 | 'John has been a community activist of some standing in the Denny and Dunipace area for many years and will be a credit to the people of this area as a councillor.' Falkirk Council leader Cllr David Alexander, 21 st August 2005. |  |
| 'John has been a community activist of some standing in the Denny and Dunipace area for many years and will be a credit to the people of this area as a councillor.' Falkirk Council leader Cllr David Alexander, 21 st August 2005. | |
A by-election was held in Herbertshire on the 11 th of August 2005 following the death of Labour Cllr Tom Martin.
Herbertshire is in the Falkirk Westminster parliamentary seat (held by Labour's Major Eric Joyce MP) and in the Falkirk West Scottish parliamentary seat (held by Independent Denis Cannavan MSP).
Scottish National Party gain from Labour. Swing 24.4 % from Labour to Scottish National Party.
| 11 th August 2005 By-election Turnout 46.2 % (- %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John McNally |  |
Scottish National Party | 1,019 | 62.6 % | + 27.2 % |
| Jennifer Steel |  |
Labour | 532 | 32.7 % | - 21.5 % |
| Malcolm McDonald |  |
Conservative | 46 | 2.8 % | - 7.6 % |
| Daniel Quinan |  |
Scotish Socialist Party | 29 | 1.9 % | (+ 1.9 %) |
| Scottish National Party gain from Labour | |
Scottish National Party majority | 487 | 29.9 % | |
| 1 st May 2003 Turnout % | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cllr Thomas Martin | |
Labour | 947 | 54.2 % | - 14.0 % |
| John McNally | |
Scottish National Party | 618 | 35.4 % | + 3.6 % |
| Alastair Hislop | |
Conservative | 182 | 10.4 % | (+ 10.4 %) |
| Labour hold | |
Labour majority | 329 | 18.8 % | - 17.6 % |
| 6 th May 1999 Turnout 62.4 % (+ 19.8 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cllr Thomas Martin | |
Labour | 1,527 | 68.2 % | - 2.0 % |
| Joan M. Cochrane | |
Scottish National Party | 711 | 31.8 % | + 2.0 % |
| Labour hold | |
Labour majority | 816 | 36.4 % | - 4.0 % |
| 6 th April 1995 Turnout 42.6 % | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Martin | |
Labour | 1,011 | 70.2 % | |
| Helen Weir | |
Scottish National Party | 429 | 29.8 % | |
| Labour win | |
Labour majority | 582 | 40.4 % | |
POWER will not change hands after next Thursday's by-election, but it will make life very interesting indeed within the corridors of Falkirk Council.
Four hopefuls have put their names forward to become the new elected member for Herbertshire and the result will help shape the political destiny of the authority.
The death of Labour councillor Tom Martin has conjured up an intriguing contest.
The council has 32 elected members - 12 Labour, 10 SNP, seven independents, two Conservatives and the current vacancy. The SNP lead the ruling administration with the backing of most of the independents and a win next week would strengthen its position considerably.
Labour on the other hand will be looking to consolidate its position as the biggest single party.
Standing for Labour is Jennifer Steel who came within 13 votes of ousting independent councillor Jim Wilson in Denny at the last election.
The SNP's hopes rest with John McNally, who was second to Mr Martin in 2003.
Malcolm McDonald represents the Scottish Conservatives, while the Scottish Socialist Party's Danny Quinlan is also in the frame.
Local issues likely to arise during the election campaign include the controversial location of the new Denny High School.
TORY candidate Malcolm McDonald hopes to bring a wealth of experience to the Herbertshire area if he is elected.
Following careers in the NHS, the Army and the offshore oil industry, the 47-year-old from Larbert is now eager to spread his political wings.
Mr McDonald, who is single but has a seven-year-old daughter, said: "I would like to see the council being more open and accessible to the public.
''I would also like to make sure that money is spent in the right places, with more going on education, even though it comes at the expense of something else. Schools need to be maintained and improved.''
DENNY barber John McNally hopes to be a cut above the rest when he stands for SNP.
The married father-of-two said: "I feel strongly about local issues and I have experienced the brick wall that can be met when you want something done in your community."
Mr McNally (54) has lived in Denny all his live and has his own hairdressing business. He's also involved in the local heritage society and runs two football teams.
He said: "I would like to see quicker action taken over issues and more responsibility for council officials.
''I also hope there will be more facilities for toddlers, better grass-cutting services and more attention given to day-to-day issues.''
SCOTTISH Labour candidate Jennifer Steel can thank her grandmother for influencing her decision to become involved with politics.
A campaigner for the suffragette movement, she drummed into her granddaughter at an early age that she must exercise her right to vote.
Mrs Steel, who has been married for 42 years, is clear about what she wants to improve in the Denny area.
The Falkirk FC fan said: "We are desperate for the new high school and we also need to improve the environment.
''We hope to see changes in road traffic management as there's so many more cars on the roads these days.''
AT 24, Danny Quinlan is the youngest of the four candidates and will be representing the Scottish Socialist Party.
The postman from Banknock manages to fit campaigning around his early morning mail delivery schedule.
The music fan and football season ticket holder said: "Councils are very restricted nowadays and a lot of money is ring-fenced, but I hope to represent the people in the best way I can.
''There's a lot of planning issues in Dunipace at the moment over new homes and buildings and I would like to represent the views of the people over these matters.
''While we need new homes built, we also need to respect people's wishes.''
Cllr John McNally is the SNP's latest elected representative following his decisive victory in the local authority by-election in Herbertshire in Falkirk Council tonight, gained by a swing from Labour of over 24.4 percent.
The seat won was the Labour Party's second safest seat on Falkirk Council.
Since the General Election the SNP has won 3 out of the 4 council by-elections held in Scotland.
The SNP's Business Convenor Bruce Crawford MSP said of the victory:
"This is a tremendous success not only for our outstanding local candidate John McNally, but for the SNP as a whole. Our success rate in recent local by-elections has been first-class, which is a credit to the work of activists and organisers throughout the country. Winning a supposed Labour safe seat with a swing to the SNPof over 24 percent is a superb achievement.
"The SNP is in the winning habit, and this bodes extremely well for our preparations for the next Scottish elections in 2007 where we aim to beat Labour and form Scotland's next government."
Newly elected Cllr John McNally said:
"It's fantastic to be part of the SNP's growing winning team. I'd like to thank the voters of Herbertshire for placing their trust in me in this election, and the SNP activists from all over Scotland who have assisted in my election."
The SNP now has 180 councillors in 23 of the 32 Scottish councils, and 11 of the 32 councillors on Falkirk Council. Falkirk Council is administered by the SNP / Independent Alliance.
The full result:
John McNally SNP 1019 62.7%
Jennifer Steel Lab 532 32.7%
M.McDonald Con 46 2.8%
Daniel Quinlan SSP 29 1.8%
THE SNP secured a 24 per cent swing to romp home in last Thursday's Herbertshire by-election with a massive 487 majority.
The seat became vacant after the death of veteran Labour councillor Tom Martin but the party's candidate, Jennifer Steel, polled just 532 votes while Nationalist rival John McNally secured 1019.
Mr McNally said: "I am humbled by the overwhelming support we received from the people of the Herbertshire ward and I would thank them for that vote of confidence.
''It was clear that the ambition shown by the SNP and Independent administration in areas such as the provision of a new Denny High School and the regeneration of our town centre after 20 years of neglect hit a note with the electorate.
''It is now my goal to justify that trust by being a hard-working and conscientious councillor for the people and an active member of the political administration within the council."
Falkirk Council leader David Alexander offered his congratulations to Mr McNally. He said: "John has been a community activist of some standing in the Denny and Dunipace area for many years and will be a credit to the people of this area as a councillor."
The SNP win, coupled with another by-election victory in Grangemouth last year, has taken the party from the nine seats it secured at the last local government election to 11.
With Labour having fallen to from 14 to 12 following the latest loss and the defection of Councillor Willie Anderson, its proud position as the biggest single party in Falkirk is now somewhat precarious.
Mr Alexander launched a scathing attack on Labour's campaign tactics. He said: "I think Labour is a party in decline.
''This has happened over a period of time and not just in Falkirk, but that is their problem. They fought a very negative, personalised campaign, which insulted the intelligence of the people of Herbertshire, and they were rightly punished for that. They got what they deserved, and the positive campaign fought by the SNP got what it deserved."
Falkirk Labour leader Linda Gow revealed that the party will be holding discussions about the defeat, and she congratulated Mr McNally on his win. She said: "It was an excellent majority for SNP and John is an excellent candidate.
''Obviously, we are disappointed but I congratulate him."
The other candidates in the by-election - Malcolm McDonald of the Conservatives and Danny Quinlan of the Scottish Socialists - polled 46 and 29 votes respectively.
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