Edinburgh North and Leith

[stb12]

Edinburgh North and Leith

[yellowfox]

Deidre Brock, who has held this seat for the SNP since 2015, defends a 12,983 (22%) vote notional majority over Labour. Brock, who grew up in Perth (Australia, not Scotland) is currently the SNP's shadow leader of the commons, previously serving as her party's environment spokesperson during the leaderships of Angus Robertson and Ian Blackford.

Her hefty majority may not be as safe as it first appears, even compared to other central belt seats with a similar margin. Labour are in 2nd place here, and whilst the 3rd placed tories and 4th placed lib dems are no hopers in terms of winning this seat, they both garnered over 10% of the vote here five years ago, potentially giving labour a decent boost if successfully squeezed.

The labour candidate is Tracy Gilbert, who has worked in local government and trade unions. She promotes herself as a member of the labour movement for europe, which can't hurt in a seat estimated to be 78% remain (7th most pro-remain in the UK, 2nd most in Scotland).

[iain]

www.edinburgh.gov.uk/elections-voting/ways-vote/6

10 candidates: Lab, Con, LD, SNP, Reform, Green, Socialist Labour, Communist, Family, Ind

[Tony Otim]

The candidates:

Mike Anderson (Lib Dem) - an attorney who grew up in South Africa
Deirde Brock (SNP) - the incumbent MP
Neil Deepnarain (Family) - stood in Leith Walk ward in 2022
Tracey Gilbert (Labour) - a regional secretary for trade union USDAW
David Jacobsen (Socialist Labour) - frequent candidate in Leith Walk ward (2022, 2019by, 2017) and contested this seat back in 2010.
Alan Melville (Reform UK) - Contested Leith Walk ward in 2017 as an independent and this seat in 2015 for UKIP.
Jo Mowat (Conservative) - Longstanding sitting Cllr for City Centre ward.
Kayleigh O'Neill (Green) - sitting cllr for Forth ward.
Richard Shillcock (Communist)
Caroline Waterloo (Independent)

I know very little of the last 2.

Again will be between Brock and Gilbert and the national trend probably does for Brock, although might be quite close.

Conservatives and Lib Dems scrap for 3rd probably. Chance Greens save the deposit, but I doubt Reform do here. Everyone else fighting for scraps.

[ntyuk1707]

Calling this for Labour.

[irish observer]

I read on Wikipedia that Deirdre once appeared in an episode on Home & Away. Was extremely popular over here in Ireland. I don't ever remember seeing her in it but she may have a resemble to Pippa who used run the Caravan Park. Are they the same person? Have they been seen in the same room together?

Some years ago in an utterly crazy economic decision RTE decided to buy the rights to Home & Away while Channel 5 won the UK & European rights. This resulted in less money being spent on RTE Sport. I kid you not! It demonstrates how addicted some Irish people are to the goings on in the fictional suburbs of Yabby Creek and Summer Bay and Alf Stewart who has Irish roots!

Just a digression from the election.

I think Labour will squeeze Tory vote here and Green vote will hurt Brock and cost her the SNP seat.