2017 Shetland Islands Council election

Last updated

2017 Shetland Islands Council election
Flag of Shetland.svg
←  2012 4 May 2017 (2017-05-04) 2022  →
All 22 seats to Shetland Islands Council
12 seats needed for a majority
Registered15,025
Turnout49.1% (Decrease2.svg5.6)
 First partySecond party
 
LeaderGary RobinsonRobbie McGregor
Party Independent SNP
Leader's seatShetland West
(defeated)		Shetland South
Last election22 seats, 96.9%0 seats, 1.9%
Seats before220
Seats after211
Seat changeDecrease2.svg1Increase2.svg1
Popular vote7,1320
Percentage97.8%0.0%
SwingIncrease2.svg0.9%Decrease2.svg1.9%
2017 Shetland Islands Council election, parties.svg
2017 Shetland Islands Council election, incumbency.svg
Council Leader before election

Gary Robinson
Independent

Council Leader after election

Cecil Smith
Independent

Elections to Shetland Islands Council were held on 4 May 2017 on the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election was the third using seven wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, each ward electing three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation, with 22 Councillors elected.

Contents

With the Shetland South ward going uncontested, the SNP elected its first councillor in Shetland.

Several members of the pro-Shetland Autonomy Wir Shetland group stood in the election; Ian Tinkler in Shetland West, and Alec Priest and Duncan Simpson in North Isles. [1] [2] Former Wir Shetland member Ryan Thomson also stood in North Isles. Whilst having left the group, it was claimed by the Wir Shetland Chairman that Thomson still supported the group's core aims. [1] Other candidates with political positions of note included socialist Ian Scott and former Yes Scotland and Scottish Leave Left campaigner Brian Nugent in central ward. [3] Nugent is an SNP member and claimed to be standing as an independent solely due to having applied too late to use the SNP party name in the election. [4] Two paper candidates for the Conservatives also stood. [5]

Election results

Shetland Islands Local Election Result 2017
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Independent 2101Decrease2.svg195.597.87,132Increase2.svg0.9
  SNP 110Increase2.svg14.50.00Decrease2.svg1.9
 Ind. (Scottish Nationalist)000Steady2.svg00.01.284New
  Conservative 000Steady2.svg00.01.074New

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

North Isles

North Isles - 3 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12
Independent Duncan Simpson31.2453 
Independent Ryan Thomson26.3372 
Independent Alec Priest23.1327375.08
Independent Cecil Hughson13.1185210.57
Independent Lynsay Cunningham5.47681.68
Valid: 1413  Spoilt: 16  Quota: 354  Turnout: 63.7%  

    Shetland North

    Shetland North - 3 seats
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    12
    Independent Andrea Manson (incumbent)42.7509 
    Independent Alastair Cooper (incumbent)33.1395 
    Independent Emma Macdonald20.1240379.04
    Conservative Isobel Johnson4.04870.28
    Valid: Quota: 

      Shetland West

      Shetland West - 3 seats
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      1234
      Independent Theo Smith (incumbent)42.5521   
      Independent Catherine Hughson15.8194255.61 274.72 320.47
      Independent Gary Robinson (incumbent)14.6179204.47 209.29 217.57
      Independent Steven Coutts (incumbent)14.3175251.40 275.92 325.47
      Independent Debra Nicolson6.681107.29 132.81  
      Independent Ian Tinkler6.17590.61   
      Valid: Quota: 

        Shetland Central

        Shetland Central - 3 seats
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        1234
        Independent Davie Sandison (incumbent)32.9320   
        Independent Mark Burgess (incumbent)26.7260   
        Independent Ian Scott19.6191214.04 217.18 263.52
        Independent Julie Buchan12.1118139.61 146.87 169.40
        Independent nationalist Brian Nugent8.68493.26 95.79  
        Valid: Quota: 

          Shetland South

          Shetland South - 3 seats
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          1
          Independent Allison Duncan (incumbent)uncontesteduncontested
          SNP Robbie McGregoruncontesteduncontested
          Independent George Smith (incumbent)uncontesteduncontested
          Valid: Quota: 

            Lerwick North

            Lerwick North - 3 seats
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            123
            Independent Malcolm Bell (incumbent)71.9715  
            Independent Stephen Leask13.2130337.25 
            Independent John Fraser12.4124243.92 287.73
            Conservative Thomas Williamson2.62654.68 68.93
            Valid: Quota: 

              Lerwick South

              Lerwick South - 4 seats
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              1234
              Independent Cecil Smith (incumbent)28.8429   
              Independent Beatrice Wishart †26.4394   
              Independent Peter Campbell (incumbent)20.0299   
              Independent Amanda Westlake (incumbent)12.7190242.42 271.12 408.83
              Independent Frances Valente12.1180220.61 268.35  
              Valid: Quota: 

                Retiring Councillors

                Council WardDeparting CouncillorParty
                Shetland NorthGary Cleaver Independent
                Shetland SouthBilly Fox Independent
                North IslesRobert Henderson Independent
                Shetland NorthDrew Ratter Independent
                Shetland WestFrank Robertson Independent
                Lerwick NorthMichael Stout Independent
                Shetland CentralVaila Wishart Independent
                Lerwick NorthAllan Wishart Independent
                Lerwick SouthJonathan Wills Independent

                Changes Since 2017

                By-elections since 2017

                Shetland Central By-election (7 November 2019)
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                123
                Independent Moraig Lyall47.0344366 379
                Independent Julie Buchan15.8116131 170
                SNP Stewart Douglas15.2111119 125
                Independent Gordon Laverie11.58493  
                Independent Johan Adamson10.577  
                Valid: Quota: Turnout: 732 (31.0%)  
                  Lerwick South By-election (7 November 2019)
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  1234
                  Independent Gary Robinson35.1374385 407 451
                  Independent Stephen Flaws32.8350368 403 498
                  Independent Frances Valente14.4154172 204  
                  Independent Arwed Wenger10.9116126   
                  Independent Caroline Henderson6.873   
                  Valid: Quota: Turnout: 732 (31.2%)  

                    Footnotes

                    1. 1 2 "Candidate Tinkler steps down from Wir Shetland committee". The Shetland Times. 9 December 2016.
                    2. ↑ "Two more candidates declare". Shetland News.
                    3. ↑ Riddell, Neil (29 March 2017). "Names of 32 SIC election candidates unveiled". Shetland News.
                    4. ↑ Nugent, Brian (4 April 2017). "Brian Nugent". Shetland News . Archived from the original on 27 April 2017.
                    5. ↑ Murray, Keegan (21 April 2017). "'Don't back me,' says Tory SIC 'paper candidate' for Lerwick North". The Shetland Times . Archived from the original on 22 April 2017.
                    6. ↑ Cope, Craig (20 September 2019). "Council / Second council by-election after Burgess steps down". Shetland News . Archived from the original on 13 October 2021.

                    Related Research Articles

                    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election</span>

                    Elections to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) were held on 3 May 2012, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election was the second one using the 9 wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004. Each ward elected three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system: a form of proportional representation. A total of 31 Councillors were elected.

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

                    Elections to Glasgow City Council were held on 3 May 2012, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election was the second using 21 new wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, each ward elected three or four councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation.

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

                    Elections to Shetland Islands Council were held on 3 May 2012, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election was the second using the seven new wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, each ward elected three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation, with 22 Councillors 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.

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

                    2012 Elections to East Lothian Council were held on 3 May 2012, on the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election used the 7 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 23 councillors elected.

                    The 2012 Orkney Islands Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Orkney Council. The election used the six 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 21 Councillors being elected.

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

                    2017 Elections to East Lothian Council were held on 4 May 2017 on the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election consisted of 6 wards electing three or four councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation, with 22 councillors elected.

                    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Argyll and Bute Council election</span>

                    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.

                    2017 Elections to North Lanarkshire Council were held on 4 May 2017, on the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland. The election utilised twenty-one wards with 77 Councillors being elected. This represented an increase of 7 seats and 1 additional ward when compared to 2012. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system.

                    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election</span>

                    Elections to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) were held on 4 May 2017, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election was the third one using the nine wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004. Each ward elected three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system: a form of proportional representation. A total of 31 Councillors were elected.

                    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.

                    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Orkney Islands Council election</span>

                    The 2017 Orkney Islands Council election took place on 4 May 2017 to elect members of Orkney Islands Council. The election used the six 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 21 Councillors being elected.

                    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Beatrice Wishart</span> Scottish Liberal Democrat politician

                    Beatrice Wishart is a Scottish Liberal Democrats politician who has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Shetland since 2019. Wishart currently serves as education spokesperson for her party, and has a seat on the Scottish Parliament committees for Education and Skills, for Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs, and for COVID-19. She was elected at the 2019 Shetland by-election, after the sitting Liberal Democrat MSP Tavish Scott stepped down.

                    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.

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

                    Elections to the Shetland Islands Council took place on 5 May 2022 on the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. Seven wards will be contested, each ward electing two to four Councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation, with 23 Councillors elected.

                    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election</span> Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election

                    Elections to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar took place on 5 May 2022 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. The election was the first to use the nine wards created under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 which allowed for single and dual member wards, with 29 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either 2, 3 or 4 members, using the Single Transferrable Vote electoral system, a form of proportional representation. Following a boundary review the number of wards will increase from nine to 11 while the number of councillors elected will fall from 31 to 29.

                    Elections to South Ayrshire Council took place on 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.

                    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Argyll and Bute Council election</span> Argyll and Bute Council election

                    Elections to Argyll and Bute Council took place on 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.

                    <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.

                    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Perth and Kinross Council election</span> 2022 Perthshire local elections

                    Elections to Perth and Kinross Council were held on 5 May 2022 as part of the 2022 Scottish local elections. 40 Councillors were elected from 12 multi-members electoral wards under the Single Transferable Vote electoral system. The Scottish Conservatives had run Perth and Kinross Council as a minority administration immediately prior to the election, with a previous coalition with the Scottish Liberal Democrats collapsing mid-way through the term. Twelve incumbent Councillors, including two group leaders, decided not to seek re-election whilst others stood again but lost their seats.

                    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
                    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
                    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.