Stranraer and the Rhins (ward)

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Stranraer and the Rhins
Dumfries and Galloway
Stranraer and the Rhins.svg
Boundary of Stranraer and the Rhins in Dumfries and Galloway from 2017.
Population14,821 (2021) [1]
Electorate 11,398 (2022)
Major settlements Stranraer
Scottish Parliament constituency Galloway and West Dumfries
Scottish Parliament region South Scotland
UK Parliament constituency Dumfries and Galloway
Current ward
Created2017 (2017)
Number of councillors4
CouncillorAndrew Giusti (Conservative)
CouncillorBen Dashper (SNP)
CouncillorWillie Scobie (Independent)
CouncillorChrissie Hill (Conservative)
Created from Stranraer and North Rhins
Wigtown West

Stranraer and the Rhins is one of the twelve electoral wards of Dumfries and Galloway Council. Created in 2017, the ward elects four councillors using the single transferable vote electoral system and covers an area with a population of 14,821 people.

Contents

The area has produced strong results for the Conservatives who have won more than 30 per cent of the vote at each election and have held half of the seats since 2022.

Boundaries

The ward was created by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland following the Fifth Statutory Reviews of Electoral Arrangements ahead of the 2017 Scottish local elections. Five of the 13 multi-member wards in Dumfries and Galloway were abolished as a result of the review and replaced by four new ones. Stranraer and the Rhins encompasses an area represented by the former Stranraer and North Rhins and Wigtown West wards. The ward is takes in the westernmost and southernmost part of the council area and runs along part of the boundary with South Ayrshire. It is situated within Galloway and the historic county of Wigtownshire and includes the Rhins of Galloway double-headed peninsula. The dominant settlement is Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway’s second largest town, at the head of Loch Ryan. Other settlements include the ferry port of Cairnryan and villages in the Rhins of Galloway including Ardwell, Drummore, Kirkcolm, Leswalt, Port Logan, Portpatrick, Sandhead and Stoneykirk. The ward is the most southerly ward in Scotland as it includes the Mull of Galloway, Scotland's most southernly point. [2]

Councillors

ElectionCouncillors
2017 Willie Scobie
(Ind.)
Andrew Giusti
(Conservative)
Ros Surtees
(SNP)
Tommy Sloan
(Labour/
Ind.)
2022 Ben Dashper
(SNP)
Chrissie Hill
(Conservative)

Election results

2022 election

Stranraer and the Rhins - 4 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
Conservative Andrew Giusti (incumbent)32.81,518      
SNP Ben Dashper23.31,074      
Independent Willie Scobie (incumbent)22.81,051      
Labour John McCutcheon9.9458478 511 523 582 660  
Conservative Chrissie Hill7.3338804 806 816 833 861 1,025
Scottish Green Peter Barlow2.6120126 180 187    
Independent Tommy Sloan (incumbent)1.35998 118 198 239   
Electorate: 11,398  Valid: 4,618  Spoilt: 108  Quota: 924  Turnout: 41.5%  

    Source: [3] [4]

    2017 election

    2017 Dumfries and Galloway Council election

    Ward 1 - Stranraer and the Rhins - 4 seats
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    1234567
    Independent Willie Scobie (incumbent)36.531,925      
    Conservative Andrew Giusti32.311,703      
    SNP Ros Surtees14.52765869.4 884.62 903.35 919.09 953.34 1,013.39
    Labour Tommy Sloan5.92312589.94 661.86 694.11 723.69 774.28 912.14
    Independent Tracy Davidson3.43181251.95 317.4 338.72 381.51   
    Independent Marion McCutcheon (incumbent)3.15166259.55 332.23 363.55 418.26 533.25  
    Independent Robert McCrae2.33123164.13 231.48 242.73    
    Scottish Libertarian Chris Collings1.8095134.77 174.72     
    Electorate: 11,382  Valid: 5,270  Spoilt: 80  Quota: 1,055  Turnout: 46.3  

      References

      1. "Stranraer and the Rhins". Scottish Government. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
      2. "Fifth Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements; Dumfroes and Galloway Council Area" (PDF). Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland. May 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
      3. "Declaration of Results Report Ward 1 - Stranraer and the Rhins" (PDF). Dumfries and Galloway Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
      4. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 1 - Stranraer and the Rhins" (PDF). Dumfries and Galloway Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2025.