Na Hearadh (ward)

Na Hearadh
Na h-Eileanan Siar
Population	1,795 (2021) [1]
Electorate	1,360 (2022)
Major settlements	Tarbert
Scottish Parliament constituency	Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Scottish Parliament region	Highlands and Islands
UK Parliament constituency	Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Current ward
Created	2022 (2022)
Number of councillors	2
Councillor	Grant Fulton (Independent)
Councillor	Paul Finnegan (Independent)
Created from	Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas nan Loch

Na Hearadh ( Scottish Gaelic for 'Harris') is one of the 11 wards of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar ( Scottish Gaelic for 'Council of the Western Isles'). Created in 2022, the ward elects two councillors using the single transferable vote electoral system and covers an area with a population of 1,795 people.

Boundaries

The ward was created following the 2019 Reviews of Electoral Arrangements which were instigated following the implementation of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018. The act allowed for the creation of single- and dual-member wards to allow for better representation of island areas. Uibhist a Tuath was formed from the previous Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas nan Loch ward. The ward is centred around the Isle of Harris – the southern portion of the island of Lewis and Harris – in the Outer Hebrides as well as a number of uninhabited islands including Pabbay and Ensay in the Sound of Harris; Gasker, Scarp and Taransay in the Atlantic Ocean; and Scalpay in the Little Minch. ^[2]

Councillors

Year	Councillors
2022		Grant Fulton (Independent)		Paul Finnegan (Independent)
2024	Kenny MacLeod (Independent)

Election results

2024 by-election

Na Hearadh by-election (4 July 2024) – 1 seat

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1
	Independent	Kenny MacLeod	95.4	878
	Scottish Family	Steven Welsh	4.6	53
Electorate: 1,484  Valid: 931  Spoilt: 11  Quota: 467  Turnout: 62.7%

Source: ^{[3] [4]}

2022 election

Main article: 2022 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election

Na Hearadh – 2 seats

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2
	Independent	Grant Fulton [note 1]	50.3	372
	Independent	Paul Finnegan [note 1]	31.5	233	301
	SNP	John G. Mitchell [note 1]	18.1	134	171
Electorate: 1,553  Valid: 739  Spoilt: 22  Quota: 247  Turnout: 49.0%

Source: ^[5]

Notes

1. Sitting councillor for Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas nan Loch.

References

1. "Na Hearadh". Scottish Government. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
2. "Review of Electoral Arrangements; Na h-Eileanan an Iar Council Area" (PDF). Boundaries Scotland. June 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
3. "Na-Hearadh Results". Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
4. "Notice of Poll". Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
5. Faulds, Allan. "Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 2022". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 13 July 2024.