Edinburgh and Lothian SNP MSPs see off challenges and win selection to stand in next year's Holyrood elections

Two Lothian SNP MSPs have seen off attempts to oust them as candidates for next year's Scottish Parliament elections.

Ash Denham will stand again in Edinburgh Eastern

Community safety minister Ash Denham was reselected for the seat she holds in Edinburgh Eastern and Christine Grahame defeated a challenge in Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale.

Meanwhile three high-profile Edinburgh councillors all failed in their bids to stand for Holyrood seats.

The SNP selection contests, which also saw the party’s former Westminster leader Angus Robertson chosen for Edinburgh Central, means candidates are now in place for almost all constituencies for the elections next May.

Christine Grahame has been selected in Midlothian South

Ms Denham, who became Edinburgh Eastern MSP after former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill stood down in 2016, survived a challenge from city councillor and housing and economy convener Kate Campbell and activist Irshad Ahmed. Last year she emerged as the Lothian MSP with the biggest expenses claim, including more than £10,000 for hotel stays in Edinburgh, which she is entitled to under Holyrood’s allowances scheme because she lives in the Borders.

Cllr Campbell tweeted: “Huge congratulations to @ashtenRD for a well fought contest. Pleasure to be part of healthy, internal democratic process w/ two excellent candidates. As @ahmed01 said at hustings – we’re all a family. So let’s get out and campaign together to re-elect Ash.”

In Midlothian South, Ms Grahame, a deputy presiding officer and an MSP since the parliament was formed in 1999, saw off a challenge from Tweeddale councillor Heather Anderson.

Catriona MaDonald, who stood in Edinburgh South at last year’s general election, was selected for Labour-held Edinburgh Southern, beating two senior city councillors, transport and environment convener Lesley Macinnes and education vice-convener Alison Dickie, as well as Clackmannanshire councillor Donald Balsillie; businessman Douglas Thomson; and activists Andrew Ewen and Irshad Ahmed.

Ms MacDonald tweeted: “Thank you to members for putting their trust in me & to my fellow nominees for their support. Now the hard work begins. Together we will win back this seat & deliver independence.”

Cllr Macinnes posted: “Many, many congratulations to @CatrionaSNP. You’ll have my support all the way to winning the seat back in May.”

And Cllr Dickie also tweeted her congratulations.

Sarah Masson, who was the general election candidate in Edinburgh West, was chosen to stand in Lib Dem-held Edinburgh Western, defeating Glasgow councillor Graham Campbell: social enterprise leader Ewan Hunter; environmental activist Angus Nelson; digital campaigner Aidan Strange; and Heather Anderson and Donald Balsillie.

In East Lothian former council leader Paul McLennan was selected in a six-cornered contest to fight the seat where Labour’s Iain Gray is standing down.

Five Lothian SNP MSPs were confirmed without a challenge – Ben Macpherson in Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Gordon MacDonald in Edinburgh Pentlands, Angela Constance in Almond Valley, Fiona Hyslop in Linlithgow and Colin Beattie in Midlothian North and Musselburgh.

Former Edinburgh West MP Michelle Thomson was selected as candidate in Falkirk East where Nationalist MSP Angus MacDonald is standing down. Ms Thomson was elected an MP in 2015 but was at the centre of controversy over property deals and although she was cleared of wrongdoing after a 14-month police investigation she stood down at the 2017 election.

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