2017 Highland Council election explained

See main article: 2017 Scottish local elections.

Election Name:2017 Highland Council election
Country:Scotland
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2012 Highland Council election
Previous Year:2012
Next Election:2022 Highland Council election
Next Year:2022
Seats For Election:All 74 seats to Highland Council
Majority Seats:38
3Blank:Swing (pp)-->
Party1:Independent (politician)
Leaders Seat1:Aird and Loch Ness
Last Election1:
Seats Before1:39
Seats Needed1:-
Seats1:28
Seat Change1:7
Popular Vote1:32,492
Percentage1:36.1%
Swing1:4.2pp
Leader2:Maxine Smith
Party2:Scottish National Party
Leaders Seat2:Cromarty Firth
Last Election2:
Seats Before2:19
Seats Needed2:24
Seats2:22
Seat Change2:0
Popular Vote2:22,459
Percentage2:24.9%
Swing2:0.8pp
Leader3:Andrew Jarvie
Party3:Scottish Conservatives
Leaders Seat3:Inverness South
Last Election3:
Seats Before3:0
Seats Needed3:20
Seats3:10
Seat Change3:10
Popular Vote3:14,095
Percentage3:15.7%
Swing3:10.6pp
Leader4:Alasdair Christie
Party4:Scottish Liberal Democrats
Leaders Seat4:Inverness Ness-side
Last Election4:
Seats Before4:15
Seats Needed4:34
Seats4:10
Seat Change4:5
Popular Vote4:11,577
Percentage4:12.9%
Swing4:0.6pp
Last Election5:
Leader5:Jimmy Gray
Leaders Seat5:Inverness Millburn
Party5:Scottish Labour Party
Seat Change5:5
Seats5:3
Seats Before5:7
Popular Vote5:6,218
Percentage5:6.9%
Swing5:5.7pp
Last Election6:
Leader6: &
Leaders Seat6: &
Party6:Scottish Green Party
Seat Change6:1
Seats6:1
Seats Before6:0
Popular Vote6:2,832
Percentage6:3.1%
Swing6:2.2pp
Council Leader
Before Election:Margaret Davidson
Before Party:Independent (politician)
Posttitle:Council Leader after election
After Election:Margaret Davidson[1]
After Party:Independent (politician)

The 2017 Highland Council election was held on 4 May 2017 to elect members of the Highland Council. The election used the 21 wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004; each ward elected three or four councillors using the single transferable vote system (a form of proportional representation). A total of 74 councillors were elected, six less than in 2012.

The election was fought in new wards, as the recommendations by the Boundary Commission had been accepted by Scottish Ministers. There were big changes, particularly in Caithness where an entire ward was removed. This election was most notable for returning 10 Conservative councillors: the party's first representation on the council since 1999.

After the 2012 election an administration had been formed by the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Labour Party. This was the first time that the Independents had not had any role in the administration of the council. However, later in the 2012–17 term, this administration fell and the Independent group instead governed as a minority.[1]

After the 2017 election, the Independent, Liberal Democrat and Labour groups formed a coalition administration.[1]

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 2012. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils. These are also direct comparisons of seat change, not comparisons to 'notional' results as used in the national results, as such there is a net loss of six seats in the Net gain/loss column.

Ward results

North, West and Central Sutherland

Thurso and North West Caithness

* = Sitting Councillors for Landward Caithness Ward.+ = Sitting Councillors for Thurso Ward.

Wick and East Caithness

* = Sitting Councillors for Wick Ward.

+ = Sitting Councillor for Landward Caithness Ward.

East Sutherland and Edderton

Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh

* = Sitting Councillor for Culloden and Ardersier Ward.

Cromarty Firth

Tain and Easter Ross

Dingwall and Seaforth

Black Isle

Eilean a' Cheò

Caol and Mallaig

Aird and Loch Ness

Inverness West

Inverness Central

Inverness Ness-side

Inverness Millburn

Culloden and Ardersier

Nairn and Cawdor

Inverness South

Badenoch and Strathspey

Fort William and Ardnamurchan

Changes since 2017

By-elections since 2017

Fort William and Ardnamurchan

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Independent, Lib Dem, Labour coalition to run Highland . . BBC News.
  2. Web site: 10 August 2017. Tain by-election dates announced. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170820202422/http://www.north-star-news.co.uk/News/Tain-by-election-dates-announced-10082017.htm. 2017-08-20. north-star-news.co.uk.
  3. Web site: Bitter row as SNP councillor resigns from party group. www.highland-news.co.uk. 2018-03-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20180829061830/https://www.highland-news.co.uk/News/Bitter-row-as-SNP-councillor-resigns-from-party-group-07092017.htm. 2018-08-29. dead.
  4. News: Isle of Skye councillor found guilty of abuse charge. 2018-03-16. West Highland Free Press - www.whfp.com. 2018-03-25. en-US. 2018-03-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20180326064214/http://www.whfp.com/2018/03/16/isle-of-skye-councillor-found-guilty-of-abuse-charge/. dead.
  5. Web site: Results from 5th and final stage of #Caol & Mallaig by election. Denis Rixson has been electedpic.twitter.com/HpyuBDQv9m. The Highland. Council. 6 April 2018. 1 April 2019.
  6. Web site: Highland councillor to stand down on medical advice. www.highland-news.co.uk. 2019-09-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20180829061830/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/inverness/1825114/highland-councillor-to-stand-down-on-medical-advice/. 2018-08-29. dead.
  7. Web site: Macaulay. Susy. 19 December 2019. Skye councillor resigns to concentrate on Ritchie review implementation. live. pressandjournal.co.uk. https://web.archive.org/web/20191219155708/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/1916134/skye-councillor-resigns-to-concentrate-on-ritchie-review-implementation/ . 2019-12-19 .
  8. Web site: Macaulay. Susy. 13 March 2020. Calum Munro elected to serve Skye and Raasay as Independent councillor. live. pressandjournal.co.uk. https://web.archive.org/web/20200313215040/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/islands/2073412/calum-munro-elected-to-serve-skye-and-raasay-as-independent-councillor/ . 2020-03-13 .
  9. Web site: Beattie. Kieran. 6 April 2020. ‘Cheerful, generous’ Loch Ness stalwart dies at 74. live. pressandjournal.co.uk. https://web.archive.org/web/20200406085022/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands/2126764/highland-councillor-with-unfailing-good-humour-dies/ . 2020-04-06 .
  10. Web site: Inverness Courier .
  11. Web site: The Highland Council .
  12. Web site: Three SNP councillors step down from party citing deep divisions within the Highland group. Susy. Macaulay.
  13. Web site: Local Government by-elections. www.highland.gov.uk.
  14. Web site: Liberal Democrats delight at winning twin Highland Council by-elections as newly elected Councillor Colin Aitken becomes the second youngest member. www.inverness-courier.co.uk.
  15. Web site: The Highland Council .
  16. Web site: The Highland Council .