 | 'The name of the island (Benbecula) means 'Mountain of the Fords' and Benbecula is sandwiched between North and South Uist, now all interconnected by stone causeways.' The internet guide to Scotland. |  |
| 'The name of the island (Benbecula) means 'Mountain of the Fords' and Benbecula is sandwiched between North and South Uist, now all interconnected by stone causeways.' The internet guide to Scotland. | |
A by-election was held in the North Benbecula ward of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) on the 21 st March 2002 following the death of Cllr. James L MacArthur.
North Benbecula is in the Na h-Eileanan An Iar (Western Isles) Westminster parliamentary seat (held by the Scottish National Party's Angus B. MacNeill MP since May 2005) and in the Western Isles Scottish parliamentary seat (held by Labour's Alasdair Morrison MSP).
| 21 st March 2002 By-election Turnout 40.6 % (+ 0.7 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin C. Taylor |  |
Independent | 229 | 81.5 % | (+ 81.5 %) |
| Denise A. Johnstone | |
Independent | 52 | 18.5 % | - 28.1 % |
| Independent hold | |
Independent majority | 177 | 63.0 % | + 56.2 % |
| 6 th May 1999 Turnout 39.9 % (- 5.9 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James L. Mcarthur | |
Independent | 159 | 53.4 % | (+ 53.4 %) |
| Denise A. Johnstone | |
Independent | 139 | 46.6 % | (+ 46.6 %) |
| Independent hold | |
Independent majority | 20 | 6.8 % | - 33.2 % |
Note that no elections for the three Island authorities were held in 1995 as these councils were no affected by the reorganisation of the mainland councils. The previous elections were held on the same date as the last regional council election on the 5 th of May 1994.
| 5 th May 1994 Turnout 45.8 % (+ 6.5 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James F. C. Campbell | |
Independent | 348 | 70.0 % | (+ 70.0 %) |
| J. A. MacLennan | |
Independent | 149 | 30.0 % | (+ 30.0 %) |
| Independent hold | |
Independent majority | 199 | 40.0 % | |
| 3 rd May 1990 Turnout 39.3 % | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. A. MacDonald | |
Independent | 245 | 62.5 % | |
| R. Burnett | |
Independent | 147 | 37.5 % | |
| Independent hold | |
Independent majority | 98 | 25.0 % | |
The by-election for the Council ward of Benbecula North, brought about by the death of Cllr. James L MacArthur, is likely to be held towards the end of April.
The election cannot be called earlier because the legislation which originally set the next Council elections as taking place in May 2002, has still to be changed. A by-election cannot be called within 6 months of the next ordinary Council elections.
The changes in Scottish Executive legislation that will set the date for the next Council elections as May 2003, are due to come into force in late January/early February. This will then allow the by-election to take place within the next three months.
Ends
Issued by Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 01851 706412 (Home)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk
DECLARATION OF RESULT
COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR
NORTH BENBECULA BY-ELECTION: 21 MARCH 2002
I, ALASDAIR MACEACHEN, being the Depute Returning Officer for the Local Government Election for the North Benbecula Ward do hereby declare that the total number of votes cast for each candidate in the contested Council By-Election held on 21 March 2002 for the North Benbecula Ward were as follows:
DENISE A JOHNSTONE 52
MARTIN C TAYLOR 229
REJECTED VOTES 0
and I therefore declare that Martin C Taylor has been duly elected as Councillor for the North Benbecula Ward.
The turn-out was 40.6%.
Ballot Papers Rejected
(a) want of official mark -
(b) voting for more than one candidate -
(c) writing or mark by which voter can be identified -
(d) unmarked or void for certainty 1
TOTAL 1
Alasdair MacEachen
Depute Returning Officer
21 March 2002
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