative of the wide range of people
living in the community is not democratic.
It is notable, that in recent years there have
been very few women candidates here, and
only one female councillor, and she stood down
last year after one term.
“Corstorphine/Murrayfield is also at risk of
becoming a one-party ward, the only one in the
city. I think that is bad for democracy - it
would mean that the Lib Dem party manifesto
could have more influence on local decisions
than the views of the community. Our area
needs a range of voices in the council chamber.”Nominations will remain open until
4pm on 6 February. Read the Corstorphine/
Murrayfield by election section of our website.Candidates for the main parties have now been announced – we take a closer look at each of the hopefuls...
Corstorphine/Murrayfield by election