An Election to the Edinburgh Corporation was held on 2 November 1897, alongside municipal elections across Scotland, and the wider British local elections. Contests took place in 5 of the cities’ 13 wards, with candidates in the remaining 8 being returned unopposed. Three Portobello wards also held elections. The election was relatively quiet, with no particularly important issues being raised. As a result, the main focus of the election was on the Lord Provost and the personalities of the individual candidates.^[1]

The Liberal Sir Mitchell Mitchell-Thomson, 1st Baronet took over as Provost following the election, replacing the Unionist Sir Andrew McDonald.

Aggregate results

Edinburgh Corporation election, 1897^[1]
(Contested seats)
Party		Seats	Gains	Losses	Net gain/loss	Seats %	Votes %	Votes	+/−
	Unionist	5
	Liberal	2
	Radical	1

Ward Results

Newington^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Unionist	John Harrison	2,431
	Liberal	Mr Macpherson	2,254
Majority			177
Turnout			4,685
	Unionist hold		Swing

St. Leonard's^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	Robert Menzies	1,776
	Socialist	William Gall	467
Majority			1,309
Turnout			2,243
	Liberal hold		Swing

Broughton^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Radical	Hugh M. Michael	1,108
	Unionist	James M. Anderson	664
Majority			444
Turnout			1,772
	Radical hold		Swing

Canongate^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Unionist	Councillor Gubie	1,116
	Social Democratic Federation	George Doull	636
Majority			480
Turnout			1,752
	Unionist hold		Swing

St. George's^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	±%
	Unionist	David Purves	1,800
	Liberal	Councillor Scott	1,519
Majority			281	N/A
Turnout			3,319
	Unionist gain from Liberal		Swing

Portobello: 14th^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Unionist	W. Gray	306
	Liberal	Alexander Tod	133
Majority			173
Turnout			439
	Unionist hold		Swing

Portobello: 15th^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	Bailie Brand	274
	Unionist	J. L. B. Higgin	179
Majority			95
Turnout			453
	Liberal hold		Swing

Portobello: 16th^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Unionist	Robert Innes	209
	Unionist	James Watson	151
Majority			58
Turnout			360
	Unionist hold		Swing

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j "The Municipal Elections: Edinburgh". The Glasgow Herald. 3 November 1897. p. 8.

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