SCOTTISH Labour dropped below both Alba and Greens at The Highland Council's Cromarty Firth by-election.
A by-election for the Cromarty Firth ward was triggered following the resignation of SNP councillor Maxine Smith.
A by-election for the Eilean a’ Cheò ward was also called at the same time following the resignation of the Independent councillor Calum Munro.
Voters went to the polls on Thursday for the Cromarty Firth ward, and the independent candidate Richard Cross was elected.
The Highland Council said that 2410 votes had been cast, from an electorate of 9774, representing a turnout of 24.7%.
#Ward6 Cromarty Firth #byelection Total electorate 9,774. Verified ballot papers 2,410 Turnout = 24.7% pic.twitter.com/ZgOwIHsUx9
— The Highland Council (@HighlandCouncil) June 20, 2025
Standing against Cross were Alba’s Steve Chisholm, LibDem Ross Costigane, Tory Ryan Forbes, Reform Allan MacDonald, SNP Odette MacDonald, Labour Michael Perera, Independent Martin Rattray and Greens Anne Thomas.
SNP’s candidate came in second with 568 first preference votes and the other Independent came in third with 368.
Reform won 348, LibDem 290, then Green with 92 and Alba 91.
Scottish Labour came in second last with 77 and the Tories 48.
Independent candidate Christine Gillies was elected to represent the Eilean a’ Cheò ward on Thursday.
The Highland Council said that 3523 votes had been cast, from an electorate of 8767, representing a turnout of 40.1%.
Standing against Gillies were Reform's John Coupland, Independent Campbell Dickson, Greens Katy Lawrence, SNP’s Màrtainn Mac a' Bhàillidh, Independent Jonathan MacDonald, Tory George Macpherson and LibDem Fay Thomson.
The LibDem candidate came in second with 754 first preference votes, and another Independent, Dickson, came in third with 655.
SNP won 527, while Reform got 157, and the Greens 239.
The Scottish Conservative candidate won 86.
