2017 Inverclyde Council election explained

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
Leaders Seat1:Inverclyde East
Seats Before1:9
Seats1:8
Seat Change1: 2
Leader2:Chris McEleny
Party2:Scottish National Party
Leaders Seat2:Inverclyde West
Seats Before2:6
Seats2:7
Seat Change2: 1
Leader3:Ronald Ahlfeld
Party3:Independent politician
Leaders Seat3:Inverclyde West
Seats Before3:2
Seats3:4
Seat Change3: 3
Leader4:David Wilson
Party4:Scottish Conservatives
Leaders Seat4:Inverclyde East
Seats Before4:1
Seats4:2
Seat Change4: 1
Leader5:Ciano Rebecchi
Party5:Scottish Liberal Democrats
Leaders Seat5:Inverclyde South West
Seats Before5:2
Seats5:1
Seat Change5: 1
Council Leader
Before Election:Stephen McCabe
Before Party:Scottish Labour Party
Posttitle:Council Leader after election
After Election:Stephen McCabe
After Party:Scottish Labour Party
Percentage1:26.9%
Popular Vote1:7,702
Swing1: 17.3%
Swing2: 7.4%
Percentage2:32.8%
Popular Vote2:9,368
Swing3: 5.3%
Percentage3:16.7%
Popular Vote3:4,766
Swing4: 7.5%
Percentage4:17.6%
Popular Vote4:5,046
Swing5: 2.0%
Percentage5:5.9%
Popular Vote5:1,697

The 2017 elections to Inverclyde Council were held on 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.

Results

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

Inverclyde East

Inverclyde East Central

Inverclyde Central

Inverclyde North

Inverclyde West

Inverclyde South West

Inverclyde South

Aftermath

Innes Nelson 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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Councillor quits SNP group over Greenock traffic warden assault allegation. Greenock Telegraph. en. 2018-03-25.
  2. Web site: Charge against councillor dropped. Greenock Telegraph.
  3. Web site: Salmond launches rival party to SNP for Holyrood election. HeraldScotland.