Saturday July 4th 2026
The Jedburgh Conservative councillors, Sandy Scott with John Bathgate and Scott Hamilton
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
One of the longest-serving representatives on Scottish Borders Council is poised to call time on his political career.
Conservative Councillor Sandy Scott has served for a total of 27 years over two separate tenures.
He was first elected to SBC in 1995 to represent Bonchester Bridge, and, following council ward restructuring, the Jedburgh & District ward, which he represented until losing his seat in 1999 to ‘local hero’ and Liberal candidate Bobby Rutherford.
Sandy regained the seat in 2003 and has held it continuously ever since, having won successive re-elections in 2007, 2012, 2017, and 2022.
But now he has decided it’s time to retire and is not planning to contest the Local Elections in May next year.
He said: “Next birthday I’m going to be 85 and the last year has been a pretty rough one and that’s one of the main reasons.
“I’ve had a knee operation, an Achilles tendon and a cataract removed and a gallstone, basically I’ve had ill health for the last year and I just think it’s time.”
Sandy admits he wanted to go out on a “political high”.
He explained: “My ward has currently three Tory councillors, a Tory MSP and a Tory MP. That’s not going to happen twice.
“When I started all this I was reasonably popular because I was a tenant farmer with five staff and I did a bit of hunting and played for the rugby club and I could rely on a lot of these guys to give me some support, but sadly when you get to 85 I’m a little no-mates now because most of my pals are dead and the Tory party is not terribly popular and I don’t think we’ll get three Tories elected and I would rather like to leave under a Tory banner.”
Despite his retirement plans, Sandy says that should his health improve dramatically he might just have a last-minute change of heart – but it’s unlikely. “Never say never, but I’m 90 per cent certain,” he added.
Looking back on his political career, Sandy highlighted the ups – helping get the Jedburgh Campus built – and the lows – the controversy around closure of the town’s Cottage Hospital in 2006.
He added: “At one time I was quite important on the council. I was on the Health Board, the Criminal Justice Authority, that kind of thing, and we got the Health Centre out of that when I was on the Health Board and that was one of the most traumatic times of my life because I wasn’t going to get elected again and I was going to get hanged on the Capon Tree because I’d closed the Jedburgh Cottage Hospital.
“Well, it wasn’t me who closed it but I voted to close it. We had very good reason to do that, the hospital was unfit for purpose, and we did manage to get the health centre out of it.”
The father-of-three and grandfather to six believes SBC is in good hands under the current officer hierarchy, passing on particular praise to Chief Executive David Robertson and Director of Finance Suzy Douglas, who he described as “brilliant”.
He added: “I’ve enjoyed my time on the council. I wouldn’t have gone on so long if I hadn’t enjoyed it.”
Fellow Conservative representative for Jedburgh, Councillor Scott Hamilton, the deputy leader of SBC, has worked alongside Sandy for almost a decade and was supported by him when first entering the council chamber.
He said: “Being asked to comment on Sandy’s political career is no easy challenge, particularly when it spans almost the same length of time you’ve been on the planet.
“Sandy’s quick wit, charm, and wisdom are the hallmark of not just his character but also his life in politics.
“Being elected to office is a daunting prospect but, when I was first elected in 2017 at the age of 20, he was on hand to provide much appreciated guidance in those early days.
“For me what marks Sandy’s time at SBC is that he has always been passionate about the Borders and took decisions which weren’t always necessarily popular but were always based on evidence and facts.
“That strength of character is something unfortunately lacking in many politicians today and I think who ever follows him in office would do well to look to his example.
“Borders politics will certainly be less colourful post 2027 but on behalf of a grateful Conservative Party and his constituents I would like to wish him well for his much-deserved retirement when it comes.”
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