AN Independent councillor has taken a seat on Highland Council from the LibDems in a by-election.
Duncan Cameron McDonald won the seat in Inverness South with 730 first preference votes.
The LibDems' Jonathan Chartier was in second place with 652 votes with the SNP's Gordon Shanks a close third with 641.
The by-election - called following the resignation of Colin Aitken - attracted a low turnout of 26.3%.
McDonald joins other Inverness South councillors Ken Gowans (SNP), Duncan Macpherson (Highland Alliance) and Andrew Sinclair (Scottish Conservative and Unionist).
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In an emotional winner's speech, McDonald said: "I'd like to say thank you to a few people, especially the people here on the stage who have been so courteous, it's just been such a nice, pleasant environment to be campaigning in so thank you to you all.
#Ward19Byelection results pic.twitter.com/usqxRoPcug
— The Highland Council (@HighlandCouncil) April 12, 2024
"To all the people that have been involved in the election, and particularly those people in the polling stations who spent 17 hours yesterday sat there. At 10pm at night they were still all smiling, so thanks to them."
He addtionally thanked his election agent and his wife for "putting up with everything".
Despite the loss for the LibDems, their leader Alex Cole-Hamilton still congratulated the party on a "stunning revival" in the ward as they took a slim lead over the SNP.
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