2012 Scottish local government election
2012 Aberdeenshire Council election
First party
Second party
Third party
Leader
Richard Thomson
Jim Gifford
Karen Clark
Party
SNP
Conservative
Liberal Democrats
Last election
22 seats, 34.5%
14 seats, 20.8%
24 seats, 25.2%
Seats won
28
14
12
Seat change
6
12
Popular vote
27,336
14,907
10,797
Percentage
38.9%
21.2%
15.4%
Swing
4.4%
0.4%
9.8%
Fourth party
Fifth party
Sixth party
Leader
Norman Smith
Alison Evison
Martin Ford
Party
Independent
Labour
Scottish Green
Last election
8 seats, 12.7%
0 seats, 5.4%
0 seats, 1.1%
Seats won
11
2
1
Seat change
3
2
1
Popular vote
10,320
4,785
1,681
Percentage
14.7%
6.8%
2.4%
Swing
2.0%
1.4%
1.3%
2012 Aberdeenshire Council Election Results Map
Elections to Aberdeenshire Council were held on 3 May 2012, on the same day as the other Scottish local government elections . The election used the 19 wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 , with each ward electing three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation , with 68 Councillors being elected.
The 2007 election saw the Liberal Democrats form a coalition on the Council with the Scottish Conservatives .
The 2012 election saw the SNP gain an additional 6 seats and become the largest party on the Council, supplanting the Lib Dems. The Tories retained their 14 seats on the Council and as a result became the second largest party. The Lib Dems lost half their Councillors falling from 24 to 12 seats. Independents also increased their overall numbers to 11 seats while Labour and the Scottish Green Party won seats in Aberdeenshire for the first time.
Following the election a Conservative-Lib Dem-Independent administration was formed. However, on 8 June 2015, a new administration was formed by the SNP and a 'Progressive Alliance' between Scottish Labour and 2 Progressive Independent councillors, who had been members of the previous administration.
Background
Previous election
At the previous election in 2007 the Liberal Democrats won 24 seats, falling 11 seats short of an overall majority. The SNP won 22 seats, falling 13 seats short of an overall majority. Both the Conservative and Independent groups fell well short of an overall majority.
Source:[ 1]
Composition
There were 2 by-elections in the 2007-12 term. One was in the Troup ward, which was held by the SNP. The other by-election was in the Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside ward, which resulted in a Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative.
Results
2012 Aberdeenshire Council election result
Party
Seats
Gains
Losses
Net gain/loss
Seats %
Votes %
Votes
+/−
SNP
28
7
1
6
41.2
38.9
27,336
4.4
Conservative
14
2
2
20.6
21.2
14,907
0.4
Liberal Democrats
12
0
12
12
17.7
15.4
10,797
9.8
Independent
11
3
0
3
16.2
14.7
10,320
2.0
Labour
2
2
0
2
2.9
6.8
4,785
1.4
Scottish Green
1
1
0
1
1.5
2.4
1,681
1.3
Scottish Christian
0
0
0
0.0
0.7
460
New
Total
68
70,286
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 2007. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.
Source:[ 2]
Ward results
Banff and District
2007: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent
2012: 2xSNP; 1xCon
2007-2012: SNP and Con gain one seat from Independent and Lib Dem
Banff and District - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
SNP
John B. Cox (incumbent )†††††††††
31.24
1,037
SNP
Ian Gray (incumbent )††††††††
24.19
803
959.7
Conservative
Mike Roy
23.13
768
780.4
793.5
880.3
Liberal Democrats
Alistair Francis Mason
11.12
369
377.8
405.8
508.6
Scottish Christian
Colin Murray
10.30
342
350.4
375.4
Electorate: 8,661 Valid: 3,319 Spoilt: 50 Quota: 830 Turnout: 3,369 (38.32%)
Troup
2007: 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xIndependent
2012: 1xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xCon
2007-2012 Change: No change
Troup - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
SNP
Hamish Partridge †††††††
25.44
723
Conservative
John Duncan (incumbent ) †††
20.87
593
593.5
604.5
615.5
645.6
709.6
777.6
Independent
Mark Findlater ††††††
15.52
441
441.1
446.2
479.2
520.2
683.3
796.9
SNP
Bob Watson (incumbent )
14.25
405
414.2
421.2
438.4
467.4
550.6
Independent
Sydney Mair (incumbent )
12.10
344
344.5
346.5
366.5
393.6
Labour
Alan Duffill
6.51
185
185.2
195.2
199.2
Independent
Bill Rebecca
3.34
95
95.5
108.5
Liberal Democrats
Sandy Leslie
1.97
56
56.1
Electorate: 7,609 Valid: 2,842 Spoilt: 37 Quota: 711 Turnout: 2,879 (37.35%)
Fraserburgh and District
2007: 3xSNP; 1xIndependent
2012: 2xSNP; 2xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: Independent gain one seat from SNP
Fraserburgh and District - 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
SNP
Brian Topping (incumbent )
25.1
1,056
SNP
Charles Cummin Buchan
16.72
704
787.7
792.9
802.1
817.7
1,040.6
Independent
Ian Tait (incumbent )
14.65
617
637.2
644.6
666.9
723.6
733.9
759.3
836.1
993.3
Independent
Michael Watt (incumbent )
9.90
417
432.3
446.3
466.5
515.5
528.9
547.7
627.9
783.6
Independent
Doreen Mair
8.81
371
379.5
410.5
436.7
470.9
483.3
498.3
625.9
Liberal Democrats
Ann Bell
7.65
322
326.8
334.0
361.4
420.1
427.3
446.3
Conservative
Bob Sim
6.15
259
261.6
266.6
275.6
SNP
Ricky Sheaffe-Greene
4.89
206
270.3
273.5
280.7
282.7
Labour
Ashara Taylor
4.08
172
173.6
176.8
Independent
George Esslemont
2.07
87
88.2
Electorate: 11,117 Valid: 4,211 Spoilt: 65 Quota: 843 Turnout: 4,276 (37.88%)
Central Buchan
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xCon
2012 2xSNP; 1xCon; 1xIndependent
2007-2012: Change: SNP gain one seat from Independent
Central Buchan - 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
SNP
Jim Ingram
29.23
1,141
Independent
Norman Smith (incumbent )
20.70
808
Conservative
Edie Chapman
19.9
780
791.7
SNP
Lenny Pirie
11.68
456
746.9
751.4
752.6
768.1
801.0
Liberal Democrats
Anne Simpson
5.64
220
233.3
236.6
238.5
258.2
302.8
Labour
Carol Donald
5.25
205
215.4
216.6
226.4
Independent
Hugh Livingstone
4.82
188
198.4
206.1
207.9
256.2
302.8
Independent
David S. Ross
2.72
106
112.6
118.6
Electorate: 10,231 Valid: 3,904 Spoilt: 50 Quota: 781 Turnout: 3,954 (38.16%)
Peterhead North and Rattray
2007: 2xSNP; 1xInd; 1xCon
2012: 2xSNP; 2xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: Independent gain one seat from Con
Peterhead North and Rattray - 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
SNP
Anne Allan (incumbent )
17.35
618
620
628
647
812
Independent
Alan S. Buchan (incumbent )
16.47
587
592
623
676
704
716.9
SNP
Fiona McRae (incumbent )
14.9
534
544
555
561
717
Independent
Alan Gardiner
14.85
529
548
569
625
646
654.2
654.5
656.5
827.1
Conservative
Sheena Drunsfield
12.55
447
455
470
504
525
531.3
531.5
532.1
SNP
Michael Doig
11.01
394
400
406
430
Independent
Stephen William Calder
5.42
193
203
223
Labour
Thomas Phillips
4.72
168
181
Liberal Democrats
Graham Smith
2.58
92
Electorate: 10,787 Valid: 3,562 Spoilt: 62 Quota: 713 Turnout: 3,624 (33.02%)
Peterhead South and Cruden
2007: 2xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012: 2xSNP; 1xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: Independent gain one seat from Lib Dem
Peterhead South and Cruden - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
SNP
Stephen William Smith (incumbent )
34.05
1,030
SNP
Stuart Wallace Pratt (incumbent )
18.64
564
765.2
Independent
Sam Coull (incumbent )
15.17
459
477.0
478.6
520.7
603.6
Independent
Tom Malone
13.82
418
426.5
427.2
592.3
693.9
998.6
Conservative
Steve Owen
9.59
290
296.9
297.2
319.5
Independent
Peter Stevenson
8.73
264
277.3
278.2
Electorate: 8,621 Valid: 3,025 Spoilt: 64 Quota: 757 Turnout: 3,089 (35.09%)
Turriff and District
2007: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent
2012: 1xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: No change
Turriff and District - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
SNP
Sandy Duncan (incumbent )
34.24
1,165
Liberal Democrats
Anne Robertson (incumbent )
18.43
627
652.6
664.7
842.1
999.0
Independent
Alisan Keith Norrie (incumbent )
16.58
564
590.4
609.9
808.8
1,016.9
Conservative
Jayne James Duff
15.93
542
556.6
569.8
SNP
Colin Graham Mair
12.70
432
658.4
667.7
742.1
Scottish Christian
Norman Alexander Ogston
2.12
72
74.9
Electorate: 9,157 Valid: 3,402 Spoilt: 53 Quota: 851 Turnout: 3,455 (37.15%)
2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xCon
2012: 2xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xCon
2007-2012 Change: SNP and Independent gain one seat from Lib Dem
Mid-Formartine - 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
SNP
Allan Hendry (incumbent )
29.12
1,293
Independent
Paul Johnston (incumbent )
21.12
938
Conservative
Jim Gifford (incumbent )
16.24
721
735.1
740.8
825.9
895.3
Liberal Democrats
John Kevin Loveday (incumbent )
9.89
439
458.7
467.4
542.6
658.7
661.1
Labour
Braden Davy
8.92
396
411.9
416.9
463.8
Independent
Jeff Goodhall
8.11
360
371.6
387.1
SNP
Cryle Shand
6.62
294
606.5
612.4
679.6
753.0
753.6
938.0
Electorate: 11,843 Valid: 4,441 Spoilt: 39 Quota: 889 Turnout: 4,480 (37.50%)
Ellon and District
2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xCon
2012: 2xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
Ellon and District - 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
SNP
Rob Merson (incumbent )
39.04
1,644
Conservative
Gillian Louise Owen (incumbent )
16.74
705
748.8
761.6
839.4
867.1
Liberal Democrats
Isobel Davidson (incumbent )
16.36
689
760.6
800.9
918.6
SNP
Richard Thomson
11.26
474
1,055.3
Labour
Peter Thomas Smyth
9.48
399
426.8
457.8
511.5
531.5
Independent
Sandy Allan
7.12
300
325.8
361.7
Electorate: 11,173 Valid: 4,211 Spoilt: 51 Quota: 843 Turnout: 4,262 (37.69%)
West Garioch
2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2012: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xCon
2007-2012 Change: Con gain from Lib Dem
Inverurie and District
2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xCon
2012: 2xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
Inverurie and District - 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
SNP
Bryan Hunter Stuart (incumbent )
19.7
688
701
SNP
Hamish Vernal
17.5
612
621
621.8
643.8
685.8
690.2
806.2
Conservative
Richard Cowling (incumbent )
17.4
608
614
614.0
636.0
684.0
692.1
771.4
Liberal Democrats
Martin Christopher Kitts-Hayes (incumbent ) ††
17.3
606
632
632.0
660.0
730.0
Labour
Ellis Thorpe
13.2
463
477
477.1
503.1
562.1
568.9
Independent
Mike Raeburn (incumbent )
6.0
211
225
225.0
300.0
Independent
Ron Reid
5.6
196
212
212.0
Scottish Green
Karen A. MacKenzie
3.2
113
Electorate: 10,034 Valid: 3,497 Spoilt: 59 Quota: 700 Turnout: 3,556 (34.85%)
East Garioch
2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2012: 1xSNP; 1xGRN; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: GRN gain from Lib Dem
East Garioch - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
SNP
Fergie Hood (incumbent ) †
35.0
1,140
Scottish Green
Martin Anthony Ford (incumbent )
20.3
660
732.1
784.8
834.9
Liberal Democrats
Nan Cullinane (incumbent )
15.9
519
574.6
643.7
790.3
798.3
1,080.3
Conservative
Patrick Sleigh
11.0
359
384.7
402.9
Independent
Amanda Louise Clark
10.4
338
393.9
467.3
569.1
575.1
Labour
Ann Thorpe
7.4
240
279.1
Electorate: 9,224 Valid: 3,256 Spoilt: 24 Quota: 815 Turnout: 3,280 (35.30%)
Westhill and District
2007: 1xLib Dem; 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xIndependent
2012: 2xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Independent
Westhill and District - 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
Conservative
Ron McKail (incumbent )
29.35%
1,163
Liberal Democrats
Iris Margaret Walker
24.08%
954
SNP
Amanda Allan (incumbent )
17.99%
713
780.1
813.0
SNP
David Robert Aitchison
17.74%
703
735.5
749.8
766.6
974.2
Labour
Peter Young
10.83%
429
503.1
560.5
561.5
Electorate: 10,882 Valid: 3,962 Spoilt: 32 Quota: 793 Turnout: 3,994 (36.41%)
Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford
2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xCon
2012: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: Independent gain from Lib Dem
Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford - 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
Conservative
Moira Ingleby (incumbent )
26.47%
1,091
SNP
Joanna Strathdee (incumbent )††††
20.14%
830
Liberal Democrats
Alastair Ross (incumbent )†††††
18.24%
752
831.2
SNP
Tom Murray
14.56%
600
620.2
620.97
624.8
683.8
Independent
John Latham
14.39%
593
650.8
653.2
653.4
760.6
995.9
Scottish Green
Jake Williams
6.21%
256
274.3
275.6
275.9
Electorate: 11,265 Valid: 4,122 Spoilt: 48 Quota: 825 Turnout: 4,170 (36.59%)
Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside
2007: 2xCon; 1xLib Dem
2012: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Con
Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
Conservative
Katrina Farquhar
34.62%
1,332
SNP
Geva Blackett
28.36%
1,091
Liberal Democrats
Peter Argyle (incumbent )
16.64%
640
756.9
780.7
852.7
1,443.3
Liberal Democrats
Rosemary Bruce (incumbent )
14.11%
543
629.1
649.8
734.7
Labour
Beverly Cochran
5.48%
241
267.1
294.4
Electorate: 8,597 Valid: 3,847 Spoilt: 39 Quota: 962 Turnout: 3,876 (44.75%)
Banchory and Mid-Deeside
2007: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: No change
North Kincardine
2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xCon
2012: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
Stonehaven and Lower Deeside
2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xCon; 1xSNP
2012: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
Stonehaven and Lower Deeside - 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Conservative
Wendy Agnew (incumbent )
27.0
1,111
SNP
Graeme Clark (incumbent )
16.2
667
684.2
713.0
741.3
762.3
1052.7
Labour
Raymond Christie
9.8
404
414.8
427.8
463.4
486.6
501.9
530.6
590.8
617.8
Liberal Democrats
Peter Bellarby (incumbent )
8.6
354
380.3
398.8
433.8
617.7
633.9
660.9
735.0
860.6
SNP
Robert Fergusson
7.5
311
314.9
335.4
353.1
371.7
Conservative
Jeff Hutchison
6.7
278
404.9
426.5
438.0
458.9
462.9
474.3
526.8
Liberal Democrats
David Fleming
6.7
275
297.9
319.5
347.5
Scottish Green
Rachel Shanks
6.2
255
263.5
286.8
Independent
Bob Michie
5.8
241
258.2
321.1
378.2
411.1
425.0
462.8
Independent
Douglas Samways
5.4
224
243
Electorate: 10,701 Valid: 4,120 Spoilt: 47 Quota: 825 Turnout: 4,167 (38.50%)
Mearns
2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xCon
2012: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: Independent gain from Lib Dem
Mearns - 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Conservative
George Carr (incumbent )
20.73%
868
SNP
Jean Dick (incumbent )
20.70%
867
Liberal Democrats
Bill Howatson (incumbent )
20.03%
839
SNP
Robert Forbes
10.91%
457
458.3
482.2
482.4
564.1
595.9
Independent
Dave Stewart
10.29%
431
433.2
434.5
434.7
530.9
684.8
890.5
Conservative
David Nelson
8.93%
374
394.1
395.1
395.3
423.8
Labour
Gill Bayfield
8.40%
352
353.2
354.5
354.7
Electorate: 10,963 Valid: 4,188 Spoilt: 35 Quota: 838 Turnout: 4,223 (38.20%)
Aftermath
As no single party group on the council had the required 35 seats for an overall majority, a Conservative-Lib Dem-Independent administration was formed. In 2013, the 2 Labour councillors joined the administration. However, on 8 June 2015, a new administration was formed by the SNP, Scottish Labour and 2 Progressive Independent councillors, who had been members of the previous administration.
East Garioch Cllr Fergus Hood defected from the SNP and joined the Liberal Democrats on 3 May 2013.[ 3]
West Garioch Cllr Sheena Lonchay and Inverurie and District Cllr Martin Kitts-Hayes both defected from the Liberal Democrats and became Independents on 25 April 2014.[ 4]
Troup Independent Cllr Mark Findlater ceased to be an Independent and joined the Conservatives on 23 February 2016.[ 5]
Troup SNP Cllr Hamish Partridge resigned from the party on 17 June 2016 and became an Independent citing curtailments to his freedom of speech.[ 6]
Banff and District SNP Cllr John Cox resigned from the party and became an Independent on 20 February 2017.[ 7]
By-elections
Troup by-election
On 27 November 2014 a by-election was held after the death of Conservative councillor John Duncan on 4 September 2014.[ 8] The SNP candidate Ross Cassie gained the seat from the Conservatives.
Troup By-election (27 November 2014) - [ 9] 1 Seat
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
SNP
Ross Cassie
46.1%
1,159
1,162
1,183
1,205
1,244
1,352
Conservative
Iain Taylor
22.8%
574
580
588
604
645
718
Independent
Alan Still
15.5%
391
408
415
423
446
Liberal Democrats
Ann Bell
5.6%
141
141
149
180
Labour
Alan Duffill
5.6%
140
142
148
Scottish Green
Darren Duncan
2.7%
68
69
Independent
Philip Mitchell
1.7%
43
Valid: 2,516 Quota: 1,259 Turnout: (32.39%)
Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford by-election
On 5 November 2015 a by-election was held after the death of SNP councillor Joanne Strathdee on 23 August 2015,[ 10] and the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Alastair Ross on 1 September 2015.[ 11] It was won by both Conservative candidate Margo Stewart, gaining a seat for her party, and SNP candidate Gwyneth Petrie, who held the seat for her paarty.
Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford By-election (5 November 2015) [ 12] - 2 Seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
Conservative
Margo Stewart
36.3%
1,469
SNP
Gwyneth Petrie
35.4%
1,433
Liberal Democrats
David Millican
22.9%
928
Labour
Sarah Flavell
4.8%
196
Scottish Libertarian
Derek Scott
0.5%
20
Valid: 4,046 Spoilt: 50 Quota: 1,349 Turnout: 4,096 (34.5%)
Banff by-election
On 3 November 2016 a by-election was held after the death of SNP councillor Ian Gray on 27 August 2016.[ 13] It was won by the Conservative candidate Iain Taylor, gaining the seat for his party.
Banff By-election (3 November 2016) [ 14] - 1 Seat
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
Conservative
Iain Taylor
44.0%
1170
SNP
Glen Reynolds
36.2%
962
Liberal Democrats
Alistair Mason
19.8%
526
Quota: Turnout: 29.5%
Inverurie and District by-election
On 3 November 2016 a by-election was held after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Kitts-Hayes.[ 15] It was won by Conservative candidate Colin Clark , gaining the seat for his party.
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