Edinburgh Council elections: Voters rejected Tories' right-wing agenda and SNP should now lead the city to a progressive future – Angus Robertson MSP

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Edinburgh has voted and the Capital has returned progressive parties to steer the city into the future.

Given the straight choice between leadership from the SNP or the Tories, the voters re-elected the SNP as the strongest party in Edinburgh.

Originally within one seat of the SNP, the Conservatives were punished by the public in last week’s local government elections, cutting their number of councillors in half.

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For some strange reason, the Lib Dems have since ruled themselves out of working constructively with the election winner. That still leaves options for Edinburgh to be governed by progressive parties that take their responsibilities seriously.

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Edinburgh SNP group leader Adam McVey is correct to point out that: “The right-wing agenda of the Tories has been systematically rejected by the people of Edinburgh and the progressive politics that the SNP leads in the city has been endorsed by the people.

"People want us to tackle poverty, tackle climate change and improve our public services and that's what the SNP offered at this election and for we've for all intents and purposes won this election on this basis.”

Negotiations are now ongoing between the parties, which is the norm in most Scottish local authorities, given the proportional electoral system used to elect our councils.

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SNP group leader Adam McVey (centre) celebrates as the Edinburgh Council election results come in (Picture: Scott Louden)SNP group leader Adam McVey (centre) celebrates as the Edinburgh Council election results come in (Picture: Scott Louden)
SNP group leader Adam McVey (centre) celebrates as the Edinburgh Council election results come in (Picture: Scott Louden)

Edinburgh deserves the stability which an agreement can guarantee in the council chamber. Like Scotland as a whole, the SNP won the election, coming in significantly ahead of the other political parties. With that kind of mandate, an SNP-led administration should take Edinburgh forward during the years ahead.

Angus Robertson is the SNP MSP for Edinburgh Central and Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Secretary

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