Monday May 4th 2026
This View has been written by Jenny Butler, Scottish Liberal Democrats candidate for the Midlothian North Constituency and Edinburgh and Lothians East List in the Scottish Parliamentary elections – 7th May 2026.
On Thursday we go to the polls and we have the opportunity to change Scotland for the better.
We need something different from the same tired old approach. Change with fairness at its heart must be the mantra of the next Parliament.
It’s this desire for change that has led me to stand as your Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate. I’m just as angry about the state of the world as lots of people I’ve spoken to over the course of the campaign.
I’ve worked in oil and gas, in fundraising in the third sector and latterly for an MP helping people every day with their problems.
It is a privilege, but there is so much that needs to be done to improve people’s lives.
Though I’m from the Borders originally, I’ve lived in Eskbank for 5 years and I love it here.
However, there are things we can do to make our area better.
For too long, it’s been hard to see a GP or an NHS dentist when we need it. We’ve seen our care service stripped back, resulting in the crisis in care that is putting unacceptable strain on local services. Our young people too have had their opportunities stripped away and many are struggling to get on the property ladder.
Locally we are faced with a proliferation of housebuilding, cuts to bus services and high streets in need of massive investment.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats have the plan to sort it out. That’s what we do. In the last parliament, we squeezed £300 million more from the Scottish Government for essential priorities through our budget deal.
Just imagine what we could achieve with more MSPs.
It is no longer enough to talk about strategies and plans. We take direct action now to make people’s lives easier.
Those elected on Thursday will have to prove themselves, and quickly.
People feel absolutely scunnered by politics, and yes we need the long term plans set out in manifestos, but we need MSPs who will fight from the get go.
When Liberal Democrats win, we tend to win pretty convincingly. That’s because we work hard. We care about potholes as much as the NHS whilst also protecting Scotland’s place in the world.
My grandad was a Conservative councillor, but when he retired he told us that any problems he had, he took to the Lib Dem councillor because they always got things done.
That’s what you get with a Liberal Democrat, someone who’ll get things done.
So, that’s why I’m asking for your support.
On both your ballot papers, but especially on that crucial second peach ballot paper, you can back the Liberal Democrats and vote for change with fairness at its heart.
It’s what the country needs.
The candidates in the Scottish Parliament elections Midlothian North constituency 2026 are:
Colin Beattie, Scottish National Party
Jenny Claire Marr Butler, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Pal Chidambaram, Reform UK
Phil Doggart, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Caitlin Stott, Scottish Labour and Cooperative Party
The poll will be held on Thursday 7th May 2026 between 7am and 10 pm
