2017 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election

2017 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election
All 31 seats to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar; 16 seats needed for a majority
Council Leader before election; Angus Campbell; Independent	Council Leader after election ; Roddie MacKay; Independent

Elections to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Scottish Gaelic for 'Council of the Western Isles') were held on 4 May 2017, the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. As with other Scottish council elections, it was held using single transferable vote (STV) – a form of proportional representation – in which multiple candidates are elected in each ward and voters rank candidates in order of preference.

As with previous elections in the area, independent councillors retained a large majority of the seats on the council and retained control of the administration. No women were elected for the first time in the council's history, resulting in it becoming Scotland's only local authority without any female representation.^[1]

Election result

2017 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election result
Party		Seats	Gains	Losses	Net gain/loss	Seats %	Votes %	Votes	+/−
	Independent	23	2	0	2	74.2	77.5	9,248	5.9
	SNP	7	1	1		22.6	19.2	2,287	4.7
	Conservative	1	1	0	1	3.2	3.4	402	New
Total		31						11,937

Source: ^[2]

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. The net gain/loss and percentage changes compare with the previous Scottish local elections on 3 May 2007. These figures may differ from other published sources showing gains/losses in comparison with the seats held at the dissolution of the council in 2012.

Ward results

Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas

The SNP retained the seat they had won at the previous election and gained one seat while independent candidates Iain MacNeil and Paul Steele also gained a seat. Former independent councillors David Blaney, Donnie Steele and Labour who did not contest the election. In 2012, independent candidate Ronald MacKinnon was elected as a Labour candidate.

Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas – 4 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
	SNP	Donald Manford (incumbent)	38.3	531
	SNP	Calum MacMillan	10.0	138	278
	Independent	Iain MacNeil	15.7	217	240	240	246	264	290
	Independent	Paul Steele	11.6	161	170	170	172	192	253	258	324
	Independent	David Blaney (incumbent)	8.1	112	121	121	129	155	175	177
	Independent	Donnie Steele (incumbent)	7.9	110	129	129	132	155
	Independent	Ronald MacKinnon (incumbent)	6.4	89	101	101	109
	Independent	Gerry MacLeod	2.09	29	30	30
Electorate: 2,506 Valid: 1,387 Spoilt: 44 Quota: 278 Turnout: 57.1%

Source: ^[2]

Beinn na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath

Independent councillor Uisdean Robertson retained the seat he had won at the previous election while independent candidates Iain MacLeod and Roddy MacKay gained seats from former independent councillor Neil Beaton and Labour who did not contest the election. In 2015, former independent councillor Andrew Walker was elected in a by-election.

Beinn na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath – 3 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
	Independent	Uisdean Robertson (incumbent)	28.8	355
	Independent	Iain MacLeod	19.2	237	242	247	261	275	318
	Independent	Roddy MacKay	16.0	197	202	209	215	236	261	264	342
	SNP	Roslyn MacPherson	12.6	156	159	162	170	180	201	202
	Independent	Andrew Walker (incumbent)	8.3	102	115	126	139	161
	Independent	Neil Beaton (incumbent)	5.8	71	79	89	97
	Independent	John MacLeod	5.3	65	67	74
	Conservative	Ken MacBrayne	4.1	51	51
Electorate: 2,342 Valid: 1,234 Spoilt: 26 Quota: 309 Turnout: 53.8%

Source: ^[2]

Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas nan Loch

The SNP retained the seat they had won at the previous election while independent candidates Finlay Cunningham and Paul Finnegan gained a seat from former independent councillor Catherine MacDonald and Labour who did not contest the election. In 2012, independent candidate D. J. MacRae was elected as a Labour candidate.

Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas nan Loch – 3 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
	Independent	Finlay Cunningham	33.2	381
	Independent	Paul Finnegan	16.5	189	214	215	219	224	239	261	359
	SNP	John Mitchell	15.0	172	179	179	181	220	228	236	278
	Independent	Catherine McDonald (incumbent)	14.5	166	187	187	191	195	199	218
	Independent	Sheena MacLeod	7.0	80	91	91	95	98	126
	Independent	Denise Wilson	5.6	64	66	70	72	73
	SNP	Fiona MacLeod	4.1	47	50	51	55
	Independent	D. J. MacRae (incumbent)	3.7	42	43	45
	Independent	Alex Smith	0.6	7	7
Electorate: 1,860 Valid: 1,148 Spoilt: 28 Quota: 288 Turnout: 63.2%

Source: ^[2]

Sgir' Uige agus Ceann a Tuath nan Loch

Independent councillor Norman MacDonald retained the seat he had won at the previous election while the Conservatives and independent councillor Angus Morrison gained a seat from the SNP and former independent councillor Cudig MacLeod. In 2012, former Cllr Morrison was elected in a by-election.

Sgir' Uige agus Ceann a Tuath nan Loch – 3 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1	2	3	4
	Independent	Angus Morrison (incumbent)	48.4	679
	Independent	Norman MacDonald (incumbent)	19.3	271	352
	Conservative	Ranald Fraser	19.1	268	332	332	471
	Independent	Cudig MacLeod (incumbent)	13.3	186	283	283
Electorate: 2,417 Valid: 1,404 Spoilt: 25 Quota: 352 Turnout: 59.1%

Source: ^[2]

Sgìre an Rubha

Independent councillor Alasdair MacLeod retained the seat he had won at the previous election while independent candidates Norrie MacDonald and Finlay Stewart gained a seat from former independent councillors Zena Stewart and Norman MacLeod.

Sgìre an Rubha – 3 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1	2	3	4	5	6
	Independent	Norrie MacDonald	32.0	354
	Independent	Alasdair MacLeod (incumbent)	29.7	329
	Independent	Finlay Stewart	13.6	151	169	191	213	267	338
	Independent	Tony Robson	8.2	91	113	124	141	162
	Independent	John MacMillan	9.0	100	113	120	133
	Conservative	Don MacDonald	7.4	83	88	92
Electorate: 1,905 Valid: 1,108 Spoilt: 26 Quota: 278 Turnout: 59.5%

Source: ^[2]

Steòrnabhagh a Deas

The SNP as well as independent councillors Charlie Nicolson and Angus McCormack retained the seats they had won at the previous election while independent candidate Keith Dodson gained a seat from former independent councillor Angus Campbell.

Steòrnabhagh a Deas – 4 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
	Independent	Charlie Nicolson (incumbent)	49.25	755
	SNP	Rae MacKenzie (incumbent)	16.3	250	345
	Independent	Angus McCormack (incumbent)	10.8	165	290	299	308
	Independent	Keith Dodson	10.2	156	207	214	215	215	229	276	331
	Independent	Shonnie MacRitchie	5.0	77	161	165	170	171	190	196
	Independent	Caroline Brick	5.0	76	81	84	86	86	92
	Independent	Derek McPherson	3.1	47	63	66	68	68
	Independent	Campbell McKenzie	0.5	7	17	18
Electorate: 2,984 Valid: 1,533 Spoilt: 43 Quota: 307 Turnout: 52.8%

Source: ^[2]

Steòrnabhagh a Tuath

The SNP as well as independent councillors Roddie MacKay and Iain MacAulay retained the seats they had won at the previous election while independent candidate Neil MacKay gained a seat from former independent councillor Iain MacKenzie.

Steòrnabhagh a Tuath – 4 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1	2	3	4	5
	SNP	Gordon Murray (incumbent)	34.4	486
	Independent	Roddie MacKay (incumbent)	28.2	398
	Independent	Iain MacAulay (incumbent)	17.6	249	321
	Independent	Neil MacKay	10.3	145	190	251	269	357
	Independent	Lesley McKenzie	9.5	134	163	176	183
Electorate: 2,993 Valid: 1,412 Spoilt: 28 Quota: 283 Turnout: 48.1%

Source: ^[2]

Loch a Tuath

The SNP as well as independent councillor Donald Crichton retained the seats they had two at the previous election while independent candidate Calum MacLean gained a seat from former independent councillor Catriona Stewart.

Loch a Tuath – 3 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1	2	3	4	5
	Independent	Donald Crichton (incumbent)	46.0	590
	Independent	Calum MacLean	17.9	230	344
	SNP	John A. MacIver (incumbent)	17.9	230	271	276	298	335
	Independent	Iain MacIver	6.1	78	115	119	137	170
	Independent	Ruaraidh Ferguson	6.2	80	110	113	132
	Independent	Allan MacLachlan	5.8	74	98	104
Electorate: 2,255 Valid: 1,282 Spoilt: 35 Quota: 321 Turnout: 58.4%

Source: ^[2]

An Taobh Siar agus Nis

The SNP as well as independent councillor John MacKay retained the seats they had won at the previous election while independent candidates John N. MacLeod and Kenny J. MacLeod gained a seat from former independent councillors Iain Morrison and Kenneth Murray. In 2015, Alistair MacLennan and Cllr MacLeod were elected in separate by-elections.

An Taobh Siar agus Nis – 4 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1	2	3	4	5	6
	Independent	John N. MacLeod (incumbent)	23.7	339
	SNP	Kenneth MacLeod (incumbent)	19.4	277	286
	Independent	Kenny J. MacLeod	16.7	239	260	261	310
	Independent	John MacKay (incumbent)	15.4	220	224	224	254	261	339
	Independent	Alistair MacLennan (incumbent)	13.5	193	200	201	238	247
	Independent	Malcolm McTaggart	11.3	161	164	164
Electorate: 2,541 Valid: 1,429 Spoilt: 35 Quota: 286 Turnout: 57.6%

Source: ^[2]

Changes since 2017

On 23 July 2020, Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas nan Loch Independent Councillor Finlay Cunningham stepped down from the Council. A by-election to replace him was held on 8 October 2020 and was won by Independent candidate Grant Fulton.^[3]

Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas nan Loch by-election (8 October 2020) – 1 seat
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1
	Independent	Grant Fulton	74.9	536
	Independent	Annie MacDonald	22.1	158
	Independent	Kris O'Donnell	3.1	22
Electorate: 1,912 Valid: 716 Spoilt: 5 Quota: 359 Turnout: 37.7%

Source: ^[4]

Ward areas in English

Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas (ward): Barra, Vatersay, Eriskay and South Uist
Beinn na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath (ward): Benbecula and North Uist
Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas Nan Loch (ward): Harris and South Lewis
Sgir' Uige agus Ceann a Tuath Nan Loch (ward): Mid Lewis
Sgire an Rubha (ward): Eye Peninsula (locally known as "Point")
Steòrnabhagh a Deas (ward): Stornoway South
Steòrnabhagh a Tuath (ward): Stornoway North
Loch a Tuath (ward): Broad Bay
An Taobh Siar agus Nis (ward): North West Lewis (West Side & Ness)

References

^ "Number of women councillors in Scotland rises but remains low". The Scotsman.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Teale, Andrew. "Local Elections Results 2017 Eilean Siar". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
^ "Western Isles Councillor steps down". Stornoway Gazette.
^ Teale, Andrew. "Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas nan Loch Ward — Eilean Siar". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 1 November 2024.

External links

[1] "Number of women councillors in Scotland rises but remains low". The Scotsman.

[LEAP-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Teale, Andrew. "Local Elections Results 2017 Eilean Siar". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 1 November 2024.

[3] "Western Isles Councillor steps down". Stornoway Gazette.

[4] Teale, Andrew. "Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas nan Loch Ward — Eilean Siar". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 1 November 2024.

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