The wave of support for the SNP showed no signs of abating yesterday, as the party swept to a double by-election victory in Aberdeen.
The Nationalists held on to the George Street-Harbour ward and also gained the Midstocket-Rosemount seat following the resignations of the SNP’s Andrew May and independent councillor Fraser Forsyth – who both quit in the summer.
Alex Nicoll(corr), a 57-year-old former Grampian policeman, landed the Midstocket-Rosemount seat, with a 40% share of the fourth-preference vote.
Michael Hutchinson, a 26-year-old parliamentary assistant to Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart, secured 50% of first preference votes to become the new councillor for the George Street-Harbour area.
Turnout in the George Street-Harbour ward was just 15%, while in the Midstocket-Rosemount area it was slightly better, at 24%.
The elections were held on Thursday, and the results announced at the Town and County Hall yesterday.
Mr Nicoll secured 1,168 of the votes, with the Conservatives’ Tom Mason trailing on 672, Labour’s Howard Gemmell on 605, Liberal Democrat Ken McLeod had 238 votes, and Green candidate, Jennifer Phillips on 170.
Similarly in the Midstocket-Rosemount ward, Mr Hutchison won with 961 votes, followed by Labour’s Mike Scott on 490 votes, Conservative Brian Davidson secured 195 votes, while the 136 votes won by the Green Party’s Alex Jarvis pushed Lib Dem Euan Davidson into fifth place, with 96.
Speaking after the Aberdeen results were announced, Mr Nicoll said he was “over the moon” at his victory.
He said: “I generally think we are more engaged with the public and they are more engaged with our policies, and I think that’s reflected in today’s vote.”
His new colleague Mr Hutchinson added: “If I can help address the public’s issues closer to home, like anti-social behaviour, then we can start to look at the bigger picture such as the regeneration of the city.”
Mr Gemmell, the defeated Labour candidate in Midstocket-Rosemount, said: “It’s disappointing to finish third, I don’t think anyone was surprised with the SNP winning – they’re still walking on water.”
There were celebrations for the SNP across Scotland yesterday as the Nationalists marched to victory in six by-elections, including their wins in the Granite City.
The party also triumphed in Glenrothes West and Kinglassie in Fife, Irvine Valley in East Ayrshire, Stirling East, and Linlithgow in West Lothian.
Meanwhile, in Moray, independent Dennis Slater beat off competition from the SNP to win the Heldon and Laich ward.