Local By-elections

'This is a democracy. Independent candidates have every right to stand. But if they are to fight a Scottish parliament election as a collective force, then that clearly casts serious doubt on their individual independent status.'
Donald Gorrie MP, Lib Dem local government spokesman, 15 th July 1997.

Upper Ythan (Aberdeenshire) 19 th June 1997

In the parliamentary elections on May 1 st, two of the Liberal Democrat's best results were in Aberdeenshire where Malcolm Bruce held Gordon with a 7,000 majority, overturning a notional Tory majority of 8,500, while Sir Robert Smith took neighbouring Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine from the Conservatives.

On the 19 th June, the Aberdeenshire Liberal Democrats added another feather in their cap when Anne Robertson came from third place to win the Upper Ythan ward in Banff and Buchan from an Independent, John Gordon, who had also represented the District ward of Upper Ythan from 1992 to 1996.

The Conservatives, putting up a candidate for the first time, did well, coming second with almost 30% of the vote. The SNP dropped from second to fourth place, although they actually increased their vote. Labour, who polled only 95 votes here in 1995, did not put up a candidate.

The composition of Aberdeenshire Council is now 16 Liberal Democrats, 15 Scottish National Party, 12 independents and 4 Conservatives.

Upper Ythan

19 th June 1997				6 th April 1995
Ann Robertson		543	32.3%	John Gordon	Ind	786	59.2%
		486	28.9%	Anne Fowler		261	19.7%
	Ind	373	22.2%	Linda Robertson		185	13.9%
		278	16.5%	Albert McLean-Bullen		95	7.2%
Lib Dem gain from Ind	Lib Dem maj.	57	3.4%	Ind gain	Ind maj.	525	39.6%

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