LOCAL NEWS JULY 5
Written by MartyM on 9 July 2024
Second recount to determine new MP for Skye and Lochalsh
The Member of Parliament for the Inverness, Skye, and West Ross-shire constituency will not be decided until Saturday (6th July), the returning officer for Highland has announced.
During the formal checking of the totals for the Inverness, Skye, and West Ross-shire constituency count a discrepancy was identified between the verified votes total and the provisional number of counted votes.
An accountancy check was carried out along with a visual check that did not resolve the discrepancy.
A recount was then implemented to reconcile the difference between the totals.
Following the recount, the returning officer Derek Brown advised candidates and agents that he had not been able to declare the result, therefore another recount will take place tomorrow morning at 10:30am.
Mr Brown said that candidates and agents have been informed at each stage of the count.
Labour sweeps to landslide victory
Labour has swept to a landslide victory in the UK General election claiming 412 parliamentary seats, a gain of 211 constituencies.
The Conservative Party, has been routed at the polls losing 248 seats, including high profile figures such as Former Prime Minister Liz Truss, Grant Shapps, Jacob Rees Mogg, and Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross.
The Scottish National Party has loss a total of 38 seats, gaining just eight, while across the UK the Liberal Democrats are on course to become the third biggest party having increase their number of MPS by 63 to 71.
In the Western Isles, a former West Highland Free Press journalist has been elected to serve the constituency at the UK Parliament
Torcuil Crichton of the Scottish Labour Party won more than 6,600 votes and close to 50 per cent of the vote to claim the seat.
Mr Crichton succeeds Independent Angus MacNeil who had represented the constituency under the colours of the SNP since 2005, winning five successive elections.
It is the first time that Labour has won the seat in the UK Parliament for the Western Isles since Calum MacDonald prevailed back in 2001.
Meanwhile in the other Highland constituency of Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, Jamie Stone has been elected to serve as the Member of Parliament.
The Liberal Democrat polled more than 22,000 votes, 10,000 more than Lucy Beattie of the Scottish National Party.
Shiel players to take on endurance challenge for defibrillator charity
Kinlochshiel shinty players are to take on a running endurance challenge across 48 hours next month to raise money for two local charities.
The Shiel players have set themselves the task of running four miles every four hours for 48 hours starting at 6pm on Saturday 6th July.
The players have chosen life-saving charity Lucky2BHere and Kinlochshiel shinty club as the two beneficiaries of their fundraising challenge.
On the 30th March, Shiel captain Conor Cormack (pictured) and teammate Keith MacRae used a Lucky2BHere defibrillator to save the life of referee Steve MacLachlan, who suffered a cardiac arrest during Shiel’s match in Strathpeffer against Caberfeidh.
As a result, the players have chosen to fundraise for the Skye-based charity which places emergency defibrillators throughout Scotland.
The funds raised will also go towards Kinlochshiel shinty club, which the players says gives so much to not just the team but also it supporters and the wider community.
Skye men target Camanachd Cup progress
Skye men face Lovat on Saturday with a place in the semi finals of shinty’s most illustrious prize the Camanachd Cup
The teams last encounter in the competition resulted in a 2-0 victory for Lovat in the second round in 2021 in Portree.
Since then Skye has reached the quarter-finals in 2022, losing to Kingussie, and the second round last year where they were defeated 4-3 by Caberfeidh.
Skye secured progress to the last eight by defeating Glenurquhart 3-0 back in May, while Lovat saw off Caberfeidh 4-1.
The teams last clash came back on the 11 May when Lovat edged the islanders out with a 2-1 win thanks to a brace from Calum Macaulay, Kenny Cushnie was on the scoresheet for Skye.
Elsewhere Fort William host Glasgow Mid Argyll in 2.30 throw up, last year’s finalists Oban Camanachd welcome Lochaber, while holders Kingussie travel to Braeview Park to face Beauly.
In the Premiership, just one fixture will be taking place as Kyles entertain Glenurquhart with Kinlochshiel scheduled match against Caberfeidh postponed after the pitch was deemed unplayable.
In North Division 1, Skye and Shiel’s men’s second are both in action at home.
Shiel host Inverness, while Skye welcome Strathglass to Portree in a top of the table clash.
Skye sit six points behind leaders Strathglass, however Ryan Nicolson team hold three games in hand on their opponents.
The sides are yet to meet in the league this season after their fixture originally scheduled for March was postponed.
Shiel, come into their match against Inverness on a run of three matches without a loss, including two wins.
The Lochalsh side are currently level on points with Inverness but hold a game in hand on their opponents, both matches are 2.30 throws at Reraig and Portree, respectively.
In the WCA National Division, Skye travel to fourth place Lochaber looking to keep the pressure on leaders Badenoch following a thumping win over their mainland rivals last weekend.
Skye’s 6-0 victory moved them level on points with the reigning champions, and in second only by goal difference.
A win for Skye, couple with a draw or defeat for Badenoch who take on Aberdour on Sunday at Silversands would see Skye claim top spot for the first time this season.
Skye’s match against Lochaber is 12pm throw up at Spean Bridge playing field on Sunday.
Kinlochshiel ladies, meanwhile, could open up a four point gap over Lochaber if they were to beat Ardnamurchan and other results went in their favour. Shiel are three point behind Skye in third place and two ahead of Lochaber.
Shiel are unbeaten in their last seven, winning six in the process, and have excelled in attack scoring 48 goals across that period.
Shiel host Ardnamurchan at 12pm on Sunday.
On Saturday, it’s a local derby in North Division 2, as Skye and Shiel lock horns in Portree.
Skye are seven but have played two game fewer than sixth place Glengarry, Shiel are ninth, two points, and one place above bottom side Lochaber.
The match is a 12pm throw on Saturday in Portree.
Cup semi-final at stake
In football, Sleat and Strath and Fort William meet in Plockton tonight for a place in the semi-finals of the Ross Cup.
Sleat have won all five of their matches in the league and sit top of the table, Fort William are bottom of the divisions with one win from their six matches.
The sides last met on 20th April, with Sleat overcoming the Lochaber side 4-3 in the league.
The game kicks-off at 8pm this evening in Plockton.
The weekend’s other fixture pits Kyleakin against Mallaig in the league as fourth entertains second.
Mallaig has lost just one of their matches across all competitions this year – in the Highland Amateur Cup against Culbokie, and ran out 3-0 winners against the reds in their last match in the Ross Cup last Saturday.
Kyleakin will be aiming to put a half to a run of three successive defeats to earn a place in the last four.
The game kicks off at 1pm in Kyleakin on Saturday.
You can listen to the latest local news for Skye and Lochalsh live on the hour from 8am to 5pm, and 8.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, by clicking on the banner below. 👇
Continue reading
