Leaderdale and Melrose council ward by-election postponed again due to Covid-19 restrictions

Father-of-three Mr Drum, a councillor since 2017, died in March at the age of 60.

A by-election was initially called for his seat on Scottish Borders Council for Thursday, May 21, but rescheduled for Thursday, October 29, due to coronavirus lockdown restrictions introduced at the end of March.

The return of some restrictions due to a rise in cases of the disease over recent weeks has now led to a further postponement, this time until Thursday, March 11, next year.

Council chief executive and returning officer Tracey Logan said: “Taking into account ongoing Covid-19 restrictions and the limited resources we have in managing both the public health challenges and the demands of a by-election, we have again taken the decision to postpone.

“In line with the relevant legislation, this decision has been taken following consultation with Scottish ministers, the Electoral Management Board of Scotland and the Electoral Commission.”

Mr Drum, elected on a Scottish National Party ticket, was one of three councillors for Leaderdale and Melrose, the others being David Parker, formerly an SNP representative but now independent, and Tom Miers, a Conservative.

Three candidates had already thrown their hats into the ring for Mr Drum’s old seat – Conservative Jenny Linehan, a lawyer, of Melrose; Green Party representative Michael Needham, a contact centre worker, of Galashiels; and Tweedbank’s Jonny Adamson, a communications assistant for Orkney MSP Liam McArthur representing the Liberal Democrats.