City's Labour leader quits

FORMER city leader Ewan Aitken today announced his resignation as leader of the council's Labour group.

The head of the main opposition party is to take up a new post with the Church of Scotland, as secretary to its Church and Society Council.

Councillor Aitken, who took over as council leader from Donald Anderson in August 2006, will remain as local Labour councillor for the Craigentinny/Duddingston ward, but said it would not be "tenable" to speak for both the Church and his political party.

The 46-year-old father-of-two's announcement is a major shock, coming just weeks after he was re-elected unopposed at the Labour group's annual general meeting.

Cllr Aitken, whose group lost power after losing half its seats at last year's election, today declined to name a favoured successor.

However, insiders believe former Lord Provost Lesley Hinds and ex-transport leader Andrew Burns are the two front-runners, with possible challenges from veteran councillor Elizabeth Maginnis or rising star Ian Murray.

The Labour group councillors were due to be told the news this morning, after sources leaked the information to the News.

Cllr Aitken, who was elected to the council in 1999 for the Restalrig ward and served as city education chief before taking over as leader, is ordained in the Church of Scotland, but does not have a parish. The Church and Society Council develops the Church's view on political, social and ethical issues.

Cllr Aitken said today: "I have always described myself as a minister who happens to be a politician. After nine years at the heart of local government in Edinburgh and three years nationally as (the Scottish councils' umbrella body] CoSLA spokesperson on education, this post is the next step in that journey.

"I will remain a councillor and a Labour group member, but it would not be tenable to be speaking for the Church and for Edinburgh Labour. For that reason I am announcing today that I will tender my resignation as group leader as soon as a new leader can be elected. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as leader of the Labour group, both when we were in power and now in opposition."

Cammy Day, chairman of the Edinburgh Labour local government committee, said today: "Ewan has shown great leadership for Edinburgh Labour through some tough times.."

But Lib Dem city leader Jenny Dawe said although she wished him success in his new role she had been disappointed in the way that he conducted himself. "Stunts and political scaremongering are not worthy of the people of Edinburgh and do nothing to promote consensus politics," she said.

It is not known if the 14 other Labour councillors will move quickly to name a successor, or wait until the summer recess.

One City Chambers insider said there are a number of personality clashes within the group, which suggests an election is more likely than a smooth succession.

In 2006, when Donald Anderson stood down, Cllr Aitken easily fought off a challenge from then-planning leader Trevor Davies and Cllr Maginnis.

If the latest leadership battle also goes to a vote, only the group's 15 councillors will take part in the ballot, behind closed doors.

Assuming there are no defections, the new leader will have to guide his or her party in opposition for an expected four years, until the next election in 2012.

Although Labour was always going to lose seats under last May's new voting system, the party was widely expected to join a coalition with the Lib Dems.

However, this proved unpalatable for many new Lib Dem councillors, who had campaigned on an anti-Labour ticket.

Under Cllr Aitken's stewardship, observers believe Labour struggled at first to adapt to life in opposition, but has recently become more adept at challenging the Lib Dem/SNP administration.

Who's in the running to lead Labour

• LESLEY HINDS: The Inverleith councillor is the early favourite to replace Ewan Aitken. She boasts a lengthy political career that includes a three-year stint as district council leader in the 1990s and, most recently, four years as Lord Provost.

Although she is now Labour's health and social care spokeswoman, insiders say she is frustrated on the backbenches. She still commands a high public profile through the media and is well-liked by constituents, but whether she can secure the support of enough colleagues to mount a leadership bid is unclear. She is thought to have some enemies in the party, including Elizabeth Maginnis.

• ANDREW BURNS: The city's former transport and education leader is one of Labour's most skilled politicians and is widely admired for his talents.

In opposition, he has scored regular hits on the Lib Dem/SNP administration, particularly over education cuts and proposals to close schools.

• ELIZABETH MAGINNIS: Ewan Aitken's main leadership rival in 2006, Cllr Maginnis has been a councillor for more than 20 years.

A member of the Labour "old guard" and a former education leader, her experience could result in another attempt at the leadership position.

Once seen as old Labour, Cllr Maginnis re-invented herself during the 2006 leadership election and appeared more of a moderniser. She took her campaign to the business community and pledged to look at why so many parents in the city choose private education.

• IAN MURRAY: The chairman of the Labour group is seen as an outside candidate for the leader's job, having proved himself as an adept politician despite his younger years.

The Liberton and Gilmerton councillor makes fewer speeches at council meetings than other politicians, but knows how to pack a punch when he does so. However, whether he would be able to win enough support to challenge more established candidates remains to be seen.