SCOTTISH Labour have lost a by-election in Edinburgh to the LibDems, weakening their minority administration.
The Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart by-election took place on Thursday, and saw LibDem candidate Kevin McKay elected as the new councillor, narrowly beating Labour and the Scottish Greens.
The LibDems now have 14 councillors in Edinburgh, while the Labour minority administration has 11. However, this is still behind the SNP, who have 17 councillors.
The by-election was called following the death of Labour councillor Val Walker in April.
In the last council election in 2022, the LibDems only won 7.1% of the vote in the ward, the local democracy service reported.
McKay was elected as the new councillor after 13 rounds, and came second in first preference votes.
The count is underway at Waverley Court for the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart by-election! 🗳️ pic.twitter.com/SVezsCWCH1
— The City of Edinburgh Council (@Edinburgh_CC) June 26, 2025
The final turnout was 33.1%, or 6264 out of 18,495 voters.
The first preference votes were as follows:
- Bonnie Prince Bob (Independent): 36
- Derrick Emms (Independent): 9
- Lukasz Furmaniak (Scottish Libertarian Party): 25
- Mark Hooley (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): 857
- Richard Crewe Lucas (Scottish Family Party): 857
- Q Manivannan (Scottish Green Party): 1133
- Kevin Joseph McKay (Scottish Liberal Democrats): 1269
- Catriona Munro (Scottish Labour Party): 1293
- Gary Neill (Reform UK): 489
- Mark Rowbotham (Independent): 25
- Murray Visentin (SNP): 905
Commenting, Paul Lawrence, returning officer for Edinburgh, said: “Thanks to everyone who took part in this by-election. I would like to welcome Kevin as a new councillor, and I look forward to working with him.
"Kevin will now have a key role in representing his constituents on matters affecting the ward and the wider city.
“My thanks also go to our elections team and other council colleagues who have been working hard to deliver this by-election smoothly and securely.”
Scottish LibDem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “I am delighted for Kevin, he will be a true local champion for people in Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart.
“This is a seat where all the major parties will have fancied their chances but in the end Reform underperformed, the SNP slumped and the Conservatives collapsed.
“Meanwhile Scottish Liberal Democrats delivered a campaign focused on the issues that mattered most to local people and that has delivered us a fantastic victory from fifth place."
