Tuesday June 30th 2026
Robert De Bold
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
West Lothian’s SNP opposition group has lost one of its longest-serving councillors.
Robert De Bold, one of two SNP councillors in the Livingston North ward is now listed as an Independent, alongside former Labour councillor Andrew McGuire.
Councillor De Bold was first elected 19 years ago in the ward which covers Knightsridge, Deans, Eliburn, Carmondean and part of Livingston Village. The other SNP councillor for the ward is the also long-serving Andrew Miller.
At the last council election, in 2022, Councillor De Bold polled 2,133 votes. It was, by far, the highest percentage of first preference votes at 29.51%.
Councillor De Bold has latterly served as the opposition’s group’s spokesman on housing.
No reason has yet been given for his decision to sit as an Independent and the Local Democracy Reporting Service has contacted Councillor De Bold for comment.
Contacted by the LDRS, the SNP group leader, Broxburn councillor Janet Campbell said: “I’m sorry but I can only say ‘no comment’ at this time.”
The SNP remains the largest single party in the council with 14 councillors serving in nine wards across the council.
The council is currently a minority Labour led administration which has 11 councillors in a loose “confidence and supply” agreement with four Conservatives led by Damian Doran-Timson and including Councillor Peter Heggie, who serves as the Depute Provost. There is also one Lib Dem councillor and one Reform UK councillor
Other councillors in the Livingston North ward are Labour’s Anne McMillan and the Conservative Alison Adamson.
The council elections will be held in May next year.
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