Thursday April 2nd 2026
Marc Wilkinson (left) and David Sissons from Edinburgh and East Lothian People campaigning at Haddington Farmers Market.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling on their local politicians to abandon the party whip if elected in the Scottish Parliament elections.
The petition has been launched by Edinburgh and East Lothian People – one of 18 parties fighting to win a regional seat at Holyrood when the country goes to the ballot box next month.
The group, which registered with the Electoral Commission for the first time last month, is fielding two candidates in the Edinburgh and Lothians East regional list, and offering people a party which, they say, will ensure decisions are made by local people.
Marc Wilkinson, party leader, is also standing as a constituency candidate for Edinburgh Southern and has stood at previous by-elections in the past under Edinburgh People group.
This time around he has expanded the group with the second list candidate for the party David Sisson, who is a member of Haddington and District Community Council.
And the controversial decision by East Lothian Council to introduce town centre parking charges is included in its policy with a pledge to reverse the decision which they say will reduce footfall to local businesses
The main focus of the party is its call to remove the party whip and block voting which can see politicians linked to big parties forced to follow a party line rather than the views of their constituents.
Mr Wilkinson said the influence of big party politics on local representatives allows those with money to influence decision making processes.
He said: “The party whip is what the top-down autocratic parties use to force MPs and MSPs to vote opposite to how they would otherwise vote were they free to use their intellect, judgement and conscience when voting on their constituents’ behalf.
Instead he pledges if elected to Holyrood he will take every vote to his supporters.
He said: “For every vote I am asked to make in Parliament an email will go to our members first and they will debate it before instructing me on how to act. Our proposal is democratic and incorruptible.”
Mr Wilkinson and Mr Sisson were out in force at Haddington Farmers Market at the weekend where they gathered dozens of additional signatures to their petition against the whip.
The petition details can be viewed HERE.
The regional list for Edinburgh and Lothian was formally released this week with 18 separate groups fielding candidates and four independents standing.The groups are: Advance UK; Alliance to Liberate Scotland; Animal Welfare Party; Communist Party of Britain; Edinburgh and East Lothian People; Equality Party; Independence for Scotland Party; Independent Green Voice; Reform UK; Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party; Scottish Family Party; Scottish Green Party; Sottish Labour Party; Scottish Liberal Democrats; Scottish Libertarian Party; Scottish National Party; Scottish Socialist Party; Scottish Workers Party of Britain; Independents ,
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