Inverness Central by-election to be contested by six hopefuls, Highland Council reveals
Six hopefuls will be vying for the public’s votes when a vacant Highland Council seat in Inverness is contested next month.
The deadline for nominations to stand for the vacant seat in the Inverness Central ward closed today (Monday).
And Highland Council has now released the names of the various nominees standing in the ward.
They are (in alphabetical order by surname) Andrew Barnett (Scottish Greens), Michael Gregson (Scottish Labour Party), Chris Lewcock (Scottish Liberal Democrats), Martin Macgregor (Scottish National Party), Donald Mackenzie (Scottish Conservative and Unionist), Iain Richmond (Reform UK).
Several had already publicly thrown their hats in the ring, such as the Scottish Greens’ Andrew Barnett. Labour’s Michael Gregson and the SNP’s Martin Macgregor, but the full list of nominees is now known.
The vote will take place on Thursday, September 26, with the count being held the following day.
The winner of the Inverness Central by-election will join existing councillors Michael Cameron (Scottish National Party) and Kate MacLean (Scottish National Party) in representing that ward.
Meanwhile, a by-election for two vacant seats in the Cromarty Firth ward in Easter Ross will also take place on September 26.
A dozen hopefuls have stood for those two seats, including Labour’s Michael Perera, who finished third in the recent General Election in the Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency.
The full list of nominees in the Cromarty Firth ward are (in alphabetical order by surname), Ryan Barrowman (Scottish Greens), Sinclair Coghill (Independent), Richard James Cross (Independent), John Edmondson (Scottish Liberal Democrats), Brideen Godley-Mackenzie (Independent), Kim Hanning Jackson (Reform UK), Roland Hanning Jackson (Reform UK), Odette Macdonald (Scottish National Party), Tina McCaffery (Independent), Innes Munro (Scottish Conservative and Unionist), Michael Perera (Scottish Labour Party) and Martin Rattray (Independent).
The two successful candidates in the Cromarty Firth ward will join existing ward councillors Tamala Collier (Scottish National Party) and Maxine Smith (Highland Alliance).
Anyone over 16 years old who lives in either of the two wards is eligible to vote in the relevant by-elections if they are registered. To register to vote visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Alternatively, call the Electoral Registration Office on 0800 393783 to request a paper application form. The last date to register to vote in this By-Election is midnight on Tuesday, September 10.
Voters will be able to cast their vote in person on the day by visiting their polling station or they can apply for either a postal vote or appoint a proxy which is requesting someone to vote on their behalf. Photographic ID is not required for people voting at polling stations for this election as it only applies to UK parliamentary elections.
The latest time to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Wednesday, September 11 and the deadline for anyone wishing to appoint a proxy, which is someone to vote on their behalf, is 5pm on Wednesday, September 18. Postal packs will be dispatched on Friday, September 13.
Advice on postal and proxy voting is available by contacting the Electoral Registration Office on 0800 393783 or emailing ero@highland.gov.uk.
