Edinburgh councillor who quit SNP to work closely with Greens

Talks identify ‘common interest’

Councillor Derek Howie with his guide dog Lloyd

A COUNCILLOR who quit the SNP group at the City Chambers has announced he is to work closely with the Greens.

Derek Howie, who is registered blind, resigned from the SNP in July, complaining of an “anti-disability culture”.

He has since joined the Scottish Green Party but will continue to sit as an independent councillor for Liberton/Gilmerton ward.

Cllr Howie said: “I’m looking forward to working more closely with my new Scottish Green colleagues on areas of common interest such as inclusion, high quality public services and use of public space.

“I recognise that being originally elected from another political party means that my relationship with those new colleagues will be different. But nevertheless I can see a lot of overlap in our areas of interest.”

Alex Staniforth, co-convener of the eight-strong Green group, welcomed the new arrangement. He said: “In our constructive discussions with Derek we have identified ways in which we can work together, whether at meetings of all councillors or at neighbourhood level.”

Cllr Howie was the fourth councillor to leave the SNP since the last council elections in 2017. The new arrangement does not affect the share-out of places on council committees.