Edinburgh's first Covid-era by-election takes place tomorrow in Craigentinny/Duddingston

VOTERS going to the polls in Edinburgh’s first Covid-era by-election to choose a new councillor for Craigentinny/Duddingston will find polling stations kitted out to prevent infection – protective screens, one-way systems, hand sanitiser at the ready and single-use pencils to mark the ballot paper.

SNP: Ethan Young

The by-election was caused by the resignation of SNP councillor Ian Campbell because of ill health and the Nationalists are the favourite to win but there are seven candidates competing for the seat.

Covid has inevitably restricted campaigning and instead of canvassing door-to-door the parties have largely limited themselves to leafleting.

But that hasn’t stopped voters making clear the issues they are concerned about – and prominent among them is the loss of the No 69 bus service, which was withdrawn last year..

Conservative: Eleanor Price

SNP candidate Ethan Young said: “It has just been an unsustainable service, even though the council has been subsidising it so we need to look at why that is and how we work as a community to find solutions to that because while there isn’t endless amounts of money we still need to serve the people in the area that rely on these services that protect them from isolation.”

Mr Young works as civic participation manager for a disabled people’s organisation and previously worked in finance then switched to community development, spending time with Voluntary Service Overseas in India and at the Corrymeela peace and reconciliation centre in Northern Ireland.

Tory candidate Eleanor Price, who also stood in Edinburgh Eastern at last year’s general election, agreed the 69 bus was one of the top issues. “People feel they have been short-changed on transport. I’ve said if I’m lucky enough to be elected I would campaign for reintroduction of the bus.”

Ms Price grew up in Edinburgh and moved back about four years ago after a spell in London. She works in financial services.

Labour: Margaret Graham

Labour’s Margaret Graham, who is childcare manager at a parent-led community out-of-school care project, lived in the ward for 30 years, growing up in Loganlea and then moving to Abbeyhill, although she now lives elsewhere in Edinburgh.

She said the 69 bus was the hot topic for local people. “I’m looking at some solutions where it’s maybe not Lothian Buses that run it. The council has got its own buses that sit in garages and hopefully there are possibilities to have a small community service.”

Ben Parker, who is standing for the Greens, said he wanted to see the 69 reinstated and was also campaigning on encouraging walking and cycling and making that safer for people. He came to Edinburgh to go to university in 2015 and now works for a disabled housing charity and is co-convener of the Edinburgh Green Party.

Liberal Democrat Elaine Ford is a pastoral support manager. She also wants to reinstate the 69 service and said there should be better walking and cycling routes into town.

Green: Ben Parker

The Scottish Libertarians are fielding former soldier Tam Laird as their candidate and Andrew McDonald is standing as an independent.

Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm. Even though only one councillor is being elected, voters are asked to rank the candidates in order of preference, marking their ballot papers 1, 2, 3, etc.

The count will take place on Friday with a result expected that afternoon.

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Lib Dem: Elaine Ford

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