Labour's Karen Beaton has been elected as the new councillor for the West Fife and Coastal Villages by-election, with just TWO first preference votes more than the SNP.

Ms Beaton got 881, while Paul Steele SNP got 879 first preference votes.

The Greens' Fiona McGown had 121, George Morton got 64, David Ross had 426 for the Tories, while Daniel Smith for the Scottish Family Party got 53, and the Lib Dems' Paul Buchanan Quigley got 227.


Karen Beaton, right, has won the by-electionKaren Beaton, right, has won the by-election (Image: Alexandra Baff) At count, at the Carnegie Conference Centre, marked a hard-fought battle among the candidates, who all made their case following the resignation of new Labour MP Graeme Downie.

Speaking ahead of the election, Ms Beaton had pledged to fight for better local transport links: "I will continue fighting for better local bus services, make sure roads in West Fife are repaired and upgraded, tackle the increase in littering, fly tipping, and antisocial behaviour.

 

"I will always be accessible and open to local people, attending meetings and events to make sure I can focus on the priorities of the communities in the West Fife Villages."