Aberdeen City Council election, 2017

Last updated
Aberdeen City Council election, 2017

City Flag of Aberdeen.svg


  2012 4 May 2017 (2017-05-04)2022 

All 45 seats to Aberdeen City Council
23 seats needed for a majority
Turnout 37.6%

 First partySecond partyThird party
 
LeaderStephen FlynnDouglas LumsdenJenny Laing
Party SNP Conservative Labour
Leader's seatKincorth/Nigg/CoveAiryhall/Broomhill/GarthdeeMidstocket/Rosemount
Last election15 seats, 31.3%3 seats, 9.7%17 seats, 29.7%
Seats won19119
Seat changeIncrease2.svg4Increase2.svg8Decrease2.svg8
Popular vote22,69017,42711,784
Percentage32.6%25.0%16.9%
SwingIncrease2.svg 1.3%Increase2.svg 15.4%Decrease2.svg 12.8%

 Fourth partyFifth party
 
LeaderIan YuillMarie Boulton
Party Liberal Democrats Independent
Leader's seatAiryhall/Broomhill/GarthdeeLower Deeside
Last election5 seats, 15.1%3 seats, 11.2%
Seats won42
Seat changeDecrease2.svg1Decrease2.svg1
Popular vote10,7535,195
Percentage15.4%7.9%
SwingIncrease2.svg 0.3%Decrease2.svg 3.3%

Aberdeen City Council election 2017.svg

The 13 multi-member wards

Council Leader before election

Jenny Laing
Labour

Council Leader after election

Jenny Laing
Labour (suspended)

The 2017 Aberdeen City Council election took place on 4 May 2017 to elect members of Aberdeen City Council. The election used the 13 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 a total of 45 Councillors elected, an increase in 2 members from 2012.

Aberdeen City Council Place

Aberdeen City Council represents the Aberdeen City council area of Scotland.

Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004

The Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 is an Act of the Scottish Parliament which provided, inter alia, for the election of councillors to the local authorities in Scotland by the single transferable vote system.

The single transferable vote (STV) is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through ranked voting in multi-seat organizations or constituencies. Under STV, an elector (voter) has a single vote that is initially allocated to their most preferred candidate. Votes are totalled and a quota derived. If their candidate achieves quota, he/she is elected and in some STV systems any surplus vote is transferred to other candidates in proportion to the voters' stated preferences. If more candidates than seats remain, the bottom candidate is eliminated with his/her votes being transferred to other candidates as determined by the voters' stated preferences. These elections and eliminations, and vote transfers if applicable, continue until there are only as many candidates as there are unfilled seats. The specific method of transferring votes varies in different systems.

Contents

On 11 May, the Scottish Liberal Democrats ruled out entering into a formal coalition and instead would "consider every issue before the council on its merits on a case-by-case basis." [1]

The Scottish Liberal Democrats is a liberal and social-liberal political party in Scotland.

On 17 May, an agreement was reached to form a coalition between the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, the Scottish Labour Party, and three Independent (politician) councillors. [2] The Tories had 11 seats, Labour contributed 9 and there were 3 independent members. This was after councillor Jennifer Stewart resigned from the Liberal Democrat group to sit as an Independent and give the coalition an overall majority.

The term "coalition" is the denotation for a group formed when two or more people, factions, states, political parties, militaries etc. agree to work together temporarily in a partnership to achieve a common goal. The word coalition connotes a coming together to achieve a goal.

The Scottish Labour Party is the devolved Scottish section of the UK Labour Party.

The coalition agreed by Aberdeen's Labour councillors was without the party executive's approval and so the councillors were told to withdraw from the deal by 5pm on 17 May or face suspension. The deadline passed without any change to the coalition and as such, all 9 Labour councillors were suspended from the party. [3]

In August, the co-leadership was ratified by a meeting of the full council, appointing Douglas Lumsden (Con) & Jenny Laing (Lab) as co-leaders.

Election results

Aberdeen City Local Election Result 2017
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  SNP 19--+442.2%32.6%22,690+1.3%
  Conservative 11--+824.4%25.0%17,427+15.4%
  Labour 9-8-817.8%16.9%11,784-12.8%
  Liberal Democrats 4---18.9%15.4%10,753+0.3%
  Independent 2---14.4%7.5%5,195-3.7%
  Scottish Green 0---02.3%1,538-0.2%
  UKIP 0---00.3%202+0.2%
  National Front 0---039
  Libertarian 0---031
  Solidarity 0---028

Ward results

Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone

Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone - 4 seats
PartyCandidate% 1st PrefCount 1Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6
Conservative Avril MacKenzie30.42,012     
SNP Neil MacGregor (incumbent)25.31,670     
SNP Gill Samarai (incumbent)11.9785798.71,087.31,115.51,176.81,317.9
Labour Barney Crockett (incumbent)‡11.3744806813.51,141.61,273.41,483.7
Independent Coral Duthie7.7509658.1669.8708.9942.9 
Labour Graeme Lawrence (incumbent)6.9458504.9514.3   
Liberal Democrats Dorothy Pearce6.5430614.5625.5666.2  
Electorate: TBC  Valid: 6,608  Spoilt: 145  Quota: 1,322  Turnout: 6,753 (44.2%)

    Bridge of Don

    Bridge of Don - 4 seats
    PartyCandidate% 1st PrefCount 1Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8Count 9
    Conservative Brett Hunt29.01,868        
    SNP Alison Alphonse25.01,610        
    Independent John Reynolds (incumbent)16.21,0451,132.21,137.61,140.11,179.61,327.21,598.9  
    SNP Sandy Stuart (incumbent)13.4862869.9996.71,000.41,009.71,056.041,130.71,157.81,373.4
    Labour Willie Young (incumbent)12.5805849.9854.09856.2856.2871.31,026.31,047.03 
    Liberal Democrats Karen Farquhar10.4669782.9791.2794.3803.5850.2   
    Independent George Saunders4.3279305.8308.5317.7338.9    
    Independent Simon McLean1.17083.384.0791.9     
    Solidarity James Irving-Lewis0.42832.735.2      
    Electorate: TBC  Valid: 7,236  Spoilt: 114  Quota: 1,448  Turnout: 7,350 (49.3%)

      Kingswells/Sheddocksley/Summerhill

      Kingswells/Sheddocksley/Summerhill - 3 seats
      PartyCandidate% 1st PrefCount 1Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7
      Liberal Democrats Steve Delaney *36.21,825      
      SNP David John Cameron *17.7895972.5974.8997.81,668.7  
      Conservative John Wheeler15.8797951.8979.91,000.81,0091,033.31,341.6
      Labour Barry Mitchell13.7690767.8779818.1848.7952.7 
      SNP Josh Mennie13.4678722.8731.3769.7   
      Scottish Green Pippa Robertson1.890149.6159.4    
      UKIP Philip Clarke1.46877.5     
      Electorate: TBC  Valid: 5,043  Spoilt: 85  Quota: 1,261  Turnout: 5,128 (45.5%)
        • = Sitting Councillors for Kingswells/Sheddocksley Ward.

        Northfield/Mastrick North

        Northfield/Mastrick North - 3 seats
        PartyCandidate% 1st PrefCount 1Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8
        SNP Jackie Dunbar *39.9%1,747       
        Labour Gordon Graham *15.8%692728.1740.5779.9885.5902.8911.071,551.3
        Labour Frank Gilfeather14.4%629655.8661.8693.2788.6798.8809.9 
        Conservative Alan Martin8.6%376379.7395.7430.6    
        SNP Ciaran McRae8.4%370742.6748.5764.7776.21,206.7  
        SNP Jessica Mennie7.6%333486.5494.01502.9516.2   
        Liberal Democrats Sam Forman3.5%154169.7188.02     
        Independent Faith Robertson-Foy1.8%8186.2      
        Electorate: TBC  Valid: 4,382  Spoilt: 180  Quota: 1,096  Turnout: 4,562 (37.2%)
          • = Sitting Councillors for Northfield Ward.

          Hilton/Woodside/Stockethill

          Hilton/Woodside/Stockethill - 3 seats
          PartyCandidate% 1st PrefCount 1Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8
          SNP Neil Copland *25.3%1,148       
          Conservative Freddie John19.6%889889.2914.2933.2991.21,019.21,039.71,235.2
          Labour Lesley Dunbar *18%818818.9843.9870.9913.91,252.9  
          SNP Lauren Wards16.1%729738.9761.09829.4884.5906.7925.03 
          Labour Lewis MacLeod8.1%369369.3379.3393.3445.3   
          Liberal Democrats Sam Petchey4.8%219219.2248.2308.3    
          Scottish Green Peter Kennedy4.1%186186.5223.5     
          Independent David Page Henderson3.9%179179.4      
          Electorate: TBC  Valid: 4,537  Spoilt: 137  Quota: 1,135  Turnout: 4,674 (40.5%)
            • = Sitting Councillors for Hilton/Stockethill ward.

            Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen

            Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen - 3 seats
            PartyCandidate% 1st PrefCount 1Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8Count 9
            Labour Ross Grant (incumbent)‡27%867        
            SNP Alexander McLellan25.6%825        
            SNP Jim Noble (incumbent)16.9%545549.6566.9569.9582.9595.2682.9774.5839.7
            Conservative Emma Farquhar10.6%342344.3344.5350.5372.5408.7432.1471.2 
            Labour Ramsay Milne (incumbent)7.6%245288.3288.8293.01296.4326.9379.9  
            Scottish Green Alex Arthur5.5%178180.5181.06182.06188.3231.3   
            Liberal Democrats Jenny Wilson4.1%133134.3134.5137.5142.6    
            UKIP Stephen Adams1.6%5353.954.0260.03     
            National Front Dave MacDonald0.9%2929.329.3      
            Electorate: TBC  Valid: 3,217  Spoilt: 133  Quota: 805  Turnout: 3,350 (36.4%)

              Midstocket/Rosemount

              Midstocket/Rosemount - 3 seats
              PartyCandidate% 1st PrefCount 1Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7
              Conservative Tom Mason 27.7%1,318      
              SNP Bill Cormie (incumbent)25.1%1,195      
              Labour Jenny Laing (incumbent)‡19.7%935960.05960.4971.051,040.21,154.21,283.3
              SNP Derek Davidson8.4%398399.2403.8403.8491.1524.9604.5
              Independent Dustin MacDonald6.5%311323.8323.9379.3419.7492.4 
              Scottish Green Alex Jarvis5.4%256260.5260.8268.4   
              Liberal Democrats William Sell5.2%245270.01272.1292.9332.05  
              Independent Bill Robb2%97117.4117.5    
              Electorate: TBC  Valid: 4,755  Spoilt: 80  Quota: 1,189  Turnout: 4,835 (44.3%)

                George Street/Harbour

                George Street/Harbour - 4 seats
                PartyCandidate% 1st PrefCount 1Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8Count 9
                SNP Dell Henrickson20.8%753        
                SNP Michael Hutchison (incumbent)17.4%632650.5653.5676.7866.6    
                Conservative Ryan Houghton16.2%588588.6601.7641.7646.7649.9664.1688.9836.4
                Labour Sandra MacDonald15%545545.9549.9578.9582.9596.8864.2  
                Scottish Green Guy Ingerson10%364365.04366.04425.1440.3489.7500.2534.8 
                Labour Mike Scott8.1%292292.1293.1315.1316.2320.1   
                SNP Wendy Stuart5.8%210215.4216.5222.5     
                Liberal Democrats John Waddell5.7%206206.3211.3      
                UKIP John Stephen0.9%3232.1       
                Electorate: TBC  Valid: 3,622  Spoilt: 103  Quota: 725  Turnout: 3,725 (30.5%)

                  Lower Deeside

                  Lower Deeside - 3 seats
                  PartyCandidate% 1st PrefCount 1Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8
                  Conservative Philip Bell39.82,714       
                  Independent Marie Boulton (incumbent)16.41,1191,449.41,452.51,5121,556.091,822.8  
                  Labour M. Tauqeer Malik (incumbent)‡15.31,0401,155.51,165.091,211.11,241.61,447.91,497.31,976.8
                  SNP Pamela McBain15.11,0281,042.91,049.41,068.81,145.91,224.41,235.1 
                  Liberal Democrats Ken McLeod7.9541743.6751.9770.7816.04   
                  Scottish Green Nir Oren2.9195209.5213.3223.8    
                  Independent Kenneth Pratt2.1143202.9205.7     
                  Libertarian Robbie Bowman0.53145.9      
                  Electorate: TBC  Valid: 6,811  Spoilt: 52  Quota: 1,703  Turnout: 6,863 (57.7%)

                    Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross

                    Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross – 4 seats
                    PartyCandidate% 1st PrefCount 1Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5
                    Liberal Democrats Jennifer Stewart (incumbent) ‡23.01,725    
                    Liberal Democrats Martin Greig (incumbent)21.21,592    
                    Conservative Claire Imrie17.71,3261,380.51,395.41,4482,614.1
                    Conservative Steve Robertson16.21,2141,251.41,273.81,345.4 
                    SNP John Cooke16.11,2101,239.91,251.81,371.91,396.4
                    Labour John McLeod5.9441470.2481.1  
                    Electorate: TBC  Valid: 7,508  Spoilt: 131  Quota: 1,502  Turnout: 7,639 (54.3%)

                      Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee

                      Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee- 3 seats
                      PartyCandidate% 1st PrefCount 1Count 2
                      Liberal Democrats Ian Yuill (incumbent)40.22,458 
                      Conservative Douglas Lumsden25.11,533 
                      SNP Gordon Townson (incumbent)23.21,4171,596.7
                      Labour Angela Taylor (incumbent)11.67081,076.8
                      Electorate: TBC  Valid: 6,116  Spoilt: 54  Quota: 1,530  Turnout: 6,170 (51.9%)

                        Torry/Ferryhill

                        Torry/Ferryhill - 4 seats
                        PartyCandidate% 1st PrefCount 1Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8Count 9
                        Conservative Alan Donnelly (incumbent)26.11,337        
                        SNP Christian Allard 17.8910913.6914.6920.7963.9988.41,013.41,037.71,159.3
                        SNP Catriona MacKenzie16.5847851.2851.2854.2915.4956.41,001.41,017.31,143.1
                        Labour Yvonne Allan (incumbent)‡16.5843873.7873.7881.4908.9989.71,324.2  
                        Independent David Fryer11.3580616.7619.8629.2681.2754.7799.0846.3 
                        Labour Piotr Teodorowski9.1467474.8474.8476.8499.09547.4   
                        Liberal Democrats Gregor McAbery5.6286332.7333.7340.01377.5    
                        Scottish Green Renée Slater5.3269274.7275.7282.8     
                        UKIP William McIntosh1.04965.7       
                        National Front Billy Watson0.21010.5       
                        Electorate: TBC  Valid: 5,598  Spoilt: 144  Quota: 1,120  Turnout: 5,742 (37.8%)

                          Kincorth/Nigg/Cove

                          Kincorth/Nigg/Cove- 4 seats
                          PartyCandidate% 1st PrefCount 1Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8
                          SNP Stephen Flynn *27.01,396       
                          Conservative Philip Sellar21.51,113       
                          SNP Alex Nicoll +13.77071,020.31,023.081,041.9    
                          Labour Sarah Duncan11.4590595.7601.9615.5615.9670.9960.071,198.6
                          Independent Andy Finlayson *10.9562571.5585.9719.5720.8812.07845.5 
                          Labour Lynn Thomson6.1318322.1329.5343.7344.08388.3  
                          Liberal Democrats Cameron Finnie5.2270273.09286.2305.3305.9   
                          Independent Finlay Crossan4.3220224.1232.9     
                          Electorate: TBC  Valid: 5,176  Spoilt: 120  Quota: 1,036  Turnout: 5,296 (40.9%)
                            • = Sitting Councillors for Kincorth/Loirston Ward.

                            + = Sitting Councillor for Midstocket/Rosemount Ward.

                            Changes between 2017 and 2022

                            ‡ Changes of affiliation

                            On 17 May 2017, Cllr Jennifer Stewart (Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross) resigned from the Liberal Democrat group and now sits as an Independent.

                            On the same day, all 9 Labour councillors were suspended from the party and now sit as "Aberdeen Labour". The issue is to be resolved after the Councils budget in February by the Labour Party's Scottish Executive Committee.

                            Related Research Articles

                            2012 Highland Council election

                            The 2012 Highland Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Highland Council. The election used the twenty-two 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 and 80 Councillors being elected.

                            2012 Angus Council election

                            Elections to Angus Council were held on 3 May 2012 the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election used the eight 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 29 Councillors being elected.

                            2012 Dundee City Council election

                            Elections to Dundee City Council were held on 3 May 2012 on the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election used the eight 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 29 Councillors elected.

                            2012 Aberdeenshire Council election

                            Elections to Aberdeenshire Council were held on 3 May 2012, on the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election used the 19 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 68 Councillors being elected.

                            2012 Aberdeen City Council election

                            The 2012 Aberdeen City Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Aberdeen City Council. The election used the 13 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 43 Councillors elected.

                            2012 City of Edinburgh Council election

                            Elections to the City of Edinburgh Council were held on 3 May 2012, the same day as the Scottish local elections, 2012. The election was the second using 17 new wards created as a results 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 system of election.

                            Elections to Perth and Kinross Council were held on 3 May 2012, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. 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 a form of proportional representation, with 41 Councillors being 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.

                            Elections to Inverclyde Council were held on 3 May 2012, the same day as the other 31 local authorities in Scotland. The election used the six wards created as a results 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 20 Councillors being elected in total.

                            2012 East Lothian Council election

                            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 a form of proportional representation, with 23 councillors elected.

                            2012 Dumfries and Galloway Council election

                            The 2012 Dumfries and Galloway Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Dumfries and Galloway Council. The election used the thirteen 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 47 councillors being elected.

                            2012 South Lanarkshire Council election

                            Elections to South Lanarkshire Council were held on 3 May 2012 on the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland. The election used the twenty wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 67 Councillors being elected. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system.

                            Elections to North Lanarkshire Council were held on 3 May 2012 on the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland. The election used the twenty wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 70 Councillors being elected. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system.

                            2012 East Renfrewshire Council election

                            The 2012 East Renfrewshire Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of East Renfrewshire 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 20 Councillors being elected.

                            Elections to East Dunbartonshire Council were held on 3 May 2012, the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland. The election used the eight wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 24 Councillors being elected. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system.

                            2017 City of Edinburgh Council election

                            The most recent elections to the City of Edinburgh Council were held on Thursday 4 May 2017, on the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland. It was the third successive Local Council election to run under the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system.

                            2017 Fife Council election

                            Elections to Fife Council were held on 4 May 2017, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election used the 22 wards created as a result of the Local Government Commission for Scotland's 5th review which was published in September 2016, with each ward electing three or four councillors using the single transferable vote system a form of proportional representation, with 75 councillors elected; a decrease of three seats from 2012 as one ward, The Lochs, was abolished.

                            2017 Perth and Kinross Council election

                            Elections to Perth and Kinross Council were held on 4 May 2017, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election covered 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 a form of proportional representation, with 40 Councillors being elected, a reduction of 1 member compared to 2012.

                            2017 Aberdeenshire Council election

                            The Aberdeenshire Council election of 2017 was held on 4 May 2017, on the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election will use the 19 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 70 councillors being elected, an increase of one member compared to 2012.

                            The 2017 Highland Council election was held on 4 May 2017 to elect members of 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.

                            References