But on Friday she announced she would be stepping down due to a “sudden change in personal circumstances,” saying she was “truly sorry at what has happened”.
The shock resignation followed a report by the Daily Record which revealed her Colinton property had been put on the market on November 15th, the day after the by-election, for offers over £730,000.
It is especially bruising for the Lib Dems as the campaign to defeat Labour and get Spence elected centred on her credentials as a local resident, and criticised other candidates who weren’t. Leaflets promised voters she would be “a local councillor who lives here”.
The Lib Dems said she would be splitting her time between Edinburgh and somewhere outside of Edinburgh, but did not say if it was overseas or in another part of the UK.
Spence told the newspaper: “I have had a sudden change in personal circumstances which meant I couldn’t in all conscience fulfil my role as a councillor. At this time, my focus must be with my family. I have informed my Liberal Democrat colleagues of my changed circumstances and offered my resignation.
“The Liberal Democrats rightly set high standards in terms of the service their local councillors provide. I myself argued that Colinton & Fairmilehead needed a local champion. While it would have been legally possible for me to continue as a councillor, I don’t believe it would be right to do so with my focus elsewhere.
“This is why I have made the difficult decision to resign my council seat.”
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News of her departure comes just days after Marco Biagi, SNP councillor for Colinton/Fairmilehead, announced he would also step down to take up a role as a special advisor to the Scottish Government.
Spence said as another by-election was already planned to replace Biagi, her seat “can be filled at the same time,” while claiming this would come “at no extra cost to the taxpayer”.
She continued: “This is clearly the right thing to do for Colinton & Fairmilehead. However, I know my decision will be deeply disappointing and frustrating for those who voted for me, for my council group colleagues and for all the Liberal Democrats who fought so hard to win the by-election. I am truly sorry at what has happened.”
Labour councillor and campaign manager for the by-election Stephen Jenkinson described the fiasco as “the most outrageous thing I’ve ever heard of in local politics”.
He said: “Louise Spence conned her party, her activists but worst of all she conned people who voted for her. What a disgrace.
“No one will trust a Lib Dem leaflet or a Lib Dem candidate here ever again.”
