2017 East Lothian Council election

2017 Scottish local government election

Main article: 2017 Scottish local elections

2017 East Lothian Council election

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| ← 2012 | 4 May 2017 (2017-05-04) | 2022 →

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All 22 seats to East Lothian Council
12 seats needed for a majority
|   | First party  | Second party  | Third party

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Lab

Con

SNP

Leader  | Willie Innes | Jane Henderson  | Stuart Currie
Party  | Labour | Conservative | SNP
Leader's seat  | Preston, Seton and Gosford | North Berwick Coastal | Musselburgh
Last election  | 10 seats, 43.1% | 3 seats, 14.4% | 9 seats, 30.4%
Seats before  | 10 | 3 | 9
Seats after  | 9  | 7  | 6
Seat change  | 1  | 4  | 3

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Overall Result

Labour vote share by wards

Conservative vote share by wards

SNP vote share by wards

* * *

* * *

| Council Leader before election

Willie Innes
Labour

| Council Leader after election

Willie Innes
Labour

|

2017 Elections to East Lothian Council were held on 4 May 2017 on the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election consisted of 6 wards electing three or four councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation, with 22 councillors elected.

This election featured revised ward boundaries to three wards resulting in the reduction of the number of East Lothian councillors from 23 to 22. Two former Musselburgh wards were merged, while losing Wallyford and Whitecraig with 4 councillors being elected. The bulk of the previous Fa'side ward became Tranent/Wallyford/Macmerry. Haddington and Lammermuir ward expanded with the addition of Ormiston and Pencaitland and gained a councillor.

Following the elections, Labour announced that they would form a minority administration. This replaced the previous coalition between Labour, the Conservatives and the one Independent councillor.[1]

## Election result

[edit]

2017 East Lothian Council election[2] Party  | Seats  | Gains  | Losses  | Net gain/loss  | Seats %  | Votes %  | Votes  | +/−

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| Labour | 9  | 1  | 2  | -1  | 40.9  | 33.1 | 13,723 | -10.0
| Conservative | 7  | 4  | 0  | +4  | 31.82  | 27.4  | 11,382  | +13.0
| SNP | 6  | 0  | 3  | -3  | 27.27  | 27.9  | 11,584  | -2.5
| Liberal Democrats | 0  | 0  | 0  | \-  | \-  | 4.75  | 1,971  | -0.85
| Scottish Green | 0  | \-  | \-  | \-  | \-  | 4.49  | 1,862  | New
| Independent | 0  | 0  | 1  | -1  | 0.0  | 2.17  | 900  | -3.73
| TUSC | 0  | \-  | \-  | \-  | \-  | 0.15  | 63  | -0.15

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 2012. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

## Ward results

[edit]

### Musselburgh

[edit]

* 2012:
* Musselburgh West (2xSNP; 1xLab)
* Musselburgh East and Carberry (1xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLab)
* 2017: 2xSNP 1xConservative 1xLab
* 2012-2017 Change: 2 wards combined due to ward change resulting in one less councillor for Musselburgh. Conservative gain one seat.

Musselburgh - 4 seats  Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

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1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
| SNP |  Stuart Currie (incumbent)  | 22.12  | 1,683 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Conservative | Katie Mackie | 19.34  | 1,472  | 1,473  | 1,478  | 1,570 |   |   |   |   |
| Labour | Andy Forrest (incumbent)  | 15.48  | 1,178  | 1,187  | 1,192  | 1,266  | 1,274  | 1,362  | 1,924 |   |
| SNP | John Williamson (incumbent)  | 11.04  | 840  | 960  | 967  | 1,007  | 1,008  | 1,241  | 1,278  | 1,322  | 1,583
| Independent | John Caldwell (incumbent)  | 10.56  | 804  | 809  | 843  | 896  | 907  | 985  | 1,015  | 1,107  |
| Labour | Katherine Sangster  | 7.47  | 568  | 570  | 579  | 637  | 644  | 742  |   |   |
| Scottish Green | Jason Rose  | 6.53  | 497  | 506  | 520  | 630  | 633  |   |   |   |
| Liberal Democrats | Clare Graham  | 6.17  | 470  | 473  | 487  |   |   |   |   |   |
| Independent | Theresa Sives  | 1.26  | 96  | 96  |   |   |   |   |   |   |
Electorate: 15,874   Valid: 7,608   Spoilt: 139   Quota: 1,522   Turnout: 48.8%

### Preston, Seton and Gosford

[edit]

* 2012: 2xLabour 2xSNP
* 2017: 2xLabour 1xSNP 1xCON
* 2012-2017 Change: Conservative gain one seat from SNP

Preston, Seton and Gosford - 4 seats  Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

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1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
| Labour | Willie Innes (Incumbent) ††  | 24.3  | 1,801 |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Conservative | Lachlan Bruce | 24.1  | 1,784 |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| SNP | Neil Gilbert | 16.2  | 1,197  | 1,208  | 1,215  | 1,260  | 1,288  | 1,294  | 1,322  | 2,201
| Labour | Fiona O'Donnell | 12.6  | 932  | 1,164  | 1,226  | 1,261  | 1,369  | 1,818 |   |
| SNP | Janis Wilson  | 11.4  | 844  | 852  | 854  | 922  | 936  | 951  | 975  |
| Labour | Brian Weddell  | 5.8  | 429  | 471  | 485  | 501  | 520  |   |   |
| Scottish Green | Lesley Orr  | 3.11  | 230  | 234  | 250  |   |   |   |   |
| Liberal Democrats | Ghill Donald  | 2.4  | 180  | 184  | 260  | 300  |   |   |   |
Electorate: 14,702   Valid: 7,397   Spoilt: 178   Quota: 1,480   Turnout: 51.5%

### Tranent/Wallyford/Macmerry

[edit]

* 2012: 3xLabour 1xSNP (as Fa'side ward)
* 2017: 2xLabour 1xSNP 1xConservative
* 2012-2017 Change: Conservatives gain one seat from Labour

Tranent/Wallyford/Macmerry - 4 seats  Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

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1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
| SNP | Kenny McLeod (incumbent)  | 24.5  | 1,540 |   |   |   |   |   |
| Labour | Fiona Dugdale | 20.3  | 1,272 |   |   |   |   |   |
| Labour | Colin McGinn | 15.3  | 958  | 969  | 972  | 978  | 1,000  | 1,102  | 1,893
| Conservative | Gordon Mackett | 15.7  | 986  | 987  | 988  | 994  | 1,054  | 1,089  | 1,142
| Labour | Jim Gillies (incumbent)  | 13.3  | 837  | 844  | 854  | 864  | 897  | 1,014  |
| SNP | Linda Watson  | 7.4  | 464  | 713  | 713  | 725  | 746  |   |
| Liberal Democrats | Alexander Graham  | 2.5  | 159  | 162  | 162  | 176  |   |   |
| TUSC | Jimmy Haddow  | 1.0  | 63  |   |   |   |   |   |
Electorate: 14,699   Valid: 6,279   Spoilt: 127   Quota: 1,256   Turnout: 43.6%

### North Berwick Coastal

[edit]

* 2012: 1xLabour 1xConservative 1xSNP
* 2017: 2xCon 1xLabour
* 2012-2017 Change: Conservatives gain one seat from SNP

North Berwick Coastal - 3 seats  Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

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1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
| Conservative | Jeremy Douglas Findlay | 27.16  | 1,703 |   |   |   |
| Labour | Jim Goodfellow (incumbent)  | 23.73  | 1,488  | 1,497  | 1,573 |   |
| Conservative | Jane Henderson | 21.38  | 1,341  | 1,454  | 1,474  | 1,475  | 1,589
| SNP | Laura Lowe Forrest  | 17.97  | 1,127  | 1,128  | 1,233  | 1,234  | 1,335
| Liberal Democrats | Robert O'Riordan  | 5.07  | 318  | 323  | 388  | 389  |
| Scottish Green | Eurig Scandrett  | 4.67  | 293  | 294  |   |   |
Electorate: 10,752   Valid: 6,270   Spoilt: 114   Quota: 1,568   Turnout: 59.4%

### Haddington and Lammermuir

[edit]

* 2012: 1xConservative 1xLabour 1xSNP
* 2017: 1xConservative 2xLabour 1xSNP
* 2012-2017 Change: No change

Haddington and Lammermuir - 4 seats  Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

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1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
| Conservative | Brian Small†  | 29.03  | 2,262 |   |   |   |   |   |
| Labour | John McMillan (incumbent)  | 18.71  | 1,458  | 1,593 |   |   |   |   |
| Labour | Shamin Akhtar (incumbent)  | 15.00  | 1,169  | 1,234  | 1,256  | 1,316  | 1,627 |   |
| SNP | Tom Trotter (incumbent)  | 14.66  | 1,142  | 1,153  | 1,155  | 1,236  | 1,327  | 1,333  | 2,227
| SNP | Ruth Currie  | 11.41  | 889  | 894  | 895  | 947  | 1,007  | 1,017  |
| Liberal Democrats | Kelvin Pate  | 7.29  | 568  | 791  | 795  | 889  |   |   |
| Scottish Green | Cris Thacker  | 3.88  | 302  | 329  | 330  |   |   |   |
Electorate: 14,095   Valid: 7,790   Spoilt: 108   Quota: 1,559   Turnout: 56.0%

### Dunbar and East Linton

[edit]

* 2012: 1xLabour 1xConservative 1xSNP
* 2017: 1xLabour 1xConservative 1xSNP
* 2012-2017 Change: No change

Dunbar and East Linton - 3 seats  Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

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1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
| Conservative | Sue Kempson | 29.86  | 1,834 |   |   |   |   |
| Labour | Norman Hampshire (incumbent)  | 26.59  | 1,633 |   |   |   |   |
| SNP | Paul McLennan (incumbent)  | 17.04  | 1,047  | 1,054  | 1,064  | 1,094  | 1,199  | 2,216
| SNP | Isobel Knox  | 13.2  | 811  | 819  | 828  | 852  | 1,177  |
| Scottish Green | Sarah Beattie-Smith  | 8.79  | 540  | 569  | 584  | 761  |   |
| Liberal Democrats | Elisabeth Wilson  | 4.49  | 276  | 392  | 421  |   |   |
Electorate: 10,995   Valid: 6,141   Spoilt: 43   Quota: 1,536   Turnout: 56.4%

## Retiring councillors

[edit]

Council ward  | Departing councillor  | Party

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Dunbar and East Linton | Michael Veitch[3] |  | Conservative
Fa'side | Donald Grant  |  | Labour
Haddington and Lammermuir | Ludovic Broun-Lindsay[3] |  | Conservative
Musselburgh | John McNeil[4] |  | Labour
Musselburgh | Fraser McAllister  |  | Scottish National Party
North Berwick Coastal | David Berry[5] |  | Independent
North Berwick Coastal | Tim Day[3] |  | Conservative
Preston/Seton/Gosford | Margaret Libberton  |  | Labour
Preston/Seton/Gosford | Steven Brown[6] |  | Scottish National Party
Preston/Seton/Gosford | Peter Robert MacKenzie  |  | Scottish National Party

## Changes since 2017

[edit]

* † On 26 February 2019, Haddington and Lammermuir Councillor Brian Small resigned his seat.[7] A by-election followed was held on 9 May 2019. The seat was won by Craig Hoy of the Conservative Party.[8]
* †† On 24 October 2021, Preston, Seton and Gosford Councillor and Leader of East Lothian Council, Willie Innes, died after a long illness.[9]

## By-elections since 2017

[edit]

Haddington and Lammermuir by-election 9 May 2019  Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

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1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
| Conservative | Craig Hoy | 35.01  | 2,212  | 2,249  | 2,428  | 2,759  | 3,277
| SNP | Lorraine Glass  | 29.53  | 1,866  | 1,874  | 2,044  | 2,469  |
| Labour | Neal Black  | 21.51  | 1,359  | 1,370  | 1,589  |   |
| Liberal Democrats | Stuart Crawford  | 12.25  | 774  | 782  |   |   |
| UKIP | David Sisson  | 1.71  | 108  |   |   |   |
Electorate: 14,396   Valid: 6,319   Spoilt: 44   Quota: 3,160   Turnout: 44.2%

Preston, Seton and Gosford by-election 20 January 2022 [10] [11] Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

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1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
| Labour | Colin Yorkston | 38.53  | 1,793  | 1,815  | 1,861  | 1,927  | 2,390
| SNP | Janis Wilson  | 26.16  | 1,217  | 1,242  | 1,258  | 1,391  | 1,458
| Conservative | Andy Ovens  | 24.80  | 1,154  | 1,173  | 1,204  | 1,212  |
| Scottish Green | Tim Porteus  | 4.96  | 231  | 241  | 266  |   |
| Liberal Democrats | Ben Morse  | 2.92  | 136  | 154  |   |   |
| Independent | Calum Miller  | 2.62  | 122  |   |   |   |
Electorate: 14,952   Valid: 4,696   Spoilt: 43   Quota: 2,327   Turnout: 31.4%

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Labour set to go it alone on East Lothian Council, says Willie Innes | East Lothian Courier". Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
2. ^ "Council Election Results - 4 May 2017 - Election results - East Lothian Council". Eastlothian.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
3. ^ a b c "All three East Lothian Conservative councillors not seeking re-election". East Lothian Courier. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
4. ^ "Long-serving Musselburgh councillor John McNeil to quit – and tells of 'hurt' at not landing senior post". East Lothian Courier. Archived from the original on 9 March 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
5. ^ "Devastating eye condition forces ex-East Lothian Council leader David Berry out of election". East Lothian Courier. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
6. ^ "Councillor Steven Brown snubbed in re-election bid for Preston, Seton, Gosford ward by local SNP members". East Lothian Courier. Archived from the original on 9 March 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
7. ^ "Conservative councillor resigns, launching stinging attack on former party colleagues". East Lothian Courier. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
8. ^ "Updated: Conservative candidate wins Haddington and Lammermuir by-election". East Lothian Courier. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
9. ^ "Tributes paid after death of East Lothian Council leader Willie Innes". Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
10. ^ "East Lothian Council by-election results - 22 January 2022 | Election results". Eastlothian.gov.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
11. ^ "Preston, Seton and Gosford (East Lothian) By-Election transfers, votes at final stage 5: Labour ~ 2390 (51.4%, +0.8) SNP ~ 1458 (31.3%, +1.4) Didn't Transfer ~ 805 (17.3%, -2.2)". Twitter.comAccess-date=14 February 2022.

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*[FPv%]: First preference votes percentage
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