Independent Candidate wins Caol and Mallaig by-election For Highland Council

2nd May 2014

The by-election for a councillor to serve the Caol and Mallaig ward on The Highland Council has been won by Ben Thompson, Independent.

Mr Thomson was one of five candidates, who contested the vacancy, created by the retiral of Eddie Hunter in February. He joins Councillors Bill Clark (SNP) and Allan Henderson (Independent) in representing Ward 12.

Voting was by the single transferable vote and Mr Thompson emerged as the winner at the fourth stage of the count, gaining 932 of the 2,391 valid first preference votes cast. The quota was 1,196. 23 votes were rejected.

The turn out was 34.4%.

The other candidates were:

• William Keelie MacDonald, Scottish National Party (SNP).
  
• Liam Kevin Simmonds, UK Independence Party (UKIP).
  
• Susan Wallace, Scottish Christian Party "Proclaiming Christ’s Lordship".
  
• Sandy Watson.

Mr Thompson said: "I am very excited and motivated to work for the Caol and Mallaig Ward on The Highland Council. I appreciate all the efforts of the other candidates in highlighting local issues during the by-election campaign. I look forward to my new role and doing the best for everyone in my Ward."

The representation of the 80-member Council now is: - Independent 34, SNP 21, Liberal Democrats 14, Labour 8, Independent Nationalist 1, Non-aligned 2.