2012 Argyll and Bute Council election

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2012 Argyll and Bute Council election
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All 36 seats to Argyll and Bute Council
19 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
LeaderDick Walsh Roddy McCuish David Fairbairn Kinniburgh
Party Independent SNP Conservative
Leader's seatDunoonOban South and the IslesHelensburgh and Lomond South
Last election16 seats, 44.4%10 seats, 27.8%3 seats, 8.3%
Seats before16113
Seats won15134
Seat changeDecrease2.svg1Increase2.svg3Increase2.svg1
Popular vote11,9229,2344,811
Percentage38.4%29.7%15.5%
SwingDecrease2.svg0.7%Increase2.svg7.5%Decrease2.svg0.2%
 Fourth party
 
LeaderEllen Morton
Party Liberal Democrats
Leader's seatHelensburgh and Lomond South
Last election7 seats, 19.4%
Seats before6
Seats won4
Seat changeDecrease2.svg3
Popular vote3,540
Percentage11.4%
SwingDecrease2.svg7.8%
Council Leader before election

Dick Walsh
Independent

Council Leader after election

Roddy McCuish
SNP

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.

Contents

After the 2007 local election, a coalition was formed between the Alliance for Independents group and the Scottish National Party. This arrangement subsequently broke up and the Independent group formed a minority administration with the support of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

The 2012 election saw Independent councillors remain the largest grouping on the Council, while the Scottish National Party increased their representation again by 3 seats, chiefly at the expense of the Lib Dems. The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party gained an additional seat and replaced the Lib Dems in third place according to vote share.

Following the election an administration was formed between the Scottish National Party and the Argyll First Group of Independent Councillors. However, this coalition subsequently broke down, and after the SNP National Executive prevented the SNP group forming a coalition with the Scottish Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, 4 members of the SNP group including Roddy McCuish, Mary Jean Devon, Michael Breslin and Robert MacIntyre left the SNP, and a coalition of Independents, Scottish Conservatives, and Liberal Democrats was subsequently formed in October 2013, led by Dick Walsh. Another member of the SNP Group, Fred Hall, had previously left the SNP in April 2013, and now sits as an independent.

Election result

Argyll and Bute Local Election Result 2012
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Independent 1512-141.6738.4011,922-0.7
  SNP 1330+336.129.749,234+7.54
  Conservative 410+111.115.504,811-0.2
  Liberal Democrats 403-311.111.403,540-7.8
  Labour 00000.04.601,422+0.9
  Scottish Green 00000.00.2473New
  Scottish Christian 00000.00.1445New

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

South Kintyre

South Kintyre - 3 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
Conservative Donald Kelly (incumbent)45.87%1,133      
SNP John Donald Semple (incumbent) ††††16.80%415507.3 517.5 551.5 696.7  
Liberal Democrats Rory Colville (incumbent)14.21%351519.2 535.1 570.3 595.7 613.7 728.3
SNP Anne Baird8.22%203216.6 224.4 234.2    
Independent Robert Graham6.72%167221.9 246.9 315.9 338.7 354.9  
Independent George Rahman5.59%138192.5 205.5     
Independent Deirdre Henderson2.55%6385.3      
Electorate: 5,278  Valid: 2,470  Spoilt: 40  Quota: 618  Turnout: 2,510 (46.8%)  

    Kintyre and the Islands

    Kintyre and the Islands - 3 seats
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    1234567
    SNP Anne Horn (incumbent)23.43%610613 630 694   
    Independent John McAlpine (incumbent)22.43%584587 603 653   
    Conservative Alastair John Redman21.24%553553 559 579 586.2 586.4  
    Liberal Democrats Robin Currie (incumbent)20.74%540541 548 623 635.9 636.2 884.3
    Labour Bob Chicken8.64%225232 247     
    Scottish Green Ed Tyler2.80%7374      
    Arthur McFarlane0.73%19      
    Electorate: 5,144  Valid: 2,604  Spoilt: 29  Quota: 652  Turnout: 2,633 (50.62%)  

      Mid Argyll

      Mid Argyll - 3 seats
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      12345
      Independent Douglas Trevor Philand (incumbent)38.42%1,111    
      SNP Sandy Taylor24.62%712811.6   
      Independent Donnie MacMillan (incumbent)14.14%409518.7 543.6 598.7 677.9
      Liberal Democrats Alison Jean Hay (incumbent)10.79%312387.2 401.1 483.4 528.5
      Conservative Charlotte Hanbury6.02%174190.7 193.6   
      Labour Wendy Reynolds6.02%174209.1 222.9 231.9  
      Electorate: 5,999  Valid: 2,892  Spoilt: 24  Quota: 724  Turnout: 2,916 (48.21%)  

        Oban South and the Isles

        Oban South and the Isles - 4 seats
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        12345678
        SNP Mary-Jean Devon (incumbent) (Subsequently left the SNP)24.67%830       
        SNP Roddy McCuish (incumbent) (Subsequently left the SNP)22.79%767       
        SNP Fred Hall† (Subsequently left the SNP)10.37%349408.6 461.6 475.2 489.6 523.2 569 632.6
        Independent Alistair MacDougall8.35%281305.4 307.9 333.8 373.4 406 580.9 701.5
        Independent Gordon Chalmers (incumbent)7.99%269305.1 307.1 329.7 370.5 386.2   
        Independent Neil MacKinnon MacIntyre7.64%257260.4 273.9 291.1 327.4 442.7 483.7  
        Independent Sean MacIntyre7.04%237239.8 248.4 266.7 283.9    
        Conservative Michael Hawke5.68%191194 196.4 252.2     
        Liberal Democrats Graham Kanes5.47%184189.5 191.6      
        Electorate: 7,615  Valid: 3,365  Spoilt: 51  Quota: 674  Turnout: 3,416 (44.19%)  

          Oban North and Lorn

          Oban North and Lorn - 4 seats
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          123456789
          Independent Elaine Robertson (incumbent)22.23%807        
          SNP Louise Anne Glen-Lee†† (incumbent)19.47%707715.6 721.9 732     
          Independent Duncan MacIntyre (incumbent)††††††11.59%421436.2 443.7 471.9 472.2 509.6 611.3 726.7 811.4
          SNP Donald Melville11.29%410415.9 420 445.1 448.8 471 517.2 541.9  
          Independent Iain Angus MacDonald †††††9.94%361372.7 379.9 410.8 411.1 437.8 476.8 542.6 645.3
          Conservative Roy Rutherford9.14%332340.1 343.3 353.5 353.6 384.4 409.2   
          Independent Neil MacKay (incumbent)6.11%222231.3 239 243.1 243.3 264.3    
          Liberal Democrats Gwyneth Neal5.17%188196.7 201.1 206.3 206.5     
          Independent George Doyle3.44%125126.9 136.1       
          Independent Wilma McIntosh1.60%5861.3        
          Electorate: 7,524  Valid: 3,631  Spoilt: 46  Quota: 727  Turnout: 3,677 (48.26%)  

            Cowal

            Cowal - 3 seats
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            123456789
            SNP William Gordon Blair19.57%570575 585 613 653 942   
            Independent Alex McNaughton (incumbent)18.65%543564 593 628 713 744   
            Independent Bruce Marshall (incumbent)12.88%375391 410 452 514 542 572.5 577.4 742.7
            SNP Ron Simon (incumbent)12.12%353359 367 378 405     
            Conservative Lewis Macdonald11.78%343356 388 407 433 454 480 481.9  
            Independent Stephen Johnstone9.68%282295 312 341      
            Independent Chris Talbot5.8%169182 201       
            Independent Russell Weir5.19%151173        
            Independent Chris Lambert4.33%126        
            Electorate: 5,840  Valid: 2,912  Spoilt: 40  Quota: 729  Turnout: 2,952 (49.86%)  

              Dunoon

              Dunoon - 3 seats *
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              12345
              Independent Dick Walsh (incumbent)32.83777    
              SNP Michael Breslin (Subsequently left the SNP)28.01663    
              Independent Jimmy McQueen (incumbent)18.25432527.5 544.8 590.7 638
              Labour Mick Rice12.51296315.5 324.7 337.8 381.4
              Liberal Democrats Tony Miles4.44105128.1 137.3 160.1  
              Conservative William Green3.9794106.9 111.1   
              Electorate: 5,715  Valid: 2,367  Spoilt: 38  Quota: 592  Turnout: 2,405 (41.42%)  

                Isle of Bute

                Isle of Bute - 3 seats
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                123456
                Independent Len Scoullar (incumbent)30.91%707     
                SNP Robert MacIntyre (incumbent) (Subsequently left the SNP)26.63%609     
                SNP Isobel Strong (incumbent)15.7%359409.6 440.7 450.8 515.1 673.8
                Labour Adam Bellshaw15.34%351372.6 374.8 385.4 440.8  
                Conservative Peter Wallace9.44%216244.5 245.2 264.6   
                Scottish Christian Hugh Cole1.97%4548.6 49    
                Electorate: 5,078  Valid: 2,287  Spoilt: 39  Quota: 572  Turnout: 2,326 (45.04%)  

                  Lomond North

                  Lomond North - 3 seats
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  123456
                  Independent George Freeman (incumbent)29.24%847     
                  Conservative Maurice Corry 18.78%544560.3 565.7 607.6 672.1 716.3
                  SNP Kenneth Smith14.01%406417.1 433.1 463.4 542.1  
                  Labour Fiona Howard12.98%376386.4 412.1 453.4   
                  Independent Robert Graham MacIntyre12.36%358373.8 407.2 531.7 650.9 816.1
                  Independent Danny Kelly (incumbent)8.18%237272.1 307.5    
                  Independent Susie Will4.45%129143.5     
                  Electorate: 6,117  Valid: 2,897  Spoilt: 22  Quota: 725  Turnout: 2,919 (47.36%)  

                    Helensburgh Central

                    Helensburgh Central - 4 seats
                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                    1
                    Independent Vivien Dance (incumbent)22.80%749
                    SNP James Alexander Robb (incumbent)20.91%687
                    Conservative Gary Mulvaney (incumbent)20.49%673
                    Liberal Democrats Aileen Morton20.24%665
                    Independent David Alastair Allan11.63%382
                    Richard William Humphrey3.93%129
                    Electorate: 7,377  Valid: 3,285  Spoilt: 32  Quota: 658  Turnout: 3,317 (44.53%)  

                      Helensburgh and Lomond South

                      Helensburgh and Lomond South - 3 seats
                      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                      1234
                      Liberal Democrats Ellen Morton (incumbent)38.30%895   
                      SNP Richard MacDonald Trail24.99%584603.7  
                      Conservative David Fairbairn Kinniburgh (incumbent)23.88%558582.2 584.6 877.2
                      Liberal Democrats Andrew Nisbet (incumbent)12.84%300548.3 555.8  
                      Electorate: 5,395  Valid: 2,337  Spoilt: 35  Quota: 585  Turnout: 2,372 (43.32%)  

                        Changes since 2012

                        By-elections

                        Oban South and the Isles By-election (23 May 2014) - 1 Seat [9]
                        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                        12345
                        Labour Neil MacIntyre26.27918946 1,134 1,413 2,001
                        SNP Iain MacLean28.05980988 1,102 1,260  
                        Liberal Democrats David Pollard18.17635742 865   
                        Independent John MacGregor17.63616688    
                        Conservative Andrew Vennard9.87345    
                        Electorate: 8,023  Valid: 3,494  Spoilt: 31  Quota: 1,748  Turnout: 3,525 (43.55%)  
                          Oban North and Lorn By-election (17 July 2014) - 1 Seat [10]
                          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                          12345
                          SNP Gerry Fisher24.6595635 658   
                          Independent John MacGregor †††22.7548614 771 920 1,293
                          Labour Kieron Green21.8526572 681 874  
                          Conservative Andrew Vennard18.4445493    
                          Independent Marri Molloy12.5301    
                          Electorate: 7,821  Valid: 2,415  Spoilt: 28  Quota: 1,208  Turnout: 2,443 (30.88%)  
                            Oban North and Lorn By-election (23 October 2014) - 1 Seat [11]
                            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                            1234
                            SNP Iain MacLean40.9%1,0901,102 1,199 1,635
                            Independent Stephanie Irvine23.6%629812 1,080  
                            Labour Kieron Green19.9%530621   
                            Conservative Andrew Vennard15.6%415   
                            Electorate: 8,056  Valid: 2,664  Spoilt: 25  Quota: 1,333  Turnout: 2,689 (33.07%)  
                              South Kintyre By-election (11 December 2014) - 1 Seat [12]
                              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                              1
                              SNP John Armour62.2%942
                              Liberal Democrats Joyce Oxborrow14.1%214
                              Conservative Charlotte Hanbury13.4%203
                              Labour Michael Kelly10.3%156
                              Valid: 1,515  Spoilt: 7  Quota: 759  Turnout: 1,522  
                                Oban North and Lorn By-election (18 February 2016) - 1 Seat [13]
                                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                1234
                                SNP Julie McKenzie42.3%1,1131,186 1,241 1,656
                                Conservative Andrew Ross Vennard23.2%609640   
                                Independent Kieron Green23.1%608721 1,048  
                                Scottish Green Pat Tyrell11.4%300   
                                Electorate: 7,772  Valid: 2,630  Spoilt: 9  Quota: 1,316  Turnout: 2,639 (33.84%)  
                                  Oban North and Lorn By-election (2 June 2016) - 1 Seat [14] [15]
                                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                  1234
                                  SNP Breege Smyth39.810551097 1138  
                                  Independent Kieron Green26.8711821 1160 1617
                                  Conservative Andrew Ross Vennard22.3591668   
                                  Liberal Democrats David Pollard11.1294   
                                  Valid: 2651  Spoilt: 16  Quota: 1326  Turnout: 2667 (33.46%)  

                                    References

                                    1. ↑ "Labour wins council by-election". 24 May 2014 – via www.bbc.com.
                                    2. ↑ "MacGregor wins Oban North and Lorn by-election - The Oban Times". 18 July 2014.
                                    3. ↑ "Sudden death of newly elected Oban councillor - Press and Journal".
                                    4. ↑ "Argyll News: Another resignation from Argyll & Bute SNP Councillors groupFor Argyll | For Argyll". Archived from the original on 20 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
                                    5. ↑ "Argyll News: SNP lose another Argyll & Bute councillor | For Argyll". Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
                                    6. ↑ "Argyll News: SNP gain a councillor at Argyll and Bute | For Argyll". Archived from the original on 4 October 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
                                    7. ↑ "Argyll News: Resignation-triggered by-election for Oban North and LornFor Argyll | For Argyll". Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
                                    8. ↑ "Oban North and Lorn Ward By-Election". Argyll-bute.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
                                    9. ↑ "By election results" (PDF). www.argyll-bute.gov.uk.
                                    10. ↑ "Scottish Elections :: Oban North and Lorn By-Election 2014 - election result". Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
                                    11. ↑ "Statements" (PDF). www.argyll-bute.gov.uk.
                                    12. ↑ Council, Argyll and Bute (11 December 2014). "South Kintyre by-election results, 11th December 2014". Argyll and Bute Council.
                                    13. ↑ Council, Argyll and Bute (29 February 2016). "Oban North and Lorn Ward By Election result". Argyll and Bute Council.
                                    14. ↑ Council, Argyll and Bute (3 June 2016). "Oban North and Lorn by-election result". Argyll and Bute Council.
                                    15. ↑ "Argyll News: Kieron Green wins Oban North and Lorn by-election to Argyll and Bute Council | For Argyll". Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
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