Midlothian Council elects new leader

SNP councillor Catherine Johnstone has been elected the new leader of Midlothian Council.

At a full council meeting today, Owen Thompson announced he was stepping down as both leader and an SNP councillor for Midlothian West following his election as MP for the Midlothian constituency.

His resignation as leader is with immediate effect while he will officially step down as councillor on 1 July.

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Thompson said Midlothian is now “widely recognised” as a progressive, forward-looking authority and to ensure this progress is maintained, strong leadership is required.

“I will not be able to do this along with my new role as an MP,” he said.

Johnstone, who has been an elected member in Midlothian since 2012, said: “It’s a huge privilege, an honour and a great responsibility to take on this post.

"I will do it to the best of my ability for the people of Midlothian.”

The date of the resulting by-election for Thompson’s seat will be fixed by the Returning Officer.

Johnstone, who has two children and two grandchildren, lives in Newtongrange and represents the Midlothian South ward.

Before being elected, she worked as a homelessness officer with the council.Mi