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2022 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election

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2022 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election
← 2017 5 May 2022 (2022-05-05) 2027 →
All 29 seats to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
15 seats needed for a majority
Turnout50.7%[note 1]
  First party Second party Third party
 
Ind
SNP
Con
Leader Roddie MacKay
(stood down) 		Gordon Murray Ranald Fraser
Party Independent SNP Conservative
Leader's seat Steòrnabhagh a Tuath Steòrnabhagh a Tuath Sgìr' Ùige agus Carlabhagh
Last election 23 seats, 77.5% 7 seats, 19.2% 1 seat, 3.4%
Seats before 22 6 1
Seats won 20 6 1
Seat change Decrease 3 Decrease 1 Steady
Popular vote 6,573 1,880 131
Percentage 74.2% 21.3% 1.5%
Swing Decrease 3.3% Increase 2.1% Decrease 1.9%
Council Leader before election

Roddie MacKay
Independent

Council Leader after election

Paul Steele
Independent

Elections to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Scottish Gaelic for 'Council of the Western Isles') took place on 5 May 2022 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. As with other Scottish council elections, it was held using the single transferable vote (STV) system – a form of proportional representation – in which multiple candidates are elected in each ward, and voters rank candidates in order of preference.

The election was the first to use the nine wards created under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 which allowed for single- and dual-member wards, with 29 councillors being elected.

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. The election also saw the first two female councillors elected to the council since 2012.

Background

[edit]

Previous election

[edit]
Main article: 2017 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election

At the previous election in 2017, independent councillors retained control of the council after taking a large majority of seats (23 out of 31). The Scottish National Party (SNP) took seven seats, an increase of one, and the Conservatives won their first-ever representation on the council.[1]

2017 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election result
Party Seats Vote share
Independents 23 77.5%
SNP 7 19.2%
Conservatives 1 3.4%

Source:[1]

Electoral system

[edit]

Local elections in Scotland use the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system – a form of proportional representation – in which voters rank candidates in order of preference. The 2022 election was the first to use the 11 wards created under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, with 29 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either two, three or four members.[2]

Composition

[edit]

Since the previous election, there were two changes in the council's composition. SNP councillor Calum MacMillan defected to the Alba Party[3] and independent councillor Roddy MacKay joined the Greens.[4] A single by-election was held and resulted in an independent hold.[5][6]

Party 2017 result Dissolution
Independents 23 22
SNP 7 6
Conservative 1 1
Green 0 1
Alba N/A 1

Retiring councillors

[edit]
Ward Party Retiring councillor
Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas SNP Donald Manford
Sgir' Uige agus Ceann a Tuath nan Loch Independent Norman A. MacDonald
Sgìre an Rubha Alasdair MacLeod
Steòrnabhagh a Deas Keith Dodson
Steòrnabhagh a Tuath Neil MacKay
Roddie MacKay
An Taobh Siar agus Nis John MacKay
Kenny J. MacLeod

Source:[1][7]

Boundary changes

[edit]

Following the implementation of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, a review of the boundaries was undertaken in North Ayrshire, Argyll and Bute, Highland, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands and the Western Isles. The act allowed for single- or two-member wards to be created to allow for better representation of island communities. As a result, the number wards was increased from nine to 11 but the number of councillors was reduced from 31 to 29. The An Taobh Siar agus Nis ward was the only ward to remain with the same boundaries but the number of councillors was reduced from four to three. There were changes to the boundaries for the Loch a Tuath, Sgìre an Rubha, Steòrnabhagh a Tuath and Steòrnabhagh a Deas wards but the number of councillors remained the same for each except Sgìre an Rubha which was reduced to two seats. New dual-member wards were created for Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh, Na Hearadh, Sgìr' Ùige agus Carlabhagh, Sgìre nan Loch and Uibhist a Tuath.[8]

Candidates

[edit]

The total number of candidates fell from 60 in 2017 to 50. The number of independent candidates (37) outstripped any individual party but fell by 11 from the previous election. The SNP stood nine candidates; the same as they had in 2017 and more than any other party. The Conservatives stood just two candidates, down from three in 2017. For the first time, the Greens (one) and the Alba Party (one) fielded candidates in a Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election.[1][7] Following the result of the previous election which saw no women elected to the council, there was a drive to increase the number of women standing. In total, eight women stood across the 11 wards – an increase of one from 2017.[9]

Controversy

[edit]

After nominations closed on 30 March 2022, two wards – Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh and Sgìr' Ùige agus Carlabhagh – received less candidates than seats available. Both are dual-member wards and only one person stood for election in each. As a result, both candidates – along with the two candidates who stood for election in the dual-member Sgìre an Rubha ward – were automatically elected without a poll being conducted. The lack of interest in standing for election was called a "threat to local democracy" by the Greens. Across Scotland, 18 councillors were automatically elected because the number of candidates was not enough to trigger an election. During the 2017 local elections in Scotland, just three council wards were uncontested, but votes were held in every ward in both 2007 and 2012 – the first elections to use multi-member wards and STV. By-elections were organised in Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh and Sgìr' Ùige agus Carlabhagh to elect a second councillor. Public disinterest in standing for election to local councils has been linked to the "ridiculous" size of some local authorities and the low pay councillors receive for their work.[10][11][12]

Results

[edit]
2022 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election result
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Independent 20 8 11 Decrease 3 69.0 74.2 6,573 Decrease 3.3
  SNP 6 1 2 Decrease 1 20.7 21.3 1,891 Increase 2.1
  Conservative 1 0 0 Steady 3.4 1.5 131 Decrease 1.9
  Scottish Green 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 2.0 176 New
  Alba 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 1.0 92 New
  Vacant 2 2 0 Increase 2 6.9 N/A N/A N/A
Total 29 8,863

Source:[7]

Notes:

  • Votes are the sum of first preference votes across all council wards. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 4 May 2017. This is because STV has an element of proportionality which is not present unless multiple seats are being elected. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at the dissolution of Scotland's councils.[13][14]
  • Following boundary changes, the total number of seats was reduced from 31 to 29.[8]

Ward summary

[edit]
Results of the 2022 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election by ward
Ward % Cllrs % Cllrs % Cllrs % Cllrs Total
Cllrs
Independents SNP Conservative Others
Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh — 1 1[A]
Uibhist a Deas, Èirisgeigh agus Beinn na Faoghla 62.6 2 16.9 1 20.5 0 3
Uibhist a Tuath 80.2 2 19.8 0 2
Na Hearadh 81.9 2 18.1 0 2
Sgìre nan Loch 90.5 2 9.5 0 2
Sgìr' Ùige agus Carlabhagh — 1 1[A]
An Taobh Siar agus Nis 70.8 2 29.2 1 3
Loch a Tuath 78.1 2 21.9 1 3
Steòrnabhagh a Tuath 76.7 3 23.3 1 4
Steòrnabhagh a Deas 66.1 2 33.9 2 4
Sgìre an Rubha — 2 2
Total 74.2 20 21.3 6 1.5 1 3.0 0 27[B]
Notes
  1. ^
    A: Only one candidate stood for election in the two-member Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh and Sgìr' Ùige agus Carlabhagh wards. A by-election was held on 30 June 2022 to elect a second member (see below).
  2. ^
    B: As a result of less candidates standing for election than seats to be filled in two wards, only 27 councillors were elected on 5 May 2022 instead of 29.

Source:[7]

Ward results

[edit]

At the previous election, the Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh; Uibhist a Deas, Èirisgeigh agus Beinn na Faoghla and Uibhist a Tuath wards were represented by two wards: Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas and Beinn Na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath. The two wards elected seven councillors in total including five independents and two SNP. The newly created wards elected five independents and one SNP councillor while one seat was left vacant due to a lack of candidates. This resulted in a loss of one seat for the SNP. In total, three of the sitting independent councillors retained their seats and two new councillors were elected. In 2017, Green candidate Roddy MacKay and Alba candidate Calum MacMillan were elected as independents.

Similarly, the Na Hearadh; Sgìre nan Loch and Sgìr' Ùige agus Carlabhagh wards were represented by two wards: Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas nan Loch and Sgir' Uige agus Ceann a Tuath nan Loch. The two wards elected six councillors in total including four independents, one SNP and one Conservative. The newly created wards elected four independents and one Conservative councillor while one seat was left vacant due to a lack of candidates. This resulted in a loss of one seat for the SNP. In total, three of the sitting independent councillors retained their seats and one new councillor was elected.

Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh

[edit]
Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh – 2 seats
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Kenneth J. MacLean Unopposed
Registered electors
Independent win (new seat)

Source:[15]

Uibhist a Deas, Èirisgeigh agus Beinn na Faoghla

[edit]
Uibhist a Deas, Èirisgeigh agus Beinn na Faoghla – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Independent Paul F. Steele[note 2] 21.1 275 290 305 352        
SNP Susan Thomson 16.9 221 230 243 262 266 332    
Independent Iain M. MacLeod[note 3] 13.6 177 188 205 250 255 302 303 384
Scottish Green Roddy MacKay[note 3] 13.5 176 182 186 197 201      
Independent Donnie Steele 11.9 155 161 180 200 206 253 254  
Independent Iain A. MacNeil[note 2] 10.6 138 147 159          
Alba Calum MacMillan[note 2] 7.0 92 98            
Independent Andrew V. Walker 5.5 72              
Electorate: 2,541   Valid: 1,306   Spoilt: 36   Quota: 327   Turnout: 52.8%  

Source:[7]

Uibhist a Tuath

[edit]
Uibhist a Tuath – 2 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1
Independent Mustapha Hocine 41.8 276
Independent Uisdean Robertson[note 3] 38.4 254
Conservative Kenny Barker 19.8 131
Electorate: 1,360   Valid: 661   Spoilt: 8   Quota: 221   Turnout: 49.2%  

Source:[7]

Na Hearadh

[edit]
Na Hearadh – 2 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
Independent Grant Fulton[note 4] 50.3 372  
Independent Paul Finnegan[note 4] 31.5 233 301
SNP John G. Mitchell[note 4] 18.1 134 171
Electorate: 1,553   Valid: 739   Spoilt: 22   Quota: 247   Turnout: 49.0%  

Source:[7]

Sgìre nan Loch

[edit]
Sgìre nan Loch – 2 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
Independent Angus Morrison[note 5] 49.9 425  
Independent Robert MacKenzie 30.8 262 336
Independent Annie MacDonald 9.8 83 109
SNP Norman Smith 9.5 81 87
Electorate: 1,458   Valid: 851   Spoilt: 4   Quota: 284   Turnout: 58.6%  

Source:[7]

Sgìr' Ùige agus Carlabhagh

[edit]
Sgìr' Ùige agus Carlabhagh – 2 seats
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Ranald Fraser[note 5] Unopposed
Registered electors
Conservative win (new seat)

Source:[15]

An Taobh Siar agus Nis

[edit]

The SNP and independent councillor John N. MacLeod retained the seats they had won at the previous election, while independent candidate Donald MacSween gained a seat. Following boundary changes, the number of councillors elected was reduced from four to three. Former councillors John MacKay and Kenny J. MacLeod stood down before the election.

An Taobh Siar agus Nis – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
Independent John N. MacLeod (incumbent) 25.0 346 356        
SNP Kenny MacLeod (incumbent) 21.8 302 365        
Independent Donald MacSween 19.6 271 282 288 290 339 479
Independent Dorothy Morrison 16.8 233 242 248 250 283  
Independent Donald J. MacLeod 9.5 131 133 135 138    
SNP Finlay J. MacLeod 7.4 102          
Electorate: 2,552   Valid: 1,414   Spoilt: 29   Quota: 347   Turnout: 55.4%  

Source:[7]

Loch a Tuath

[edit]

The SNP and independent councillors Donald F. Crichton and Calum MacLean retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

Loch a Tuath – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
Independent Donald F. Crichton (incumbent) 41.1 461  
Independent Calum MacLean (incumbent) 22.2 249 330
SNP John A. MacIver (incumbent) 21.9 246 281
Independent Catriona Murray 11.2 126 168
Independent Hazel G. Mansfield 3.5 39 46
Electorate: 2,216   Valid: 1,121   Spoilt: 27   Quota: 281   Turnout: 51.8%  

Source:[7]

Steòrnabhagh a Tuath

[edit]

The SNP and independent councillor Iain M. MacAulay retained the seats they had won at the previous election, while independent candidates Duncan MacInnes and Malcolm K. MacDonald gained a seat from former councillors Roddie MacKay and Neil MacKay who stood down at the election.

Steòrnabhagh a Tuath – 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
SNP Gordon Murray (incumbent) 23.3 315                
Independent Duncan MacInnes 20.0 271                
Independent Iain M. MacAulay (incumbent) 17.9 242 252 256 259 272        
Independent Malcolm K. MacDonald 14.8 201 210 213 215 226 227 243 265 328
Independent Calum B. MacKay 9.9 134 137 139 141 147 148 162 179  
Independent Tracy Dinner 4.2 57 61 61 71 74 74 80    
Independent Malcolm I. McTaggart 4.1 55 57 60 63 65 65      
Independent Willie MacRae 3.3 44 46 46 49          
Independent Maxi MacNeill 1.7 23 25 25            
Independent John M. MacMillan 0.9 12 13              
Electorate: 3,097   Valid: 1,354   Spoilt: 25   Quota: 271   Turnout: 44.5%  

Source:[7]

Steòrnabhagh a Deas

[edit]

The SNP and independent councillor Angus McCormack retained the seats they had won at the previous election, while the SNP and independent candidate George Murray gained a seat from former councillors Charlie Nicolson and Keith Dodson who stood down at the election.

Steòrnabhagh a Deas – 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Independent George Murray 25.4 367            
SNP Rae MacKenzie (incumbent) 19.9 287 296          
Independent Angus McCormack (incumbent) 19.6 283 300          
SNP Frances Murray 14.0 203 213 215 217 231 246 301
Independent Archie MacDonald 7.7 111 120 122 122 158 206  
Independent Callum I. MacMillan 7.0 101 113 115 116 144    
Independent Frank S. Burns 6.5 94 102 104 104      
Electorate: 3,105   Valid: 1,446   Spoilt: 30   Quota: 290   Turnout: 47.5%  

Source:[7]

Sgìre an Rubha

[edit]

Independent councillors Norrie T. MacDonald and Finlay M. Stewart retained the seats they had won at the previous election. Following boundary changes, the number of councillors elected was reduced from three to two. Former councillor Alasdair MacLeod stood down before the election.

Sgìre an Rubha – 2 seats
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Norrie T. MacDonald (incumbent) Unopposed
Independent Finlay M. Stewart (incumbent) Unopposed
Registered electors

Source:[15]

Aftermath

[edit]

For the first time in a decade, female councillors were elected to the council. SNP councillors Susan Thomson and Frances Murray became the first women to serve on the council since Catherine MacDonald was elected in 2012.[16]

Three candidates – namely Cllr Kenneth MacLeod, Cllr Paul Steele and Cllr Norman MacDonald – put themselves forward for the position of council leader and, following the cut of a deck of cards, Cllr Steele was elected. Cllr MacLeod was elected as convener on the same basis and Cllr Duncan MacInnes was elected as the first depute leader of the council.[17]

On 13 September 2024, Cllr Malcolm K. MacDonald, councillor for Steòrnabhagh a Tuath, announced that he had joined the Liberal Democrats becoming their first ever representative on the council.[18]

June 2022 by-elections

[edit]

By-elections were called shortly after the election in Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh and Sgìr' Ùige agus Carlabhagh following the lack of nominations received for the wards at the full election of the council. The by-elections were held on 30 June 2022 and counted by hand the following day.[7][19]

Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh by-election (30 June 2022) – 1 seat
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
Independent Iain A. MacNeil 49.3 189 197
Independent Gerard Macdonald 47.3 181 182
Independent Calum Macmillan 3.4 13  
Electorate: 971   Valid: 383   Spoilt: 2   Quota: 193   Turnout: 39.6  

Source:[7][20]

Sgìr' Ùige agus Carlabhagh by-election (30 June 2022) – 1 seat
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
Independent Norman M. MacDonald 35.4 222 222 230 238 256 278
Liberal Democrats Jamie Dobson 20.4 128 128 129 142 159 220
Independent Sophie B. Brown 18.0 113 113 114 119 148  
SNP Laura F. Cameron-Lewis 15.3 96 97 97 112    
Scottish Green Anne E. Edwards 9.1 57 57 57      
Independent Donald J. MacLeod 1.8 11 11        
Independent Iain J. MacKinnon 0.2 1          
Electorate: 1,329   Valid: 628   Spoilt: 6   Quota: 315   Turnout: 47.7%  

Source:[7][21]

Na Hearadh by-election

[edit]

In May 2024, Na Hearadh councillor Grant Fulton resigned citing displeasure about the way the council was run.[22] A by-election was held on 4 July 2024, the same day as the 2024 United Kingdom general election, and was won by independent candidate Kenny MacLeod.[23]

Na Hearadh by-election (4 July 2024) – 1 seat
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1
Independent Kenny MacLeod 95.4 878
Scottish Family Steven Welsh 4.6 53
Electorate: 1,484   Valid: 931   Spoilt: 11   Quota: 467   Turnout: 62.7%  

Source:[23][24]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Excludes uncontested wards.
  2. ^ a b c Sitting councillor for Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eiriosgaigh agus Uibhist a Deas.
  3. ^ a b c Sitting councillor for Beinn na Faoghla agus Uibhist a Tuath.
  4. ^ a b c Sitting councillor for Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas nan Loch.
  5. ^ a b Sitting councillor for Sgir' Uige agus Ceann a Tuath nan Loch.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Teale, Andrew. "Local Elections Results 2017 Eilean Siar". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Notice of election". Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. 14 March 2022. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  3. ^ MacInnes, John A. (1 April 2021). "Councillor has joined Alba party citing it's his duty and a privilege". Stornoway Gazette. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  4. ^ Young, Gregor (30 June 2021). "Independent Western Isles councillor switches to the Scottish Greens". The National. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Western Isles Councillor steps down". Stornoway Gazette. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Local Government By-Election - 8 October 2020 Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas nan Loch Ward Results". Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. 9 October 2020. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Faulds, Allan. "Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 2022". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Review of Electoral Arrangements Na h-Eileanan an Iar Council Area Final Proposals" (PDF). Boundaries Scotland. May 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  9. ^ Carrell, Severein (31 March 2022). "Only eight women stand in all-male Western Isles council elections". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  10. ^ Bhadani, Anita (31 March 2022). "'Threat to local democracy' as councillors elected without votes". The National. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  11. ^ Learmonth, Andrew (31 March 2022). "Eighteen councillors already elected in Scotland's local elections". The Herald. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  12. ^ Bowie, Justin; Philip, Andy (1 April 2022). "18 councillors are already elected ahead of May vote – here's why you should be alarmed". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  13. ^ Faulds, Allan. "The Local STV Voting System Explained". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Single Transferable Vote". Electoral Reform Society. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  15. ^ a b c "Notice Of Uncontested Election". Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. 30 March 2022. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Scottish election results 2022: Isles' first female councillors since 2012". BBC News. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  17. ^ Glen, Lousie (17 May 2022). "Leader of Western Isles Council chosen by a cut of the cards – as one of first female councillors in decade takes committee position". Press and Journal. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  18. ^ MacLeod, Murray (13 September 2024). "A first for the LibDems in the islands". Stornoway Gazette. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Notice of Election". Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  20. ^ "Ward 01 Declaration of Results". Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. 1 July 2022. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  21. ^ "Ward 06 Declaration of Results". Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. 1 July 2022. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  22. ^ Wilson, Brian (3 May 2024). "Councillor resigns – Harris house sale was "the last straw"". Stornoway Gazette. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  23. ^ a b "Na-Hearadh Results". Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  24. ^ "Notice of Poll". Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
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