Newly elected LibDem councillor for Colinton/Fairmilehead, Louise Spence, who tendered her resignation within a week of being elected, clearly knew in advance of the by-election about plans to move away from Scotland. Her new colleagues say they only found out on Thursday night at a group meeting.
Ms Spence’s Colinton family home is currently being marketed for offers over £730,000 by a firm of city estate agents in Stockbridge. That firm had already prepared sales particulars, including a video, ahead of the property being put on the market just after the by-election was held.
In the pack of paperwork which is used to advertise the house for sale there is an energy performance certificate (EPC). In the case of Ms Spence’s home this certificate is dated 11 November 2024 – three days before the by-election on 14 November.
Ms Spence is understood to have intimated the “sudden change in circumstances” to the Liberal Democrat group at a meeting on Thursday evening. She was first of all suspended from the group and subsequently resigned from her new position. The Liberal Democrats are now back to 13 elected members in Edinburgh. Whether or not they want to run the council is a question being posed at the City Chambers – the Labour minority administration is run with a smaller political group of just 11 councillors. But Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar prevented any local authorities from entering formal coalition agreements before the 2022 local government election.
The Edinburgh Reporter understands that Ms Spence and her family are now moving to the Middle East, having promoted herself as the local candidate who lived in the council ward at every opportunity during the campaign. Ms Spence has been approached for comment.
The January by-election already announced to fill the position left by Cllr Marco Biagi who resigned earlier this week to move to the Scottish Government, will now be run to find two new councillors. Candidates must be nominated by 17 December 2024. David Henry, the independent candidate, has declared that he will stand again.
CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES
Ms Spence told The Edinburgh Evening News: “I have had a sudden change in personal circumstances which meant I couldn’t in all conscience fulfil my role as a councillor. At this time, my focus must be with my family. I have informed my Liberal Democrat colleagues of my changed circumstances and offered my resignation.”
But that “sudden” change in circumstances must have been known by Ms Spence either in advance of the by-election or during the campaign. The cut off for nominations in the by-election in this ward was Monday 14 October. After that time it was not possible for the party to replace Ms Spence with another candidate. Each by-election costs the council around £80,000 in expenses related to printing, staffing and providing polling stations for the public to cast their votes.
We understand that she made an approach to her new colleagues to see if she could do some of the work as a councillor remotely, but having been promoted by the party as the local candidate, it is difficult to see that would been acceptable to them or the voters.
Cllr Kevin Lang the Liberal Democrat group leader said: “As a council group we are felling a bit of hurt right now, We all worked hard on Louise’s campaign and did so in good faith. Louise’s news was shared with the group for the first time on Thursday and once her changed circumstances were clear, we were in agreement that she had to resign immediately.”
JANUARY BY-ELECTION
Following the resignation of the SNP’s Marco Biagi earlier this week, the only remaining Colinton/Fairmilehead councillor ahead of the January by elections is Conservative councillor, Jason Rust, who has represented the area for two decades.
Cllr Rust told The Edinburgh Reporter: “”Over the past twenty years I have seen ward colleagues come and go, but never this quickly. As the now sole councillor for our area I will do my best to continue to represent all residents. Colinton Fairmilehead Ward has recently been badly served by the other parties. This sudden resignation makes an absolute mockery of the Liberal Democrats supposed ‘local’ campaign where they shamelessly pointed out addresses of other candidates and sitting councillors. Many residents will be shocked by their deceitful campaign and this outcome, not least as taxpayers footing the bill. However, I wish the newly elected, and now former, councillor all the best for her life abroad.”
Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, Senior Labour Councillor and campaign manager for Labour in the recent by-election said: “This is the most outrageous thing I’ve ever heard of in local politics. As the dust begins to settle things don’t look any better for the Libdems. I think as a party they have serious questions to answer, what did they know and when?
“No one decides to sell their house and move abroad on a whim. This must have been known about for months.
“The Libdems have taken the residents of Colinton/Fairmilehead for fools and No one will trust anything they say around here ever again.
“Thankfully, we are well served by two excellent Labour MPs and when we go back to the polls in January we can elect a hard working Labour Councillor who will be committed to Colinton/Fairmilehead and who will work tirelessly to represent them in the City Chambers.”
Scottish Conservative MSP Sue Webber said: “This is scandalous behaviour from the Lib Dems that shows how little regard they have for taxpayers’ money.
“This candidate ought to be ashamed but there are also serious questions for Alex Cole-Hamilton and his whole party to answer.
“Surely they must have known this was a risk, so how did they let this happen? Do they really think this is acceptable for a so-called ‘local champion’?
“Alex Cole-Hamilton should apologise on his party’s behalf for letting down Edinburgh constituents and wasting taxpayers’ money.
“Local people who want a representative fully focused on the day job should consider voting Scottish Conservative in the upcoming by-election and we’ll deliver some common sense, for a change”
The second by-election has been called for 23 January in the Colinton/Fairmilehead ward – now there are two councillor positions to fill. Read more here.
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