LABOUR are now guaranteed to finish as the largest party on East Lothian Council, after successfully holding on to both their seats in the Haddington and Lammermuir ward.
Shamin Akhtar and John McMillan’s successful re-elections took Labour to eight, an unassailable lead over the SNP with six, with just one ward left to declare.
The SNP’s Tom Trotter also held his seat, while the Conservatives’ George McGuire finished with the most first-preference votes of them all to replace South Scotland MSP Craig Hoy, who didn’t stand for re-election.
The SNP’s second candidate, Graeme MacGregor, was the best of the rest, ahead of the Greens’ Jackie Swailes, who surged ahead of the Liberal Democrats’ Stuart Crawford to finish sixth.
Independent David Barrett placed eighth, ahead of ALBA’s Morgwn Davies.
Haddington and Lammermuir first-preference votes breakdown:
George McGuire (Conservative): 1,714
Shamin Akhtar (Labour): 1,625
John McMillan (Labour): 1,228
Tom Trotter (SNP): 1,107
Graeme MacGregor (SNP): 944
Jackie Swailes (Greens): 577
Stuart Crawford (Liberal Democrats): 432
David Barrett (Independent): 118
Morgwn Davies (ALBA): 85
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here