Stirling Council will have a by-election on the 5th of December after Cllr Chris Kane was elected as Stirling’s local MP. So who are the candidates standing for Stirling East?
Andrew Adam – Scottish Greens
Andrew Adam initially stood as MP for Stirling and Strathallan in this year’s General Election, winning 2,320 votes. A left-wing candidate and Stirling local, when standing for the last election, Adam said: “I’ve lived most of my life in Stirling, and it’s been difficult to watch our communities suffer while successive Westminster governments have slashed public funding.” He is an outspoken critic of the current Labour government on X (formerly Twitter), showing his support for pay rises for unions, recognising a Palestinian state, and transgender rights, through reposts.
William Docherty – Reform UK
Born in Bannockburn, Docherty has lived in Stirling for 74 years and is a first-time candidate for any election. His aims include more police presence in Stirling and its surrounding areas, supporting community-led initiatives such as book swaps and revitalising Mayfield Community Centre’s garden. On the by-election, Docherty said: “I’m committed to bringing positive change to our community and ensuring that local voices are heard in the council chamber.” Reform UK received 3,145 votes in the Stirling, which was more than both the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.
Willie Ferguson – Scottish National Party
Willie Ferguson said: “I want basic awareness training of autism, with a teacher’s tool kit to respect basic needs such as stimming. I will engage, listen and challenge those in power.” Ferguson runs the local sprinkler business Aquablaze.
Anne Kane – Scottish Labour Party
Known as Mrs Kane on X (formerly Twitter), Kane is a local primary school teacher, and is married to the former councillor and now MP Chris Kane. Kane is also a trade unionist.
Gary McGrow – Independent
McGrow has been a community activist for many years now, originally standing as a councillor in 2022. McGrow believes that: “Schools and social care should be delivering evidence-based and common sense education and social services rather than promoting gender ideology. Public services are becoming hijacked by activists promoting a science-denying and harmful ideology”. He has also worked with councillors to solve issues within Stirling, to fix issues such as traffic safety and anti-social behaviour. McGrow believes that as a local, he understands community issues in a way that other candidates may not. “The party candidates, five of whom do not even live in the ward, will put their party first and the community second. Living and bringing up my family in the Stirling East Ward gives me a real incentive to work hard and improve local services and infrastructure.”
Information on Christopher Spreadborough for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, and Jennifer Ure for the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, was unavailable.
Note: This article has been researched with the intent of giving all candidates equal coverage. All publicly available information has been included to the best of our ability. This article will be updated when more information is available.
Featured Image Credit: stirling.gov.uk
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