1974 Shetland Islands Council election

Elections to the Shetland Islands Council were held on 7 May 1974 as part of Scottish local elections. This was the first election for the all-purpose Shetland Islands Council, as established by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, combining the Lerwick Town Council and the Zetland County Council. The Council operated as a shadow authority until May 1975, when it assumed full responsibilities for local government in Shetland. 11 seats were uncontested.

1974 Shetland Islands Council election

← 1973 May 7, 1974 (1974-05-07) 1978 →

All 22 seats to Shetland Islands Council
12 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader A.I. Tulloch
Party Independent Labour
Leader's seat Aithsting and Sandsting
Seats won 18 4
Popular vote 3,781 430
Percentage 89.8% 10.2%

Council Convener after election

A.I. Tulloch
Independent

Aggregate results

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Shetland Islands Council election, 1974[1]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Independent 18 N/A N/A N/A 84.0 89.8 3,781 N/A
  Labour 4 N/A N/A N/A 6.0 10.2 430 N/A

Ward results

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Aithsting and Sandsting
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent A.I. Tulloch 291 55.3%
Independent Robert Garrick 235 44.7%
Majority 56 10.6%
Bressay
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent James Irvine unopposed unopposed
Majority unopposed unopposed
Burra and Trondra
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent William Cumming 225 78.1%
Independent Victor Church 63 21.9%
Majority 162 56.2%
Delting
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Fraser Peterson 232 66.7%
Independent Clem Robb 116 33.3%
Majority 116 33.4%
Dunrossness
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent James Leask 258 55.4%
Independent Raymond Bentley 208 44.6%
Majority 50 10.8%
Gulberwick, Quarff and Cunningsburgh
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Joan McLeod 248 69.7%
Independent Angus Smith 108 30.3%
Majority 130 39.4%
Lerwick Breiwick
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour John Butler 141 39.1%
Independent Harry Gray 125 34.6%
Independent Ronald Cumming 95 26.6%
Majority 16 4.5%
Lerwick Central
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Eric Gray 219 59.5%
Independent Robert Wishart 149 40.5%
Majority 70 19.0%
Lerwick North
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Alex Morrison unopposed unopposed
Majority unopposed unopposed
Lerwick Sound
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent William Peterson unopposed unopposed
Majority unopposed unopposed
Lerwick Twageos
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour James Paton 289 58.7%
Independent George Blance 203 41.3%
Majority 86 17.4%
Lerwick West
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Bill Smith unopposed unopposed
Majority unopposed unopposed
Nesting
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Edward Thomason unopposed unopposed
Majority unopposed unopposed
Northmavine
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent John Jamieson unopposed unopposed
Majority unopposed unopposed
Sandness and Walls
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Williamina Tait 206 65.4%
Independent Peter Garrick 109 34.6%
Majority 97 30.8%
Sandwick
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Thomas Stove unopposed unopposed
Majority unopposed unopposed
Scalloway
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Andrew Irvine unopposed unopposed
Majority unopposed unopposed
Unst
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Alan Fraser 225 56.7%
Independent William Thomson 172 43.3%
Majority 53 13.4%
Whalsay and Skerries
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Frederick Dainty unopposed unopposed
Majority unopposed unopposed
Whiteness, Weisdale and Tingwall
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent John Johnson 164 55.8%
Independent John Rae 81 27.6%
Independent George Morrison 49 16.7%
Majority 83 28.2%
Yell North and Fetlar
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent David Johnson unopposed unopposed
Majority unopposed unopposed
Yell South
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Stewart Gray unopposed unopposed
Majority unopposed unopposed

By-elections since 1974

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1976 Lerwick Sound by-election
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Ian Byrne unopposed unopposed
Majority unopposed unopposed
Independent hold
1977 Dunrossness by-election[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Prophet Smith 143 34.5%
Independent Ray Bentley 123 29.7%
Independent Alan Whitfield 93 22.5%
Independent Williamina Flaws 55 13.3%
Majority 20 4.8%
Independent hold

References

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  1. ^ Stewart, James. "Shetland Islands Council Election May 1974". Shetland History Online. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  2. ^ BBC Radio Shetland (13 July 1977). "Good Evening Shetland". Shetland Archives, BBCRS/5/1977/15/1.