SNP win in council by-election

Eric Baxter 1629 - 1629 • Published 20 Jun 2009 14:00

THE Scottish National Party are celebrating today after winning the Inverclyde South West by-election, beating the Liberal Democrats into second place.

The result of Thursday"s poll was announced at 1.15pm yesterday, following a three-hour count.

Innes Nelson, 52, of Inverkip, won at the sixth stage of counting in the first Inverclyde by-election held under a proportional representation system of voting.

Seven candidates fought the contest, which was called following the death of SNP councillor Ken Ferguson.

The result means the number of seats held by each party on Inverclyde Council remains unchanged.

After the first and second preference votes were counted, Mr Nelson had 1,087 - just over 50 per cent - and Eric Forbes of the Liberal Democrats had 620. The turnout was 26 per cent.

The 20-seat council has eight Labour councillors, five SNP, four Lib-Dem, one Tory and two Independent.

Speaking at the count in Ravenscraig Sports Centre, Mr Nelson said: 'I dedicate my victory to Ken Ferguson.

'I thank the voters for putting their faith in me and I hope I can live up to their expectations.'

Mr Nelson is an engineering lecturer at James Watt College in Greenock. He stood as an Independent in the seat - which covers Larkfield, Braeside, Branchton, Inverkip and Wemyss Bay - at the 2007 council elections and narrowly failed to win.

He said: 'I had no doubt that standing for the SNP this time was the best way forward for the future of Inverclyde.'

In order of preference, the other candidates were: Eric Forbes of the Lib Dems, Alex McGhee of Labour, Iain MacLeod of the Conservatives, Independent Paul Travers, Peter Campbell of UKIP (UK Independence Party) and Iain Ramsay of the Free Scotland Party.

Inverclyde is a "hung" council, run by a minority Labour administration.

Labour holds power because it has the backing of Tory David Wilson, who is also the Deputy Provost, and Independent Ronnie Ahlfeld.

Inverclyde South West returns three councillors. The other two sitting councillors are Lib Dem Ciano Rebecchi and Labour"s Gerry Dorrian.

See Monday"s Tele for further coverage of the by-election.

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 20 Jun 09

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