 | 'This was a crucial election test in the heart of Scotland. Control of the local authority was at stake and the SNP took an astonishing 56% of the vote and won control of Falkirk Council in the process.' SNP leader Alex Salmond, 17 th December 2004. |  |
| 'This was a crucial election test in the heart of Scotland. Control of the local authority was at stake and the SNP took an astonishing 56% of the vote and won control of Falkirk Council in the process.' SNP leader Alex Salmond, 17 th December 2004. | |
A by-election was held in Inchyra on the 16 th December 2004 following the death of veteran councillor Tam O'Dea in October 2004. Cllr O'Dea defected from Labour to become an independent in August 1997.
Inchyra is in the new Linlithgow & East Falkirk Westminster parliamentary seat (held by Labour's Michael Connarty MP) and in the Falkirk East Scottish parliamentary seat (held by Labour's Cathie Peattie MSP).
Scottish National Party gain from Independent (previously Labour). Swing: 21.6 % from Labour to Scottish National Party.
| 16 th December 2005 By-election Turnout 35.5 % ( %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angus MacDonald |  |
Scottish National Party | 603 | 55.7 % | + 41.3 % |
| Stephen Barr |  |
Labour | 282 | 26.1 % | - 1.9 % |
| Thomas Wilson |  |
Independent | 169 | 15.6 % | (+ 15.6 %) |
| Jimmy Dunn | |
Independent | 28 | 2.6 % | (+ 2.6 %) |
| Scottish National Party gain from Independent | |
Scottish National Party majority | 321 | 29.6 % | |
| 1 st May 2003 Turnout % | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tam O'Dea | |
Independent | 937 | 57.6 % | - 15.9 % |
| Stephen Barr | |
Labour | 455 | 28.0 % | + 15.5 % |
| Bill Young | |
Scottish National Party | 235 | 14.4 % | - 1.6 % |
| Independent hold | |
Independent majority | 482 | 29.6 % | - 27.9 % |
| 6 th May 1999 Turnout 62.7 % (+ 9.1 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tam O'Dea | |
Independent | 1,616 | 73.5 % | (+ 73.5 %) |
| Bruce Tait | |
Scottish National Party | 351 | 16.0 % | - 23.5 % |
| Khalid Hamid | |
Labour | 231 | 10.5 % | - 50.0 % |
| Independent hold | |
Independent majority | 1,265 | 57.5 % | |
On 13 th August 1997, Cllr Tam O'Dea (Inchyra) defected from Labour and sat as an Independent.
| 6 th April 1995 Turnout 53.6 % | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tam O'Dea | |
Labour | 1,052 | 60.5 % | |
| Angus MacDonald | |
Scottish National Party | 686 | 39.5 % | |
| Labour win | |
Labour majority | 366 | 21.1 % | |
Tam O'Dea collapsed watching TV with his son on Saturday. The 66-year-old councillor was thought to have had a massive heart attack.
SCOTTISH Nationalists were celebrating after a surprise victory in last Thursday's Grangemouth by-election.
Angus MacDonald's 603 votes were 56 per cent of all those cast in a contest which even SNP stalwarts admitted gave them a "sensational" win in the Inchyra ward.
His majority of 321 votes put him well ahead of Labour's Stephen Barr, who polled 282, while the two Independents, Tom Wilson and Jimmy Dunn, received 169 and 28 votes respectively.
However, in the week before Christmas and with the weather wet most of the day, only one in three voters turned out.
The by-election followed the death of Councillor Tam O'Dea at the end of October. Mr O'Dea was originally elected as a Labour candidate in 1996, defeating Mr McDonald, the sitting councillor, before leaving the party and standing as an Independent.
Falkirk Council's newest member said: "The SNP presented a positive campaign and the people endorsed it in significant numbers. We were keen to promote the achievments of the SNP/Independent administration and the ambition they have for Grangemouth Š that appeared to strike a chord.
"I am now looking forward to representing the people of the ward in the custom they have become used to. As well as thanking the countless SNP members who came to work for this victory, I would like to thank the family of the late Tam O'Dea for their support."
Mr MacDonald (41), was born in Stornoway and moved to Grangemouth around 20 years ago. He was a member of Falkirk District Council from 1992-96. His victory maintains the status quo in Falkirk Council with the SNP/Independent administration having 16 councillors, Labour 14 and Conservatives two.
Council leader David Alexander said: "He will be a first-class councillor for the people of the ward and will work tirelessly in their interest.
"We asked the people to pass judgement on our alternative to New Labour's PFI for Grangemouth High School and regeneration of our district centres. They voted for this in their droves."
Labour depute group leader Dennis Goldie admitted the SNP "fought a good campaign".
However, Councillor Goldie said events nationally, including last Thursday's announcement on the future plans for the Scottish regiments, affected the Labour vote."
Sir,
I would be obliged if you would allow me to thank the people of Inchyra for returning me as their councillor at the recent by-election.
The tremendous result that was secured, with 56 per cent of the vote, was a clear mandate for the policies and objectives that were outlined during the campaign.
An increase in the SNPÕs vote of 42 per cent on the 2003 result also represents an endorsement by the electorate of the policies and initiatives introduced by the SNP/Independent coalition on Falkirk Council.
I can assure the people of Inchyra that I shall represent them as a full-time councillor and shall work unstintingly to stand up for Grangemouth and promote the Port at every opportunity, as did my predecessor.
The town faces a number of challenges in the near future, not least in the industrial sector, and I shall endeavour to ensure that these challenges are addressed by the various bodies responsible for the future progress of the town.
Yours etc.,
CLLR ANGUS MacDONALD
28 Burnfoot Court, Grangemouth
The Leader of the Scottish National Party, Mr Alex Salmond MP, has submitted a motion to the House of Commons welcoming the SNP's recent by-election victory in Grangemouth. In particular Mr Salmond welcomed the intervention by the Labour MP Michael Connarty who wrote to every elector in the ward. The SNP vote went up 42%.
Alex Salmond MP said:
"This was a crucial election test in the heart of Scotland. Control of the local authority was at stake and the SNP took an astonishing 56% of the vote and won control of Falkirk Council in the process.
"The sitting Labour MP wrote to all of the electors in the ward with astonishing results for the SNP. We will be encouraging all sitting Scottish MPs to write to their electors in the run up to the General Election.
"The Labour Party realise that it is now game on. People in Scotland trust the SNP to stand up for their interests at Westminster. It has been an atrocious past few weeks for Labour with voters clearly turning to the SNP in ever greater numbers."
Editor's Note:
Alex Salmond MP submitted the following EDM:
SNP Victory in Grangemouth
That this House welcomes the result of the Inchyra by-election in Grangemouth on 16 December 2004 which saw the SNP vote increase by 42% to win the seat by 321 votes; notes the vindication of the policies of the SNP administration of Falkirk District Council and SNP candidate Angus MacDonald; notes the attempt by the hon. Member for Falkirk East, to influence the result of the election by personally writing to every elector; notes that this did not prevent the SNP success and calls for similar interventions from Scottish Labour MPs in other elections.
The result of the Grangemouth by-election on 16 December 2004, on a turnout of 35.5% was:
| SNP | 603 | (56%) |
| Lab | 282 | (26%) |
| Ind | 169 | (16%) |
| Ind | 28 | (3%) |
In May 2003 the result was as follows:
| Ind | 937 | (58%) |
| Lab | 455 | (28%) |
| SNP | 235 | (14%) |
There was a 42% increase in the SNP's vote.
A Labour MP has been rebuked for making an inappropriate intervention into a Scottish election campaign.
Falkirk East member Michael Connarty sent out a letter bearing the House of Commons logo to electors in a heated Falkirk Council by-election. The move was in breach of parliamentary rules, which explicitly ban the official portcullis symbol from being used for vote winning purposes.
The department of the sergeant at arms responsible for enforcing WestminsterÕs rules has now reprimanded the backbencher over his conduct.
The controversial letter was sent out on the eve of the By-election for the Inchyra ward in Grangemouth in late December. It followed the death of veteran councillor Tam O'Dea, who defected from Labour to become an independent in 1997.
In the by-election the SNP came from third place to win by a majority of 321 votes. Winning candidate Angus MacDonald today thanked the Labour MP, claiming his last-ditch letter secured his victory.
He said: "I was both astonished and delighted with Michael Connarty's intervention into the campaign; astonished that such an experienced MP could make such a mistake, but delighted that it turned an SNP victory into a Labour rout."
He added: "It seems that this Labour MP believes rules are for others and not himself. But I am satisfied that the rebuke from the parliamentary authorities should ensure that there are no further abuses of position and power by Mr Connarty."
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