1994 Tayside Regional Council election

Last updated

1994 Tayside Regional Council election
Flag of Scotland.svg
←  1990 5 May 1994 (1994-05-05)
All 46 seats to Tayside Regional Council
24 seats needed for a majority
Turnout45.5% Decrease2.svg2.3%
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
Party SNP Labour Conservative
Last election101814
Seats won22164
Seat changeIncrease2.svg12Decrease2.svg2Decrease2.svg10
Popular vote54,64035,56128,869
Percentage39.6%25.7%20.9%
 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
 
Party Liberal Democrats Independent Independent Labour
Last election211
Seats won211
Seat changeSteady2.svg0Steady2.svg0Steady2.svg0
Popular vote13,0262,3862,021
Percentage9.4%1.7%1.6%
1994 Tayside Regional Council election
Interactive map of results in the 46 Tayside electoral divisions
Council control before election


No overall control

Council control after election


No overall control

The sixth and last election to Tayside Regional Council was held on 5 May 1994 as part of the wider 1994 Scottish regional elections. The election saw the Scottish National Party overtaking Labour to become the council's largest party, and following the election the SNP formed a minority administration. The Conservatives lost 10 seats and became the third largest party. 8 weeks later, leader of the council Lena Graham resigned 'for personal reasons' and Ewan Dow took over as council leader.

Contents

Background

The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 created a two-tier system of local government in Scotland. Tayside was one of 9 regions, below which were 3 districts; Dundee, Angus and Perth and Kinross. The region was governed by Tayside Regional Council, whose 46 councillors were elected every 4 years using the first past the post voting system. [1] The previous election was held on 3 May 1990, and ended in victory for Labour who took 18 seats. The Conservatives came second with 14 seats, and the SNP finished third with 10. [2] : 45 

The SNP stood on a platform of anti-privatisation, campaigning against the Conservative government's attempts to privatise the water and sewerage systems. [3] A total of 160 candidates stood for 46 seats; 40 women and 120 men. The SNP stood in the most electoral divisions (45), followed by the Conservatives (41), Labour (36), the Liberal Democrats (25) and the Scottish Greens (8). [4] Two Liberal Democrat candidates were disqualified before the election after it transpired that their proposers had already nominated other individuals. [5]

Aftermath

The election ended with the SNP as the largest party, gaining 12 seats, although they were short of an overall majority. Labour took legal action after the SNP won Whitfield by just 1 vote, alleging that a spoiled ballot paper was counted in the SNP candidate's favour. [6] The challenge was dropped after the Labour candidate George Barr was allowed to examine the contentious ballot paper. [7]

Some Labour councillors backed nominating candidates to convenerships, knowing that they could only be elected with Conservative support. This was condemned by Scottish Labour's general secretary Jack McConnell, who told the councillors that "no Labour administration worth its salt would get the support of the Tories". Conservative group leader Bruce Mackie denied such a move, saying "There is no question at all of us working in any alliance with any other party." [8] The SNP eventually formed a minority administration, with former group leader Frances Duncan elected convener and Lena Graham elected as council leader. [9]

Graham resigned just 8 weeks into the role, and was replaced by Ewan Dow, a newly elected councillor. Dow was just 22 years old when he was appointed, making him the youngest Scottish council leader in history. [10]

Aggregate results

1994 Tayside Regional Council election
Tayside Regional Council 1994.svg
PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
SNP 54,64039.58Increase2.svg8.822Increase2.svg12
Labour 35,56125.76Decrease2.svg3.216Decrease2.svg2
Conservative 28,86920.91Decrease2.svg9.04Decrease2.svg10
Liberal Democrats 13,0269.44Increase2.svg3.52Steady2.svg0
Independent 2,3861.73Increase2.svg0.51Steady2.svg0
Independent Labour 2,1431.55Increase2.svg0.11Steady2.svg0
Scottish Green 9070.66Decrease2.svg1.00Steady2.svg0
Others5180.38Increase2.svg0.30Steady2.svg0
Total138,050100.00–46–
Registered voters/turnout306,29245.5
Source: Elections Centre

Ward results

Each of the 46 electoral divisions elected one councillor. Boundaries were changed since the last election after a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland. [1]

Angus

1. Arbroath Central [2] : 10 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP A. King 1,440 48.7
Liberal Democrats R. B. Spears1,21841.2
Conservative R. Irvine29648.7
Majority222
Turnout 45.5
SNP win (new seat)
2. Carnoustie East/Arbroath West [2] : 10 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP G. A. Lamont 1,103 31.2
Liberal Democrats G. Ryalls93726.5
Conservative J. A. McAdam83523.6
Labour P. A. Wardlaw3259.2
Majority166
Turnout 52.3
SNP win (new seat)
3. Arbroath North/Central Angus [2] : 10 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP H. M. W. Angus 1,423 50.2
Conservative E. C. Hill70024.7
Labour J. Warren34612.2
Liberal Democrats H. O'F. Will28910.2
Scottish Green P. C. Roberts742.6
Majority723
Turnout 43.5%
SNP win (new seat)
4. Arbroath East [2] : 10 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP A. W. Shand 1,791 48.8
Labour F. G. Pearson79221.6
Conservative R. D. Ramsay2927.9
Majority999
Turnout 51.9
SNP win (new seat)
5. Carnoustie West [2] : 10 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP R. Lamont 1,329 41.1
Conservative J. Gray75925.1
Labour P. A. Murphy72724.1
Liberal Democrats G. McBeth1986.5
Majority570
Turnout 45.9
SNP win (new seat)
6. Forfar West [2] : 10 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP F. E. Duncan 2,067 67.5
Conservative B. J. T. Townsend64221.1
Labour L. Hood34511.2
Majority1421
Turnout 43.7
SNP win (new seat)
7. Forfar East [2] : 10 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP I. S. Hudghton 1,883 63.1
Conservative A. A. A. Cochrane-Dyet52317.5
Liberal Democrats H. C. Fleming2899.6
Labour G. MacDonald2899.6
Majority1,360
Turnout 42.0
SNP win (new seat)
8. Montrose South [2] : 10 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP W. A. West 1,435 59.1
Conservative D. J. Stubbs57923.8
Labour S. Singh24810.2
Liberal Democrats A. W. Warren1653.8
Majority856
Turnout 38.7
SNP win (new seat)
9. Montrose North [2] : 10 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP D. C. Doward 1,460 49.8
Conservative W. Johnston89730.6
Labour J. Stewart57119.5
Majority563
Turnout 43.3
SNP win (new seat)
10. Kirriemuir/Western Glens [2] : 10 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Conservative H. S. Arbuthnott 1,415 44.9
SNP R. Berrie1,34742.8
Labour D. K. Todd38412.2
Majority68
Turnout 44.7
Conservative win (new seat)
11. Brechin/Eastern Glens [2] : 10 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP G. P. Allan 2,061 56.6
Conservative R. J. L. Melville97126.6
Labour I. A. McFatridge43111.8
Liberal Democrats M. I. Gillespie1754.8
Majority1090
Turnout 49.9
SNP win (new seat)

City of Dundee

12. Central [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Labour J. D. Kemp 1,031 47.8
SNP D. C. L. Blake47823.6
Liberal Democrats D. A. Stansfield31614.9
Conservative J. C. W. Justice1898.9
Scottish Green F. Conacher994.6
Majority553
Turnout 30.1
Labour win (new seat)
13. Riverside [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Conservative N. I. C. Powrie 1,429 42.1
Labour S. R. Butcher1,20635.6
SNP C. Cashley42312.4
Liberal Democrats D. R. MacDonald2607.6
Scottish Green E. C. Hood722.0
Majority223
Turnout 50.2
Conservative win (new seat)
14. Lochee [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Labour G. W. Buckman 1,767 60.6
SNP N. Maiden62221.3
Conservative A. G. L. Powrie29710.1
Liberal Democrats R. J. Coates1414.8
Scottish Green C. J. S. Cassells872.9
Majority1,145
Turnout 44.9
Labour win (new seat)
15. Law [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Labour B. Paterson 1,637 54.7
SNP P. L. Mulheron75525.2
Conservative W. C. Blackwood36512.2
Liberal Democrats S. M. Tennant1535.1
Scottish Green S. M. Hendry822.7
Majority882
Turnout 44.4
Labour win (new seat)
16. Dens [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Labour J. C. McGovern 1,546 60.4
SNP E. Black65025.4
Conservative D. E. Hay1766.8
Scottish Militant Labour P. H. Manley1546.0
Communist T. D. Burn301.1
Majority869
Turnout 35.2
Labour win (new seat)
17. Stannergate [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Labour D. Macmillan 1,413 39.1
SNP J. Corrigan1,08230.0
Conservative P. D. Scott93525.9
Liberal Democrats E. A. Dwyer1774.9
Majority331
Turnout 53.9
Labour win (new seat)
18. Ninewells [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Labour W. Derby 1,693 58.2
SNP M. T. B. Anderson70024.0
Conservative J. N. Gowans29410.1
Liberal Democrats G. Cowie2227.6
Majority993
Turnout 46.7
Labour win (new seat)
19. Charleston [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Labour J. R. Letford 1,834 61.8
SNP D. Cashley99433.5
Liberal Democrats C. Newell1394.6
Majority840
Turnout 45.4
Labour win (new seat)
20. Kingsway West [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Labour G. C. Hood 1,113 50.3
SNP M. Lennie49722.5
Scottish Militant Labour B. Wallace33415.1
Liberal Democrats I. K. Ridley26512.0
Majority686
Turnout 38.2
Labour win (new seat)
21. St. Mary's [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Independent Labour I. Borthwick 2,021 61.1
Labour W. Wright83121.3
SNP E. S. Scott45413.7
Majority1,190
Turnout 50.6
Independent Labour win (new seat)
22. Kirkton [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Labour W. Barr 1,529 57.9
SNP N. Maiden1,10842.0
Majority421
Turnout 41.5
Labour win (new seat)
23. Clepington [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Labour M. J. Rolfe 1,886 57.6
SNP D. McGovern73222.3
Conservative D. J. Searle46814.2
Liberal Democrats J. M. Mainland1885.7
Majority1,154
Turnout 47.6
Labour win (new seat)
24. Kingsway East [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Labour M. Barr 1,239 50.4
SNP A. A. Petrie77531.5
Conservative S. McQuire38715.7
Scottish Green D. M. McCabe552.2
Majority464
Turnout 38.7
Labour win (new seat)
25. Fintry [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Labour H. Connolly 2,028 69.3
SNP K. Young80827.6
Conservative D. Kinnear883.0
Majority1,220
Turnout 43.9
Labour win (new seat)
26. Whitfield [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP J. C. Duthie 895 46.0
Labour G. Barr89445.9
Liberal Democrats D. T. Dargie582.9
Conservative J. D. Mackie402.0
Majority1
Turnout 36.7
SNP win (new seat)
27. Douglas and Angus [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Labour J. Mudie 1,950 66.3
SNP F. Carlin84228.6
Conservative E. T. Hay1464.9
Majority1,108
Turnout 44.5
Labour win (new seat)
28. Broughty Ferry [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Conservative J. C. Cathro 1,266 35.8
SNP K. J. N. Guild 1,15732.7
Labour I. Birnie88124.9
Liberal Democrats R. B. Johnston2296.4
Majority109
Turnout 50.8
Conservative win (new seat)
29. Barnhill [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Conservative B.D. Mackie 1,265 37.9
SNP A. J. Lawrence94228.8
Liberal Democrats A. Best61118.3
Labour G. Cruickshank51715.5
Majority323
Turnout 49.9
Conservative win (new seat)
30. Monifieth [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP R. J. Murray 1,655 52.0
Conservative D. McNaughton1,05233.1
Labour A. R. Butler47014.7
Majority603
Turnout 46.4
SNP win (new seat)
31. Sidlaw [2] : 10-12 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP F. Ellis 1,668 52.0
Conservative A. H. Brown1,39737.6
Labour G. J. Martin45812.3
Scottish Green S. E. Baird 1865.0
Majority271
Turnout 53.1
SNP win (new seat)

Perth and Kinross

32. Perth St. Johnstoun [2] : 12-13 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Independent J. Doig 1,704 65.6
Conservative J. McNicol63724.5
Scottish Green P. F. Cheer2549.1
Majority1,067
Turnout 38.0
Independent win (new seat)
33. Perth Moncrieffe [2] : 12-13 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Labour M. H. Lennie 1,327 44.4
SNP N. M. Sime94331.5
Conservative L. Hurrell44214.7
Liberal Democrats G. Syme2279.2
Majority384
Turnout 44.1
Labour win (new seat)
34. Perth Viewlands [2] : 12-13 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Liberal Democrats L. Caddell 2,250 63.2
Conservative I. Spresser73920.7
SNP E. C. MacLachlan56615.9
Majority1,511
Turnout 50.8
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
35. Perth Letham [2] : 12-13 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Labour C. Gillies 1,338 48.1
SNP C. M. Davidson1,19042.8
Conservative R. Fraser2529.0
Majority148
Turnout 43.4
Labour win (new seat)
36. Perth Inveralmond
PartyCandidateVotes%
Labour M. O'Malley 1,508 61.9
SNP J. Duthie82433.8
Conservative M. Doyle1044.2
Majority684
Turnout 39.2
Labour win (new seat)
37. Bridge of Earn/The Carse [2] : 12-13 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP E. G. Dow 1,990 61.5
Conservative P. McCormack1,24238.4
Majority384
Turnout 44.1
SNP win (new seat)
38. Glenfarg/Methven Etc. [2] : 12-13 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP J. G. K. Russell 1,113 44.2
Independent E. V. Pentland68222.3
Conservative A. J. Stewart67722.1
Liberal Democrats A. Pearson58018.0
Majority430
Turnout 47.7
SNP win (new seat)
39. Auchterarder [2] : 12-13 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP J. McLaclan 1,510 55.4
Conservative J. A. O. Fordyce1,21544.5
Majority295
Turnout 45.3
SNP win (new seat)
40. Creiff [2] : 12-13 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP A. M. Smith 1,620 53.8
Conservative R. E. Buchan1,39146.2
Majority229
Turnout 43.8
SNP win (new seat)
41. Pitlochry/Aberfeldy Etc. [2] : 12-13 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP J. Cullivan 2,112 59.2
Liberal Democrats J. C. F. Cameron1,45440.7
Majority658
Turnout 50.3
SNP win (new seat)
42. Dunkeld/Strathtay [2] : 12-13 
PartyCandidateVotes%
Liberal Democrats R. A. Scott 1,618 51.9
SNP J. Mackay97731.3
Conservative C. Cormack52116.7
Majority341
Turnout 53.4
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
43. Blairgowrie/Glenshee [2] : 12-13 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP J. L. Wilson 1,842 55.3
Conservative J. Mackay98529.6
Labour R. Sweeney50015.0
Majority857
Turnout 47.9
SNP win (new seat)
44. Alyth/Coupar Angus [2] : 12-13 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP A. D. Grant 1,526 51.1
Conservative J. Main1,20140.2
Labour K. Wallace2548.5
Majority325
Turnout 48.8
SNP win (new seat)
45. Scone and St. Martin's [2] : 12-13 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP J. E. Lloyd 1,251 38.0
Conservative W. S. Courts95829.4
Liberal Democrats B. T. J. Gourdie81724.8
Majority283
Turnout 42.0
SNP win (new seat)
46. Kinross [2] : 12-13 
PartyCandidateVotes%
SNP L. Graham 2,601 76.8
Conservative A. I. Campbell78523.1
Majority1816
Turnout 45.5
SNP win (new seat)

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References

  1. 1 2 "Local Government Electoral Arrangements 1974 to 1996" (PDF). Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland . Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 Bochel, JM; Denver, DT (1994). The Scottish Regional Elections 1994 Results and Statistics (PDF). Dundee: University of Dundee.
  3. ↑ "SNP sets sights on Tayside". The Herald . Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  4. ↑ Bochel, HM; Denver, DT (1994). The Scottish Regional Elections 1994 Results and Statistics (PDF). Dundee: University of Dundee. pp. 46–47. ISBN   1-869820-05-3.
  5. ↑ "Parties claim election records". The Herald . Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  6. ↑ "Legal challenge in one-vote win". The Herald . Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  7. ↑ "Ballot action dropped". The Herald . Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  8. ↑ "Labour rocked by local party power bid". The Herald . Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  9. ↑ "Tayside proves a first for the SNP". The Herald . Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  10. ↑ "Baptism of fire for young council leader". The Herald . 27 July 1994. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
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