 | 'The Tories will provide a real and effective opposition to Labour on the council, instead of the token efforts of their Lib Dem lackeys.' Tory leader David McLetchie MSP, 21 st September 2001. |  |
| 'The Tories will provide a real and effective opposition to Labour on the council, instead of the token efforts of their Lib Dem lackeys.' Tory leader David McLetchie MSP, 21 st September 2001. | |
There was a by-election for the St Andrews Central ward of Fife Council on the 20 th September 2001 following the resignation of Cllr Jane Hunter Blair. The Conservatives won the by-election by 6 votes, but in 2003 William Sangster won the ward back for the Lib Dems.
St Andrews Central is in the North East Fife Westminster parliamentary seat (held by Lib Dem Sir Menzies Campbell MP) and the North East Fife Scottish parliamentary seat (held by Lib Dem Iain Smith MSP).
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat. Swing: 6.2 % from Lib Dem to Tory.
| 20 th September 2001 By-election. Turnout 11.7 % (- 35.2 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Brooks |  |
Conservative | 214 | 45.8 % | + 11.5 % |
| William Sangster |  |
Liberal Democrat | 208 | 44.5 % | - 0.8 % |
 |
Labour | 29 | 6.2 % | - 6.6 % | |
 |
Scottish National Party | 16 | 3.4 % | - 4.3 % | |
| Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat | |
Conservative majority | 6 | 1.3 % | |
| 6 th May 1999 Turnout 46.9 % (+ 19.4 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jane Hunter Blair | |
Liberal Democrat | 849 | 45.3 % | - 7.6 % |
| William Brooks | |
Conservative | 642 | 34.3 % | + 13.8 % |
| Margaret J. Squire | |
Labour | 240 | 12.8 % | - 3.4 % |
| John B. Henry | |
Scottish National Party | 143 | 7.6 % | - 2.7 % |
| Liberal Democrat hold | |
Liberal Democrat majority | 207 | 11.0 % | - 21.4 % |
| 6 th April 1995 Turnout 27.5 % | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Cassells | |
Liberal Democrat | 568 | 52.9 % | |
| Simon Hogben | |
Conservative | 220 | 20.5 % | |
| Nicolas Bibby | |
Labour | 174 | 16.2 % | |
| William Taggart | |
Scottish National Party | 111 | 10.3 % | |
| Liberal Democrat win | |
Liberal Democrat majority | 348 | 32.4 % | |
Last night, the Scottish Conservatives won the St Andrews Central by election to complete a hat trick of council by election gains in the space of a week. Commenting on the victory, Scots Tory Leader David McLetchie MSP said:
"Last night's result completes a hat trick of Tory by election gains since Iain Duncan Smith became leader of the UK Party last Thursday. These victories demonstrate that the Scottish Conservatives are alive and kicking and winning back seats from Labour and their Lib Dem allies all over the country."
Mr McLetchie concluded:
"Not only was last night's result great news for the Scottish Conservatives, it was also good news for the citizens of St. Andrews who will have a committed councillor in Bill Brooks to represent them on Fife Council. The Tories will provide a real and effective opposition to Labour on the council, instead of the token efforts of their Lib Dem lackeys."
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