Decision to block 'one of the best Labour councillors in Edinburgh' from standing for re-election branded 'vindictive'
‘Unless she stands as the candidate I think there’s a real chance Labour could lose the seat’
Labour’s decision to block Leith councillor Katrina Faccenda from standing at next year’s local elections could cost the party that seat, a senior figure has warned.
Cllr Faccenda failed to get onto the “panel” of approved candidates from which local parties can choose who stands in their ward, but she is appealing against the decision and says she has strong local support.
One senior Labour figure said the decision had been “vindictive” and personal. “She's a high-profile, well-respected councillor. Most party members are just shocked that this has happened when we have one of the best Labour councillors in Edinburgh.
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“They hope she wins her appeal and goes on to stand for Labour in Leith. As things stand at the moment the local party is being denied opportunity to reselect her.”
It is understood Cllr Faccenda has been blocked because of her disciplinary record. She has been suspended from the Labour group twice since first being elected at the last council election in 2022. She abstained in the vote for Labour to become the minority administration after that election and again when Jane Meagher became council leader in succession to Cammy Day in 2024.
The senior Labour figure said: “This decision is all down to two disciplinary matters that were dealt with - she was disciplined for breaking the whip. Normally you’re punished and you move on, but they want to punish her, regardless of how good a councillor she is. It's factionalism. It doesn't do the party any favour.
“She is so well respected by community groups and local people, this is personal, like a vendetta against her. Unless she stands as the candidate I think there’s a real chance Labour could lose the seat. I’ve been told that if she doesn’t stand, the Greens will put up two candidates because they think they could get two elected.”
Cllr Faccenda was the third out of the three candidates elected in Leith ward in 2022, with the SNP topping the poll and the Greens in second place.
Another party activist said members of the Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith Constituency Labour Party (CLP) were angry about the decision of Edinburgh Labour’s local government committee (LGC) - made up of delegates from all the CLPs in the city - to block Cllr Faccenda. It is understood the decision was taken by 10 votes to seven.
The activist said: “I attended the CLP meeting last Thursday and the mood was one of anger and frustration with our two LGC delegates. Members demanded to know why our delegates had voted against endorsing Katrina's candidacy without consulting members.
“The CLP has no powers of mandate. But taking the temperature of members and being led by our majority view is a long standing democratic tradition. No voices spoke up in defence of their decision.”
Cllr Faccenda was expected to submit her appeal to Labour’s Scottish Executive Committee today and it is understood a hearing will then take place within the next seven days.
Cllr Faccenda has said she has “very strong support” within the wider community in Leith and that some local people had offered to write to the Labour party to say what a good job she was doing.