Fort William and Ardnamurchan elect Andrew Baxter

Voters in the ward went to the poll on Thursday November 21 and the by-election count was held this morning in Lochaber High School. 

Voting was by the single transferable vote and former councillor Andrew Baxter emerged as the winner at stage one of the electronic count. The by-election was called after Angus MacDonald MP stood down from his position as a councillor. 

After his victory Mr Baxter said: "A big thank you to everyone across the Fort William and Ardnamurchan Ward who put their trust in me at the ballot box. I am still stunned that I won at the first stage, with nearly 60 per cent of first preference votes. 

“People backed my no-nonsense approach to local politics, and my continued willingness to put my head above the parapet and challenge the stagnant status quo at Highland Council, which often ignores us here on the West Coast.”

The number of first preference votes for each of the six candidates were:

Andrew Baxter, Scottish Liberal Democrats, 1,428;  Marit Behner-Coady, Scottish Greens, 146;  Susan Carstairs, Scottish Labour Party, 109; Fiona Fawcett, Scottish Conservative and Unionist, 107; Nathan Lumb, Scottish Libertarian Party, 15; Rebecca Machin, Scottish National Party (SNP), 619.

The turnout was 27.3 per cent.

Baxter was a local councillor for a decade and when he retired from local politics in 2022 he did not expect to return to the council. However, when the by-election was called he said he was “overwhelmed” by people asking him to stand again.

He said: “I am looking forward to the many challenges ahead, and my main priority is ensuring we are heard in the council chamber in Inverness. Too often Lochaber councillors follow their party line and remain mute, worried about upsetting council officers. 

“I remain as independent-minded and determined as I was when I served this fantastic area previously.”

As a councillor Mr Baxter said he has a long list of issues he wants to tackle, including the replacement Corran ferry, reform of social care provision and how the proposed Tourism Levy will be administered so that Lochaber will see a benefit.