The 2022 Moray Council election was held on 5 May 2022, on the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland. The election used the eight wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 26 Councillors elected. Each ward elects either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system - a form of proportional representation.
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All 26 seats to Moray Council 14 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Registered | 66,419 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Turnout | 45.0% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Following the election, on 18 May 2022, it was announced that the council would be run by a minority Conservative group, alongside two Independents.[2]
Background
editPrevious election
editAt the previous election in 2017, the Scottish National Party (SNP) won the most seats on the council, forming the largest block, but were 5 seats short of a majority. The Conservatives won the next largest amount of seats, and increased their vote share by 18.6%, gaining 5 seats. Two Independent councillors lost their seats, and so did 2 Labour councillors. Following the result a Conservative-Independent administration was formed, with an Independent councillor being appointed council leader. However, in May 2018, the Conservative-Independent administration collapsed. One month later, the SNP group formed a minority administration, following negotiations with other groups.
Party | Seats | Vote share |
---|---|---|
SNP | 9 | 31.6% |
Conservative | 8 | 36.1% |
Independent | 8 | 24.1% |
Labour | 1 | 4.3% |
Composition
editThere were two by-elections during the 2017-22 term. One by-election was held in the Elgin City North ward in May 2017, which resulted in a Conservative gain from Independent.[5] The other by-election was held in the Keith and Cullen ward in October 2019, which also resulted in a Conservative gain from Independent.[6] One Conservative councillor left the Conservative group in October 2017, he sat as an Independent for the remainder of the term.[7]
Party | 2017 election | Dissolution |
---|---|---|
SNP | 9 | 9 |
Conservative | 8 | 9 |
Independent | 8 | 7 |
Labour | 1 | 1 |
Results
editParty | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | 11 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 42.3 | 36.2 | 10,698 | 0.1 | |
SNP | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 30.8 | 36.0 | 10,613 | 4.4 | |
Labour | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11.5 | 12.3 | 3,641 | 8.0 | |
Independent | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 7.7 | 7.9 | 2,327 | 16.2 | |
Liberal Democrats | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 1,121 | 2.6 | |
Scottish Green | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1,001 | 0.8 | |
Scottish Family | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 99 | New | ||
Sovereignty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 23 | New | ||
Total | 26 | 29,523 |
Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections in 2017. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.
Source:[8]
Ward summary
editWard | % |
Cllrs |
% |
Cllrs |
% |
Cllrs |
% |
Cllrs |
% |
Cllrs |
% |
Cllrs |
Total Cllrs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SNP | Lab | Conservative | Green | Lib Dem | Others | ||||||||
Speyside Glenlivet | 36.8 | 1 | 33.8 | 1 | 8.6 | 0 | 20.8 | 1 | 3 | ||||
Keith and Cullen | 43.5 | 1 | 43.7 | 2 | 9.9 | 0 | 2.9 | 0 | 3 | ||||
Buckie | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||
Fochabers Lhanbryde | 43.0 | 1 | 10.1 | 1 | 39.8 | 1 | 3 | ||||||
Heldon and Laich | 29.5 | 1 | 7.7 | 0 | 39.7 | 2 | 4.6 | 0 | 18.5 | 1 | 3 | ||
Elgin City North | 32.6 | 1 | 28.5 | 1 | 25.9 | 1 | 4.5 | 0 | 3.9 | 0 | 4.6 | 0 | 3 |
Elgin City South | 35.6 | 1 | 28.1 | 1 | 26.8 | 1 | 3.1 | 0 | 6.5 | 0 | 4 | ||
Forres | 34.3 | 1 | 10.6 | 0 | 40.9 | 2 | 9.1 | 1 | 5.1 | 0 | 4 | ||
Total | 26 |
Ward results
editThe incumbent councillors for each ward as of March 2022 are listed below.[9] Candidates for the election were confirmed on 30 March 2022.[10]
Speyside Glenlivet
editIncumbent councillors:
- Derek Ross, Independent
- Walter Wilson, Independent (elected as Conservative)
- Louise Laing, Scottish National Party
Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
SNP | Juli Harris | 36.8 | 1,227 | |||
Conservative | David Gordon | 33.8 | 1,129 | |||
Independent | Derek Ross (incumbent) | 20.1 | 672 | 750 | 898 | |
Scottish Green | Elidh Myrvang Brown | 8.6 | 286 | 492 | 520 | |
Sovereignty | David Philip McHutchon | 0.7 | 23 | 31 | 51 | |
Electorate: 7,382 Valid: 3,374 Spoilt: 37 Quota: 835 Turnout: 45.7% |
Keith and Cullen
editIncumbent councillors:
- Donald Gatt, Scottish Conservatives
- Theresa Coull, Scottish National Party
- Laura Powell, Scottish Conservatives. Replaced Ron Shepherd (Independent) in November 2019.
Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||
SNP | Theresa Coull (incumbent) | 43.5 | 1,493 | |||||
Conservative | Donald Gatt (incumbent) | 24.7 | 849 | 884 | ||||
Conservative | Tracy Colyer | 18.9 | 650 | 674 | 694 | 733 | 955 | |
Liberal Democrats | Leslie Tarr | 9.9 | 341 | 589 | 592 | 674 | ||
Scottish Family | William Barclay | 2.9 | 99 | 178 | 178 | |||
Electorate: TBC Valid: 3,432 Spoilt: 37 Quota: 859 Turnout: 45.7% |
Buckie
editIncumbent councillors:
- Tim Eagle, Scottish Conservatives
- Gordon Cowie, Councillors Open Group (elected as Independent)
- Sonya Warren, Scottish National Party
Buckie - 3 seats | ||
---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | |
Conservative | Neil McLennan | |
Liberal Democrat | Christopher Thomas Price | |
SNP | Sonya Warren (incumbent) |
Note: This election was uncontested, as there are 3 candidates and 3 seats available.
Source:[15]
Fochabers Lhanbryde
editIncumbent councillors:
- Marc Macrae, Scottish Conservatives
- Shona Morrison, Scottish National Party
- David Bremner, Scottish National Party
Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||
Conservative | Marc Macrae (incumbent) | 39.7 | 1,590 | |||||
SNP | Shona Morrison (incumbent) | 23.5 | 940 | 959 | 1,005 | |||
SNP | David Bremner (incumbent) | 19.4 | 778 | 792 | 812 | 816 | ||
Labour | Ben Williams | 10.1 | 404 | 535 | 831 | 831 | 1,178 | |
Liberal Democrats | Donald Cameron | 7.0 | 284 | 496 | ||||
Electorate: TBC Valid: 3,996 Spoilt: 68 Quota: 1,000 Turnout: 49.2% |
Heldon and Laich
editIncumbent councillors:
- James Allan, Scottish Conservatives
- Amy Patience, Scottish National Party
- John Cowe, Independent
- Ryan Edwards, Independent
Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||
SNP | Neil Cameron | 29.5 | 1,455 | ||||||
Conservative | James Allan (incumbent) | 27.0 | 1,331 | ||||||
Independent | John Cowe (incumbent) | 18.5 | 914 | 1,045 | |||||
Conservative | Bridget Mustard | 12.7 | 629 | 639 | 885 | 898 | 947 | 1,150 | |
Labour | Andrew O'Neill | 7.7 | 404 | 489 | 512 | 526 | 725 | ||
Liberal Democrats | Calum Cameron | 4.6 | 228 | 307 | 326 | 337 | |||
Electorate: TBC Valid: 4,936 Spoilt: 60 Quota: 988 Turnout: 46.3% |
Elgin City North
editIncumbent councillors:
- Frank Brown, Scottish Conservatives
- Maria McLean, Scottish Conservatives. Replaced Sandy Cooper (Independent) in July 2017.
- Vacancy. Paula Coy Scottish National Party was elected in 2017.
Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ||||
SNP | Jérémie Fernandes | 32.6 | 1,199 | |
Labour | Sandy Keith | 28.5 | 1,048 | |
Conservative | Amber Dunbar | 25.9 | 952 | |
Independent | Graham Jarvis | 4.6 | 170 | |
Scottish Green | Rebecca Kail | 4.5 | 165 | |
Liberal Democrats | Neil Alexander | 3.9 | 144 | |
Electorate: TBC Valid: 3,678 Spoilt: 32 Quota: 920 Turnout: 40.2% |
Elgin City South
editIncumbent councillors:
- Ray McLean, Scottish Conservatives
- John Divers, Scottish Labour
- Graham Leadbitter, Scottish National Party
Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ||||
SNP | Graham Leadbitter (incumbent) | 35.5 | 1,444 | |
Labour | John Divers (incumbent) | 28.1 | 1,142 | |
Conservative | Peter Bloomfield | 26.8 | 1,090 | |
Independent | Michaela French | 4.0 | 161 | |
Liberal Democrats | Bernard Salmon | 3.1 | 124 | |
Independent | Paul Briggs | 2.5 | 101 | |
Electorate: TBC Valid: 4,062 Spoilt: 51 Quota: 1,016 Turnout: 40.5% |
Forres
editIncumbent councillors:
- Claire Feaver, Scottish Conservatives
- Aaron McLean, Scottish National Party
- George Alexander, Councillors Open Group (elected as Independent)
- Lorna Creswell, Councillors Open Group (elected as Independent)
Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||
SNP | Scott Lawrence | 34.3 | 2,077 | ||||||
Conservative | Kathleen Robertson | 25.0 | 1,516 | ||||||
Conservative | Paul McBain | 15.9 | 962 | 991 | 1,240 | ||||
Labour | James Hynam | 10.6 | 643 | 830 | 845 | 852 | 1,001 | ||
Scottish Green | Draeyk Van der Horn | 9.1 | 550 | 928 | 933 | 934 | 1,047 | 1,514 | |
Independent | Shaun Moat | 5.1 | 309 | 403 | 417 | 424 | |||
Electorate: TBC Valid: 6,128 Spoilt: 71 Quota: 1,212 Turnout: 49.0% |
Aftermath
editBoth the SNP group and the Conservative group fell short of the required 14 seats for a majority. As such negotiations took place after the election to see who would form the next administration. Council leader before the election, Cllr Graham Leadbitter proposed the continuation of the previous SNP minority administration but the council instead voted 12 to 8 to approve a minority Conservative administration, co-led by Cllr Neil McLennan and Cllr Kathleen Robertson.[2]
Buckie Conservative councillor Neil McLennan left the Conservative grouping on the council after being removed as joint group leader in July 2022.[8]
Heldon and Laich Conservative councillor James Allan left the Conservative group in August 2022, and now sits as a "non-aligned Conservative."[26]
Elgin City South SNP councillor Graham Leadbitter was elected to be the MP for the Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey constituency, and decided to resign as a councillor on 14 August 2024.[27]
Buckie by-election
editIn August 2022, the sole Liberal Democrat, Cllr. Christopher Price resigned after only 109 days in the job.[28] A by-election was held on 3 November 2022 and was won by SNP candidate John Stuart.[29]
Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||
SNP | John Stuart | 48.9 | 1,172 | 1,181 | 1,192 | 1,269 | |
Conservative | Tim Eagle | 36.7 | 879 | 884 | 904 | 989 | |
Labour | Keighley Goldie | 10.0 | 239 | 247 | 276 | ||
Liberal Democrats | Les Tarr | 2.8 | 67 | 78 | |||
Independent | Neil Houlden | 1.6 | 38 | ||||
Electorate: 8,139 Valid: 2,395 Spoilt: 13 Quota: 1,199 Turnout: 29.6% |
References
edit- ^ "Councillors". Moray Council. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ a b Lawson, Hazel (18 May 2022). "Councillors vote for Conservative minority group to run Moray Council". STV News. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Moray Council Election Results 2017". Moray Council. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ Teale, Andrew. "Local Election Results 2017". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Moray Council Local Government By-Election" (PDF). Moray Council. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Keith and Cullen by-election result" (PDF). Moray Council. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ "Councillor criticised over Moray budget comments". BBC News. 21 November 2017.
- ^ a b Faulds, Allan. "Moray Council 2022". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ "Councillors". Moray Council. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ "Information for voters". Moray Council. 2 January 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ "Declaration of Results - Ward 1 - Speyside Glenlivet" (PDF). Moray Council. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Transfers Report - Ward 1 Speyside Glenlivet" (PDF). Moray Council. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Declaration of Results - Ward 2 - Keith and Cullen" (PDF). Moray Council. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Transfers Report - Ward 2 - Keith and Cullen" (PDF). Moray Council. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Moray Council Election Results 2022". Moray Council. Ward 3 - Buckie. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Declaration of Results - Ward 4 - Fochabers Lhanbryde" (PDF). Moray Council. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Transfers Report - Ward 4 - Fochabers Lhanbryde" (PDF). Moray Council. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Declaration of Results - Ward 5 - Heldon and Laich" (PDF). Moray Council. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Transfers Report - Ward 5 - Heldon and Laich" (PDF). Moray Council. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Declaration of Results - Ward 6 - Elgin City North" (PDF). Moray Council. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Transfers Report - Ward 6 - Elgin City North" (PDF). Moray Council. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Declaration of Results - Ward 7 - Elgin City South" (PDF). Moray Council. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Transfers Report - Ward 7 - Elgin City South" (PDF). Moray Council. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Declaration of Results - Ward 8 - Forres" (PDF). Moray Council. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Transfers Report - Ward 8 - Forres" (PDF). Moray Council. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ Whitfield, Alistair (17 August 2022). "Moray councillor leaves Tory administration". Northern Scot. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ "Councillor resignation in Elgin City South". Moray Council. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ Beresford, Alan (2 May 2023). "Council candidates urged to think carefully before standing as Buckie by-election bill tops £27k". Grampian Online. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ "Local Government By-Election 2022". Moray Council. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ "Declaration of Results - Buckie Ward" (PDF). Moray Council. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Council By-Election Ward 3 - Buckie" (PDF). Moray Council. Retrieved 28 July 2024.