 | 'Lib Dem campaigners have been accused of "lying" to voters in north Edinburgh by publishing "misleading" election figures.' Evening News, 21 st October 2008. |  |
| 'Lib Dem campaigners have been accused of "lying" to voters in north Edinburgh by publishing "misleading" election figures.' Evening News, 21 st October 2008. | |
There was a by-election in the Forth ward of Edinburgh Council in 2008 following the death of Labour Cllr Elizabeth Maginnis on the 7 th September 2008.
Most of the Forth ward is in the Edinburgh North & Leith Westminster parliamentary seat (held by Labour's Marek Lazarowicz MP) and the Edinburgh North & Leith Scottish parliamentary seat (held by Labour's Malcolm Chisholm MSP). However, Muirhouse is in the Edinburgh West Westminster parliamentary seat (held by Liberal Democrat John Barrett MP) and the Edinburgh West Scottish Parliamentary seat (held by Liberal Democrat Margaret Smith MSP). In May 2007, four Cllrs were elected: Cllr Steve Cardownie (Scottish National Party), Cllr Allan Jackson (Conservative & Unionist), Cllr Elaine Morris (Liberal Democrat) and Cllr Elizabeth Maginnis (Labour).
Labour hold.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Cllr Cameron Day Labour Newly elected Cllr |
Cllr Steve Cardownie Scottish National Party |
Cllr Allan Jackson Conservative & Unionist |
Cllr Elaine Morris Liberal Democrat |
| Seats | Candidates | Counts | Electorate | Valid votes | % poll | Quota | Rejected votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | 9 | 6,816 | % | 3,409 | 70 |
| Candidate | Logo | Party | 1 st Pref | Share | Quota | Count | Status | Seat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cammy Day |  |
Labour | 2,013 | 29.53 % | 0.59 | 9 | Made Quota | 1 |
| George A. Gordon |  |
Scottish National Party | 1,841 | 27.01 % | 0.54 | 9 | Eliminated | |
| Iain McGill |  |
Conservative & Unionist | 1,180 | 17.31 % | 0.35 | 8 | Eliminated | |
| Sanne C. Dijkstra-Downie |  |
Liberal Democrat | 985 | 14.45 % | 0.29 | 7 | Eliminated | |
| Kate Joester |  |
Scottish Green Party | 341 | 5.00 % | 0.10 | 6 | Eliminated | |
| John Loughton |  |
Independent | 297 | 4.56 % | 0.09 | 5 | Eliminated | |
| Willie Black |  |
Solidarity | 80 | 1.17 % | 0.02 | 4 | Eliminated | |
| Robert Richard |  |
Scottish Socialist Party | 53 | 0.78 % | 0.02 | 3 | Eliminated | |
| James G. MacLean | |
Independent | 26 | 0.38 % | 0.01 | 2 | Eliminated |
| Adjustments | Exclusion of MacLean | Exclusion of Richard | Exclusion of Black | Exclusion of Loughton | Exclusion of Joester | Exclusion of Dijkstra-Downie | Exclusion of McGill | Exclusion of Gordon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Count 1 | Count 2 | Count 3 | Count 4 | Count 5 | Count 6 | Count 7 | Count 8 | Count 8 |
| Cammy Day | |
Labour | 2,013 | + 1 2,014 |
+ 9 2,023 |
+ 19 2,042 |
+ 92 2,134 |
+ 94 2,228 |
+ 315 2,543 |
+ 267 2,810 |
+ 925 3,735 Elected |
| George Gordon | |
Scottish National Party | 1,841 | + 2 1,843 |
+ 6 1,849 |
+ 12 1,861 |
+ 59 1,920 |
+ 85 2,005 |
+ 254 2,259 |
+ 270 2,529 |
- 2,529 0 Eliminated |
| Iain McGill | |
Conservative & Unionist | 1,180 | + 4 1,184 |
+ 3 1,187 |
+ 1 1,188 |
+ 11 1,199 |
+ 26 1,225 |
+ 228 1,453 |
- 1,453 0 Eliminated |
|
| Sanne Dijkstra-Downie | |
Liberal Democrat | 985 | + 2 987 |
+ 2 989 |
+ 6 995 |
+ 38 1,033 |
+ 122 1,155 |
- 1,155 0 Eliminated |
||
| Kate Joester | |
Scottish Green Party | 341 | + 2 343 |
+ 17 360 |
+ 13 373 |
+ 37 410 |
- 410 0 Eliminated |
|||
| John Loughton | |
Independent | 297 | + 6 303 |
+ 4 307 |
+ 16 323 |
- 323 0 Eliminated |
||||
| Willie Black | |
Solidarity | 80 | + 0 80 |
+ 4 84 |
- 84 0 Eliminated |
|||||
| Robert Richard | |
Scottish Socialist Party | 53 | + 1 54 |
- 54 0 Eliminated |
||||||
| James G. MacLean | |
Independent | 26 | - 26 0 Eliminated |
|||||||
| Non-transferable votes | 0 | + 8 8 |
+ 9 17 |
+ 17 34 |
+ 86 120 |
+ 83 203 |
+ 358 561 |
+ 916 1,477 |
+ 1,604 3,081 |
||
| Seats | Candidates | Counts | Electorate | Valid votes | % poll | Quota | Rejected votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 9 | 9 | 10,903 | 44.44 % | 2,181 |
| Candidate | Logo | Party | 1 st Pref | Share | Quota | Count | Status | Seat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cllr Steve Cardownie | |
Scottish National Party | 2,472 | 22.67 % | 1.13 | 1 | Made Quota | 1 |
| Cllr Allan Jackson | |
Conservative & Unionist | 2,206 | 20.23 % | 1.01 | 2 | Made Quota | 2 |
| Elaine Patricia Morris | |
Liberal Democrat | 1,953 | 17.91 % | 0.90 | 7 | Made Quota | 3 |
| Cllr Elizabeth Maginnis | |
Labour | 1,616 | 14.82 % | 0.74 | 9 | Made Quota | 4 |
| Cllr Billy Fitzpatrick | |
Labour | 1,547 | 14.19 % | 0.71 | 9 | Eliminated | |
| Kate Joester | |
Scottish Green Party | 627 | 5.75 % | 0.29 | 7 | Eliminated | |
| Fred Marinello | |
Independent | 201 | 1.84 % | 0.09 | 5 | Eliminated | |
| Willie Black | |
Solidarity | 197 | 1.81 % | 0.09 | 6 | Eliminated | |
| Marilyn Sangster | |
Scottish Socialist Party | 84 | 0.77 % | 0.04 | 4 | Eliminated |
| Adjustments | Surplus of Cardownie | Surplus of Jackson | Exclusion of Sangster | Exclusion of Martinello | Exclusion of Black | Exclusion of Joester | Surplus of Morris | Exclusion of Fitzpatrick | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Count 1 | Count 2 | Count 3 | Count 4 | Count 5 | Count 6 | Count 7 | Count 8 | Count 9 |
| Cllr Steve Cardownie | |
Scottish National Party | 2,472 Elected |
- 291 2,181 |
|||||||
| Cllr Allan Jackson | |
Conservative & Unionist | 2,206 | + 0 2,206 Elected |
- 25 2,181 |
||||||
| Elaine Patricia Morris | |
Liberal Democrat | 1,953 | + 47.44 2,000.44 |
+ 7.80 2,008.23 |
+ 12.18 2,020.40 |
+ 39.42 2,059.83 |
+ 35.13 2,094.96 |
+ 341.64 2,436.61 Elected |
- 255.61 2,181 |
|
| Cllr Elizabeth Maginnis | |
Labour | 1,616 | + 24.13 1,640.13 |
+ 2.36 1,642.50 |
+ 8.34 1,650.86 |
+ 25.26 1,676.12 |
+ 17.88 1,694.00 |
+ 101.54 1,795.54 |
+ 61.18 1,856.72 |
+ 1,244.06 3,100.78 Elected |
| Cllr Billy Fitzpatrick | |
Labour | 1,547 | + 34.61 1,581.61 |
+ 0.95 1,582.56 |
+ 6.35 1,588.91 |
+ 23.77 1,612.69 |
+ 59.50 1,672.18 |
+ 83.49 1,755.67 |
+ 42.01 1,797.70 |
- 1,797.68 0 Eliminated |
| Kate Joester | |
Scottish Green Party | 627 | + 43.55 670.55 |
+ 2.43 672.98 |
+ 25.92 698.89 |
+ 45.35 744.24 |
+ 77.79 822.04 |
- 822.04 0 Eliminated |
||
| Willie Black | |
Solidarity | 197 | + 30.49 227.49 |
+ 0.22 227.70 |
+ 18.97 246.67 |
+ 23.37 270.03 |
- 270.03 0 Eliminated |
|||
| Fred Marinello | |
Independent | 201 | + 16.24 217.24 |
+ 1.46 218.71 |
+ 6.36 225.06 |
- 225.06 0 Eliminated |
||||
| Marilyn Sangster | |
Scottish Socialist Party | 84 | + 8.95 92.95 |
+ 0.08 93.03 |
- 93.03 0 Eliminated |
|||||
| Non-transferable votes | 0 | + 85.60 85.60 |
+ 9.70 95.30 |
+ 14.89 110.20 |
+ 67.89 178.09 |
+ 79.73 257.82 |
+ 295.36 553.18 |
+ 152.42 705.60 |
+ 553.62 1,259.22 |
||
The City of Edinburgh Council has paid tribute to Councillor Elizabeth Maginnis who died suddenly at the weekend.
A member of the Labour Party, Cllr Maginnis represented Edinburgh people in the north of the city as a member of the Council for 22 years. She served as education convener for Lothian Regional Council in the 1990s, a position she also held with the City of Edinburgh Council when it was created in 1996.
More recently Elizabeth had been Chairwoman of Waterfront Edinburgh, the Council's company behind the regeneration of the Granton area which was part of her constituency.
Chief Executive Tom Aitchison said: "Elizabeth was a formidable champion for the people she represented locally and her influence on education policy made an impact on a national level. She worked tirelessly for this Council over 22 years and her many achievements will leave a proud legacy for Edinburgh. For her dedication, her charm and her friendship, she will be missed."
Councilllor George Grubb, Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, said:
"Elizabeth's commitment over the years has been a credit to the people of Edinburgh. I have sat on this Council with Elizabeth for many years and her skill as a politician along with her passion for her city made her a great public servant. She fought bravely and beat illness in recent years and despite this, her dedication to the city during this difficult time was quite remarkable. Elizabeth will be missed by many people across Edinburgh - our thoughts are with her family at this sad time.
The funeral service for Councillor Maginnis will take place at 12 noon on Friday 12 September at Warriston Crematorium.
Tributes have been paid to a 54-year-old Edinburgh councillor who has died from a brain haemorrhage.
Labour councillor Elizabeth Maginnis represented the Granton area for 22 years and was also education convener for both Edinburgh and Lothian.
She died on Sunday at 0300 BST in hospital after taking ill on Thursday.
More recently Ms Maginnis had been chairwoman of Waterfront Edinburgh, the council's company behind the regeneration of Granton.
Andrew Burns, Edinburgh's Labour group leader, said: "Everyone is totally shocked by the sudden and tragic death of Elizabeth.
"First and foremost Elizabeth was a member of a large and very loving family, of whom she spoke often, and all our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.
"She was an intrinsic part of that local community and her breadth of knowledge, experience and sheer passion for the north of this city will be frankly irreplaceable."
Charm and friendship
Tom Aitchison, Edinburgh City Council chief executive, said: "Elizabeth was a formidable champion for the people she represented locally and her influence on education policy made an impact on a national level.
"She worked tirelessly for this council over 22 years and her many achievements will leave a proud legacy for Edinburgh.
"For her dedication, her charm and her friendship, she will be missed."
George Grubb, Edinburgh's lord provost, said: "Elizabeth's commitment over the years has been a credit to the people of Edinburgh.
"I have sat on this council with Elizabeth for many years and her skill as a politician along with her passion for her city made her a great public servant.
"She fought bravely and beat illness in recent years and despite this, her dedication to the city during this difficult time was quite remarkable.
"Elizabeth will be missed by many people across Edinburgh. Our thoughts are with her family at this sad time."
A VETERAN councillor died yesterday of a brain haemorrhage just months after winning a long- running battle against cancer.
Elizabeth Maginnis, a councillor in Edinburgh for more than 21 years, was admitted to the city's Western General with a suspected haemorrhage on Thursday afternoon.
The 54-year-old Labour councillor, who won election to the new Forth ward last May, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2004, but was given the all-clear in November and returned to the City Chambers after an absence of just a few months.
In 2006 she mounted a bid to become council leader.
She came second to Ewan Aitken by just four votes, and the level of support she secured played a big part in persuading her to stand for election again.
When Mr Aitken quit the post suddenly earlier this year Ms Maginnis was seen as a leading contender to replace him, but she declined to put her name forward, citing family reasons. Andrew Burns was eventually elected the new leader.
Mr Burns said: "Everyone is totally shocked by the sudden and tragic death of Elizabeth.
"First and foremost, Elizabeth was a member of a large and very loving family, of whom she spoke often, and all our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.
"Elizabeth was an elected councillor in Edinburgh for over two decades and all throughout that period she lived in, worked in, and represented North Edinburgh. She was an intrinsic part of that local community and her breadth of knowledge, experience and sheer passion for the north of this city will be frankly irreplaceable."
Ms Maginnis held the position of education leader on Lothian Regional Council in the 1990s and the same post on the new City of Edinburgh Council when it was created in 1996.
Although consigned to the backbenches after a falling-out with the party's leadership in Edinburgh in the late 1990s, in recent years she held the post of chairwoman of Waterfront Edinburgh, the council company masterminding the regeneration of Granton.
Mr Aitken said: "Elizabeth was clear in what she wanted. She was passionate about social justice and the rights of the excluded and was willing to take risks and lead where others would have shied away."
TRIBUTES were paid today to long-serving Labour councillor Elizabeth Maginnis, who died early yesterday of a brain haemorrhage.
Councillor Maginnis, 54, represented the Granton area for 22 years and served as education convener for both Lothian and Edinburgh.
She was taken ill at home on Thursday and rushed to hospital, where a brain haemorrhage was diagnosed. She died around 3am yesterday.
Friends and colleagues today praised her dedication and hard work, remembered her as a pioneer in education and a champion of the people she represented.
And they offered their sympathy to her husband Michael and their three children.
Former Lord Provost Eric Milligan said: "All of us are absolutely stunned. We knew Elizabeth had had her problems with health of late, fighting cancer, but she seemed to be over them all."
He said her involvement in politics had come about as a reaction to Margaret Thatcher. "Factory after factory was closing and unemployment levels soared. Elizabeth came to prominence at that time because she was also enthusiastically involved in so many of the campaigns which sprang up in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
"She was elected as a councillor in 1986 and immediately became vice-convener of education, very quickly moving on to become education convener - and was also education convener for Cosla.
"During all those years she was the acknowledged expert on education. She was a pioneer in the integration of youngsters with special needs into mainstream education, she launched a campaign to expand nursery education and also conducted delicate negotiations with the unions over new contracts for teachers.
"She was a great friend to have, a loyal friend and a remarkably talented Labour local government figure. In all she did and the way she did it, she blazed a trail.
"When she came into a room, the place was that bit brighter and the talk that bit livelier. The Labour group has lost not just a member, but arguably our largest personality."
Cllr Maginnis was first elected to Lothian Regional Council in 1986 and was education convener from 1990 until the region was abolished six years later. She continued as education convener on the new city council until 1999.
She stood unsuccessfully to become leader of Edinburgh's Labour group in 2006 after Donald Anderson stood down. At the time of her death she was Labour's economic development spokeswoman.
As education convener, she pioneered the "early intervention" strategy, putting extra staff into primary classrooms to help very young children in some of the poorest areas with their reading.
And she also made Edinburgh and Lothian the first to offer universal nursery education to three and four-year-olds - another policy now taken up across the country.
One of the hardest decisions she faced was to close down Ainslie Park High School, in her own ward. But she did it, despite fierce protests from parents, because she said it was the right thing to do.
In 2004, she was diagnosed with bowel cancer, but was treated at the Western General Hospital and was given the all clear last November.
She once challenged the then Leith MP Ron Brown to become a candidate for Westminster and also flirted with the idea of going to Holyrood or the European Parliament. She also found time to write a novel, The Group, based on life in a fictional Labour group in Edinburgh.
Tom Ponton, a former Tory councillor who defected to the Liberal Democrats, said: "She made an outstanding contribution and will be remembered as the people's champion.
"Controversial, tough, always fair, she was respected by all her colleagues from all parties. Edinburgh is poorer at her passing and politically her shoes will not be filled. I was proud to have known her and call her a friend,"
Labour group leader Andrew Burns, said everyone was shocked by Cllr Maginnis's sudden and tragic death.
He said: "First-and-foremost Elizabeth was a member of a large and very loving family, of whom she spoke often, and all our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.
"Elizabeth was an elected Councillor in Edinburgh for over two decades and all throughout that period she lived in, worked in, and represented North Edinburgh. She was an intrinsic part of that local community and her breadth of knowledge, experience and sheer passion for the north of this city will be irreplaceable."
TRIBUTES were paid yesterday to Edinburgh councillor Elizabeth Maginnis, who died at the weekend, aged 54.
Labour member Ms Maginnis had been councillor for the north of the city for 22 years. She died of a brain haemorrhage.
Council chief executive Tom Aitchison said: "Elizabeth was a formidable champion for the people she represented locally, and her influence on education policy also made an impact on a national level.
"For her dedication, her charm and her friendship, she will be missed."
THE funeral of veteran councillor Elizabeth Maginnis will take place on Friday.
Cllr Maginnis's funeral will be held on Friday at noon at Warriston Crematorium's Lorimer Chapel.
Tributes have continued to pour in for the 54-year-old Labour politician, who represented the Granton area for 22 years and served as education convener for both Lothian and Edinburgh. She was taken ill on Thursday and rushed to hospital, where a brain haemorrhage was diagnosed. She died around 3am on Sunday.
Labour group spokeswoman for equalities, Councillor Angela Blacklock, said: "Elizabeth was a towering influence and an inspiration to women in Edinburgh. We Labour women were so proud of Elizabeth.
"She proved that women can successfully display their multi-task talents. Elizabeth was a prominent Labour politician, a proud wife, mother and daughter, she was a professional in all she chose to undertake and a great mentor to us all."
Cardinal Keith O'Brien also paid tribute to the veteran councillor.
He said: "Over the years during which I worked with Elizabeth Maginnis as a local councillor and as a member of the Education Committees of Lothian Region and the City of Edinburgh Council, I grew in my admiration of her, as I appreciated the volume of work which she accomplished for the good, not only of one sector of the community in her constituency of Granton, but of all communities.
"The tragic and sudden death of Elizabeth will indeed be a great loss to Michael, to their three children, Stuart, Ann and David and their grandchildren, and to all their family and friends, but indeed also to very many people in this area of our country. Our thoughts and our prayers obviously go with Michael."
OUTSPOKEN former councillor Billy Fitzpatrick is in line to be Labour's candidate for the by-election caused by the death of his close friend Elizabeth Maginnis.
The Forth ward contest is set to be held in early November, and will be the first test of public support for the new Lib Dem/SNP administration.
Cllr Maginnis, who died earlier this month after a brain haemorrhage, represented north Edinburgh for 22 years, alongside Mr Fitzpatrick, who was a councillor in the area for 23 years before missing out at last year's elections.
The 55-year-old party stalwart is known for his passionate speeches.
Other names in the frame include youth worker Cammy Day, Labour's Westminster nominee for Edinburgh West.
Kate Finlay, Edinburgh Labour secretary, said: "We believe this is an opportunity for the people of Forth to send the SNP/Lib Dem administration a message - that they will not stand for cuts."
The main battle at the by-election will be between Labour and the SNP. Should the Nationalists win, the Lib Dem/SNP administration will have an overall majority for the first time.
Cllr Maginnis came fourth among first preference votes at last year's election, with Nationalist Steve Cardownie in first place, but Labour was the only party with two candidates - and won the biggest share of votes, with 29 per cent.
Mr Fitzpatrick said: "Elizabeth was a very good friend, and it's still a bit early to be talking about this. I've not made my mind up, but I will be speaking to local people."
Mr Day, who is also chairman of the Edinburgh Labour local government committee, added: "I will be considering it and will talk to party members."
Nationalist group leader, Cllr Cardownie, said the process of selecting a candidate had not yet started, but added: "There's a large SNP support in the area and we will be campaigning vigorously."
Tory group leader Iain Whyte said his party will start the process of picking a candidate this week.
November 6 or 13 are the most likely options for the by-election.
LABOUR bosses were today accused of moving too quickly to pick a candidate to replace long-serving councillor Elizabeth Maginnis, who died less than a fortnight ago.
No date has yet been set for the by-election in Forth ward. But Labour activists were meeting at lunchtime today to agree a shortlist of would-be candidates before making a final choice at a selection meeting tonight.
But one of the hopefuls, Bobbie Miller, a former secretary of the city Labour party, said: "Elizabeth's funeral was just a week ago. I'm quite shocked at the speed and I have made that known.
"People say a week's a long time in politics, but when you lose a trusted colleague sometimes you have to take a step back."
Another senior Labour figure said: "This is far too rushed. It's very insensitive."
Eight would-be candidates are in the running, including former city councillor Billy Fitzpatrick; youth worker Cammy Day, Labour's Westminster nominee for Edinburgh West; and Terry Randall, secretary of Edinburgh North & Leith Labour Party.
Kate Finlay, Edinburgh Labour secretary, defended the selection timetable, which was agreed by representatives from the city party and the two constituency parties covering the ward. She said they understood other parties were about to announce candidates and they had to move quickly.
YOUTH worker Cammy Day has been selected as Labour's candidate for the Forth ward by-election.
Mr Day, the party's Westminster nominee for Edinburgh West and also chairman of the Edinburgh Labour local government committee, was chosen by members at a meeting last night.
He will now contest the by-election caused by the sudden death of Elizabeth Maginnis earlier this month.
The Forth ward contest is set to be held in November, and will be the first test of support for the Lib Dem/SNP administration.
The other political parties have yet to name their candidates, but Conservative councillor Jason Rust congratulated Mr Day on winning the nomination.
THE city council is planning a lasting tribute to Labour councillor Elizabeth Maginnis, who died earlier this month.
Close friend and former Lord Provost Eric Milligan, city leader Jenny Dawe and Cllr Maginnis' husband Michael will help decide what form it should take.
Cllr Maginnis, who represented Granton for 22 years, died suddenly after being diagnosed with a brain haemorrhage when she should have been flying to Spain on a family holiday.
Tributes were paid at a full council meeting last week. Cllr Milligan said he had received letters from prominent world figures.
"Elizabeth was that little bit extra special," Cllr Milligan said.
"I hope there will be an opportunity to put in perspective the contribution she made. I will invite Michael in, to talk about an appropriate way to remember her."
A RESEARCH manager at Edinburgh University has been chosen as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the forthcoming Forth ward council by-election.
Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, 27, who is of Dutch origin, lives in north Edinburgh with her husband Steven.
The by-election, to be held on November 6, was caused by the sudden death of Elizabeth Maginnis earlier this month.
It will be the first test of public support for the Lib Dem/SNP administration at the City Chambers.
Ms Dijkstra-Downie said: "Nobody wanted this by-election. Elizabeth Maginnis was a hard working and respected local councillor and her recent and sudden death came as a massive shock.
"Now the people in the Forth ward must decide who they want as their newest local councillor."
The main battle is expected to be between Labour and the SNP. Labour has chosen youth worker Cammy Day as its candidate, with the other parties yet to announce names.
TWO more candidates have been selected for the forthcoming Forth ward council by-election.
The director of a local employment agency has been chosen as the Conservative candidate.
Iain McGill, 31, who lives in north Edinburgh, will be contesting the election on November 6.
And Royston/Wardieburn community councillor George Gordon will stand as the SNP candidate.
The election was forced by the sudden death of Elizabeth Maginnis earlier this month.
Mr McGill, who runs the Harmony Employment Agency, is a former overseas aid worker. He later worked at the Cowgate Day and Night Shelter and the Bethany Christian Trust in Edinburgh.
He said: "I pledge to be a strong, tireless and committed councillor for all the people of Forth ward."
Mr Gordon, who has lived in the area for the past 30 years, is also the chairman of the Clean, Green & Safe action group.
He said: "I look forward to being able to build on the work I have carried out as a local community councillor in the area."
POLITICAL experts today predicted a "close-run contest" between Labour and the SNP in Edinburgh's first council by- election under the current administration.
The major parties have now selected candidates for the Forth ward by-election on November 6, which is being held following the tragic death of Labour councillor Elizabeth Maginnis last month.
The veteran politician came fourth among first preference votes at last year's election, with Nationalist Councillor Steve Cardownie in first place, but Labour was the only party with two candidates - and won the biggest share of votes, with 29 per cent.
Recent polls have indicated massive swings from Labour to the SNP, however, and should the Nationalists win, the Lib Dem/SNP administration will have an overall majority for the first time.
Election guru Professor John Curtice, of Strathclyde University, said today: "If the SNP was only seven points behind the combined Labour vote (last year], it should be very close.
"The polls indicate the SNP position has improved (since 2007], and given what's happened, it's sure to be a close-run contest."
Labour has selected 34-year-old youth worker Cammy Day as its candidate, who narrowly beat former councillor Billy Fitzpatrick in the vote among local members. It is thought that Mr Day was the preferred choice of the party hierarchy in Edinburgh.
"I will be promoting the work that Labour did in Forth, which is being destroyed by £800,000 worth of cuts being imposed by the Lib Dems and SNP," he said. "This will shut local projects for vulnerable older and young people."
The SNP has chosen Royston/Wardieburn community councillor George Gordon, 47. Last year, he narrowly lost out in the selection process for the same ward to Cllr Cardownie by 16 votes to 15.
Mr Gordon said: "Local residents have already seen a real benefit from being represented by the SNP whether through the freeze in council tax, prescription charges being scrapped, or the announcement that we will be building new council houses in Edinburgh for the first time in almost 20 years."
Politicians from the council's ruling Lib Dem/SNP coalition have admitted it will be "strange" campaigning against each other.
Iain McGill, 31, who lives in north Edinburgh, will be contesting the election for the Conservatives, while university research manager Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, 27, will represent the Lib Dems.
Robert Richard, 36, a secondary school teacher in Fife, is standing for the Scottish Socialist Party. The Greens and Solidarity have yet to choose candidates.
DECIDING A WINNER
VOTERS in the Forth by-election will rank the candidates in order of preference.
The ward is represented by four elected councillors and the winner of the by-election will fill the one vacant position.
SNP councillor Steve Cardownie, the Conservative's Allan Jackson and the Lib Dem's Elaine Morris are the three sitting representatives.
The winner will need 50 per cent of the total vote - plus one additional vote - to be elected, but it is highly unlikely that anybody will achieve this outright.
Once first preference votes have been counted, the candidate with the lowest number of supporters will be eliminated, and their votes transferred to second preferences.
This will continue until one candidate reaches the quota and a winner is declared.
A FORMER Big Brother winner is to seek election to the City of Edinburgh Council, The Scotsman has learned.
John Loughton, 21, confirmed last night he will stand as an independent candidate in a by-election next month.
The political activist, who won Big Brother Celebrity Hijack earlier this year, was previously the chairman of the Scottish Youth Parliament.
He also joined the Constitutional Commission, chaired by Sir Kenneth Calman, which has been set up to look at whether the Holyrood should be granted more powers.
Mr Loughton, who grew up in Pilton in north Edinburgh, beat a circus performer, Emilia Arata, 18, to win the Channel 4 reality show in January.
The Forth ward by-election on 6 November is being held in the wake of the death last month of the long-standing Labour councillor Elizabeth Maginnis.
Mr Loughton said: "I've had approaches from a number of different parties in the past, but I'm not interested in being a shallow career politician."
"I am standing as an independent, community candidate for one simple reason - the people of Forth deserve better.
"My entire family and I have lived and grown up in this area. I will ensure party politics or private interests never overshadow those of ordinary people. With hard work and strong values, I believe I can offer a fresh voice."
HE could have followed the career path of other Big Brother housemates by gracing the pages of celebrity magazines and stumbling out of London nightclubs.
But John Loughton, winner of Channel 4's Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack, has decided to face the public vote once again - this time by standing for election to the city council.
The 21-year-old from Pilton will be an independent candidate in the forthcoming by-election for the Forth ward. The contest was destined to be a close race between Labour and the SNP, but Mr Loughton's intervention means that all bets are now off.
While he will face a struggle to win, he is expected to challenge the big parties and poll well among younger voters. Labour insiders today claimed Mr Loughton will give them a better chance of holding the seat, as the former Scottish Youth Parliament chairman may attract protest votes that would otherwise have gone to the SNP.
The by-election is to be held on November 6, following the death last month of veteran councillor Elizabeth Maginnis.
Mr Loughton said: "I am standing as a candidate for one simple reason - the people of Forth deserve better. The people need not just a councillor, but an advocate. I want to challenge poverty and inequality."
Mr Loughton said, if elected, he would vote on an issue-by-issue basis, but he attacked the SNP Government's new Fairer Scotland Fund, which critics say has resulted in an £800,000 cut for community services in north Edinburgh.
He also said everyone he has met is "absolutely against trams", and said one of his main aims is to encourage more people to vote.
Mr Loughton is known to have approached both Labour and the Lib Dems about standing, but has repeatedly been rejected.
A Labour source said: "He's obviously decided to go it alone, and that will harm his chances of standing for a big party at a future election. He's not going to win." A Lib Dem insider added: "It's incredibly difficult for independents in Edinburgh. Tina Woolnough stood as an independent last year - she's been on every community group in Blackhall for eight years, but still only got 11 per cent of the vote."
Labour candidate Cammy Day, said: "It's good that he's looking to stand for election."
The SNP has chosen Royston/Wardieburn community councillor George Gordon as their candidate. Group leader Steve Cardownie said: "I'm still confident we can win. We've got a strong candidate."
But Lib Dem candidate Sanne Dijkstra-Dowie said: "So far, it is the Liberal Democrats that are taking the fight to Labour."
The Conservative candidate is Iain McGill, while secondary school teacher Robert Richard is standing for the Scottish Socialist Party. The Greens and Solidarity have yet to choose candidates.
BREAKAWAY socialist party Solidarity has chosen a union steward as its candidate for next month's Forth ward council by-election.
The party, formed by one-time MSPs Tommy Sheridan and Rosemary Byrne, will be represented by Willie Black, a steward with the Unite union who works for ScottishPower.
Mr Black lives in Granton and has been active in community campaigns in the area for over 30 years.
The contest, to fill the seat left after the death last month of veteran Labour councillor Elizabeth Maginnis, will take place on Thursday November 6 , the same day as the Glenrothes Westminster by-election.
LABOUR supporters in north Edinburgh were today accused of "fighting like ferrets in a sack" as an internal row overshadowed their by-election campaign.
Long-standing activists are known to be unhappy with the speed with which candidate Cammy Day was chosen, as well as alleged interference from the party hierarchy.
It is understood some supporters have refused to campaign for Mr Day ahead of polling day in the Forth ward on November 6.
In a letter obtained by the Evening News, one unsuccessful candidate called for an "urgent inquiry", and the internal row was today seized on by the SNP.
The by-election is being held following the sudden death of Elizabeth Maginnis last month. Labour selected its candidate just one week after her funeral.
One long-serving member of the party said: "The situation was ridiculous. Elizabeth's funeral was only on the Friday, and then letters were received the following Wednesday, with the selection meeting two days later. It was insensitive.
"The Labour executive wanted to control everything, and it was their votes that got Cammy chosen - they wanted someone who was young. A lot of the local branch members couldn't get to the selection meeting at such short notice.
"I've never heard of a selection process happening so quickly. It's left a bad taste in people's mouths, and there is genuine upset among local Labour supporters."
In the letter to party "colleagues", one unsuccessful short-listed candidate wrote: "As well as being disrespectful of the feelings of the Maginnis family, the notice given to branch members of the date of the selection meeting was inadequate. One candidate clearly had access to membership records before he was informed that he had successfully made the selection meeting short-list . . . so had an unfair advantage.
"During his speech to conference, our leader (Gordon Brown] proudly proclaimed 'fairness is in our DNA'. If that is indeed the case, I hope I can now look forward to seeing swift action taken.
"Some (members] have said they will not work for the candidate in the forthcoming by-election.
"Furthermore, unless an urgent inquiry is initiated and action taken, I fear that the press and our political opponents will get wind of this."
SNP group leader Steve Cardownie said today: "We are getting used to infighting and intrigue over Labour's by-election candidates.
"While Labour keep fighting like ferrets in a sack, the SNP will be out on the doorsteps working hard for every single vote."
But a Labour Party spokesman said: "We were of the view that a quick by-election would be called, and we wanted a candidate in place. The timescale was longer than we had for the by-election in Glenrothes.
"The allegations about a candidate receiving early access to membership records are incorrect. At the point someone indicates (a willingness to stand], they can have access. The Scottish general secretary has looked into this and was satisfied there was nothing untoward. All rules and procedures were followed."
He added: "The campaign has been going really well - people have been out knocking on doors every evening and there's no major discontent."
TIMETABLE OF TROUBLE
The selection process in the Labour Forth ward:
September 12: Funeral for Elizabeth Maginnis.
September 16: Notice of vacant position. Ward members notified.
September 18, noon: Close of applications to Labour panel.
September 18, 6pm: New candidates to the panel interviewed.
September 19, 1pm: Candidates short-listed by Edinburgh West and Edinburgh North and Leith executives.
September 19, 7pm: Candidate chosen at selection meeting.
THE Green Party has chosen local campaigner Kate Joester as its candidate for next month's Forth ward council by-election.
Ms Joester is a community health worker and mother of two small children, who lives in Wardie. She is a long-standing campaigner on poverty and environment issues and has been involved in the fight against Lothian Buses' ban on prams.
The by-election will be on November 6 and follows the death of Labour councillor Elizabeth Maginnis last month.
Ms Joester said: "This is the area I live in. It's a really diverse place, with some of the most deprived parts of Edinburgh alongside some of the more comfortable. It's also an area that is seeing very rapid development, without matching improvements in transport and other services.
"I'll be campaigning for better public transport, support for local shops and businesses, and a strong, safe and sustainable Forth ward."
Labour has chosen youth worker Cammy Day as its candidate, with Royston/Wardieburn community councillor George Gordon standing for the SNP.
The Lib Dem candidate is university research manager Sanne Dijkstra-Dowie and the Tories will be represented by employment agency director Iain McGill.
A PROTEST is set to be launched in north Edinburgh after the British National Party announced it will stand in next month's council by-election.
Union leaders and politicians from all major parties were united in anger today after the news was revealed.
It will be the first time the far-right BNP has stood for election to the city council.
Scottish anti-fascist groups recently campaigned against the BNP candidate in the Baillieston council by-election in Glasgow and there were protests outside some polling stations on election day. The party came sixth, beating the Greens.
John Stevenson, Unison branch president at the city council, today said he would speak to colleagues about how to tackle the BNP in the Capital and said a similar campaign was likely to take place.
"It is a very sad day when the politics of hatred are brought into Edinburgh," he said.
"There are so many important issues we're facing and we need sensible politics, not the diversion that this will bring. The issues we're facing are financial and organisational, and are not the fault of any racial group.
"We have lots of experience campaigning (against the BNP] in north England, and having heard this, I will now raise it with colleagues."
In last year's Holyrood regional list for the Lothians, the BNP came ninth out of 23 parties, with 2637 votes, or 0.92 per cent, beating the Scottish Socialist Party in the process. But a BNP candidate has never appeared on city council ballot papers, despite a threat to stand at the 2003 elections.
In 2004, the party raised its profile in the Lothians by launching a local branch at a secret location in Bathgate. The same year, supporters also publicly campaigned against a ban on flying the Union flag inside Tynecastle.
Ahead of the Forth ward by-election on November 6, BNP Scottish secretary Gary Raikes said today: "We will be standing a candidate in this election. At this time we are going through the selection process."
The party has an estimated 58 elected councillors in local government in England, but none in Scotland.
Lib Dem council leader Jenny Dawe said: "This is something we've always avoided in Edinburgh. Officially, they are a political party, but we would hope that what they stand for doesn't find any favour - and I wouldn't expect it to."
Labour group leader Andrew Burns added: "I'm very saddened to hear they're standing in Edinburgh - it is the first time it has happened in recent memory.
"I completely and absolutely abhor their ideology and I hope everyone will ignore them."
SNP group leader Steve Cardownie said: "This is the price we pay for living in a democracy, but I'm sure the BNP will get the number of votes it deserves."
Tory Forth ward councillor Allan Jackson added: "Personally, I don't see any place for that kind of politics in Edinburgh. It's their democratic right to stand, but I'm surprised because I doubt there will be very much support."
Politicians in Edinburgh have united to condemn the British National Party, which has decided to stand for the first time in the capital. Opponents of the controversial far right organisation insist the BNP will find little support in the north of the city, where a council by-election will take place next month.
It is an area of Edinburgh with high levels of wealth sitting alongside significant depravation and redevelopment. Now the Forth council ward, which includes Muirhouse, Pilton, Granton and Trinity will see BNP activists vying for votes.
The contest which will take place on the sixth of November, has been brought about by the death of popular Labour councillor Elizabeth Maginnis, who died last month.
Unlike in England, where it has won several council seats, the BNP has had little success in Scotland. Its leader, Nick Griffin, who has a criminal record for distributing material likely to incite racial hatred, was heavily criticised for campaigning in Glasgow following the racist murder of Kriss Donald four years ago.
Griffin has also described the Holocaust as wartime propaganda, and hysteria.
The public service union Unison says it now plans to mount a campaign against the BNP.
No-one from the party itself today responded to STV's requests for an interview.
CONTROVERSIAL electronic counting machines are to be used in Edinburgh for the first time since last year's election night fiasco.
The city's returning officer, council chief executive Tom Aitchison, said he was "confident" that lessons had been learned from 2007, when the count was called off after the technology failed.
Mr Aitchison said the new voting system used at council level - where candidates are ranked in order of preference - would otherwise require a manual count the day after the Forth ward by-election.
At the same time, the council has announced a £10,000 programme to encourage more residents to vote in all forthcoming elections. One of the more unusual methods will include the use of Bluetooth technology to send messages to potential voters via their mobile phones.
Edinburgh has a relatively high rate of voter registration, at 75.9 per cent, but the figure is much lower among 18-to-24-year-olds living at home, students and the unemployed.
The council by-election on November 6 follows the death of Labour councillor Elizabeth Maginnis last month. Residents have until Wednesday October 22, to ensure they are on the electoral register for the contest.
The next scheduled UK-wide elections will be for the European Parliament in June next year, but a general election could be called at any point before May 2010.
Mr Aitchison said today: "The votes will be counted electronically. The use of the STV (voting system] makes a manual count more complicated, staff-intensive and time-consuming than previous by-elections.
"An identical e-counting process was successfully used at a recent by-election in Glasgow, where the result was delivered within two hours of the close of the poll.
"It is likely that a manual count, held the following day, would take several hours to complete, depending on the number of candidates.
"I am confident that the lessons of the elections in 2007 have been learned and that an accurate result can be delivered smoothly via an electronic count."
A council spokesman added: "Electronic systems continue to be the future of election ballot counting, with the aim of providing quicker and more accurate results."
However, the Government recently accepted the findings of expert Ron Gould, called in to examine the fiasco surrounding last year's election, who said there should be a return to a manual count for the next Holyrood vote, due to be held in 2011.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh's depute returning officer Jim Inch said moves to increase voter registration "should not be viewed as a one-off activity".
A range of measures are to be adopted to encourage participation, including leaflets and flyers, talks with local community groups, adverts on radio stations, and the use of Bluetooth and text messaging technology in clubs to reach younger voters.
VOTER QUOTA
VOTERS in the Forth by-election will rank the candidates in order of preference.
The ward is represented by four elected councillors and the winner of the by-election will fill the one vacant position.
SNP councillor Steve Cardownie, the Conservative's Allan Jackson and the Lib Dem's Elaine Morris are the three sitting representatives.
The winner will need 50 per cent of the total vote - plus one additional vote - to be elected, but this is highly unlikely to happen on first preferences alone.
Instead, once first choice votes have been counted, the candidate with the lowest number of supporters will be eliminated and their votes transferred to second preferences.
This will continue until one candidate reaches the quota and a winner is declared.
THE far-right British National Party has scrapped plans to stand in next month's Forth ward council by-election.
It would have been the first time the BNP had stood for election to Edinburgh Council, and politicians from all main parties were united in anger at the announcement when it was revealed in the Evening News. Union officials also said they would consider mounting a campaign against the party's presence in north Edinburgh.
In a statement, the party said: "We were going through a selection process to find a candidate (for Forth ward), but we decided to concentrate our efforts on the Baillieston election in Glasgow."
Scottish anti-fascist groups recently campaigned against the BNP in Baillieston in the election to fill the seat left vacant by SNP councillor John Mason, who won the Glasgow East Westminster by-election in July. However, a fellow councillor for the ward has since died, so another by-election will soon be held.
SENIOR councillors have been accused of "burying bad news" about massive funding cuts in north Edinburgh ahead of next month's by-election.
An announcement on the future of community groups reliant on the much-criticised Fairer Scotland Fund was due to be made this week. But a meeting of the funding panel was suddenly cancelled and postponed until after the November 6 by-election.
Charities and organisations will now have to wait even longer before finding out if they can survive, or how many staff they will need to make redundant.
Critics estimate north Edinburgh will lose £800,000 this year as a result of the Government's Fairer Scotland Fund, which has replaced seven previous grants.
The chairwoman of the Forth ward funding panel, Lib Dem councillor Elaine Morris, said a decision was postponed because SNP by-election candidate George Gordon, a Royston/Wardieburn community councillor, sits on the board. But political opponents said he could have been replaced.
Independent candidate and winner of Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack, John Loughton, accused Councillor Morris of delaying "bad news".
"This cancellation is entirely party-politically motivated and the best interests of the people of Forth have been blatantly ignored," he said.
Former Lord Provost Lesley Hinds said it was an "appalling way to deal with local groups", and Labour group leader Andrew Burns added: "Local organisations should not be suffering like this because of an impending by-election - it's not acceptable."
Community leaders are also known to be furious with the decision, but are afraid to speak.
One long-standing local activist said: "Organisations want to know which workers they will be shedding, or whether their service will continue."
Around 17 projects are thought to be at risk in north Edinburgh, which could include Pilton Equalities Project, the North Edinburgh Childcare Centre and the Granton Information Centre.
All organisations received funding for nine months from April during the transition process, meaning any redundancy notices to staff need to be issued shortly. However, because of the delay, groups in the Forth ward will receive cash until February.
Cllr Morris said it would be wrong to allow a by-election candidate to make funding choices.
"All local organisations have been given an opportunity (to put their case], and it has been an even playing field."
The council's north neighbourhood manager, Peter Strong, added: "I have decided that in order to avoid any accusations of possible conflict of interests it would be best to postpone the funding panel meeting until after the by-election."
NINE candidates are to fight for votes at next month's Forth ward council by-election.
The contest is being held on November 6, following the death of longstanding Labour councillor Elizabeth Maginnis last month.
The deadline for nominations has now passed, and two independent candidates are on the list Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack winner John Loughton and James G Maclean.
Youth worker Cammy Day is the Labour candidate, with Royston/Wardieburn community councillor George Gordon standing for the SNP. The Lib Dem candidate is Sanne Dijkstra-Dowie and Iain McGill will represent the Tories.
Teacher Robert Richard is standing for the SSP; Kate Joester is the Green candidate, and Willie Black is representing Solidarity.
The far-right British National Party (BNP) has scrapped plans to stand in the forthcoming Granton by-election to the city council on 6 November.
The climbdown follows strident protests from various groups, including students at the University of Edinburgh, since 13 October, when the BNP announced their plans to stand for election in Edinburgh's Forth ward.
In a statement, BNP Scotland said: "We were going through a selection process to find a candidate [for Forth ward], but we decided to concentrate our efforts on the Baillieston election in Glasgow."
The Baillieston election follows the death of an incumbent Glasgow city councillor. A previous BNP candidature there led to large protests from Scottish anti-fascist groups.
Officials from various trade unions had signalled their intent to protest against the party's decision to field a candidate.
Parties across Edinburgh's political spectrum had voiced their concern at the BNP's potential presence, which would have been the first time that a candidate from the far-right party had stood for election in the city.
Allan Jackson, a current Conservative councillor for the Granton area, told Student he was not surprised by the BNP's withdrawal.
"I don't think that they attract much attention with their policies around here but of course it is their democratic right to stand," he added.
The BNP believe in a complete halt to immigration, as well as standing for the reintroduction of capital punishment and national service.
There is a record of public events involving the BNP, such as party leader Nick Griffin speaking in a debate at the Oxford Union, being picketed, typically involving large numbers of students.
The BNP's brief foray into Edinburgh politics comes after a period of unprecedented electoral success for the party, which now has 58 councillors in England, as well as a member of the London Assembly.
LIB Dem campaigners have been accused of "lying" to voters in north Edinburgh by publishing "misleading" election figures.
Several leaflets being distributed as part of the Forth ward city council by-election campaign include a graph with the headlines "it's so close" or "it's a two-horse race here".
The statistics show Labour support at 34 per cent, with the Lib Dems just behind on 29 per cent, the Tories on 19 per cent and the SNP on ten per cent.
But the results are from the last general election in the Edinburgh North and Leith constituency, which covers a much larger area. In addition, the Forth ward also takes in part of the neighbouring Edinburgh West constituency.
The Tories today said the only fair statistics to use were last year's Forth ward election results, where on first preference votes Labour won with 29 per cent, the SNP was second with 22.7 per cent, the Conservatives were third with 20.2 per cent, and the Lib Dems came fourth on 17.9 per cent.
Tory group leader Iain Whyte said: "This is just as good as lying to the public."
Lib Dem council leader Jenny Dawe hit back and said the Tories employed similar tactics in recent elections for the Edinburgh South parliamentary constituency.
FIRST Minister Alex Salmond has launched the SNP's campaign for the Forth ward council by-election on November 6.
The main battle is expected to be between Labour's Cammy Day and the Nationalists' George Gordon for the vacant seat.
Mr Salmond said: "Forth has a great candidate in George. He is an experienced community councillor and he lives in the ward.
"I look forward to working with him when he is elected. The SNP are doing their best to relieve the hardship which is surely coming as the age of incompetence which Labour are responsible for hits ordinary people in Forth.
"We are confident that when voters see what an excellent local candidate they have they will choose George Gordon."
CITY leader Jenny Dawe has been asked to apologise after Lib Dem campaigners canvassed for the vote of Councillor Elizabeth Maginnis, who died last month.
A council by-election is being held in the Forth ward following the death of the Labour stalwart.
Former Lord Provost Lesley Hinds said Cllr Maginnis' family received a phone call from a Lib Dem activist, asking if they could count on her vote.
"The caller was totally unaware that Elizabeth was the previous councillor," Cllr Hinds said.
She asked Cllr Dawe: "Will you now give an apology to (husband] Michael Maginnis?"
The Lib Dem leader replied: "I wasn't aware of this. I will be speaking to Michael and I will certainly raise it with him."
A CANDIDATE in the Forth by-election has claimed his e-mails have been hacked after his online alias was used to attack political rivals.
Labour's Cammy Day made the claims after comments left on the Evening News website under Mr Day's username "Burghboys" criticised former Labour councillor Billy Fitzpatrick, one of his rivals for the candidacy.
In an article on September 17 about the hotly contested Labour selection process, Burghboys wrote: "About time they got some new Labour blood in there, not just bringing out the old guard!!
"Billy 'wisna me' Fitz never done any work in Pilton, now the ward is four times the size how will he cope!!"
The Burghboys username is registered to Mr Day's private e-mail address, which he uses for campaigning.
But the 34-year-old today insisted he hadn't posted the comment, and added he thought his e-mail account had been hacked by political opponents.
The November 6 by-election is widely expected to be a two-way contest between youth worker Mr Day and SNP hopeful George Gordon.
Mr Day told the News that it was not him who had posted the offending comment.
He said: "In the last two months I have had to change my password twice to my Hotmail account, so someone is obviously trying to hack into my account.
"I would suggest it is someone in the other parties who is trying to cause mischief."
Mr Day was selected as Labour's candidate after narrowly beating former councillor Mr Fitzpatrick in a vote among local party members.
However, many north Edinburgh Labour members complained the process had been rushed to favour Mr Day.
Mr Fitzpatrick said: "If he (Mr Day] has been doing that, then it's just daft and he'll need to be a bit more careful with himself if he gets into the council.
"But I'm not that bothered really. After 23 years as a councillor, I don't want to come across as the bitter old b*****d about this.
"Life is too short, so I wish the guy good luck and hope we win."
Mr Day's Tory rival for the Forth ward, Iain McGill, said: "This is not the first story of infighting and disloyalty in the local Labour party.
"It sounds like Cammy Day has been caught bang to rights and he should just take his medicine.
"He should just put his hands up to it, and it is good to hear that he agrees with the Tories that people in the Forth ward have been let down by previous Labour councillors."
Jenny MacArthur, 30/10/2008 12:04:17
What a loser! He doesn't even understand technology well enough to know that this has nothing to do with 'hacking' any email account, but simply someone spoofing his online name. We surely want people representing us who have at least a 20th century toddler's grasp of technology. This shameless publicity-seeking idiot doesn't have the brains to be serving in in a burger bar let alone representing us in public office.
He doesn't even understand technology well enough to know that this has nothing to do with 'hacking' any email account, but simply someone spoofing his online name. We surely want people representing us who have at least a 20th century toddler's grasp of technology.
Jenny MacArthur
I do wish Alex Salmond would stop using the name "Slobberchops the Aesthete" to post utterly absurd comments, such as this one.
Slobberchops the Aesthete
In the name of political balance, we would tell you about all the other candidates who have suffered mysterious tamperings too, but, er, we don't know any. C'mon candidates, let us know if you've been hacked/spoofed/telepathically contacted by alien-lizard Illuminati, etc.
Please. Your call is important to us.
LABOUR has maintained the balance of power in Edinburgh Council by retaining the Forth ward seat left vacant by the sudden death of councillor Elizabeth Maginnis.
The party's 34-year-old candidate Cammy Day held the council seat for Labour with a majority of 172 votes over the SNP's second place candidate George Gordon.
The SNP had hoped to snatch the seat away from Labour to give the ruling SNP / Lib Dem coalition a clear majority for the first time in the chamber, but it was not to be. It means that the coalition will have to continue to rely on the casting vote of Lord Provost George Grubb to break the deadlock in crucial decisions.
Mr Day, formerly a youth worker in the area, paid tribute to Ms Maginnis, who died suddenly in September, and promised to "carry on her fighting spirit" for the people of the Forth ward.
He said: "I'm shocked, elated and shaken to have won the by-election.
"I think the result shows that the people of Forth have seen that Labour is the true fighting party of Edinburgh.
"I hope to bring to the council what Elizabeth Maginnis brought to the council, which is a fight.
"The key issue for us right now is to continue to fight the ruling administration's cuts in local services."
Mr Day added that he will also fight to clean up the streets in areas like Granton and will campaign for more police on the streets of Forth.
He added: "I'm younger than Ms Maginnis and I hope to use this, alongside my experience as a youth worker, to engage young people into politics."
Like Ms Maginnis before him, Mr Day was selected at the ninth stage of the council's single transferable vote (STV) system, meaning he failed to achieve the required 50% of the vote until the final stage of selection.
Labour group leader Andrew Burns paid tribute to his candidate's "inspiring victory"
.
However, City Council leader Jenny Dawe indicated that the protracted STV selection process demonstrates that the result was not an all-out endorsement for Labour.
She said: "The fact that the result went down to the final round of selection tells its own story."
Presiding officer Tom Aitchison said the voting process went smoothly, with none of the electronic voting problems that marred the full council elections in 2007.
Voter turn out was roughly 40% down on last year's election, and this was reflected in the results with most of the parties maintaining their relative share of the diminished vote.
While the night was Labour's, the biggest cheer was reserved for former Scottish Youth Parliament chairman and Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack winner John Loughton, who won 297 votes standing as an independent.
Mr Loughton's engaging spirit went down well with all parties, and Cammy Day vowed to work with him to energise the youth vote in the ward.
Mr Loughton said: "Nearly 300 people voted for an individual and a set of beliefs rather than a party. That is what politics is all about."
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