Conservatives in Moray have dealt a blow to rivals with a by-election win just weeks before the general election.
Child protection worker Laura Powell, from Portknockie, won the Keith and Cullen ballot to replace former independent member Ron Shepherd, who resigned for health reasons.
The result turned into a two-horse race between the Conservatives and the SNP with each vying for a win ahead of the national poll.
Last night, local Tories claimed the result was a sign that support for the party was “holding strong” in the north-east after they topped every area in 2017’s Moray Council election.
Meanwhile, the SNP stressed the importance of ensuring voters visit the ballot boxes after a turnout of 33.9% in yesterday’s result.
Mrs Powell, who will now resign from her post at Highland Council to concentrate on her new position, said: “It’s going to be a new challenge for me. I know an awful lot about child protection but I feel I’ll bring my whole life experience too.
“The difference in the end was maybe about 150 votes, so maybe not as close as what some would have thought. It’s a very good boost for the Conservative campaign in Scotland.”
SNP candidate Jock McKay said: “I had a great team, I feel sorry for the sensible voters though who will now have to live with a Conservative councillor.”
Mrs Powell was elected at the last stage of the counting process with 1,339 votes once ballots from other candidates had been transferred.
Mr McKay had a final total of 1,184 with independent candidate Rob Barsby securing 430 and Liberal Democrat Ian Aitchison getting 212.
Marc Macrae, election agent for the Conservatives, said: “I think it’s a fantastic result for Laura, who will be a strong voice for the area. The turnout was perhaps not as high as it might have been but with the general election coming round the corner it shows it’s very much a two-horse race between the Scottish Conservatives and the SNP.
“I think it also shows our vote is holding strong in the north-east though.”
SNP MSP Richard Lochhead said: “If there’s one message from this election, which was largely fought on national issues by the Conservatives, it is that the general election will go down to the wire – we really need the SNP voters to turn out and vote.”
