Other parties take positives despite defeat

The SNP vote has solidified in West Lothian inside a generation as the results from Thursday’s Holyrood poll show.

Both Fiona Hyslop and Angela Constance return to the Scottish Parliament with increased majorities.

Both represent territory that was, less than 30 years ago, solid

Labour landscape.

That political landscape does continue to evolve though and opposition parties took all the positives they could from the 2021 election.

Three sitting councillors contested the seats.

Depute council leader Kirsteen Sullivan represented Labour and the Scottish Co-operative party in Linlithgow alongside Bathgate Conservative Charles Kennedy.

In Almond Valley, Councillor Damian Doran-Timson stood as Conservative candidate.

After the poll Councillor Sullivan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “With an ever-changing set of restrictions we still managed to increase our share of the vote and come a strong second.

“Our positive campaigning message has been well received and it’s clear that attitudes are shifting, people are receptive to the Scottish Labour message of unity and recovery.

“We have a strong basis on which to build going forward into next year’s council elections.”

Councillor Kennedy said:“It is always a difficult task being Conservative candidate in Linlithgow constituency, given its historical support for socialist parties, so we set a target of continuing to build our support therefore to once again raise our vote, this time by over 1,700 and 23 per cent, was very pleasing.

“Equally, and since our main target in this election in this area was to build our regional vote, it was particularly satisfying to see our regional vote raised by 33 per cent.

“So, while disappointing not to win, the results show continued growth of support in this constituency so on reflection a quite successful election.”

Councillor Doran-Timson, who leads the seven-strong Conservative group which supports the minority Labour administration on West Lothian Council said:“It was a privilege to represent the Conservatives in Almond Valley and whilst it is always disappointing not to win, I am incredibly proud of my team in that we achieved the biggest percentage increase in votes out of all the Almond Valley Candidates and it is another step in the right direction for the Conservatives in West Lothian.”

“I am confident that, like across Scotland, in West Lothian people appreciate the only alternative to the SNP is the Scottish Conservatives.”