2012 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election explained
See main article: 2012 Scottish local elections.
| Election Name: | 2012 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election |
| Country: | Scotland |
| Flag Image: | Western Isles Council Flag.svg |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2007 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election |
| Previous Year: | 2007 |
| Next Election: | 2017 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election |
| Next Year: | 2017 |
| Seats For Election: | All 31 seats to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar |
| Majority Seats: | 16 |
| Party1: | Independent (politician) |
| Last Election1: | 25 seats, 80.6% |
| Leaders Seat1: | Steòrnabhagh a Deas |
| Seats Before1: | 25 |
| Seats1: | 21 |
| Seat Change1: | 4 |
| Popular Vote1: | 8,211 |
| Percentage1: | 71.6% |
| Swing1: | 7.2% |
| Leader2: | Donald Manford |
| Party2: | Scottish National Party |
| Leaders Seat2: | Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas |
| Last Election2: | 4 seats, 12.9% |
| Seats Before2: | 5 |
| Seats2: | 7 |
| Seat Change2: | 3 |
| Popular Vote2: | 2,733 |
| Percentage2: | 23.8% |
| Swing2: | 11.7% |
| Leader3: | Archie K. Campbell |
| Party3: | Scottish Labour Party |
| Leaders Seat3: | Beinn Na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath |
| Last Election3: | 2 seats, 6.5% |
| Seats Before3: | 1 |
| Seats3: | 3 |
| Seat Change3: | 1 |
| Popular Vote3: | 523 |
| Percentage3: | 4.6% |
| Swing3: | 2.1% |
| Map Size: | 400px |
| Council Leader |
| Before Election: | Angus Campbell |
| Before Party: | Independent (politician) |
| Posttitle: | Council Leader after election |
| After Election: | Angus Campbell |
| After Party: | Independent (politician) |
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.
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.
Election result
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
- 2007: 2xSNP; 2xIndependent
- 2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLab
- 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from SNP
Beinn Na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath
- 2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLab
- 2012: 2xIndependent; 1xLab
- 2007: No change
Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas Nan Loch
- 2007: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP
- 2012: 1xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLab
- 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Independent
Sgir' Uige agus Ceann a Tuath Nan Loch
- 2007: 1xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLab
- 2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP
- 2007-2012 Change: Independent gain one seat from Lab
Sgire an Rubha
- 2007: 3xIndependent
- 2012: 3xIndependent
- 2007-2012 Change: No change
Steòrnabhagh a Deas
- 2007: 4xIndependent
- 2012: 3xIndependent; 1xSNP
- 2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Independent
Steòrnabhagh a Tuath
- 2007: 4xIndependent
- 2012: 3xIndependent; 1xSNP
- 2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Independent
Loch a Tuath
- 2007: 3xIndependent
- 2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP
- 2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Independent
An Taobh Siar agus Nis
- 2007: 4xIndependent
- 2012: 3xIndependent; 1xSNP
- 2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Independent
Changes since election
- † Sgir' Uige Agus Ceann A Tuath Nan Loch SNP Cllr Bill Houston died on 15 September 2012. A by-election was held on 29 November 2012 and was won by the Independent Angus MacDonald Morrison.[2]
- †† Sgir' An Taobh Siar agus Nis Independent Cllr Kenneth MacLeod Murray died on 23 December 2014.[3] A by-election was to be held to fill the vacancy on 12 March 2015. Only Independent Alistair MacLennan was nominated and was deemed elected.[4]
- ††† Beinn Na Foghla Agus Uibhist A Tuath Labour Cllr Archie K. McDonald resigned for health reasons on 25 January 2015.[5] A by-election was held to fill the vacancy on 26 March 2015 and the seat was won by the Independent Andrew Walker.
- †††† Sgir' An Taobh Siar agus Nis Independent Cllr Iain Morrison died on 31 July 2015 after a battle with cancer.[6] A by-election was held to fill the vacancy on 7 October 2015 and was won by the Independent John MacLeod.[7]
Ward areas in English
- Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas: Barra, Vatersay, Eriskay and South Uist
- Beinn Na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath: Benbecula and North Uist
- Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas Nan Loch: Harris and South Lewis
- Sgir' Uige agus Ceann a Tuath Nan Loch: Mid Lewis
- Sgire an Rubha: Eye Peninsula
- Steòrnabhagh a Deas: Stornoway South
- Steòrnabhagh a Tuath: Stornoway North
- Loch a Tuath: Broad Bay
- An Taobh Siar agus Nis: North West Lewis
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Corporate Services – Election Office . 2008-09-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080520180216/http://www.w-isles.gov.uk/election/lgvotingsystem.htm . 20 May 2008 .
- Web site: 2012-09-15. Western Isles councillor Bill Houston dies suddenly at home on Lewis Highlands & Islands News STV. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120917024813/http://news.stv.tv/highlands-islands/190359-western-isles-councillor-bill-houston-dies-suddenly-at-home-on-lewis/. 2012-09-17. news.stv.tv.
- Web site: Tribute paid to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar councillor. 23 December 2014. BBC.
- Web site: No poll after one candidate stands in Western Isles ward. 10 February 2015. BBC.
- Web site: 2015-01-25. Uist councillor calls it a day. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150214005325/http://www.whfp.com/2015/01/25/uist-councillor-calls-it-a-day/. 2015-02-14. whfp.com.
- Web site: Death of local councillor. hebrides-news.com.
- Web site: Election Office – By-Election Taobh Siar Agus Nis – 7 October 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923205022/http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/electionoffice/by-election/index.asp. 23 September 2015. 24 August 2015. cne-siar.gov.uk.
