Conservatives hope to break back into council on back of single transferable vote
THE extent of the embedded power of Labour in Midlothian is reflected by the lack of even a single Tory councillor.
The only SNP council member, Owen Thompson for Loanhead, was voted in after the death of Independent Bill Hogan in 2005. The Lib Dems increased their number to three in 2005 when Raymond Prior won the 2005 by-election following the death of Labour's Bill Russell.
A power-share democracy induced by the new voting system could completely change the face of the Labour stronghold.
Provost Sam Campbell (Lab), Jim Dunsmuir (Lab), David Fletcher (LibDem), and Graeme Marr (Lab) are all expected to retire, while Keith Mcintosh (Lab) and Danny Molloy (Lab) may stand down.
Major employers include the council and the Roslin and Moredun research institutes, along with Ikea.
