Dumfries and Galloway councillors claim election results delay merits "exceptional response"

Members have agreed a motion for a “forensic review” into why the results at July’s vote were declared several hours later than at the previous poll in 2019

Councillors claim delays to the results being declared in this year’s General Election merit an “exceptional response”.

Members have agreed a motion for a “forensic review” into why the results at July’s vote were declared several hours later than at the previous poll in 2019.

The Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale verdict wasn’t declared until after 9am, with the Dumfries and Galloway result not coming until after 10am – two of the latest declarations in the whole of the UK.

In 2019, both results were known by 5am.

Labour councillors Linda Dorward and Carolyne Wilson lodged a motion for Thursday’s full council meeting looking to find out the reasons for the delay, asking for a “lessons learned” report to come to a future meeting..

Councillor Dorward started by saying the motion and “subsequent press coverage” appeared to have set off a “flurry of activity”.

Both councillors appreciated the efforts of staff but had concerns over the reasons given for the delay, including the number of postal votes, holidays reducing the number of staff available and the geography of the region.

Councillor Dorward said: “These, we argue, are not special circumstances and should have been factored in.”

She felt a forensic review was required to ensure the delays didn’t happen again.

Councillor Wilson added that if the circumstances were exceptional, they merited “an exceptional response”.

Council chief executive Dawn Roberts was the returning officer for both seats and told the meeting she would be speaking in that role, which is “completely independent” in that her accountability is not to the council.

She said: “There’s no role or the council in scrutinising any aspect of the election, authority comes from the crown not the council, the duties of the returning officer are conducted independently from my role as chief executive.

“The results were sound, there was no recount and there has been no challenge to the results.

“However, I do fully recognise that the count took longer than anticipated and it is understandable that there is interest in the reasons for this and the lessons that can be learned.”

She said there was a full debrief under way and, while she did not have to make a formal report to the council, she was happy to share the “key findings” with members once it was complete.

She was also happy to hold a seminar with members after the debrief was
complete.

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