The Scottish Conservatives have won the Jedburgh and District by-election, gaining the seat from the SNP.
Local resident John Bathgate becomes the newest Scottish Conservative councillor after winning 58.5% of the vote.
The Scottish Conservative vote share rose by 8.2% on the 2022 council election result, while the SNP’s vote share dropped by 5.7%.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said John’s victory is further proof that in swathes of parliamentary seats across Scotland only the Scottish Conservatives can beat the SNP.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: “My congratulations go to John Bathgate as our party’s newest councillor after his terrific by-election win.
“John ran a fantastic campaign and I know he will be an excellent councillor and a strong voice for Jedburgh and District on Scottish Borders Council.
“This superb gain for the Scottish Conservatives shows that in swathes of seats across the country, only we can stand up to the SNP and shift the focus on to Scotland’s real priorities – like growing the economy and sorting out our ailing public services.
“This council ward falls into the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk parliamentary seat. This is a constituency, like many across Scotland, which will be a straight fight between the SNP and the Scottish Conservatives, who are standing up for rural Scotland.”