East Ayrshire by-election

Tartan Tory · East Ayrshire by-election

Independent councillor for Doon Valley, Jim Sutherland has passed away which will mean a by-election in the area. In 2007, the SNP and Labour both won 14 seats each, with the 3 Tory councillors and Sutherland endorsing the SNP minority control, so this could be decisive in the control of the council.

Morph

Lets hope it doesnt go to Labour, I live in East Ayrshire and although there has been a recession the SNP seem to be doing more. Whether or not this is due to my blinkers I do not know but thats how i view it.

The Lithgae Jambo

Rinty

Labour will win it in a byelection, IMHO, the SNP picked up councillors in these areas through STV. The viallges in that ward are strong Labour Heartlands and Sutherland had a local pupularity that gave him an edge in Drongan that the SNP cant match.

voiceofourown

Ah, good ol' Drongan! I was through it last week. The Shankhill Road of Scotland with it's Ulster Banners and Union Jacks.
P.S. Whatever happened to Tommy Farrel, erstwhile councillor for this sainted village.

William_Cleland

It's actually Shankill based on an anglicised spelling of "old church" in Irish Gaelic, for what it's worth.

Rinty

Farrell lost his seat last time round to Sutherland who promised to spend his wages and allowances on the town and to take no expenses. This is something that rich candidates can do while others cannot. Farrel, BTW, represented the place for decades and, as he is a practising Catholic, doesnt square with Drongans reputation as a Scottish Shankill.

voiceofourown

Indeed, Rinty - I remember Sutherland's campaign now. Caused a bit of ill feeling I recall.
My interest in Mr Farrell's fate was with regard to the very public difficulties he got into vis a vis accusations of nepotism and concommitant shenanigans. I haven't heard much about it for a while.
As for Drongan being a Scottish Shankill (spelling corrected you note), I was just really commenting on the street iconography / unionist drapery which is, let's say, visually arresting.
I'm sure the vast majority of Drongonians, like the rest of us, vote with no thought of a candidate's religious background.

Rinty

Dont know what happened re farrell and the thing you mention, I will find out though as I was associated with the project and would like to see the final post-mortem when it happens.

Well-off candidates like Sutherland, refusing to take wages and giving it to the community groups, are a danger to democracy. It sets a standard that only rich people can afford and could be said to bribing the community groups to vote for him.

Corby Boy

There is really a village in Scotland that looks like the Shankill. Give me stength.

These folk need to move into the c21st.

Rinty

It doesnt, it looks like most other villages. I did a workshop down there last month and saw nothing, but around the marching season you WILL see some flags and stuff.

Stevie

Does anybody have any polling data for any of the upcoming byelections?

Rinty

Dont think there will be opinion polls, you can find the previous results for the ward in easyt Ayashire here http://www.eastayrshire.gov.uk/corpres/Admin/ELECTIONS.asp
prior to 2007, the ward was three separate wards, all Labour, with the SNP running Labour close in Bellsbank/Dalmellington. When it comes to a by-election, with only one council 'seat' avaiable, it wiolll most likely revert to Labour.

In 2007 there were circumstances surrounding the previous Labour incumbent in Drongan and a strong local candidate (sutherland) standing on a ticket of, "i will claim no expenses and give all of my salary to local groups". In the absence of a similar candidate, its hard to see the SNP winning.

Still, we are living in strange times when it comes to elections.

voiceofourown

Rinty

no, not whole streets, maybe a few houses

Tartan Tory

http://east-ayrshire.gov.uk/corpr...ws/display_story.asp?StoryID=2942

The Results:

Moira Pirie (Lab) 1221
John Bell (SNP) 891
Nicholas Marin (Con) 176
Yvonne Hamilton (Ind) 84
Robert Shennan (Ind) 44

So Labour now have more councilors than the SNP, but the SNP can still continue their minority administration if the Tories continue to support it.

magister ludi

looked convincing.....until I read the turnout figures....<27%.

looks like apathy won the day

October1974

the changes in this seat since 2007

Lab 50.5% +1.53%
SNP 36.9% +10.85%
Con 7.3% -1.08%
Ind Hamilton 3.5% (N/A)
Ind Shennan 1.8% (N/A)

The deceased Independent polled 16.61% in 2007.