The Edinburgh SNP council group has chosen Cllr Lesley Macinnes to be the new group leader at a meeting on Tuesday evening.
The other leadership contender was Cllr Euan Hyslop. The vacancy arose after outgoing leader Simita Kumar was elected as the MSP for Edinburgh South Western in the Scottish Parliament election.
Cllr Macinnes said: “It is a great honour to be elected leader by the SNP Council group. We have a councillor group filled with talented, dedicated people working hard for their communities. In the last year of this current chaotic Council administration we will be working hard to reassure Edinburgh residents that electing an SNP-led administration in May 2027 is the better choice for people and communities across Edinburgh. Our previous leader, Simita Kumar, is now representing Edinburgh in the Scottish Parliament, alongside our councillor colleague Kate Campbell – an excellent outcome for our city.”
Cllr Hyslop said: “I want to warmly congratulate Lesley on her election as Group Leader.
“This was a positive and constructive contest about how we take our group forward into the challenges and opportunities ahead, and I know Lesley will lead with determination and commitment.
“She has my full support as we now come together, united and focused on delivering for communities across the city and preparing strongly for the local elections ahead.”
Cllr Simita Kumar, photographed above left at The Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, said:“My hearty congratulations to Cllr Lesley Macinnes, and commiserations to Cllr Euan Hyslop. The strength of the SNP group has always been the people within it and those who lead it. I’m delighted to support Cllr Macinnes as she takes us forward, and I look forward to working together in the next chapter for the group.”
