Independent winner is a first

Ward 7

The final ward to declare handed Stirling Council its first elected independent councillor.

Alasdair Macpherson secured his seat in the council - with the most first preference votes.

Labour’s Margaret

Brisley has also been re-elected, cementing her position as the authority’s longest standing councillor after decades of public service.

The SNP meanwhile secured a councillor in new face Brian Hambly. The former university lecturer took early retirement and became an a- home-dad, moving into the ward with his wife, a secondary school teacher, almost 20 years ago. He now lives there with his six children, his eldest daughter having special needs and for whom he is the registered carer.

The result in the ward was arguably the most anticipated of the day following a series of dramas.

In 2017 the SNP secured two of the three seats through Alasdair Macpherson and Maureen Bennison, with Margaret Brisley securing success for Labour.

Macpherson and Bennison, however, both later resigned from the SNP. Bennison was then independent before joining the Alba Party but chose not to stand for reelection.

Councillor Macpherson left the SNP after almost 40 years this year - after initially being announced as the party’s candidate.

After the result, Mr Macpherson said:“i’m extremely honoured to be re-elected as an Independent councillor for the Bannockburn ward, the people have once again put their trust in me, and be rest assured I will not let them down.

“I would like to sincerely thank all those who voted for me, and pledge that I will work tirelessly to help everyone I represent, irrespective of their political views, to try and help them through the cost-of-living crisis created by Boris Johnson and the uncaringtories.

He added:“i want to pay tribute to the small team made up of friends, family and constituents. Similar to the Battle of Bannockburn, us Sma’folk were up against nationally funded political parties with unlimited resources – but we saw them all off in style as I polled the most first preferences for the fourth consecutive election.

“This was a truly momentous result as it turns out that I am the first ever Independent councillor to be elected since the unitary council areas were formed in 1996. The last Independent councillor to be elected in Stirling was in 1984 in the Trossachs ward when it was part of Central Region.”