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SNP’s Willie Ferguson Wins Stirling East By-Election

2 mins read


Representing the SNP, Willie Ferguson has won the Stirling East council by-election and will be the newest Stirling city council member.

The seat was previously held by the Labour Party, which new candidate Anne Kelly had hoped to retain.

Ferguson, who runs a fire sprinkler company, won with 650 valid votes.

Stirling East, or Ward 6, includes Braehead, Broomridge and St. Ninians.

After the result was announced, Ferguson said his success had not quite sunk in yet. However, he wanted to assure voters that his next steps as a councillor would be “what I said in the leaflet. That’s what I was elected to do, and that is what I will focus on.”

Ferguson’s campaign focused on improving anti-social behaviour, basic maintenance in the area, and community engagement.

Image credit: Alex Paterson

Ferguson added that another key issue is the Winter Fuel Payment, saying that the topic “cuts through” ages and demographics and impacts everyone.

Ferguson has been an SNP member “since before the referendum”. He told Brig he featured in his local paper for cutting the word “YES” in a field as part of the pro-independence campaign.

First Minister John Swinney said he was “delighted” for Ferguson.

The by-election came after Chris Kane, former Labour councillor for the ward, was elected as MP for Stirling and Strathallan, replacing the SNP’s Alyn Smith.

Stirling East is represented by two other councillors, Gerry McLaughlan for the SNP, and Bryan Flannagan for the Conservatives.

The council has 23 members, of which, 8 represent the Conservatives (including the Provost), 7 represent the SNP, 4 represent Labour, and 1 represents the Greens, along with an Independent.

Voter turnout was 21.7%, with 1,903 votes received, and 1,881 votes being valid.

The full results are:

  • Andrew Adam (Scottish Greens) – 95
  • William Docherty (Reform UK) – 265
  • Willie Ferguson (SNP) – 650
  • Anne Kane (Scottish Labour) – 480
  • Gary McGrow (Independent) – 106
  • Christopher Spreadborough (Scottish Liberal Democrats) – 55
  • Jennifer Ure (Scottish Conservatives) – 230

Featured Image Credit: Alex Paterson

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4th year Politics and Journalism student.
Secretary for Brig
The Herald Student Press Awards Columnist Of The Year 2024 (which sorry i’m still not over)

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Editor-in-Chief.

Twitter/X and BlueSky: @AlexPaterson01

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I am a third-year Politics and Journalism Studies student at the University of Stirling (2022-) and a writer and sub-editor for the Brig for over a year (Nov. 2023-), focusing mainly on political topics.

Eleanor Meehan
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