Another Council by-election

Reluctant Hero · Another Council by-election

Taking place today, following the death of the SNP's Kate Howie.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7255174.stm

Council by-election taking place

A by-election is being held to select a new councillor for the Highland ward in Perth and Kinross Council.
The ballot was called following the death of Councillor Eleanor Howie last year.

The candidates are: Labour's Anne Chatt; Kate Howie for the SNP; Liberal Democrat Andrew Kenton; and Graham Rees from the Conservatives.

Polling booths will be open from 0700 GMT to 2200 GMT with voters using the Single Transferable Vote system (STV).

That means people will be asked to rank the candidates in order of preference, putting a one next to the name of their first choice, two beside their second choice, three next to their third choice and so on.

George

Her's the result:

Kate Howie (Scottish National Party) 1891 votes
Graham Rees (Scottish Conservative and Unionist) 940 votes
Andrew Kenton (Scottish Liberal Democrats) 229 votes
Anne Chatt (Scottish Labour Party) 97 votes

Out of an eligible electorate of 7,282 people, 3,178 votes were cast - a 43.6% poll.
A total of 21 invalid votes were cast.

I think that I'm correct when I say that the Liberal vote tumbled by over 60%, whilst voter turnout was down by around a third from last time.

A significant real terms drop for the Liberals if I am indeed correct.

Lewis

Also shows the decline of the Labour party in the North East of Scotland.

October1974

and a decrease in the Lib Dem percertage compared with May 2007 when they had a single candidate. The previous candiate for them was a regular candidate in North Tayside.

SNP have done well to gain 2 seats and hold their own so far since May 2007 most with a slight increase in the share of vote.