Conor Snowden - Lib Dem Councillor in Edinburgh

Conor Snowden came to Edinburgh from Northern Ireland as a student, stayed in the city and is now a Councillor. He is a Liberal Democrat and represents the Liberton / Gilmerton ward.

Student, Intern, Marriage

Originally from Northern Ireland, Conor moved across the Irish Sea in 1994 to study for a first degree in geophysics at Durham University and a PhD at Edinburgh University. He then joined CARE's Leadership Programme which involved an intern placement in the Scottish Parliament for a year in the office of Donald Gorrie MSP. While on the Leadership Programme he met his wife-to-be Mhairi, who had been a CARE intern the previous year

Work-family balance

As a husband, and a father of a young family, Conor emphasises the need for good diary planning to ensure a reasonable work-family balance. Conor has chosen to combine part-time employment along with his role as a Councillor, and maintaining an appropriate allocation of time between the three main elements of his life - family, council, work,- needs constant appraisal.

Conor suggests that for anyone thinking to stand as a Councillor - especially someone with family responsibilities - there needs to be a hierarchy of priorities to ensure a balanced lifestyle.

Getting involved

In looking back at his early involvement into politics, Conor advises the need to be active in serving a political party at a local level. 'You need to be willing to 'muck in' to do the practical jobs such as delivering leaflets', he says. He also emphasises the fact that local party involvement includes the privilege of being part of the decision-making process for the party manifesto and the selection of candidates.

Often, it might be single-issue campaigning which brings people into mainstream politics and involvement with a party.

The Christian influence

Commitment and service are the two keynotes for Conor in being a politician and which underpin how he works out his faith in the political sphere. 'People with different sets of personal skills are needed to contribute to the political process; Christians, with their faith-inspired desire to care for our world and its most vulnerable citizens, can be effective Councillors even if they have never imagined themselves to be politicians', says Conor.