THE Scottish Tories have won three Aberdeenshire council seats from SNP in three of five by-elections being announced today.
Welcoming the news, leader Russell Findlay called the wins in Aberdeenshire Council "a hat-trick", before adding: "it seems that common sense is contagious".
The party also won a seat from the SNP in Moray Council.
The first of the five announced was Fraserburgh and District.
The results were as follows:
- Conservative: 1145 (36.3%, +3.9)
- SNP: 895 (28.4%, +8.4)
- Reform UK: 817 (25.9%, new)
- LibDems: 222 (7%, +2.2)
- Family: 71 (2.3%, +1.3)
The Conservatives were elected at stage five with Iain Sutherland elected. The seat was vacated by SNP MP Seamus Logan when he was elected at the General Election in July.
He previously defeated Douglas Ross to win his seat.
The Tories were then announced winners in Central Buchan. Peter Chapman was elected in a return to politics after quitting Holyrood in 2021.
SNP councillor David Mair previously stepped down.
The results were as follows:
- Conservatives: 1260 (41.3%, +8)
- SNP: 869 (28.5%, -2.6)
- LibDems: 435 (14.3%, +1.2)
- RUK: 331 (10.9%, new)
- Family: 83 (2.7%, +1.3)
Again, the Tories were elected at stage 5.
Aberdeen Council later announced results to show SNP had again fell short against the Tories with Tracey Smith elected in the Mearns ward.
The resignation of former SNP councillor Kevin Stelfox triggered a by-election in this area.
The ward is also represented by councillor Laurie Carnie, who recently joined the Reform UK party.
The results were as follows:
- Conservatives: 1347 (39.2%, +7.5)
- SNP: 832 (24.2%, -4.8)
- LibDems: 745 (21.7%, +15.2)
- Reform UK: 375 (10.9%, new)
- Scottish Greens: 136 (4%, +0.6)
In the Elgin ward in Moray Council, the Tories also pipped the SNP in stage three. Elain Kirby was elected.
Elsewhere, Labour saw off their rivals and held on to their Gourock council seat as their candidate came out on top in the Inverclyde West by-election.
Ian Hellyer became Inverclyde West’s newest councillor after seeing off his SNP, Conservative, Alba and Reform UK rivals.
Hellyer secured 932 first-preference votes, with the SNP's Robert Kirkpatrick on 923, Ted Runciman for the Conservatives on 415, Alba Party candidate Chris McEleny on 239, and John Burleigh for Reform UK on 230.
Alba activists hailed the result as the party's "best ever election result".
