Elections

Promoted by Jane Evans on behalf of the Equality Party at Grosvenor House, 3 Chapel St, CW12 4AB

Scottish Parliament -Holyrood

May 2026

The Equality Party is standing a Party List in the Edinburgh & Lothians East region on 7th May 2026. Our candidates are David Renton, Laura Mackintosh and Caitlin Walton.

Who is David Renton?

David Renton is the first placed candidate in the regional Holyrood election taking place on 7th May 2026 for Edinburgh and Lothians East where he has lived since 2000 and where is also a charity worker, Community Councillor and Disability Advocate.

David (he/him) is a founding member and member of the Leadership Team for the Equality Party. He has spent a number of years working for equality in many areas of society and in particular towards equality for the disabled and LGBTQ+ community.

David knows from lived experience that people and communities are strongest when everyone is part of decision-making at all levels. That is a core principle of the Equality Party.

David feels strongly about the following policies:

• Media, arts and education that deliver fair and inclusive human stories, ensuring that children learn about ‘hidden history’ in order to have realistic view of current society.
• Dispelling the current view on what makes a ‘real man’, by showing that men can also be caregivers, homemakers and fully participating parents
• ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’, ensuring no decisions on policies are made without including the group in society that the decisions refer to.
• Ending gender-based and hate-motivated violence, ensuring groups such as women, trans men and women, members of the LGBTQ+ community and the disabled are not treated differently or persecuted.
• Replacing Council Tax with a local residence tax based on ability to pay.

Who is Laura Mackintosh?

Laura Mackintosh is the second placed candidate in the regional Holyrood election taking place on 7th May 2026 for Edinburgh and Lothians East. As someone with an original background in the arts, Laura is very familiar with Edinburgh understands how important the arts are to Edinburgh residents.

Laura (she/her) is a fairly new member to the Equality Party having only joined in March 2026 but is so proud to be standing for the party in this election. Laura has worked extensively in both the creative arts and the justice system, working all the way up to trainee solicitor in the latter.

Laura is hugely frustrated with politicians making false promises, and with seeing hate and division in politics pushing out the grass roots issues that really matter to people. Laura is determined to use her life experience, and her pure rage at those who talk and talk, and yet do nothing, to make a real difference to people who are not getting the fair treatment they deserve. In her law career and through her own personal experiences as a parent, Laura has seen the holes in the justice and social care systems and the awful ways they can let parents and children down – leaving them mistreated and traumatised by the very system which is meant to prevent mistreatment and put an end to trauma.

Laura feels very strongly about the following Equality Party’s policies:

• Implement mandatory individual plans for children with additional needs/potential neurodiversity issues, ensuring children with these needs continue to progress while awaiting neurodiversity assessments.
• Investing in more resources and support staff, ensuring schools, staff and children have all the resources and knowledge necessary for ASN children to be able to thrive as much as mainstream children.
• Free Childcare across the board, allowing parents who want to, to return to work, without the fear of affording childcare or working simply to pay for childcare.
• Increasing remote and working from home job opportunities for the disabled and parents who still want to work while being at home with their children or who opt not to use childcare, as well as creating training schemes allowing the disabled and parents to obtain new qualifications and access better jobs.
• Warm, safe, affordable housing for all, by legislating to empower local authorities to encourage and create additional housing.

Who is Caitlin Dykes-Johnson?

Caitlin Dykes-Johnson is the third placed candidate in the regional Holyrood election taking place on 7th May 2026 for Edinburgh and Lothians East.

Caitlin (they/them), originally from England, was a founder-member of the Equality Party and served on its Leadership Team before returning to university in Glasgow, where they are studying for a degree in Political Science, hopefully leading to a career in Holyrood and/or Westminster.

London Borough of Croydon

May 2026

Ellie Harrison is standing for election to Croydon Council in the Shirley North ward, for the council elections on 7th May 2026. Ellie has lived in the ward for the last 9 years. and has family connections to Shirley North going back 16 years.

Who is Ellie Harrison?

Ellie (they/them) is passionate about speaking up for those who are marginalised and ignored as these people are often those who need help the most. They have spent their entire working life helping others, first by working in healthcare and then in animal welfare campaigning. In addition to their role at work, Ellie works to ensure an equitable workplace for all, internationally, as part of their work’s Equity, Diversion, Inclusion, and Belonging Group, and co-chairing the workplace’s Global LGBTQ+ Network. They also represent their UK based colleagues as a Workplace Rep for the trade union.

Ellie’s election promises for Croydon are:

• Optimise the Council Tax spending so residents’ money goes further and works harder.
• Increase bus and train services, particularly giving Shirley North residents a more reliable bus service.
• Tackle violence against women and girls and make our streets safer for all.
• Combat domestic violence, through prevention, education, and protection.  More can be done for our families – 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men are victims.
• Develop affordable childcare and improved SEND strategies through consultation with parents and providers.
• Prioritise affordable housing, ensuring there are quality homes to rent or buy for all.
• Approve sustainable development that protects our green spaces for our future.
• Improving Croydon town centre, making it accessible, inclusive, and sustainable without pricing out local businesses and current residents.

Ellie would bring equality and inclusion to the top of the agenda so that Croydon council works together to make Croydon for everyone.

Congleton Town Council by-election

May 2026

Dr Abby Smith is standing for the Equality Party in the Congleton by-election on May 21st, 2026. Abby believes that you need to be the change you want to see in the world. She’s determined to help Congleton continue to develop into a place where no-one is left behind and everyone can thrive.

Who is Dr Abby Smith?

Abby (she/her) has lived in Congleton for 15 years and loves the warm and welcoming  community. Congleton already has two Equality Party Town Councillors, Susie Mead and Kay Wesley (see their Councillor blogs) and Abby seeks to join them.

Abby wants to give back to and strengthen the town which she calls home by becoming a Councillor for Congleton North. Abby brings a background as a scientist who gets results across disciplines, together with 10 years campaigning for equality and inclusion for LGBTQ+ people and other marginalised groups.

Abby is a proven problem-solver with a ‘can-do’ approach and believes strongly in ‘nothing about us without us’.

Abby will help bring equality and inclusion to the top of the agenda so that the council works together for everyone. Her priorities for Congleton Town Council are:

Show that teamwork, not division, is the
path to a better Congleton for all

• Campaign for truly affordable housing
• Support sustainable development that protects our green spaces
• Champion better SEND provision and accessibility
• Tackle violence against women and girls, and hate crime
• Support trans rights as human rights. Noneof us are equal until we are all equal
• Help combat domestic violence through prevention, education and protection
• Work for a connected Congleton with better bus, train, foot and cycle networks

Past Elections

Macclesfield Central by-election

November 2025

Kim Slater stood for the Equality Party in the Cheshire East by-election, Macclesfield Central Ward on 20th November, and got 2.5% of the vote, the first time the Equality Party has ever stood in Macclesfield. She beat the LibDem candidate. The election was won by the Greens, largely in our view because the party leader, Zack Polanski, is championing our Equality policies in the media. Congratulations to John Knight who will be an excellent Councillor.

Kim fought a positive campaign and many people on the doorstep agreed with Equality Party policies. As a new party we couldn’t get the reach this time around, but we will be back in Macclesfield, and around the country!

Who is Kim Slater?

Kim has lived and worked in Macclesfield for over 20 years.  She loves her town for its community, creativity and ambition, and wants to mix that spirit with her extensive experience to bring ‘more to Macc’. 

Kim’s election promises were to:

• Optimise the Council Tax spend on Social Care, 70p in every £1 must deliver more for those who need it most.
• Increase bus and train services, creating better transport links within and between our towns for all.
• Tackle violence against women and girls and make our streets safer for all.  More can be done to keep you safe – 3 sexual assaults per day reported in Cheshire East.
• Combat domestic violence, through prevention, education, and protection.  More can be done for our families – 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men are victims.
• Develop affordable childcare and improved SEND strategies through consultation with parents and providers.
• Prioritise affordable housing, ensuring there are quality homes to rent or buy for all.
• Approve sustainable development that protects our green spaces for our future.
• Continue revitalising Macclesfield Town Centre, making it accessible, inclusive, and sustainable

Kim would bring equality and inclusion to the top of the agenda so that the council works together for everyone.

Kim has a record of senior cross-team leadership that will break down the Cheshire East silos, balance the books, and get value for every pound of your Council Tax:

• Business leader with responsibility for multi-million pound budgets and teams of over 200 people
• Outstanding influencer, gets teams working together to do things differently
• Girl Guide and Brownie Leader in Macclesfield for 15 years
• Campaigned for change for 10 years with the Equality Party Team
• Protested for improved childcare provision and women’s reproductive rights
• Fund-raiser for The Christie Macclesfield
• Supported the LGBTQIA+ community including Pride events

Other Elections

Read about the election of our local councillors

Here you can learn about what our Councillors have been doing to bring Equality to their local Communities, including the annual newsletters detailing all their projects: