Double whammy in by-elections as Conservatives take seats

The Conservatives have won two Aberdeenshire Council byelections.

Iain Taylor is the new councillor for Banff and District, replacing SNP councillor Ian Gray, who died in August. Turnout was 29.5%.

Colin Clark was elected for Inverurie and District, where the turnout was 30.4%.

The by-election was triggered by the council’s former co-leader, Independent Martin Kitts Hayes, standing down in August.

Mr Kitts-Hayes had returned home early from a foreign conference because he was not happy with his accommodation.

He said resulting personal abuse had put an “intolerable strain” on himself and his family.