 | 'Margaret Thatcher's former constituency party agent has launched his own bid for a political career at the ripe old age of 70. Twenty-five years after she rose to power, Andrew Thomson will be out canvassing this evening in a small Scots town. He is standing as a Tory candidate in Thursday's by-election to choose a new councillor for the Kelso North ward on Scottish Borders Council.' Robert Fairburn in the Scotsman,3 rd May 2004. |  |
There was a by-election for the Kelso & District North ward of Scottish Borders Council on the 6 th of May 2004 following the death of Indepedent Cllr David Lindores who died on the 21 st February 2004. David Lindores was elected in 1999 as a Liberal Democrat bt stood as an Independent in 2003.
Kelso & District North is in the new Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk Westminster parliamentary seat (held by Lib Dem Michael Moore MP) and in the Roxburgh & Berwickshire Scottish parliamentary seat (held by Lib Dem Euan Robson MSP).
Tory gain from Independent. 3.9 % increase in Tory vote. The new Tory Cllr was the election agent of Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s.
| 6 th May 2004 By-election Turnout 30.5 % (- 13.8 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Thomson |  |
Conservative | 371 | 43.7 % | + 3.9 % |
| Cyril Tostevin |  |
Liberal Democrat | 320 | 37.7 % | (+ 37.7 %) |
| Aileen Orr |  |
Scottish National Party | 157 | 18.5 % | (+ 18.5 %) |
| Conservative gain from Independent | |
Conservative majority | 51 | 6.0 % | |
| 1 st May 2003 Turnout 44.3 % (- 9.3 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Lindores |  |
Independent | 735 | 60.2 % | (+ 60.2 % %) |
| Meriel Smith | |
Conservative | 486 | 39.8 % | + 22.9 % |
| Independent hold | |
Independent majority | 249 | 20.4 % | |
Some time after his election in 1999, Cllr Lindores resigned from the Lib Dems and sat as an Independent
| 6 th May 1999 Turnout 53.6 % (+ 20.6 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Lindores | |
Liberal Democrat | 1,010 | 66.6 % | - 16.4 % |
| Lorna Waddell | |
Conservative | 256 | 16.9 % | - 0.1 % |
| Alexander Thomson | |
Scottish National Party | 251 | 16.5 % | (+ 16.5 %) |
| Liberal Democrat hold | |
Liberal Democrat majority | 655 | 49.7 % | - 16.3 % |
| 6 th April 1995 Turnout 33.0 % | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Lindores | |
Liberal Democrat | 474 | 83.0 % | |
| Andrew Buxton | |
Conservative | 97 | 17.0 % | |
| Liberal Democrat win | |
Liberal Democrat majority | 377 | 66.0 % | |
Scottish Borders Council wishes to express sadness and regret following the announcement of the death yesterday of Vice-Convener and former Depute Leader of the Council, Councillor David Lindores, who represented the Kelso North ward on the Council since its inception in 1996 and who previously represented Kelso on the Borders Regional Council.
The Council wishes to offer its sincere condolences and sympathy to David's widow, Isabel and their family.
Convener of the Council Councillor Alasdair Hutton said: "David was a true public servant, committed to the Borders and its people. He gave his working life in the service of the public as a Police Officer and devoted his retirement to public service through politics. He was a true gentleman, quietly spoken and likeable but determined to represent his constituents to the very best of his ability, even in more recent times, when his health began to fail him. He will be very much missed by all the members of Scottish Borders Council and everyone who knew him."
A fuller statement will be issued tomorrow.
Scottish Borders Council Convener Councillor Alasdair Hutton paid tribute this morning to his Vice-Convener, David Lindores, who died at the weekend aged 76.
"I had only worked with David as a Kelso Councillor since 2002," said Councillor Hutton, "but he could not have been more helpful to a new boy. He had the good of the people of the town and the country around Kelso at heart and knew all their concerns. He was a superb and devoted ward member and even though he had been ill for some time he did not slacken his efforts to look after the people he represented."
"He was generous with his advice and support to me," added Councillor Hutton, " and I always valued his company. I was delighted that after last year's elections the full Council supported David's selection as my Vice-Convener. It was a tremendous reassurance to have such a wise and experienced Councillor with me during Council meetings. Kelso has lost a devoted son. David Lindores will be greatly missed."
David Lindores was born in Nisbet and became an apprentice gamekeeper on leaving school. David always loved country sports and was for many years a breeder of gun dogs. He saw military service as a member of the Royal Military Police and decided to become a policeman following his military service. He served at several Borders Police stations as well as spending a time in the CID during his distinguished career, which saw him rise to the rank of Chief Inspector. Following retirement from the police, David had a number of jobs, but he was best known for his work for Scottish Borders Tourist Board, where he was employed as a Marketing Officer. During that time, he was a regular voice on Radio Borders. He was elected to Borders Regional Council in 1988 at a by-election when he succeeded the late Tom Hunter. He was elected to the Kelso North Ward on Scottish Borders Council in 1995 and has held the seat ever since.
Former Convener of the Council Drew Tulley said of him this morning: "Integrity and loyalty were David's watchwords. He served as Vice-Convener and Depute Leader of the Council from 1996 - 2002 and I was always able to rely on his sound and wise judgement and total commitment. David always had the concerns of the people of Kelso at his heart. He was a man happy to work away in the background and never sought praise for his efforts, but he was always hard at work looking after Kelso's interests. He spearheaded the long fight to get a new bridge for Kelso following the tragedy at the Rennie Bridge when a fire engine went into the river. He will be very much missed by all who knew him."
David leaves his wife Isabel and one daughter, Jackie. His funeral will take place on Friday 27 February at Kelso North Church.
MARGARET Thatcher's former constituency party agent has launched his own bid for a political career at the ripe old age of 70.
Twenty-five years after she rose to power, Andrew Thomson will be out canvassing this evening in a small Scots town. He is standing as a Tory candidate in Thursday's by-election to choose a new councillor for the Kelso North ward on Scottish Borders Council.
For six years in the 1980s he was Mrs Thatcher's constituency party agent in Finchley and helped her to two General Election successes. He was also John Major's agent when he was first elected to the House of Commons in 1979.
Mr Thomson said he decided to stand for the council seat because he thought he could "make a contribution".
He said: "There are ten Conservative councillors on the council and if I get on there will be 11.
"It is a winnable seat, open for a change and there is a general feeling that there is too much bureaucracy at the Borders council headquarters in Newtown St Boswells."
Glasgow-born Mr Thomson added: "I stood for parliament in 1964 in Airdrie and Coatbridge - and despite the defeat it was a great learning curve.
"I enjoyed it, but it made up my mind to become an organiser and not a politician.
"I was agent for John Sutcliffe in Middlesbrough, David Renton and then John Major who was elected in 1979. He was just a backbench MP when I left him in 1981 to go to Finchley where I became Margaret's constituency agent.
"I decided to retire in 1987. I had been at the fairly sharp end for a long time and I wanted to come back to Scotland."
Thursday's by-election in Kelso North was created by the death of the independent councillor David Lindores.
Mr Thomson is up against the SNP's Aileen Orr and Cyril Tostevin of the Liberal Democrats.
Lady Thatcher yesterday sent a message of congratulations to her former constituency agent after he successfully launched his own political career at the age of 70.
Andrew Thomson, who worked for the former Prime Minister in her Finchley seat for six years during the 1980s, has been elected as a Conservative councillor in the Borders. Lady Thatcher said: "I am delighted. I sent my warmest congratulations to Andrew."
Mr Thomson was the victorious candidate in the Kelso and District North by-election on Scottish Borders Council.
Mr Thomson said: "I have never been a winning candidate before, just a winning agent. This is a big challenge."
Lady Thatcher has congratulated Conservative candidate Andrew Thomson - her former election agent - after he won the Kelso and District North Ward by-election with a majority of 51 over the Liberal Democrats (see notes to editors). Lady Thatcher said:
"I am delighted at this excellent news, and I send my warmest congratulations to Andrew."
Commenting on his victory, Andrew Thomson said:
"I am delighted to have won this by-election. I believe that the best ideas come from the bottom-up, and I will be taking the concerns of the people of Kelso and District North to Borders Council. The Conservatives in coalition have done much good, but there is more to be done and I hope an additional Tory will help make the difference.
"Only five years ago, the Liberal Democrats had two-thirds of the vote in this ward. It is an indictment of the Liberal Democrats and a credit to the Conservatives that their support has collapsed and ours has increased hugely. I am confident that my good work in the ward will see this trend continuing."
Scottish Conservative Party Chairman David Mitchell CBE added:
"My congratulations go to Andrew, who worked very hard for this well deserved victory. The length and breadth of Scotland, people feel let-down by the left-wing consensus, and they are increasing turning to the Conservatives to stand up for their local interests."
NOTES TO EDITORS
Conservative 371
Lib Dem 320
SNP 157
Majority 51
Turnout 30.5%
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