SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY VICTORY IN LOANHEAD BY-ELECTION

Early day motion 1023, tabled 14 November 2005 by Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party). Signed by 9 members.

That this House congratulates Councillor Owen Thompson on his election as the Scottish National Party's (SNP) latest elected representative following his decisive victory in the local authority by-election in Loanhead in Midlothian Council on the night of Thursday 10th November; notes that this victory was gained by a massive swing from Labour and Liberal Democrat voters which saw the SNP vote increase by nearly 30 per cent.; recognises that the seat was won against a strong campaign by the Labour Party's ex-Council Leader who had previously held the seat for 17 years until narrowly losing it by 12 votes in 2003 to an independent; welcomes the fact that the SNP has won the majority of local by-elections held since the 2005 election with five gains out of nine contests; further welcomes the fact that in all the nine by-elections the SNP is far ahead of the other parties in terms of the popular vote; and views this victory as a solid indication that the choice for Scottish voters in the 2007 elections will be a clear one between an SNP Executive with a vision of taking Scotland forward, or the failing Labour-LibDem Executive holding Scotland back on behalf of London.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 6, Plaid Cymru 3.