LABOUR has held onto a council seat following the tragic death of the leader of East Lothian Council.
Willie Innes’ death in October last year following a long illness triggered a by-election in the Preston, Seton, Gosford ward of the east coast council.
The ward includes Prestonpans, Cockenzie and Port Seton, and Longniddry.
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Polls opened yesterday and the election was contested by Calum Miller (independent), Ben Morse (Liberal Democrats), Andy Ovens (Conservative), Tim Porteus (Greens), Janis Wilson (SNP) and Colin Yorkston (Labour).
Yorkston held the seat for Labour with 1793 (38.5%) votes, it was announced on Friday morning.
Polls closed at 10pm on Thursday night.
The result of the Ward 2 Preston/Seton/Gosford by-election is that Colin Yorkston, Scottish Labour Party has been duly elected to serve on East Lothian Council pic.twitter.com/nmfCrJmCpE
— East Lothian Council - latest info, news & events (@ELCouncil) January 21, 2022
East Lothian council said the turnout was 31.4%.
The SNP came second with 1217 (26.2%) first preference votes and the Tories were in third place with 1155 (24.8%).
The Greens took 231 (5.0%) first preference votes and the LibDems won 136 (2.9%). Callum Miller, the independent candidate received 122 (2.6%) first preference votes.
Chemistry teacher Yorkston crowdfunded £920 to support his campaign.
Yorkston said: "I am delighted and honoured to follow in the footsteps of Willie Innes and serve as Scottish Labour councillor for Preston, Seton and Gosford."
The late councillor Innes was one of the local authority’s longest-serving councillors.
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He first served in the then district council before the move to a unitary authority in 1996.
Representing the Preston, Seton, Gosford ward in which he lived, he was appointed Leader of the East Lothian Labour Group in 2007. He was appointed Council Leader in 2012.
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