THE Tories have won SNP MSP Karen Adam's former council seat in the Mid-Formartine by-election.
The Aberdeenshire council seat was hotly contested, but the Tory candidate and expected winner Sheila Powell picked up the most first preference votes with 1480 (45.7% of the vote share).
The SNP followed closely behind with 1205 votes (37.2%) for candidate Jenny Nicol.
The LibDem candidate Jeff Goodhall followed with only 412 votes (12.7%) and Greens candidate Peter Kennedy with 144 votes (4.4%).
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The Tories increased their vote share by 11.1 points, but the SNP increased their vote share by slightly more with 11.4 points.
However, it should be noted that neither Labour or any independent candidates stood in the by-election.
In 2017, Independents gained 25.4% of the vote share with 1319 votes, and Labour 4.7% with 245 votes. Combined, they previously held nearly 30% of the vote share.
This is clearly reflected in the results, with all parties gaining an increased vote share.
Scottish Council elections also use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, which means the ballot went through further rounds of voting before Powell was declared the winner.
Under STV, the candidate with the fewest first preference votes was eliminated, with their second preference votes then added to the other candidates until a vote quota was reached.
On social media, winning candidate Powell said: “Absolutely delighted to have been elected today, with over 45% of the vote and an increase of more than 11%! #ConGain
“Thank you so much to my team, everyone who helped me and everyone who voted for me. I will be a strong voice for all our communities in #MidFormartine on the Council and stand up for you.”
We previously told how the council seat came up for grabs after Karen Adam (pictured) was elected as SNP MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast.
In the run up to the by-election, former Tory Aberdeenshire council leader Jim Gifford backed the LibDem candidate this time round.
Gifford, and three other Tories on the council, joined an aligned independents group with the LibDems in June 2020.
Mid Formartine Results
Results are for first preference votes only
Conservative:1480 (45.7%, +11.1)
SNP: 1205 (37.2%, +11.4)
Lib Dem: 412 (12.7%, +3.3)
Green: 144 (4.4%, +4.4)
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