2022 Falkirk Council election

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2022 Falkirk Council election
Falkirk Council.svg
←  2017 5 May 2022 (2022-05-05)2027 →
All 30 seats to Falkirk Council
16 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond party
 
LeaderCecil MeiklejohnRobert Bissett
Party SNP Labour
Leader's seat Falkirk North Falkirk North
Last election12 seats, 38.8%9 seats, 23.1%
Seats before127
Seats after129
Popular vote21,06612,179
Percentage39.7%23.0%
SwingIncrease2.svg0.9%Decrease2.svg0.1%
 Third partyFourth party
 
LeaderJames KerrN/A
Party Conservative Independent
Leader's seat Upper Braes
Last election7 seats, 24.5%2 seats, 9.8%
Seats before74
Seats after54
Popular vote10,3266,018
Percentage19.5%11.4%
SwingDecrease2.svg5.0%Increase2.svg1.6%
FalkirkCouncilStructureMay2022.svg
Council Leader before election

Cecil Meiklejohn
SNP

Council Leader after election

Cecil Meiklejohn
SNP

The 2022 Falkirk Council election was held on 5 May 2022 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. The election used the nine wards created following the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland's 5th Review, with 30 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either three or four members, using the STV electoral system. [1]

Contents

At the last election in 2017, the Scottish National Party (SNP) won the most seats and formed a minority administration. [2]

Background

Previous election

At the previous election in 2017, the Scottish National Party (SNP) became the largest party, despite losing one seat, overtaking Labour who lost five seats. Two independents were elected, one less than 2012 while the Conservatives gained five seats. [3]

2017 Falkirk Council election result
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  SNP 12Steady2.svg1Decrease2.svg140.038.820,861Decrease2.svg1.6
  Labour 9Steady2.svg5Decrease2.svg530.023.112,421Decrease2.svg14.6
  Conservative 75Steady2.svgIncrease2.svg523.324.513,168Increase2.svg13.3
  Independent 2Steady2.svg1Decrease2.svg16.79.85,308Decrease2.svg0.7
  Scottish Green 0Steady2.svgSteady2.svgSteady2.svg0.03.61,933New
Total30 53,754
Notes
[3]

Composition

Since the previous election, several changes in the composition of the council occurred. Labour councillor John McLuckie and Conservative councillor James Kerr were suspended by their respective parties after having been charged by the police following an investigation into planning irregularities in Falkirk. [4] SNP councillor Niall Coleman resigned from the party to become an independent. [5] Two by-elections were held and resulted in an SNP hold [6] and an SNP gain from Labour. [2]

Party2017 resultDissolution
SNP 1212
Labour 97
Conservative 77
Independents24

Retiring councillors

WardPartyRetiring councillor
Grangemouth Labour Allyson Black
Denny and Banknock LabourJim Blackwood
Carse, Kinnaird and Tryst LabourJoan Coombes
Bonnybridge and Larbert Independent Niall Coleman
Falkirk North SNP David Alexander
IndependentDennis Goldie
Falkirk South Conservative John Patrick
Lower Braes ConservativeMalcolm Nicol
Upper Braes SNPGordon Hughes

Results

2022 Falkirk Council election
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  SNP 12Steady2.svg0Steady2.svg0Steady2.svg040.039.721,066Increase2.svg0.9
  Labour 9Increase2.svg1Decrease2.svg1Steady2.svg030.023.012,179Decrease2.svg0.1
  Conservative 5Increase2.svg1Decrease2.svg3Decrease2.svg216.719.510,326Decrease2.svg5.0
  Independent 4Increase2.svg2Steady2.svg0Increase2.svg213.311.46,018Increase2.svg1.6
  Scottish Green 0Steady2.svg0Steady2.svg0Steady2.svg00.04.52,365Increase2.svg0.9
  Liberal Democrats 0Steady2.svg0Steady2.svg0Steady2.svg00.01.1603New
  Alba 0Steady2.svg0Steady2.svg0Steady2.svg00.00.8424New
 Other0Steady2.svg0Steady2.svg0Steady2.svg00.00.127Steady2.svg0.0
Total30 53,008

Ward summary

Results of the 2022 Falkirk Council election by ward
Ward%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
Total
Cllrs
SNP Lab Conservative Green Lib Dem Ind Alba Others
Bo'ness and Blackness 21.74118.64115.1202.4401.61040.5813
Grangemouth 44.85123.38115.2302.42015.0610.5403
Denny and Banknock 46.49220.66116.1603.15013.5414
Carse, Kinnaird and Tryst 44.37224.55124.0614.1402.8804
Bonnybridge and Larbert 33.88117.60118.4104.91025.2213
Falkirk North 47.41228.86113.2715.9004.5504
Falkirk South 41.66122.34128.5615.6701.7703
Lower Braes 39.35127.00123.3415.7803.2401.3003
Upper Braes 34.88123.13121.8615.6002.53010.8801.1503
Total30

Ward results

Bo'ness and Blackness

Bo'ness and Blackness - 3 seats [7]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345
Independent Ann Ritchie (incumbent)40.512,262
SNP Stacey Devine21.701,2121,434.54
Labour David Aitchison (incumbent)18.641,0411,229.03 1,238.47
Conservative Lynn Munro (incumbent)15.10843950.83 951.93 984.18 995.82
Scottish Green Debra Pickering2.44136136 193.94 245.43 211.02
Liberal Democrats Nicholas William Pitts1.6190125.3 126.18
Electorate: 12,389  Valid: 5,584  Spoilt: 70  Quota: 1,394  Turnout: 45.6%  

    Grangemouth

    Grangemouth - 3 seats [7]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    12345678
    SNP David Balfour (incumbent)35.851,808
    Labour Alan Nimmo [LOB] 23.381,1791,211.98 1,217.28 1,244.09 1,281.31
    Conservative Mandy Bryson13.58685694.08 708.01 702.38 725.98 729.38
    Independent Robert Spears (incumbent)12.12611645.79 647.79 668.61 731.75 738.42 1,071.96 1,391.08
    SNP John Haston9.00454873.93 876.23 942.91 960.45 962.68 984.84
    Independent Marc Bozza3.11157165.78 169.77 176.68
    Scottish Green Rhys Stenhouse2.42122137.73 138.43
    UKIP Martin Stuart0.542727.61
    Electorate: 12,741  Valid: 5,043  Spoilt: 161  Quota: 1,261  Turnout: 40.5%  

      Denny and Banknock

      Denny and Banknock - 4 seats [7]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      1
      SNP Paul Garner (incumbent)29.421,868
      SNP Fiona Collie (incumbent)17.071,0841,571.69
      Conservative Nigel Harris (incumbent)16.161,0261,033.67 1,041.5 1,056.96 1,073.66 1,092.16
      Labour Alf Kelly14.00889903.71 935.17 1,011.42 1,368.98
      Independent Brian McCabe13.54860890.68 929.43 1,031.31 1,072.02 1,106.23 1,610.76
      Labour James Marshall6.66423433.27 444.87 461.56
      Scottish Green Rachel Hart3.15200223.01 346.01
      Electorate: 15,534  Valid: 6,350  Spoilt: 128  Quota: 1,271  Turnout: 43.8%  

        Carse, Kinnaird and Tryst

        Carse, Kinnaird and Tryst - 4 seats [7]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        1234567
        SNP Gary Bouse (incumbent)27.321,961
        Labour Margaret Anslow24.551,7621,762 1,436.
        SNP Laura Murtagh (incumbent)17.051,2241,670.56
        Conservative Jim Flynn (incumbent)15.061,0811,088.49 1.143.63 1,150.23
        Conservative Robert Kemp9.00646649.75 674.35 678.09 711.89 778.53
        Scottish Green Tom McLaughlin4.14297326.45 270.98 370.48 492.89 610.00
        Liberal Democrats Sean McCay2.88207215.57 278.97 314.47
        Electorate: 17,252  Valid: 7,178  Spoilt: 156  Quota: 1,436  Turnout: 42.5%  

          Bonnybridge and Larbert

          Bonnybridge and Larbert - 3 seats [7]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          123456
          Independent Billy Buchanan (incumbent)25.221,423
          SNP Bryan Deakin21.481,2121,214.26 1,276.53 1,988.19
          Conservative David Grant (incumbent)18.391,0381,040.52 1,056.57 1,064.59 1,084.79
          Labour Jack Redmond17.60993996.38 1,072.64 1,111.79 1,327.54 1,942.15
          SNP Jim Muir12.40700700.94 797.07
          Scottish Green David Robertson4.91277277.94
          Electorate: 13,094  Valid: 5,643  Spoilt: 87  Quota: 1,411  Turnout: 43.8%  

            Falkirk North

            Falkirk North - 4 seats [7]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            1
            SNP Cecil Meiklejohn (incumbent)35.012,260
            Labour Robert Bissett (incumbent)22.681,464
            Conservative James Bundy13.27857863.85 867.95 880.64 912.95 947.87 1,277.89
            SNP Iain Sinclair12.418011,625.50
            Labour Robbie Burgess6.18399423.41 466.48 604.17 651.31 929.0
            Scottish Green Judith McLaughlin5.90381424.26 553.38 557.96 631.1
            Alba Zohaib Arshad4.55294307.28 345.31 348.36
            Electorate: 16,749  Valid: 6,456  Spoilt: 174  Quota: 1,292  Turnout: 39.6%  

              Falkirk South

              Falkirk South - 3 seats [7]
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              12345
              SNP Lorna Binnie (incumbent)30.181,843
              Conservative Sarah Patrick28.561,744
              Labour Euan Stainbank 22.341,3641,380.46 1,478.63 1,524.51 1,652.32
              SNP Emma Russell (incumbent)11.48701959.03 964.61 977.33
              Scottish Green Hunter Thomson5.67346359.16 377.86 408.23
              Independent Richard Wilson1.77108111.09 138.58
              Electorate: 13,395  Valid: 6,106  Spoilt: 102  Quota: 1,527  Turnout: 46.3%  

                Lower Braes

                Lower Braes - 3 seats [7]
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                123456
                Labour Anne Hannah27.001,393
                SNP Gordon Forrest23.361,2051,213.21 1,237.65 1,248.06 1,330.98
                Conservative James Kerr [UPB] 23.341,2041,225.29 1,237.65 1,297.984 1,330.97
                SNP Adanna McCue (incumbent)15.99825830.32 841.55 848.75 848.91
                Scottish Green Doug Sheehan5.78298309.76 378.19 320.97
                Liberal Democrats Hunter Ashley3.24167195.32 201.86
                Alba Scott Fallon1.306769.44
                Electorate: 12,003  Valid: 5,159  Spoilt: 48  Quota: 1,290  Turnout: 43.6%  

                  Upper Braes

                  Upper Braes - 3 seats [7]
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  1
                  SNP Jim Robertson34.881,918
                  Labour Siobhan Paterson23.131,2721,365.42 1,370.55 1,384.12
                  Conservative Claire Brown21.861,2021,214.45 1,219.45 1,224.46 1,225.95 1,233.53 1,259.08 1,406.68
                  Independent John McLuckie (incumbent)8.35459489.57 499.27 548.80 550.05 568.17 603.26
                  Scottish Green Rachel Kidd5.60308516.93 520.78 535.32 536.81 586.76 644.66 740.41
                  Liberal Democrats Austin Reid2.53139161.65 161.65 168.21 170.22 177.23
                  Independent Ian Kennedy1.628998.34 114.04
                  Alba Colin Todd1.1563110.56 114.13 118.13 118.39
                  Independent Mark Tunnicliff0.894955.23
                  Electorate: 12,734  Valid: 5,499  Spoilt: 79  Quota: 1,375  Turnout: 43.8%  

                    Aftermath

                    Falkirk South by-election

                    In July 2024, Labour councillor Euan Stainbank was elected as MP for Falkirk at the 2024 United Kingdom general election and subsequently resigned as a councillor in August 2024. [8] A by-election was held on 17 October 2024 and was won by Labour candidate Claire Aitken. [9]

                    Falkirk South (17 October 2024) – 1 seat
                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                    1234567
                    SNP Carol Anne Beattie31.31,0431,048 1,113 1,156 1,189 1,218  
                    Labour Claire Aitken30.51,0141,048 1,090 1,132 1,161 1,329 1,724
                    Conservative David Grant14.7488498 503 524 652   
                    Reform UK Stuart Martin9.9330341 343 371    
                    Independent Sharron McKean5.5184199 216     
                    Scottish Green Tom McLaughlin4.5151161      
                    Liberal Democrats Sean McCay3.6119      
                    Electorate: 13,528  Valid: 3,329  Spoilt: 36  Quota: 1,665  Turnout: 24.9%  

                      Source: [10] [11]

                      Notes

                      1. ^
                        LOB: Sitting councillor for Lower Braes.
                      2. ^
                        UPB: Sitting councillor for Upper Braes.

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                      References

                      1. ↑ "Elections & voting - Local Government Elections 2022". Falkirk Council. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
                      2. 1 2 Webster, Laura (15 October 2021). "SNP secure Falkirk by-election win as Labour's support 'collapses'". The National. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
                      3. 1 2 Teale, Andrew. "Local Elections Results 2017 Falkirk". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
                      4. ↑ "Falkirk councillors charged over planning concerns". BBC News. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
                      5. ↑ Trimble, James (13 March 2022). "Falkirk councillor resigns from SNP". Falkirk Herald. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
                      6. ↑ "Bonnybridge and Larbert (Fk) By-Election 15/02/18". Ballot Box Scotland. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
                      7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Falkirk Council 2022 Election Results". Falkirk Council. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
                      8. ↑ Dobie, Fiona (16 September 2024). "Candidates confirmed for Falkirk South by-election". The Falkirk Herald. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
                      9. ↑ Buchanan, Jill (18 October 2024). "Labour victory in Falkirk South by-election". The Falkirk Herald. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
                      10. ↑ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 7 Falkirk South" (PDF). Falkirk Council. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
                      11. ↑ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 7 Falkirk South" (PDF). Falkirk Council. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
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