THE Scottish Tories have won the Stranraer and the Rhins by-election in Dumfries and Galloway – narrowly beating Reform UK.

Julie Currie was elected as the party’s newest councillor at the seventh stage of voting.

While Currie won the by-election – Reform UK’s candidate John Roberts returned the most first preference votes, with 1386.

Currie returned 1302 first preference votes, while the SNP ’s Simon Allen Hugh Jones returned the third most first preference votes, 541.

Scottish Labour ’s John Peter McCutcheon returned 239 first preference votes, while independent Shaun Smith won 207.

A total of 3939 votes were cast at the by-election, showing a 34.29% turnout.

The quota for the election was 1971 votes.

Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay hailed Currie as a “fantastic represen

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