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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberdeen South (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885 onwards

Aberdeen South is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post system of election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983 onwards

Gordon was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (Westminster), which elected one member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. The constituency was first contested at the 1983 UK general election; and underwent boundary throughout its existence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Aberdeenshire Council election</span> 2007 Scottish local government election

Elections to Aberdeenshire Council were held on 3 May 2007 the same day as the other Scottish local government elections and the Scottish Parliament general election. The election was the first one using 19 new wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, each ward would elect three or four councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation. The new wards replaced 68 single-member wards which used the plurality system of election.

Elections to The Moray Council were held on 3 May 2007, the same day as the Scottish Parliament election. The election was the first using the eight new wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004. 26 councillors were elected. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system. Previously there were single-member wards which used the first past the post electoral system.

Elections to North Ayrshire Council were held on 3 May 2007, the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections and the Scottish Parliament elections. The election was the first one using eight new wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, each ward will elect three or four councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation. The new wards replaced the 30 single-member wards which used the plurality system of election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Scottish local elections</span>

The 2012 Scottish local elections were held on 3 May 2012 in all 32 local authorities. The Scottish National Party (SNP) overtook Labour to win the highest share of the vote, and retained and strengthened its position as the party with most councillors. Labour also made gains, while the Liberal Democrats experienced meltdown, losing over half their seats and falling behind the Conservatives. For the first time since the introduction of the Single Transferable Vote system, the SNP won majority control of 2 councils, from no overall control. Labour also won majority control of 2 councils from no overall control, while retaining majority control over 2 councils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 South Lanarkshire Council election</span> South Lanarkshire Council election

Elections to South Lanarkshire Council were held on 1 May 2003, the same day as the 31 other local government elections in Scotland and elections to the Scottish Parliament. This was the third election since the council's creation in 1995 and the last election to use first-past-the-post voting.

Elections to East Ayrshire Council were held on 1 May 2003, the same day as the 31 other local government elections in Scotland and elections to the Scottish Parliament. This was the third election since the council's creation in 1995 and the last election to use first-past-the-post voting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Aberdeenshire Council election</span> 2012 Scottish local government election

Elections to Aberdeenshire Council were held on 3 May 2012, on the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election used the 19 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 form of proportional representation, with 68 Councillors being elected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Moray Council election</span> 2012 Scottish local government election

Elections to the Moray Council were held on 3 May 2012, the same day as the other 31 local authorities in Scotland. The election used the eight wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 26 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 South Lanarkshire Council election</span> South Lanarkshire Council election

Elections to South Lanarkshire Council took place on 3 May 2012 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. As with other Scottish council elections, it was held using single transferable vote (STV) – a form of proportional representation – in which multiple candidates are elected in each ward and voters rank candidates in order of preference.

Elections to the Moray 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 26 single member wards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 East Ayrshire Council election</span> East Ayrshire Council election

Elections to East Ayrshire Council took place on 4 May 2017 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. As with other Scottish council elections, it was held using single transferable vote (STV) – a form of proportional representation – in which multiple candidates are elected in each ward and voters rank candidates in order of preference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Aberdeenshire Council election</span> Local elections

Elections to Aberdeenshire Council were held on 4 May 2017, on the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election used the 19 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 form of proportional representation, with 70 councillors being elected, an increase of two members compared to 2012.

Elections to Aberdeenshire Council were held on 6 May 1999; the same day as elections to the Scottish Parliament and to the 31 other Scottish local authorities. 68 councillors were elected from 68 wards using First Past The Post (FPTP). This election was conducted under boundary changes with an increased number of seats from the 47 used in the 1995 election. The Liberal Democrats were the largest party, with councillors also being elected representing the SNP, Independents, and Conservatives.

Elections to The Highland Council were held on 5 May 2022, the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. As with other Scottish council elections, it was held using single transferable vote (STV) – a form of proportional representation – in which multiple candidates are elected in each ward and voters rank candidates in order of preference.

The 2022 election to Moray Council took place on 5 May 2022, on the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland. The election used the eight wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 26 Councillors elected. Each ward elects either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system - a form of proportional representation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Dundee City Council election</span> Dundee City Council election

The 2022 Dundee City Council election took place on 5 May 2022, the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. Each ward elected three or four councillors using the single transferable vote system, a form of proportional representation used since the 2007 election and according to the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Angus Council election</span> Angus Council election

Elections to Angus Council took place on 5 May 2022, the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. As with other Scottish council elections, it was held using single transferable vote (STV) – a form of proportional representation – in which multiple candidates are elected in each ward and voters rank candidates in order of preference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Aberdeenshire Council election</span> Aberdeenshire Council election

Elections to Aberdeenshire Council took place on Thursday 5 May 2022 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. As with other Scottish council elections, it was held using single transferable vote (STV) – a form of proportional representation – in which multiple candidates are elected in each ward and voters rank candidates in order of preference.

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.