PERTH residents have voted for change as the SNP triumphed in a by-election on Thursday, with the ward seat previously held by Labour.
SNP candidate Carol Mair was elected in the Perth City North ward as their new councillor after a by-election was triggered following Labour’s Brian Leishman’s resignation, following his appointment as MP for Alloa and Grangemouth at the General Election.
Mair’s election means all three seats in Perth City North are now held by SNP councillors.
The retired NHS worker attributed her win partly to residents in Perth not being happy with the Labour Government’s decision-making since coming into power in July.
She told the Courier: “A lot of people were bringing up the Winter Fuel Payment cut.”
Adding: “I joined the SNP the day after the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 and I’ve been an active party member ever since.”
First Minister and leader of the SNP, John Swinney, was one of many who congratulated Mair on her win last night.
In a statement on social media he said: “The SNP win Perth city north by-election from Labour. Well done to Carol Mair and her team on winning the by-election tonight. #SNPGAIN”
While SNP veteran and MP for Perth and Kinross-shire, Pete Wishart, also congratulated the new councillor on her position.
He said: “SNP gain from Labour in Perth City North. The SNP now hold all councillors in this ward. An absolutely stonking result for the fantastic Carol Mair.”
In another post he added: “Carol will be a fantastic addition to Perth and Kinross Council. Almost 50% of first preferences with Labour nowhere. We're used to winning here in Perth and this is an amazing result.”
Elsewhere on the same day, the LibDem’s Alan Watt won in Strathallan, a seat previously held by the Conservatives.
Perth City North result (first preference)
Sonia Davidson (Reform UK) – 209
Carol Mair (SNP) – 917
Tina Jane Ng-A-Mann (Lib Dem) – 95
Kirsten Nkwocha-Dyer (Labour) – 313
Aziz Rehman (Conservative) – 296
Robert Reid (Alba) – 133
Caitlin Ripley (Scottish Greens) – 87
Turnout: 22.7%
