See main article: 2017 Scottish local elections. The 2017 elections to Inverclyde Council were held on Thursday 4 May 2017, on the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland. It was the third successive Local Council election to run under the STV Electoral System. The election used seven wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 22 Councillors being elected, an increase of 2 from 2012 and an additional ward. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system.
Following the 2017 election, the Labour Party won the most seats but not enough to form majority control. At the first full meeting of the council, Labour formed a minority administration with Conservative and Independent support with Martin Brennan elected Provost and Stephen McCabe retaining his position as leader of the council.
| Election Name: | 2017 Inverclyde Council election |
| Country: | Scotland |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2012 Inverclyde Council election |
| Previous Year: | 2012 |
| Next Election: | 2022 Inverclyde Council election |
| Next Year: | 2022 |
| Seats For Election: | All 22 seats to Inverclyde Council |
| Majority Seats: | 12 |
| Turnout: | 48.6% |
| Party1: | Scottish Labour Party |
| Last Election1: | 10 seats, 50.0% |
| Leaders Seat1: | Inverclyde East |
| Seats Before1: | 9 |
| Seats1: | 8 |
| Seat Change1: | 2 |
| Leader2: | Chris McEleny |
| Party2: | Scottish National Party |
| Leaders Seat2: | Inverclyde West |
| Last Election2: | 6 seats, 30.0% |
| Seats Before2: | 6 |
| Seats2: | 7 |
| Seat Change2: | 1 |
| Leader3: | David Wilson |
| Party3: | Scottish Conservative Party |
| Leaders Seat3: | Inverclyde East |
| Last Election3: | 1 seat, 5.0% |
| Seats Before3: | 1 |
| Seats3: | 2 |
| Seat Change3: | 1 |
| Leader4: | Ciano Rebecchi |
| Party4: | Liberal Democrats (UK) |
| Leaders Seat4: | Inverclyde South West |
| Last Election4: | 2 seats, 10.0% |
| Seats Before4: | 2 |
| Seats Needed4: | 10 |
| Seats4: | 1 |
| Seat Change4: | 1 |
| Leader5: | Ronald Ahlfeld |
| Party5: | Independent (politician) |
| Leaders Seat5: | Inverclyde West |
| Last Election5: | 1 seat, 5.0% |
| Seats Before5: | 2 |
| Seats5: | 4 |
| Seat Change5: | 3 |
| Council Leader | |
| Before Party: | Scottish Labour Party |
| Posttitle: | Council Leader after election |
| After Election: | Stephen McCabe |
| After Party: | Scottish Labour Party |
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.
Innes Nelson (Ward 6) resigned from the SNP on 25 October 2017 following an assault allegation.[1] The charges were dropped on 31 October 2018 and he re-joined the party.[2]
Former SNP group leader Chris McEleny defected to the Alba Party on the announcement by Alex Salmond of its formation on 26 March 2021. His father Jim McEleny later defected to Alba as well.[3]