Local By-elections

'Quite frankly PR rewards failure and punishes success.' Cllr Bill Butler, Secretary of the Glasgow Labour Group, 23 rd March 2000.

Manor Park (Western Isles) 13 th April 2000

In May 1999, the number of wards on Western Isles Council was increased from 30 to 31. Indepndents won 22 seats, down from 25, Labour won 6, up from 5 and the Scottish National party won their first three seats on the Council.

Manor Park ward is located in the centre of Stornoway. It is the smallest ward in the council.

Unitary councils have existed for the three island groups of Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland since local government was reorganised in the 1970s and elections were held on the same day as the Regional Council elections.

In 1990, A.M. MacKenzie was returned unopposed as the Independent councillor for Manor Park, while in 1994, Donald MacIver (Independent) was also elected unopposed.

In May 1999, Labour decided to contest Manor Park. The ward was won by their candidate Rita MacDonald with 266 votes compared to 185 for Cllr MacIver.

Labour did not stand in the by-election which was won by one of the three Independent candidates with 57.1 % of the vote and a majority of 184 over the Scottish National party who took 18.5 %.

The turnout, unusually for a by-election, was up from 60.4 % to 67.%. This compares to the drop from 52.7 % to 28.7 % in Woodhead/Meikle Earnock which was held on the same day.

This Independent by-election gain from Labour takes the composition of Western Isles Council to 23 Independents, 5 Labour and 3 Scottish National party.

Manor Park - ward 13

13 th April 2000				6 th May 1999
Murdo MacLeod	Independent	272	57.1 %	Rita MacDonald		266	59.0 %
Iain Morrison		88	18.5 %	Donald MacIver	Independent	185	41.0 %
Angus McCormack	Independent	86	18.1 %
George Campbell	Independent	30	6.3 %
Ind gain from Lab	Ind maj.	184	38.7 %	Lab win	Lab maj.	81	18.0 %