Fife Council election results — Labour and SNP share seats in Ward 22: Buckhaven, Methil and Wemyss Villages

By Claire Warrender

May 5 2017, 12:32pm

Labour and the SNP share the spoils with two seats each in Buckhaven, Methil and Wemyss Villages.

Two veteran councillors, Labour’s Jim Young and Independent Andrew Rodger, have retired so new faces were inevitable.

Ryan Smart, 24, was the youngest candidate fielded by Labour and he was delighted to join the team, while retired fireman Ken Caldwell was also elected for the SNP.

They will join returning councillors David Graham (Lab) and John O’Brien (SNP) as representatives for one of Fife’s most poverty-hit wards.

Mr Graham said he felt “elated” to be re-elected after fighting a campaign on local issues.

“Folk are concerned about motorbikes, bin uplifts, schools, street cleaning and things like that so that’s what I focused on and will continue to focus on,” he said.

“That’s what we should be talking about on the council.”

Mr O’Brien said it was “an honour and a pleasure” to represent the area again.

“I will take up where I left off and will work to protect public services and stand up for people’s rights,” he said.

Mr Smart, former president of the students’ association at Fife College, said he was immensely proud to be elected.

“There are a lot of issues in the ward, especially poverty, and it’s something I want to help tackle,” he said.

Mr Caldwell said it had been a good, fair campaign and he was pleased with the result.

“Speeding cars, transport and the Levenmouth rail link are the things people are talking about,” he said.