2022 South Lanarkshire Council election

Last updated

2022 South Lanarkshire Council election
Coat of arms of South Lanarkshire.svg
  2017 5 May 2022 (2022-05-05)2027 

All 64 seats to South Lanarkshire Council
33 seats needed for a majority
Registered258,158
Turnout44.3%
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
SNP
Lab
Con
LeaderJohn RossJoe FaganAlex Allison
Party SNP Labour Conservative
Leader's seat Hamilton South East Kilbride Central North Clydesdale East
Last election27 seats, 35.7%22 seats, 29.0%14 seats, 23.9%
Seats before251711
Seats won27247
Seat changeSteady2.svgIncrease2.svg 2Decrease2.svg 7
Popular vote42,29536,30519,803
Percentage36.9%31.7%17.3%
SwingIncrease2.svg 1.2%Increase2.svg 2.7%Decrease2.svg 6.6%

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
  Robert Brown (Scottish Government) (cropped).jpg
Ind
Grn
Leader Robert Brown Margaret CooperKirsten Robb
Party Liberal Democrats Independent Scottish Green
Leader's seat Rutherglen South Avondale and Stonehouse East Kilbride East
Last election1 seat, 5.1%0 seats, 2.5%0 seats, 2.9%
Seats before380
Seats won321
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 2Increase2.svg 2Increase2.svg 1
Popular vote6,2215,5033,711
Percentage5.4%4.8%3.2%
SwingIncrease2.svg 0.3%Increase2.svg 2.3%Increase2.svg 0.3%

Leader before election

John Ross
(SNP)
No overall control

Leader after election

Joe Fagan
(Labour)
No overall control

Elections to South Lanarkshire 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.

Contents

For the second consecutive election, the Scottish National Party were returned with the most seats at 27 but remained shy of an overall majority. Labour made small gains to again finish second with an increased number of members with 24 – up two from 2017 – while the Conservatives lost half their number to return seven members. The Liberal Democrats and independents both made two gains to return three and two members respectively while the Greens won their first ever seat in South Lanarkshire.

On 18 May, Labour and the Lib Dems announced that they would run the council as a coalition, alongside one independent councillor, with support from the Conservatives.

Background

Previous election

At the previous election in 2017, the Scottish National Party (SNP) won the most seats for the first time. Labour had won every previous election in South Lanarkshire following the local government reforms in the 1990s. The SNP gained one seat to hold 27, six shy of an overall majority, and they formed a minority administration. Labour lost 10 seats which left them with 22 while the Conservatives gained 10 seats to record their best result in a South Lanarkshire election with 14 and the Liberal Democrats held their only seat. [1] [2]

2017 South Lanarkshire Council election result
PartySeatsVote share
SNP 2735.7%
Labour 2229.0%
Conservative 1423.9%
Liberal Democrats 15.1%

Source: [1] [2]

Electoral system

The election used the 20 wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 64 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system – a form of proportional representation – where candidates are ranked in order of preference. [3]

Composition

Several changes in the composition of the council occurred between the 2017 and 2022 elections. Most were changes to the political affiliation of councillors including SNP councillors Sheena Wardhaugh, Jim Wardhaugh and David Watson and Labour councillors Margaret Cooper, Joe Lowe and George Greenshields who resigned from their respective parties to become independents. [4] [5] Conservative councillor Mark McGeever and Labour councillor Fiona Dryburgh switched allegiances to the Liberal Democrats. [6] [7] Conservative councillor Colin McGavigan was initially suspended before resigning from the party and Labour councillor Jackie Burns was expelled from the party. [4] [8] Two by-elections resulted in a Labour hold and an SNP hold. [9] [10]

Composition of South Lanarkshire Council
Party2017 resultDissolution
SNP 2725
Labour 2217
Conservative 1411
Liberal Democrats 13
Independents08

Retiring councillors

Retiring councillors
WardPartyRetiring councillor
Avondale and Stonehouse Conservative Graeme Campbell
SNP Isobel Dorman
East Kilbride South Liberal Democrats Fiona Dryburgh
East Kilbride Central South SNP Collette Stevenson
Rutherglen Central and North ConservativeJared Wark
Hamilton North and East SNP Stephanie Callaghan
Hamilton South Independent Joe Lowe
SNPJosh Wilson
Larkhall SNPPeter Craig

Source: [2] [11]

Candidates

The total number of candidates fell from 152 in 2017 to 143. As was the case five years previous, the SNP fielded the highest number of candidates at 37 across the 20 wards. Both Labour and the Conservatives also fielded at least one candidate in every ward but the 30 candidates fielded by Labour was two less than in 2017 whereas the Conservatives maintained a total of 21 candidates. Unlike the previous election, the Liberal Democrats did not contest every ward after only 16 candidates were selected. The Greens had contested 19 of the 20 wards in 2017 but only contested 14 this time. [11] [12]

The number of independent candidates increased from nine in 2017 to 11. The UK Independence Party (UKIP) (four) only fielded half as many candidates. For the first time, the Scottish Family Party, the Scottish Libertarian Party and the Alba Party fielded candidates in a South Lanarkshire election. For only the second time since 1999, the Scottish Socialist Party did not field any candidates and for the first time since 2003 neither Solidarity nor the Scottish Unionist Party fielded any candidates either. [11] [12]

Controversies

Larkhall councillor Jackie Burns was criticised after announcing he would be standing for re-election. In June 2021, Cllr Burns was cleared of sexual assault but was called a "nuisance drunk" by a Sheriff before being banned from public transport for pestering a woman on a bus. In 2016, Cllr Burns was convicted of a similar offence involving a 17-year-old girl and was previously fined for public urination. [13] [14] [15] Prior to the 2017 election, Cllr Burns was expelled from the Labour party after he had been nominated as a candidate by the party following a conviction for breach of the peace. [4]

Scottish Family Party candidates in Lanarkshire were accused of "extremist right wing views" by advocacy group Hope not Hate for their policies on transgender rights and hate speech legislation. The party is considered anti-LGBT but claims to be pro-free speech. [16]

Results

2022 South Lanarkshire Council election result
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  SNP 2711Steady2.svg42.136.942,295Increase2.svg 1.2
  Labour 2420Increase2.svg 237.531.736,305Increase2.svg 2.7
  Conservative 707Decrease2.svg 710.917.319,803Decrease2.svg 6.6
  Liberal Democrats 320Increase2.svg 24.65.46,221Increase2.svg 0.3
  Independent 220Increase2.svg 23.14.85,503Increase2.svg 2.3
  Scottish Green 110Increase2.svg 11.53.23,711Increase2.svg 0.3
  Scottish Family 000Steady2.svg0.00.3300New
  Alba 000Steady2.svg0.00.2292New
  UKIP 000Steady2.svg0.00.0121Decrease2.svg 0.4
  Scottish Libertarian 000Steady2.svg0.00.067New
Total64 114,524

Source: [17]

Note: Votes are the sum of first preference votes across all council wards. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 4 May 2017. This is because STV has an element of proportionality which is not present unless multiple seats are being elected. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at the dissolution of Scotland's councils. [18] [19]

Ward summary

Results of the 2022 South Lanarkshire Council election by ward
Ward %Cllrs %Cllrs %Cllrs %Cllrs %Cllrs %CllrsTotal
Cllrs
SNP Lab Con Lib Dem Green Others
Clydesdale West 32.7138.2223.612.403.104
Clydesdale North 33.4133.8126.916.003
Clydesdale East 33.5116.4140.813.105.300.903
Clydesdale South 33.5125.9118.713.1018.803
Avondale and Stonehouse 28.4119.8120.606.4024.813
East Kilbride South 48.7223.018.7013.702.903.003
East Kilbride Central South 43.9238.619.102.703.901.903
East Kilbride Central North 43.8237.3112.203.303.403
East Kilbride West 30.9126.5120.002.1020.513
East Kilbride East 37.4127.0113.502.6012.716.803
Rutherglen South 31.9123.218.5029.414.602.403
Rutherglen Central and North 37.7235.0112.0010.205.103
Cambuslang West 39.0130.1112.9012.715.203
Cambuslang East 42.3239.419.602.904.001.803
Blantyre 42.1144.827.702.103.203
Bothwell and Uddingston 32.2130.3127.615.304.503
Hamilton North and East 40.8132.4119.015.202.603
Hamilton West and Earnock 41.4230.7112.9011.913.104
Hamilton South 41.4245.4213.104
Larkhall 28.9133.0224.512.4011.204
Total36.92731.72417.375.433.215.6264

Source: [17]

Seats changing hands

Below is a list of seats which elected a different party or parties from 2017 in order to highlight the change in political composition of the council from the previous election. The list does not include defeated incumbents who resigned or defected from their party and subsequently failed re-election while the party held the seat.

Seats changing hands
Seat20172022
PartyMemberPartyMember
Clydesdale East Conservative Eric Holford Labour Ralph Barker
Avondale and Stonehouse ConservativeGraeme Campbell Independent Margaret Cooper [Note 1]
East Kilbride West ConservativeIan HarrowIndependentDavid Watson [Note 2]
East Kilbride East SNP Jim Wardhaugh [Note 3] Green Kirsten Robb
Rutherglen Central and North ConservativeJared WarkSNPAndrea Cowan
Cambuslang West ConservativeAnn Le Blond Liberal Democrats Norman Rae
Hamilton West and Earnock ConservativeMark McGeeverLiberal DemocratsMark McGeever [Note 4]
Hamilton South ConservativeLynne NailonLabourCeline Handibode
Notes
  1. ^
    Note 1: In 2017, Cllr Cooper was elected as a Labour candidate but later resigned from the party. [4] Labour held their seat in Avondale and Stonehouse at the 2022 election.
  2. ^
    Note 2: In 2017, Cllr Watson was elected as an SNP candidate but later resigned from the party. [5] The SNP held their seat in East Kilbride West at the 2022 election.
  3. ^
    Note 3: In 2017, Jim Wardhaugh was elected as an SNP candidate but later resigned from the party. [4]
  4. ^
    Note 4: In 2017, Cllr McGeever was elected as a Conservative candidate but later defected to the Liberal Democrats. [6]

Ward results

Clydesdale West

Labour (2), the SNP (1) and the Conservatives (1) held the seats they won at the last election.

Clydesdale West - 4 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456
Labour Eileen Logan (incumbent)23.61,743     
Conservative Poppy Corbett (incumbent)23.61,742     
SNP David Shearer (incumbent)22.71,678     
Labour Lynsey Hamilton (incumbent)14.61,0821,264 1,355 1,361 1,398 1,528
SNP Andrew Wilson10.0737751 756 936 1,035 1,060
Scottish Green Neil Barton3.1230236 243 249   
Liberal Democrats Peter Charles Meehan2.4181200 258 260 310  
Electorate: 15,706  Valid: 7,393  Spoilt: 122  Quota: 1,479  Turnout: 47.8%  

    Source: [20] [21]

    Clydesdale North

    Labour, the SNP and the Conservatives held the seats they won at the previous election.

    Clydesdale North - 3 seats
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    1
    Labour Catherine McClymont (incumbent)33.81,920
    SNP Julia Marrs (incumbent)33.41,898
    Conservative Richard Eliott-Lockhart (incumbent)26.91,530
    Independent Ronald Logan4.9277
    Independent John Scott1.161
    Electorate: 11,889  Valid: 5,686  Spoilt: 68  Quota: 1,422  Turnout: 48.4%  

      Source: [22] [23]

      Clydesdale East

      The Conservatives held one of their two seats while the SNP held their only seat and Labour gained one seat from the Conservatives.

      Clydesdale East - 3 seats
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      12345678
      SNP Ian McAllan (incumbent)28.61,513       
      Conservative Alex Allison (incumbent)25.81,364       
      Labour Ralph Barker16.4869876 879 882 952 1,034 1,218 1,517
      Conservative Eric Holford (incumbent)15.0794797 832 850 881 903 929  
      Scottish Green Claire Watson5.3278288 288 293 325    
      SNP John McLatchie4.9260419 420 422 431 571   
      Liberal Democrats Nicholas Mark Tucker3.1162165 165 171     
      Scottish Family Gareth Kirk0.94949 49      
      Electorate: 10,578  Valid: 5,395  Spoilt: 106  Quota: 1,323  Turnout: 51.0%  

        Source: [24] [25]

        Clydesdale South

        The SNP, Labour and the Conservatives held the seats they won at the previous election. Independent candidates George Greenshields and Colin McGavigan were elected as Labour and Conservative candidates respectively in 2017 but later resigned from their respective parties.

        Clydesdale South - 3 seats
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        12345678
        SNP Mark Horsham (incumbent)33.51,762       
        Labour Ross Gowland21.71,1441,199 1,204 1,390    
        Conservative Ross Lambie18.7986993 1,006 1,019 1,031 1,094 1,119 1,447
        Independent George Greenshields (incumbent)12.1635682 688 701 719 867 987  
        Independent Colin McGavigan (incumbent)5.7298329 341 345 352    
        Labour Imogen Walker4.2219248 251      
        Scottish Green Ann McGuinness3.1164324 330 344 352 392   
        UKIP Janice MacKay1.05257       
        Electorate: 11,706  Valid: 5,260  Spoilt: 68  Quota: 1,316  Turnout: 45.5%  

          Source: [26] [27]

          Avondale and Stonehouse

          The SNP and Labour held the seats they won at the previous election while the Conservatives lost their only seat to an independent candidate. In 2017, Cllr Margaret Cooper was elected as a Labour candidate but later resigned from the party. [4] She was re-elected as an independent candidate.

          Avondale and Stonehouse - 3 seats
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          1234567
          Independent Margaret Cooper (incumbent)23.71,6291,639 1,740    
          SNP Elise Frame21.21,4541,471 1,632 1,635 2,122  
          Conservative Gary Burns20.61,4161,420 1,440 1,445 1,452 1,462  
          Labour Susan Kerr19.81,3631,367 1,439 1,444 1,480 1,619 2,290
          SNP Leigh Payne7.2495515 566 567    
          Scottish Green Erica Bradley-Young6.4437444      
          Alba Colin MacLaren1.175      
          Electorate: 14,882  Valid: 6,869  Spoilt: 93  Quota: 1,718  Turnout: 46.8%  

            Source: [28] [29]

            East Kilbride South

            The SNP (2) and Labour (1) held the seats they won in the previous election.

            East Kilbride South - 3 seats
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            123456789
            SNP Archie Buchanan (incumbent)36.91,948        
            Labour Mathew Buchanan23.01,2151,272 1,282 1,286 1,300 1,335   
            Liberal Democrats Paul McGarry13.7722738 748 750 757 782 787 1,042  
            SNP Geri Gray (incumbent)11.86211,103 1,106 1,130 1,136 1,220 1,222 1,235 1,453
            Conservative Patrick Nailon8.7458461 463 467 486 490 492   
            Scottish Green John McKechnie2.9154180 182 192 198     
            Scottish Family Jonathan Richardson1.36870 72 79      
            Alba Iain Leckenby1.15763 63       
            Scottish Libertarian Ross Gibson0.63134        
            Electorate: 12,589  Valid: 5,274  Spoilt: 111  Quota: 1,319  Turnout: 42.8%  

              Source: [30] [31]

              East Kilbride Central South

              The SNP (2) and Labour (1) held the seats they won at the previous election.

              East Kilbride Central South - 3 seats
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              123456789
              SNP John Anderson (incumbent)30.21,570        
              Labour Gerry Convery (incumbent)26.71,387        
              SNP Elaine McDougall13.7713911 915 918 950 955 1,091 1,101 1,284
              Labour Lisa Quarrell12.0623632 686 693 700 744 783 977  
              Conservative Alan Fraser9.1473474 480 486 488 516 526   
              Scottish Green Alan Cresswell3.9202228 231 234 246 280    
              Liberal Democrats Lorna Cammock2.7138143 147 151 157     
              Alba Rita Baillie1.36674 75 76      
              UKIP David Mackay0.63030 31       
              Electorate: 12,012  Valid: 5,202  Spoilt: 132  Quota: 1,301  Turnout: 44.4%  

                Source: [32] [33]

                East Kilbride Central North

                The SNP (2) and Labour (1) held the seats they won at the previous election.

                East Kilbride Central North - 3 seats
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                1234567
                SNP Grant Ferguson (incumbent)33.11,889      
                Labour Joe Fagan (incumbent)30.01,709      
                Conservative Alex Brown12.2694695 711 746 769 914  
                SNP Hugh MacDonald (incumbent)10.76121,027 1,044 1,068 1,140 1,254 1,386
                Labour Tam Mitchell7.4420427 632 692 749   
                Independent Kristofer Keane3.4194202 210 249    
                Liberal Democrats Tom Bryson3.3187196 209     
                Electorate: 12,861  Valid: 5,705  Spoilt: 154  Quota: 1,427  Turnout: 45.6%  

                  Source: [34] [35]

                  East Kilbride West

                  The SNP and Labour held the seats they won at the previous election while the Conservatives lost their only seat to an independent candidate. In 2017, Cllr David Watson was elected as an SNP candidate but later resigned from the party. [5] He was re-elected as an independent candidate.

                  East Kilbride West - 3 seats
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  12345678
                  Labour Monique McAdams (incumbent)26.51,780       
                  Conservative Ian Harrow (incumbent)20.01,3391,358 1,360 1,395 1,426 1,441 1,448  
                  Independent David Watson (incumbent)18.61,2481,269 1,270 1,309 1,365 1,458 1,555 2,220
                  SNP Craig Sloan15.51,0411,048 1,049 1,053 1,068    
                  SNP Ali Salamati15.41,0311,039 1,040 1,051 1,072 1,962  
                  Liberal Democrats Huaiquan Zhang2.1142158 158 166     
                  Scottish Family Denise Hay1.6110112 121      
                  UKIP Yvonne MacKay0.31818       
                  Electorate: 13,319  Valid: 6,709  Spoilt: 70  Quota: 1,678  Turnout: 50.9%  

                    Source: [36] [37]

                    East Kilbride East

                    The SNP held one of the two seats they won at the previous election while Labour held their only seat and the Greens gained one. Independent candidate Jim Wardhaugh was elected as an SNP candidate in 2017 but later resigned from the party. [4]

                    East Kilbride East - 3 seats
                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                    1234567
                    SNP Gladys Ferguson-Miller (incumbent)28.91,420      
                    Labour Graham Scott (incumbent)27.01,329      
                    Conservative Graeme Mullin13.5664665 680 720 803 825  
                    Scottish Green Kirsten Robb12.7626647 661 694 790 1,149 1,291
                    SNP Robert Gillies8.5420570 580 590 661   
                    Independent Jim Wardhaugh (incumbent)6.8336339 356 382    
                    Liberal Democrats Lorna Gall2.6126129 145     
                    Electorate: 10,887  Valid: 4,921  Spoilt: 86  Quota: 1,231  Turnout: 46.0%  

                      Source: [38] [39]

                      Rutherglen South

                      The SNP, the Liberal Democrats and Labour held the seats they won at the previous election.

                      Rutherglen South - 3 seats
                      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                      12
                      SNP Carol Nugent (incumbent)31.91,825 
                      Liberal Democrats Robert Brown (incumbent)29.41,686 
                      Labour Margaret Cowie (incumbent)23.21,3311,436
                      Conservative Alexandra Herdman8.5489495
                      Scottish Green Emma Smith4.6263436
                      Scottish Family Michael O'Hara1.37385
                      Independent Spencer Hugh Pryor1.16273
                      Electorate: 11,697  Valid: 5,729  Spoilt: 73  Quota: 1,433  Turnout: 49.6%  

                        Source: [40] [41]

                        Rutherglen Central and North

                        The SNP and Labour held the seats they won at the previous election and the SNP gained one seat from the Conservatives.

                        Rutherglen Central and North - 3 seats
                        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                        123456
                        Labour Martin Lennon (incumbent)24.51,2451,270    
                        SNP Janine Calikes (incumbent)23.41,1881,265 1,338   
                        SNP Andrea Cowan14.3725796 840 899 1,029 1,163
                        Conservative Libby Fox12.0609612 730 730 881  
                        Labour Jack McGinty10.5531567 716 717   
                        Liberal Democrats Gloria Adebo10.2517544     
                        Scottish Green Alex McRae5.1261     
                        Electorate: 11,692  Valid: 5,076  Spoilt: 151  Quota: 1,270  Turnout: 44.7%  

                          Source: [42] [43]

                          Cambuslang West

                          The SNP and Labour held the seats they won at the previous election and the Liberal Democrats gained one seat from the Conservatives.

                          Cambuslang West - 3 seats
                          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                          123456
                          Labour Margaret Walker (incumbent)30.11,727     
                          SNP John Bradley (incumbent)24.11,3821,404 1,491   
                          SNP Gillian Sutherland14.9856882 1,000 1,049 1,066  
                          Conservative Ann Le Blond (incumbent)12.9739786 798 798   
                          Liberal Democrats Norman Rae12.7730826 890 893 1,416 1,802
                          Scottish Green Tom Lauckner5.2301327     
                          Electorate: 12,800  Valid: 5,735  Spoilt: 102  Quota: 1,434  Turnout: 45.6%  

                            Source: [44] [45]

                            Cambuslang East

                            The SNP (2) and Labour (1) held the seats they won at the previous election.

                            Cambuslang East - 3 seats
                            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                            1234567
                            Labour Walter Brogan (incumbent)29.11,486      
                            SNP Alistair Fulton (incumbent)22.01,1231,129 1,147 1,162 1,219 1,230 1,381
                            SNP Katy Loudon (incumbent)20.31,0371,041 1,065 1,072 1,157 1,172 1,290
                            Labour Amy Lee Fraioli10.3524688 697 760 808 1,046  
                            Conservative Jamie Logan9.6489497 499 522 539   
                            Scottish Green Marie Gallagher4.0204207 226 249    
                            Liberal Democrats Robert Bell2.9147153 162     
                            Alba Muhammad Khuzaima1.89494      
                            Electorate: 13,227  Valid: 5,104  Spoilt: 83  Quota: 1,277  Turnout: 39.2%  

                              Source: [46] [47]

                              Blantyre

                              Labour (2) and the SNP (1) held the seats they won at the previous election.

                              Blantyre - 3 seats
                              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                              123456
                              SNP Maureen Chalmers (incumbent)31.71,652     
                              Labour Mo Razzaq (incumbent)29.21,519     
                              Labour Bert Thomson (incumbent)15.7815826 997 1,031 1,066 1,307
                              SNP Gerry Chambers10.4542855 864 872 972 982
                              Conservative Calum Nimmo7.7399399 408 427 439  
                              Scottish Green David McClemont3.2169179 183 205   
                              Liberal Democrats Stephen Reid2.1110111 117    
                              Electorate: 12,850  Valid: 5,206  Spoilt: 165  Quota: 1,302  Turnout: 41.8%  

                                Source: [48] [49]

                                Bothwell and Uddingston

                                The SNP, Labour and the Conservatives held the seats they won at the previous election.

                                Bothwell and Uddingston - 3 seats
                                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                123456
                                Labour Maureen Devlin (incumbent)30.31,633     
                                Conservative Kenny McCreary (incumbent)27.61,485     
                                SNP Cal Dempsey17.2924947 949 1,008 1,099 1,913
                                SNP Jim McGuigan (incumbent)15.1811844 848 941 994  
                                Liberal Democrats Troy Davidson5.3285397 469 539   
                                Scottish Green John Stubbs4.5243275 280    
                                Electorate: 10,818  Valid: 5,381  Spoilt: 74  Quota: 1,346  Turnout: 50.4%  

                                  Source: [50] [51]

                                  Hamilton North and East

                                  The SNP, Labour and the Conservatives held the seats they won at the previous election.

                                  Hamilton North and East - 3 seats
                                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                  123456
                                  Labour Davie McLachlan (incumbent)32.41,539     
                                  SNP Colin Dewar30.31,442     
                                  Conservative Martin Hose (incumbent)19.0902965 968 989 1,109 1,304
                                  SNP Phil Sykes10.5501552 772 805 876  
                                  Liberal Democrats Andrew Reynolds5.2249348 355 396   
                                  Independent Balarabe Baba2.6124150 154    
                                  Electorate: 12,036  Valid: 4,757  Spoilt: 109  Quota: 1,190  Turnout: 40.4%  

                                    Source: [52] [53]

                                    Hamilton West and Earnock

                                    The SNP (2) and Labour (1) held the seats they had won at the previous election while the Liberal Democrats gained one seat from the Conservatives. In 2017, Cllr Mark McGeever was elected as a Conservative candidate but he subsequently defected to the Liberal Democrats. [6] He was re-elected as a Liberal Democrat candidate.

                                    Hamilton West and Earnock - 4 seats
                                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                    1234567
                                    SNP Mary Donnelly (incumbent)29.71,731      
                                    Labour Allan Falconer (incumbent)24.11,404      
                                    Conservative Graham William Fisher12.9753761 779 783 785 862  
                                    Liberal Democrats Mark McGeever (incumbent)11.9691706 715 759 778 989 1,440
                                    SNP Graeme Horne (incumbent)11.76801,140 1,150 1,263   
                                    Labour Jim Lee6.6385391 561 583 606   
                                    Scottish Green Leonard Gingell3.1179221 227     
                                    Electorate: 15,083  Valid: 5,823  Spoilt: 135  Quota: 1,165  Turnout: 39.5%  

                                      Source: [54] [55]

                                      Hamilton South

                                      The SNP held both their seats while Labour held one and gained one from the Conservatives.

                                      Hamilton South - 4 seats
                                      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                      12
                                      SNP John Ross (incumbent)26.31,921 
                                      Labour Gavin Wylie Keatt23.11,688 
                                      Labour Celine Handibode22.31,632 
                                      SNP Helen Toner15.11,1051,525
                                      Conservative Lynne Nailon (incumbent)13.1960967
                                      Electorate: 16,516  Valid: 7,306  Spoilt: 193  Quota: 1,462  Turnout: 45.4%  

                                        Source: [56] [57]

                                        Larkhall

                                        Labour (2), the SNP (1) and the Conservatives (1) held the seats they won at the previous election. Independent candidate Jackie Burns was elected as a Labour candidate in 2017 but was later expelled from the party.

                                        Larkhall - 4 seats
                                        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                        123456789
                                        Labour Andy Carmichael (incumbent)25.51,580        
                                        Conservative Richard Nelson (incumbent)24.51,518        
                                        SNP Ross Clark22.41,389        
                                        Independent Jackie Burns (incumbent)10.3639679 725 732 742 753 796 886  
                                        Labour Lesley McDonald7.5463678 745 752 759 769 831 975 1,379
                                        SNP George Sutherland6.4399408 410 532 532 533 549   
                                        Liberal Democrats Jake Stevenson2.4148157 199 202 211 223    
                                        Scottish Libertarian David Laird0.63641 44 45      
                                        UKIP Donald Murdo Mackay0.32125 56 56 63     
                                        Electorate: 15,010  Valid: 6,193  Spoilt: 140  Quota: 1,239  Turnout: 42.2%  

                                          Source: [58] [59]

                                          Aftermath

                                          Despite having again been returned as the largest party, the outgoing SNP administration was replaced by a coalition of Labour, Liberal Democrat and independent councillors, with Conservative support. Labour group leader Joe Fagan and depute group leader Gerry Convery were elected as leader of the council and depute leader of the council respectively. SNP group leader John Ross, who was leader of the council from 2017 until the 2022 election, said the council had been "hijacked by a unionist pact". Outgoing Provost Ian McAllan was replaced by independent councillor Margaret Cooper and Cllr Bert Thomson was elected Depute Provost to fill the vacancy created when former Depute Provost Collette Stevenson stood down following her election as MSP for East Kilbride. [60] [61] [62]

                                          The Labour group were accused of "teaming up with the Tories" by Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey, whilst Clydesdale MSP Màiri McAllan said the coalition was a "sad day for democracy". [63] The Conservative group admitted they had voted in a unionist manner but denied there was any formal agreement between them and the other unionist parties. [64]

                                          In June 2023, council leader Joe Fagan was suspended for two months for a breach of the councillors' code of conduct after he disclosed confidential information about the potential closure of leisure facilities in 2021 to the local press. He was replaced as council leader on an interim basis by Cllr Convery. [65]

                                          Following the defection of East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow MP Lisa Cameron from the SNP to the Conservatives in October 2023, her husband – Cllr Mark Horsham – stood back from his role as business manager within the SNP group [66] before resigning from the party to sit as an independent 10 days later. He did not join the 'Independent Group' with the other Independent councillors. [67]

                                          East Kilbride West by-election

                                          In May 2023, East Kilbride West councillor Ali Salamati resigned his seat for work reasons triggering a by-election [68] which Labour won. [69]

                                          East Kilbride West by-election (6 July 2023) - 1 seat
                                          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                          123456
                                          Labour Kirsty Williams40.51,3861,392 1,434 1,469 1,500 1,845
                                          Conservative Bill Dorrian26.4904914 919 933 937 965
                                          SNP Robert Gillies22.7778778 785 806 899  
                                          Scottish Green Cameron Eadie3.8131131 139 155   
                                          Independent Kristofer Keane2.999112 123    
                                          Liberal Democrats Jake Stevenson2.48385     
                                          Scottish Family Jonathan Jack Richardson1.242     
                                          Electorate: 13,412  Valid: 3,450  Spoilt: 27  Quota: 1,712  Turnout: 25.7%  

                                            Source: [70] [71]

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