How and why did you get into politics?
I got into politics in a roundabout sort of way. I had worked for a local free paper in Corstorphine and through that had met some of the local Lib Dem councillors. I liked the community focus of their style of politics and I started off delivering local newsletters. After that I moved to Cramond and when the next local elections came along in 1995. I was asked by some local members to stand and squeaked onto Edinburgh City Council by just 14 votes. I very much enjoyed my time as a local councillor and having fought some successful local campaigns for better services for the area. I decided to stand for the Scottish Parliament elections. Our party was keen to see female candidates standing but I stood mainly because I thought I could do a good job and because it was a really exciting time for Scottish politics. I remember being filled with an incredible sense of optimism that we were going to make a real difference to the lives of our fellow Scots.