THE LibDems have won the by-election for the Inverness West ward of Highland council – with the SNP receiving the most first preferences.
Parties across the board saw their vote increase as independent candidates accounting for 24.4% of the previous poll did not stand again.
Labour also did not stand a candidate, after securing 6.7% of the vote in the 2017 election.
READ MORE: Dalry and West Kilbride: Tories claim North Ayrshire by-election win
The SNP received 718 votes (33.7%) in the first round of the ballot, with the LibDems on 678 (31.8%).
However, as Scottish council elections use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, this meant the ballot went to more rounds of voting.
Under STV, the candidate with the fewest first preference votes was eliminated, with their second preference votes then added to the other candidates until a vote quota was reached.
The Inverness West by-election that saw Colin Aitken elected for the LibDems went to a seventh stage of vote calculations before a winner was found.
Kate Maclean of the SNP – a community development officer with NHS Highland Adult Services – narrowly missed out.
The Greens, who did not stand in 2017, received 159 votes (7.5%) and the Independence for Scotland party received 42 (2.0%).
The by-election came after depute provost Graham Ross – an independent – resigned for “family reasons”.
Inverness West results
Results are for first-preference votes
SNP: 718 votes (33.7%) +4.4
LibDem: 676 votes (31.8%) +4.2
Conservative: 293 votes (13.7%) +1.8
McDonald (Independent): 230 votes (10.8%) +10.8
Green: 159 votes (7.5%) +7.5
Independence for Scotland party: 42 (2%) +2
Libertarian: 11 votes (0.5%) +0.5
Overall turnout 25.3% (-17.3)
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel