Labour hopeful wins vacant Inverness Central ward seat following Highland Council by-election
Labour’s Michael Gregson is the newest Highland councillor in Inverness after he won a by-election for a city centre ward this morning.
Voters headed to the polls in Inverness Central on Thursday - one of two by-elections held that day to fill vacancies on Highland Council wards.
There were six candidates in total contesting the Inverness Central seat, with voters then casting their votes under a single-transferrable voting system, numbering their candidates in order of preference.
This sees the candidate with fewest votes eliminated at each stage of counting, and their supporters’ next preferences being assigned among the remaining candidates. Subsequent rounds of counting continue this process until a winner emerges.
And Mr Gregson, who is a Scottish Labour Party member, emerged victorious once counting was complete.
The turnout in the vote was 20.3 per cent, with Mr Gregson securing the seat in the sixth stage of counting at Inverness Town House.
Reacting to his election he said: “It’s an honour to be representing the people of Inverness Central, which is a busy and capable ward which deserves representation.
“I intend on gaining the trust of the people in my time as councillor. And I’m honoured and delighted [to have secured their vote].”
He added that he had heard a lot about local issues from constituents during his time campaigning and is eager to tackle them now he has been elected.
“I feel the biggest benefit [of the campaign] is I’ve been walking and talking to people for several weeks now and basically heard a lot of Invernessians expressing their thoughts,” he continued. “I’m looking forward to collaborating with others. There are exciting developments like the castle, and obviously issues like traffic in the centre.
“As a Labour representative I’ll be really keen to work for the people.”
Michael Gregson will join councillors Michael Cameron (Scottish National Party) and Kate MacLean (Scottish National Party) in representing Ward 14 on the Highland Council.
