2017 Dumfries and Galloway Council election

Last updated
2017 Dumfries and Galloway Council election
←  2012 4 May 2017 (2017-05-04) 2022  →
All 43 seats to Dumfries and Galloway Council
22 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
LeaderIan CarruthersRob Davidson Elaine Murray
Party Conservative SNP Labour
Leader's seat Annandale South Abbey Nith
Last election14 seats, 26.6%10 seats, 19.5%15 seats, 29.3%
Seats before131112
Seats won161111
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 2Increase2.svg1Decrease2.svg 4
Popular vote21,13811,77910,077
Percentage38.7%21.6%18.5%
SwingIncrease2.svg 12.1%Increase2.svg 2.1%Decrease2.svg 10.9%
 Fourth partyFifth party
 
LeaderJane MaitlandRichard John Brodie
Party Independent Liberal Democrats
Leader's seat Dee and Glenkens Annandale South
Last election7 seats, 18.1%1 seat, 4.0%
Seats before51
Seats won41
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 3Steady2.svg
Popular vote9,4251,350
Percentage17.3%2.5%
SwingDecrease2.svg 0.8%Decrease2.svg 1.5%
Dumfries and Galloway Council election 2017.svg
The 12 multi-member wards
Council Leader before election

Ronnie Nicholson
Labour

Council Leader after election

Elaine Murray
Labour

The 2017 Dumfries and Galloway Council election took place on 4 May 2017 to elect members of Dumfries and Galloway Council. The election used the twelve 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 43 councillors being elected, a reduction of 4 members and 1 ward since 2012.

Contents

Following the election the Conservative Party became the largest party, with Labour falling from first place into third place in terms of votes and seats. The SNP also drew with Labour in terms of seats as they both won 11 seats.

This election also saw Independent councillors Willie Scobie and Jane Maitland returned, but saw Marion McCutcheon, George Prentice, Tom McAughtrie, Yen Hongmei Jin, Denis Male and Craig Peacock all losing their seats. Elaine Murray, the former Labour MSP for Dumfriesshire was elected to the Council in the Nith ward.

Following the election, Ian Carruthers (Annandale South) was elected as the Conservative group leader, Rob Davidson (Abbey) as the SNP group leader and Elaine Murray (Nith) as the Labour group leader. Richard Brodie (Annandale South), is the sole Liberal Democrat councillor.

On 23 May, almost three weeks following the election, Labour and the SNP formed a coalition to form a majority council with Murray as council leader and Rob Davidson as depute leader and civic head. Although the Conservatives were elected the largest party with 16 seats, they remained in opposition.

Results

2017 Dumfries and Galloway Council election result
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Conservative 1620Increase2.svg 237.238.721,138Increase2.svg 12.1
  SNP 1110Increase2.svg 125.621.611,779Increase2.svg 2.1
  Labour 1104Decrease2.svg 425.618.510,077Decrease2.svg 10.9
  Independent 403Decrease2.svg 39.317.39,425Decrease2.svg 0.8
  Liberal Democrats 100Steady2.svg2.32.51,350Decrease2.svg 1.5
  Scottish Green 000Steady2.svg0.01.91,026Increase2.svg 0.1
  Scottish Libertarian 000Steady2.svg0.00.2118New

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 2012. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

Ward results

Stranraer and the Rhins

Stranraer and the Rhins - 4 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
No descriptionWillie Scobie (incumbent)36.531,925      
Conservative Andrew Giusti32.311,703      
SNP Ros Surtees14.52765869.4 884.62 903.35 919.09 953.34 1,013.39
Labour Tommy Sloan5.92312589.94 661.86 694.11 723.69 774.28 912.14
Independent Tracy Davidson3.43181251.95 317.4 338.72 381.51   
Independent Marion McCutcheon (incumbent)3.15166259.55 332.23 363.55 418.26 533.25  
Independent Robert McCrae2.33123164.13 231.48 242.73    
Scottish Libertarian Chris Collings1.8095134.77 174.72     
Electorate: 11,382  Valid: 5,270  Spoilt: 80  Quota: 1,055  Turnout: 46.3%  

    Mid Galloway and Wigtown West

    Mid Galloway and Wigtown West- 4 seats
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    123456789
    Conservative David Inglis26.071,403        
    Independent Jim McColm (incumbent) 18.139761,012.01 1,027.25 1,050.25 1,158.41    
    Conservative Graham Nicol (incumbent) †††††13.43723960.46 962.93 971.02 1,009.64 1,032.12 1,234.63  
    SNP Katie Hagmann13.02701703.32 708.32 733.32 806.49 811.66 860.02 867.82 1,416.84
    SNP Steve Norris10.63572574.32 577.56 587.56 606.25 612.84 657.4 664.87  
    Independent Richard Oxley8.8347548.01 496.24 506.24 551.94 579.43    
    Labour Matthew Curry6.84368375.67 379.9 407.36      
    Scottish Green Barbara Bannatyne2.16116118.32 121.79       
    Independent John McCutcheon0.894849.86        
    Electorate: 9,594  Valid: 5,382  Spoilt: 120  Quota: 1,076  Turnout: 57.3%  

      Dee and Glenkens

      Dee and Glenkens- 3 seats
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      12345678
      Conservative Patsy Gilroy (incumbent)†33.471,547       
      SNP Dougie Campbell19.56904909.31 916.81 921.32 934.82 967.08 1,121.83 1,250.09
      Independent Douglas Swan15.84732788.11 804.12 817.64 844.2 886.49 925.55  
      Independent Jane Maitland (incumbent) 14.37664824.49 833.27 850.57 937.7 983.26 1,096.79 1,522.66
      Scottish Green Laura Moodie6.32292303.88 305.88 321.67 333.43 402.21   
      Labour Elizabeth Maxwell4.69217237.72 238.98 258.26 262.28    
      Independent Andi Holmes2.60120144.52 157.28 174.57     
      Liberal Democrats Andrew Metcalf1.8485106.74 111.99      
      No descriptionJohn Thorn1.326170.6       
      Electorate: 8,239  Valid: 4,622  Spoilt: 34  Quota: 1,156  Turnout: 56.5%  

        Castle Douglas and Crocketford

        Castle Douglas and Crocketford - 3 seats
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        123456
        Conservative David James†††35.791,346     
        Independent Iain Howie23.969011,033.99    
        SNP John Young20.10756761.72 772.23 837.81 928.28 1,099.88
        Independent George Nicol Prentice (incumbent)9.70365451.66 496.45 522.15 628.9  
        Labour Lucy McKie7.02264307.03 316.87 354.5   
        Scottish Green Paul Taylorson3.43129147.66 155.77    
        Electorate: 7,433  Valid: 3,761  Spoilt: 41  Quota: 941  Turnout: 50.6%  

          Abbey

          Abbey - 3 seats
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          1234567
          Conservative Ian Blake (incumbent)39.381,664      
          Labour Davie Stitt (incumbent)21.929261,084.31     
          SNP Rob Davidson (incumbent)16.21685698.13 703.77 738.18 932.12 988.26 1,159.28
          No descriptionTom McAughtrie (incumbent)10.60448517.31 521.99 532.31 540.35 645.66  
          SNP Kim Lowe4.90207209.92 211.17 235.76    
          Independent Belle Doyle4.14175268.75 271.41 314.93 324.82   
          Scottish Green Clare Phillips2.84120151.74 155.6     
          Electorate: 8,284  Valid: 4,225  Spoilt: 59  Quota: 1,057  Turnout: 51.0%  

            North West Dumfries

            North West Dumfries - 4 seats
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            12345
            Conservative John Graham Bell (incumbent) 32.541,374    
            SNP Andy Ferguson (incumbent)16.41693708.02 736.4 774.41 1,314.26
            Labour Ronnie Nicholson (incumbent)††16.08679722.51 732.59 763.44 778.6
            Labour David John McKie (incumbent) 14.47611694.93 720.86 784.57 809.27
            SNP Stacy Bradley13.60574588.25 613.02 642.33  
            Independent Billy Farries3.86163268.88 304.73   
            Scottish Green Michelle Johnston3.03128156.49    
            Electorate: 9,981  Valid: 4,222  Spoilt: 112  Quota: 845  Turnout: 42.3%  

              Mid and Upper Nithsdale

              Mid and Upper Nithsdale - 3 seats
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              12345
              Conservative Matthew Ronnie27.981,211    
              Labour Jim Dempster (incumbent) 24.381,0551,087.55   
              SNP Andrew Stuart Wood (incumbent)††††20.15872876.65 876.96 1,043.9 1,286.21
              Labour John Syme (incumbent)16.73724730.76 734.26 839.41  
              No descriptionGraham Watson10.77466497.92 498.1   
              Electorate: 8,105  Valid: 4,328  Spoilt: 50  Quota: 1,083  Turnout: 53.4%  

                Lochar

                Lochar - 4 seats
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                123456789
                Conservative John Anthony Charteris 24.191,208        
                Conservative Ivor Alexander Hyslop (incumbent) 16.888431,000.61       
                Labour Jeff Leaver (incumbent)13.72685688.29 688.5 701.68 833.24 875.96 899.3 916.78 1,153.64
                SNP Tracey Little13.20659661.08 661.09 685.1 689.1 710.45 1,099.98  
                Independent Yen Hongmei Jin (incumbent)12.13606620.71 620.97 637.15 652.15 777.22 786.22 810.59  
                SNP Joe McGurk8.33416417.21 417.23 440.58 447.58 459.75    
                Independent Maureen Johnstone5.99299310.94 311.21 322.73 326.73     
                Labour Keith Walters3.16158158.69 158.74 175.92      
                Scottish Green Arthur Ramsay2.40120121.38 121.43       
                Electorate: 10,603  Valid: 4,994  Spoilt: 118  Quota: 999  Turnout: 47.1%  

                  Nith

                  Nith - 4 seats
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  12345678910
                  Conservative Malcolm Johnstone29.301,481         
                  Labour Elaine Murray 19.019611,033.2        
                  SNP John Campbell16.97858862.75 863.32 887.71 901.77 922.72 950.35 1,379.72  
                  SNP Alastair Witts (incumbent)8.66438441.48 441.96 468.7 488.37 493.71 507.68    
                  Labour John Martin (incumbent)8.39424463.9 478.72 500.8 523.66 540.98 579.72 599.29 682.97 837.94
                  Independent David Robert Slater5.88297362.55 363.43 380.02 401.18 459.13 586.3 606.99 676.46  
                  Independent Niall Cowan3.88196246.35 247.12 252.05 278.76 321.56     
                  Independent Andrew Crosbie3.03153188.15 188.47 192.81 210.46      
                  Independent John Dennis2.49126151.02 151.67 168.34       
                  Scottish Green Sandy Rogerson2.39121133.67 134.22        
                  Electorate: 10,233  Valid: 5,055  Spoilt: 77  Quota: 1,012  Turnout: 49.4%  

                    Annandale South

                    Annandale South - 4 seats
                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                    1234567
                    Conservative Ian Brian Carruthers (incumbent) 31.481,621      
                    Liberal Democrats Richard John Brodie (incumbent) 19.581,0081,183.73     
                    SNP Henry McClelland17.81917933.41 950.54 950.67 972.18 999.06 1,152.05
                    Labour Sean Marshall (incumbent)13.61701768.08 811.3 819.7 1,190.65  
                    Independent Allan Weild8.74450550.99 585.58 599.68 634.99 674.21  
                    Labour Ronnie Ogilvie (incumbent)8.33429451.6 467.73 470.63    
                    Scottish Libertarian Peter McKain0.452331.02 34.55     
                    Electorate: 10,955  Valid: 5,149  Spoilt: 72  Quota: 1,030  Turnout: 47.0%  

                      Annandale North

                      Annandale North - 4 seats
                      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                      1234
                      Conservative Douglas Fairbairn (incumbent) 28.761,573   
                      Conservative Gail McGregor (incumbent)25.721,407   
                      SNP Stephen Thompson (incumbent) 23.911,308   
                      Labour Adam Wilson16.91925998.84 1,055.83 1,126.99
                      Liberal Democrats Lisa Courts4.70257356.37 438.41 500.94
                      Electorate: 11,540  Valid: 5,470  Spoilt: 69  Quota: 1,095  Turnout: 47.4%  

                        Annandale East and Eskdale

                        Annandale East and Eskdale - 3 seats
                        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                        12345
                        Conservative Karen Carruthers (incumbent)29.591,290    
                        Conservative Ronnie Tait17.06744881.45 901.22 983.92 1,266.4
                        No descriptionDenis Raymond Male (incumbent)16.54721732.42 809.57 934.96  
                        Labour Archie Dryburgh (incumbent) 14.63638652.04 776.35 1,029.74 1,362.05
                        Independent Craig Peacock (incumbent)11.77513529.2 630.51   
                        SNP Sylvia Moffat10.41454455.85    
                        Electorate: 8,466  Valid: 4,360  Spoilt: 65  Quota: 1,091  Turnout: 51.5%  

                          Aftermath

                          On 26 February 2019, Labour Cllr Ronnie Nicholson resigned from the party and became an Independent. [1]

                          On 12 April 2019, Castle Douglas and Crocketford Conservative Cllr David James resigned from the party and became an Independent claiming the party avoided making policies. [2]

                          On 5 July 2019, Mid and Upper Nithsdale SNP Cllr Andrew Wood resigned from the party and became an Independent. On 21 September 2020, Cllr. Wood announced that he had joined the Conservative party. [3]

                          By-elections

                          Dee and Glenkens by-election

                          On 18 October 2018, Dee and Glenkens Conservative councillor Patsy Gilroy resigned her seat. [4] She was appointed as Lord Lieutenant of the Stewartry by Her Majesty The Queen on 5 November 2018. [5] A by-election was held on 13 December 2018. The seat was won by Pauline Drysdale of the Conservative party. [6]

                          Dee and Glenkens By-election (13 December 2018) [7]
                          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                          1234
                          Conservative Pauline Louise Drysdale45.91,6821,704 1,740 1,956
                          SNP Glen Murray28.01,0241,026 1,183 1,357
                          Independent Colin Matthew Wyper15.5569575 651  
                          Scottish Green Laura Elizabeth Moodie9.3342349   
                          UKIP Jennifer Blue1.342   
                          Electorate: 8,088  Valid: 3,663  Spoilt: 29  Quota: 1,832.00  Turnout: 3,692 (45.65%)  

                            Mid Galloway and Wigtown West by-election

                            On 25 October 2019, Mid Galloway and Wigtown West Conservative Cllr Graham Nicol died suddenly. A by-election was held on the 23 January 2020. [8] The seat was won by Jackie McCamon of the Conservative party.

                            Mid Galloway and Wigtown West By-election (23 January 2020)
                            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                            1
                            Conservative Jackie McCamon61.82,177
                            SNP Tony Berretti25.5898
                            Scottish Green Peter Barlow6.4225
                            Labour Gill Hay6.3220
                            Quota: Turnout: 3,520 (32.5%)  

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                              References

                              1. ↑ Findlay, Nicola (26 February 2019). "Former Council leader quits over teacher cuts". bbc.co.uk.
                              2. ↑ Findlay, Nicola (12 April 2019). "Castle Douglas Cllr resigns". dailyrecord.
                              3. ↑ "Former SNP stalwart switches to Conservatives over concerns about independence". 21 September 2020.
                              4. ↑ "Patsy Gilroy stands down as councillor". 18 October 2018.
                              5. ↑ "Queen appoints Lord-Lieutenant of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright".
                              6. ↑ "Dee and Glenkens By-Election".
                              7. ↑ "Ward 03 - Dee & Glenkens By-Election 13 December 2018" (PDF). dumgal.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
                              8. ↑ Nicol, Graham (7 November 2019). "Mid Galloway and Wigtown West Cllr dies". www.bbc.co.uk.
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