The Scottish Conservatives have beaten the SNP to win the Arbroath West, Letham and Friockheim by-election.
Local candidate Jack Cruickshanks becomes the party’s newest councillor on Angus Council after winning 41.9% of the first preference votes cast – a rise of 10.5% on the 2022 local election result.
He saw off the SNP, who were second with 29.3% of the vote – down 6.9% on 2022. Labour were a distant third on 16.1%.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross hailed Jack’s victory as further proof that in key seats across Scotland, only his party can beat the SNP.
He added that it is clear voters have had enough of the “lame-duck” First Minister Humza Yousaf, whose time in office is up.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: “This is a fantastic by-election win for the Scottish Conservatives and my congratulations go to Jack Cruickshanks as our newest councillor.
“I campaigned with Jack and know he will be a great representative and a strong voice for his constituents.
“This superb result, showing a big swing from the SNP to the Scottish Conservatives, proves that in a host of areas right across Scotland, including in Angus, only we can beat the Nationalists, stop their independence obsession, and get the focus onto people’s real priorities like cutting NHS waiting times and growing our economy.
“It is clear that voters are sick and tired of Humza Yousaf’s weak leadership. They have sent a strong message that the time is up for this lame-duck First Minister, which is why we have brought forward a vote of no confidence in him.”
Notes
By-election result can be found here
https://www.angus.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/elections_and_voting/local_government_by_election_ward_6_arbroath_west_letham_and_friockheim/results