AYR STAYS LABOUR
By-Election Result (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) AYR (Scotland). March 22. The Labour Party beat off a challenge by Scottish Nationalists and scored better than was expected at a byelection in Ayr on Friday. The Labour candidate, Mr James Sillars, a 32-year-old trade union official, registered a healthy 20,664 votes in tough competition against Conservative and Nationalist candidates. His winning margin in the mixed agricultural and coalmining district of South Ayrshire was 10,886. This was a mere 1169 fewer than the Labour majority in the General Election of 1966. The Conservative candidate, Mr Christopher Graves, a 43-year-old farmer, polled 9778 votes. This was 1664 fewer than he collected in 1966. The Scottish Nationalists, competing for the first time, polled 7785 votes with their candidate, Mr Sam Purdie. The result left the Labour Party with 345 seats in the House of Commons, a majority of 64 over all other parties.
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Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32253, 23 March 1970, Page 17
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149AYR STAYS LABOUR Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32253, 23 March 1970, Page 17
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