New East Lothian Council leader aiming to build on the work of the late Willie Innes

The Labour politician was confirmed as the successor to his long-time colleague, who passed away on October 24 after a long illness, at a council meeting on Tuesday morning.

Mr Hampshire, of Dunbar, told the Courier that it was, of course, not the way he wanted to take on the role but he was looking forward to leading the local authority ahead of elections next year.

He said: “Willie Innes was a well-respected council leader, not just here but across Scotland.

“People recognised the achievements that the council had made and he played a big part in many of the achievements we delivered.

“I have got to try to follow that.

“He was a really strong, principled man and he never really wanted any credit for anything.

“He just wanted to get things done and I have got to just see if I can continue the work that he did and operate the same way.

“If I do that, East Lothian will be a good place.”

The dad-of-three has been a member of the local authority in East Lothian for 30 years.

He was first elected in 1988 but lost his seat to former Dunbar Community Council chairman Stephen Bunyan four years later.

Mr Hampshire was re-elected in 1995 and has been a firm fixture on East Lothian Council ever since.

The new council leader said: “I have become council leader and my colleague Willie Innes came on the council at the same time as myself. It is so sad what has happened and I wish it had not come this way.”

Mr Hampshire will be assisted by Haddington and Lammermuir ward member Councillor Shamin Akhtar (Lab), who has taken on the role of depute leader he previously held.

Mr Hampshire, 62, said one of the main focuses over the coming months would be looking at the budget for the next financial year, with the coronavirus pandemic proving an added hindrance.

He said: “In the time I have been on the council, I know what we can actually achieve. East Lothian is a really well-run council – we punch well above our weight.

“Councils across Scotland see us as a well-run council in what we deliver and financially we manage difficult budgets and keep it in balance.

“That is the hard crux of a good-run authority – protect your services and staff and make sure the budget is balanced at the end of the financial year.

“It is a challenge and getting tougher and tougher every year because of growth and demand for council services. Where we are now, we have got the budget to set for the next again council that will come in and they have to deliver on.”

Councillor Lachlan Bruce (Conservative), leader of the opposition on East Lothian Council, said: “I would to offer Norman my personal congratulations on his selection to be leader of East Lothian Council. Obviously no one wishes for there to be a vacancy in that post.

“I know Norman to be a man of great integrity even when I don’t agree with him and look forward to working with him where we do agree in his new post.”

While Councillor Stuart Currie, leader of the SNP Group on East Lothian Council, said at Tuesday’s meeting: “It goes without saying that this is a report that no one wanted to have before the council and it is not an appointment that anyone would have wanted to be nominated for or to accept in the circumstances.

“But I know that Councillor Hampshire has borne the burden of leadership for some time and we will do what we can to support him for the remainder of the council term.

“It is with a heavy heart that we make these nominations and with a heavy heart we accept them but I want to add my congratulations to Councillor Hampshire in what will be difficult circumstances for himself and for his group.”

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that a by-election will be held in the new year to fill the vacant fourth councillor position for the Preston Seton Gosford ward previously held by Mr Innes.

The new councillor will join Lachlan Bruce (Conservative), Neil Gilbert (SNP) and Fiona O’Donnell (Labour) ahead of the full council elections in May.