LABOUR look set to run East Lothian Council for another five years after finishing as the largest party in the local elections, as the Greens picked up their first-ever seat in the county.
After counting concluded at Meadowmill this afternoon, Labour was left with nine councillors, the same number as they had achieved in 2017, with every one of their candidates successfully elected.
After finishing third in 2017, the SNP bounced back to become the second largest party with seven councillors, one better than five years ago, as an early loss of a seat in Musselburgh was countered by gains in the Tranent, Wallyford and Macmerry ward and the North Berwick Coastal ward.
The councillors (pictured above) elected to serve NB Coastal ward: Labour's Carol McFarlane; the Conservatives' Jeremy Findlay; and Liz Allan of the SNP
The Conservatives were the day’s big losers in East Lothian. In 2017, all seven of their candidates were elected but this time out they lost seats in Musselburgh, Tranent, Wallyford and Macmerry, and North Berwick Coastal, dropping to four councillors.
And in one of the stories of the day, the Greens enjoyed a historic result in Musselburgh, where their candidate Shona McIntosh was elected to the local authority, the first time the party has ever had a member of East Lothian Council.
READ MORE: Labour candidate has party support withdrawn
They came close to further success in both North Berwick Coastal and Dunbar and East Linton, as well as seeing their vote surge in all the other wards too on a great day for the party.
The Liberal Democrats, however, were unable to win any seats on the council, and none of the smaller parties came close either.
Also taking a seat on the council was Ruaridh Bennett, who had stood for Labour but was elected as an independent after having the party’s support withdrawn, just days before the election, due to alleged inappropriate historic social media posts.
It was also a good day for female candidates, as a record 10 women were elected to the council, making up almost half of the 22-strong chamber.
The full results for Musselburgh; Preston Seton Gosford; Tranent, Wallyford and Macmerry; North Berwick Coastal; Haddington and Lammermuir; and Dunbar and East Linton can be seen via these highlighted links.
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