 | 'I regret these changes are going forward without the Government first causing the provision of a proper parliament in Scotland. These proposals are very unwelcome in the absence of a Scottish government.' SNP Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Norman Irons, July 1993. |  |
In April 1995, Independent Tom Dobson took the Southdean ward of Scottish Borders council with the smallest possible majority of one vote over Liberal Democrat Patricia Miller. There were 5 rejected votes.
When the rejected votes were analysed it transpired that 2 votes had been disallowed due to 'Want of official mark', and that, had the votes been marked with official mark the result would have been different as the disallowed votes were found to be in favour of the Liberal/Democrat candidate.
As a result of an Election Petition which was heard in the Sheriff Court, Jedburgh on 6 June 1995 the Sheriff Principal determined that Tom B. Dobson had not been duly elected for the Southdean Ward and ordained that the Returning Officer arrange for a further election to be held.
On 17 August 1995, the election was re-run. There was a swing of 7.75% from Liberal Democrat to Independent and Southdean was won by Tom Dobson, this time with a clear majority of 121.
Following this re-run, the political composition of Scottish Borders Council remained unchanged at 30 independents, 15 Liberal Democrats, 8 Scottish National Party, 3 Conservatives and 2 Labour.
I am grateful to Colin Gray for passing on information received about this election from Mr. White (Senior Administrative Officer, Scottish Borders Council).
| 17 th August 1995 | 6 th April 1995 | ||||||
| Tom B. Dobson | Ind | 339 | 44.3 % | Tom B. Dobson | Ind | 245 | 38.1 % |
| Patricia C. Miller |  | 218 | 28.4 % | Patricia C. Miller | | 244 | 37.9 % |
| James A. S. Brown |  | 165 | 21.5 % | James A. S. Brown | | 154 | 24.0 % |
| Thomas F. Tubb |  | 44 | 5.7 % | ||||
| Ind hold | Ind maj | 121 | 15.7 % | Ind gain | Ind maj | 1 | 0.2 % |
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