Colinton/Fairmilehead by-election – Conservative candidate Neil Cuthbert

Neil Cuthbert has been selected as the Conservative candidate in the Colinton/Fairmilehead by-election which will be held on 14 November.

He is a local resident having lived in south Edinburgh since 1997. Mr Cuthbert has deep roots in the community and professes to have a “thorough understanding of local issues”.

Neil said: “As a Colinton/Fairmilehead resident, I share the concerns of my neighbours about the state of local services.

“From repairing our roads and protecting our green spaces to improving our schools and cleaning the streets, I’m committed to addressing the issues that matter most to our community. I believe my local knowledge and experience make me well-equipped to represent our ward effectively on the City Council. If elected, I’ll work tirelessly to ensure our voice is heard and to make our area an even better place to live.”

Neil has been actively involved in local Conservative events for many years. He previously stood as a candidate in the 2022 local elections and says he is looking forward to campaigning around the area again, focusing on the issues that matter to local residents.

Cllr Jason Rust, who has represented the area for the past twenty years, said: “We have traditionally elected two Conservative councillors in our ward and I look forward to campaigning with Neil and continuing our track record of holding the Council to account and delivering for local people.”

The Returning Officer, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council, Paul Lawrence said: ‘Following his election as Member of Parliament for the Edinburgh South West constituency in the UK Parliament, Professor Scott Arthur has formally resigned as a member of the City of Edinburgh Council and I wish him well in the future.

“Voters in the Colinton/Fairmilehead ward now have a chance to make their voices heard again to elect a councillor to take his place to represent them on the city of Edinburgh Council.”

Candidates will be confirmed when nominations close at 4pm on Monday 14 October.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 14 November.

The election will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system where voters can rank candidates in order of preference rather than using a single cross. Voters can give a rank to as many or as few candidates as they like.

Find out more about elections in Edinburgh and how to register to vote on the Council website.