SNP MSP Alasdair Allan said on social media today that he was "delighted to see the first woman elected to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar for some years is the SNP’s Sue Thomson, representing the islands of South Uist, Eriskay and Benbecula."

Sue polled 221 first preference votes.

This was the first result to be declared in the local council elections for the Islands which took place yesterday (Thursday May 5) 

Also elected in the same ward were Paul Francis Steele (275)  and Iain Murdoch Macleod (177). 

Also elected to CnES was former SNP UK Parliamentary candidate Frances Murray. 

After the 2017 election, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar was the only local authority in Scotland to have no female representation. This situation ended today, when SNP candidates Susan Thomson in Uibhist A Deas, Èirisgeigh Agus Beinn Na Faoghla and Frances Murray in Steòrnabhagh A Deas were elected.

A line-up of all the SNP councillors along with MSP Alasdair Allan

Alasdair Allan commented:“I would like to congratulate all newly elected councillors. There are a range of challenges facing the islands and I look forward to working with them all in the years to come.

“I’m particularly delighted to see Susan and Frances elected. The Western Isles has had the unwelcome distinction of being the only area in Scotland to have no female councillors, and it’s fantastic that two SNP candidates have ended this.

"It’s also very welcome to see Mustapha Hocine elected as the first BAME councillor in the Western Isles.

“This has been a really good result for the SNP locally. The campaign has been very positive and I’m delighted they have been able to maintain their size while the overall number of councillors was reduced.”

The full result from Steòrnabhagh A Deas was as follows 

The full result from Steòrnabhagh A Tuath was as follows:

In the Sgire nan Loch ward, Angus Morrison and Robert Mackenzie were elected as Councillors.  The votes were Angus Morrison 425, Robert Mackenzie 262, Annie Macdonald 83 and Norman Smith 81.