Highland Council election, 2007

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.

Election result

The Highland Council elections, 2007
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Independent 35 N\A N\A −18 43.8 40.9 37,844 ―
  Liberal Democrats 21 N\A N\A +8 26.3 19.3 17,917 ―
  SNP 17 N\A N\A +11 21.3 20.4 18,933 ―
  Labour 7 N\A N\A −1 8.8 10.5 9,734 ―
  Conservative 0 N\A N\A 0 ― 7.1 6,565 ―
  Scottish Senior Citizens 0 N\A N\A 0 ― 0.7 664 ―
  Scottish Green 0 N\A N\A 0 ― 0.7 642 ―
  Solidarity 0 N\A N\A 0 ― 0.3 273 ―
  Scottish Socialist 0 N\A N\A 0 ― 0.1 59 ―

Ward results

The Highland Council election, 2007: North, West and Central Sutherland
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
SNP George Farlow 586 19.9 1 8
Liberal Democrats Robbie Rowantree 410 14.0 2 10
Scottish Senior Citizens Russel Taylor 314 10.7
Independent Linda Munro 303 10.3 3 10
Independent David Forbes 297 10.1
Independent William Johnston 282 9.6
Conservative Margaret Payne 216 7.4
Labour Dave Andrews 184 6.3
Scottish Green Ailsa Spindler 168 5.7
Independent Kirstie Dawson 99 3.4
Independent Michael Otter 80 2.7
The Highland Council election, 2007: Thurso
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
Independent Donald Mackay 1,001 30.1 1 1
Independent John Rosie 704 21.2 2 4
Liberal Democrats Marion Thurso 541 16.3 3 7
SNP Donald Mackintosh 433 13.0
Labour Roger Saxon 408 12.3
Independent Ian Grant 125 3.8
Conservative Alexander Bain 112 3.4
The Highland Council election, 2007: Wick
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
Independent Bill Fernie 793 30.3 1 1
Independent Katrina MacNab 451 17.2 2 7
SNP Niall Smith 443 16.9
Liberal Democrats Graeme Smith 407 15.5 3 7
Labour Jim Oag 366 14.0
Independent Heather Miller 98 3.7
Conservative Jack Brooker 46 1.8
Independent Laurel Bush 17 0.6
The Highland Council election, 2007: Landward Caithness
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
SNP David Bremner 871 18.8 3 5
Independent Willie MacKay 845 18.2 1 3
Liberal Democrats David Flear 805 17.4 2 5
Independent Robert Coghill 657 14.2 4 8
Labour Bill Mowat 532 11.5
Conservative Colin Sutherland 531 11.5
Liberal Democrats Alastair MacDonald 349 7.5
Independent Duncan Winfield 41 0.9
The Highland Council election, 2007: East Sutherland and Edderton
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
Liberal Democrats Ian Ross 838 22.8 1 7
Labour Deirdre Mackay 703 19.2 2 10
SNP Derek Louden 511 13.9
Independent Jim McGillivray 482 13.1 3 10
Conservative Michael Napper 423 11.5
Independent Jimmy Melville 252 6.9
Independent Evelyn MacKenzie 155 4.2
Independent Gordon Campbell 125 3.4
Independent Gordon Clunie 114 3.1
Independent Richard Easson 40 1.1
Solidarity Frank Ward 27 0.7
The Highland Council election, 2007: Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
SNP Jean Urquhart 1,486 26.1 1 1
Liberal Democrats Biz Campbell 1,242 21.8 2 1
Independent Richard Greene 792 13.9 3 7
Independent Audrey Sinclair 608 10.7 4 9
Conservative John Scott 451 7.9
Labour Christine Conniff 354 6.2
Independent Marie Tait 328 5.8
Independent Donald Macdonald 232 4.1
Independent Alastair Armitstead 199 3.5
The Highland Council election, 2007: Cromarty Firth
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
Independent Carolyn Wilson 1,348 29.7 1 1
SNP Maxine Smith 1,021 22.5 2 1
Liberal Democrats Martin Rattray 647 14.3 3 7
Independent Mike Finlayson 438 9.7 4 9
Labour John MacInnes 438 9.7
Independent John Connell 307 6.8
Conservative Hamish Keir 141 3.1
Independent Mary MacDonald 104 2.3
Solidarity Findlay Walker 88 1.9
The Highland Council election, 2007: Tain and Easter Ross
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
Independent Alasdair Rhind 1,406 36.2 1 1
Liberal Democrats Richard Durham 627 16.2 2 8
SNP Jim McCreath 465 12.0
Independent Alan Torrance 436 11.2 3 10
Independent Murray MacLeod 294 7.6
Independent Michael Herd 204 5.3
Labour Sunny Moodie 148 3.8
Conservative David Rutherford 124 3.2
Independent John Boocock 116 3.0
Scottish Socialist Donnie Fraser 59 1.5
The Highland Council election, 2007: Dingwall and Seaforth
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
Independent Margaret Paterson 1,078 23.1 1 1
Liberal Democrats Angela MacLean 1,015 21.8 2 1
SNP Peter Cairns 853 18.3 3 5
Independent David Chisholm 639 13.7 4 8
Labour Michael MacMillan 556 11.9
Conservative Gerald Lowe 218 4.7
Scottish Green David Jardine 207 4.4
Independent David Edes 102 2.2
The Highland Council election, 2007: Black Isle
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
Independent Billy Barclay 1,233 24.4 1 1
Independent Isobel McCallum 985 19.5 2 2
Liberal Democrats David Alston 973 19.3 3 3
SNP Craig Fraser 558 11.1 4 8
Independent Okain McLennan 433 8.6
Conservative Morris Downie 408 8.1
Scottish Green John Wood 267 5.3
Labour Chris Birt 192 3.8
The Highland Council election, 2007: Eilean a' Cheò
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
Liberal Democrats Drew Millar 960 21.2 1 1
Independent Hamish Fraser 795 17.6 2 4
Independent John Laing 734 16.2 3 6
SNP Ian Renwick 669 14.8 4 8
Independent John Murray 498 11.0
Labour Vicki Samuels 351 7.8
Independent Iain MacDonald 338 7.5
Conservative John Hodgson 178 3.9
The Highland Council election, 2007: Caol and Mallaig
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
Independent Bill Clark 975 24.8 1 2
Independent Allan Henderson 881 22.4 2 7
Independent Eddie Hunter 550 14.0 3 10
Labour Mairi MacLean 473 12.0
SNP David Ingham 389 9.9
Independent Sandra Casey 188 4.8
Conservative Chris Carver 156 4.0
Independent George MacLeod 151 3.8
Independent Alistair MacGregor 100 2.5
Independent Scott Waugh 64 1.6
The Highland Council election, 2007: Aird and Loch Ness
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
Independent Margaret Davidson 1,215 24.6 1 1
Independent Helen Carmichael 1,125 22.8 2 1
SNP Drew Hendry 892 18.1 3 5
Liberal Democrats Hamish Wood 550 11.1 4 8
Conservative Margaret Chown 355 7.2
Independent John Martin 322 6.5
Labour Andrew MacKintosh 292 5.9
Independent Alexander Nicol 192 3.9
The Highland Council election, 2007: Inverness West
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
SNP Pauline Munro 965 28.8 1 1
Liberal Democrats Alex Graham 840 25.1 2 1
Independent Jimmy MacDonald 778 23.2 3 4
Labour Caroline Parr 536 16.0
Conservative Mary Fraser 230 6.9
The Highland Council election, 2007: Inverness Central
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
SNP Donnie Kerr 1,019 21.9 1 1
Independent Peter Corbett 776 16.6 4 9
Liberal Democrats Janet Campbell 729 15.6 2 6
Labour Bet McAllister 720 15.4 3 6
Independent William Smith 575 12.3
Conservative David Bonsor 268 5.8
Independent Ivor Bisset 252 5.4
Labour Tej Manda 237 5.1
Solidarity George MacDonald 88 1.9
The Highland Council election, 2007: Inverness Ness-side
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
Liberal Democrats David Henderson 1,127 22.5 1 1
SNP John Finnie 1,016 20.2 2 1
Independent Norrie Donald 750 14.9 3 8
Labour Fraser Parr 688 13.7 4 10
Liberal Democrats Angus Dick 468 9.3
Conservative Margaret MacDonald 361 7.1
Independent Thomas Lamont 232 4.6
Independent Steve Rodger 226 4.5
Independent Jean Slater 82 1.6
Solidarity Steve Arnott 70 1.4
The Highland Council election, 2007: Inverness Millburn
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
Labour Jimmy Gray 1,123 31.2 1 1
SNP Ian Brown 1,005 27.9 2 1
Liberal Democrats Kenneth MacLeod 510 14.2 3 6
Independent Etta Mackay 430 11.9
Conservative Donald MacKenzie 356 9.9
Independent Willie Fraser 178 4.9
The Highland Council election, 2007: Culloden and Ardersier
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
SNP Robert Wynd 1,335 28.7 1 1
Independent Roddy Balfour 1,308 28.1 2 1
Labour John Ford 816 17.5 3 4
Liberal Democrats Glynis Sinclair 663 14.3 4 4
Conservative John Ross 318 6.8
Independent Jim Ferguson 213 4.6
The Highland Council election, 2007: Nairn
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
SNP Liz MacDonald 1,576 30.7 1 1
Independent Sandy Park 855 16.6 2 4
Independent Laurie Fraser 669 13.0 3 6
Liberal Democrats Graham Marsden 535 10.4 4 8
Independent Jim Lennon 476 9.3
Labour Ron Stevenson 402 7.8
Conservative Bob Ross 356 6.9
Independent David Fraser 273 5.3
The Highland Council election, 2007: Inverness South
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
SNP Roy Pedersen 1,058 27.0 1 1
Liberal Democrats Thomas Prag 902 23.0 2 1
Labour John Holden 671 17.1 4 4
Independent Jim Crawford 524 13.4 3 4
Conservative Donald MacDonald 413 10.5
Independent Barrie Haycock 353 9.0
The Highland Council election, 2007: Badenoch and Strathspey
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
Liberal Democrats Stuart Black 1,720 31.2 1 1
SNP David Fallows 1,347 24.4 2 1
Independent Gregor Rimell 736 13.3 3 5
Conservative Les Durance 532 9.6
Independent Jaci Douglas 484 8.8 4 7
Scottish Senior Citizens Donald Scobbie 350 6.4
Independent Angela Cox 347 6.3
The Highland Council election, 2007: Fort William and Ardnamurchan
Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
Liberal Democrats Michael Foxley 1,059 20.4 1 1
Independent Donald Cameron 939 18.1 2 7
SNP Bren Gormley 778 15.0 3 10
Labour Brian Murphy 501 9.7 4 10
Conservative Andrew Baxter 372 7.2
Independent Thomas MacLennan 322 6.2
Independent Darren Woods 317 6.1
Independent Patricia Jordan 271 5.2
Independent Drew McFarlane-Slack 241 4.6
Independent Iain Thornber 195 3.8
Independent Neil Clark 194 3.7

Post-election changes

2007-2011 by-elections

Inverness West By-Election (24 April 2009)- 1 seat[1]
Party Candidate % 1st Pref Count 1
Liberal Democrats Alasdair Christie 59.6 1,503
SNP Brian ÓhEadhra 22.0 556
Labour Andrew James MacKintosh 8.3 210
Scottish Christian Dr Sheila McLaughlan 4.55 115
Conservative Donald Gunn MacDonald 4.4 111
Solidarity George MacDonald 1.1 27
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
Electorate: 6,623   Valid: 2,522   Spoilt: 18   Quota: 1,270   Turnout: 2,540
    Wick By-Election (7 April 2011)- 1 seat[2]
    Party Candidate % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6
    SNP Gail Elizabeth Ross 46.82 979 984 999 1,049 1,049 1,049
    Labour Neil MacDonald 19.56 409 410 421 463 463 463
    Independent Niall Smith 9.89 207 209 217 245 245 245
    Liberal Democrats Claire Mairi Clarke 9.85 206 211 219 236 236 236
    Independent Jim Oag 8.8 184 191 202      
    Independent Laurel Bush 3.5 73 75        
    Conservative Michael Anthony Carr 1.5 33          
    SNP gain from Independent Swing
    Electorate: 5,564   Valid: 2,091   Spoilt: 33   Quota: 1,047   Turnout: 2,124
      Tain and Easter Ross By-Election (9 June 2011)- 1 seat[3]
      Party Candidate % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5
      SNP Derek William Louden 33.2 837 860 928 1,037 1,037
      Independent Fiona Robertson 32.2 811 840 933 1,204 1,204
      Independent Ruairidh MacKenzie 18.54 467 481 547    
      Liberal Democrats Antony Gardner 12.19 307 318      
      Independent Michael Herd 3.9 97          
      Independent gain from SNP Swing
      Electorate: 6,962   Valid: 2,519   Spoilt: 17   Quota: 1,260   Turnout: 2,536
        Inverness South By-Election (3 November 2011)- 1 seat[4]
        Party Candidate % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6
        SNP Kenneth Archer Gowans 33.94 885 903 922 967 1,005 1,084
        Liberal Democrats Carolyn Ann Caddick 28.65 747 761 777 830 971 1,091
        Labour Katherine MacKenzie-Geegan 11.81 308 319 327 357 379  
        Conservative David Louis Kinsley Bonsor 11.12 290 300 336 339    
        Scottish Green Gale Louise Falconer 6.02 157 172 189      
        Scottish Christian Donald MacLeod Boyd 4.83 126 130        
        Independent David McGrath 3.60 94          
        Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing
        Electorate: 9,760   Valid: 2,607   Spoilt: 13   Quota: 1,304   Turnout: 2,620

          References

          1. ↑ "Inverness West By-Election Result" (Press release). Highland Council. 24 April 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
          2. ↑ http://www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/62BA3793-24BF-44B5-B8E5-89B4D8B85B6E/0/ward3byelectionfulanalysis.pdf
          3. ↑ http://www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/48FAF232-4472-4A27-BC8F-3075807E303F/0/Ward8byelectionfullanalysis.pdf
          4. ↑ http://www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/F39E89BF-C07B-47D4-82E8-EF76C10FC015/0/ElectionSTVspreadsheetWard20InvernessFinal.pdf
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