1969 Edinburgh Corporation election explained

Election Name:1969 Edinburgh Corporation election
Country:Scotland
Flag Image:Flag of Edinburgh.svg
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1968 Edinburgh Corporation election
Previous Year:1968
Next Election:1970 Edinburgh Corporation election
Next Year:1970
Seats For Election:22 of the 69 seats to the Edinburgh Corporation
Majority Seats:35
Party1:Progressives (Scotland)
Last Election1:34
Seats Before1:31
Seats1:10
Seats After1:29
Seat Change1:2
Popular Vote1:29,625
Percentage1:25.9%
Party2:Scottish Labour Party
Last Election2:21
Seats Before2:22
Seats2:6
Seats After2:17
Seat Change2:5
Popular Vote2:22,548
Percentage2:19.7%
Party3:Scottish National Party
Last Election3:8
Seats Before3:9
Seats3:1
Seats After3:10
Seat Change3:1
Popular Vote3:31,967
Percentage3:27.9%
Party4:Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Last Election4:3
Seats Before4:3
Seats4:1
Seats After4:7
Seat Change4:4
Popular Vote4:17,086
Percentage4:14.9%
Party5:Scottish Liberal Party
Last Election5:1
Seats Before5:1
Seats5:1
Seats After5:2
Seat Change5:1
Popular Vote5:9,418
Percentage5:8.2%
Party6:Independent (politician)
Last Election6:1
Seats Before6:2
Seats6:1
Seats After6:2
Popular Vote6:3,124
Percentage6:2.7%
Council control
Posttitle:Council control after election
Before Party:No overall control
After Party:No overall control

An Election to the Edinburgh Corporation was held on 6 May 1969, alongside municipal elections across Scotland. Of the councils 69 seats, 23 were up for election.

Following the election, with two by-elections pending, Edinburgh Corporation was composed of 29 Progressives, 17 Labour councillors, 10 SNP councillors, 7 Conservatives, 2 Liberals, and 2 independents. The Conservatives in particular did well, gaining 4 councillors. Two of these gains were at the expense of Labour, in mainly working class wards. The SNP, in contrast, who had done so well at the previous election, only gained Sighthill.

Following the election, the Progressives and Conservative coalition retained control of the council with a majority of 2. There was some friction between the two sides however, with the Conservatives unseating Mr Robert McLaughlin, the former leader of the Progressive group and the deputy chairman of the council for 7 years, in the St. Andrews ward. The Conservatives also gained Colinton, the seat of the retiring Lord Provost Brechin. The seat was not contested by the Progressives. Most Progressive losses, with the exception of St. Andrews ward, were caused by incumbent Progressives stepping down and being replaced with new Conservative councillors. In Merchiston however the Conservative candidate was defeated, with the Liberals instead gaining the seat, meaning that the Liberals controlled 2 out of the 3 Merchiston ward seats.

Turnout was 114,582.