Since the General Election, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have contested over 20 council by-elections, a huge task made possible only by the incredible dedication of our candidates and volunteers.
That hard work is paying off—we’ve seen remarkable progress, increasing our vote share across those by-elections more than any other party. The recent Fort William and Ardnamurchan by-election in the Highlands is a shining example of how grassroots, community campaigning can deliver astonishing results. The vacancy came about following the election of dedicated Lib Dem Councillor, Angus MacDonald, to Westminster – presenting us with an opportunity to build on our momentum.
The Challenges of Campaigning in the Highlands
Campaigning in the Highlands is not for the faint-hearted. The issues are diverse, and the wards are vast, rural, and often sparsely populated. Fort William and Ardnamurchan ward alone spans over 1,000 square miles, yet it isn’t even the largest ward in the Highland Council area. Despite these challenges, the campaign team demonstrated how focusing on the fundamentals can produce extraordinary results.
What Made the Difference?
This campaign’s success was built on a few simple but highly effective strategies:
- A Strong Local Candidate:
Andrew Baxter, a former councillor for the ward, brought deep community knowledge and a strong track record of delivering for residents. Andrew’s strong reputation for standing up for the local community gave the campaign immediate credibility. - Focused Messaging:
The campaign zeroed in on the issues that mattered most to residents—local services, infrastructure, and standing up for rural communities. By condensing our message down to those key points, the local team was able to craft a punchy and focused campaign. - A Comprehensive Literature Plan:
From the start, the campaign team put into action a literature plan that would get our message out across the ward, building on the work that had been put in by the previous Lib Dem Councillor (now MP) Angus MacDonald. From Focus leaflets to Good Mornings, the regular delivery of leaflets was key to maintaining momentum throughout the campaign and ultimately achieving the jaw-dropping result. - Effective Teamwork:
The geography of the Highlands makes it impossible for one person to campaign alone. Volunteers from across the Highlands—and beyond—came together to knock on doors, deliver leaflets, and speak to voters. Effective coordination and teamwork allowed the team to achieve some really extensive coverage across the ward.
The Results Speak for Themselves
The outcome was nothing short of phenomenal. Andrew Baxter won with a staggering 58.9% of the vote, an increase of 21.4% from the previous election. In contrast, the SNP’s vote share dropped by 8%, and the other parties struggled to make an impact. This decisive result secured the seat on first preferences alone, without the need for transfer rounds.
What This Means for the Future
This result shows where we work, we win. We can take lessons from results such as this when we look towards the county council elections in 2025. As we push toward electing 150 Liberal Democrat councillors across Scotland by 2027, Fort William and Ardnamurchan show that getting the basics right—listening to communities, clear messaging, and running strong literature campaigns—can lead to amazing gains.