Tag Archives: ed thornley

Long-serving Lib Dem Robert Aldridge becomes Edinburgh’s new Lord Provost

By Caron Lindsay | Sat 28th May 2022 - 1:15 pm

Popular Lib Dem Councillor Robert Aldridge became Edinburgh’s Lord Provost on Thursday. He was the only nomination and was proposed by the leader of the SNP Group Adam McVey and seconded by his ward colleague, new Lib Dem Councillor Ed Thornley. Watch here:

The 258th Rt Hon Lord Provost of The City of Edinburgh is Cllr Robert Aldridge who is the longest serving councillor but also a very popular choice. pic.twitter.com/hBbDRuAdEm

— Edinburgh Reporter (@EdinReporter) May 26, 2022

Dobbie, as he is known to his friends, was first elected to the Council in 1984. I first got to know him when we first moved back to Scotland in 2000 when he was Marilyne Maclaren’s agent in Edinburgh South for two general elections. He spent most of his career working for an organisation supporting people through homelessness. He is a wonderful, compassionate Liberal Democrat. He made a superb, generous and inclusive speech on taking office which you can listen to here. It certainly had me in bits.

He will need every ounce of his patience and ability to make people work well together over the next five years.