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:
Leaderdale and Melrose, Scottish Borders
An SNP defence with Jonny Adamson the Liberal Democrat candidate. An unsuccessful defence, that is:
Livingston South, West Lothian
Another SNP defence, with Caron Lindsay of Lib Dem Voice fame standing for the Lib Dems.
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!