Sheila was selected as the Labour candidate in Edinburgh East in April 2009. Since then she has been out four or five times a week knocking on doors across the constituency.

• Defend and fight to extend local bus services
• Protect workers' rights and the national minimum wage
• Tackle anti-social behaviour and campaign for more affordable housing 
• Campaign against cuts to nurseries, créches and schools
• Fight for the rights of older people to be warm and safe in their own homes

Sheila grew up in Edinburgh and her first job was as a teacher. She then studied law and worked for a solicitor’s firm in Edinburgh that dealt with people receiving legal aid. She focussed on family law and represented clients in cases involving divorce, domestic abuse, child protection and adoption.

As a parent of four children Sheila knows the problems of juggling work and family life.  All her children went to their local comprehensive school and she strongly values providing good educational opportunities to all.

Sheila was elected as Labour Councillor for Moredun in 1991. This was an area in which many houses lacked such basics as central heating and double glazing. She campaigned to get improvements carried out and new housing built and was appointed Convenor for Housing in 1999, a position she retained until she stood down from the council in 2007.