After a lunchtime meeting on Monday, the Green group on Edinburgh council have chosen two new co-conveners to head up the group from today onwards.
They are Cllr Alys Mumford and Cllr Ben Parker who previously acted as Co-Conveners for the group from 2022-2024.
From the outgoing co-leaders, Cllr Chas Booth had reached the end of his term of office, and Cllr Kinross-O’Neill has become an MSP over the past week and is stepping back from the leadership role. She will however continue to be a councillor.
Cllr Alys Mumford said:”We are entering a pivotal year for the Green group, as we hope to build on the success of the Holyrood election and see the biggest group of Green Councillors in the chamber in 2027. At the same time, we need to continue our strong record of holding this failing ultra-minority Labour administration to account and fighting for our constituents to have the public services they deserve.
“Over the past four years, Green Councillors in Edinburgh have secured massive investment in social housing, protected our residents from the worst of the cuts to public services, and won long-overdue action to tackle the climate crisis. I’m delighted that the group have put their faith in me and Ben to be their co-conveners once again and we can’t wait to get to work on some of the pressing issues facing this Council.”
Fellow Co-Convener, Cllr Ben Parker said: “Coming off the back of a fantastic set of election results for Holyrood, I’m excited to take over the reins as Co-Convener with Alys. Having already worked together as group Co-Conveners in the first couple of years of this Council term, I’m sure we will be able to pick up where we left off. I also want to say a big thank you to outgoing Co-Conveners Chas Booth and Kayleigh Kinross O’Neill who have left big shoes to fill.
“We have an exciting year ahead preparing for the Council elections in 2027. Already, we have an excellent pipeline of candidates and a fantastic manifesto in development. With less than a year to go before polling day, momentum is with the Greens and I’m excited to see where the next year (and beyond) will take us.”
Edinburgh Green councillors have a two-year term limit on convening the group, in order reflect the principle that power should not be concentrated, that diversity of experience and skills is an asset, and that everybody should have the opportunity to take on leadership positions.
Cllr Kayleigh Kinross-O’Neill said: “Co-convening with Chas has been a pleasure in this Council term and I have immensely enjoyed having oversight of our brilliant Green group. Being elected to Holyrood is such a privilege and knowing that the Green group are in such good hands for the next year means I can cheer on from the sidelines as we come towards May 2027.“
Outgoing Co-Convener Cllr Chas Booth said: “I’m delighted that Edinburgh Green Councillors have selected such a strong team to take over from Kayleigh and I and to steer the group towards the council elections in 2027. Following the Green surge at Holyrood less than a fortnight ago, this is an exciting time to be a Green councillor and I’m looking forward to supporting the incoming co-convenors as we prepare for the council elections next year.“
“It has been a pleasure and a privilege to co-convene the group alongside Kayleigh for the last year. Her hard work, strategic wisdom and dry sense of humour have brought passion and insight to the role. The Green Group’s loss is Holyrood’s gain and while she will be missed as co-convenor, I am delighted she is staying on as a councillor for the remainder of the term.”
