East Lothian Labour Party has voted unanimously to oppose the revised proposals for Scottish Parliamentary constituency boundaries in the area.

Local party members debated an emergency motion tabled by Cllr Colin McGinn, who represents the ward most impacted by the proposals, calling for them to be rejected and mandating the party’s chair, former MSP Iain Gray, to write to Boundaries Scotland and urge it to reconsider their plans.

Members expressed intense opposition to the plans, especially the proposal to move Tranent and Elphinstone out of the existing East Lothian constituency and to change the constituency’s name to Lothian Eastern.

Speaking after the meeting, Iain Gray, Chair of East Lothian Labour Party, said:

“I was immensely proud to represent the East Lothian constituency for 14 years. Throughout that time, I was always very conscious of what a special place East Lothian is and how great a privilege it was to represent it in the Scottish Parliament.

“These devastating proposals would not only end the East Lothian name at Holyrood, undermining our status and voice there, but also splinter the historic community links between Tranent and Elphinstone and other parts of East Lothian. East Lothian Labour Party is crystal clear that this is unacceptable and that we cannot allow a numbers-driven exercise to damage our area in this way.

“We will oppose the revised proposals and seek to work with local communities, groups and other political parties to push for Tranent and Elphinstone to remain in an East Lothian constituency based on its current boundaries.”

Have your say on the boundary proposals here.