GAMECHANGER
Brown pledges to be‘ MS P for everybody’ after momentous A yr win by margin of only 170 votes
Siobhian Brown scored a stunning election win for the SNP – then pledged to drive new hope to Ayr, Prestwick and Troon.
The councillor unseated Scotland’s longest standing Tory, John Scott, in a result that sent shockwaves around the country.
Just 170 votes separated the pair during a nailbiting race to the finish.
And Siobhian told the Post : “There will be people who maybe aren’t convinced by independence but know that I will work hard for them as their MSP.”
Mr Scott added: “It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the people of Ayr, Prestwick and Troon.”
Elena Whitham, depute leader of East Ayrshire Council, held on to Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley for the SNP.
The Tories’ Sharon Dowey and Labour’s Carol Mochan will go to Holyrood as list MSPs for the South of Scotland.
Siobhian Brown has pledged to head to Holyrood as the “MSP for everybody” after her stunning win in Ayr.
The South Ayrshire councillor ended two decades of Tory dominance in the seat with the most dramatic of victories.
Ms Brown edged home by just 170 votes on a day of huge tension at the Citadel – in which a recount briefly looked on the cards.
Now she’s promising to make her mark as part of a new yellow wall in Ayrshire.
Siobhian told the Post : “I’ve been on the council since 2017 and have worked hard regardless of whether people voted for me or not.
“There will be people today who maybe aren’t convinced by independence but know that I will work hard for them as their MSP.
“I will be the MSP for everybody – young and old. This is a seat we’ve been wanting for a long time. There’s been a change in people’s politics in that time, especially with the referendum and Brexit.
“Maybe people are starting to open their eyes and see there could be a different future as we emerge from the Covid pandemic.
“And maybe it would be better for us to make our own decisions.”
Turnout soared by more than seven per cent in the key battleground as John Scott put his 21year record on the line as Scotland’s longest serving Tory.
And although his vote share held strong, a drop in support for Labour of three per cent opened the door for the SNP to overturn a slim 750
majority. But with less than 200 votes in it, Mr Scott briefly considered calling for a recount as tension mounted in the hall.
However, he drew back from the move with the gap just too big to bridge.
Ms Brown added: “We have a rocky road ahead and it will be challenging.
“Transforming our town centres, mental health issues, education – there are so many issues we need to bring with us and address. We cannot ignore them.
“But as an MSP in an administration government I hope to be able to bring investment to the area.
“There’s such a huge range of issues that have been bubbling away and they have been brought to the surface by Covid.
“To tackle those properly, I will always believe we need full powers in our control as a country. That will always be my ultimate dream.
“I know we’re not there yet but that’s how I would like to see Scotland progressing.”
Outgoing MSP Mr Scott said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the people of Ayr, Prestwick and Troon for the last 20 years.
“Among my lasting memories is fighting the campaign to save the Accident & Emergency unit at Ayr Hospital some 14 years ago.
“I have had the sheer pleasure of representing the people of this constituency, getting to know so many of them and regarding them as my friends.
“It’s often said – perhaps lightly – but it has genuinely been an honour.
“I wish Siobhian Brown every success in her endeavours.”