A newly-elected Edinburgh councillor has sparked outrage after resigning just a week into her new role – and putting her house up for sale the day after winning the by-election.
Louise Spence, who campaigned as a ‘local champion’ for Colinton and Fairmilehead, stunned voters by quitting her £730,000 four-bedroom bungalow and resigning, leaving taxpayers to fund yet another by-election.
The Liberal Democrat swept to victory on November 14, slamming her opponents for living outside the ward and proudly pointing to her home in campaign leaflets.
But by November 15, the For Sale sign was up, and by November 19, her resignation was in.
‘PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES’
Citing ‘personal circumstances’ that will take her outside Edinburgh, Spence said she ‘couldn’t in all conscience fulfil’ her role as councillor.
But angry locals aren’t buying it.
“She promised to fight for us as a local,” one voter fumed. “Instead, she’s packed up and left us with more chaos.”
SCANDALOUS
Tory MSP Sue Webber blasted the move as ‘scandalous,’ demanding answers from Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton. “Did they know this was coming?” she raged. “This is a slap in the face for voters and a waste of public money!”
Meanwhile, Lib Dem council leader Kevin Lang admitted his group was ‘hurt and disappointed,’ but claimed Spence had no choice.
“Once her circumstances changed, resignation was the only option,” he said.
Edinburgh Council now faces a double by-election on January 23, after another councillor also quit.
Voters are left asking: was Spence ever serious about her promises, or was this just a flash-in-the-pan campaign for a ‘local champion’ who had one foot out the door?
