Leader: Jenny Dawe’s Edith Piaf moment

Published on Thursday 10 November 2011 03:17

LEADING the council in Scotland’s capital city is never an easy job, but given the duties which come with the post, neither should it be.

The political head of the administration is a high-profile position which confers on the person who holds it considerable power and great responsibilities.

The question for the city’s electorate – which we raise in our Capital in Crisis series that continues today – is whether the current leader, Liberal Democrat Jenny Dawe, has lived up to these high expectations. Based on her replies to the questions put to her by this newspaper and which we report today, the answer is a simple “no”.

First, it is simply incredible for her to claim that, judging from continued investment in the city, there has been no evidence of an adverse impact from the trams fiasco. Her Nationalist coalition partners carry much of the blame, but to claim Edinburgh has not been damaged by this shambles beggars belief.

Second, Ms Dawe says she does not regret becoming council leader or forming an administration with the SNP. Given the suspicion she would have preferred a deal with Labour, the near collapse of the coalition and numerous policy failures, including the most recent U-turn over refuse collection privatisation, such an assertion is laughable.

Like some Auld Reekie Edith Piaf, Ms Dawe may think that “Non… rien de rien, Non, je ne regrette rien” is a plausible refrain for her to air to secure re-election next year. We think not. More importantly, we suspect the capital’s voters will agree.

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