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The 2012 Highland Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Highland Council . The election used the twenty-two wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 , with each ward electing three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system (a form of proportional representation ) and 80 Councillors being elected.
The election saw Independent councillors remain the largest group, while the Scottish National Party increased their representation, replacing the Scottish Liberal Democrats in second place. The Scottish Labour Party also gained an additional seat. Following the election an administration was formed between the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Labour Party. This was the first time that the Independents have not had any role in the administration of the council.
Election result [ edit ]
Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 3 May 2007. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.
Ward results [ edit ]
North, West and Central Sutherland [ edit ]
2007: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent
2012: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: No change
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xLab
2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
Thurso – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Independent
Donnie MacKay (incumbent )
29.38%
703
Labour
Roger Saxon
25.32%
606
Scottish National
Don Smith
17.97%
430
444.1
445.3
448.5
465.6
514.1
Independent
John Rosie (incumbent )
12.49%
299
357.7
359.8
369.7
413.5
518.2
708.7
Liberal Democrats
Nick Noble
9.40%
225
234.9
235.9
248.4
266.3
Independent
Ian Grant
3.68%
88
95.1
95.9
105.3
Conservative
Reg Holder
1.76%
42
43.9
44.1
Electorate: 6,192 Valid: 2,393 Spoilt: 33 Quota: 599 Turnout: 2,426 (39.18%)
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem
2012: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: SNP and Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem and Independent
Landward Caithness [ edit ]
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012: 3xIndependent; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: Independent gain one seat from Lib Dem
Landward Caithness – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Independent
A. I. Willie MacKay (incumbent )
28.58%
1,015
Independent
David Bremner (incumbent )
18.33%
651
721.4
Independent
Robert Coghill (incumbent ) †††††
17.97%
638
749.7
Scottish National
Alex MacLeod ††††
15.49%
550
576.7
579.6
580.8
592.8
598.5
656.8
756.3
Labour
David Baron
8.51%
302
312.5
316.5
317.6
324.7
343.9
397.2
Independent
Bill Mowat
6.87%
244
274.2
282.7
284.9
297
329.2
Conservative
Richard White
3.07%
109
112.6
115.2
115.6
118.1
Independent
John Campbell
1.18%
42
54.3
57.2
58.1
Electorate: 8,546 Valid: 3,551 Spoilt: 36 Quota: 711 Turnout: 3,587 (41.97%)
East Sutherland and Edderton [ edit ]
2007: 1xLib Dem; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
2012: 1xLab; 1xIndependent; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
East Sutherland and Edderton – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Labour
Deirdre MacKay (incumbent )
32.21%
966
Independent
Jim McGillivray (incumbent )
19.27%
578
622
642.9
691.2
811
Scottish National
Graham Phillips
17.34%
520
544.6
548
554.7
605.8
618.1
771.7
Independent
Richard Gale
12.74%
382
424.5
442.8
485.3
567.8
585.7
Liberal Democrats
Robbie Rowantree *
9.67%
290
334.5
340.1
402.1
Conservative
Kerensa Carr
6.27%
188
198.5
220.6
UKIP
Annie Murray
2.5%
75
81.9
Electorate: 6,179 Valid: 2,999 Spoilt: 36 Quota: 750 Turnout: 3,034 (49.1%)
* = Sitting Councillor from a different Ward.
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh [ edit ]
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: No change
Cromarty Firth [ edit ]
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: No change
Tain and Easter Ross [ edit ]
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: No change
Tain and Easter Ross – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Independent
Alasdair Rhind (incumbent )
32.67%
1,008
Independent
Fiona Robertson (incumbent )
24.44%
754
861.9
Liberal Democrats
Jamie Stone
16.47%
508
560.7
591.2
598.9
611.6
639.2
774.9
Scottish National
Charlie Falconer
13.61%
420
432.2
441.8
446.8
450.9
468.8
514.8
Independent
Richard Durham (incumbent )
8.14%
250
284.9
312.6
315.9
333.2
347.2
Labour
Ron Stevenson
2.53%
78
81
82.8
86.2
89.6
Conservative
David Rutherford
1.43%
44
48.7
52.3
54.1
TUSC
Sean Robertson
0.74%
23
24.9
27.2
Electorate: 7,051 Valid: 3,085 Spoilt: 21 Quota: 772 Turnout: 3,106 (44.05%)
Dingwall and Seaforth [ edit ]
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: No change
Dingwall and Seaforth – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Independent
Margaret Paterson (incumbent )
20.98%
748
Liberal Democrats
Angela MacLean (incumbent )
16.77%
598
607.4
613.5
646.7
693.3
768.2
Scottish National
Graham MacKenzie
12.20%
435
440.5
441.5
441.5
465.9
495.9
503.2
835.7
Labour
John Erskine
11.78%
420
422.8
424.8
429.9
448.9
486.1
495.8
533.5
554.6
Scottish National
Peter Cairns (incumbent )
10.88%
388
389.3
393.3
396.3
406.4
438.5
443.4
Independent
David Chisholm (incumbent )
8.36%
298
300.4
305.4
318.6
349.2
Independent
Alister MacKinnon
7.57%
270
274
298.2
315.3
405.5
507.4
521.4
543.2
564.7
718.6
Independent
Fred Lees
6.17%
220
223.8
258.9
270.1
Conservative
Matthew MacDonald
2.78%
99
99.99
104.99
Scottish Christian
David Forbes
2.52%
90
90.50
Electorate: 9,256 Valid: 3,566 Spoilt: 48 Quota: 714 Turnout: 3,614 (39.04%)
Black Isle [ edit ]
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: No change
Black Isle – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Independent
Billy Barclay (incumbent )††††††
26.77%
1,130
Independent
Isobel McCallum (incumbent )
16.04%
677
759.7
776.9
815.7
868.8
Liberal Democrats
David Alston (incumbent )
15.30%
646
691.4
698.9
742.7
789.2
795.4
842.5
912.9
Scottish National
Craig Fraser (incumbent )
14.45%
610
636.5
640.5
649.7
678.7
681.5
713.6
755
767.8
917
Scottish Green
Myra Carus
6.92%
292
308.9
311.9
318.7
349.9
351.6
390.5
438.9
458.8
Independent
Morris MacKenzie Downie
5.69%
240
276.8
283.8
296.3
302.8
306.5
358.6
Labour
Michael MacMillan
5.12%
216
226.1
229.3
230.6
Independent
Okain McLennan
5.03%
212
236.7
242.5
249.2
265.5
269.1
Conservative
Pamela Cornwell
3.34%
141
149.3
153.1
Scottish Christian
Paul Horwood
1.35%
57
60.5
Electorate: 8,205 Valid: 4,221 Spoilt: 39 Quota: 845 Turnout: 4,260 (51.92%)
Eilean a' Cheò [ edit ]
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: No change
Caol and Mallaig [ edit ]
2007: 3xIndependent
2012: 3xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: No change
Aird and Loch Ness [ edit ]
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: No change
Inverness West [ edit ]
2007: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent
2012: 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: No change
Inverness Central [ edit ]
2007: 1xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab
2012: 2xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLab
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
Inverness Ness-side [ edit ]
2007: 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLab
2012: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: No change
* = Sitting Councillor from a different Ward.
Inverness Millburn [ edit ]
2007: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: No change
Culloden and Ardersier [ edit ]
2007: 1xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLab; 1xLib Dem
2012: 1xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xLab
2007-2012 Change: No change
Culloden and Ardersier – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Independent
Roddy Balfour (incumbent )
29.71%
1,023
Scottish National
Glynis Sinclair (incumbent )
16.44%
566
616.6
618.6
621.9
648.1
678
682.3
1,024.6
Labour
John Ford (incumbent )††††††††††††
13.91%
479
509.4
514.3
524.3
547.6
586.8
595.9
644.3
Liberal Democrats
Kate Stephen
13.80%
475
530.8
535.8
618.6
668.4
728.5
Scottish National
Bob Wynd (incumbent )
10.89%
375
390.7
393.9
402.7
429.9
455.2
459.6
Scottish Green
Donnie MacLeod
4.93%
170
209.2
219.1
227.4
Independent
David McGrath
4.79%
165
192.1
238.1
261.9
300.9
Conservative
Alex Stephen
4.47%
154
177.2
178.8
Independent
Bill Jamieson
1.05%
36
82.4
Electorate: 8,606 Valid: 3,443 Spoilt: 36 Quota: 689 Turnout: 3,479 (40.43%)
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012: 2xIndependent; 2xSNP
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
Nairn – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Scottish National
Liz MacDonald (incumbent )
28.36%
1,120
Independent
Laurie Fraser (incumbent )
15.73%
621
646
684
800.1
Independent
Michael Green
12.23%
483
511.9
543.5
641.2
645.8
778.1
968.7
Labour
Ashley Broadbent
11.60%
458
468.9
479.5
516.8
517.7
606.5
Scottish National
Colin John MacRury MacAulay ††††††††
10.31%
407
615.3
625.5
652.1
653.1
716.4
810.4
Liberal Democrats
Graham Marsden (incumbent )
8.38%
330
348.6
406.3
442.9
444.6
Independent
Ritchie Cunningham
8.23%
325
338.8
366.4
Conservative
Rossie MacRae
5.19%
205
210
Electorate: 9,136 Valid: 3,949 Spoilt: 63 Quota: 790 Turnout: 4,012 (43.91%)
Inverness South [ edit ]
2007: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
2012: 2xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: Lib Dem gain one seat from Lab
Badenoch and Strathspey [ edit ]
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2012: 2xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Independent
Badenoch and Strathspey – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
Independent
Jaci Douglas (incumbent )
24.68%
1,082
Scottish National
Bill Lobban
17.99%
789
813.3
818.9
840.1
844.8
970.6
Scottish National
David Fallows (incumbent )†††††††††††
16.49%
723
750.3
764.5
796.6
805.8
912.2
Liberal Democrats
Gregor Rimell (incumbent )
14.73%
646
707.3
720.3
927.9
Labour
Kieran Turner
12.91%
566
596.5
610.7
640.6
653.6
Conservative
Les Durance
10.22%
448
466.5
518.1
UKIP
Ross Durance
2.99%
131
141.4
Electorate: 10,348 Valid: 4,385 Spoilt: 49 Quota: 878 Turnout: 4,434 (42.85%)
Fort William and Ardnamurchan [ edit ]
2007: 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLab
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLab
2007-2012 Change: Independent gain one seat from Lib Dem
Fort William and Ardnamurchan – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Independent
Andrew Baxter †††
18.63%
647
678
713
Labour
Brian Murphy (incumbent )
16.53%
574
585
631
633.3
688.5
719.3
Scottish National
Bren Gormley (incumbent )
16.33%
567
577
583
585.4
855.7
Independent
Davie Corrigan
13.48%
468
489
514
518.2
552.2
580.7
584.9
Independent
Thomas MacLennan †††
12.90%
448
473
518
521.8
555.9
582.7
590.1
873.3
Scottish National
William MacDonald
11.90%
413
418
434
435
Liberal Democrats
Jamie MacKie
5.18%
180
219
Conservative
Alexander Gillespie
5.04%
175
Electorate: 8,593 Valid: 3,472 Spoilt: 58 Quota: 695 Turnout: 3,530 (41.08%)
Post Election Changes [ edit ]
† On 5 May 2012 Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Cllr Biz Campbell quit the Liberal Democrats and became an Independent. [1]
†† On 18 June 2012 Caol and Mallaig Cllr Bill Clark joined the Scottish National Party and ceased to be an Independent.[2]
††† On 16 October 2012 Inverness Central Cllr Donnie Kerr quit the Scottish National Party and became a non-aligned Independent. [3] On 15 December 2014 he joined the Highland Alliance along with former Liberal Democrat Cllrs Drew Millar and Martin Rattray and former Independents Andrew Baxter and Thomas MacLennan.Breakaway councillors aim to protect Highland communities
†††† On 10 December 2012 Landward Caithness Cllr Alex MacLeod quit the Scottish National Party regarding alleged offences under the Representation of the People Act 1983 and became an Independent Nationalist. He subsequently resigned his seat and a by-election was held on 28 November 2013 which was won by the Independent Matthew Reiss. Youngest councillor Alex MacLeod charged over election expenses
††††† On 28 February 2013 Landward Caithness Independent Cllr Robert Coghill resigned on medical grounds. A by-election was held on 2 May 2013 and was won by his daughter, Gillian Coghill. [4]
†††††† On 23 October 2013 Black Isle Independent Cllr Billy Barclay died. A by-election was held on 19 December 2013 to fill the vacancy which was won by his widow, Jennifer, also an Independent. Tributes to Black Isle councillor and farmer Barclay
††††††† On 9 January 2014 Caol and Mallaig Independent Cllr Eddie Fisher announced he was resigning from the council as he is moving away from the region. A by-election was held on 1 May 2014 to fill the vacancy which was won by the Independent, Ben Thompson. The Oban Times | Lochaber
†††††††† On 15 March 2015 Nairn SNP Cllr Colin John MacRury MacAulay resigned his seat on medical grounds [5] A by-election was held on 7 May 2015 and the seat was held by the SNP's Stephen Fuller.
††††††††† On 28 May 2015 North, West and Central Sutherland Cllr Linda Munro quit the Liberal Democrats and became an Independent.[6]
†††††††††† On 7 May 2015 Aird and Loch Ness SNP Cllr Drew Hendry was elected as an MP for the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey constituency. He resigned his Council seat on 13 July 2015 and a by-election was held on 8 October 2015.Highland by-election set for October The by-election was won by the Liberal Democrat Dr Jean Davis.
††††††††††† On 12 May 2016 Badenoch and Strathspey SNP Cllr David Fallows quit the party over key policies and joined the Highland Alliance.[7]
†††††††††††† On 21 July 2016 Culloden and Ardersier Labour Cllr John Ford died suddenly while on holiday in Jersey.[8] A by-election was held on 6 October 2016 which was won by the Liberal Democrat's Trish Robertson.
By-elections since 2012 [ edit ]
Landward Caithness [ edit ]
Landward Caithness By-election (2 May 2013) – 1 Seat[1]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
Independent
Gillian Coghill
53.49%
1,317
Scottish National
Hanna Miedema
21.32%
525
Labour
David Baron
16.94%
417
Conservative
Barbara Anne Watson
8.25%
203
Electorate: 8,592 Valid: 2,462 Spoilt: 17 Quota: 1,232 Turnout: 2,479 (28.85%)
Landward Caithness [ edit ]
Landward Caithness By-election (28 November 2013) – 1 Seat[2]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
Independent
Matthew Reiss
44.78%
1,150
Independent
Winifred Sutherland
23.09%
593
Scottish National
Ed Boyter
20.48%
526
Conservative
Kerensa Carr
6.66%
171
Independent
Tina Irving
4.98%
128
Valid: 2,568 Spoilt: 48 Quota: 1,295 Turnout: (29.91%)
Caol and Mallaig [ edit ]
Caol and Mallaig By-election (1 May 2014) – 1 Seat[3]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
Independent
Ben Thompson
38.98%
932
950
1,009
1,176
Scottish National
William MacDonald
30.36%
726
739
756
881
Independent
Sandy Watson
22.46%
537
541
551
UKIP
Liam Simmonds
5.56%
133
139
Scottish Christian
Susan Wallace
2.84%
68
Valid: 2,391 Spoilt: 23 Quota: 1,196 Turnout: 2,414 (34.43%)
Black Isle [ edit ]
Black Isle By-election (19 December 2013) – 1 Seat[4]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
Independent
Jennifer Barclay
32.77%
1,003
1,031
1,061
1,157
1,210
1,343
Scottish National
Jackie Hendry
14.34%
439
439
453
470
530
594
Independent
Bill Fraser
12.48%
382
413
431
486
556
663
Liberal Democrats
George Normington
10.91%
334
373
408
434
489
Independent
Gwyn Phillips
8.98%
275
289
304
Scottish Green
Myra Carus
8.79%
269
280
319
362
Labour
Shaun Finlayson
6.01%
184
194
Conservative
Douglas MacLean
5.72%
175
Valid: 3,061 Spoilt: 23 Quota: 1,531 Turnout: 3,084 (35.81%)
Nairn By-election (7 May 2015) – 1 Seat[5]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
Scottish National
Stephen Fuller
41.04%
2,709
2,782
2,854
3,135
Liberal Democrats
Ritchie Cunningham
24.07%
1,589
1,701
1,890
2,406
Independent
Paul McIvor
15.32%
1,011
1,042
1,440
Independent
Mairi MacGregor
12.68%
837
893
Labour
Chris Johnson
6.89%
455
Valid: 6,601 Spoilt: 149 Quota: 3,302 Turnout: 6,750 (71.44%)
Aird and Loch Ness [ edit ]
Aird and Loch Ness By-election (8 October 2015) – 1 Seat[6]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
Liberal Democrats
Jean Mary Elizabeth Davis
33.45%
1,029
1,099
1,208
1,511
Scottish National
Emma Ann Knox
32.51%
1,000
1,097
1,144
1,167
Conservative
George Cruickshank
15.18%
467
480
544
Independent
Zofia Fraser
9.53%
293
330
Scottish Green
Vikki Tania Trelfer
9.33%
287
Electorate: 9,584 Valid: 3,076 Spoilt: 24 Quota: 1,538 Turnout: 3,100 (32.35%)
Culloden and Ardersier [ edit ]
Culloden and Arderseir By-election (6 October 2016) – 1 Seat[7]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Scottish National
Pauline Munro
27.20%
753
755
775
796
862
908
970
1,001
Liberal Democrats
Trish Robertson
16.73%
463
464
479
515
564
703
793
1,026
Conservative
Andrew Jarvie
15.86%
439
442
452
468
478
515
589
Independent
John Ross
11.38%
315
317
330
339
362
Independent
Duncan MacPherson
9.90%
274
285
324
346
369
414
Scottish Green
Isla MacLeod-O'Reilly
6.50%
180
182
188
209
Labour
Andrew MacKintosh
5.89%
163
163
180
Independent
David McGrath
5.71%
158
158
Independent
Thomas Lamont
0.83%
23
Electorate: 9,237 Valid: 2,768 Spoilt: 50 Quota: 1,385 Turnout: 2,818 (30.51%)
References [ edit ]
Highland Council election results 2012