2022 West Lothian Council election

Last updated
2022 West Lothian Council election
Coat of arms of West Lothian Council.svg
  2017 5 May 2022 (2022-05-05)2027 

All 33 seats to West Lothian Council
17 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
LeaderJanet CampbellLawrence FitzpatrickDamian Timson
Party SNP Labour Conservative
Leader's seat Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh Livingston South East Calder and East Livingston
Last election13 seats, 37.3%12 seats, 29.0%7 seats, 23.2%
Seats before14108
Seats won15124
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 2Steady2.svgDecrease2.svg 3
Popular vote22,42416,9219,427
Percentage37.9%28.6%15.9%
SwingIncrease2.svg 0.6%Decrease2.svg 0.5%Decrease2.svg 7.3%

 Fourth partyFifth party
 
Party Independent Liberal Democrats
Last election1 seat, 4.9% 0 seats, 2.6%
Seats before10
Seats won11
Seat changeSteady2.svgIncrease2.svg 1
Popular vote3,7752,831
Percentage6.4%4.8%
SwingIncrease2.svg 1.4%Increase2.svg 2.2%

2022 West Lothian Council election.svg
2022 West Lothian Council election, SNP vote share.svg
2022 West Lothian Council election, Labour vote share.svg
2022 West Lothian Council election, Conservative vote share.svg

Scotland West Lothian Council 2022.svg

Council Leader before election

Lawrence Fitzpatrick
Labour

Council Leader after election

Lawrence Fitzpatrick
Labour

The 2022 West Lothian Council election was held on 5 May 2022, on the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland. The election used the nine wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 33 Councillors elected. Each ward elects either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system - a form of proportional representation.

Contents

Following the election, it was announced Labour would run the council as a minority administration with loose coalition support from the four Conservative councillors, the Independent Stuart Borrowman and Liberal Democrat, Sally Pattle. [1]

Background

Previous election

At the previous election in 2017, the Scottish National Party (SNP) won the most seats, forming the largest block, but were 4 seats short of a majority. Close behind the SNP were Labour, who won the next largest amount of seats, winning 12. The Conservatives won 7 seats, gaining 6 seats and increasing their vote share by 14.3%. The sole independent, Stuart Borrowman also held his seat. Following the result, the Labour and Conservative groups worked together in the chamber to hold a majority, [2] although both parties denied this claim. [3] This agreement led to Cllr Lawrence Fitzpatrick being appointed Council Leader and Conservative Cllr Tom Kerr was appointed Provost of West Lothian. However, in November 2021, SNP Councillors tabled a motion of no-confidence against Cllr Fitzpatrick's administration. The motion failed following support from the Conservatives. [4]

2017 West Lothian Council election result
PartySeatsVote share
SNP 1337.3%
Labour 1229.0%
Conservative 723.2%
Independent 15.0%

Source: [5]

Electoral system

The election used the 9 wards created following the fifth statutory review of electoral arrangements conducted by Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland in 2016, with 33 councillors elected. Each ward elected either three or four councillors, using the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system – a form of proportional representation – where candidates are ranked in order of preference.

Composition

There were two by-elections in 2021 which saw each main party field candidates. The Livingston South by-election held in March 2021 following the retirement of SNP Cllr Peter Johnston resulted in the SNP retaining the seat. [6] Meanwhile in the October 2021 East Livingston and East Calder by-election which was called following the death of Labour Cllr Dave King resulted in a gain for the SNP. [7] In the weeks following the by-election Labour Cllr Angela Doran-Timson joined the Conservatives. [8] [9]

Composition of West Lothian Council
Party2017 electionDissolution
SNP 1314
Labour 1210
Conservatives 78
Independent 11

Retiring Councillors

Retiring councillors
Council WardPartyRetiring Councillor
Linlithgow Conservative Tom Kerr
SNP David Tait
Livingston North Labour Dom McGuire
Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley LabourDavid Dodds
Bathgate LabourJohn McGinty
Armadale and Blackridge SNPSarah King

SNP Councillor Frank Anderson was deselected by his party. He announced that he would stand as an Independent candidate in East Livingston and East Calder. [10]

Candidates

The total number of candidates increased from 67 in 2017 to 73. Like in 2017, the SNP stood the most candidates at 17, a decrease of 6, while Labour stood 16. The Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, and Greens stood 9 candidates each. Unlike in 2017, the Scottish Family Party, Alba and the Independence for Scotland Party stood candidates, standing 5, 3 and 1 respectively. There were 4 independent candidates, an increase of 2.

Results

2022 West Lothian Council election result
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  SNP 1520Increase2.svg 245.537.922,424Increase2.svg 0.6
  Labour 1200Steady2.svg36.428.616,921Decrease2.svg 0.5
  Conservative 403Decrease2.svg 312.115.99,427Decrease2.svg 7.3
  Independent 100Steady2.svg3.06.43,775Increase2.svg 1.4
  Liberal Democrats 110Increase2.svg 13.04.82,831Increase2.svg 2.2
  Scottish Green 000Steady2.svg0.05.33,119Increase2.svg 2.6
  Scottish Family 000Steady2.svg0.00.8457New
  Alba 000Steady2.svg0.00.4232New
  ISP 000Steady2.svg0.00.143New
Total33 59,229

Source: [11]

Ward summary

Results of the 2022 West Lothian Council election
by ward
Ward%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
Total
Cllrs
SNP Lab Green Conservative Lib Dem Others
Linlithgow 26.3119.5113.2019.8020.310.303
Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh 41.9229.614.4017.713.702.704
Livingston North 48.6223.814.5020.713.902.004
Livingston South 39.0232.414.3011.712.2010.404
East Livingston and East Calder 41.8221.116.6018.313.308.904
Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley 38.3140.223.7014.202.3301.403
Whitburn and Blackburn 38.6237.423.1018.502.404
Bathgate 40.4238.723.8014.102.000.904
Armadale and Blackridge 22.1114.112.6010.601.0049.713
Total37.91528.6125.3015.944.817.6133

Source: [11]

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
Linlithgow Conservative Tom Kerr Liberal Democrats Sally Pattle
Whitburn and Blackburn ConservativeBruce Fairbairn SNP Mary Robertson Dickson
Bathgate ConservativeCharles KennedySNPPauline Stafford

Source: [5] [11]

Ward results

Linlithgow

Linlithgow - 3 seats [12] [13]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345
SNP Pauline Orr26.26%1,869    
Liberal Democrats Sally Pattle20.33%1,4471,457 1,466 1,901 
Conservative Chris Horne19.83%1,4111,413 1,445 1,484  1,508
Labour Tom Conn (incumbent)19.54%1,3911,406 1,413 1,733 1,788
Scottish Green Pamela Barnes13.22%941988 992   
Scottish Family Rik Smith0.81%5859    
Electorate: 12,435  Valid: 7,117  Spoilt: 53  Quota: 1,780  Turnout: 57.7% [14]  

    Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh

    Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh - 4 seats [12] [15]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    123456789
    SNP Diane Calder (incumbent)29.04%1,990        
    Labour Ann Davidson19.04%1,3051,321 1,329 1,336 1,345 1,430   
    Conservative Angela Doran-Timson (incumbent [LAB] )17.73%1,2151,220 1,222 1,239 1,252 1,299 1,305 1,328 1,611
    SNP Janet Campbell (incumbent)12.84%8801,419       
    Labour Hazel McLeod10.56%724732 735 745 752 773 819 981  
    Scottish Green Cam Wright4.35%298317 332 345 383 447 449   
    Liberal Democrats Charles Corser3.72%255261 264 275 287     
    Alba Phil Noble1.39%95100 103 115      
    Scottish Family Kenneth Sutherland1.33%9192 93       
    Electorate: 16,643  Valid: 6,853  Spoilt: 167  Quota: 1,371  Turnout: 42.2% [16]  

      Livingston North

      Livingston North - 4 seats [12] [17]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      1234567
      SNP Robert De Bold (incumbent)29.51%2,133      
      SNP Andrew Miller (incumbent)19.09%1,3801,945     
      Labour Anne McMillan18.63%1,3471,380 1,447    
      Conservative Alison Adamson (incumbent)17.37%1,2561,265 1,275 1,275 1,315 1,391 1,495
      Labour Michael Rae5.12%370375 399 399 429 538  
      Scottish Green Mark Wilkinson4.48%324351 550 550 572 636 749
      Liberal Democrats Catrina McDonald3.85%278288 309 310 329   
      Scottish Family Robert Bell1.95%141146 158 158    
      Electorate: 18,312  Valid: 7,229  Spoilt: 166  Quota: 1,446  Turnout: 40.4% [18]  

        Livingston South

        Livingston South - 4 seats [12] [19]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        12345678910
        SNP Maria Macaulay29.76%2,252         
        Labour Lawrence Fitzpatrick (incumbent)26.80%2,028         
        Conservative Peter Heggie (incumbent)11.68%884888 946 954 984 1,013 1,032 1,034 1,134 1,385
        SNP Moira Shemilt (incumbent)9.23%6981,344 1,374 1,385 1,403 1,459 1,631   
        Labour Craig Smith5.58%422430 736 745 786 841 911 931 1,106  
        Independent Eddie Anderson5.08%384393 422 434 453 601 657 680   
        Scottish Green Cameron Glasgow4.34%328360 381 386 424 443     
        Independent Eddie Millar4.27%323333 347 362 373      
        Liberal Democrats Caron Lindsay2.21%167171 189 195       
        Scottish Family Margaret Hamilton1.06%8082 87        
        Electorate: 19,101  Valid: 7,566  Spoilt: 118  Quota: 1,514  Turnout: 40.2% [20]  

          East Livingston and East Calder

          East Livingston and East Calder - 4 seats [12] [21]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          12345678
          SNP Carl John (incumbent)26.43%1,741       
          Conservative Damian Doran-Timson (incumbent)18.29%1,2051,213 1,239 1,279 1,288 1,310 1,317 1,377
          Labour Danny Logue16.38%1,0791,095 1,106 1,164 1,437   
          SNP Veronica Smith9.44%622907 915 927 936 946 1,287 1,499
          Independent Frank Anderson (incumbent [SNP] )7.55%497508 519 539 542 551 583  
          Scottish Green Neal Drummond6.62%436474 478 534 542 560 585 686
          SNP Thomas Ullathorne5.92%390426 426 427 433 435   
          Labour Andy Rafferty4.74%312318 319 330     
          Liberal Democrats Robert Howden3.31%218224 230      
          Scottish Family Ruth Hutchison1.32%8788       
          Electorate: 17,970  Valid: 6,587  Spoilt: 121  Quota: 1,318  Turnout: 37.3% [22]  

            Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley

            Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley - 3 seats [12] [23]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            1234567
            SNP Pauline Clark (incumbent)25.47%1,292      
            Labour Cathy Muldoon (incumbent)21.94%1,1131,114 1,123 1,158 1,202 1,363 
            Labour Craig Meek18.22%924925 930 948 975 1,219 1,295
            Conservative Elaine Fairbairn14.16%718718 720 740 754   
            SNP Greg McCarra12.85%652671 693 700 778 801 804
            Scottish Green Neil Barnes3.65%185186 197 216    
            Liberal Democrats Gillian Pattle2.33%118118 127     
            Alba Hani Mohamed1.38%7070      
            Electorate: 12,714  Valid: 5,072  Spoilt: 148  Quota: 1,269  Turnout: 41.1% [24]  

              Whitburn and Blackburn

              Whitburn and Blackburn - 4 seats [12] [25]
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              123456
              SNP Jim Dickson (incumbent)28.26%1,734     
              Labour George Paul (incumbent)20.16%1,237     
              Conservative Bruce Fairbairn (incumbent)18.50%1,1351,139 1,139 1,175 1,187  
              Labour Kirsteen Sullivan 17.21%1,0561,069 1,076 1,122 1,189 1,747
              SNP Mary Robertson Dickson10.37%6361,085 1,085 1,095 1,196 1,230
              Liberal Democrats Derek Pattle2.41%148152 152    
              Scottish Green Carole Racionzer3.10%190203 204 231   
              Electorate: 16,945  Valid: 6,136  Spoilt: 204  Quota: 1,228  Turnout: 37.4% [26]  

                Bathgate

                Bathgate - 4 seats [12] [27]
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                12345678
                Labour Harry Cartmill (incumbent)33.67%2,496       
                SNP William Boyle (incumbent)24.36%1,806       
                SNP Pauline Stafford16.05%1,1901,265 1,507     
                Conservative Charles Kennedy (incumbent)14.14%1,0481,162 1,167 1,168 1,174 1,208 1,236  
                Labour Tony Pearson5.06%3751,015 1,023 1,027 1,034 1,094 1,246 1,774
                Scottish Green Siobhan Flannigan3.79%281323 351 360 392 425   
                Liberal Democrats John Mackenzie2.02%150186 191 192 195    
                Alba Gordon Dent0.90%6774 83 85     
                Electorate: 18,082  Valid: 7,413  Spoilt: 138  Quota: 1,483  Turnout: 41.8% [28]  

                  Armadale and Blackridge

                  Armadale and Blackridge - 3 seats [12] [29]
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  123456
                  Independent Stuart Borrowman (incumbent)48.92%2,571     
                  SNP Lynda Kenna22.05%1,1591,407    
                  Labour Andrew McGuire (incumbent)14.12%7421,110 1,130 1,148 1,196 1,319
                  Conservative Chris Terry10.56%555789 790 794 820 834
                  Scottish Green Sophie Brodie2.59%136232 264 291 308  
                  Liberal Democrats Helen Mackenzie0.95%50107 110 121   
                  ISP John Hannah0.82%4378 91    
                  Electorate: 13,162  Valid: 5,256  Spoilt: 58  Quota: 1,315  Turnout: 40.4% [30]  

                    Aftermath

                    Although the SNP won the most seats, Labour were chosen to run the council after doing a deal with the Conservatives. The council resembles the set up after the previous election, with Labour running a minority administration with loose coalition support from the four Conservative councillors, the Independent Stuart Borrowman and Liberal Democrat, Sally Pattle. [1]

                    In response to the announcement, former Labour councillor and MSP Neil Findlay, who represented Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley from 2003 to 2012, called his own party "shameful [for] voting Tories into office", saying the Conservatives were "the enemy of my class". [31]

                    Armadale and Blackridge by-election

                    In May 2024, independent councillor Stuart Borrowman died. [32] A by-election was held on 22 August 2024 to elect his replacement, and was won by Labour candidate Susan Manion. [33] [34]

                    Armadale and Blackridge by-election (22 August 2024) - 1 seat
                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                    1234567
                    Labour Susan Manion28.9795814 853 890 955 1,103 1,427
                    SNP Keith Alan Barclay28.3777805 820 903 917 967  
                    Reform UK David McLennan18.9519519 534 559 637   
                    ISP John Hannah8.6236240 245     
                    Conservative Douglas Smith8.2226227 248 272    
                    Liberal Democrats Douglas Thomas Butler4.4122131      
                    Scottish Green Adam William Rafferty2.773      
                    Electorate: 13,371  Valid: 2,748  Spoilt: 22  Quota: 1,375  Turnout: 20.7%  

                      Source: [35] [36]

                      Whitburn and Blackburn by-election

                      In September 2024, Labour councillor Kirsteen Sullivan resigned after being elected as the Member of Parliament for the Bathgate and Linlithgow constituency at the 2024 general Election. [37] A by-election has been scheduled for 14 November 2024. [38]

                      Whitburn and Blackburn by-election (14 November 2024) - 1 seat
                      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                      1234567
                      SNP Aileen Brown1,0221,063 1,078 1,091 1,173 1,238
                      Liberal Democrats Douglas Thomas Butler97111
                      Scottish Green Cameron Glasgow92
                      Conservative Charles Kennedy239239 259
                      Independent Thomas Robert Lynch421429 452 498
                      Reform UK David McLennan578579 586 653 739
                      Labour David Blackie Russell1,0931,108 1,126 1,164 1,283 1,424 1,778
                      Electorate: 17,247  Valid: 3,542  Spoilt: 35  Quota: 1,772  Turnout: 20.7  

                        Notes

                        1. ^
                          BRO: Sitting councillor for Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh.
                        2. ^
                          LAB: On 26 October 2021 Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh Labour Cllr Angela Doran-Timson left the Labour Party and joined the Conservatives. [8] [9]
                        3. ^
                          SNP: Deselected by the Scottish National Party [10]

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                        16. "Declaration of Results (Ward 2 Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                        17. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 3 Livingston North)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                        18. "Declaration of Results (Ward 3 Livingston North)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                        19. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 4 Livingston South)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                        20. "Declaration of Results (Ward 4 Livingston South)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                        21. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 5 East Livingston and East Calder)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                        22. "Declaration of Results (Ward 5 East Livingston and East Calder)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                        23. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 6 Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                        24. "Declaration of Results (Ward 6 Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                        25. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 7 Whitburn and Blackburn)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                        26. "Declaration of Results (Ward 7 Whitburn and Blackburn)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                        27. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 8 Bathgate)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                        28. "Declaration of Results (Ward 8 Bathgate)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                        29. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 9 Armadale and Blackridge)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                        30. "Declaration of Results (Ward 9 Armadale and Blackridge)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                        31. Garton-Crosbie, Abbi (27 May 2022). "Key Scottish Labour figures blast 'shameful' Tory council deals" . The National. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
                        32. Sommerville, Stuart (24 May 2024). "Tributes paid after death of long serving West Lothian councillor". Edinburgh Live. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
                        33. Sommerville, Stuart (23 August 2024). "Labour wins West Lothian by-election sparked by death of councillor". Edinburgh Live. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
                        34. "Labour's Susan Manion wins Armdale and Blackridge by-election narrowly beating the SNP". The Edinburgh Reporter. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
                        35. "Declaration of Results - Ward 9 - Armadale and Blackridge" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
                        36. "Preference Summary Report - Ward 9 - Armadale and Blackridge" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
                        37. "By-Election is to be held in the Whitburn and Blackburn Ward". West Lothian Council. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
                        38. Sommerville, Stuart (2 October 2024). "Date set for council by-election in Whitburn and Blackburn ward". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved 2 October 2024.