The 2017 Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire by-election was a by-election held on 8 June 2017 for the Scottish Parliament constituency of Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire. It was triggered by the resignation of John Lamont.

Background

Conservative politician John Lamont was elected as MSP for the constituency at the 2016 election, having first been elected in 2007. Lamont announced on 25 April 2017 that he would be standing in the 2017 UK general election and submitted his resignation as MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire with effect from 4 May, which triggered a by-election.[1] Ken Macintosh, the Presiding Officer scheduled the by-election for 8 June, the same date as the UK general election.[2]

Four candidates were nominated: Conservative Rachael Hamilton, Gail Hendry for the Scottish National Party, Sally Prentice for Labour and Catriona Bhatia for the Liberal Democrats.[3] Hamilton, who had been a regional MSP for South Scotland, resigned her seat in advance of the by-election.[4]

Result

2017 Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire by-election[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rachael Hamilton 20,658 53.55 -1.65
SNP Gail Hendry 11,320 29.34 -2.46
Labour Sally Prentice 3,406 8.83 +3.53
Liberal Democrats Catriona Bhatia 3,196 8.28 +0.58
Majority 9,338 24.20 +1.8
Turnout 38,580 69.8[6]
Conservative hold Swing +0.4

2016 result

Scottish Parliament election, 2016: Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire [7]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Conservative Green tickY John Lamont 18,257 55.2 +10.3 15,452 46.65 +15.16
SNP Paul Wheelhouse 10,521 31.8 +5.4 10,068 30.40 -4.45
Liberal Democrats Jim Hume 2,551 7.7 -9.6 2,851 8.61 -6.14
Labour Barrie Cunning 1,766 5.3 -5.0 2,251 6.80 -4.23
Scottish Green   1,481 4.47 +1.11
UKIP   771 2.33 +0.66
Independent   112
RISE   68
Solidarity   67
Informal votes 88 68
Total Valid votes 33,095 33,121
Conservative hold Majority 7,736 23.4 +4.9

References

  1. ↑ "Tory MSP to quit Holyrood to stand for Westminster". BBC News. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "Presiding Officer sets by-election date for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire". Scottish Parliament. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  3. ↑ "Four candidates to fight Borders by-election". BBC News. BBC. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  4. ↑ "MSP Rachael Hamilton quits to fight Holyrood by-election". BBC News. BBC. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  5. ↑ "WATCH: Rachael Hamilton wins Holyrood by-election". Border Telegraph. 9 June 2017.
  6. ↑ Border Telegraph (8 June 2017). "Holyrood By-election 2017: Rachael Hamilton is elected" – via YouTube.
  7. ↑ "Election 2016. Scotland. Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
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