Computer teacher elected Lord Provost of Edinburgh

The 52-year-old Labour veteran was appointed to the role - which dates back to the 13th century - in the first council meeting since the elections, which saw his party form a coalition with the SNP.

The two parties have a firm majority with 38 of the 58 councillors who were being sworn in today.

His election was unopposed by the Tories, Lib Dem and Green groups who are in opposition.

Cllr Wilson is a chair of both Edinburgh and Lothians Tourist Board and the city’s international science festival.

He will chair all full council meetings, as well as greet members of the Royal Family when they visit Edinburgh, and sit on the boards of the Edinburgh International Festival and the Tattoo.

After his appointment Cllr Wilson said: “I thank my fellow councillors for this great honour. It really is a dream come true. “I will seek consensus as Lord Provost and seek to modernise the council.Council leader Andrew Burns said:

“Donald Wilson has vast experience across a wide variety of roles.”He is already widely respected by elected members and like many of them is not unnecessarily tribal.”Mr Wilson hails from Selkirk in the Borders and studied sociology and politics at Stirling University before undergoing teacher training in Edinburgh.

Mr Wilson has said he would reluctantly have to give up working at Newbattle Community High, in Midlothian, during his tenure as Lord Provost due to the demands of the numerous civic duties. His predecessor, George Grubb, stood down as a councillor at the end of his five-year tenure as Lord Provost.