Councillor has brain surgery

ONE of the favourites to be the new leader of Edinburgh City Council has undergone surgery on a brain tumour just weeks before the next local government elections.

Tom Buchanan, one of the SNP’s most senior councillors in the capital, is recovering at the city’s Western General Hospital after the operation earlier this week. He was elected in 2007 after being given the key role of economic development leader in the Lib Dem-SNP coalition which runs the city.

The SNP is believed to be front-runner to be the biggest party after the election, with speculation mounting that they may try to run a minority administration.

Mr Buchanan has told colleagues he is determined to stand for election again.

Steve Cardownie, the current SNP group leader, said: “I’ve had people from across the political divide and outwith that contacting me to ask how he’s doing.

“There’s been a huge amount of support.”