Conservatives win two Aberdeenshire by-elections

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-37872929

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The Conservatives have won two Aberdeenshire Council by-elections.

Iain Taylor is the new councillor for Banff and District, replacing SNP councillor Ian Gray, who died in August. Turnout was 29.5%.

Colin Clark was elected for Inverurie and District, where the turnout was 30.4%.

The by-election was triggered by the council's former co-leader, independent Martin Kitts Hayes, standing down in August.

Mr Kitts-Hayes had returned home early from a foreign conference because he was unhappy with his accommodation.

He said resulting personal abuse had put an "intolerable strain" on himself and his family.