THE SNP have lost a council seat to the Scottish Conservatives in a by-election.
The Tories’ John Bathgate became the newest councillor for the Jedburgh and District ward on the Scottish Borders council after a vote held on Thursday.
The election took place after the resignation of the SNP’s councillor Pam Brown in 2023.
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Bathgate won on first preference votes with a total of 1377 (58.5%).
The SNP candidate, Phil Dixon, came in a distant second with 410 votes (17.4%).
Labour’s Kaymarie Hughes came in third with 241 votes (10.2%), the LibDems’ Ray Georgeson won 166 votes (7.1%), and the Scottish Greens’ Charles Strang won 135 votes (5.7%), BallotBox Scotland reported.
Jedburgh and District (Scottish Borders) by-election, 1st prefs:
— Ballot Box Scotland (@BallotBoxScot) February 23, 2024
Con: 1377 (58.5%, +8.2)
SNP: 410 (17.4%, -5.7)
Lab: 241 (10.2%, new)
LD: 166 (7.1%, new)
Grn: 135 (5.7%, -1.4)
Eco-Fed: 25 (1.1%, new)
(19.5% for Oth in 2022, inc 15% for Ind who is Con here)
Con win on 1st prefs. pic.twitter.com/lw1IZUfAMx
According to the Scottish Borders Council website, the Tories were the largest group with 14 councillors before the by-election. The SNP had nine councillors.
After Brown’s resignation and Bathgate’s win, the Tory group is now 15 councillors while the SNP have eight – meaning they are still the second-largest party on the Conservative-run council.
Posting on social media, Tory minister John Lamont celebrated the win.
“@ScotTories GAIN Jedburgh, St Boswells and district from the SNP,” he wrote. “ “Huge congratulations to our new councillor John Bathgate!
“John will be a fantastic councillor and I look forward to working with him to deliver on the top priorities of local people.”
Scots Tory leader Douglas Ross posted: "Congratulations to John Bathgate, our newest councillor!
"This is a fantastic result, which shows that in key seats right across Scotland it is only the Scottish Conservatives who can beat the SNP and shift the focus onto local priorities."
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