2017 Aberdeen City Council election explained
See main article: 2017 Scottish local elections.
| Election Name: | 2017 Aberdeen City Council election |
| Country: | Scotland |
| Flag Image: | City Flag of Aberdeen.svg |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2012 Aberdeen City Council election |
| Previous Year: | 2012 |
| Next Election: | 2022 Aberdeen City Council election |
| Next Year: | 2022 |
| Seats For Election: | All 45 seats to Aberdeen City Council |
| Majority Seats: | 23 |
| Turnout: | 37.6% |
| Leader1: | Stephen Flynn |
| Party1: | Scottish National Party |
| Leaders Seat1: | Kincorth/Nigg/Cove |
| Last Election1: | 15 seats, 31.3% |
| Seats Needed1: | 7 |
| Seats1: | 19 |
| Seat Change1: | 4 |
| Popular Vote1: | 22,690 |
| Percentage1: | 32.6% |
| Swing1: | 1.3% |
| Leader2: | Douglas Lumsden |
| Party2: | Scottish Conservatives |
| Leaders Seat2: | Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee |
| Last Election2: | 3 seats, 9.7% |
| Seats Needed2: | 19 |
| Seats2: | 11 |
| Seat Change2: | 8 |
| Popular Vote2: | 17,427 |
| Percentage2: | 25.0% |
| Swing2: | 15.4% |
| Leader3: | Jenny Laing |
| Party3: | Scottish Labour |
| Leaders Seat3: | Midstocket/Rosemount |
| Last Election3: | 17 seats, 29.7% |
| Seats Needed3: | 5 |
| Seats3: | 9 |
| Seat Change3: | 8 |
| Popular Vote3: | 11,784 |
| Percentage3: | 16.9% |
| Swing3: | 12.8% |
| Leader4: | Ian Yuill |
| Party4: | Scottish Liberal Democrats |
| Leaders Seat4: | Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee |
| Last Election4: | 5 seats, 15.1% |
| Seats Needed4: | 17 |
| Seats4: | 4 |
| Seat Change4: | 1 |
| Popular Vote4: | 10,753 |
| Percentage4: | 15.4% |
| Swing4: | 0.3% |
| Leader5: | Marie Boulton |
| Party5: | Independent (politician) |
| Leaders Seat5: | Lower Deeside |
| Last Election5: | 3 seats, 11.2% |
| Seats Needed5: | 19 |
| Seats5: | 2 |
| Seat Change5: | 1 |
| Popular Vote5: | 5,195 |
| Percentage5: | 7.9% |
| Swing5: | 3.3% |
| Map Size: | 400px |
| Council Leader |
| Before Election: | Jenny Laing |
| Before Party: | Scottish Labour |
| Posttitle: | Council Leader after election |
| After Election: | Jenny Laing |
| After Party: | Labour (suspended) |
The 2017 Aberdeen City Council election took place on 4 May 2017 to elect members of Aberdeen City Council. The election used the 13 wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with each ward electing three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system a form of proportional representation, with a total of 45 Councillors elected, an increase in two members from 2012.
The Scottish National Party won 19 seats, the Scottish Conservatives won 11, Scottish Labour won nine, the Scottish Liberal Democrats won four and there were two independent members. On 11 May, the Lib Dems, ruled out entering into a formal coalition and instead would "consider every issue before the council on its merits on a case-by-case basis."[1]
On 17 May, an agreement was reached to form a coalition between the Tories, Labour and the three independent councillors, up from two after councillor Jennifer Stewart resigned from the Liberal Democrat group to sit as an Independent and give the coalition an overall majority.[2] The coalition agreed by Aberdeen's Labour councillors was without the party executive's approval and so the councillors were told to withdraw from the deal by 5pm on 17 May or face suspension. The deadline passed without any change to the coalition and as such, all 9 Labour councillors were suspended from the party.[3]
In August, the co-leadership was ratified by a meeting of the full council, appointing Douglas Lumsden (Con) & Jenny Laing (Lab) as co-leaders.
Ward results
Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone
- 2012: 2xSNP; 2xLab
- 2017: 1xCons; 2xSNP; 1XLab
- 2012–2017 Change:−1 Lab; +1 Cons
Bridge of Don
- 2012: 2xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLab
- 2017: 1xCons; 2xSNP; 1xIndependent
- 2012–2017 Change: −1 Lab; +1 Cons
Kingswells/Sheddocksley/Summerhill
- 2017: 1xLDem; 1xSNP; 1xCons
- 2012–2017: New ward
- = Sitting Councillors for Kingswells/Sheddocksley Ward.
Northfield/Mastrick North
- 2017: 2x SNP; 1xLab
- 2012–2017 Change: New ward
- = Sitting Councillors for Northfield Ward.
Hilton/Woodside/Stockethill
- 2017: 1x SNP; 1xLab; 1xCons
- 2012–2017 Change: New ward
- = Sitting Councillors for Hilton/Stockethill ward.
Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen
- 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
- 2017: 2xSNP; 1Lab
- 2012–2017 Change: −1 Lab; +1 SNP
Midstocket/Rosemount
- 2012: 1xCons; 1xSNP; 1xLab
- 2017: 1xCons; 1xSNP; 1xLab
- 2012–2017 Change: No change
George Street/Harbour
- 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
- 2017: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCons
- 2012–2017 Change: +1 Cons; +1 SNP; −1 Lab; 1 extra seat compared to 2012.
Lower Deeside
- 2012: 1xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab
- 2017: 1xCons; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
- 2012–2017 Change: − LibDem; +1 Con
Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross
- 2012 2xLDem; 1xCons; 1xSNP
- 2017 2xLDem; 1xCons; 1xSNP
- 2012–2017 Change: No change
Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee
- 2012 1xLib Dem; 1xLab; 1xSNP
- 2017 1xLib Dem; 1xCons; 1xSNP
- 2012–2017 Change: −1 Lab; +1 Cons
Torry/Ferryhill
- 2012: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCons
- 2017: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCons
- 2012–2017 Change: No change
Kincorth/Nigg/Cove
- 2017: 2xSNP; 1xCons; 1xLab
- 2012–2017 Change: New ward
- = Sitting Councillors for Kincorth/Loirston Ward.
+ = Sitting Councillor for Midstocket/Rosemount Ward.
Changes between 2017 and 2022
‡ Changes of affiliation
On 17 May 2017, Cllr Jennifer Stewart (Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross) resigned from the Liberal Democrat group and now sits as an Independent.
On the same day, all 9 Labour councillors were suspended from the party and now sit as "Aberdeen Labour".
- ‡‡ On 10 January 2019 Cllr Alan Donnelly (Torry/Ferryhill) was suspended from membership of the Scottish Conservative Party following a sexual harassment complaint.[4] He remained a member, and Depute Leader, of the Conservative Group on Aberdeen City Council until his conviction for sexual assault on 13 December 2019. He now sits as an Independent but is currently the subject of an interim suspension by the Standards Commission for Scotland.
- ‡‡‡ On 11 July 2019 Bridge of Don SNP Cllr Sandy Stuart died after a short illness.[5] A by-election was held on 3 October 2019 for two seats. This was due to the resignation of fellow Bridge of Don Cllr Brett Hunt the day after the death of Cllr Stuart. The SNP candidate Jessica Mennie retained the seat for the party.[6]
- ‡‡‡‡ On 12 July 2019 Conservative Cllr Brett Hunt resigned his seat as he works increasingly overseas.[7] A by-election was held on 3 October 2019 for two seats. This was due to the death of fellow Bridge of Don Cllr Sandy Stuart the day before Cllr Brett Hunt's resignation. The Conservative candidate Sarah Cross retained the seat for the party.[6]
- ‡‡‡‡‡ On 28 August 2019 Torry and Ferryhill SNP Cllr Catriona McKenzie resigned her seat due to changes in her personal life.[8] A by-election was held on 21 November 2019 and Audrey Nicoll held the seat for the SNP.
- ‡‡‡‡‡‡ Kincorth/Nigg/Cove SNP Cllr Stephen Flynn was elected MP for Aberdeen South at the 2019 UK General Election. He resigned his Council seat on 4 March 2020 resulting in a by-election.https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/1934062/new-aberdeen-south-mp-to-quit-council-job-amid-calls-for-his-resignation/ This was scheduled for 5 November 2020 and was held by Miranda Radley for the SNP.
References
Notes and References
- Web site: Lib Dems rule out Aberdeen City Council coalition. BBC News. 17 May 2017. 11 May 2017.
- Web site: Labour, Conservatives and independents to form administration at Aberdeen City Council. Holyrood Magazine. 17 May 2017. en.
- Web site: Scottish Labour councillors on Aberdeen City Council suspended. Davidson. Jenni. 17 May 2017. Holyrood Magazine. 17 May 2017. en.
- Web site: EXCLUSIVE: Leading Aberdeen councillor suspended from party as police investigate sexual harassment complaint. Jon. Hebditch . The Press and Journal.
- Web site: Tributes paid after councillor's death. July 11, 2019 . BBC News.
- Web site: Tories and SNP win seats in council by-election. October 4, 2019 . BBC News.
- Web site: Councillor who works abroad resigns. July 12, 2019 . BBC News.
- Web site: Torry and Ferryhill voters to go to the polls in by-election after councillor resigns. Alastair. Gossip.
