 | 'Brian Rutherford, one of Aberdeen City Council's most respected councillors, died last month at the age of 55 after being ill for several months.' Bon Accord,November/December 2002. |  |
| 'Brian Rutherford, one of Aberdeen City Council's most respected councillors, died last month at the age of 55 after being ill for several months.' Bon Accord,November/December 2002. | |
There was a by-election for the Langstane ward of City of Aberdeen Council on the 5 th of December 2003 following the death of Labour Cllr the Rev Dr Brian Rutherford. Labour regained the ward at the 2003 elections.
Langstane is in the new Aberdeen South Westminster parliamentary seat (held by Labour's Anne Begg MP) and in the Aberdeen Central Scottish parliamentary seat (held by Labour's Dr Lewis MacDonald MSP).
Lib Dem gain from Labour. Swing: 17.3 % from Labour to Lib Dem.
| 5 th December 2002 By-election Turnout 17.4 % (- %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Delaney |  |
Liberal Democrat | 281 | 40.2 % | + 22.8 % |
| Allan Angus |  |
Scottish National Party | 201 | 28.8 % | + 0.0 % |
| John McLeod |  |
Labour | 152 | 21.7 % | - 12.3 % |
| Alan Morrison |  |
Conservative | 35 | 5.0 % | - 5.2 % |
| Margaret A. M. Greig |  |
Independent | 30 | 4.3 % | - 5.3 % |
| Liberal Democrat gain from Labour | |
Liberal Democrat majority | 80 | 11.4 % | |
| 6 th May 1999 Turnout % (+ %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rev Dr Brian C. Rutherford | |
Labour | 554 | 34.0 % | - 28.3 % |
| Lorraine McL. Barr | |
Scottish National Party | 470 | 28.8 % | + 10.2 % |
| Stewart T. Gow | |
Liberal Democrat | 284 | 17.4 % | + 8.8 % |
| Angus Carruthers | |
Conservative | 167 | 10.2 % | - 0.2 % |
| Margaret A. M. Greig | |
Independent | 156 | 9.6 % | (+ 9.6 %) |
| Labour hold | |
Labour majority | 74 | 4.5 % | - 39.2 % |
| 6 th April 1995 Turnout 23.8 % | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cecil Clevitt | |
Labour | 746 | 62.3 % | |
| Graeme Swanson | |
Scottish National Party | 223 | 18.6 % | |
| Scott Thomson | |
Conservative | 125 | 10.4 % | |
| Gordon Macdonald | |
Liberal Democrat | 103 | 8.6 % | |
| Labour win | |
Labour majority | 523 | 43.7 % | |
BRIAN RUTHERFORD, one of Aberdeen City Council's most respected councillors, died last month at the age of 55 after being ill for several months.
Councillor Rutherford, who was minister at Mastrick Parish Church, was convener of the Council's Planning Committee.
He had been receiving medical treatment for a number of months but had still played a very active part within the council and chaired a Planning Committee only two days before his death.
Lord Provost Margaret Smith paid tribute to Mr Rutherford and praised his disciplined approach to council work and his love of the city.
"Brian Rutherford's death is a great loss to church life, for the public and communities, but it is the loss to his family and friends that is in my heart." Originally from Glasgow, Councillor Rutherford graduated with a BSc in Biochemistry from Glasgow University before working in industry in Central Africa and the West Indies.
His connections with local government go back to the early seventies when he was elected on to Edinburgh Corporation (1973-75), then, Edinburgh District Council (1974-80) and West Lothian District Council (1980-83). He was elected on to Aberdeen District Council in 1992 and to the City Council in 1999. He represented the Langstane Ward.
He also served as an external member of the City Council Education Committee.
He had been Minster for Mastrick Parish since 1990 and only last year after six years part-time studying gained a PhD at Aberdeen University.
His doctoral thesis, entitled The Churches and Aberdeen School Board, 1872-1900, was a local study of the provision of religious education in Aberdeen public schools following the 1872 Education (Scotland) Act and the political battles to retain religion in schools.
Leader of the Council Len Ironside said that the thoughts of all members of the Council were with Councillor Rutherford's family. "Although he had not been well for a number of months he continued actively and bravely working for the benefit of the community."
Chief Executive Douglas Paterson said that Councillor Rutherford was "highly respected" by City Council staff.
The by-election for the Langstane Ward will be held on Thursday, December 5.
Aberdeen City Council announced today that the by-election for the Langstane Ward will be held on Thursday, December 5.
The by-election is being held following the death of Councillor Brian Rutherford.
The official notice declaring the election will be placed on November 4 and nominations will close at 4pm on Tuesday, November 12.
At the 1999 election the result was as follows: Labour 544; SNP 470; Liberal Democrat 284; Conservative 167 and Independent 156.
There are five candidates for the vacant seat in the Langstane Ward of Aberdeen City Council which takes place on Thursday, December 5.
Nominations closed at 4pm today.
The candidates are:
Allan Angus (Scottish National Party)
Steven Delaney (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
Margaret Greig (Independent)
John McLeod (Scottish Labour Party)
Alan Morrison (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Candidate)
The by-election is being held following the death of Councillor Brian Rutherford.
At the 1999 election the result was as follows: Labour 544; SNP 470; Liberal Democrat 284, Conservative 167 and Independent 156.
The current state of the parties on the City Council is Labour 20; Liberal Democrats 13; Conservative 6; SNP 3; plus the Langstane vacancy.
The hotly contested Langstane by-election is over after another resounding Liberal Democrat win. Steve Delaney took the seat for the Lib Dems taking them from a previous third place and increasing their share of the vote by 22.7%. This result now gives the Lib Dems 14 seats on Aberdeen City Council, paving the way for further gains next May. The final standing of the parties on the council on 6th December 2002 was Labour 20, Lib Dems 14, Conservatives 6 and SNP 3.
Newly elected Liberal Democrat Councillor for Langstane, Steve Delaney, said upon winning the seat, "Ordinary people are turning to the Lib Dems as the obvious alternative to Labour in Aberdeen. They want commonsense politics and they want politicians who will listen as much as they talk. They want their genuine concerns, fears and indeed visions to be heard." The result of the poll was as follows:-
| Langstane By-election 6th December 2002 | |||
| Lib Dem | 281 | 40.2% | +22.7% |
| SNP | 201 | 28.8% | -0.2% |
| Labour | 152 | 21.7% | -11.9% |
| Conservative | 35 | 5.0% | -5.3% |
| Independent | 30 | 4.3% | -5.3% |
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