A new councillor has been elected in Stirling following a recent by-election, as reported by the Daily Record. The Scottish National Party candidate, Willie Ferguson, emerged victorious to represent Ward 6 on Stirling Council. The election saw a low turnout of just 21.7%, with 1,903 ballot papers received out of an electorate of 8,754.
The by-election was called after Stirling’s MP, Chris Kane, resigned from his position as a councillor. Kane had been a Labour representative for the Stirling East ward since 2017 and had served as council leader since 2022. Following his election as an MP, he stepped down from his leadership role before resigning as a councillor a few months later. His wife, Anne Kane, a teacher and former journalist, was selected as the Labour candidate to replace him on the council.
The Returning Officer, Caroline Sinclair, expressed gratitude to the Council staff and all involved in organizing the by-election. Sinclair highlighted the importance of citizen engagement in the democratic process, acknowledging everyone who participated in the election. She also congratulated Willie Ferguson on his successful election and expressed the Council’s anticipation of working with him in the years ahead.
In the election, Ferguson secured victory at Stage 7 with 650 votes, surpassing the quota of 941 votes needed for election. Other candidates included Andrew Adam (Scottish Greens), William Docherty (Reform UK), Anne Kane (Scottish Labour), Gary McGrow (Independent), Christopher Spreadborough (Scottish Liberal Democrats), and Jennifer Ure (Scottish Conservative and Unionist).
With 22 rejected ballot papers, Ferguson’s win marks a significant development in local governance for the Ward 6 area in Stirling. The Council looks forward to collaborating with the newly elected councillor to address the needs and concerns of the community effectively.