Lab regained this seat from SNP — last held it in 2010.
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Scott Arthur
Labour PartyDr Scott Arthur is the Labour MP for Edinburgh South West, and has been an MP continually since 4 July 2024.
Vote on an amendment to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill that would prevent someone from qualifying as 'terminally ill' under the Bill solely because they have voluntarily stopped eating and drinking. This matters because without the amendment, a person could potentially use voluntary starvation to meet the terminal illness threshold and access an assisted death.
Vote on whether to add a provision to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill ensuring that if an independent doctor dies or becomes too ill to complete their assessment before signing off on an assisted dying request, a further referral can be made to another doctor — mirroring an existing provision in the Bill for the attending doctor.
A procedural vote on whether to allow New Clause 16 to be formally considered as part of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at Report Stage, after proceedings had been interrupted on 13 June when an objection was raised. The debate excerpts do not reveal the substantive content of New Clause 16.
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Sign up freeCoverage of Edinburgh South West has been predominantly positive for Scott across 40 recent articles.
Positive coverage
“Edinburgh MP given award after Rare Cancers Bill becomes law - deadlinenews.co.uk” — deadlinenews.co.uk
“Rare Cancers Bill in the name of a former Bell Baxter teacher moves to next stage - Fife Today” — Fife Today
Represented by Lab since 2024.
Did SNP 'oppose' Scottish Child Payment like Labour MP claims?
The National · 3 Apr 2026
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Sign up freeMedian Income▼
£30,900
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Mean Income▼
£40,800
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Businesses▼
3,085
VAT/PAYE registered (ONS 2024)
Schools▼
1
0 primary, 0 secondary, 1 other
Total Income Tax▼
£419m
from 57,000 taxpayers
Median Tax▼
£3,300
per taxpayer / year
Mean Tax
£7,320
per taxpayer / year
Source: HMRC Survey of Personal Incomes, tax year 2022-23. Allocated by taxpayer residence. Covers income tax only — excludes NI, VAT, and capital gains. Sample-based estimate (~8% confidence interval).
6 councillors across 2 wards · Last elections: May 2022
| Ward | Party | Councillor | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colintonfairmilehead | Conservative and Unionist Party | Jason Rust | May 2022 |
| Scottish National Party (SNP) | Marco Biagi | May 2022 | |
| Labour Party | Scott Arthur | May 2022 | |
| Fountainbridgecraiglockhart | Conservative and Unionist Party | Christopher Cowdy | May 2022 |
| Scottish National Party (SNP) | David Key | May 2022 | |
| Labour Party | Val Walker | May 2022 |
Source: DCLEAPIL v1.0 by Jason Leman, LEAP (Andrew Teale) & Democracy Club. CC BY-SA 4.0. Data last refreshed: 1 Apr 2026.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lab | 18,663 | 40.9% | |
Won 2019 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2015 GE | SNP | 12,446 | 27.3% |
| Con | 5,558 | 12.2% | |
| Ind | 3,450 | 7.6% | |
| LD | 3,014 | 6.6% | |
| Ref | 2,087 | 4.6% | |
| Ind | 265 | 0.6% | |
| Ind | 181 | 0.4% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2017 GEWon 2015 GE | SNP | 24,830 | 47.6% |
| Con | 12,848 | 24.6% | |
| Lab | 7,478 | 14.3% | |
| LD | 4,971 | 9.5% | |
| Green | 1,265 | 2.4% | |
| Ind | 625 | 1.2% | |
| Ind | 114 | 0.2% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2015 GE | SNP | 17,575 | 35.6% |
| Con | 16,478 | 33.4% | |
| Lab | 13,213 | 26.8% | |
| LD | 2,124 | 4.3% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2017 GE | SNP | 22,168 | 43.0% |
| Lab | 14,033 | 27.2% | |
| Con | 10,444 | 20.2% | |
| Green | 1,965 | 3.8% | |
| LD | 1,920 | 3.7% | |
| Ind | 1,072 | 2.1% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lab | 19,473 | 42.8% | |
| Con | 11,026 | 24.3% | |
| LD | 8,194 | 18.0% | |
| SNP | 5,530 | 12.2% | |
| Green | 872 | 1.9% | |
| Ind | 319 | 0.7% | |
| Ind | 48 | 0.1% |
Scott Arthur has not appeared in national political news coverage tracked by our system. This is common for backbench MPs who focus on constituency-level work rather than national policy debates.
24 articles hidden as not sufficiently relevant to this constituency
The Swire Chinese Language Centre Edinburgh celebrated its 10th anniversary, having taught Mandarin to over 11,000 pupils across 45 schools and accounting for a significant portion of Scottish Mandarin qualifications. Dr Scott Arthur MP attended and praised the centre for democratising access to Mandarin education and supporting disadvantaged students.
Petrol stations across the UK, including in Scotland's major cities, experienced panic buying and fuel shortages amid soaring prices and Easter holiday travel. Labour MP Scott Arthur raised constituent concerns about the impact on emergency services and called for calm, affirming normal supply levels.
Dr Scott Arthur, MP for Edinburgh South West, has called for coordinated action between Scottish and UK governments to tackle knife crime following four alleged stabbings in his constituency in recent weeks. He praised campaigner Lisa Petrie's efforts to introduce emergency bleed kits and knife controls, and argued that prevention strategies and cross-government cooperation are essential to address the persistent problem of knife violence in Scotland.
Chickoop, a new Arabic and Indian fast food restaurant, opened on Dalry Road in Edinburgh South West on March 22, with MP Scott Arthur attending and officially opening the venue. The restaurant offers broast chicken, shawarma, burgers, wings, and other fusion dishes combining Indian, British, and Arabic flavours.
Dr Scott Arthur, MP for Edinburgh South West, has been awarded Parliamentarian of the Year by Brain Tumour Research after his Rare Cancers Bill received Royal Assent on 5 March. The Bill establishes a national lead for rare cancer research, improves data sharing across the UK, and requires review of orphan drug regulations to support treatment development for rare cancers.
Dr Scott Arthur, MP for Edinburgh South West, has publicly criticised Scottish Water's six-month Gorgie Road closure, arguing that the planned works (installing a powered screen to catch debris) fail to address the underlying issue of liquid sewage overflowing into the Water of Leith. He contends that reducing rainfall entering the pipes would be a more effective solution than simply filtering solid debris.
Dr Scott Arthur, MP for Edinburgh South West, has advanced his Rare Cancers Bill to the next parliamentary stage following its Second Reading in the House of Lords. The Bill, inspired by the death of his father-in-law to a brain tumour, aims to improve rare cancer research, treatment development, and clinical trial access across the UK.
Dr Scott Arthur, MP for Edinburgh South West, has taken action against dangerous delivery riders by pressing delivery companies and the UK Government for stronger safety measures, including use of GPS technology to monitor rider speeds. The article highlights his proactive engagement with constituent concerns raised at a community meeting in October about illegal e-bikes and dangerous riding behaviour.
Labour's £9 billion Defence Housing Strategy will modernise military accommodation across Edinburgh South West, with over 40,000 properties to be modernised or rebuilt. Dr Scott Arthur MP welcomed the announcement as addressing years of neglect in forces family housing.
Edinburgh South West MP Dr Scott Arthur has secured commitments from major supermarkets not to sell fireworks, following concerns about fireworks-related crime and anti-social behaviour during Bonfire Night. The article highlights Arthur's proactive work on reducing firework availability alongside broader council and police initiatives to improve community safety.
Dr Scott Arthur is calling on the Scottish Government to grant Edinburgh Council powers to implement a lane rental scheme that would charge utility companies up to £2,500 per day for roadworks on busy roads. The scheme aims to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow, following successful implementation in London and Kent, though the Scottish Government has rejected the idea based on a 2015 review.
Dr Scott Arthur MP officially opened the relocated Wester Hailes Post Office at Plaza News in Westside Plaza on 17 October. The new branch, run by experienced postmasters Mohammed and Aamir Arshad, offers expanded opening hours (51 hours per week) and improved accessibility features within the same shopping centre.
Dr Scott Arthur MP for Edinburgh South West has written to Edinburgh Council expressing constituents' overwhelming support for banning mobile phones in schools, based on engagement with over 500 local residents. The letter was submitted ahead of a council education committee meeting discussing a motion to implement such a ban, with the MP urging swift progress on consultation and impact assessment.
Dr Scott Arthur, MP for Edinburgh South West, attended a sustainable cocktail event hosted by Lumo train operator to support Edinburgh Cocktail Week 2024 and promote environmental and economic growth in Edinburgh. The event highlighted partnerships between local businesses and sustainable initiatives, with Arthur emphasizing the importance of sustainable public transport for achieving net zero targets while boosting the local economy.
Ex-SNP MP Joanna Cherry, who lost her Edinburgh South West seat to Labour in the recent election, has stated she will not run for Holyrood in 2026 unless the SNP addresses misogyny within the party. The statement follows an online dispute with a former party staffer and unresolved complaints about her treatment.
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