SNP hold local seats - Ross leads strong Tory challenge
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IT WAS a case of as you were in the two local Scottish Parliament elections after the country went to the polls on May 5.
Previous incumbents Stewart Stevenson and Richard Lochhead were returned for the SNP in Banffshire and Buchan Coast and Moray respectively.
However, it was to be a nervous night for Mr Lochhead as the Scotland-wide Tory resurgence, spearheaded in Moray by Douglas Ross, saw his majority slashed from just under 11,000 in 2011 to 2,800 on Thursday.
Mr Ross boosted his party’s share of the vote in the constituency from 20% five years ago to 38% this time around.
Mr Stevenson had a more comfortable evening, polling just over 55% of the vote to see off
For a full election roundup, see this Tuesday’s Banffshire Advertiser election special.