Voters defy Beast as SNP win by-election
More than 2000 people braved the Beast from the East to cast their vote in the Hillfoots by-election.
SNP candidate, Helen Lewis was elected to represent the Alva, Coalsnaughton, Devonside and Tillicoultry, replacing former SNP councillor, Archie Drummond, who resigned in December to pursue other interests.
Less than 25 per cent of eligible voters turned out for the poll which took place last Thursday as snowstorms swept across the area and a red weather warning was in place.
The winning candidate was previously a councillor for Tillicoultry and also worked as a caseworker for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane MSP Keith Brown.
She was a ward candidate at the council elections last year. Her campaign focused on savings, following highly-publicised financial struggles for the authority. Speaking after the result was announced, Councillor Lewis thanked voters and said: “I’m look forward to working with and for the citizens of Clackmannanshire North Ward.”
Councillor Lewis thanked voters for braving the snow storms but believes more must be done when holding elections during dangerous weather.
She added: “I must pay tribute to all voters who came out in the worst of weather conditions on Thursday to cast their vote.
“The Electoral Commission must surely consider the implications of allowing any election to go head when a red weather warning is in place and make provision to ensure this does not happen in the future.”
A spokesperson for Clacks Council said: “Advice is that there are no provisions in law for the adjournment, abandonment or to postpone a poll due to adverse weather”.
The turnout was 24.7 per cent (2092), down from 49.6 per cent (4159) at the 2017 council elections. Councillor Lewis won the election with 36.8 per cent of the vote (769).
Alex Stewart from the Scottish Conservatives amassed 31.5 per cent (658), Labour candidate, Afifa Khanam polled 23.6 per cent (493), the Lib Dem’s Damian Sherwood– Johnson took four per cent (84) and Marion Robertson from the Green’s 3.5 per cent (74).