Stunning win for SNP in council by-election

Bob Watson has been elected to represent the Troup ward on Aberdeenshire council.

A by-election was held on Thursday to choose a successor to the late Mitchell Burnett, who died in February following a lengthy battle with cancer.

The SNP increased its first preference votes in the ward by 15% to 63%.

"This is a stunning victory," said SNP leader Alex Salmond.

"As Gordon Brown faces humiliation south of the Border today, this result demonstrates a tale of two governments.

"The SNP has massively increased its vote as a range of SNP policies like freezing council tax and cutting prescription charges have been delivered.

"In contrast, this was a catastrophic night for Labour and Gordon Brown as we see the council results come in down south. Whilst the Labour government is disintegrating, the SNP government is going from strength to strength as we mark one year on from the election."

Cllr Bob Watson said: "It is an honour to have been elected to represent Troup on Aberdeenshire Council.

"I look forward to working with my SNP colleagues on the council, in Parliament and in the SNP Government to put forward a positive vision for Aberdeenshire and to fight for the interests of the people of Troup."

The full result was: -

Party Votes %
SNP 1721 63%
Tory 515 19%
LibDem 503 18%

The result on 3 May 2007: -

Party Votes %
SNP 1798 48%
Tory 914 24%
Other 770 20%
LibDem 286 8%

Troup was the first Aberdeenshire by-election to use the single transferable vote system since last May’s council election.

Mr Burnett won the 2007 election with just under 48% of the vote.

Mr Watson served as a Grampian regional councillor for the eastern part of the Troup ward from 1986 to 1992.