Labour has retained the seat in the Whitburn ward vacated by newly elected MP Kirsteen Sullivan, with the election of David Russell.
Mr Russell will join fellow Labour councillor George Paul following Thursday’s by-election in Whitburn and Blackburn following a narrow victory over SNP rival Aileen Brown.
It will give Labour 12 sitting councillors compared to the SNP’s 15, Conservatives four, one Lib Dem and one Independent.
Labour group leader on West Lothian Council, and the council leader, Lawrence Fitzpatrick told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I’m delighted with David’s election. He will be a first-class councillor for the ward.
“He has the essential attributes of energy, integrity and commitment and I’m certain that he will prove an outstanding community representative.”
The poll was a disappointment for former Bathgate councillor Charles Kennedy who had hoped to return to the chambers representing the Conservatives.
The party fell well behind Reform’s candidate David McLennan and local community council chairman Tam Lynch, who polled 421 votes bstanding as an independent.
The full results were:
Aileen Brown (SNP) – 1,022
Douglas Butler (Scottish Liberal Democrats) – 97
Cameron Glasgow (Scottish Greens) – 92
Charles Kennedy (Scottish Conservative & Unionist) – 239
Thomas Lynch (Independent) – 421
David McLennan (Reform UK) – 578
David Russell (Scottish Labour Party) – 1,093
David Russell was elected as councillor for the ward at stage 7
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
