Looking back... by-election 2005

The Loanhead by-election in 2005 was a fantastic achievement for the SNP.  Having come 3rd in the 2003 Local Government elections in the ward (behind winner Bill Hoggan (Ind) and George Purcell (Labour)) by-election presented a real opportunity to make an impact.

The sad death of Bill Hoggan (Ind) was the cause of the by-election and Labour went into the campaign full of confidence with candidate, and former Council Leader George Purcell.  Very few, even within the local SNP branch, felt that any challenge to Labour's dominance would seriously contest the seat.  How wrong could everybody be.

Alex Salmond with Cllr Owen Thompson during the highly successful
Loanhead by-election campaign in 2005

Local lad Owen Thompson was selected by the SNP.  Having grown up in Loanhead Owen was widely known and with the aid of an expert campaign team and dedicated volunteers it soon became evident that a real challenge was being mounted and that there was a clear choice for voters between Labour or the SNP.

Over the 5 week campaign Owen and the many volunteers heping canvass and deliver leaflets managed to speak to a huge number of residents, and despite the usual claims from the Lib Dems that 'only they can win here' a stunning victory was delivered.

Talking of the Lib Dems.... they did stage a solid campaign.  Well certainly plenty of paper was distributed round the houses in Loanhead.  Most claimed 'only the Lib Dems can win here' and on the eve of poll there was even a leaflet proclaiming 'by tomorrow you will have elected either Ken Brown (now Cllr for Penicuik) or George Purcell... NO OTHER RESULT IS POSSIBE' oh how wrong could they be!  With all of this literature and these staggering claims it was fantastic to see that the Lid Dems managed just unerd 5% of the total vote, 97 votes to be exact.

Owen Thompson and Alex Salmond outside St Margarets Primary School, Loanhead

One of the highlights of the campaign was a one day visit by SNP Leader Alex Salmond.  During this visit Owen and Alex visited all three Loanhead Primary Schools presenting each with a Saltire which both Alex Salmond and Owen signed for them. 

By the end of the campaign its safe to say the other parties didn't really know what had hit them.  Very early on at the count it became very clear that only one outcome was possible.  The SNP had won the Loanhead Ward in Midlothian Council, electing Owen Thompson to be the only SNP Cllr in Midlothian.

Owen and supporters after the result was declared

Ther final result was as follows;

10 th November 2005 By-election



Turnout 49.7 % (- 2.4 %)


Candidate                         Party                                   Votes         %             % change


Owen G. Thompson         Scottish National Party          768    45.4 %       + 27.2 %


George Purcell                  Labour                                 311      18.4 %        - 15.4 %


Patrick Kenny                  Independent                          268       15.8 %       (+ 15.8 %)


Elizabeth M. Veitch          Independent                          217     12.8 %        (+ 12.8 %)


Ken Brown                      Liberal Democrat                  97           5.7 %           - 5.3 %


Andrew R. Hardie          Conservative                           13          0.8 %           - 3.8 %


Philip C. Veitch              Independent                              9           0.5 %         (+ 0.5 %)


Ian G. Baxter                 Scottish Green Party                 8           0.5 %         (+ 0.5 %)


Scottish National Party gain from Independent Scottish National Party majority 457 (27.0 % )