SNP take seat from Scottish Labour to win two by-elections in Dundee

THE SNP have won two by-elections for Dundee City Council, with Scottish Labour losing a seat.

Lee Mills gained a Lochee seat from Labour, receiving 1203 votes to beat Scottish Labour’s Marty Smith (1148 votes).

The SNP have held a Strathmartine seat, with Jimmy Black receiving 1188 votes compared to Richard McCready, who won 911 votes for the Labour and Co-operative Party.

It was the Scottish LibDems who came closest to beating the SNP in Strathmartine, with Jenny Blain receiving 912 votes.

We told how Scottish Labour have blamed the loss on the Winter Fuel Payment cut and the ongoing row over freebies. 

SNP councillor Mark Flynn shared a celebratory photo on Twitter/X, where he said: “Another welcome, this time to our newest councillor Lee Mills for the SNP here in Dundee.”

Another welcome 🎉 this time to our newest councillor Lee Mills for the @theSNP here in Dundee. 👏👏👏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿. @DundeeSNP pic.twitter.com/UVFNPco0pJ

— Mark Flynn (@MarkFlynnSNP) October 3, 2024

First Minister John Swinney wrote on Twitter/X: “Excellent results in Lochee and Strathmartine for Lee Mills and Jimmy Black.

“The SNP retain control of Dundee Council. Well done to our team.”

BREAKING : SNP GAIN LOCHEE FROM LABOUR AND HOLD STRATHMARTINE TO WIN BOTH BY-ELECTIONS IN DUNDEE TONIGHT. Excellent results in Lochee and Strathmartine for Lee Mills and Jimmy Black. @theSNP retain control of @DundeeCouncil. Well done to our team.

— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) October 3, 2024

Meanwhile, Dundee Central MP Chris Law was seen celebrating after the SNP gained Lochee from Labour.

🗳️ The SNP gain Lochee as Lee Mills is elected at stage 7. pic.twitter.com/Vub3OjAPcZ

— Radio Tay News (@RadioTayNews) October 3, 2024 

Commenting, SNP depute leader Keith Brown (below) said: “This is a fantastic double-win for the SNP and a real vote of confidence from the people of Lochee and Strathmartine.

  “Our incredible candidates Lee Mills and Jimmy Black – alongside our amazing activists – took the SNP’s positive message to voters on doorsteps across Dundee and repeatedly heard about betrayal felt following the first few weeks of a Labour Government.”   “Whether it’s millions of pounds of levelling up investment or life-saving support for Scottish pensioners, the Labour Party has shown that nothing is off the table when it comes to their austerity plans.”

The Lochee by-election was called following the death of Labour councillor Charlie Malone in July.

The Strathmartine by-election was called after Dundee City Council leader John Alexander – who was an SNP councillor for 12 years – stepped down in August.

Dundee City Council is led by the SNP, with the party now having 16 councillors following the two by-elections.