An SNP Councillor becoming an MSP has triggered a by-election in a wad the Conservatives would have easily won in 2017 – but they could yet pull an Ellon and hold the seat.
Author: Ballot Box Scotland
By-Election Preview: Dalry and West Kilbride (North Ayrshire) 12th of August 2021
An SNP resignation triggers an unpredictable contest in a ward that was remarkably Independent-leaning for a Central Belt ward in 2017.
By-Election Preview: Wick and East Caithness (Highland) 12th of August 2021
A second Highland by-election in the one day prompted by an Independent resignation, this may have opened the way for a former Independent councillor to return.
By-Election Preview: Inverness West (Highland) 12th of August 2021
Following the resignation of an Independent, the Lib Dems would appear on 2017 results to be favourites in this by election. But can they count on a party vote, or is their serving councillor elected on a personal basis?
Poll Analysis: Panelbase 16th – 24th of June 2021
The first full Scottish poll since May’s election has very little to get excited about. All swings are within margin of error, as is the constitutional question, though the trend is now consistently pro-Union.
By-Election Preview: East Livingston and East Calder (West Lothian) 5th of August 2021
A second Livingston by-election of the year follows the passing of a long-serving Labour councillor. 2017 results here look very similar to that other by-election – so will the outcome here follow with an SNP win despite Labour winning the 2017 recalc?
By-Election Result: Murdostoun
A by-election saw an Independent keeping the seat in the family, as a son succeeded his late father in a storming victory that left the SNP and Labour in the dust.
By-Election Result: East Garioch
An expected victory for the Conservatives in a ward they’d led in 2017, against a backdrop of Greens and Lib Dems unable to rely on their candidate’s personal votes this time.
SP21 – Reforming AMS
Sure, Holyrood is unlikely to vote for my hyper-proportional, FPTP-free preferred voting system. But there are some solid, yet mild, reforms to AMS that could vastly improve it.
SP21 – A Host of Hypotheticals
With analysis of the real election results out of the way, BBS now turns to one of my pet topics – hypothetical electoral reforms to improve proportionality!