2003 Aberdeenshire Council election

Last updated
2003 Aberdeenshire Council election
Flag of Scotland.svg
  1999 1 May 2003 (2003-05-01) 2007  

All 68 seats to Aberdeenshire Council
35 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond party
 
Party Liberal Democrats SNP
Last election28 seats, 32.8%23 seats, 29.4%
Seats won2818
Seat changeSteady2.svgDecrease2.svg5
Popular vote27,95323,068
Percentage33.5%27.6%
SwingIncrease2.svg0.7%Decrease2.svg1.8%

 Third partyFourth party
 
Party Conservative Independent
Last election7 seats, 18.4%10 seats, 14.3%
Seats won1111
Seat changeIncrease2.svg4Increase2.svg1
Popular vote17,51112,086
Percentage21.0%14.5%
SwingIncrease2.svg2.6%Increase2.svg0.2%

Elections to the Aberdeenshire Council were held on 1 May 2003, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections and the Scottish Parliament general election. This was the last election to use the first-past-the-post voting system across 68 single member wards.

Contents

Background

Previous election

At the previous election in 1999, the Liberal Democrats won 28 seats, falling 7 short of an overall majority. The Scottish National Party (SNP) won 23 seats, falling 12 short an overall majority. Independents won 10, and the Conservatives won 7, both also falling well short of an overall majority.

1999 Aberdeenshire Council election result
PartySeatsVote share
Liberal Democrats 2832.8%
SNP 2329.4%
Independent 1014.3%
Conservative 718.4%

Source: [1]

Composition

There were several changes to the composition of the council during the 1999–2003 term.

Composition of Aberdeenshire Council
Party1999 seatsDissolution
Liberal Democrats 2827
SNP 2322
Independent 1010
Conservative 79

Source: [2]

Results

2003 Aberdeenshire Council election result
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Liberal Democrats 28Steady2.svg41.233.527,953Increase2.svg0.7
  SNP 18Decrease2.svg526.527.623,068Decrease2.svg1.8
  Conservative 11Increase2.svg416.221.017,511Increase2.svg2.6
  Independent 11Increase2.svg116.214.512,086Increase2.svg0.2
  Labour 0Steady2.svg0.03.32,743Decrease2.svg1.7
  Scottish Socialist 0Steady2.svg0.00.2189New

Source: [3] [4] [5]

Aftermath

By-elections

Huntly East by-election

On 9 June 2005 a by-election was held in the Huntly East ward. The Scottish Conservative's Moira Ingleby held the seat. [6] [7]

PartyCandidateVotes%
Conservative Moira Ingleby 419 34.3
Liberal Democrats Eleanor Anderson36029.5
SNP Robert Ness22418.3
Independent Hamish Jolly18114.8
Labour Bryan Begg383.1
Majority594.8
Conservative hold

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References

  1. "Scottish Council Elections 1999" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  2. "Local elections". British Broadcasting Corporation . May 2003. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  3. Teale, Andrew. "Local Election Results 2003". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  4. "Scottish Council Elections 2003" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  5. "Aberdeenshire Council - Elections" (PDF). Aberdeenshire Council. May 2003. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  6. Teale, Andrew. "Huntly East Ward - Aberdeenshire". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  7. "Election of Member to Aberdeenshire Council for the Huntly East ward" (PDF). Aberdeenshire Council. Retrieved 27 July 2024.