Councillors hope for return in West Lothian by-election
dailyrecord.co.ukThree former councillors are bidding for a return to the chamber in December’s by-election in the Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh ward.The SNP candidate Tom Ullathorne joins Labour’s Tony Boyle and Chris Horne, standing as an Independent.A field of eight has been named for the by-election caused by the death of Labour’s Ann Davidson in September.Mr Ullathorne served as a councillor for the last six months of the last administration after winning the seat formerly held by Labour’s Dave King in East Livingston and East Calder.Mr Horne was elected as a Conservative councillor in the Broxburn ward in 2017 and Mr Boyle served as a Labour councillor in the ward in the pre 2017 administration.It is a seat both Labour and the SNP are keen to win.
A win for the SNP would give them three out of four councillors in the ward and take the strength of the group, currently in opposition in the council chamber, to 16.The SNP bid is not clear cut.
Joining the field is Alex Salmond’s breakaway Alba party, which has fielded candidates in by-elections in the last administration as well as in the May council election.Also standing are the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Greens and Liberal Democrats, as well as another independent.Councillor Davidson, who took ill shortly after her election never managed to attend the first full meeting in person of the new council.
In the May poll Mrs Davidson polled 19% of the First Preference votes second only to long serving SNP councillor Diane Calder.Labour had won a seat in the ward in 2017 with Angela Doran.
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