Conor Savage is the Scottish Labour candidate for Colinton/Fairmilehead at this week’s by-election.
There are two councillor seats vacant, but all political parties have fielded only one candidate so two different parties will be returned to the City Chambers to fill two of the positions in the three member ward. The Conservative councillor Jason Rust has represented this area for two decades.
The 30 year-old studied Marine Biology before moving into sustainable finance with a range of national banks. He stood in the General Election last year as a candidate in Shetland losing out against long time Scottish Liberal Democrat MP, Alastair Carmichael.
He says his main priority has been rebuilding trust in local politics in the ward. He supports protecting green spaces and wants a fair share of the transport budget spent on fixing potholes, pavements and leaffall. He does not think that the Labour government’s recent history is counting against him in any way.
Last week Anas Sarwar came out on the doorsteps with the Labour candidate. Anas Sarwar Scottish Labour Leader posted a photo on Instagram of stomping around the doors with his party’s young candidate. Age is a factor. At the last by-election in November the previous candidate Sheila Gilmore, a pensioner and long-time Labour activist lost votes dramatically.
The previous councillor, Dr Scott Arthur MP, had held this seat in 2022 with a 33.4% share of the first preference votes. The ward was represented by Labour, SNP and Conservative until November 2024. After the by-election in November when the Liberal Democrat candidate, Louise Spence, won convincingly she was forced to resign after her plans to represent the ward while living in Dubai caused the party to suspend her.
The by-election will be held on 23 January and the candidates are listed here.
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