Defeated Labour candidate Jean Anne Mitchell has played down any impact an anti-semitism row had on her campaign, whilst paying tribute to both Martin Docherty and her campaign team.
Mitchell hit the headlines last week and issued a public apology after forwarding on a message about BBC journalist Nick Robinson’s Jewish links to a candidate group, however speaking after the declaration she told the Lennox Herald that she didn’t believe it had an impact on her campaign.
She said: “I would say that the people have spoken and Martin is a worthy winner.
“I don’t think the anti-semitism story had any impact because it wasn’t something that I had said and I apologised for the way that it was presented.
“There is no place for anti-semitism or any form of racism in any part of our society and certainly not in the Labour Party.
“I can’t tell you about how fantastic my team have been, they have gone beyond all my expectations.
“I think we got caught in a tidal wave and there wasn’t anything I could’ve done any differently.”
Meanwhile Conservative Alix Mathieson was pleased with a campaign that saw her party maintain much of the support they picked up in 2019.
She said: “I’m pleased. I held my own considering the national results.
“The election picture looks very positive for the Conservatives in the UK so I’m very happy with that. It looks good for the seats round here in 2021 because we’ve managed to keep a steady vote, so we’ll keep going and try to increase that going forward.”
Independent Andrew Muir meanwhile vowed to return.
He said: “My question about NHS complaints remains unanswered. I’m building the votes and I will carry on.”
