Local Government By-election
Ward 1: Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor - Thursday 21 August 2025
East Renfrewshire Council is divided into five electoral wards. In his role as Returning Officer, Steven Quinn, the Council's Chief Executive, is responsible for the planning and delivery of elections (and By-elections) in East Renfrewshire.
The Returning Officer is supported by a small team who can be contacted by calling Tel: 0141 577 3033 or by email at: electionoffice@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk
A By-election can happen at any time due to a vacancy arising, for example, the death or resignation of an elected representative. A By-election can take place during any of the ordinary local government electoral cycles and is subject to the same statutory timetable and provisions.
Election of a Councillor for Ward 1: Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor
Following the passing of Councillor Betty Cunningham OBE, a local government By-election will be held in Electoral Ward 1: Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor on Thursday 21 August 2025.
Candidates
As per the Notice of Election (published on 2 July 2025), Nominations to stand as a Candidate in the Ward 1: Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor By-election closed at 4pm on Friday 18 July 2025.
The Returning Officer has confirmed that the following six Candidates are validly nominated and that an election will be held on Thursday 21 August 2025 with polling taking place between 7am and 10pm.
- Farooq Choudhry, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Julie Ann Costello McHale, Scottish Labour Party
- Gus Ferguson, Abolish Holyrood - Abolish Scottish Parliament Party
- Andy MacGibbon, Reform UK
- David McDonald, Scottish National Party (SNP)
- Karen Sharkey, Scottish Greens
Registering to Vote
The deadline to register to vote in the Ward 1: Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor By-election is midnight on Tuesday 5 August 2025. You can register online at: Register to vote - GOV.UK
Alternatively, you can contact the Electoral Registration Officer who is based at Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1BF on Tel: 0300 300 0150 or by email: ero@renfrewshire-vjb.gov.uk
Poll Cards
Poll Cards for the Ward 1: Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor By-election on Thursday 21 August 2025 will be issued on or around 21 July 2025. Electors are encouraged to check their Poll Card carefully as these will provide details of the address of their Polling Place and the Polling Station Number where they should cast their vote.
The Notice of Situation of Polling Places which lists those buildings being used as Polling Places is available in the Public Notices section below.
Postal and Proxy Votes
Postal Votes will be issued on or around Friday 8 August 2025. Anyone who wishes to apply for a Postal or Proxy Vote must be registered to vote by the deadline set out above in the Registering to Vote section.
The deadline for Registered Voters to apply for a Postal or Proxy Vote is Wednesday 6 August 2025 at 5pm.
Registered Voters who wish to apply for a Postal or Proxy Vote must contact the Electoral Registration Officer who is based at Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1BF on Tel: 0300 300 0150 or by email: ero@renfrewshire-vjb.gov.uk as there are paper-based forms which must be completed.
How to Vote at a Local Government By-Election
Voters will receive a single ballot paper. On the ballot paper you will be asked to number the candidates in order of your preference, placing a "1" against your first choice, a "2" against your second choice, a "3" against your third choice and so on. You may vote for as many or as few of the listed candidates as you wish. The candidates you vote for may be from the same party, from several different parties, or be independent candidates.
The system of voting for this By-election is the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system. For more information about the STV system, watch the video which was produced by the Electoral Commission for the Scottish Local Government Elections in May 2022.
By-election Timetable
A summary of key dates for the Ward 1: Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor By-election on Thursday 21 August 2025 are provided below:
| Event | Date (Deadline) |
|---|---|
Publication of the Notice of Election | Wednesday 2 July 2025 |
| Delivery of Nomination Papers | Each working day between 10:00 am. and 4.00 pm from Thursday 03 July 2025 *Candidates/Agents are asked to make an appointment for the delivery of Nomination papers. |
Deadline for the delivery of Nomination Papers | Friday 18 July 2025 (deadline is 4.00 pm) |
Deadline for the withdrawal of Nomination Papers | Friday 18 July 2025 (deadline is 4.00 pm) |
Deadline for Notification of Appointment of Election Agents | Friday 18 July 2025 (deadline is 4.00 pm) |
Deadline for Publication of Notice of Poll/Statement of Persons Nominated/Situation of Polling Places | Friday 18 July 2025 (as soon as practicable after 4.00 pm) |
| Issue of Poll Cards | On or around Monday 21 July 2025 |
| Deadline to Register to Vote | Tuesday 5 August 2025 (deadline is midnight) |
Deadline for new postal vote applications and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes. | Wednesday 6 August 2025 (deadline is 5 p.m.) |
| Issue of postal votes | On or around Friday 8 August 2025 |
Deadline for new applications to vote by proxy (not postal proxy), except for medical emergencies. | Wednesday 13 August 2025 (deadline is 5.00 pm) |
Deadline for notifications of appointment of polling and counting agents | Thursday 14 August 2025 |
First date that electors can apply for replacements for lost postal votes | Friday 15 August 2025 |
| Polling Day | Thursday 21 August 2025 (from 7.00 am - 10.00 pm) |
Deadline for emergency proxy applications. | Thursday 21 August 2025 (deadline is 5.00 pm) |
Last time for reissue for spoilt and lost postal votes. | Thursday 21 August 2025 (deadline is 10.00 pm) |
Last time to alter the register due to clerical error or court appeal. | Thursday 21 August 2025 (deadline is 9.00 pm) |
| eCount | Friday 22 August 2025 (commencing at 10.00 am) |
Last date to submit election spending returns | Thursday 25 September 2025 |
Public Notices
The Public Notices relating to the Ward 1: Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor By-election on Thursday 21 August 2025 will be published here throughout the election process.
Notice of Election (PDF, 421 KB)
Notice of Poll and situation of polling places (PDF, 224 KB)
Notice of Election Agents (PDF, 104 KB)
The Count
The verification and counting of votes cast will happen electronically (known as an eCount) on the morning of Friday 22 August 2025 commencing at 10.00 am. Results will be published as soon as possible after the completion of the count.
Results
The results of Ward 1: Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor By-election will be published here as soon as possible after the completion of the count.
Further Information
For further information on the Ward 1: Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor By-election on Thursday 21 August 2025 please contact the Election Office Helpline on Tel: 0141 577 3033 or by email: electionoffice@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk
