And Marie McNair keeps the SNP happy in Clydebank …
by Bill Heaney
Jackie Baillie was in seventh heaven tonight. The tears Jackie had shed a couple of days before as the tension built up in her battle with the SNP’s Sophie Traynor to win the Dumbarton constituency seat in the Scottish Parliament were replaced by a broad smile when she appeared before the TV cameras to be congratulated on her re-election.
Jackie Baillie has now won a stupendous, record-breaking seven elections since 1999, when the Scottish Parliament was founded and officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
The Scottish Labour candidate was elected after receiving 12,747 votes during yesterday’s Holyrood election.
And she immediately thanked her election agent, Martin Rooney, the leader of West Dunbartonshire Council, and his colleague Councillor Michelle McGinty for their hard work during Labour’s successful campaign.
In a Scottish Parliament Election, voters are asked to mark a cross next to their preferred candidate using the first-past-the-post system to elect the constituency MSP.
Voters also completed a second ballot paper under the Additional Member System. The electorate voted for a party or an independent candidate to represent the region of West Scotland. This declaration is taking place at a separate location.
More than 300 poll staff worked throughout the day on Thursday, 7 May at 33 polling places.
The declaration was made by Returning Officer Peter Hessett at Clydebank Leisure Centre.
Mr Hessett said: “Congratulations to Jackie Baillie, who will continue to represent the communities within the Dumbarton constituency in the Scottish Parliament. I want to thank all candidates who put themselves forward for this important role within the democratic process.
“Thank you as well to the electorate who used their vote, actively engaging in democracy.
“I am also extremely proud of the efficient and thorough job which has been undertaken by our Council teams both in the lead up to the poll, during voting and at the count today. Their hard work ensured a successful election process for our communities.”
The full results in Dumbarton are as follows:
Jackie Baillie (Scottish Labour Party) – 12,747
Elaine Ford (Scottish Liberal Democrats) – 1196
Lynda McEwan (Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) – 356
Andrew Joseph Muir (Independent) – 355
Gary Mulvaney (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party) – 1368
David Smith (Reform UK) – 5040
Sophie Traynor (Scottish National Party) – 10,961
The total number of rejected ballots was 91.
Meanwhile, up the road, voters in the Clydebank constituency have re-elected Marie McNair as Member of the Scottish Parliament, who will represent the area at Holyrood.
The Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate was elected after receiving 12,126 votes during yesterday’s Holyrood election.
A total of 31,615 votes were cast, representing a 58.03% turnout, with Callum McNally coming second with 7929 votes.
In a Scottish Parliament Election, voters are asked to mark a cross next to their preferred candidate using the first-past-the-post system to elect the constituency MSP.
Voters also completed a second ballot paper under the Additional Member System. The electorate voted for a party or an independent candidate to represent the region of West Scotland. This declaration is taking place at a separate location.
More than 300 poll staff worked throughout the day at 146 polling places. Returning Officer Peter Hessett at Clydebank Leisure Centre, said: “Congratulations to Marie McNair, who will continue to represent the communities within Clydebank and Milngavie constituency in the Scottish Parliament. I would also like to thank all candidates who put themselves forward for this important role.
“Thank you as well to those who came out to vote. We need our communities to be engaged in the democratic process, and I am glad that residents took the opportunity to do so.
“I am also extremely proud of the efficient and thorough job done both in the lead up to the poll, during voting and at the count today. Their hard work ensured a successful election for our communities.”
The full results are as follows:
Claire Gallagher (Scottish Common Party) – 647
Ben Langmead (Scottish Liberal Democrats) – 4419
Alix Mathieson (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party) – 1820
Marie McNair (Scottish National Party) – 12,126
Callum McNally (Scottish Labour Party) – 7929
Andy White (Reform UK) – 4510
The total number of rejected ballots was 164.