2022 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election

2022 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election result

Party		Seats	Gains	Losses	Net gain/loss	Seats %	Votes %	Votes	+/−
	Independent	20	8	11	3	69.0	74.2	6,573	3.3
	SNP	6	1	2	1	20.7	21.3	1,891	2.1
	Conservative	1	0	0		3.4	1.5	131	1.9
	Scottish Green	0	0	0		0.0	2.0	176	New
	Alba	0	0	0		0.0	1.0	92	New
	Vacant	2	2	0	2	6.9	N/A	N/A	N/A
Total		29						8,863

Source:^[7]

Notes:

• Votes are the sum of first preference votes across all council wards. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 4 May 2017. This is because STV has an element of proportionality which is not present unless multiple seats are being elected. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at the dissolution of Scotland's councils.^[13][14]
• Following boundary changes, the total number of seats was reduced from 31 to 29.^[8]

Notes

Source:^[7]

At the previous election, the Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh; Uibhist a Deas, Èirisgeigh agus Beinn na Faoghla and Uibhist a Tuath wards were represented by two wards: Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas and Beinn Na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath. The two wards elected seven councillors in total including five independents and two SNP. The newly created wards elected five independents and one SNP councillor while one seat was left vacant due to a lack of candidates. This resulted in a loss of one seat for the SNP. In total, three of the sitting independent councillors retained their seats and two new councillors were elected. In 2017, Green candidate Roddy MacKay and Alba candidate Calum MacMillan were elected as independents.

Similarly, the Na Hearadh; Sgìre nan Loch and Sgìr' Ùige agus Carlabhagh wards were represented by two wards: Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas nan Loch and Sgir' Uige agus Ceann a Tuath nan Loch. The two wards elected six councillors in total including four independents, one SNP and one Conservative. The newly created wards elected four independents and one Conservative councillor while one seat was left vacant due to a lack of candidates. This resulted in a loss of one seat for the SNP. In total, three of the sitting independent councillors retained their seats and one new councillor was elected.

Source:^[15]

Source:^[7]

Source:^[7]

Source:^[7]

Source:^[7]

Source:^[15]

The SNP and independent councillor John N. MacLeod retained the seats they had won at the previous election, while independent candidate Donald MacSween gained a seat. Following boundary changes, the number of councillors elected was reduced from four to three. Former councillors John MacKay and Kenny J. MacLeod stood down before the election.

Source:^[7]

The SNP and independent councillors Donald F. Crichton and Calum MacLean retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

Source:^[7]

The SNP and independent councillor Iain M. MacAulay retained the seats they had won at the previous election, while independent candidates Duncan MacInnes and Malcolm K. MacDonald gained a seat from former councillors Roddie MacKay and Neil MacKay who stood down at the election.

Source:^[7]

The SNP and independent councillor Angus McCormack retained the seats they had won at the previous election, while the SNP and independent candidate George Murray gained a seat from former councillors Charlie Nicolson and Keith Dodson who stood down at the election.

Source:^[7]

Independent councillors Norrie T. MacDonald and Finlay M. Stewart retained the seats they had won at the previous election. Following boundary changes, the number of councillors elected was reduced from three to two. Former councillor Alasdair MacLeod stood down before the election.

Source:^[15]

For the first time in a decade, female councillors were elected to the council. SNP councillors Susan Thomson and Frances Murray became the first women to serve on the council since Catherine MacDonald was elected in 2012.^[16]

Three candidates – namely Cllr Kenneth MacLeod, Cllr Paul Steele and Cllr Norman MacDonald – put themselves forward for the position of council leader and, following the cut of a deck of cards, Cllr Steele was elected. Cllr MacLeod was elected as convener on the same basis and Cllr Duncan MacInnes was elected as the first depute leader of the council.^[17]

On 13 September 2024, Cllr Malcolm K. MacDonald, councillor for Steòrnabhagh a Tuath, announced that he had joined the Liberal Democrats becoming their first ever representative on the council.^[18]

By-elections were called shortly after the election in Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh and Sgìr' Ùige agus Carlabhagh following the lack of nominations received for the wards at the full election of the council. The by-elections were held on 30 June 2022 and counted by hand the following day.^[7][19]

Source:^[7][20]

Source:^[7][21]

In May 2024, Na Hearadh councillor Grant Fulton resigned citing displeasure about the way the council was run.^[22] A by-election was held on 4 July 2024, the same day as the 2024 United Kingdom general election, and was won by independent candidate Kenny MacLeod.^[23]

Source:^[23][24]

• Council website