Edinburgh has shown that a greener future is within reach - Lorna Slater
Sometimes an election result tells you more than simply who has won a seat. It tells you something about the direction people want their city, and their country, to take.
Last Thursday, the people of Portobello and Craigmillar made history by electing Lorenzo Martinico as Edinburgh’s first ever Scottish Green councillor through a by-election. It was a fantastic result, not just for Lorenzo and the local Green team, but for everyone who believes that politics can offer something better than the same old arguments and tired old solutions.
Lorenzo’s victory was particularly significant because it came in a ward where the SNP had previously been the largest party. He secured 1781 votes and will now join Alys Mumford as the second Green councillor representing Portobello and Craigmillar.
But this result was about much more than party politics. People are looking for a positive vision for Edinburgh. They want a city where housing is genuinely affordable, where public transport works for everyone, where our streets and neighbourhoods are greener and safer, and where the climate emergency is treated with the seriousness it deserves. That is exactly the kind of politics that Scottish Greens are offering.
We have shown that tackling the housing crisis and tackling the climate crisis can go hand in hand. We can build more affordable homes while protecting our green spaces. We can improve public transport while reducing pollution. We can create good, secure jobs while transforming our economy for the future. And crucially, we can do all of this while putting local communities at the heart of decision-making.
That positive message is beginning to resonate across Edinburgh. At the Scottish Parliament election earlier this year, Greens made another historic breakthrough by winning Edinburgh Central – a seat I am both delighted and proud to represent. Now, just months later, we have won our first ever Edinburgh Council by-election, and on the same night we ran a very close second in Southside/Newington. There is a clear sense that something is changing.
The next big test comes in May. And for the first time, it is entirely possible to imagine a City of Edinburgh Council administration led by Scottish Greens. That would be a remarkable transformation.
For too long, Edinburgh has been held back by administrations that have failed to match the ambition of the people who live here. Our Capital should be a leader, not a laggard, on affordable housing, public transport, climate action and the protection of nature.
Green councillors have already been doing that work from the opposition benches. Imagine what we could achieve with the ability to put those ideas into practice across the whole city.
Of course, there is a lot of work between now and May. Elections are never won in advance, and we cannot take any vote for granted. But Lorenzo’s victory has given us something incredibly valuable: momentum. It shows that voters are willing to choose hope over cynicism, action over inaction and a positive vision over politics as usual.
Edinburgh has taken another step towards becoming a greener, fairer city. Now we need to take the next one together.