# Leith Walk (ward)

Leith Walk is one of the seventeen wards used to elect members of the City of Edinburgh Council. Established in 2007 along with the other wards, it currently elects four councillors. Its territory spans the area between Edinburgh city centre and the port of Leith to its north-east, centred around Leith Walk, the primary thoroughfare between them.
Northern parts of the ward fall within the historic burgh of Leith, but other neighbourhoods such as Broughton, Powderhall, Hillside and Canonmills (divided between Leith Walk and Inverleith wards) were always part of Edinburgh. Bonnington and Pilrig are on the boundary between the two burghs but entirely within Leith Walk ward, which in 2019 had a population of 34,651.

## Councillors

| Election | Councillors | Councillors | Councillors | Councillors | Councillors | Councillors | Councillors |
| 2007 | | Louise A Lang (Liberal Democrats) | | Deidre Brock (SNP) | | Maggie Chapman (Greens) | Angela Blacklock (Labour) |
| 2012 | | Nick Gardner (Labour) | | Deidre Brock (SNP) | | Maggie Chapman (Greens) | Angela Blacklock (Labour) |
| 2015 | Lewis Ritchie (SNP) | Nick Gardner (Labour) | | Marion Donaldson (Labour) | | | Angela Blacklock (Labour) |
| 2017 | Lewis Ritchie (SNP) | | Susan Rae (Greens) | Marion Donaldson (Labour) | | Amy McNeese-Mechan (SNP) |
| 2019 | Lewis Ritchie (SNP) | | Susan Rae (Greens) | Rob Munn (SNP) | | Amy McNeese-Mechan (SNP) |
| 2022 | | Jack Caldwell (Liberal Democrats) | Susan Rae (Greens) | | James Dalgleish (Labour) | Amy McNeese-Mechan (SNP) |

## Election results
### 2022 election

Leith Walk - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| | Scottish Green | Susan Rae (incumbent) | 25.9 | 2,847 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Amy McNeese-Mechan (incumbent) | 20.4 | 2,248 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Labour | James Dalgleish | 18.7 | 2,058 | 2,184 | 2,186 | 2,186 | 2,196 | 2,224 | | | | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jack Caldwell | 12.0 | 1,317 | 1,400 | 1,402 | 1,413 | 1,433 | 1,446 | 1,456 | 1,469 | 1,506 | 1,563 | 1,995 | 2,513 |
| | SNP | Rob Munn (incumbent) | 10.3 | 1,132 | 1,405 | 1,447 | 1,449 | 1,459 | 1,485 | 1,488 | 1,534 | 1,580 | 1,633 | 1,648 | |
| | Conservative | Bonus Fombo | 6.9 | 763 | 766 | 766 | 770 | 796 | 797 | 799 | 811 | 819 | 833 | | |
| | Alba | Joe Smith | 1.2 | 135 | 138 | 138 | 144 | 148 | 155 | 155 | | | | | |
| | Communist | Richard Charles Shillcock | 1.1 | 119 | 141 | 141 | 145 | 147 | | | | | | | |
| | Socialist Labour | David Don Jacobson | 1.0 | 113 | 139 | 139 | 141 | 148 | 184 | 187 | 206 | 242 | | | |
| | Scottish Family | Niel Deepnarain | 1.0 | 106 | 108 | 108 | 119 | | | | | | | | |
| | Women's Equality | David Renton | 0.9 | 98 | 147 | 147 | 154 | 167 | 180 | 181 | 202 | | | | |
| | Freedom Alliance (UK) | Jon Pullman | 0.5 | 60 | 62 | 62 | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 26,683 Valid: 10,996 Spoilt: 134 Quota: 2,200 Turnout: 41.7% ||||||||||||||||
Source:

### 2019 by-election

On 28 January 2019, Labour councillor Marion Donaldson announced she was resigning from the council citing reports of internal party tensions. A by-election was held on 11 April 2019 and was won by Robb Munn of the SNP.
Leith Walk By-election (11 April 2019) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| | SNP | Rob Munn | 35.7 | 2,596 | 2,598 | 2,598 | 2,598 | 2,612 | 2,616 | 2,630 | 2,721 | 2,763 | 3,021 | 4,487 |
| | Scottish Green | Lorna Slater | 25.5 | 1,855 | 1,856 | 1,856 | 1,856 | 1,865 | 1,869 | 1,904 | 2,093 | 2,223 | 2,765 | |
| | Labour | Nick Gardner | 15.5 | 1,123 | 1,124 | 1,124 | 1,126 | 1,136 | 1,140 | 1,157 | 1,320 | 1,497 | | |
| | Conservative | Dan McCroskrie | 10.7 | 777 | 777 | 779 | 781 | 784 | 811 | 825 | 912 | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jack Caldwell | 8.6 | 623 | 624 | 624 | 626 | 628 | 633 | 652 | | | | |
| | Independent | Kevin Illingworth | 1.5 | 110 | 112 | 112 | 122 | 126 | 143 | | | | | |
| | UKIP | Steven Alexander | 1.2 | 85 | 88 | 97 | 97 | 98 | | | | | | |
| | Socialist Labour | David Jacobsen | 0.8 | 56 | 56 | 56 | 56 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | John Scott | 0.2 | 16 | 16 | 17 | | | | | | | | |
| | For Britain | Paul Stirling | 0.2 | 14 | 14 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Scottish Libertarian | Tom Laird | 0.2 | 12 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 24,197 Valid: 7,267 Spoilt: 67 Quota: 3,634 Turnout: 30.3% |||||||||||||||

### 2017 election

2017 City of Edinburgh Council election
Leith Walk - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | Scottish Green | Susan Rae | 19.69% | 2,097 | 2,105 | 2,125 | 2,246 | | | | | |
| | SNP | Lewis Ritchie (incumbent) | 17.84% | 1,900 | 1,901 | 1,903 | 1,923 | 1,949.4 | 2,052.2 | 2,090.4 | 2,125.9 | 2,209.4 |
| | SNP | Amy McNeese-Mechan | 16.62% | 1,770 | 1,772 | 1,777 | 1,788 | 1,817.5 | 1,870.9 | 1,912.9 | 1,971.4 | 2,107.7 |
| | Labour | Marion Donaldson (incumbent) | 15.04% | 1,602 | 1,605 | 1,617 | 1,692 | 1,715.9 | 1,821.6 | 2,529.8 | | |
| | Conservative | Cristina Marga | 14.42% | 1,536 | 1,541 | 1,544 | 1,600 | 1,602.6 | 1,683.2 | 1,719.3 | 1,784.5 | |
| | Labour | Nick Gardner (incumbent) | 7.45% | 793 | 795 | 803 | 839 | 849.3 | 912.7 | | | |
| | Independent | Harald Tobermann | 4.06% | 432 | 459 | 463 | 511 | 522.6 | | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Vita Zaporozcenko | 3.74% | 398 | 400 | 403 | | | | | | |
| | Socialist Labour | David Don Jacobsen | 0.62% | 66 | 67 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Alan Gordon Melville | 0.52% | 55 | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 24,160 Valid: 10,649 Spoilt: 167 Quota: 2,130 Turnout: 10,816 (44.8%) |||||||||||||
On 20 February 2018, SNP Cllr. Lewis Ritchie resigned from the party and became an Independent, following complaints about his behaviour arising out of allegedly punching someone in a taxi.

### 2015 by-election

SNP councillor Deidre Brock was elected as an MP for Edinburgh North and Leith (UK Parliament constituency) on 7 May 2015 and resigned her Council seat on 24 June 2015. Green Councillor Maggie Chapman resigned her seat on 30 June 2015 to focus her efforts on winning a Scottish Parliament seat in North East Scotland. A by-election for both seats was held on 10 September 2015, Lewis Ritchie defending the SNP seat and Labour's Marion Donaldson taking the other.
Leith Walk By-election (10 September 2015)- 2 Seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| | SNP | John Ritchie | 36.2% | 2,290 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Marion Donaldson | 25.7% | 1,623 | 1,650.1 | 1,653.1 | 1,659.6 | 1,661.7 | 1,680.4 | 1,697.6 | 1,798.2 | 1,990.2 | 2,717.3 |
| | Scottish Green | Susan Rae | 21.8% | 1,381 | 1,464.6 | 1,469.8 | 1,483.4 | 1,495.3 | 1,502.7 | 1,576.1 | 1,653.3 | 1,729.9 | |
| | Conservative | Gordon Murdie | 7.9% | 501 | 503.8 | 505.8 | 506.9 | 507 | 540.2 | 541.2 | 574.6 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mo Hussain | 4% | 255 | 261.6 | 263 | 265.3 | 265.3 | 267.4 | 271.6 | | | |
| | UKIP | Alan Melville | 1.6% | 102 | 105.6 | 105.6 | 106.8 | 106.8 | | | | | |
| | Scottish Socialist | Natalie Reid | 1.5% | 97 | 107.7 | 107.7 | 108.2 | 122 | 125.2 | | | | |
| | Left Unity | Bruce Whitehead | 0.5% | 32 | 33.6 | 33.7 | 33.9 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | John Scott | 0.4% | 26 | 29 | 30 | | | | | | | |
| | Scottish Libertarian | Tom Laird | 0.3% | 17 | 17.9 | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 25,521 Valid: 6,324 Spoilt: 83 Quota: 2,109 Turnout: 6,407 (25.1%) ||||||||||||||

### 2012 election

2012 City of Edinburgh Council election
Leith Walk - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| | SNP | Deidre Brock (incumbent)††† | 22.1 | 1735 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Angela Blacklock (incumbent) | 21.3 | 1674 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Scottish Green | Maggie Chapman †††† (incumbent) | 20.3 | 1593 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Nick Gardner | 11.9 | 937 | 947 | 1029 | 1035 | 1050 | 1065 | 1089 | 1115 | 1225 | 1350 | 1519 |
| | Conservative | Miles Briggs | 8.1 | 637 | 640 | 644 | 645 | 651 | 653 | 656 | 675 | 784 | 816 | |
| | SNP | Seumas Ross Skinner | 6.4 | 502 | 630 | 632 | 635 | 639 | 649 | 674 | 708 | 741 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jamie Paterson | 5.1 | 400 | 403 | 406 | 410 | 424 | 429 | 434 | 445 | | | |
| | TUSC | John McArdle | 1.4 | 109 | 110 | 111 | 113 | 119 | 128 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Alex Wilson | 1.4 | 109 | 110 | 110 | 111 | 112 | 153 | 181 | | | | |
| | Independent | Jimmy McIntosh | 1.2 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 93 | 97 | | | | | | |
| | Liberal | John Hein | 0.9 | 69 | 71 | 72 | 72 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 22,147 Valid: 7,856 Spoilt: 156 Quota: 1572 Turnout: 35.47% |||||||||||||||

### 2007 election

2007 City of Edinburgh Council election
2007 Council election: Leith Walk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| | SNP | Deidre Brock | 22.3 | 2,550 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Louise A Lang | 19.0 | 2,170 | 2,217.17 | 2,217.29 | 2,240.22 | 2,291.06 | | | | | |
| | Labour | Angela Blacklock | 16.9 | 1,937 | 1,965.54 | 1,966.54 | 1,975.35 | 1,997.40 | 2,003.09 | 2,041.43 | 2,173.28 | 2,215.25 | 3,161.41 |
| | Scottish Green | Maggie Chapman | 15.3 | 1,754 | 1,824.81 | 1,829.81 | 1,911.26 | 1,953.36 | 1,967.18 | 2,103.10 | 2,424.74 | | |
| | Labour | Trevor Davies | 10.0 | 1,144 | 1,156.81 | 1,156.81 | 1,165.28 | 1,180.09 | 1,183.88 | 1,196.35 | 1,312.35 | 1,333.29 | |
| | Conservative | Iain McGill | 9.7 | 1,114 | 1,129.49 | 1,133.61 | 1,133.96 | 1,149.24 | 1,154.49 | 1,162.67 | | | |
| | Solidarity | Adrian Cannon | 1.8 | 203 | 228.16 | 230.27 | 273.069 | 283.23 | 284.33 | | | | |
| | Liberal | John Hein | 1.7 | 193 | 207.33 | 207.44 | 211.02 | | | | | | |
| | Scottish Socialist | Linda Somerville | 1.6 | 182 | 192.95 | 193.06 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Peter Clifford | 0.1 | 16 | 16.58 | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 21,485 Valid: 11,263 Spoilt: 188 Quota: 2,253 Turnout: 53.3% ||||||||||||||