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SNP's Mark McDonald wins Aberdeen Donside by-election | SNP's Mark McDonald wins Aberdeen Donside by-election |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The SNP's Mark McDonald has won the Aberdeen Donside Holyrood by-election. | The SNP's Mark McDonald has won the Aberdeen Donside Holyrood by-election. |
It followed the death of the SNP MSP Brian Adam in April, aged 64, after a battle with cancer. | It followed the death of the SNP MSP Brian Adam in April, aged 64, after a battle with cancer. |
Mr McDonald secured 9,814 votes, while Labour's Willie Young in second got 7,789, meaning the majority was down more than 5,000 on the 2011 result. | Mr McDonald secured 9,814 votes, while Labour's Willie Young in second got 7,789, meaning the majority was down more than 5,000 on the 2011 result. |
Lib Dem Christine Jardine was third and Conservative Ross Thomson was fourth. Mr McDonald said: "I will work hard to earn trust, as Brian Adam did." | Lib Dem Christine Jardine was third and Conservative Ross Thomson was fourth. Mr McDonald said: "I will work hard to earn trust, as Brian Adam did." |
Mr McDonald said his win, coming in the middle of the SNP's second term in government in Scotland, was "an excellent victory". | Mr McDonald said his win, coming in the middle of the SNP's second term in government in Scotland, was "an excellent victory". |
He said: "The opposition parties threw everything but the kitchen sink at this by-election campaign. To have held it with a good four-figure majority, in the face of that kind of campaign, I think demonstrates the strong record of the SNP." | He said: "The opposition parties threw everything but the kitchen sink at this by-election campaign. To have held it with a good four-figure majority, in the face of that kind of campaign, I think demonstrates the strong record of the SNP." |
He added: "I look forward to working hard for the people of Donside, and if I work hard for them in the way Brian Adam did I am sure we will see those majorities increasing at future elections." | He added: "I look forward to working hard for the people of Donside, and if I work hard for them in the way Brian Adam did I am sure we will see those majorities increasing at future elections." |
In the last Scottish Parliament election Mr Adam won the seat with 14,790 votes, giving him a majority of 7,175 over Labour. | In the last Scottish Parliament election Mr Adam won the seat with 14,790 votes, giving him a majority of 7,175 over Labour. |
That was reduced to 2,025 in the by-election, with Labour candidate Willie Young polling 7,789 votes. | That was reduced to 2,025 in the by-election, with Labour candidate Willie Young polling 7,789 votes. |
The turnout was 38.8% and the result came just after 01:50 on Friday. | The turnout was 38.8% and the result came just after 01:50 on Friday. |
There was a swing of just over 9% from the SNP to Labour, with Mr Young delighted to have taken more than 5,000 out of the Nationalist majority. | There was a swing of just over 9% from the SNP to Labour, with Mr Young delighted to have taken more than 5,000 out of the Nationalist majority. |
Mr Young, a councillor in Aberdeen, said the result showed his party could win the seat in the 2016 Holyrood elections and added: "All over Scotland people will be seeing the Labour Party has put in a strong performance and other seats are there for the taking." | Mr Young, a councillor in Aberdeen, said the result showed his party could win the seat in the 2016 Holyrood elections and added: "All over Scotland people will be seeing the Labour Party has put in a strong performance and other seats are there for the taking." |
The Liberal Democrats, who were fourth in the seat in 2011, overtook the Conservatives to take third place with Christine Jardine polling 1,940 votes. | The Liberal Democrats, who were fourth in the seat in 2011, overtook the Conservatives to take third place with Christine Jardine polling 1,940 votes. |
Conservative Ross Thomson, who took 1,791 votes, insisted he was pleased with the result. | Conservative Ross Thomson, who took 1,791 votes, insisted he was pleased with the result. |
He said the Tory share of the vote "held up remarkably well", adding that in 2011 the UK Independence Party (Ukip) did not contest the seat. | He said the Tory share of the vote "held up remarkably well", adding that in 2011 the UK Independence Party (Ukip) did not contest the seat. |
Ukip candidate Otto Inglis took 1,128 votes - 4.83% of votes cast - meaning his party lost its deposit. | Ukip candidate Otto Inglis took 1,128 votes - 4.83% of votes cast - meaning his party lost its deposit. |
Mr Thomson, who is a councillor in Aberdeen, said his party was also squeezed as the contest was seen as a two-horse race between the SNP and Labour. | Mr Thomson, who is a councillor in Aberdeen, said his party was also squeezed as the contest was seen as a two-horse race between the SNP and Labour. |
He claimed Labour targeted the Tory vote, urging people to vote for them in a bid to keep the SNP out. | He claimed Labour targeted the Tory vote, urging people to vote for them in a bid to keep the SNP out. |
Mr Thomson said: "Because our voters are such committed unionists that had an appeal for some of them." | Mr Thomson said: "Because our voters are such committed unionists that had an appeal for some of them." |
First Minister Alex Salmond congratulated Mr McDonald on a "fantastic SNP win", adding he would be a "first-class representative for the people of Donside". | First Minister Alex Salmond congratulated Mr McDonald on a "fantastic SNP win", adding he would be a "first-class representative for the people of Donside". |
Mr Salmond said: "Midway into our second term of government and we have comfortably retained a seat which Labour once held. | Mr Salmond said: "Midway into our second term of government and we have comfortably retained a seat which Labour once held. |
"Their failure to make significant progress is a major setback. This is a very bad result for Labour - after six years of opposition, they show no sign of being anything more than an opposition party. | "Their failure to make significant progress is a major setback. This is a very bad result for Labour - after six years of opposition, they show no sign of being anything more than an opposition party. |
"I am also delighted that Ukip failed to retain their deposit. They have never saved a single deposit in Scotland, which once again demonstrates a clear divergence between Scottish and Westminster politics." | "I am also delighted that Ukip failed to retain their deposit. They have never saved a single deposit in Scotland, which once again demonstrates a clear divergence between Scottish and Westminster politics." |
The by-election result means the SNP still has an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament with 65 of the 129 MSPs. | The by-election result means the SNP still has an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament with 65 of the 129 MSPs. |
The results have also been announced of two separate council by-elections held in Edinburgh and Fife on Thursday. | |
Labour's Keith Robson gained the Liberton and Gilmerton ward in Edinburgh from the SNP. | |
In the contest for the Glenrothes North, Leslie and Markinch ward at Fife Council, John Wincott successfully defended the seat for Labour. |