Samantha Tonge

I have lived in East Livingston and East Calder for almost ten years, so I know it well. I am Clerk for our sub-branch, campaigned during the Holyrood elections and recent Edinburgh byelections, and now I am one of our organisers for the 2027 elections. I have loved every minute, and I want to do more to make a real difference. I work in marketing, which has given me years of experience in writing, campaigns and public speaking.

Some local issues I care about:

In this ward, Craigshill is one of our most deprived communities and sits side by side with some of our least deprived, yet neither is well served.

More than 10,000 people in West Lothian are waiting for social housing, growing far faster than affordable homes are delivered.

Since Covid buses have almost vanished. Travelling within West Lothian often means an expensive train into Edinburgh and back out again. Anyone who can afford it is pushed into a car.

These issues hit women, LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities disproportionately. I am woman with two disabilities, so I understand.

I would love to win in my home ward to help fix these issues, but our priority is electing our first-ever Green councillor in Linlithgow, and I will do everything I can to make it happen. The Greens have shown that we can make a real difference on the ground with even one councillor.

If someone else would make a better candidate in my preferred ward I will stand in another. Everyone in West Lothian deserves the chance to vote Green.