City councillor James Dalgleish is contesting the party’s best hope for a pick-up, challenging Angus Robertson and Lorna Slater in Edinburgh Central.
Currently, Ballot Box Scotland projects him to finish second on 23.1%, behind the Greens but marginally ahead of the SNP.
James Dalgleish (Image: James Dalgleish)
Mr Dalgleish recently visited Edinburgh art gallery Dovecot Studios with leader Anas Sarwar to pitch greater arts and culture funding.
A post on his Facebook page states: “Edinburgh Central is an amazing hub for artists and the cultural sector.
“Local artists and cultural institutions give so much to Edinburgh, Scotland and the world, now it’s time they get a Scottish Labour Government that will work hard for the arts and give it the investment it needs.”
Meanwhile, Oliver Thomas will stand for the party in Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith.
An NHS doctor, Mr Thomas remarked: “Every day I see the same truth: ill health starts long before hospital, and no medicine can fix damp homes, insecure work or poverty.
“That’s why I’m standing to be an MSP. Because I don’t just want to patch people up, I want to change the system that let them down in the first place.”
He is projected to finish in third place in the constituency with 16.7% of the vote, behind the Greens on 27.5% and the SNP on 35.7%.
Irshad Ahmad is standing in Edinburgh North Western, and is ranked top of the Lothian regional list – somewhat controversially, as Mr Ahmad previously stood for Holyrood as a member of the SNP and Alba.
Irshad Ahmad (Image: Irshad Ahmad)
He is expected to lose his deposit in Edinburgh North Western, where Alex Cole-Hamilton is projected to romp to re-election. Ballot Box Scotland says he will only get 2.8% of the vote.
Posting on X last week, Mr Ahmad said: “For the first time in a generation, we have the chance to change the government here in Scotland, it’s an opportunity we can’t afford to miss.
“On Thursday 7 May, make sure to use both votes for Scottish Labour to deliver the change Scotland needs.”
Eleanor Ryan-Saha will stand for the party in Edinburgh Northern, where the Lib Dems and SNP are battling for top position.
Ms Ryan-Saha, who replaced sacked MSP Foysol Choudhury in January, said: “I’m standing to be your MSP because I’ve leant on this amazing community to raise my disabled daughter.
“Like many people here in Edinburgh Northern, her quality of life depends not just on her family, but also on strong public services.”
She is expected to finish fourth in the constituency, with 12.2% of the vote.
Catriona Munro is the party’s candidate in Edinburgh South Western.
Ms Munro, who worked as a leading competition lawyer, remarked: “Have a proven track record of fighting and delivering for people.
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“As well as having a fulfilling career, I’ve been a single mother, who has struggled to obtain suitable childcare to enable me to work. I understand what it’s like for parents and families facing rising costs and the pressures of finding good child support.”
She is projected to finish joint second with the Conservatives in Edinburgh South Western with 18% of the vote.
The party’s candidate in Edinburgh Southern, MSP Daniel Johnson, is Labour’s best chance at a constituency win in the Lothian region.
Mr Johnson, who has served as an MSP since 2016, is projected to win re-election with 38.6% of the vote, more than seven percentage points higher than his SNP challenger.
The party is projected to return two MSPs via the regional list. If that calculus holds, Mr Ahmad (ranked first) and Ms Sangster (second) will be elected to Holyrood.
