THE SNP have lost a fourth seat to the Scottish Conservatives following a defeat in a by-election in Moray.
It comes after the party already lost three seats to the Tories in Aberdeenshire while Labour held on in Inverclyde to retain their seat in Inverclyde West.
In the Elgin City South by-election, Scottish Tory candidate Elaine Kirby was elected at stage three with 1160 votes.
The SNP’s Laura Mitchell came in second place with 1093 votes.
Mitchell had led the voting after the first stage although, according to Ballot Box Scotland, transfers from the Liberal Democrats and Labour helped determine the winner.
Reacting to the news on Twitter/X, Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay said: “Yes! That’s four victories for the @ScotTories over the SNP.
“Councillor Elaine Kirby will be a common-sense champion for the people of Elgin City South.”
Elsewhere, Tory MSP Stephen Kerr claimed that the results showed “Labour and SNP are on the way down”.
The Elgin City South by-election had been called because the seat was vacated by Graham Leadbitter as the SNP MP for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey.
In Aberdeenshire, the SNP also lost three seats to the Scottish Tories in Fraserburgh and District, Central Buchan and Mearns.
Meanwhile, in Inverclyde, Scottish Labour saw off their rivals and held onto their council seat in Inverclyde West.
