Editing Lothian (section)

==Governance==
By 1305, the area of Lothian had been divided into three [[shires of Scotland|shires]] (the area controlled by a [[sheriff principal|sheriff]]), called the shires of Edinburgh (or Edinburghshire), Haddington (or Haddingtonshire), and Linlithgow (or Linlithgowshire).<ref name=Chalmers>{{cite book |last1=Chalmers |first1=George |title=Caledonia |date=1889 |publisher=Alexander Gardner |location=Paisley |pages=559, 574, 579|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hywv0eVoI-8C&pg=PA574 |access-date=24 December 2022 |chapter=Edinburghshire: Of its establishment as a shire}}</ref> Each of these three counties had an informal alternative name referencing their position within the former province of Lothian: Edinburghshire was also known as [[Midlothian (historic)|Midlothian]], Haddingtonshire as [[East Lothian]], and Linlithgowshire as [[West Lothian (historic)|West Lothian]]. The city of Edinburgh was made a [[county of city|county of itself]] in 1482, making it administratively independent from the surrounding county of Edinburghshire.<ref name=Chalmers/>

The three Lothian counties were all legally renamed during the 20th century, with Haddingtonshire becoming East Lothian in 1921,<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=East Lothian County Buildings Order Confirmation Act 1921|year=1921|chapter=123|accessdate=25 December 2022}}</ref> Linlithgowshire becoming West Lothian in 1925,<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Westlothian (Bathgate District) Water Order Confirmation Act 1925|year=1925|chapter=10|accessdate=25 December 2022}}</ref> and Edinburghshire becoming Midlothian in 1947.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947|year=1947|chapter=43|accessdate=24 December 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Edinburgh Council building - geograph.org.uk - 1315978.jpg|thumb|[[Lothian Chambers]], Edinburgh: headquarters of Lothian Regional Council 1975–1996]]
In 1975 the old county councils and burgh corporations were abolished under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973]], being replaced with [[Regions and districts of Scotland|regions and districts]]. '''Lothian Regional Council''' formally took over responsibility from the old county councils in May 1975. The Lothian region was split into four districts: East Lothian, Edinburgh, [[Midlothian]], and [[West Lothian]]. Each district was broadly based on the areas of the pre-1975 counties and city, but with some notable alterations. The Lothian Regional Council was responsible for education, social work, water, sewerage, and transport (including local buses within Edinburgh). The regional council was based at [[Lothian Chambers]] on King George IV Bridge in Edinburgh, which had been built in 1904 as the headquarters of the old Midlothian County Council.<ref name=listed>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num= LB27674|desc= Midlothian County Buildings, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh|access-date=3 July 2022}}</ref>

Lothian Regional Council was abolished in 1996 under the [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/localg/history/Q/editmode/on/forceupdate/on|title=History of Local Government in Scotland|publisher=Scottish Government|access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref><ref>''Councils in Scotland to face shake-up'', The Times.  9 July 1993.</ref> The region's four districts took over all local government functions as unitary [[council areas]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=39|accessdate=16 December 2022}}</ref>

===Political control===
The first election to the Lothian Regional Council was held in 1974, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new system came into force on 16 May 1975. Political control of the council from 1975 until its abolition in 1996 was as follows:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |website=The Elections Centre |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ {{Screen reader-only|Political control of council}}
|-
! scope=colgroup colspan="2"| Party in control!! scope=col | Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1975–1978
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || 1978–1982
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1982–1986
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || 1986–1996
|}

{{wide image|Pentland Hills From Caerketton Hill II.jpg|1200px|The [[Pentland Hills]] in rural Lothian}}