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Lib Dems win Highland's Aird and Loch Ness by-election | Lib Dems win Highland's Aird and Loch Ness by-election |
(34 minutes later) | |
The Liberal Democrats have won a by-election in Highland Council's Aird and Loch Ness ward. | The Liberal Democrats have won a by-election in Highland Council's Aird and Loch Ness ward. |
Jean Davis narrowly defeated her closest rival SNP candidate Emma Knox. | |
The by-election in the ward, which is represented by four councillors, was triggered by Drew Hendry's election as an MP for the SNP in May. | The by-election in the ward, which is represented by four councillors, was triggered by Drew Hendry's election as an MP for the SNP in May. |
He was elected as the new MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, the seat previously held by Liberal Democrat Danny Alexander. | He was elected as the new MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, the seat previously held by Liberal Democrat Danny Alexander. |
The turnout was 32.35%. | The turnout was 32.35%. |
Ms Davis said the victory marked the start of a Lib Dem "fight back" in the Highlands. | |
The SNP said it was a close contest up until the final stage "when Tory votes swung to the Lib Dems". | |
Voting was by the single transferable vote. | |
Ms Davis emerged as the winner at the fourth and final stage of the count, gaining 1,511 votes against second placed Ms Knox with 1,167. | |
The ward's other councillors are independents Helen Carmichael and Margaret Davidson and Liberal Democrat Hamish Wood. | |
The by-election result has not changed the running of the local authority. Its ruling administration remains under the control of 32 independent councillors. |