The Liberal Democrats have swept to victory in the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart by-election, further weakening Labour’s position running the council.

Newly elected councillor Kevin Joseph McKay said he would strive to “Make Edinburgh great again”, and would look to focus on roads, pavements and active travel at the city chambers.

And following the result, which came after a close race with the Labour and Green candidates, the council’s Lib Dem leader said an attempt at taking control of the council is not out of the question.

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Their victory gives the party 14 councillors – more than the 11 of the Labour minority administration but still behind the SNP who have 17 councillors.

Asked by reporters, group leader Ed Thornley said: “We had a conversation after the [last by-election]. We will do the same this time.”

The result marks a resounding boost for the Liberal Democrats in the ward, with the party only capturing 7.1% of the vote in the 2022 council election, and not winning a seat.

Following the result Mr McKay said: “I am feeling happy. And I want to get started.

“I’ve been a long time in the community council, and I’ve been frustrated by some things that happened in the community council.”

The by-election was called after the sudden death of Labour councillor Val Walker in April.

Party sources across the council almost unanimously said the result would be hard to predict between the five parties currently in the chambers.

Cllr McKay, now a pensioner, was formerly a scientist working in water treatment, and has lived in Edinburgh for the past 11 years.

Born in Dunfermline, he says he moved around during his youth, and spent time in New Zealand during his professional life.

He called Val Walker a friend, and said they knew each other through their time in the community council.

Cllr McKay was elected after 13 rounds, with Labour candidate Catriona Munro being the last competitor to be eliminated.

He was second in the first preference votes, standing 24 behind Ms Munro and 136 ahead of the Greens’ Q Manivannan.

Shortly before the win was announced, Liberal Democrat councillors and supporters started screaming and hugging each other in the council canteen.

A few metres away and a few minutes later, council chief executive and returning officer Paul Lawrence announced Mr McKay as the winner of the by-election.

FINAL TURNOUT: 33.1% (6264 of 18945 registered electors in ward)

FINAL FIRST PREFERENCE VOTES:

Bonnie Prince Bob – Independent: 36

Derrick Emms – Independent: 9

Lukasz Furmaniak – Scottish Libertarian Party: 25

Mark Hooley – Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party: 857

Richard Crewe Lucas – Scottish Family Party – 857

Q Manivannan – Scottish Green Party – 1133

Kevin Joseph McKay – Scottish Liberal Democrats: 1269

Catriona Munro – Scottish Labour Party: 1293

Gary Neill – Reform UK: 489

Mark Rowbotham – Independent: 25

Murray Visentin – SNP: 905

Steve Christopher West – Independent: 39

Mark Wilkinson – Independent: 111

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