2007 Highland Council election explained

See main article: 2007 Scottish local elections.

Election Name:	2007 Highland Council election
Country:	Scotland
Type:	parliamentary
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2003 Highland Council election
Previous Year:	2003
Next Election:	Highland Council election, 2012
Next Year:	2012
Seats For Election:	All 80 seats to Highland Council
Majority Seats:	41
3Blank:	Swing (pp)-->
Party1:	Independent (politician)
Last Election1:
Seats Needed1:	-
Seats1:	35
Seat Change1:	22
Popular Vote1:	37,844
Percentage1:	40.9%
Swing1:	28.7pp
Party2:	Scottish Liberal Democrats
Last Election2:
Seats2:	21
Seat Change2:	12
Popular Vote2:	17,917
Percentage2:	19.3%
Swing2:	13.2pp
Party4:	Scottish National Party
Last Election4:
Seats4:	17
Seat Change4:	11
Popular Vote4:	18,933
Percentage4:	20.4%
Swing4:	10.2pp
Party5:	Scottish Labour Party
Last Election5:
Seats5:	7
Seat Change5:	1
Popular Vote5:	9,734
Percentage5:	10.5%
Swing5:	0.9pp
Council Convener
Before Election:	Alison Magee
Before Party:	Independent (politician)
Posttitle:	Council Convener after election
After Election:	Sandy Park
After Party:	Independent (politician)

Elections to the Highland Council were held on 3 May 2007; the same day as elections to the Scottish Parliament and to the 31 other councils in Scotland. Previous elections to the council had been conducted using the single member plurality system (a.k.a. 'First Past the Post'). Changes implemented by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 meant that future local government elections were to be conducted using the Single Transferable Vote, beginning with those in 2007. The 80 Highland Councillors were now to be elected from 22 wards, returning either three or four members.

The election saw Independent councillors retain their plurality, despite losing a significant number of members, and the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party both increasing their representation, with that of the Labour Party decreasing. The Independent and SNP groups subsequently went into coalition to form the Administration of the council.

Ward results

Incumbent councillors are marked with *

Fort William and Ardnamurchan

Post-election changes

On 6 May 2007, Badenoch and Strathspey Cllr Gregor Rimell became a Liberal Democrat and ceased to be an Independent
On 26 October 2007, Tain and Easter Ross Cllr Richard Durham became an Independent after leaving the Liberal Democrats
On 12 December 2007, Tain and Easter Ross Cllr Alan Torrance became a member of the Scottish National Party and ceased to be an Independent
On 3 April 2008, Landward Caithness Cllr David Bremner became an Independent, separate from the Administration, after being expelled from the Scottish National Party
In 2008, Wick Cllr Graeme Smith became a member of the Independent Members Group after leaving the Liberal Democrats
On 13 March 2009, North, West and Central Sutherland Cllr Linda Munro became a Liberal Democrat and ceased to be an Independent
On 17 February 2011 Inverness Central Cllr Janet Campbell became a member of the Independent Members Group after leaving the Liberal Democrats.
On 17 February 2011 Culloden and Ardersier Cllr Glynis Sinclair became an Independent after leaving the Liberal Democrats. She joined the Scottish National Party on 24 May 2011

2007-2011 by-elections

Inverness West

On 23 April 2009 the Liberal Democrat's Alasdair Christie won a by-election which arose following the death of former Independent Councillor Jimmy MacDonald on 31 January 2009

Wick

On 7 April 2011 the SNP's Gail Ross won a by-election which arose following the resignation of Independent Councillor Katrina MacNab

Tain and Easter Ross

On 9 June 2011 Independent Fiona Robertson won a by-election which arose following the death of SNP Councillor Alan Torrance

Inverness South

On 3 November 2011 the Liberal Democrat's Carolyn Caddick won a by-election which arose following the resignation of Labour Councillor John Holden