Tories narrowly beat Reform in council by-election

The Scottish Conservatives have managed to hold off a strong challenge from Reform UK in a local council by-election.

Voters in the Stranraer and Rhins ward of Dumfries and Galloway Council went to the polls on Thursday following the resignation of an independent councillor earlier this year.

The ward was described as a “toss-up” between the two parties by respected elections website Ballot Box Scotland.

Reform’s candidate, John Roberts, came ahead of the Tories' Julie Currie in first preference votes, securing the backing of 1,386 people to her 1,302.

He continued to hold to lead through several stages of the count but was ultimately pipped in the final stage, with Currie ending on 1,565 votes to Roberts’ 1,523.

Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay welcomed the result, saying it highlighted that “voters in the area are sick of rising bills under Scotland’s two left-wing governments”.

He said: “For the good of Scotland, it’s essential that we get rid of this failing, independence-obsessed SNP government next May, and focus on growing Scotland’s economy to bring down bills and improve key services.

“This result shows that in a host of areas up and down the country, like Dumfries and Galloway, the Scottish Conservatives are best placed to beat the nationalists next May.” 

This is the closest Reform has come to winning an election in Scotland so far, with 38.7 per cent of the vote.

Glasgow councillor Thomas Kerr hailed it as a “historic result”. He added: “We smashed it in first preferences winning for the first time and are growing in support across the country. Bring on May 2026.”

The SNP came a distant third in the by-election, crashing out in the sixth round of voting with 730 votes. More of these votes were transferred to the Conservatives than to Reform for the final round.

Labour was fourth, followed by an independent, then the Greens, the Lib Dems, and a Scottish Heritage Party candidate came in last.

Turnout for the by-election was 34 per cent, just shy of the 41.5 per cent turnout in the ward in the last full council election in 2022.