2007 Highland Council election

Last updated

2007 Highland Council election
Flag of Scotland.svg
  2003 3 May 2007 (2007-05-03) 2012  

All 80 seats to Highland Council
41 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond party
 
Party Independent Liberal Democrats
Last election57 seats, 69.6%9 seats, 6.1%
Seats won3521
Seat changeDecrease2.svg22Increase2.svg12
Popular vote37,84417,917
Percentage40.9%19.3%
SwingDecrease2.svg28.7ppIncrease2.svg13.2pp

 Third partyFourth party
 
Party SNP Labour
Last election6 seats, 10.2%8 seats, 11.6%
Seats won177
Seat changeIncrease2.svg11Decrease2.svg1
Popular vote18,9339,734
Percentage20.4%10.5%
SwingIncrease2.svg10.2Decrease2.svg0.9pp

Council Convener before election

Alison Magee
Independent

Council Convener after election

Sandy Park
Independent

Elections to the Highland Council were held on 3 May 2007; the same day as elections to the Scottish Parliament and to the 31 other councils in Scotland. Previous elections to the council had been conducted using the single member plurality system (a.k.a. 'First Past the Post'). Changes implemented by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 meant that future local government elections were to be conducted using the Single Transferable Vote, beginning with those in 2007. The 80 Highland Councillors were now to be elected from 22 wards, returning either three or four members.

Contents

The election saw Independent councillors retain their plurality, despite losing a significant number of members, and the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party both increasing their representation, with that of the Labour Party decreasing. The Independent and SNP groups subsequently went into coalition to form the Administration of the council.

Election result

The Highland Council elections, 2007
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Independent 35N\AN\A−2243.840.937,844-28.7pp
  Liberal Democrats 21N\AN\A+826.319.317,917+13.2pp
  SNP 17N\AN\A+1121.320.418,933+10.2pp
  Labour 7N\AN\A−18.810.59,734-0.9pp
  Conservative 0N\AN\A07.16,565+5.9pp
  Scottish Senior Citizens 0N\AN\A00.7664new
  Scottish Green 0N\AN\A00.7642new
  Solidarity 0N\AN\A00.3273new
  Scottish Socialist 0N\AN\A00.159-1.0pp

Ward results

Incumbent councillors are marked with *

North, West and Central Sutherland

North, West and Central Sutherland – 3 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456789
SNP George Farlow19.9%586588 599 641 676 687 716 778
Liberal Democrats Robbie Rowantree14.0%410415 418 461 495 549 598 651 659
Scottish Senior Citizens Russel Taylor10.7%314325 329 345 365 414 475 514 520
Independent Linda Munro10.3%303318 358 368 383 391 437 518 524
Independent David Forbes10.1%297316 330 338 350 365 416   
Independent William Johnston9.6%282288 300 304 308 325    
Conservative Margaret Payne7.4%216222 224 227 232     
Labour Dave Andrews6.3%184185 186 198      
Scottish Green Ailsa Spindler5.7%168172 176       
Independent Kirstie Dawson3.4%99100        
Independent Michael Otter2.7%80        
Electorate: 4,996  Valid: 2,939  Quota: 735  Turnout: 60.0%  

    Thurso

    Thurso – 3 seats
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    123456
    Independent Donald Mackay*30.1%1,001     
    Independent John Rosie21.2%704762 781 842  
    Liberal Democrats Marion Thurso16.3%541573 599 627 631 824
    SNP Donald Mackintosh13.0%433445 449 465 466 518
    Labour Roger Saxon*12.3%408428 437 454 457  
    Independent Ian Grant3.8%125136 156    
    Conservative Alexander Bain3.4%112118     
    Electorate: 6,388  Valid: 3,324  Quota: 832  Turnout: 53.0%  

      Wick

      Wick – 3 seats
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      1234
      Independent Bill Fernie*30.3%793   
      Independent Katrina MacNab*17.2%451505 556 648
      SNP Niall Smith16.9%443457 489 542
      Liberal Democrats Graeme Smith*15.5%407436 458 578
      Labour Jim Oag14.0%366378 399  
      Independent Heather Miller3.7%98105   
      Conservative Jack Brooker1.8%4648   
      Independent Laurel Bush0.6%1719   
      Electorate: 5,817  Valid: 2,621  Quota: 656  Turnout: 46.3%  

        Landward Caithness

        Landward Caithness – 4 seats
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        1234
        SNP David Bremner18.8%871888 888 957
        Independent Willie MacKay18.2%845929  
        Liberal Democrats David Flear*17.4%805918 918 1,067
        Independent Robert Coghill14.2%657723 723 815
        Labour Bill Mowat11.5%532552 552  
        Conservative Colin Sutherland11.5%531558 558 601
        Liberal Democrats Alastair MacDonald*7.5%349   
        Independent Duncan Winfield0.9%41   
        Electorate: 8,231  Valid: 4,631  Quota: 927  Turnout: 57.3%  

          East Sutherland and Edderton

          East Sutherland and Edderton – 3 seats
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          12345678
          Liberal Democrats Ian Ross*22.8%838844 855 866 894 943  
          Labour Deirdre Mackay19.2%703712 717 745 792 833 840 902
          SNP Derek Louden13.9%511518 524 537 550 576 578 620
          Independent Jim McGillivray13.1%482493 536 550 573 667 669 790
          Conservative Michael Napper11.5%423428 437 449 459 491 493  
          Independent Jimmy Melville6.9%252260 283 296 318    
          Independent Evelyn MacKenzie4.2%155158 161 178     
          Independent Gordon Campbell3.4%125126 135      
          Independent Gordon Clunie3.1%114121       
          Independent Richard Easson1.1%40       
          Solidarity Frank Ward0.7%27       
          Electorate: 6,126  Valid: 3,670  Quota: 918  Turnout: 61.1%  

            Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh

            Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh – 4 seats
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            1234567
            SNP Jean Urquhart *26.1%1,486
            Liberal Democrats Biz Campbell*21.8%1,242
            Independent Richard Greene13.9%792849 858 964 983 1,037 1,147
            Independent Audrey Sinclair10.7%608633 648 658 780 829 882
            Conservative John Scott7.9%451473 483 502 514 618 662
            Labour Christine Conniff6.2%354393 407 423 438 470  
            Independent Marie Tait5.8%328354 358 371 377   
            Independent Donald Macdonald4.1%232248 264 270    
            Independent Alastair Armitstead3.5%199238 242     
            Electorate: 9,593  Valid: 5,692  Quota: 1,139  Turnout: 60.6%  

              Cromarty Firth

              Cromarty Firth – 4 seats
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              1234567
              Independent Carolyn Wilson*29.7%1,348
              SNP Maxine Smith22.5%1,021
              Liberal Democrats Martin Rattray14.3%647718 743 764 788 819 942
              Independent Mike Finlayson9.7%438533 545 562 595 644 769
              Labour John MacInnes9.7%438485 495 511 526 544 590
              Independent John Connell*6.8%307364 377 388 408 437  
              Conservative Hamish Keir3.1%141158 161 165    
              Independent Mary MacDonald2.3%104156 163 167 184   
              Solidarity Findlay Walker1.9%8897 105     
              Electorate: 9,260  Valid: 4,532  Quota: 907  Turnout: 49.6%  

                Tain and Easter Ross

                Tain and Easter Ross – 3 seats
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                12345678
                Independent Alasdair Rhind*36.2%1,406
                Liberal Democrats Richard Durham*16.2%627707 717 768 800 843 892 1,007
                SNP Jim McCreath12.0%465480 498 509 520 537 557 605
                Independent Alan Torrance*11.2%436545 549 558 582 603 674 823
                Independent Murray MacLeod7.6%294375 377 390 410 430 507  
                Independent Michael Herd5.3%204228 233 252 262 277   
                Labour Sunny Moodie3.8%148160 162 171 173    
                Conservative David Rutherford3.2%124140 144 146     
                Independent John Boocock3.0%116127 133      
                Scottish Socialist Donnie Fraser1.5%5963       
                Electorate: 7,000  Valid: 3,879  Quota: 970  Turnout: 56.4%  

                  Dingwall and Seaforth

                  Dingwall and Seaforth – 4 seats
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  1234567
                  Independent Margaret Paterson*23.1%1,078
                  Liberal Democrats Angela MacLean*21.8%1,015
                  SNP Peter Cairns18.3%853875 887 902 967
                  Independent David Chisholm*13.7%639656 669 711 748 755 837
                  Labour Michael MacMillan*11.9%556584 603 613 667 672 709
                  Conservative Gerald Lowe4.7%218228 234 246 261 264  
                  Scottish Green David Jardine4.4%207221 231 243    
                  Independent David Edes2.2%102112 116     
                  Electorate: 8,996  Valid: 4,666  Quota: 934  Turnout: 52.9%  

                    Black Isle

                    Black Isle – 4 seats
                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                    1234567
                    Independent Billy Barclay*24.4%1,233      
                    Independent Isobel McCallum*19.5%9851,050     
                    Liberal Democrats David Alston*19.3%9731,006 1,016    
                    SNP Craig Fraser11.1%558576 579 580 609 696 764
                    Independent Okain McLennan8.6%433468 478 480 503 586 745
                    Conservative Morris Downie8.1%408429 433 434 453 470  
                    Scottish Green John Wood5.3%267273 275 277 338   
                    Labour Chris Birt3.8%192198 199 200    
                    Electorate: 7,959  Valid: 5,049  Quota: 1,010  Turnout: 64.2%  

                      Eilean a' Cheò

                      Eilean a' Cheò – 4 seats
                      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                      123456
                      Liberal Democrats Drew Millar*21.2%960     
                      Independent Hamish Fraser*17.6%795803 833 907  
                      Independent John Laing*16.2%734742 761 833 833 922
                      SNP Ian Renwick14.8%669675 684 712 713 772
                      Independent John Murray11.0%498506 534 630 631 693
                      Labour Vicki Samuels7.8%351356 365 378 378  
                      Independent Iain MacDonald*7.5%338343 356    
                      Conservative John Hodgson3.9%178180     
                      Electorate: 7,990  Valid: 4,523  Quota: 905  Turnout: 57.8%  

                        Caol and Mallaig

                        Caol and Mallaig – 3 seats
                        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                        123456789
                        Independent Bill Clark*24.8%975985       
                        Independent Allan Henderson22.4%881892 892 909 929 958 1,048  
                        Independent Eddie Hunter14.0%550558 558 573 621 633 690 704 795
                        Labour Mairi MacLean12.0%473477 477 491 502 517 535 550 625
                        SNP David Ingham9.9%389395 395 404 418 430 451 459  
                        Independent Sandra Casey4.8%188194 194 203 216 248    
                        Conservative Chris Carver4.0%156159 159 169 174     
                        Independent George MacLeod3.8%151160 160 165      
                        Independent Alistair MacGregor2.5%100101 101       
                        Independent Scott Waugh1.6%64        
                        Electorate: 6,625  Valid: 3,927  Quota: 982  Turnout: 60.6%  

                          Aird and Loch Ness

                          Aird and Loch Ness – 4 seats
                          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                          1234567
                          Independent Margaret Davidson*24.6%1,215      
                          Independent Helen Carmichael22.8%1,125      
                          SNP Drew Hendry 18.1%892916 940 964 993  
                          Liberal Democrats Hamish Wood11.1%550584 607 644 757 759 866
                          Conservative Margaret Chown7.2%355373 388 405 422 423  
                          Independent John Martin6.5%322352 373 462 494 495 598
                          Labour Andrew MacKintosh5.9%292305 312 326    
                          Independent Alexander Nicol3.9%192225 232     
                          Electorate: 8,463  Valid: 4,943  Quota: 989  Turnout: 59.4%  

                            Inverness West

                            Inverness West – 3 seats
                            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                            1234
                            SNP Pauline Munro28.8%965   
                            Liberal Democrats Alex Graham25.1%840   
                            Independent Jimmy MacDonald*23.2%778813 814 900
                            Labour Caroline Parr16.0%536561 562 604
                            Conservative Mary Fraser6.9%230244 245  
                            Electorate: 6,581  Valid: 3,349  Quota: 838  Turnout: 51.7%  

                              Inverness Central

                              Inverness Central– 4 seats
                              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                              123456
                              SNP Donnie Kerr21.9%1,019     
                              Independent Peter Corbett*16.6%776784 796 809 872 912
                              Liberal Democrats Janet Campbell15.6%729743 767 793 843 934
                              Labour Bet McAllister15.4%720725 735 884 919 933
                              Independent William Smith*12.3%575581 588 597 642 693
                              Conservative David Bonsor5.8%268270 273 275 299  
                              Independent Ivor Bisset5.4%252257 267 270   
                              Labour Tej Manda5.1%237241 249    
                              Solidarity George MacDonald1.9%8898     
                              Electorate: 9,704  Valid: 4,664  Quota: 933  Turnout: 49.2%  

                                Inverness Ness-side

                                Inverness Ness-side – 4 seats
                                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                1234567
                                Liberal Democrats David Henderson22.5%1,127      
                                SNP John Finnie 20.2%1,016      
                                Independent Norrie Donald*14.9%750770 772 803 875 981 1,081
                                Labour Fraser Parr13.7%688700 701 718 745 775 805
                                Liberal Democrats Angus Dick*9.3%468514 516 560 587 630 714
                                Conservative Margaret MacDonald7.1%361368 369 374 391 402  
                                Independent Thomas Lamont4.6%232234 235 251 289   
                                Independent Steve Rodger4.5%226235 235 247    
                                Independent Jean Slater1.6%8283 84     
                                Solidarity Steve Arnott1.4%7070 71     
                                Electorate: 8,800  Valid: 5,020  Quota: 1,005  Turnout: 58.0%  

                                  Inverness Millburn

                                  Inverness Millburn – 3 seats
                                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                  12345
                                  Labour Jimmy Gray*31.2%1,123    
                                  SNP Ian Brown27.9%1,005    
                                  Liberal Democrats Kenneth MacLeod14.2%510573 595 635 808
                                  Independent Etta Mackay11.9%430467 486 571 677
                                  Conservative Donald MacKenzie9.9%356377 383 405  
                                  Independent Willie Fraser4.9%178191 208   
                                  Electorate: 6,495  Valid: 3,602  Quota: 901  Turnout: 56.1%  

                                    Culloden and Ardersier

                                    Culloden and Ardersier – 4 seats
                                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                    123
                                    SNP Robert Wynd*28.7%1,335  
                                    Independent Roddy Balfour*28.1%1,308  
                                    Labour John Ford*17.5%816887 924
                                    Liberal Democrats Glynis Sinclair14.3%663763 825
                                    Conservative John Ross6.8%318346 393
                                    Independent Jim Ferguson4.6%213272 392
                                    Electorate: 8,721  Valid: 2,387  Quota: 931  Turnout: 54.0%  

                                      Nairn

                                      Nairn – 4 seats
                                      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                      123456
                                      SNP Liz MacDonald*30.7%1,576     
                                      Independent Sandy Park*16.6%855946 1,006 1,088  
                                      Independent Laurie Fraser*13.0%669754 852 917 942 1,050
                                      Liberal Democrats Graham Marsden10.4%535612 635 696 703 808
                                      Independent Jim Lennon9.3%476521 594 633 645 696
                                      Labour Ron Stevenson7.8%402434 452 467 470  
                                      Conservative Bob Ross6.9%356373 377    
                                      Independent David Fraser5.3%273320     
                                      Electorate: 9,009  Valid: 5,142  Quota: 1,029  Turnout: 58.1%  

                                        Inverness South

                                        Inverness South – 4 seats
                                        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                        1234
                                        SNP Roy Pedersen27.0%1,058   
                                        Liberal Democrats Thomas Prag23.0%902   
                                        Labour John Holden17.1%671721 749 803
                                        Independent Jim Crawford13.4%524586 613 803
                                        Conservative Donald MacDonald10.5%413443 461 503
                                        Independent Barrie Haycock9.0%353384 394  
                                        Electorate: 7,287  Valid: 3,921  Quota: 785  Turnout: 54.5%  

                                          Badenoch and Strathspey

                                          Badenoch and Strathspey – 4 seats
                                          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                          12345
                                          Liberal Democrats Stuart Black*31.2%1,720    
                                          SNP David Fallows24.4%1,347    
                                          Independent Gregor Rimell*13.3%736824 871 1,014 1,105
                                          Conservative Les Durance9.6%532606 623 653 710
                                          Independent Jaci Douglas8.8%484603 625 770 900
                                          Scottish Senior Citizens Donald Scobbie6.4%350427 460 500  
                                          Independent Angela Cox6.3%347416 443   
                                          Electorate: 9,969  Valid: 5,516  Quota: 1,104  Turnout: 56.2%  

                                            Fort William and Ardnamurchan

                                            North, West and Central Sutherland – 4 seats
                                            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                            123456789
                                            Liberal Democrats Michael Foxley*20.4%1,059        
                                            Independent Donald Cameron18.1%939940 972 1,004 1,024 1,123   
                                            SNP Bren Gormley15.0%778780 804 825 862 911 920 966 1,035
                                            Labour Brian Murphy*9.7%501503 520 536 558 597 609 667 712
                                            Conservative Andrew Baxter7.2%372373 382 402 437 457 464 503  
                                            Independent Thomas MacLennan*6.2%322323 345 354 375 410 428   
                                            Independent Darren Woods6.1%317317 329 346 365     
                                            Independent Patricia Jordan5.2%271273 298 330 373 418 436 554 657
                                            Independent Drew McFarlane-Slack*4.6%241242 258 275      
                                            Independent Iain Thornber3.8%195196 207       
                                            Independent Neil Clark*3.7%194195        
                                            Electorate: 8,616  Valid: 5,189  Quota: 1,038  Turnout: 61.3%  

                                              Post-election changes

                                              2007-2011 by-elections

                                              Inverness West

                                              On 23 April 2009 the Liberal Democrat's Alasdair Christie won a by-election which arose following the death of former Independent Councillor Jimmy MacDonald on 31 January 2009

                                              Inverness West By-Election (24 April 2009)- 1 seat [1]
                                              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                              1
                                              Liberal Democrats Alasdair Christie59.60%1,503
                                              SNP Brian ÓhEadhra22.05%556
                                              Labour Andrew James MacKintosh8.33%210
                                              Scottish Christian Dr Sheila McLaughlan4.56%115
                                              Conservative Donald Gunn MacDonald4.40%111
                                              Solidarity George MacDonald1.07%27
                                              Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
                                              Electorate: 6,623  Valid: 2,522  Spoilt: 18  Quota: 1,270  Turnout: 2,540  

                                                Wick

                                                On 7 April 2011 the SNP's Gail Ross won a by-election which arose following the resignation of Independent Councillor Katrina MacNab

                                                Wick By-Election (7 April 2011)- 1 seat [2]
                                                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                                1234
                                                SNP Gail Elizabeth Ross 46.82%979984 999 1,049
                                                Labour Neil MacDonald19.56%409410 421 463
                                                Independent Niall Smith9.90%207209 217 245
                                                Liberal Democrats Claire Mairi Clarke9.85%206211 219 236
                                                Independent Jim Oag8.80%184191 202  
                                                Independent Laurel Bush3.49%7375   
                                                Conservative Michael Anthony Carr1.58%33   
                                                SNP gain from Independent Swing
                                                Electorate: 5,564  Valid: 2,091  Spoilt: 33  Quota: 1,047  Turnout: 2,124  

                                                  Tain and Easter Ross

                                                  On 9 June 2011 Independent Fiona Robertson won a by-election which arose following the death of SNP Councillor Alan Torrance

                                                  Tain and Easter Ross By-Election (9 June 2011)- 1 seat [3]
                                                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                                  1234
                                                  SNP Derek William Louden33.23%837860 928 1,037
                                                  Independent Fiona Robertson32.20%811840 933 1,204
                                                  Independent Ruairidh MacKenzie18.54%467481 547  
                                                  Liberal Democrats Antony Gardner12.19%307318   
                                                  Independent Michael Herd3.85%97   
                                                  Independent gain from SNP Swing
                                                  Electorate: 6,962  Valid: 2,519  Spoilt: 17  Quota: 1,260  Turnout: 2,536  

                                                    Inverness South

                                                    On 3 November 2011 the Liberal Democrat's Carolyn Caddick won a by-election which arose following the resignation of Labour Councillor John Holden

                                                    Inverness South By-Election (3 November 2011)- 1 seat [4]
                                                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                                    123456
                                                    SNP Kenneth Archer Gowans33.94%885903 922 967 1,005 1,084
                                                    Liberal Democrats Carolyn Ann Caddick28.65%747761 777 830 971 1,091
                                                    Labour Katherine MacKenzie-Geegan11.81%308319 327 357 379  
                                                    Conservative David Louis Kinsley Bonsor11.12%290300 336 339   
                                                    Scottish Green Gale Louise Falconer6.02%157172 189    
                                                    Scottish Christian Donald MacLeod Boyd4.83%126130     
                                                    Independent David McGrath3.60%94     
                                                    Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing
                                                    Electorate: 9,760  Valid: 2,607  Spoilt: 13  Quota: 1,304  Turnout: 2,620  

                                                      Related Research Articles

                                                      <span class="mw-page-title-main">Highland (council area)</span> Council area of Scotland

                                                      Highland is a council area in the Scottish Highlands and is the largest local government area in the United Kingdom. It was the 7th most populous council area in Scotland at the 2011 census. It shares borders with the council areas of Aberdeenshire, Argyll and Bute, Moray and Perth and Kinross. Their councils, and those of Angus and Stirling, also have areas of the Scottish Highlands within their administrative boundaries.

                                                      <span class="mw-page-title-main">Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1997 onwards

                                                      Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (Westminster). It is the most northerly constituency on the British mainland. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post system of election.

                                                      <span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Stone (politician)</span> Scottish Liberal Democrat politician

                                                      James Hume Walter Miéville Stone is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician, representing the constituency of Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, since 2017 the northernmost mainland British constituency and one of the largest by area.

                                                      <span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of the Highland council area</span>

                                                      The politics of the Highland council area in Scotland are evident in the deliberations and decisions of the Highland Council, in elections to the council, and in elections to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (Westminster) and the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood). In the European Parliament the area was within the Scotland constituency, which covers all of the 32 council areas of Scotland.

                                                      The Politics of Aberdeen, Scotland have changed significantly in recent years. In 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, Grampian Regional Council and Aberdeen District Council were dissolved, creating the new unitary Aberdeen City Council to represent the city's council area.

                                                      <span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Aberdeen City Council election</span>

                                                      The 2007 Aberdeen City Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of Aberdeen City Council, at the same time as the Scottish Parliament general election. The election was the first one using 13 new 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. The new wards replaced 43 single-member wards, which used the plurality system of election.

                                                      <span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Dundee City Council election</span>

                                                      Elections to Dundee City Council were held on 3 May 2007, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections and the Scottish Parliament general election.

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

                                                      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 a form of proportional representation. The new wards replaced 68 single-member wards which used the plurality system of election.

                                                      Elections to East Dunbartonshire Council were held on 3 May 2007, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections and the Scottish Parliament general election. This election was the first to use eight new multi-member wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004. Each ward returned three councillors elected under the single transferable vote form of proportional representation, replacing the previous 24 single-member wards, which had used the plurality system of election.

                                                      Elections to Argyll and Bute 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 11 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 replace 36 single-member wards which used the plurality system of election.

                                                      <span class="mw-page-title-main">The Highland Council</span> Scottish unitary authority council in Highland, Scotland, UK

                                                      The Highland Council, the political body covering the Highland local authority created in 1995, comprises 21 wards, each electing three or four councillors by the single transferable vote system, which creates a form of proportional representation. The total number of councillors is 74, and the main meeting place and main offices are at the Highland Council Headquarters in Glenurquhart Road, Inverness.

                                                      <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">2007 Renfrewshire Council election</span>

                                                      Elections to Renfrewshire 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 11 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 replace 40 single-member wards which used the plurality system of election.

                                                      <span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean Urquhart</span> Scottish politician (born 1949)

                                                      Jean Urquhart is a Scottish politician. She was formerly a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), first elected in 2011 for the Highlands and Islands region as a Scottish National Party (SNP) member, then continuing to sit as an independent after she left the SNP in October 2012. She had been an SNP councillor at the Highland Council from 2003 to 2011.

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

                                                      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 and 80 Councillors being elected.

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

                                                      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 a form of proportional representation, with 68 Councillors being elected.

                                                      Elections to Argyll and Bute Council were held on 3 May 2012 on the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland. The election used the eleven wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 36 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system.

                                                      Elections to East Dunbartonshire Council were held on 3 May 2012, 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 24 Councillors being elected. Each ward elected 3 members, using the STV electoral system.

                                                      The 2017 Highland Council election was held on 4 May 2017 to elect members of the Highland Council. The election used the 21 wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004; each ward elected three or four councillors using the single transferable vote system. A total of 74 councillors were elected, six less than in 2012.

                                                      Elections to The Highland Council were held on 5 May 2022, the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. The election used the 21 wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 74 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system.

                                                      References

                                                      1. "Inverness West By-Election Result" (Press release). Highland Council. 24 April 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
                                                      2. "Ward 3 (Wick By-Election" (PDF). highland.gov.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 April 2012.
                                                      3. "Tain and Easter Ross (By-Election)" (PDF). highland.gov.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 April 2012.
                                                      4. "Inverness South (By Election)" (PDF). highland.gov.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 April 2012.