 | 'With a few exceptions, this politicisation of the grant process benefits Labour councils, mainly in the West of Scotland. Moreover, authorities within the constituencies of the Ministers of Finance, Communities, and Local Government attract around 60% of the total sum. I would therefore expect MSPs to seek a more robust justifications for these allocations than has been offered so far, when Parliament discusses grant distribution on March 1.' Professor Arthur Midwinter, February 2000. |  |
Almost a thousand years ago, the mormaor, or ruler of Moray was MacBeth. He was a descendent of the Cenél Loairn of Dalriada and under the system of Tanistry he had a legitimate claim to the Kingship of Scots, which he made good in 1040 when he killed Duncan I in battle. Unlike Shakespear's portrayal of him, he was a successful King who reigned for seventeen years. So secure was he that he was able to make a pilgrimage to Rome in 1050 'scattering money like seed'.
In February 1974, the constituency of Moray & Nairn saw another ruler of Scotland brought low when the SNP's Winnie Ewing, winner of the 1967 Hamilton by-election, defeated the Conservative Secretary of State for Scotland, Gordon Campbell. Until 1997, Mr Campbell (later Lord Campbell of Croy) was the only cabinet minister to have been defeated in Scotland in the 20 th century.
The Finderne ward of Moray council is named after the Findhorn valley. The river Findhorn runs through the east of Moray from Lochindorb down to Findhorn Bay near Forres. The ward has changed hands regularly over the past few years.
The control of Moray council has also changed in the past two elections. In 1992, there was no overall control, in 1995 it was won by the Scottish National Party and in 1999 the Independents regained control of the council.
In 1992, Moray Council had no overall control and was composed of 8 Independents, 7 Scottish National Party, 1 Conservative, 1 Labour and 1 'Moray Man'. Four wards had changed hands with Independents making two gains and a loss, the SNP gaining one ward and losing two, the Tories winning a ward and Labour losing one.
In 1988 the Moray District Council ward of Findhorn Valley was won by the Scottish National Party, but in 1992 they lost it to Independent Ronald Swanson. Cllr Swanson took 840 votes compared to 732 for the SNP's Robert Laing.
After local government reorganisation, three of the five District Councils in Grampian region (Banff & Buchan, Gordon and Kincardine & Deeside) amalgamated to form Aberdeenshire Council, while the City of Aberdeen and Moray retained their independence. In Moray, the Scottish National Party took 50.2 % of the vote in 1995 and took control of the council with 13 of the 18 seats. Independents took two seats, and Labour's won three.
In 1995, Ronald Swanson and Robert Laing again contested Findhorn Valley. This time around the SNP won the ward with Robert Laing taking 741 votes (59.8 %) compared to 448 (36.2 %) for Cllr Swanson and 50 (4.0 %) for another Independent, Stephen Tinsley.
In 1999, there were major boundary changes in Moray and the number of wards was increased from 18 to 26. The position of the Scottish National Party and the Independents was dramatically reversed with the SNP taking 30.0 % of the vote and winning just two wards (down from 13) while the Independents took 33.4 % of the vote and won 13 wards (up from 2). Labour took 15.4 % of the vote, increasing its representation from three to six, Lib Dems were represented for the first time winning 2 wards (with 10.6% of the vote) while the Conservatives (with 3.3 %) won a ward for the first time since 1992. The two remaining wards were retained by previous SNP councillors who stood this time around as 'Scottish Independents'. The Independents allied themselves with Labour and now form the administration in Moray.
The ward of Findhorn Valley became Finderne. under the boundary changes. It once again changed hands, this time being won by Independent Ronald Gregory who took 610 votes (47.8 %) compared to 346 (27.1 %) for SNP Cllr Robert Laing, and 319 (25.0 %) for Conservative Edward Emerson.
With this ward having changed hands at each of the previous three elections, it ws difficult to predict who would be the next councillor for Finderne. In the event, the ward was won by an Independent with 344 vote (51.7 %).
The Conservatives came second with their vote up by 1.4 %. The Scottish National Party fell to third place with 14.3%, while a Scottish Independent came fourth with 7.7 %
The turnout was 27.0 %, down from 51.9 % in May 1999.
The by-election leaves the composition of Moray Council unchanged at 13 Independents, five Labour (the Cathedral ward is vacant pending the resignation of Labour Cllr Ali Farquharson) two Scottish National Party, two Scottish Independents, two Liberal Democrats and one Conservative.
| 21 st September 2000 | 6 th May 1999 | ||||||
| Ind | 344 | 51.7 % | Ronald Gregory | Ind | 610 | 47.8 % | |
 |
176 | 26.4 % | Robert Laing |  |
346 | 27.1 % | |
|
95 | 14.3 % | Edward Emerson | |
319 | 25.0 % | |
| Scot Ind | 51 | 7.7 % | |||||
| Ind hold | Ind maj. | 168 | 25.3 % | Ind win | Ind maj. | 264 | 20.7 % |
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