SNP councillor wins Fife by-election
The SNP’s Anne Marie Caldwell has taken a former Labour seat as the new councillor for Buckhaven, Methil and Weymss Villages, replacing the disgraced David Graham.
With a total of 1,594 votes and a turn out of 27.3 per cent, she secured the seat ahead of ReformUK’s Mark Davies who received 1,080 votes and Labour’s Donna Donnelly who got 778 votes.
Jill Reilly (Scottish Liberal Democrats) got 99 votes, Alba Party’s Christine Watson had 83 votes, Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate Brian Mills got 64 votes and Sovreignty’s Kieran Anderson secured 45 votes.
Thursday’s by-election was called after former Labour councillor Graham was convicted of sexual offences against a teenage girl.
Graham, 43, was sentenced to 27 months in prison at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court in August and his name was also added to the sex offenders register for a period of 10 years.
Having served as a councillor since 2012, he was found guilty of abusing a 15 year-old girl at various locations in Fife and Edinburgh, including his office, home address and in his car, between February and August 2023.
Mrs Caldwell said she was “overwhelmed” to be elected to the ward she was born and brought up in.
She joins husband Ken who is already a serving SNP councillor in the same ward.
She thanked her campaign team, family and the the voters of Buckhaven, Methil and Wemyss Villages.
“I am honoured to have been given the opportunity,” she said. “It is such a privilege that the people have trusted me with their vote.
“During this by-election campaign, I have committed only to what I can realistically achieve for the residents of this ward and I am determined to deliver on these commitments with my colleagues across Levenmouth.
“I will continue to support all the community projects that I am already involved in.
“I will strive to make Methil, Buckhaven and Weymss Villages a better place for all who live, work and visit here and to build on the substantial investment by the Scottish Government.”