2017 Argyll and Bute Council election

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2017 Argyll and Bute Council election
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←  2012 4 May 2017 (2017-05-04) 2022  →
All 36 seats to Argyll and Bute Council
19 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
LeaderSandy TaylorDick WalshGary Mulvaney
Party SNP Independent Conservative
Leader's seat Mid Argyll Dunoon Helensburgh Central
Last election13154
Seats before8204
Seats won11109
Seat changeDecrease2.svg2Decrease2.svg5Increase2.svg5
Popular vote9,17410,0798,315
Percentage27.9%30.6%25.3%
SwingDecrease2.svg2.0%Decrease2.svg8.0%Increase2.svg9.6%
 Fourth party
 
LeaderAileen Morton
Party Liberal Democrats
Leader's seat Helensburgh Central
Last election4
Seats before4
Seats won6
Seat changeIncrease2.svg2
Popular vote3,332
Percentage10.1%
SwingDecrease2.svg0.7%
Argyll and Bute Council election 2017.svg
The 11 multi-member wards
Council Leader before election

Dick Walsh
Independent

Council Leader after election

Aileen Morton
Scottish Liberal Democrats (as part of TALIG)

Contents

The 2017 Argyll and Bute Council elections took place on 4 May 2017 alongside local elections across Scotland. This was the third local election to take place using the Single Transferable Vote electoral system.

Background

At the previous election in 2012, Independent councillors were the largest grouping on the council, with a total of 15 councillors, while the Scottish National Party (SNP) had 13 councillors. Following that election, an administration was formed between the SNP and the Argyll First group of independent councillors. However, this coalition broke down in 2013, after the SNP National Executive prevented the SNP group forming a coalition with the Scottish Conservatives and the Scottish Liberal Democrats. [1] Four members of the SNP group (former SNP group leader Roddy McCuish, Mary Jean Devon, Michael Breslin and Robert MacIntyre) left the SNP in 2013, following the collapse of the SNP-independent administration, and sat as independents for the remainder of their terms as councillors. A coalition of Independents, Scottish Conservatives, and Liberal Democrats was formed in October 2013, led by an independent councillor, Dick Walsh. The collapse of the SNP-independent administration led to an investigation by Audit Scotland. [2]

A number of councillors who had been elected in 2012 did not serve a full term and resigned prior to the 2017 elections:

Eight of the sitting councillors did not seek re-election, including the outgoing council leader Dick Walsh (Independent), Michael Breslin (Independent, originally SNP), Iain MacLean (Independent, originally SNP)), Vivien Dance (Independent), Bruce Marshall (Independent), Isobel Strong (SNP), Neil MacIntyre (Scottish Labour), and Maurice Corry (Scottish Conservative). [10]

Results

The SNP became the largest party on the council for the first time, as the Independent group lost a third of its seats compared to the previous election. The Conservatives gained five seats and the Liberal Democrats gained two, but both remained in their respective places as the two smaller parties.

Despite the SNP's position, a coalition was formed of Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Independents, referred to as The Argyll Lomond and the Isles Group (TALIG). Aileen Morton, leader of the group, was elected as council leader. [11]

2017 Argyll and Bute Council election result
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  SNP 1113Decrease2.svg230.527.79,174Decrease2.svg2.0
  Independent 1027Decrease2.svg527.730.410,079Decrease2.svg8.0
  Conservative 950Increase2.svg525.025.18,315Increase2.svg9.6
  Liberal Democrats 620Increase2.svg216.610.73,571Decrease2.svg0.7
  Labour 000Steady2.svg00.04.11,362Decrease2.svg0.5
  Scottish Green 000Steady2.svg00.01.8609Increase2.svg1.6
  UKIP 000Steady2.svg00.00.132New
Total36 33,110

Ward results

South Kintyre

South Kintyre - 3 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1
SNP John Armour (incumbent)unopposed
Liberal Democrats Rory Colville (incumbent)unopposed
Conservative Donald Kelly (incumbent)unopposed
Quota: 

    Kintyre and the Islands

    (Includes Colonsay, Gigha, Islay, Jura, Scarba)

    Kintyre and the Islands - 3 seats
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    12345
    SNP Anne Horn (incumbent)29.3821    
    Conservative Alastair John Redman23.1648652.5 679.1 689.1 707.7
    Liberal Democrats Robin Currie (incumbent)22.4626649.4 694.7 770.7 
    Independent John McAlpine (incumbent)14.7411432.0 473.1 525.7  
    Labour Michael Kelly5.7160169.6    
    Scottish Green Ed Tyler4.8134176.9 196.3   
    Electorate: TBC  Valid: 2,800  Spoilt: 40  Quota: 701  Turnout: 2,840 (54.1%)  

      Mid Argyll

      Mid Argyll - 3 seats
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      1234567
      Independent Douglas Trevor Philand (incumbent)28.7948      
      SNP Sandy Taylor (incumbent)27.5911      
      Conservative Alec McNeilly15.9528543.4 544.1 560.5 584.2 620.2  
      Independent Donnie MacMillan (incumbent)12.9427467.1 482.3 511.1 603.8 703.9 985.4
      Independent Jane McCurdie5.7190209.7 217.6 243.5    
      Scottish Green Elaine Morrison5.2171186.6 226.9 265.4 308.6   
      Labour Jane Kelly3.9132140.7 147.4     
      Electorate: TBC  Valid: 3,307  Spoilt: 49  Quota: 827  Turnout: 3,356 (54.7%)  

        Oban South and the Isles

        (Includes Coll, Iona, Mull, Tiree)

        Oban South and the Isles - 4 seats
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        1234567
        Independent Roddy McCuish (incumbent)21.12808      
        Independent Mary-Jean Devon (incumbent)19.19734744.1 789.8    
        Conservative Jamie McGrigor 16.44629636.3 667.9 671.0 712.5 759.0 770.0
        SNP Jim Lynch16.03613616.7 619.8 623.0 637.4 680.0 1164.3
        SNP Sean MacIntyre13.22506511.5 519.5 520.9 539.1 572.7  
        Labour Jake Ainscough5.91226229.0 257.5 259.8 276.8   
        Independent Alistair MacDougall (incumbent)4.05155158.2 169.5 179.3    
        Liberal Democrats David Pollard4.03154156.4      
        Electorate:  Valid: 3,825  Spoilt: 66  Quota: 766  Turnout: 3,891 (47.5%)  

          Oban North and Lorn

          Oban North and Lorn - 4 seats
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          12345678
          Independent Elaine Robertson (incumbent)22.01913       
          Conservative Andrew Vennard17.11710721.8 727.9 746.5 769.4 789.6 814.1 828.4
          SNP Julie McKenzie (incumbent)16.63690694.6 698.6 704.8 717.1 754.8 829.2 1356.5
          SNP Breege Smyth12.97538543.1 546.1 548.2 562.2 581.5 647.2  
          Independent Kieron Green (incumbent)11.69485515.8 519.3 563.3 600.5 677.0 764.2 797.0
          Scottish Green William Mohieddeen7.33304307.5 308.5 320.6 328.0 342.4   
          Independent Neil MacKay4.39182189.5 210.3 222.4 262.5    
          Independent Grant Nicholson3.71154159.2 166.7 177.0     
          Independent Brian Burnett2.68111115.0 118.1      
          Independent Allan McKie1.496264.3       
          Electorate:  Valid: 4,149  Spoilt: 51  Quota: 830  Turnout: 4,200 (52.0%)  

            Cowal

            Cowal - 3 seats
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            1234
            SNP William Gordon Blair (incumbent)26.3918   
            Conservative Yvonne McNeilly26.2912   
            Liberal Democrats Alan Reid 22.7791794.5 810.7 899.1
            Independent Alex McNaughton (incumbent)11.2389391.6 400.7 428.5
            SNP Alison Mulholland8.2287323.0 323.4 344.8
            Labour Susanna Rice5.4187188.2 191.3  
            Electorate:  Valid: 3,484  Spoilt: 71  Quota: 872  Turnout: 3,555 (60.3%)  

              Dunoon

              Dunoon - 3 seats
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              12345678
              SNP Audrey Forrest19.66575580 593 600 616 638 670 1,064
              Conservative Bobby Good18.26534539 557 584 602 643 732 
              SNP Keir Low14.05411421 423 437 455 467 487  
              Independent Jim Anderson10.70313339 353 391 412 542 658 687
              Liberal Democrats Ross Moreland9.03264275 286 306 372 406   
              Independent John Allison7.38216237 256 305 330    
              Labour Mick Rice6.67195203 216 227     
              Independent Gordon McKinven5.26154164 195      
              Independent Jimmy McQueen (incumbent)4.85142150       
              Independent Brian Logan4.14121       
              Electorate:  Valid: 2,925  Spoilt: 72  Quota: 732  Turnout: 2,997 (53.1%)  

                Isle of Bute

                Isle of Bute - 3 seats
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                1234567
                Independent Jean Moffat19.06472494 588 657   
                SNP Jim Findlay17.5433437 461 709   
                Conservative Peter Wallace17.2427437 482 492 496.8 504.0  
                SNP Robert MacIntyre (incumbent)15.9395402 433     
                Independent Len Scoullar (incumbent)††13.7340354 440 502 524.2 537.2 740.5
                Independent Fraser Gillies13.1325343      
                Independent John McCallum3.485      
                Electorate:  Valid: 2,477  Spoilt: 61  Quota: 620  Turnout: 2,538 (51.6%)  

                  Lomond North

                  Lomond North - 3 seats
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  123456
                  Conservative Barbara Morgan†††29.39989     
                  SNP Iain Shony Paterson20.15678679.8 688.1 710.8 759.1 813.3
                  Independent George Freeman (incumbent)17.40587613.0 636.8 687.5 822.9 1152.3
                  Independent Fiona Baker12.10407437.3 473.7 531.0 623.6  
                  Independent Robert Graham MacIntyre (incumbent)10.67359375.9 386.4 426.4   
                  Labour Fiona Howard6.30212228.2 280.1    
                  Liberal Democrats Paul Kennedy3.95133157.4     
                  Electorate:  Valid: 3,365  Spoilt: 30  Quota: 842  Turnout: 3,395 (55.4%)  

                    Helensburgh Central

                    Helensburgh Central - 4 seats
                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                    12345
                    Conservative Gary Mulvaney (incumbent)46.331789    
                    SNP Lorna Douglas22.61873    
                    Liberal Democrats Aileen Morton (incumbent)17.976941075.6   
                    Liberal Democrats Graham Hardie6.68258356.8 563.2 589.6 864.3
                    Independent James Alexander Robb (incumbent)6.39247478.1 526.2 558.6  
                    Electorate:  Valid: 3,861  Spoilt: 56  Quota: 773  Turnout: 3,917 (51.7%)  

                      Helensburgh and Lomond South

                      Helensburgh and Lomond South - 3 seats
                      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                      12345678
                      Conservative David Fairbairn Kinniburgh (incumbent)38.961149       
                      SNP Richard MacDonald Trail (incumbent)17.80525528.2 529.6 534.7 563.0 583.4 594.2 730.7
                      Liberal Democrats Ellen Morton (incumbent)†13.97412521.5 527.0 540.5 615.5 847.2  
                      Labour Christopher Fagan8.48250287.2 291.6 305.4     
                      Independent Mike Crowe8.41248309.2 321.2 377.8 434.3 484.0 509.5  
                      Liberal Democrats Jacqueline Davis8.10239299.1 304.3 322.8 394.9    
                      Independent Ian Macquire3.1994119.8 129.0      
                      UKIP Jack Streeter1.093257.0       
                      Electorate:  Valid: 2,949  Spoilt: 32  Quota: 738  Turnout: 2,981 (52.3%)  

                        Changes since 2017

                        By-Elections since 2017

                        Lomond North By-election (16th December 2021) - 1 Seat [15]
                        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                        1234
                        Conservative Paul Collins40.7742786 805 1,100
                        SNP Ken Smith25.2459489   
                        Independent Mark Irvine22.9418494 711  
                        Independent Robert MacIntyre11.2204   
                        Valid: 1,823  Spoilt: 19  Quota: 912  Turnout: (29.6%)  
                          Isle of Bute By-election (18th March 2021) - 1 Seat [16]
                          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                          12345
                          SNP Kim Findlay32.7658688 701 767
                          Independent Liz McCabe20.4411475 564 772 1,034
                          Independent Fraser Gillies19.0382419 539   
                          Conservative Peter Wallace16.8338367    
                          Labour Dawn MacDonald11.1224    
                          Electorate: TBC  Quota: 1,007  Turnout: (42.4%)  
                            Helensburgh and Lomond South By-election (18th March 2021) - 1 Seat [16]
                            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                            1
                            Conservative Gemma Penfold50.71,206
                            SNP Math Campbell-Sturgess23.6562
                            Liberal Democrats Henry Boswell14.0333
                            Labour Jane Kelly5.6133
                            Scottish Green Mike Crowe5.2123
                            Workers Party Paul Burrows0.922
                            Electorate: TBC  Valid: 2,379  Spoilt: 15  Quota: 1,190  Turnout: (41.8%)  

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                              References

                              1. ↑ "Argyll and Bute Council SNP group drops coalition plan". BBC News. 14 May 2013. Archived from the original on 30 May 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
                              2. ↑ McIvor, Jamie (29 October 2013). "Argyll and Bute Council: Accounts Commission calls for 'urgent action'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 30 May 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
                              3. ↑ "Labour wins Argyll and Bute council by-election". BBC News. 24 May 2014. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
                              4. ↑ "Sudden death of newly elected Oban councillor | Press and Journal". Press and Journal. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
                              5. ↑ "SNP: by-election win reflects huge surge in support for party following indyref". HeraldScotland. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
                              6. 1 2 Kerr, Moira (21 March 2016). "SNP councillors resign amid claims of a 'witch hunt' in the Highlands". dailyrecord. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
                              7. ↑ "SNP wins Argyll and Bute Council by-election". www.buteman.co.uk. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
                              8. 1 2 "SNP takes seat in Argyll and Bute Council by-election". BBC News. 19 February 2016. Archived from the original on 30 May 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
                              9. ↑ "Independent pips SNP candidate to by-election win". The Oban Times incorporating The Lochaber Times. 7 June 2016. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
                              10. ↑ "Your council candidates: Last Dance in Helensburgh as Walsh era ends". Helensburgh Advertiser. Archived from the original on 4 April 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
                              11. ↑ "Economic growth and education priorities in Argyll | Press and Journal". Press and Journal. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
                              12. ↑ "Tributes paid on passing of Councillor Ellen Morton". 5 October 2020. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
                              13. ↑ Galloway, Andy (19 November 2020). "Len Scoullar: Tributes paid after death of Argyll and Bute provost". Helensburgh Advertiser. Archived from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
                              14. ↑ "Councillor Barbara Morgan resigns". 19 October 2021. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
                              15. ↑ "Result announced of Lomond North by-election" . Retrieved 31 March 2022.
                              16. 1 2 "Local By Elections 18th March 2021 Notice of Poll" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 March 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
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