Aird and Loch Ness (ward)

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Aird and Loch Ness-.png
Location of the ward [1]

Aird and Loch Ness is one of the 21 wards used to elect members of the Highland Council. It includes Loch Ness, the town of Beauly, and the village of Fort Augustus. It elects four Councillors.

Contents

Councillors

ElectionCouncillors
2007 Margaret Davidson
(Ind.)		Helen Carmichael
(Ind.)		 Drew Hendry
(SNP)		Hamish Wood
(Liberal Democrats)
2012
Oct 2015Jean Davis
(Liberal Democrats)
2017 Emma Knox
(SNP)		George Cruickshank
(Conservative)
Mar 2021David Fraser
(Ind.)
2022 Helen Crawford
(Conservative)		 Chris Ballance
(Green)

Election Results

2022 election

Aird and Loch Ness - 4 seats [2]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
SNP Emma Knox (incumbent)26.24%1,364
Independent David Fraser (incumbent)22.74%1,182
Conservative Helen Crawford21.14%1,099
Green Chris Ballance 10.16%528706.1 727.9 730.0 783.0 924.5 1,165.0
Independent Aarron Duncan-MacLeod8.27%430471.8 535.1 556.1 596.2 774.1
Liberal Democrats Holly Kingham6.58%342369.3 385.5 398.3 523.1
Labour Michael Perera4.87%253276.5 286.8 291.9
Electorate: 10,213  Valid: 5,198  Spoilt: 57  Quota: 1,040  Turnout: 51.5%

    2021 by-election

    A by-election was originally scheduled to take place on 5 November 2020 to elect one councillor after the death of George Cruickshank. However, it was postponed to 11 March 2021. [3]

    Aird and Loch Ness By-election (11 March 2021) - 1 seat [4]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    123456
    Independent David Fraser28.3%9971010 1076 1194 1663 2109
    SNP Gordon Shanks28.2%9941010 1129 1198 1211  
    Conservative Gavin Berkenheger23.4%824835 847 929   
    Liberal Democrats Martin Robertson8.5%300335 397    
    Green Ryan MacKintosh7.7%272297     
    Labour Bill Moore3.8%133     
    Electorate: 10,147  Valid: 3,520  Spoilt: 44  Quota: 1,761  Turnout: 3,564 (35.1%)

      2017 Election

      Aird and Loch Ness - 4 seats [5]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      123456
      Independent Margaret Davidson (incumbent)27.8%1,405     
      Conservative George Cruickshank19.7%9981,045.3    
      SNP Emma Knox14.2%719734.1 734.3 842.07 1,270.6 
      Independent Helen Carmichael (incumbent)12.4%625837.02 848.6 947.6 960.7 1,049.4
      Liberal Democrats Dr. Jean Davis (incumbent)10.2%515558.6 568.1 654.5 671.2 714.9
      SNP Matt Friess8.08%409424.9 425.3 491.8   
      Green Chris Ballance 7.7%388411.8 413.5    
      Electorate: between 9,735 and 9,752  Valid: 5,059  Spoilt: 66  Quota: 1,012  Turnout: 5,125 (52.6%)

        2015 by-election

        A by-election was triggered by the resignation of Drew Hendry in July 2015, following his election as an MP. [6]

        Aird and Loch Ness By-election (8 October 2015) - 1 Seat [7]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        1234
        Liberal Democrats Jean Mary Elizabeth Davis33.5%1,0291,099 1,208 1,511
        SNP Emma Ann Knox32.5%1,0001,097 1,144 1,167
        Conservative George Cruickshank15.2%467480 544  
        Independent Zofia Fraser9.5%293330   
        Green Vikki Tania Trelfer9.3%287   
        Electorate: 9,584  Valid: 3,076  Spoilt: 24  Quota: 1,538  Turnout: 3,100 (32.35%)

          2012 Election

          Aird and Loch Ness - 4 seats
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          12345678
          Independent Margaret Davidson (incumbent)36.94%1,194       
          SNP Drew Hendry (incumbent)20.77%840       
          Independent Helen Carmichael (incumbent)16.3%659894.4      
          Liberal Democrats Hamish Wood (incumbent)12.31%498546 575.4 579 585.9 652.4 768 858.1
          SNP Robert Stewart7.1%287314.1 322.7 345.3 358.5 387 413.2  
          Conservative George Cruickshank6.89%279297.4 307.4 307.9 335.8 351.9   
          Labour Mike Robb5.46%221234.2 242.1 243.3 246.2    
          UKIP Fred Pidcock1.63%6672.1 75.8 76.3     
          Electorate: 8,999  Valid: 4,044  Spoilt: 56  Quota: 809  Turnout: 4,100 (45.56%)

            2007 Election

            The Highland Council election, 2007: Aird and Loch Ness
            PartyCandidate1st Pref %SeatCount
            Independent Margaret Davidson1,21524.611
            Independent Helen Carmichael1,12522.821
            SNP Drew Hendry 89218.135
            Liberal Democrats Hamish Wood55011.148
            Conservative Margaret Chown3557.2
            Independent John Martin3226.5
            Labour Andrew MacKintosh2925.9
            Independent Alexander Nicol1923.9

            2003 Election

            Prior to 2007, council elections used single member wards with a first-past-the-post voting system. The current boundaries for Aird and Loch Ness mainly include the 1999-2007 wards of Loch Ness West, Loch Ness East, Beauly and Strathglass and Kirkhill. A large part of the old Inverness West ward is also included. Seven other old wards overlap with Aird and Loch Ness, but the vast majority of their areas lie outside the present boundary. [8]

            Wards almost entirely contained within Aird and Loch Ness

            The Highland Council election, 2003: Beauly and Strathglass [9]
            PartyCandidateVotes%±%
            Independent Garry Coutts (incumbent) 555 50.3 Decrease2.svg 5.7
            Independent Helen Carmichael54949.7New
            Majority90.8Decrease2.svg 11.2
            Turnout Unknown56.6Decrease2.svg 10.1
            The Highland Council election, 2003: Kirkhill [9]
            PartyCandidateVotes%±%
            Independent Jack Shiels (incumbent) 572 44.3 Decrease2.svg 16.1
            Independent Graham Cross40731.5New
            Independent Hamish Wood31224.2New
            Majority16512.8Decrease2.svg 7.9
            Turnout Unknown52.6Decrease2.svg 8.8
            The Highland Council election, 2003: Loch Ness West [9]
            PartyCandidateVotes%±%
            Independent Margaret Davidson (incumbent)Unopposed
            The Highland Council election, 2003: Loch Ness East [9]
            PartyCandidateVotes%±%
            Independent Ella MacRae (incumbent)Unopposed

            Wards with a significant portion in Aird and Loch Ness

            The Highland Council election, 2003: Inverness West [9]
            PartyCandidateVotes%±%
            Independent Ronald Lyon (incumbent) 546 66.1 Increase2.svg 5.1
            Independent Joan Stewart28033.9New
            Majority26632.2Increase2.svg 10.1
            Turnout Unknown41.9Decrease2.svg 12.7

            1999 Election

            Prior to 2007, council elections used single member wards with a first-past-the-post voting system. The current boundaries for Aird and Loch Ness mainly include the 1999-2007 wards of Loch Ness West, Loch Ness East, Beauly and Strathglass and Kirkhill. A large part of the old Inverness West ward is also included. Seven other old wards overlap with Aird and Loch Ness, but the vast majority of their areas lie outside the present boundary. [8]

            Wards almost entirely contained within Aird and Loch Ness

            The Highland Council election, 1999: Beauly and Strathglass [10]
            PartyCandidateVotes%
            Independent Garry Coutts 734 56.0
            Independent John Sellar57744.0
            Majority15712.0
            Turnout Unknown66.7
            The Highland Council election, 1999: Kirkhill [10]
            PartyCandidateVotes%
            Independent Jack Shiels (incumbent)¹ 906 60.4
            Independent Molly Doyle59539.6
            Majority31120.7
            Turnout Unknown61.4

            ¹For previous Kirkhill ward boundary

            The Highland Council election, 1999: Loch Ness West [10]
            PartyCandidateVotes%
            Independent Margaret Davidson (incumbent)² 1,018 67.8
            Independent Patrick Paterson48332.2
            Majority53535.6
            Turnout Unknown70.5

            ²For Drumnadrochit ward

            The Highland Council election, 1999: Loch Ness East [10]
            PartyCandidateVotes%
            Independent Ella MacRae (incumbent)³Unopposed

            ³For East Loch Ness ward

            Wards with a significant portion in Aird and Loch Ness

            The Highland Council election, 1999: Inverness West [10]
            PartyCandidateVotes%
            Independent Ronald Lyon 708 61.0
            Labour Debra Lake45239.0
            Majority25622.1
            Turnout Unknown54.6

            1995 Election

            Prior to 2007, council elections used single member wards with a first-past-the-post voting system. The current boundaries for Aird and Loch Ness mainly include the 1995 wards of Beauly, Drumnadrochit, Kirkhill, Fort Augustus and East Loch Ness. Large parts of the Scorguie and Strathnairn and Strathdearn wards are also included. Five other old wards overlap with Aird and Loch Ness, but the vast majority of their areas lie outside the present boundary. [8]

            Wards almost entirely contained within Aird and Loch Ness

            The Highland Council election, 1995: East Loch Ness [11]
            PartyCandidateVotes%
            Independent E MacRae 483 72.4
            SNP LA MacRae18427.6
            Majority29944.8
            Turnout Unknown42.9
            The Highland Council election, 1995: Fort Augustus [11]
            PartyCandidateVotes%
            Independent PC Paterson 415 38.0
            Independent HM Cary29026.5
            Independent AW MacKenzie21719.9
            SNP PJ Findlay17115.6
            Majority12511.4
            Turnout Unknown63.3
            The Highland Council election, 1995: Drumnadrochit [11]
            PartyCandidateVotes%
            Independent MC Davidson 251 51.5
            SNP AK MacPherson23648.5
            Majority153.1
            Turnout Unknown36.8
            The Highland Council election, 1995: Beauly [11]
            PartyCandidateVotes%
            SNP JS Munro 611 67.3
            Independent JA Sellar29732.7
            Majority31434.6
            Turnout Unknown55.1
            The Highland Council election, 1995: Kirkhill [11]
            PartyCandidateVotes%
            Independent SJ Shiels 360 46.7
            Independent M Doyle26334.1
            Conservative CF Spencer-Nairn14819.2
            Majority9712.6
            Turnout Unknown41.6

            Wards with a significant portion in Aird and Loch Ness

            The Highland Council election, 1995: Scorguie [11]
            PartyCandidateVotes%
            Labour JT MacDonald 639 61.2
            Liberal Democrats RJ Mackay23722.7
            SNP S MacKenzie16816.1
            Majority40238.5
            Turnout Unknown34.4
            The Highland Council election, 1995: Strathnairn and Strathdearn [11]
            PartyCandidateVotes%
            Independent KG Matheson 443 51.3
            SNP DA Cunningham25329.3
            Independent CM Thomson16719.4
            Majority19022.0
            Turnout Unknown45.7

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            References

            1. ↑ "Scottish Boundary Commission | he Boundary Commission for Scotland is responsible for reviews of UK Parliament constituencies in Scotland".
            2. ↑ "2022 Local Government elections results". The Highland Council. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
            3. ↑ Smart, Joanna. "Local Government by-elections". www.highland.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
            4. ↑ "Ward 12 Aird and Loch Ness By-Election Results 2021". The Highland Council. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
            5. ↑ "2017 council election Ward 12 Aird and Loch Ness". The Highland Council. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
            6. ↑ Ramage, Iain (13 July 2015). "Drew Hendry steps down, triggering Highland by-election". Press and Journal. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
            7. ↑ "Ward 13 - Aird and Loch Ness By-election - Thursday 8 October 2015". highland.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 16 November 2015.
            8. 1 2 3 "Boundary Maps". Boundaries Scotland. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
            9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Scottish Council Elections 2003" (PDF). The Elections Centre. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
            10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Scottish Council Elections 1999" (PDF). The Elections Centre. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
            11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Scottish Council Elections 1995" (PDF). The Elections Centre. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
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