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Avondale and Stonehouse (South Lanarkshire) by-election, most popular second preference by party: SNP <-> Green Labour <-> Lib Dem Reform -> Conservative Conservative -> Lib Dem Independent -> Lib Dem Your Party -> Green Alliance for Democracy and Freedom -> Reform/Conservative tie

Chart showing second preferences in the by-election. Most popular second preference per party, in percentage terms:

SNP to Green 37.2
Labour to Lib Dem 23.0
Reform to Conservative 30.1
Conservative to Lib Dem 19.6
Lib Dem to Labour 30.0
Green to SNP 49.5
Independent to Lib Dem 18.7
Your Party to Green 24.4
ADF to Reform and Conservative 33.3

Note that a plurality of voters at 32.2 for Labour, 45.3 for Reform, 34.4 for the Conservatives, 24.3 for Independent and 28.9 for Your Party opted not to mark a second preference at all.

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Avondale and Stonehouse (South Lanarkshire) by-election results by polling district, strongest area by party: SNP, Independent: Chapelton Labour, Reform: Stonehouse Conservative, Your Party: Drumclog / Glassford Lib Dem: Western Strathaven Green: Eastern and Southern Strathaven

Chart showing first preferences by polling district. In percentage terms, best district for each party was SNP 32.7, Labour 27.3, Reform 28.7, Conservative 13.7, Lib Dem 15.8, Green 11.1, Independent 5.4, Your Party 2.5

Map of the ward with polling districts coloured by lead party at the by-election. Reform led in the district covering Stonehouse, SNP led in every other district including Strathaven, Drumclog, Chapelton and Glassford

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Avondale and Stonehouse (South Lanarkshire) by-election transfers, votes at final head-to-head stage (vs same party matchup in 2022): SNP: 1349 (36.3%, +4.4) Labour: 1198 (32.3%, -2.6) Didn't Transfer: 1165 (31.4%, -1.8)

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 14/09/2026

Avondale and Stonehouse (S. Lan) BE, 1st prefs (vs 2022): SNP: 1025 (27.6%, -0.8) LAB: 743 (20%, +0.2) RUK: 727 (19.6%, new) CON: 393 (10.6%, -10) LD: 357 (9.6%, new) GRN: 303 (8.2%, +1.8) IND: 107 (2.9%, new) Your: 45 (1.2%, new) ADF: 12 (0.3%, new) (Non-returns 24.8%) SNP elected stage 9.

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Excusing both from the 2022 count, and the SNP beat a third Independent Andy Cameron by about 21%; their closest party competitors were the Conservatives, who they'd beat by 26.5% after transfers. Big margins, but by-elections in rural Scotland can be very different beasts.

Chart of first preferences in 2022. In percentage terms, Ind Philand 35.9, SNP 31.1, Conservative 11.6, Labour 4.9, Ind MacMillan 4.7, Ind Cameron 4.4, Lib Dem 3.3, Independence for Scotland Party 2.4, Ind Adepetun 1.7

Chart of transfers in the ward in 2022, re-calculated for a single winner. In percentage terms at final head to head stage, SNP 45.4, Ind Cameron 24.6, Didn't Transfer 30.0

Map of the ward with polling districts coloured by lead party in 2022. Independent Philand led in most districts including Lochgilphead, Ardrishaig, Inverary, Furnace and Taynish. SNP led in districts covering Crinan, Kilmartin and Craobh Haven.

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 13/09/2026

It's really easy to think this stuff doesn't matter but it's amazing for getting a proper sense of what happened on the day. For example, this Kiruna voting district has just seen the Greens treble their vote: why? Obviously as a foreigner, I have no idea, but there'll be a story to tell locally!

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 13/09/2026

Once again asking why, in the year 2026, Scotland had an election for which every result was publicly "oooh, mystery box! secret! can't tell you what happened except at the overall constituency level!" and then most of our neighbours are just like "hello here's a livemap" www.svt.se/datajournali...

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 11/09/2026

Isn't that lovely, and so informative, wow, truly an Adequately Designed For Its Purpose map of the 2026 Holyrood election results, perfect for an MSP office, for a talking point in the living room, or even to really get chat going in the barber shop!

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 09/09/2026

The most important part of any project is picking nice colours (I mean I picked these two years ago for the previous New Municipalism release, but I'm enjoying them again as I beaver away on my opportunity-seizing NM Lite report)

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 08/09/2026

Love to get home from a long day of doing policy work in the office to, err, do different policy work at home... aiming to write this whole thing up by the end of the weekend, for those interested - and if you are interested, raise it with your MSPs, in the context of Public Service Reform activity!

Summary
• Local government in Scotland is hugely oversized compared to the European average. Denmark, with a comparable population in half the area, has 98 local councils.
• Yet at the same time, existing local councils are too small for meaningful strategic service design and delivery. Returning to the Danish example, it also has 4 regional councils.
• Local government is an essential component of a healthy democracy. In designing local government structures, the core considerations should be how best to represent local communities and where governing powers best lie. Designing primarily to achieve administrative cost savings will inevitably lead to poor outcomes.
• There is an opportunity arising from the 2026 Programme for Government to undertake meaningful reform, but the signals from the Scottish Government are concerningly hostile to genuine local governance and democratic oversight.
• No reform to the structure of local government, including the proposals in this paper, can be successful without accompanying fundamental reform to an outdated, unfair, and thoroughly unfit for purpose system of local taxation.

• Scotland should return to the general model of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, but balanced towards slightly more local district councils, and taking into account demographic and technological changes in the decades since.
• In designing such a system, insofar as is possible and practical, consideration should be given to how to strengthen existing and historic local identities and connections.
• The example proposals set out in this paper consist of:
o 85 District Councils, which would deal with the most local issues such as leisure, parks, refuse collection, and some aspects of housing.
o 8 Regional Councils covering those 85 Districts, which would deal with more strategic issues such as health, social care, education and transport.
o 3 Single Authority Councils, covering Scotland’s highly distinctive Islands communities, which would exercise the functions of both District and Regional councils.
• Regardless of legal administrative boundaries, all local government bodies should be allowed and enabled to jointly develop and deliver services where they wish, allowing cost savings to arise from back-office functions without removing democratic oversight.

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 07/09/2026

The Holyrood 6 plus two independents for the Midstocket and Rosemount by-election, including regular Aberdeen candidate Simon McLean who I am only realising in hindsight was perhaps surprisingly absent in George Street and Harbour - loves an Aberdeen by-election this lad.

Infographic with by-election details. Candidates are Green Lauren Bird, SNP Jeff Diack, Conservative Freddie John, Independent Simon McLean, Reform UK John McLeod, Independent Kusum Singal, Lib Dem Sandy Stephen, Labour Willie Young

Vacating is SNP, 2022 winner is SNP, runner-up Labour, margin of 1.9%. Cause is the death of Bill Cormie (SNP). By-election is on the 8th of October. Prediction is SNP - Labour tossup.

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 07/09/2026

Midstocket and Rosemount was just 1.9% between the SNP and Labour after transfers in 2022; I don't see any other party being a viable winner. With both parties struggling, by-election dynamics might favour Labour, but that requires them to make the top 2. If not, SNP may yet win. So, a tossup.

Chart of first preferences in 2022. In percentage terms, SNP 37.8, Conservative 24.5, Labour 21.5, Green 9.3, Lib Dem 7.0

Chart of transfers in the ward in 2022, re-calculated for a single winner. In percentage terms at final head to head stage, SNP 43.3, Labour 41.5, Didn't Transfer 15.2

Map of the ward with polling districts coloured by lead party in 2022. Conservatives led in district covering western Midstocket. SNP led in every other district, including Rosemount, Gilcomston and AShgrove.

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 06/09/2026

Something I was working on anyway for these purposes, since it's not helpful just to moan, was a re-jigging of my New Municipalism project proposals for a return to a Region-and-District model. Left are those originals, which are pretty maximalist. Right is a pared down, more realistic version.

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 05/09/2026

Four months on from the election I should probably make a move on updating my living room decor...

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Portobello and Craigmillar (Edinburgh) by-election, most popular second preference by party: Green <-> SNP Labour <-> Lib Dem Conservative <-> Reform UK Family -> ADF Workers -> Green ADF -> Workers Communist -> Workers

Chart showing second preferences in the by-election. Most popular second preference per party, in percentage terms:

Green to SNP 51.9
SNP to Green 42.1
Labour to Lib Dem 25.5
Reform to Conservative 30.9
Conservative to Reform 20.9
Lib Dem to Labour 36.4
Family to ADF 17.8
Workers to Green 27.6
ADF to Workers 32.1
Communist to Workers 27.3

Note that a plurality of voters at 27.8 for Labour, 39.7 for Reform UK, 34.1 for Conservative and 23.3 for Family opted not to mark a second preference at all.

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Portobello and Craigmillar (Edinburgh) by-election results by polling district, strongest area by party: Green, Lib Dem: Portobello Labour: Joppa SNP, Family, Workers: Craigmillar/Niddrie Reform UK, Communist: Newcraighall Conservative, Alliance for Democracy and Freedom: Eastern Duddingston

Chart showing first preferences by polling district. In percentage terms, best district for each party was Green 45.9, Labour 30.1, SNP 35.2, Reform 15.4, Conservative 21.0, LibDem 7.2, Family 3.4; other parties too small to be visible on the chart.

Map of the ward with polling districts coloured by lead party at the by-election. Greens led in the district covering Portobello, Labour in the districts covering Joppa and eastern Duddingston, SNP in the districts covering Brunstane, Newcraighall, Niddrie and Craigmillar.

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Southside and Newington (Edinburgh) by-election, most popular second preference by party: Labour <-> Lib Dem Green <-> SNP Conservative -> Labour Reform -> Conservative EELP -> Labour Independent -> Labour Communist -> Green Family -> Conservative ADF -> Conservative/Lib Dem tie (2 votes each)

Chart showing second preferences in the by-election. Most popular second preference per party, in percentage terms:

Labour to Lib Dem 31.8
Green to SNP 37.2
SNP to Green 44.3
Conservative to Labour 21.9
Lib Dem to Labour 43.6
Reform to Conservative 38.7
Edinburgh and East Lothian People's Party to Labour 29.8
Independent to Labour 23.8
Communist to Green 52.2
Family to Conservative 21.1
Alliance for Democracy and Freedom to Conservative and Lib Dem 16.7

Note that a majority of voters at 27.9 for Conservative and 23.7 for Family opted not to mark a second preference at all.

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Southside and Newington (Edinburgh) by-election results by polling district, strongest area by party: LAB, IND: Blackford/West Mains GRN, SNP: Dumbiedykes/St Leonard's CON, COM, SFP: Southwest Sciennes (?) LD, ADF: North Sciennes (?) RUK: Prestonfield/Southern Newington (?) EELP: Newington

Chart showing first preferences by polling district. In percentage terms, best district for each party was Labour 42.6, Green 50.1, SNP 17.1, Conservative 19.8, Lib Dem 10.5, Reform 6.3; other parties too small to be visible on the chart.

Map of the ward with polling districts coloured by lead party at the by-election. Greens led in the districts covering Dumbiedykes and St Leonard's. Labour led in every other district, including Sciennes, Blackford, Newington and Prestonfield.

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Portobello and Craigmillar (Edinburgh) by-election transfers, votes at final head-to-head stage (vs 2022 re-calculated for same matchup): Green: 2652 (41.7%, +3.0) Labour: 2188 (34.4%, -3.0) Didn't Transfer: 23.9% (nc)

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Portobello Craigmillar (Edinburgh) by-election 1st prefs: GRN: 1781 (28%, +11.8) SNP: 1531 (24.1%, -13.3) LAB: 1413 (22.2%, -1.7) RUK: 569 (8.9%, new) CON: 522 (8.2%, -7.1) LD: 365 (5.7%, +1.4) SFP: 73 (1.1%, new) Worker: 58 (0.9%, new) ADF: 28 (0.4%, new) Commie: 22 (0.3%, new) Green win stage 10

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Southside and Newington (Edinburgh) by-election transfers, votes at final head-to-head stage (vs 2022): Labour: 3030 (45.2%, +1.0) Green: 2505 (37.4%, -4.8) Didn't Transfer: 1171 (17.5%, +3.9) Labour elected stage 13.

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 01/09/2026

Southside Newington (Edinburgh) by-election 1st prefs: Lab: 2153 (32.1%, +8) GRN: 1978 (29.5%, +6.4) SNP: 757 (11.3%, -7.9) CON: 717 (10.7%, -6.9) LD: 543 (8.1%, -8) RUK: 305 (4.5%, new) EELP (x3): 94 (1.4%, new) IND: 63 (0.9%, new) Commie: 46 (0.7%, new) Family: 38 (0.6%, new) ADF: 12 (0.2%, new)

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The full Holyrood 6 plus an Independent for the Forth and Endrick by-election. Had a very nice cycle through a portion of this ward yesterday, it was abuzz with by-election activity (not really)

Infographic with by-election details. Candidates are Green Andrew Adam, Independent Robert Davies, SNP Mhairi Duncan, Labour Paul Godzik, Conservative Katie Harrison, Lib Dem James MacLaren, Reform Jeremy McDonald.

Vacating is Conservative, 2022 winner is Conservative, runner-up SNP, margin of 0.15%. Cause is the death of Paul Henke (Conservative). By-election is on the 1st of October. Prediction is Conservative-SNP Tossup.

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 01/09/2026

An Independent and 4 of the Holyrood 6 for the Wick and East Caithness by-election; as is common in this part of the country, no Labour or Green candidates.

Infographic with by-election details. Candidates are Independent Dave Buchanan, Lib Dem Julie Calder, SNP John Glen, Conservative Charlotte Gibson, Reform UK Iain Richmond

Vacating is Independent, 2022 winner is Lib Dem, runner-up SNP, margin of 17.6%. Cause is the resignation of "AI" Willie MacKay. By-election is on the 1st of October. Prediction is Lib Dem - Independent Tossup.

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New Scottish Independence poll, Survation 13-24 Aug (changes vs 17-23 Apr): Yes ~ 47% (nc) No ~ 43% (nc) Don't Know ~ 9% (-1) Excluding Don't Knows (/ vs 2014): Yes ~ 52% (nc / +4) No ~ 48% (nc / -4)

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New Scotland Only Westminster poll, Survation 13-24 Aug (vs 14-21 April): SNP ~ 34% (+3) LAB ~ 19% (nc) RUK ~ 18% (-3) CON ~ 11% (+1) LD ~ 8% (nc) GRN ~ 5% (-2) RST ~ 4% (+4) First time Restore have featured in a Scotland-only poll

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Survation 13-24 Aug seat projection (vs 2026 election); AMS Ideal seats: SNP ~ 56 (-2); 45 RUK ~ 20 (+3); 25 LAB ~ 19 (+2); 20 LD ~ 13 (+3); 14 CON ~ 11 (-1); 14 GRN ~ 10 (-5); 11 (Projection caveats: ballotbox.scot/projections)

Map of projected seats. Constituencies are 55 SNP, 1 RUK, 3 LAB, 2 GRN, 5 CON, 7 LD.
Regional list seats are 1 SNP, 19 RUK, 16 LAB, 8 GRN, 6 CON, 6 LD.
Lead party per region is Central and Lothians West SNP, Edinburgh and Lothians East SNP, Glasgow SNP, Highlands and Islands SNP, Mid and Fife SNP, North East SNP, South SNP, West SNP.
Gallagher Index is 9.6 - a lower index means a more proportional result.

Map of projected runners up and margins. Constituency runner ups are SNP 18, Conservative 10, Labour 21, Lib Dem 3, Green 3, Reform UK 18.
In percentage terms, constituency margins of victory are 12 below 5, 17 between 5 and 10, 33 between 10 and 20, 11 above 20.
Closest runner up for last list seat in each region is Central and Lothians West Labour, Edinburgh and Lothians East Green, Glasgow Reform UK, Highlands and Islands Conservative, Mid and Fife Conservative, North East Reform UK, South Green, West Conservative.

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 25/08/2026

New Scottish Parliament poll, Survation 13-24 Aug (vs 2026 Election - first poll since then!): List: SNP ~ 31% (+4) RUK ~ 18% (+1) LAB ~ 17% (+1) CON ~ 12% (nc) LD ~ 11% (+2) GRN ~ 9% (-5) Constituency: SNP ~ 37% (-1) RUK ~ 18% (+2) LAB ~ 17% (-2) CON ~ 11% (-1) LD ~ 10% (-1) GRN ~ 5% (+3)

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Forth and Endrick set for the 1st of October; again, I will be on holiday so won't be able to report the outcome on the day! 2022 was extremely close between the Conservatives and SNP (0.2% after transfers), who've both suffered since, but no other likely winner here, so, a tossup between the two?

Chart of first preferences in 2022. In percentage terms, Conservative 36.1, SNP 35.2, Labour 14.0, Independent 7.8, Lib Dem 5.7, Family 1.1

Chart of transfers in the ward in 2022, re-calculated for a single winner. In percentage terms at final head to head stage, Conservative 42.1, SNP 41.9, Didn't Transfer 16.0

Map of the ward with polling districts coloured by lead party in 2022. Conservatives led in districts covering Gargunnock, Killearn, Croftamie, Drymen and Balmaha. SNP led in districts covering Kippen, Buchlyvie, Fintry, Balfron, and Strathblane.

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 22/08/2026

Was a bit lazy and didn't pull the data for this one together earlier; in typical rural Highland vibe though this is going to be "the Lib Dems will win if a party does, but always watch for Independents". Former Wick Councillor Bill Fernie has made a couple of attempts to return, for example.

Chart of first preferences in 2022. In percentage terms, Lib Dem 29.8, SNBP 25.3, Conservative 15.1, Independent MacKay 12.8, Independent Fernie 10.5, Labour 6.5

Chart of transfers in the ward in 2022, re-calculated for a single winner. In percentage terms at final head to head stage, Lib Dem 50.6, SNP 33.0, Didn't Transfer 16.3

Map of the ward with polling districts coloured by lead party in 2022. Lib Dems led in most of Wick and Lybster, SNP led in eastern Wick, Keiss, John o' Groats and Newport, Conservatives led in Watten.

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 18/08/2026

I know I keep going on about this but it is deeply, deeply abnormal for a western European centre-left party to be so institutionally transphobic as to be presiding over the attempted elimination of trans people from public life, and thank goodness at least one of their MSPs is aware of that.

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 17/08/2026

The Holyrood 6, plus an Independent, "Alliance for Democracy and Freedom", and Your Party's electoral debut in Scotland - presumably, their candidate hasn't noticed that ship has sailed due to the landlocked nature of the ward.

Infographic with by-election details. Candidates are Conservative Ade Aibinu, Your Party Gary Allan, Independent Andrew Forde, Lib Dem David Glennie, Green Michael Grant, Reform UK George Hobbins, Labour Hannah Miller, SNP Leigh Payne, Alliance for Democracy and Freedom Ken Thomson.

Vacating is Independent, 2022 winner is Labour, runner-up SNP, margin of 3.5%. Cause is the death of Margaret Cooper (Independent). By-election is on the 17th of September. Prediction is Labour-SNP Tossup.

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 13/08/2026

Avondale and Stonehouse by-election is on the 17th of September. Excluding Cooper in 2022, Labour go on to beat the SNP by 3.5%; neither of those parties are doing great right now but no other credible winners, so probably a tossup between them. Worth watching Conservative and Green shares.

Chart of first preferences in 2022. In percentage terms, SNP 28.4, Independent 23.7, Conservative 20.6, Labour 19.9, Green 6.4, Alba 1.1

Chart of transfers in the ward in 2022, re-calculated for a single winner. In percentage terms at final head to head stage, Labour 40.9, SNP 37.4, Didn't Transfer 21.6

Map of the ward with polling districts coloured by lead party in 2022. Independent Cooper led in district covering Glassford. SNP led in every other district including Strathaven, Stonehouse, Chapelton and Drumclog.

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 06/08/2026

The piece I mention drafting here is finally nearly done (out this weekend?) as I've been lazy, but went back to this Herald article and also want to highlight this bit of "BBS gets things spot on"; the answer was ~24.5% (excluding R&C seat, and including an estimate of Cardonald vote)!

Even in their traditional Achilles heel of First Past the Post Westminster elections this year’s result was easily their best ever, if modest compared to other parties. Those unable to contextualise have mischaracterised this as a deathly blow, but ask yourself this: if for example 2.8% in Glasgow in 2015 was followed by 10.2% across the city in 2016, what does 9.4% under FPTP in 2024 presage for a proportional ballot in 2026?

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 03/08/2026

A very similar ballot in Portobello and Craigmillar to the otherballot, yet without a single "Edinburgh and East Lothian People" candidate. Curious! A real party would stand in both... It's the Holyrood 6, "Alliance for Democracy and Freedom", Family, Communists and Workers Party on this one.

Infographic with by-election details. Candidates are Alliance for Democracy and Freedom David Ballantine, Family Niel Deepnarain, Workers Pete Gregson, Green Lorzenso Martinico, SNP Silas MacGilvray, Reform Andrew McLaughlin, Communist Peter Olech, Lib Dem Liss Owen, Labour Jim Wyke, Conservative Haris Young.

Vacating is SNP, 2022 winner is SNP, runner-up Labour, margin of 13.1%. Cause is the resignation of Kate Campbell (SNP). By-election is on the 3rd of September. Prediction is Likely SNP.

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 03/08/2026

A whopping 13 candidates for the Southside and Newington by-election, including that ridiculous vanity outfit running three for one seat. Otherwise, it's the full Holyrood 6, the "Alliance for Democracy and Freedom", Family Party, Communists, and an Independent.

Infographic with by-election details. Candidates are Labour Ruth Elliott, Edinburgh and East Lothian People Derrick Emms, Green Isabella Gastel Alejandre, Independent Roisin Keirdashian, Lib Dem Artie Khovanov, Conservative Nick Layden, Family Richard Lucas, SNP Sam MacKenzie, Alliance for Democracy and Freedom Sean Moffat, Reform UK Gary Neill, Edinburgh and East Lothian People Mark Rowbotham, Communist Richard Shillcock, Edinburgh and East Lothian People Marc Wilkinson

Vacating is SNP, 2022 winner is Labour, runner-up Green, margin of 2.0%. Cause is the resignation of Simita Kumar (SNP). By-election is on the 3rd of September. Prediction is Likely Green.

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 02/08/2026

Look at the 14 nearby countries that have Self-ID laws: their centre-left parties supported and in many cases, introduced them! Ditto the failure to look at Scottish Greens position in favour of trans rights and acknowledge "ah, this is completely in line with the Green norm across Europe". Dire.

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 31/07/2026

I'm still on a bit of a break period as I'm knackered so preview to come, but look at this nonsense in Southside and Newington by-election candidate list: *three* candidates from this silly vanity outfit. Note that bottom of the paper here (and High Heid Yin of the party) is standing in Clacton too.

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 20/07/2026

Whilst everyone else was watching the change of Prime Minister and the reshuffle, I was wondering if any of these boats in the harbour at Gourock were amongst the six belonging to local man of the people, Malcolm Offord

A photograph looking across the Firth of Clyde towards Kilcreggan on a lovely sunny day. A medium sized tanker is making its way upstream, and several small yachts dot the bay nearer the shore

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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 17/07/2026

Now I don't know about you but if I had setup a localist micro party called the "Edinburgh and East Lothian People's Party", well, for one thing, I wouldn't have stood in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, but I certainly would not stand in Clacton.

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Larkhall (South Lanarkshire) by-election, most popular second preference by party: Reform -> Conservative SNP -> Labour Labour <-> Conservative (just; only 1 vote more than Conservative to Reform transfers!)

Chart showing second preferences in the by-election. Most popular second preference per party, in percentage terms:

Reform to Conservative 36.5
SNP to Labour 42.4
Labour to Conservative 24.8
Conservative to Labour 28.7

Note that a majority of voters at 50.1 for Reform and a plurality of 47.9 for SNP, 47.9 for Labour and 34.8 for Conservative opted not to mark a second preference at all.

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Larkhall (South Lanarkshire) by-election results by polling district, strongest area by party: Reform: Southeastern Larkhall SNP: Northern Larkhall (Merryton?)/Ashgill Labour, Conservative: Northeastern Larkhall/Rosebank/Netherburn

Chart showing first preferences by polling district. In percentage terms, best district for each party was Reform 43.3%, SNP 33.5%, Labour 26.3%, Conservative 14.4%

Map of the ward with polling districts coloured by lead party at the by-election. SNP led in the merged district covering northern Larkhall (Merryton?) and Ashgill. Reform led in all other districts including the rest of Larkhall, Quarter, Rosebank and Netherburn.

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Larkhall (South Lanarkshire) by-election transfers, votes at final head-to-head stage: Reform UK: 1380 (42.3%) SNP: 1239 (37.9%) Didn't Transfer: 647 (19.8%)

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