23/06/2025

Published Barrhead News on line

www.barrheadnews.com/news/

Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor by-election date revealed

By Drew Sandelands
Local Democracy Reporter

A by-election is set to be held in Barrhead during August following the death of a long-serving councillor.

Cllr Betty Cunningham, Labour, passed away on Saturday, May 31 at the age of 79 after a period of ill health.

Following her death, tributes flowed in from across the political spectrum, with the council stalwart, who was first elected in 1999, described as a “formidable” fighter for Barrhead.

East Renfrewshire Council has now revealed it intends to hold a by-election for the Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor ward on Thursday, August 21.

The council is currently led by a minority Labour-independent administration, which includes independent councillor Danny Devlin. There are now four Labour councillors, three independents, five SNP and five Conservatives.

At the last election in 2022, Cllr Devlin picked up the most first preference votes in the ward (1,753), followed by the SNP’s Angela Convery (1,639). Cllr Cunningham and Cllr Chris Lunday, SNP, were also elected.

Cllr Cunningham — a former Provost from 2003 to 2007 — received an OBE from the Queen in the New Year’s Honours List of 2011 for services to East Renfrewshire and Malawi, having first travelled to the African country in 2007. Her charity, the Betty Cunningham International Trust, built a health clinic and nursery schools.

She was also handed a Lifetime Legend award at the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) annual councillor awards last year.

Council leader Owen O’Donnell, Labour, previously said: “Social justice and the sense of what is right and wrong was ingrained in Betty’s DNA.

“She was a ferocious fighter for the people of Barrhead and beyond and would leave then Prime Minister Tony Blair and First Minister Jack McConnell trembling in her wake!

“She had the biggest heart but was also great fun and someone you wanted to spend time with.”

Provost Mary Montague, Labour, added: “Strong in character and often in her language, she was formidable in fighting for the best interests of Barrhead and East Renfrewshire.

“She was a determined champion for a just cause and, for anyone who found themselves in a difficult situation and asked Betty for help, they got it.”

04/07/2025

Published Barrhead News On Line

www.barrheadnews.com/

East Renfrewshire Council by-election: How to cast your vote

By Gillian McPherson
Reporter

East Renfrewshire Council is urging residents to cast their vote in next month's by-election.

The vote is taking place in the Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor ward following the death of long-serving councillor Betty Cunningham OBE.

The formal notice of election for the by-election has been published today (Wednesday, July 2).

It will take place on Thursday, August 21, with the polls open from 7am to 10pm and more than 15,000 residents eligible to take part.




Returning Officer Steven Quinn said: “It’s very important that all residents in the Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor ward use their vote.

“The successful candidate elected as a councillor will make decisions on behalf of residents about a wide range of services across East Renfrewshire including schools, roads and parks.”



Council elections use the Single Transferrable Vote (STV) system, which asks voters to mark their candidates in numerical order of preference, rather than using an X.

Voters put the number 1 in the box next to the name of the candidate who is their first choice, then put 2 in the box next to the name of the candidate who is their second choice, 3 in the box next to their third choice and so on.

You can make as many or as few choices as you wish.

Anyone over the age of 16 is eligible to vote in council by-elections.

“It’s also important to be aware that it’s a different voting system from last year’s General Election and there will be clear guidance on this on the ballot paper and in voting booths on the day,” added Steven.

“There will be no requirement to produce photographic ID at this by-election.”

For those who want to stand as a candidate in the by-election, the deadline for nominations is 4pm on Friday, July 18.



A full list of candidates will be published on the council’s website following this date.

The deadline for registering to vote is midnight on Tuesday, August 5.

To register to vote, click here

www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

The deadline for new postal vote applications and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes is 5pm on Wednesday, August 6.

To make an application for a postal vote or to make changes to your existing postal or proxy vote, you must contact the electoral registration officer on 0300 300 0150 or via email at

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Unlike the General Election there will be no requirement to complete a postal vote handling form when handing your postal vote into a polling place in the ward or at the council election office on polling day.

More information on the by-election can be found here:

www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/article/7245...nt-By-election%C2%A0

Candidates

As per the Notice of Election (published on 2 July 2025), Nominations to stand as a Candidate in the Ward 1: Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor By-election closed at 4pm on Friday 18 July 2025.

The Returning Officer has confirmed that the following six Candidates are validly nominated and that an election will be held on Thursday 21 August 2025 with polling taking place between 7am and 10pm.

Farooq Choudhry, Scottish Conservative and ist Party
Julie Ann Costello McHale, Scottish Labour Party
Gus Ferguson, Abolish Holyrood - Abolish Scottish Parliament Party
Andy MacGibbon, Reform UK
David McDonald, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Karen Sharkey, Scottish Greens


Read more information from Council webpage here -

www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/ward1-by-election

The Count

The verification and counting of votes cast will happen electronically (known as an eCount) on the morning of Friday 22 August 2025 commencing at 10.00 am. Results will be published as soon as possible after the completion of the count.
Results

The results of Ward 1: Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor By-election will be published here as soon as possible after the completion of the count.

Council webpage -

www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/ward1-by-election