And now, a palate cleanser from Council leader Jane Meagher of @EdinburghLabour who clearly and concisely explained why women need single sex services and trauma-informed care. Cllr Meagher was one of the women who set up EWA and she is something of a legend!
For completeness, this is Cllr Watt of Labour who called the Green motion "irresponsible".
The Labour amendment set out how EWA actually operates, how this accords with the council contract, and how their approach is informed by the needs of service users. Also, that they are blinking good at it!
These are the Labour councillors. Also remember them at election - for the opposite reason to the Greens! edinburghlabour.org/ourcouncillors
Also deserving of thanks are the @EdinburghTories councillors.
This is the Conservative amendment. They commended EWA for following the law and welcomed their commitment to provide trauma-informed care while also remaining empathetic to anyone seeking help.
Cllr Jo Mowatt said she was old enough to remember when had to resign from work due to pregnancy. She defended the right of EWA to provide single sex services in line with the law: "What is more legitimate than that of providing services to women who have been abused?"
Cllr Marie-Clair Munro said "Our amendment reflects a commitment to safeguarding these critical services which provide vital support for women and girls who have experienced the profound trauma... of domestic abuse."
"Women's safety must always come first." Hear, hear!
Cllr Whyte said "I believe the motion itself is iniquitous". He said women "have to feel safe...We should respect their expertise around that" & pointed out that EWA gets the highest rating from the care inspector.
OK, back later after that reprieve of sanity from more lunacy!
An understandably emotional Jane Meagher outside the city chambers.
Constituencies:
West Scotland will be one of the battlegrounds for Labour and the SNP. The other big story will be if the Conservative list vote collapses as some pundits indicate.
Clydebank and Milngavie
Claire Gallagher - Scottish Common Party
Ben Langmead - Liberal Democrats
Alix Mathieson - Conservative and Unionist Party
Marie A McNair - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Callum McNally - Labour Party
Andy White - Reform UK
A surge from Reform may ensure that McNair is safe
Cunninghame North
Ian Gibson - Alliance for Democracy and Freedom
Kenneth Gibson - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Mike Mann - Reform UK
Matthew McGowan - Labour Party
Christine Margaret Murdoch - Liberal Democrats
Ronnie Stalker - Conservative and Unionist Party
Kenny Gibson has been one of the most independently minded MSPs. He rebelled on GRR and on the Unbuyable Bill. He should hold comfortably & we would be very happy to see him back.
Constituencies:
South Scotland contains the “blue wall” along the border, in recent years, the Conservatives have enjoyed good results here and now Reform will be hoping to make gains. South Scotland has seen a significant boundary change since 2021: East Lothian has gone and two central belt seats - East Kilbride and Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse - are in. The latter are relatively urban seats in a largely rural region and more likely to lean SNP/Lab
Ayr
Siobhian Brown - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Desmond Buchanan - Liberal Democrats
Sharon Dowey - Conservative and Unionist Party
Brian McGinley - Labour Party
Andrew Fleming Russell - Reform UK
Denise Sommerville - Independent
Muhammad Tufail - Scottish Common Party
Brown had several car crash interviews over hate crime and was ill-equipped to fill the ministerial shoes of Ash Regan. She was handed the poisoned chalice brief of objecting to the unbuyable bill. Brown took Ayr with a wafer thin majority over John Scott (battling health issues) in 2021. The conservatives could retake it if Reform don’t spoil the party.
Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley
Jack Clark - Liberal Democrats
Tracey Clark - Conservative and Unionist Party
Sean Davis - Independent
Katie Hagmann - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Alison Hewett - Independent
Carol Ann Mochan - Labour Party
Andrew Scott - Reform UK
Labour are the stronger rivals to SNP in this seat, which is losing MSP Elena Whitham. Labour’s @CMochan voted against the GRR and is a thoughtful advocate for wider women’s rights with a special interest in women’s health.
Constituencies:
NE Scotland has, traditionally, been dominated by SNP and the Conservatives. In a region suffering from the decline of the oil industry, Reform are hoping to make an impact and may have a shot at a constituency seat.
Aberdeen Central
Yi-Pei Chou Turvey - Liberal Democrats
Jenny Laing - Labour Party
Jack Middleton - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Stewart Whyte - Conservative and Unionist Party
James Wyllie - Reform UK
Reform may do well here, but nowhere near enough to overcome the SNP
Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine
Stephen Mark Flynn - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Liam Kerr - Conservative and Unionist Party
Iris Alexandra Leask - Independent
Matthew Lee - Labour Party
Duncan Massey - Reform UK
Mel Sullivan - Liberal Democrats
Liam Kerr ran Audrey Nicoll pretty close in 2021, but the SNP are likely to benefit from the “celebrity” impact of Westminster leader Flynn as well as Reform splitting the Conservative vote.
Constituencies:
Mid Fife is a tale of two halves with a Labour / SNP split along the Fife coast and a strong Conservative presence in Perthshire. Not to forget the Lib Dem stronghold of North Fife.
Cowdenbeath
David John Barratt - Scottish National Party (SNP)
James Stuart Calder - Liberal Democrats
Mark Davies - Reform UK
Laurie Moffat - Alliance to Liberate Scotland and Sovereignty
Fiona Sword - Labour Party
Darren Watt - Conservative and Unionist Party
Local councillor, Barratt is well placed to hold Annabelle Ewing’s old seat.
Dunfermline
Lauren Buchanan-Quigley - Liberal Democrats
Thomas Heald - Conservative and Unionist Party
Otto Inglis - Reform UK
Joe Long - Labour Party
Shirley-Anne Somerville - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Constituencies:
The headline story of H&I is a battle between the Liberal Democrats and the SNP. However, the contest in Inverness where Fergus Ewing may thwart his erstwhile party will be worth watching!
Argyll and Bute
Callum George - Labour Party
Amanda Hampsey - Reform UK
Tommy Macpherson - Independent
Jenni Minto - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Alan Reid - Liberal Democrats
Mick Rice - Independent
Peter Wallace - Conservative and Unionist Party
Argyll and Bute is one of the safer SNP seats in the region. Jenni Minto should retain it.
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross
David Green - Liberal Democrats
Eva Kestner - Labour Party
Andrew Ross MacDonald - Alliance to Liberate Scotland and Sovereignty
Donald MacKenzie - Conservative and Unionist Party
Matt Sheppard - Advance UK
Maree Todd - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Steven Welsh - Reform UK
The Liberal Democrats look set to take Maree Todd’s seat for the first time since the 2011 boundary change. Jamie Stone was re-elected to the roughly equivalent seat in 2024 with a much increased majority over the SNP.
Having looked at the manifestos, we are drilling down a bit more into the constituencies and regions. We plan to list all the candidates and puzzle out current polling.
We haven't canvased all the candidates, but thought this would be a great way for constituents - or candidates - to let our followers know where they stand. We will do a thread for each region. Please add any feed back/comments to the post relating to your constituency or region. We will share our experiences of candidates if relevant!
We have mainly drawn on the polling from YouGov and More In Common as they have looked at the constituencies. Other polls are available, so feel free to point out any data we missed!
Constituencies:
The 2024 general election saw Labour push back in the old Glasgow heartland, but disillusionment with UK Labour may contribute to keeping the area solidly SNP. Across the region, Reform has overtaken the Conservatives and their trajectory may result in syphoning votes from Labour rather than the SNP.
Glasgow Anniesland
Sandesh Gulhane - Conservative and Unionist Party
Eunis Jassemi - Labour Party
Colm Merrick - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Sean O'Hagan - Reform UK
James Douglas Speirs - Liberal Democrats
Anniesland was the seat of the father of the Scottish Parliament, Donald Dewar, but it’s been in the hands of the SNP since 2011. Councillor Merrick is taking the reins from outgoing SNP MSP Bill Kidd. Labour took the roughly equivalent Glasgow West seat in the General election with a massive swing but polls are still indicating an SNP hold.