2022 Shetland Islands Council election

Shetland Islands Council election

2022 Shetland Islands Council election

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| <- 2017 | 5 May 2022 (2022-05-05) | 2027 ->

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22 of 23 seats to Shetland Islands Council
12 seats needed for a majority
Registered| 13,325[1]
Turnout| 47.2% (1.9%)
|  | First party  | Second party

|
|

|  |
Leader  | Steven Coutts | Debra Nicolson &
Martin Randall
Party  | Independent | Scottish Green
Leader's seat  | Shetland West | Contested Shetland West & Shetland Central
Last election  | 22 seats, 97.8% | Did not contest
Seats before  | 21 | 0
Seats won  | 19 | 1
Seat change  | 2 | 1
Popular vote  | 5,542 | 442
Percentage  | 88.2% | 7.0%
Swing  | 9.6pp  | 7.0pp

* * *

| Third party  | Fourth party
|  |
Leader  | Robbie McGregor | Tom Morton
Party  | SNP | Labour
Leader's seat  | Shetland South | Shetland North
Last election  | 1 seat, 0.0% | Did not contest
Seats before  | 1 | 0
Seats won  | 1  | 1
Seat change  | 0  | 1
Popular vote  | 276  | 0
Percentage  | 4.4%  | 0.0%
Swing  | 4.4pp  | New

* * *

Results by wards by partisanship.

Results by wards, showing whether the incumbent candidate was re-elected, defeated, or retired.

* * *

| Council Leader before election

Steven Coutts
Independent

| Council Leader after election

Emma Macdonald
Independent

|

Elections to the Shetland Islands Council took place on 5 May 2022 on the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. Seven wards were contested, each ward electing two to four Councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation, with 23 Councillors elected.

The elections were the first held since the passage of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 which allowed wards in Scottish councils containing islands to be reduced to single and dual-member wards. As a result, the Shetland West ward was reduced from three members to two.[2]

The Scottish Greens contested a Shetland Islands Council election for the first time, standing three candidates and electing one councillor in Shetland South.[3] Scottish Labour elected its first councillor to the Shetland Islands Council since 1994.

## Background

[edit]

### Composition

[edit]

There were no changes to the political composition of the council following the election in 2017. Two by-elections were held and both were won by independents.[4]

Party  | 2017 result

|

| Independents  | 21
| SNP | 1

### Retiring councillors

[edit]

Ward  | Party  | Retiring councillor

|
|

North Isles  |  | Independent | Alec Priest
Shetland North  | Alastair Cooper
Shetland West  | Steven Coutts
Theo Smith
Shetland South  | George Smith
Lerwick North  | Malcolm Bell
Lerwick South  | Peter Campbell
Stephen Flaws

### Boundary changes

[edit]

Following the implementation of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, a review of the boundaries was undertaken in North Ayrshire, Argyll and Bute, Highland, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. The act allowed for single- or two-member wards to be created to allow for better representation of island communities.

As a result, the seven existing wards were retained with realigned boundaries but the number of councillors was increased from 22 to 23. Lerwick North was renamed Lerwick North and Bressay but was otherwise unchanged, as were North Isles and Shetland North. The boundaries were adjusted in the remaining wards which resulted in Shetland Central and Shetland South being increased from three- to four-member wards and Shetland West being reduced to a dual-member ward.[5]

### Uncontested Seats

[edit]

After nominations closed on 30 March 2022, two wards – North Isles and Shetland North – didn't receive enough candidates to trigger an election. Both are three member wards and only five candidates stood in total. As a result, all five candidates were automatically elected without a poll being conducted and a by-election will be scheduled to fill the vacant North Isles seat.

The lack of interest in standing for election was called a "threat to local democracy" by the Greens. Across Scotland, 18 councillors were automatically elected because the number of candidates was not enough to trigger an election. During the 2017 local elections in Scotland, just three council wards were uncontested but votes were held in every ward in both 2007 and 2012 – the first elections to use multi-member wards and the single transferable vote. Public disinterest in standing for election to local councils has been linked to the "ridiculous" size of some local authorities and the low pay councillors receive for their work.[6][7][8]

### Campaign

[edit]

During the election campaign, candidates gave particular focus to the cost of living, housing and the proposed construction of fixed link tunnels.[9] A survey conducted by The Shetland Times prior to the election found highest support for the issues of fuel poverty, fixed links and digital connectivity as priorities for the new council.[10]

## Election results

[edit]

Shetland Islands local election result 2022  Party  | Seats  | Gains  | Losses  | Net gain/loss  | Seats %  | Votes %  | Votes  | +/−

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|
|
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| Independent | 19 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 82.6 | 88.2 | 5,542 | 9.6
| Scottish Green | 1  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 4.3  | 7.0  | 442  | 7.0
| SNP | 1  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 4.3  | 4.4  | 276  | 4.4
| Labour | 1  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 4.3  | 0.0  | 0  | New[A]
| Sovereignty | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0.0  | 0.4  | 26  | 0.4

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 4 May 2017. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

### Ward summary

[edit]

Results of the Shetland Islands council election 2022 by ward  Ward  | %
| Cllrs
| %
| Cllrs
| %
| Cllrs
| %
| Cllrs
| %
| Cllrs
| Total
cllrs

|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Independents | SNP | Green | Labour | Others
North Isles |  | 2  | Uncontested | 2[B]
Shetland North |  | 2  | Uncontested | 1  |  | 3
Shetland West | 83.11  | 2  | 7.8  | 0  | 9.1  | 0  |  |  | 2
Shetland Central | 42.72  | 2  |  | 7.0  | 0  | 50.29  | 2  | 4
Lerwick North and Bressay | 100.00  | 3  |  |  | 3
Lerwick South | 92.11  | 4  | 7.8  | 0  | 4
Shetland South | 73.34  | 2  | 11.8  | 1  | 14.8  | 1  |  | 4
Total |  | 17  |  | 1  |  | 1  | n/a  | 1  |  | 2  | 22[C]

Notes

1. ^

A: The only Labour Party candidate was elected in an uncontested election in the Shetland North ward.

2. ^

B: Only two candidates stood for election in the three-member North Isles wards. A by-election was held at a later date to elect a third member.

3. ^

C: As a result of less candidates standing for election than seats to be fill in North Isles, only 22 councillors will be elected instead of 23.

## Ward results

[edit]

### North Isles

[edit]

North Isles \- 3 seats[11] Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

|
|
|

| Independent | Duncan Anderson (incumbent) | Uncontested | Uncontested
| No label  | Ryan Thomson (incumbent) | Uncontested | Uncontested
Quota:

### Shetland North

[edit]

Shetland North \- 3 seats[11] Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

|
|
|

| Independent | Emma Macdonald (incumbent) | Uncontested | Uncontested
| Independent | Andrea Manson (incumbent) | Uncontested | Uncontested
| Labour | Tom Morton | Uncontested | Uncontested
Quota:

### Shetland West

[edit]

Shetland West \- 2 seats[11] Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

|
|
|

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
| Independent | Liz Boxwell | 39.3%  | 298 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Independent | John Leask | 17.8%  | 135  | 154.03  | 154.48  | 158.63  | 171.69  | 178.90  | 205.20  | 298.99
| Independent | Mark Robinson  | 16.9%  | 128  | 142.35  | 143.65  | 150.80  | 164.40  | 170.55  | 198.46  |
| Scottish Green | Debra Nicolson  | 9.1%  | 69  | 70.36  | 71.51  | 71.51  | 81.66  | 118.96  |  |
| SNP | Zara Pennington  | 7.8%  | 59  | 60.69  | 61.42  | 61.72  | 64.87  |  |  |
| Independent | Andrew Holt  | 5.7%  | 43  | 46.02  | 47.32  | 50.32  |  |  |  |
| Independent | Ian Tinkler  | 2.8%  | 21  | 21.60  | 21.60  |  |  |  |  |
| Independent | Peter Fraser  | 0.7%  | 5  | 6.96  |  |  |  |  |  |
Electorate: 1,364  Valid: 758  Spoilt: 13  Quota: 253  Turnout: 56.5%

### Shetland Central

[edit]

Shetland Central \- 4 seats[11] Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

|
|
|

1 | 2
| No label  | Moraig Lyall (incumbent) | 29.3%  | 414 |
| Independent | Davie Sandison (incumbent) | 22.8%  | 322 |
| Independent | Catherine Hughson (incumbent) | 19.9%  | 282  | 339.27
| No label  | Ian Scott (incumbent) | 19.2%  | 271  | 308.34
| Scottish Green | Martin Randall  | 7.0%  | 99  | 116.09
| Sovereignty | Brian Nugent  | 1.8%  | 26  | 29.16
Electorate: 3,170  Valid: 1,414  Spoilt: 8  Quota: 283  Turnout: 44.9%

### Lerwick North and Bressay

[edit]

Lerwick North and Bressay \- 3 seats[11] Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

|
|
|

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
| Independent | Stephen Leask (incumbent) | 33.4%  | 310 |  |  |  |
| Independent | Gary Robinson | 32.4%  | 301 |  |  |  |
| Independent | Arwed Wenger | 14.7%  | 136  | 164.81  | 189.88  | 220.97  | 312.10
| Independent | Marie Williamson  | 12.4%  | 115  | 133.63  | 146.28  | 173.03  |
| Independent | Stephen Ferguson  | 7.1%  | 66  | 79.66  | 92.99  |  |
Electorate: 2,409  Valid: 928  Spoilt: 13  Quota: 233  Turnout: 39.1%

### Lerwick South

[edit]

Lerwick South \- 4 seats[11] Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

|
|
|

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
| Independent | Dennis Leask | 22.5%  | 302 |  |  |  |  |
| Independent | John Fraser (incumbent) | 19.5%  | 262  | 268.23  | 289.67 |  |  |
| Independent | Cecil Smith (incumbent) | 18.4%  | 251  | 257.45  | 275.88 |  |  |
| Independent | Neil Pearson | 12.7%  | 171  | 177.88  | 206.09  | 213.57  | 215.07  | 281.26
| Independent | Amanda Hawick (incumbent)  | 11.4%  | 153  | 156.93  | 168.37  | 173.78  | 176.28  | 208.72
| No label  | Peter Coleman  | 7.8%  | 106  | 109.28  | 120.61  | 123.99  | 125.32  |
| Independent | Shayne Mcleod  | 7.4%  | 99  | 102.50  |  |  |  |
Electorate: 3,034  Valid: 1,344  Spoilt: 17  Quota: 269  Turnout: 44.9%

### Shetland South

[edit]

Shetland South \- 4 seats[11] Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

|
|
|

1 | 2 | 3 | 4
| Independent | Allison Duncan (incumbent) | 42.7%  | 805 |  |  |
| Independent | Bryan Peterson | 27.1%  | 500 |  |  |
| Scottish Green | Alex Armitage | 14.8%  | 274  | 325.45  | 360.30  | 405.02
| SNP | Robbie McGregor (incumbent) | 11.8%  | 217  | 326.41  | 364.40  | 401.62
| Independent | Stewart Douglas  | 2.5%  | 46  | 169.49  | 197.26  |
Electorate: 3,348  Valid: 1,842  Spoilt: 14  Quota: 369  Turnout: 55.4%

## Aftermath

[edit]

Following the election, independent councillors Andrea Manson and Emma MacDonald were elected as the council's convener and political leader, the first time either position had been held by women.[12]

A by-election was called shortly after the election in North Isles ward due to the lack of nominations received at the full election of the council. The by-election was held on 4 August 2022.[13] Two of the declared candidates, Stewart Douglas and Marie Williamson, stood unsuccessfully in other wards (Shetland South and Lerwick North & Bressay respectively) during the full election. The by-election was won by Robert Thomson.[14]

John Leask stood down from the Shetland West ward in August 2022, triggering a second by-election.[15]

North Isles by-election - 1 seat (4 August 2022)  Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

|
|
|

| Independent | Robert Thomson | 68.6%  | 680
| Independent | Sonia Robertson  | 10.7%  | 106
| Independent | Gary Cleaver  | 10.1%  | 100
| Independent | Marie Williamson  | 9.3%  | 92
| Independent | Stewart Douglas  | 1.3%  | 13
Electorate: 2,152  Valid: 997  Quota: Turnout: 46.2%

Shetland West by-election - 1 seat (17 November 2022)[16] Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

|
|
|

| Independent | Mark Robinson | 76.4%  | 375
| Scottish Green | Debra Nicolson  | 13.6%  | 67
| SNP | Zara Pennington  | 10.0%  | 45
Electorate: 1,350  Valid: 493  Quota: Turnout: 36.5%

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Cope, Chris (21 April 2022). "One in four registered to vote through the post". Shetland News. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
2. ^ "Council boundary changes approved despite MSP's concern". Shetland News. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
3. ^ "Third Green candidate throws hat into ring for council election". Shetland News. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
4. ^ Murray, Keegan (8 November 2019). "Winners announced in two council by-elections". Shetland Times. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
5. ^ "Review of Electoral Arrangements Shetland Islands Council Area Final Proposals" (PDF). Boundaries Scotland. May 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
6. ^ Bhadani, Anita (31 March 2022). "'Threat to local democracy' as councillors elected without votes". The National. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
7. ^ Learmonth, Andrew (31 March 2022). "Eighteen councillors already elected in Scotland's local elections". The Herald. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
8. ^ Bowie, Justin; Philip, Andy (1 April 2022). "18 councillors are already elected ahead of May vote – here's why you should be alarmed". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
9. ^ "Election 2022". Shetland News. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
10. ^ The Shetland Times (1 April 2022). "Online poll reveals voters' number one priority is tackling fuel poverty".
11. ^ a b c d e f g "Notice of Uncontested Election and Notice of Poll". Shetland Islands Council. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
12. ^ "Women are first to take top jobs at Shetland Islands Council". BBC News. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
13. ^ "North Isles Ward By-Election - 4 August 2022". Shetland Islands Council. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
14. ^ "Robert Thomson elected new councillor for the North Isles ward". Shetland News. 5 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
15. ^ Times, Shetland (23 August 2022). "John Leask steps down from council". The Shetland Times. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
16. ^ Shetland Islands Council. "Notice of Poll".

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*[FPv%]: First preference votes percentage
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