Politics of Edinburgh

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Edinburgh’s politics involve decisions by the City of Edinburgh Council and votes for the council, the Scottish Parliament and the UK Parliament. As Scotland’s capital, it also hosts the Scottish Parliament and the main offices of the Scottish Government.

Local government: Since 1996 Edinburgh has been a single, unitary council area. The City of Edinburgh Council runs local services such as housing, planning, transport, parks and economic development. The city is divided into 17 wards, electing 63 councillors every four to five years.

Lord Provost: The Lord Provost is Edinburgh’s ceremonial head, similar to a mayor. Since 2022 the role has been held by Robert Aldridge, who has served on the Council since 1984. He welcomed Charles III as monarch at the Ceremony of the Keys, the first such welcome since 1952.

Elections and control: Council elections occur every four to five years; the last were in May 2022 and the next are due in May 2027. After 2022, Labour leads a minority administration with Cammy Day as council leader, replacing the previous Labour/SNP coalition.

UK Parliament: For the UK Parliament in Westminster, Edinburgh is covered by five constituencies, each electing one MP by first past the post. All five are within the city.

Scottish Parliament: For Scotland’s Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh is divided into six of the nine Lothian region constituencies, each electing one MSP by first past the post. The Lothian region also elects additional members to provide proportional representation.

Referendums: In the 2014 independence referendum, Edinburgh voted No by 61.1% to 38.9% with turnout of 84.4%. In the 2016 EU referendum, Edinburgh voted to remain in the EU, with a strong remain vote.

History in brief: Local government in Edinburgh has changed over time. It was run by the Edinburgh Corporation until 1975, then became part of a two-tier Lothian system until 1996, when the City of Edinburgh Council became a single-tier authority under the 1994 Act.

Summary: Edinburgh’s politics mix strong local governance with representation at the Scottish and UK levels. The city’s voting in major referendums shows a preference for staying in the UK and remaining in the EU, and council elections decide who runs local services.