Euan Robson elected, but Apathy Party is true winner in the Election

Euan Robson (Liberal Democrat), from Kelso, was re-elected on May 1st to serve the constituency of Roxburgh and Berwickshire. Mr Robson received 9,280 votes, or 41.2% of the votes cast, with Sandy Scott (Scottish Conservative) from Jedburgh pulling in some 6,790 votes (30.2%). Roderick Campbell, of Kelso, representing the Scottish National Party, received 2,816 votes (12.5%), ahead of Sam Held (Labour, 12.4%) and Graeme McIver (Scottish Socialist Party, 3.7%), reversing the parties’ positions as of the last General Election. However, it is worth noting the poor turnout, not helped by no polling cards being delivered in Cockburnspath, which was just 49.3%, with just 22,511 votes being cast by the 45,625 voters in the constituency. So, the true winner was, unfortunately, the apathy party, with the winning candidate just receiving 20.3% or one in five of the votes of those eligible to take part in the election. It is imperative that all parties re-connect with the communities and to do more to enthuse the electorate for the next Scottish elections in 2007. Submitted by Paul Wheelhouse