Kayleigh O’Neill is the Scottish Greens candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith.
Ms O’Neill was elected as a councillor for Forth Ward in 2022.
She works for the Scottish Greens, managing Lorna Slater’s office on a part-time basis, but she told The Edinburgh Reporter that she also loves having a public facing role as a councillor in the capital.
Edinburgh is not her original home. She hails from Motherwell and came here for university. She used to work for Euan’s Guide and Inclusion Scotland, and is the Green representative on COSLA’s Barriers to Elected Office special interest group.
She is the council group’s equalities spokesperson, and represents the Green group on the Education Children and Families committee. Kayleigh was previously a member of the Transport & Environment Committee and was able to campaign for accessibility, particularly dropped kerbs. Kayleigh is a wheelchair user who knows only too well the difficulties of getting about the city. She has been outspoken on pavement parking and other issues for the disabled and elderly.
She moved out of the City Chambers where she had an office saying it had become impossible for her to use. She now sits on the council’s Planning Committee.
Kayleigh says she just loves the community in Leith where everything is on her doorstep and said: “I really can’t believe I have ever lived anywhere else.”
But she is clear that she could be a good representative for the area. She said: “I think Edinburgh North and Leith in the city, and even more widely the country needs a voice that is serious about climate action, and climate change. We’ve seen the other parties roll back consistently and quite aggressively on climate action. So really, this election is an opportunity for us to be that progressive voice.”
As to the Green Freeport which is promised for Leith, Ms O’Neill is not sure this will mean actual jobs for people who live in the area who need to build up their skills first.
She said: “We have the Freeport being put on us. It’s green on paper but not in practice. It is advertised as a sort of haven for bringing jobs to the area and bringing accommodation and as a boost to the economy. But what it’s actually going to do is be a tax haven and not actually benefit the local community. It’s something that’s been imposed on us.”
Co-Leader of the Scottish Greens, Lorna Slater MSP, said at the party’s conference: “The Scottish Greens will be standing more candidates than ever before at the upcoming general election.
“And here’s why. This UK Tory government is not fit for purpose. It has broken its promises to the people. It has failed in every single duty. It has cost jobs, it has cost lives and it is time for them to go.
“Labour have already reversed their position on climate action. The Scottish Greens belong in every election, at every level of government, from councils, to Holyrood and beyond.
“Because people and planet need us. They need us now more than ever. And we are ready to step up and take action.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
