Whichever candidate wins the vote next Tuesday the next Convener of the SNP group at Edinburgh Council will be a woman.
The SNP Group on Edinburgh Council is seeking a new leader from elected councillors after the resignation of Adam Nois-McVey who is choosing to retreat to the back benches and spend more time with his young family.
Nominations for all positions closed on Tuesday and there are now two candidates – Cllrs Lesley Macinnes who represents Lliberton/Gilmerton Ward and Simita Kumar who represents Southside/Newington. Ms Kumar has also been selected as a candidate in the UK General Election in Edinburgh South where Labour’s Ian Murray has been MP since 2010.
A vote will be conducted among the group at next week’s meeting after which the new leader will be announced.
Cllr Macinnes has held senior positions in the group such as Transport Convener and Finance spokesperson. Cllr Kumar was elected in 2022.
An SNP spokesperson said: “We’re delighted to have two such strong candidates putting their names forward to lead the group. The contest is going to be carried out in a in a positive and comradely manner amongst a selectorate which is a happy and united group. We’re confident that all members of the group will be delighted to support the eventual winner.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
