Another week, another SNP council by-election loss
After last week’s restart of elections, there were three council by-elections this week, again all in Scotland. As a result, all three by-elections were conducted using the alternative vote, and with 16 year olds able to vote.
Good to see a full slate of Liberal Democrat candidates this week.
Once again, the SNP failed to hold all its seats:
Aird and Loch Ness, Highland
A Conservative seat with Martin Robertson standing for the Liberal Democrats.
The Conservatives however lost the seat:
Aird and Loch Ness (Highland) By-Election, 1st Prefs:
Independent ~ 997 (28.3%, +28.3)
SNP ~ 994 (28.2%, +5.9)
Conservative ~ 824 (23.4%, +3.7)
Lib Dem ~ 300 (8.5%, -1.7)
Green ~ 272 (7.7%, +0.1)
Labour ~ 133 (3.8%, +3.8)Independent elected stage 5. pic.twitter.com/x8cu3LN5Ez
— Ballot Box Scotland (@BallotBoxScot) March 12, 2021
Leaderdale and Melrose, Scottish Borders
An SNP defence with Jonny Adamson the Liberal Democrat candidate. An unsuccessful defence, that is:
Conservative GAIN Leaderdale & Melrose (Scottish Borders) from SNP with 40% (+8) of 1st preference votes.
SNP were 2nd with 30% (+12), LDM 3rd on 16% (+6), IND (DOU) 4th on 5% (+5), GRN 5th on 4% (+4), LAB 6th on 3% (+3) and IND (WIL) 7th on 2% (+2). pic.twitter.com/QwetFTUiuf
— Election Maps UK (@ElectionMapsUK) March 12, 2021
Livingston South, West Lothian
Another SNP defence, with Caron Lindsay of Lib Dem Voice fame standing for the Lib Dems.
Livingston South (West Lothian) first preference result:
SNP: 43.9% (+3.0)
LAB: 24.6% (-10.9)
CON: 17.6% (-1.8)
IND: 5.9% (+5.9)
GRN: 4.2% (+1.7)
LDEM: 3.3% (+1.5)
UKIP: 0.5% (+0.5)SNP HOLD.
SNP elected stage 7.— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) March 12, 2021
These by-election results round-ups cover principal authority by-elections. See my post The danger in celebrating parish and town council wins for your own party for the reasons to avoid straying too often into covering town, parish or community council by-elections.
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I haven’t checked the others but I notice in the Borders one our candidate came a respectable third, and interestingly he received more 2nd preferences, and more 3rd preferences than any other candidate.
Now, coming third in ward in a constituency we used to hold is obviously not great. But it’s worth keeping in mind that a) Selkirk has always been the most Tory bit of the seat, and b) our respectable first preference vote yesterday, plus the high numbers of 2nd and 3rd preferences, don’t suggest to me that people in the Borders have totally gone off us.
Selkirk is not in the ward that was contested!