A Scottish Lib Dem who quit Edinburgh council days after her election over a house sale scandal has also resigned from the party. The Lib Dems said they could not answer further questions on Louise Spence given her decision to cancel her membership.
Spence was elected to serve the Colinton/Fairmilehead ward this month after a campaign which milked her local roots. She styled herself as a local champion who lived in the ward while criticising the Labour candidate and sitting Tory councillor for residing elsewhere in the city.
In a hand-written note, she said: “It’s such a special place – that’s why my husband and I decided this was the right place to bring up our family.” The Record then revealed how her house was put up for sale on the day after the November 14 by-election.
The Lib Dems were unhappy that she wanted to split her time between Edinburgh and another location, which a party source refused to rule out was overseas. She quit as a councillor after questions were asked about the planned house sale.
We then asked the Lib Dems about Spence’s claim that she quit as a councillor due to a “sudden change in personal circumstances.”
The Lib Dems were asked whether, on the day of the election, she had a series of links to Dubai. A Scottish Lib Dem spokesman said: “I can’t give you an answer on this as Louise has resigned her party membership.”
A by-election will take place in the New Year and the Tories have called for the Lib Dems to foot part of the cost. Senior Labour councillor in Edinburgh Stephen Jenkinson said in the wake of Spence quitting as a councillor: “This is the most outrageous thing I’ve ever heard of in local politics.”
Labour runs Edinburgh council as a minority administration with support from parties including the Lib Dems.
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