Members of East Lothian Constituency Labour Party (CLP) met at Prestonpans Labour Club last week to elect a new team to take forward its work for the year ahead.

Cllr Jim Goodfellow from the North Berwick Coastal Branch was re-elected as Chair, with former MP Fiona O’Donnell joining the CLP Executive as Secretary. Ann McCarthy continues as Treasurer, and Pat O’Brien and Sandra Couperwhite were re-elected as Vice-Chairs.

As well as electing the new Executive Committee, the meeting also considered priorities for next year’s local elections. At the heart of the party’s campaign will be a commitment to continue protecting the county’s local services from SNP Government cuts and centralisation.

Cllr Jim Goodfellow said:

“Members in East Lothian have elected a strong local team to lead the party’s work over the year ahead. At the heart of this work will be the local elections next May. We have a strong track record to defend and will be developing new ideas and policies to keep improving East Lothian and delivering excellent services for our communities.

“In May this year local people made the positive choice that Iain Gray was stronger for East Lothian. For next May only Labour’s councillors can guarantee to be stronger for East Lothian and put the county’s interests first. We have every reason to be confident that Labour can win again and I look forward to playing my part in securing a Labour victory on May 4th next year.”

Cllr Willie Innes added:

“East Lothian needs a Labour-led council to protect its interests from the cuts and centralisation imposed by the SNP Scottish Government. Despite the year on year cuts by SNP Ministers, we have managed to put the county’s finances back on a firm footing whilst also protecting and enhancing frontline services.

“The team of candidates who will fight the election for us next year will all be local champions, committed to serving the communities in their wards. And we will have a set of policies designed to build on the progress we have made over the last four and half years and continue to deliver a better future for the whole of East Lothian.

“Labour in East Lothian has always put the interests of our local communities first. We will enter next year’s local election campaign with an excellent record of delivering for communities across East Lothian. Only Labour will be stronger for East Lothian.”