Elections to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) were held on 3 May 2012, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections . The election was the second one using the 9 wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 .[ 1] Each ward elected three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system: a form of proportional representation . A total of 31 Councillors were elected.
Independent councillors retained the large majority of seats on the council and retained control of the administration. The Scottish National Party increased their representation, gaining 4 seats on the Isle of Lewis while losing 1 seat on Barra. The Scottish Labour Party also gained an additional seat.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Local Election Result 2012
Party
Seats
Gains
Losses
Net gain/loss
Seats %
Votes %
Votes
+/−
Independent
21
1
5
4
67.7
71.6
8,211
7.2
SNP
7
4
1
3
22.6
23.8
2,733
11.7
Labour
3
2
1
1
9.7
4.6
523
2.1
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.
Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas[ edit ]
2007: 2xSNP; 2xIndependent
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLab
2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from SNP
Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
SNP
Donald Manford (incumbent )
37.43%
521
Labour
Ronald Joseph MacKinnon
15.09%
210
226.3
228.7
234.7
242.8
263.8
292.6
Independent
Donnie Steele
9.41%
131
142.6
144.6
150.6
155.9
179.4
200.8
204.1
222.2
263.6
Independent
Calum MacMillan
8.84%
123
144.4
147.8
150.3
152.2
156.2
165.2
166.5
192.9
Independent
David Blaney (incumbent )
8.48%
118
135.2
139.2
142.2
147.7
157.6
183.8
185.9
201.3
247.9
Independent
Peter Carlin (incumbent )
6.47%
90
103
105
106
108.4
114.4
Independent
Calum MacAulay
5.17%
72
76.2
76.2
77.2
81.1
SNP
Gerry MacLeod (incumbent )
3.95%
55
135.8
135.8
135.8
143.5
146.5
154.3
155.1
Independent
Allan MacLeod
2.01%
28
51.7
52.7
53.2
Independent
Angus MacDonald
1.94%
27
27.9
27.9
Independent
Eric Wallis
1.22%
17
17.9
Electorate: 2,510 Valid: 1,392 Spoilt: 30 Quota: 279 Turnout: 1,424 (55.46)%
Beinn Na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath [ edit ]
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLab
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xLab
2007: No change
Beinn Na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
Independent
Uisdean Robertson (incumbent )
29.34%
316
Independent
Neil MacDonald Beaton
19.67%
212
222.6
241.1
263.5
264.0
359.7
Labour
Archie K. Campbell (incumbent )†††
18.94%
204
224.4
241.5
271.5
SNP
Andrew Walker
16.43%
177
181.2
186.5
219.7
219.9
Independent
Martin Taylor (incumbent )
8.64%
93
97.2
111.5
Independent
Michael MacLean
6.96%
75
76.3
Electorate: 2,329 Valid: 1,077 Spoilt: 25 Quota: 270 Turnout: 1,102 (46.24)%
Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas Nan Loch [ edit ]
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP
2012: 1xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLab
2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Independent
Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas Nan Loch – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
Independent
Catherine MacDonald (incumbent )
62.09%
498
SNP
Philip Robert MacLean (incumbent )
25.19%
202
Labour
D.J. MacRae
8.6%
69
163.8
163.9
193.5
SNP
David Cameron Wilson
4.11%
33
105.2
105.8
Electorate: 1,922 Valid: 802 Spoilt: 18 Quota: 201 Turnout: 830 (41.73)%
Sgir' Uige agus Ceann a Tuath Nan Loch[ edit ]
2007: 1xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLab
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: Independent gain one seat from Lab
Sgir' Uige agus Ceann a Tuath Nan Loch
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Independent
Norman Alexander MacDonald (incumbent )
21.62%
315
321
340
355
364.0
SNP
Bill Houston †
20.37%
292
297
313
401
Independent
Cudig MacLeod
16.25%
233
240
307
339
348.9
350.3
521.8
Independent
Catherine MacIver
15.97%
229
238
253
278
284.2
285.5
SNP
Annie MacDonald (incumbent )
11.99%
172
176
185
Independent
Norman A. P. MacDonald
10.25%
147
152
Independent
Barry Shelby
3.21%
46
Electorate: 2,424 Valid: 1,434 Spoilt: 23 Quota: 359 Turnout: 1,457 (60.11)%
2007: 3xIndependent
2012: 3xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: No change
Sgire an Rubha – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Independent
Zena Stewart
17.52%
205
238
276
316
Independent
Alasdair MacLeod
17.52%
205
219
242
291
297.8
Independent
Donald John MacSween (incumbent )
15.13%
177
187
200
227
230.3
231.7
Independent
Norman MacLeod (incumbent )
15.04%
176
186
202
252
256.2
257.6
349.0
Independent
Donald Nicholson (incumbent )
14.44%
169
183
197
SNP
John Norman MacDonald
12.05%
141
149
Independent
Iain Don MacIver
8.29%
97
Electorate: 1,921 Valid: 1,170 Spoilt: 19 Quota: 293 Turnout: 1,189 (60.91)%
Steòrnabhagh a Deas[ edit ]
2007: 4xIndependent
2012: 3xIndependent; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Independent
Steòrnabhagh a Deas – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Independent
Charlie Nicolson (incumbent )
45.67%
685
Independent
Angus Campbell (incumbent )
13.73%
206
287.8
288.8
290.5
311.5
Independent
Angus McCormack (incumbent )
12.6%
189
298.9
306.2
Independent
Keith Dodson (incumbent )
11.4%
171
230.9
233.1
234.0
247.3
251.7
SNP
Rae MacKenzie
9.67%
145
203.9
253.1
254.1
268.9
270.5
365.9
SNP
Bob Duncan
3.8%
57
63.7
Independent
Uilleam Macleod
3.13%
47
66.1
67.1
67.5
Electorate: 2,962 Valid: 1,500 Spoilt: 26 Quota: 301 Turnout: 1,526 (50.65)%
Steòrnabhagh a Tuath[ edit ]
2007: 4xIndependent
2012: 3xIndependent; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Independent
Steòrnabhagh a Tuath – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Independent
Iain MacKenzie (incumbent )
20.68%
299
Independent
Roddie MacKay (incumbent )
18.12%
262
264.1
272.1
294.1
SNP
Mohammed Ahmed
12.17%
176
176.4
179.5
182.5
182.8
194.9
207.1
218.2
SNP
Gordon Murray
12.03%
174
174.7
180.7
192.7
193.2
208.4
228.7
251.1
358.4
Independent
Murdo Murray
8.30%
120
121.8
123.8
128.4
129.4
142.6
160.9
Independent
Iain MacLean MacAulay
7.12%
103
103.5
109.6
117.7
118.4
145.7
177.3
221.9
249.0
Independent
David Morrison
6.36%
92
93.1
97.1
104.1
104.8
Independent
Neil Campbell (incumbent )
6.29%
91
91.5
92.5
Independent
Jackie MacKay (incumbent )
6.15%
89
89.8
95.8
108.1
108.8
123.2
Labour
Kevin Paterson
2.77%
40
40.2
Electorate: 2,986 Valid: 1,446 Spoilt: 25 Quota: 290 Turnout: 1,471 (48.42)%
2007: 3xIndependent
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Independent
Loch a Tuath – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
Independent
Donald Finlayson Crichton
28.0%
331
SNP
John A. MacIver (incumbent )
24.53%
290
298.4
Independent
Catriona Stewart (incumbent )
23.88%
273
282.5
283.1
333.1
Independent
Kenneth MacIver (incumbent )
14.47%
171
177.9
178.5
201.8
Independent
Alasdair Nicholson
9.9%
117
122.1
122.7
Electorate: 2,166 Valid: 1,182 Spoilt: 17 Quota: 296 Turnout: 1,199 (54.57%)
An Taobh Siar agus Nis [ edit ]
2007: 4xIndependent
2012: 3xIndependent; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Independent
An Taobh Siar agus Nis – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
Independent
Iain Morrison (incumbent )††††
24.18%
354
Independent
John MacKay (incumbent )
21.17%
310
SNP
Kenneth MacLeod
20.36%
298
Independent
Kenneth MacLeod Murray (incumbent ) ††
19.74%
289
316.4
Independent
Alastair MacLennan
8.13%
119
128.3
Independent
Alastair Dunlop
6.42%
94
103.3
Electorate: 2,599 Valid: 1,464 Spoilt: 21 Quota: 293 Turnout: 1,485 (56.34%)
Changes since election [ edit ]
† Sgir' Uige Agus Ceann A Tuath Nan Loch SNP Cllr Bill Houston died on 15 September 2012. A by-election was held on 29 November 2012 and was won by the Independent Angus MacDonald Morrison.[ 2]
†† Sgir' An Taobh Siar agus Nis Independent Cllr Kenneth MacLeod Murray died on 23 December 2014.[ 3] A by-election was to be held to fill the vacancy on 12 March 2015. Only Independent Alistair MacLennan was nominated and was deemed elected.[ 4]
††† Beinn Na Foghla Agus Uibhist A Tuath Labour Cllr Archie K. McDonald resigned for health reasons on 25 January 2015.[ 5] A by-election was held to fill the vacancy on 26 March 2015 and the seat was won by the Independent Andrew Walker.
†††† Sgir' An Taobh Siar agus Nis Independent Cllr Iain Morrison died on 31 July 2015 after a battle with cancer.[ 6] A by-election was held to fill the vacancy on 7 October 2015 and was won by the Independent John MacLeod.[ 7]
By-elections since 2012 [ edit ]
Sgir’ Uige Agus Ceann A Tuath Nan Loch By-election (29 November 2012) – 1 Seat[ 8]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
Independent
Angus MacDonald Morrison
73.47
745
SNP
John Norman MacDonald
19.23
195
Independent
Les Mac An Ultaigh
7.2
73
Valid: 1,014 Spoilt: 14 Quota: 508 Turnout: 1,028
Beinn Na Faoghla Agus Uibhist A Tuath (26 March 2015) – 1 Seat[ 9]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
Independent
Andrew Walker
59.1
437
SNP
Roslyn Macpherson
40.9
302
Valid: 739 Quota:
An Taobh Siar agus Nis By-election (7 October 2015) – 1 Seat[ 10]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
Independent
John Norman MacLeod
86.9%
886
Independent
Richard Froggatt
7.4%
75
Scottish Green
Gavin MacLeod Humphreys
5.8%
59
Valid: 1,020 Quota: 511 Turnout: (39.8%)
Ward areas in English [ edit ]