Reform UK Secures First Scottish Council Seat in Whitburn and Blackburn By-Election
Reform UK won the Whitburn and Blackburn ward by-election in West Lothian, marking their first council seat victory in Scotland. The turnout for the by-election was 22%. David McLennan of Reform UK received 1,177 first-preference votes, followed by the SNP candidate with 1,028 votes, and Labour's candidate with 627 votes.
The result highlights a growing presence of Reform UK ahead of the upcoming Scottish Parliament election, where polls suggest the party is in second place behind the SNP. Local business owner Andy Valentini expressed his support for Reform UK, citing rising energy costs and migration concerns as primary motivators. Valentini mentioned that his electricity bills have increased from around £300 to £900 per month. While he supports legal migration, he wants to halt illegal migration.
Despite this support, some Whitburn residents remained skeptical of Reform UK, criticizing the party's inclusivity and associating concerns with Nigel Farage. The SNP described the by-election as centered on real local challenges, while Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie urged that political discourse move beyond a Reform versus SNP rivalry.
West Lothian's council comprises 33 seats, with the SNP and Labour collectively dominating 26 of them. The by-election result is not seen as indicative of a broader political shift in the area.
