2022 East Lothian Council election: Musselburgh ward candidates

Four of them will be elected.

Musselburgh currently has 2 SNP councillors, 1 Conservative councillor and 1 Labour councillor.

Candidates are listed below in alphabetical order.

Ruaridh Bennett (Labour)

I AM A 24-YEAR-OLD student, I live in the Fisherrow area of Musselburgh and work at a local supermarket. I have lived in East Lothian my entire life and feel that the opportunity to be able to work for the local community and be at the heart of the discussion on issues that matter to the people of Musselburgh is what inspired me to run in this election. The opportunity to represent the people of Musselburgh is one I would be very grateful for. Important matters such as the flood protection scheme, anti-social behaviour and the ongoing issues at Riverside Medical Practice are just some of the local issues in which I believe through my role as councillor I can help address. As a young adult in politics, I believe the involvement of young people in their local community is crucial and something I would also seek to enhance if elected.

Susan Butts (Liberal Democrats)

I SPENT 16 years between 1986 and 2002 working for the libraries service in East Lothian and, although I moved away to work elsewhere, I chose to return to East Lothian when I retired. I have been back living in Musselburgh since July 2021. During my career, I focused particularly on supporting adults with literacy and numeracy issues. This, along with offering computer classes, was important in allowing everybody to access and assess information for themselves. Since moving to Musselburgh, I have tried to get involved in local life. As well as joining, and making regular use of, the local library and sports centre, I have become a walks leader for Paths for All, helping to lead short walks for those wishing to start getting out and about again – particularly post-Covid. I have also taken an interest in Musselburgh Conservation Society and the latest proposals for the Flood Prevention Scheme.

Stephen Carter (Scottish Family Party)

I HAVE been a Musselburgh resident for the last 23 years. I am a retired broadcast engineering manager. I have three children and four grandchildren. As such, I believe creating a good, safe environment for families is central to maintaining a stable society. I am concerned that over the last 15 years, the government has eroded the role of parents in the upbringing of their children and I would encourage the local council would stand with parents in restoring this right. I am also concerned that the increase in local housing stock has not been matched by additional provision of adequate medical facilities and transport infrastructure. The Scottish Family Party stands for the rights of the unborn, opposes assisted suicide, supports parents to educate and bring up their families according to their beliefs, and upholds free speech. If you think the same way, vote for us on May 5.

Cher Cassini (SNP)

I WAS born in Glasgow but we came to Musselburgh regularly to see family. I instantly fell in love with everything this town had to offer, especially the people. But there’s a growing number of people struggling to get by. Far too often, the person gets lost behind the policy. We see that at Westminster every single day. Before retirement, I was a workplace union rep, specialising in equality and diversity. I trained in mental health first aid and worked with the Samaritans and in citizen advocacy. I’ve always had a passion for social justice and it’s important to me that people are always at the heart of decision-making. Services are struggling with a rising population. Covid has decimated our mental health; and we’re seeing the worst Westminster austerity in decades. This isn’t about politics, it’s about people and we have to make ourselves heard.

Andy Forrest (Labour)

I AM AGED 65, married with two children and two grandchildren. I have been representing my community in Musselburgh on the council for the last 19 years. I have also been active in my community for the last 30 years, taking part in everything from fun days to tenants' and residents' groups, community councils, parent councils, area partnerships and local crime panels. For me, being a councillor is not only about attending meetings at the council or in the community, it’s also about being out and about and ensuring that things are being attended to and that you are looking after your community. This is a good way to meet local people and to ask what they think. When I was re-elected in 2017, I was honoured to be appointed Depute Provost. As well as my council work, I am on the boards of First Step, MECA and Capital Credit Union.

Michelle Graham (ALBA)

I AM STANDING for ALBA because ALBA undertakes to protect and preserve women’s rights. ALBA believes women have the right to maintain their sex-based protections, as set out in the Equality Act 2010. These include female-only spaces such as changing rooms, hospital wards, sanitary and sleeping accommodation, refuges, hostels, and prisons. ALBA acknowledges and promotes all the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, which are age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, and sex. ALBA acknowledges that no single protected characteristic is more virtuous or more worthy of recognition and safeguarding than another. They are all fundamentally important, each on their own, and as a collective. ALBA stands for Scotland.

Katie Mackie (Conservative)

I HAVE been re-selected as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate for Musselburgh. I was first elected as a councillor for Musselburgh in 2017. Over the last five years, I have worked hard to be a bridge between residents and East Lothian Council. I moved to Musselburgh in 2004 and work as the head of office for Scottish Conservative South of Scotland MSP Craig Hoy. I have been involved in East Lothian politics for several years. I enjoy Musselburgh’s location – close to the beach, city and countryside – and very much hope I can continue to represent the Honest Toun.

Shona McIntosh (Greens)

I LIVE in Musselburgh and have two small children. I have worked for 10 years on reducing educational inequality and currently provide educational support to people with care experience. I am standing for council because I believe we need to tackle the climate emergency in order to give our young people a liveable future. Local government can lead the way with this by enabling us to live sustainably and healthily within our local communities. I am passionate about protecting and restoring nature and would pursue nature-based solutions to flood risk. I would also work hard to deliver projects to clean up our waterways and restore seagrass and shellfish beds to store carbon. This approach could bring massive gains in community engagement, wellbeing and eco-tourism. The next five years will be transformational for Musselburgh, and for the planet. Vote Green 1 to make sure that change is a positive one.

Iain Whyte (SNP)

I’VE spent 28 years in East Lothian, growing up in Whitecraig. In that time, our county has changed massively but we haven’t changed enough. We still have significant pockets of deprivation and decades of underinvestment have left us short of our undoubted potential. In 10 years working at Holyrood and Westminster, I saw the impact of that. Every day we’d hear from constituents who had fallen through the cracks. Families left with so little to live on that they were faced with eviction. People who could no longer afford the travel to college or to work, forced to give up good opportunities that would have supported their career aspirations. Often we were able to help but, for me, it’s not enough to firefight when things get out of control. We need a serious shift in leadership and policy to ensure services are accessible, opportunities are diverse, and no one gets left behind.