Welcome for strong showing by Green Party in Aberdeenshire schools election
For immediate release 11 March 2011
The Scottish Green Party emerged as the biggest gainer in this year's Aberdeenshire schools election when the votes were counted at Inverurie Academy this afternoon.
The Green Party topped the poll at Banchory Academy and was second by just seven votes at Mackie Academy. The Green Party's vote share on the regional ballot paper entitled it to two 'list' seats, so the Party won three seats in total, the same number as Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP. The Conservatives won a total of two seats.
The Green Party were thus equal first in terms of number of seats won. The fact that four parties all won three seats reflects the closeness of their overall vote shares.
The Green Party's performance in the 2011 schools election is a significant improvement on the 2010 schools election.
The Green Party is optimistic its strong showing in the Aberdeenshire schools election is going to be reflected in May's Scottish Parliament poll. If the Green Party gets six per cent or more of the party vote on the second ballot paper, its top north-east candidate, Cllr Martin Ford, will be elected as one of the north-east's regional MSPs.
Commenting on the Aberdeenshire schools election, Martin Ford said: "The schools election is an excellent initiative which gives participating pupils a great opportunity to learn about the democratic process. I was really impressed by the candidates and the way the counting operation was conducted.
"On behalf of the Green Party, I would particularly like to congratulate and thank all the Green candidates and their helpers. They achieved a very good overall result."
Some of the pupils who took part in the schools election will be eligible to vote in May, so the schools election does provide some indication of the support for the different parties amongst some of the youngest voters in the Scottish Parliament election.