That the Parliament notes the five council by-elections held on 6 August 2015 in the Glasgow Shettleston constituency and elsewhere in Scotland and that they all were won by Scottish National Party candidates; is disappointed at the low turnouts, including one of 14.5%; notes the belief in the system of proportional representation by single transferable vote, which takes account of both party preference and the importance of the individual candidate; is concerned that the present system of by-elections does not always produce a proportional result as it takes no account of the existing ward councillors, and notes the desire to find a better way of replacing councillors who depart during their term of office.