Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election, 2012

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Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Council election, 2012
Western Isles Council Flag.svg
  2007 3 May 2012 (2012-05-03) 2017  

All 31 seats to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
16 seats needed for a majority

  First party Second party Third party
 
LeaderAngus Campbell Donald Manford Archie K. Campbell
Party Independent SNP Labour
Leader's seat Steòrnabhagh a Deas Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas Beinn Na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath
Last election25 seats, 80.6%4 seats, 12.9%2 seats, 6.5%
Seats before 25 5 1
Seats won 21 7 3
Seat changeDecrease2.svg4Increase2.svg3Increase2.svg1

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election, 2012.svg

Map of council wards

Council Leader before election

Angus Campbell
Independent

Council Leader after election

Angus Campbell
Independent

Elections to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) were held on 3 May 2012, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election was the second one using the 9 wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004. [1] Each ward elected three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system: a form of proportional representation. A total of 31 Councillors were elected.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Place

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is the local government council for Na h-Eileanan Siar council area of Scotland, comprising the Outer Hebrides. It is based in Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis.

Local government in Scotland is organised through 32 unitary authorities designated as councils which consist of councillors elected every five years by registered voters in each of the council areas.

Contents

Independent Councillors retained the large majority of seats on the Council and retained control of the administration. The Scottish National Party increased their representation, gaining 4 seats on the Isle of Lewis while losing 1 seat on Barra. The Scottish Labour Party also gained an additional seat.

The Scottish National Party is a Scottish nationalist and social-democratic political party in Scotland. The SNP supports and campaigns for Scottish independence. It is the second-largest political party by membership in the United Kingdom, behind the Labour Party and ahead of the Conservative Party, it is the third-largest by overall representation in the House of Commons, behind the Conservative Party and the Labour Party, and it is the largest political party in Scotland, where it has the most seats in the Scottish Parliament and 35 out of the 59 Scottish seats in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The current Scottish National Party leader, Nicola Sturgeon, has served as First Minister of Scotland since November 2014.

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

Election result

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Local Election Result 2012
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Independent 21 1 5Decrease2.svg4 67.74 71.61 8,211Decrease2.svg7.19%
  SNP 7 4 1Increase2.svg3 22.58 23.83 2,733Increase2.svg11.73%
  Labour 3 2 1Increase2.svg1 9.68 4.56 523Decrease2.svg2.14%

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 3 May 2007. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

Ward results

Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas

Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas - 4 seats
Party Candidate % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8Count 9Count 10
SNP Donald Manford (incumbent) 37.43%521         
Labour Ronald Joseph MacKinnon 15.09% 210226.3 228.7234.7242.8263.8292.6   
Independent Donnie Steele 9.41% 131142.6 144.6150.6155.9179.4200.8204.1222.2263.6
Independent Calum MacMillan 8.84% 123144.4 147.8150.3152.2156.2165.2166.5192.9 
Independent David Blaney (incumbent) 8.48% 118135.2 139.2142.2147.7157.6183.8185.9201.3247.9
Independent Peter Carlin (incumbent) 6.47% 90103 105106108.4114.4    
Independent Calum MacAulay 5.17% 7276.2 76.277.281.1     
SNP Gerry MacLeod (incumbent) 3.95% 55135.8 135.8135.8143.5146.5154.3155.1  
Independent Allan MacLeod 2.01% 2851.7 52.753.2      
Independent Angus MacDonald 1.94% 2727.9 27.9       
Independent Eric Wallis 1.22% 1717.9         
Electorate: 2,510  Valid: 1,392  Spoilt: 30  Quota: 279  Turnout: 1,424 (55.46)%

    Beinn Na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath

    Beinn Na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath - 3 seats
    Party Candidate % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6
    Independent Uisdean Robertson (incumbent) 29.34%316     
    Independent Neil MacDonald Beaton 19.67% 212222.6 241.1263.5264.0359.7
    Labour Archie K. Campbell (incumbent)††† 18.94% 204224.4 241.5271.5  
    SNP Andrew Walker 16.43% 177181.2 186.5219.7219.9 
    Independent Martin Taylor (incumbent) 8.64% 9397.2 111.5   
    Independent Michael MacLean 6.96% 7576.3     
    Electorate: 2,329  Valid: 1,077  Spoilt: 25  Quota: 270  Turnout: 1,102 (46.24)%

      Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas Nan Loch

      Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas Nan Loch - 3 seats
      Party Candidate % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4
      Independent Catherine MacDonald (incumbent) 62.09%498   
      SNP Philip Robert MacLean (incumbent) 25.19%202   
      Labour D.J. MacRae 8.6% 69163.8 163.9193.5
      SNP David Cameron Wilson 4.11% 33105.2 105.8 
      Electorate: 1,922  Valid: 802  Spoilt: 18  Quota: 201  Turnout: 830 (41.73)%

        Sgir’ Uige agus Ceann a Tuath Nan Loch

        Sgir’ Uige agus Ceann a Tuath Nan Loch
        Party Candidate % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7
        Independent Norman Alexander MacDonald (incumbent) 21.62% 315321 340355364.0  
        SNP Bill Houston 20.37% 292297 313401   
        Independent Cudig MacLeod 16.25% 233240 307339348.9350.3521.8
        Independent Catherine MacIver 15.97% 229238 253278284.2285.5 
        SNP Annie MacDonald (incumbent) 11.99% 172176 185    
        Independent Norman A. P. MacDonald 10.25% 147152      
        Independent Barry Shelby 3.21% 46      
        Electorate: 2,424  Valid: 1,434  Spoilt: 23  Quota: 359  Turnout: 1,457 (60.11)%

          Sgire an Rubha

          Sgire an Rubha - 3 seats
          Party Candidate % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7
          Independent Zena Stewart 17.52% 205238 276316   
          Independent Alasdair MacLeod 17.52% 205219 242291297.8  
          Independent Donald John MacSween (incumbent) 15.13% 177187 200227230.3231.7 
          Independent Norman MacLeod (incumbent) 15.04% 176186 202252256.2257.6349.0
          Independent Donald Nicholson (incumbent) 14.44% 169183 197    
          SNP John Norman MacDonald 12.05% 141149      
          Independent Iain Don MacIver 8.29% 97      
          Electorate: 1,921  Valid: 1,170  Spoilt: 19  Quota: 293  Turnout: 1,189 (60.91)%

            Steòrnabhagh a Deas

            Steòrnabhagh a Deas - 4 seats
            Party Candidate % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7
            Independent Charlie Nicolson (incumbent) 45.67%685      
            Independent Angus Campbell (incumbent) 13.73% 206287.8 288.8290.5311.5  
            Independent Angus McCormack (incumbent) 12.6% 189298.9 306.2    
            Independent Keith Dodson (incumbent) 11.4% 171230.9 233.1234.0247.3251.7 
            SNP Rae MacKenzie 9.67% 145203.9 253.1254.1268.9270.5365.9
            SNP Bob Duncan 3.8% 5763.7      
            Independent Uilleam Macleod 3.13% 4766.1 67.167.5   
            Electorate: 2,962  Valid: 1,500  Spoilt: 26  Quota: 301  Turnout: 1,526 (50.65)%

              Steòrnabhagh a Tuath

              Steòrnabhagh a Tuath - 4 seats
              Party Candidate % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8Count 9
              Independent Iain MacKenzie (incumbent) 20.68%299        
              Independent Roddie MacKay (incumbent) 18.12% 262264.1 272.1294.1     
              SNP Mohammed Ahmed 12.17% 176176.4 179.5182.5182.8194.9207.1218.2 
              SNP Gordon Murray 12.03% 174174.7 180.7192.7193.2208.4228.7251.1358.4
              Independent Murdo Murray 8.30% 120121.8 123.8128.4129.4142.6160.9  
              Independent Iain MacLean MacAulay 7.12% 103103.5 109.6117.7118.4145.7177.3221.9249.0
              Independent David Morrison 6.36% 9293.1 97.1104.1104.8    
              Independent Neil Campbell (incumbent) 6.29% 9191.5 92.5      
              Independent Jackie MacKay (incumbent) 6.15% 8989.8 95.8108.1108.8123.2   
              Labour Kevin Paterson 2.77% 4040.2        
              Electorate: 2,986  Valid: 1,446  Spoilt: 25  Quota: 290  Turnout: 1,471 (48.42)%

                Loch a Tuath

                Loch a Tuath - 3 seats
                Party Candidate % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4
                Independent Donald Finlayson Crichton 28.0%331   
                SNP John A. MacIver (incumbent) 24.53% 290298.4  
                Independent Catriona Stewart (incumbent) 23.88% 273282.5 283.1333.1
                Independent Kenneth MacIver (incumbent) 14.47% 171177.9 178.5201.8
                Independent Alasdair Nicholson 9.9% 117122.1 122.7 
                Electorate: 2,166  Valid: 1,182  Spoilt: 17  Quota: 296  Turnout: 1,199 (54.57%)

                  An Taobh Siar agus Nis

                  An Taobh Siar agus Nis - 4 seats
                  Party Candidate % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2
                  Independent Iain Morrison (incumbent)†††† 24.18%354 
                  Independent John MacKay (incumbent) 21.17%310 
                  SNP Kenneth MacLeod 20.36%298 
                  Independent Kenneth MacLeod Murray (incumbent) †† 19.74% 289316.4
                  Independent Alastair MacLennan 8.13% 119128.3
                  Independent Alastair Dunlop 6.42% 94103.3
                  Electorate: 2,599  Valid: 1,464  Spoilt: 21  Quota: 293  Turnout: 1,485 (56.34%)

                    Changes since election

                    By-elections since 2012

                    Sgir’ Uige Agus Ceann A Tuath Nan Loch By-election (29 November 2012) - 1 Seat [2]
                    Party Candidate % 1st Pref Count 1
                    Independent Angus MacDonald Morrison 73.47745
                    SNP John Norman MacDonald 19.23 195
                    Independent Les Mac An Ultaigh 7.2 73
                      Beinn Na Faoghla Agus Uibhist A Tuath (26 March 2015) - 1 Seat [3]
                      Party Candidate % 1st Pref Count 1
                      Independent Andrew Walker 59.1437
                      SNP Roslyn Macpherson 40.9 302
                        An Taobh Siar agus Nis By-election (7 October 2015) - 1 Seat [4]
                        Party Candidate % 1st Pref Count 1
                        Independent John Norman MacLeod 86.9%886
                        Independent Richard Froggatt 7.4% 75
                        Scottish Green Gavin MacLeod Humphreys 5.8% 59

                          Ward areas in English

                          Barra island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland

                          Barra is an island in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, and the second southernmost inhabited island there, after the adjacent island of Vatersay to which it is connected by a short causeway.

                          Vatersay island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland

                          The island of Vatersay is the southernmost inhabited island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, and the settlement of Caolas on the north coast of the island is the westernmost permanently inhabited place in Scotland and in Great Britain. The main village, also called Vatersay, is in the south of the island.

                          Eriskay island of the Outer Hebrides in northern Scotland

                          Eriskay, from the Old Norse for "Eric's Isle", is an island and community council area of the Outer Hebrides in northern Scotland. It lies between South Uist and Barra and is connected to South Uist by a causeway which was opened in 2001. In the same year Eriskay became the ferry terminal for travelling between South Uist and Barra. The Caledonian MacBrayne vehicular ferry travels between Ceann a' Ghàraidh in Eriskay and Ardmore in Barra. The crossing takes around 40 minutes.

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                          References