2022 Dumfries and Galloway Council election

Dumfries and Galloway Council election From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Elections to Dumfries and Galloway Council took place on 5 May 2022 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. As with other Scottish council elections, it was held using single transferable vote (STV) – a form of proportional representation – in which multiple candidates are elected in each ward and voters rank candidates in order of preference.

Registered119,226
Turnout47.1%
Quick facts All 43 seats to Dumfries and Galloway Council 22 seats needed for a majority, Registered ...
2022 Dumfries and Galloway Council election
← 2017
5 May 2022 (2022-05-05)
2027 →
All 43 seats to Dumfries and Galloway Council
22 seats needed for a majority
Registered119,226
Turnout47.1%
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Ian Carruthers Rob Davidson Elaine Murray
Party Conservative SNP Labour
Leader's seat Annandale South Abbey
(stood down)		 Nith
(stood down)
Last election 16 seats, 37.2% 11 seats, 20.7% 11 seats, 17.7%
Seats before 16 9 8
Seats won 16 11 9
Seat change Steady Steady Decrease 2
Popular vote 21,462 15,602 9,169
Percentage 38.8% 28.2% 16.6%
Swing Increase 1.6% Increase 7.5% Decrease 1.1%
  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Richard Brodie
Party Independent Liberal Democrats
Leader's seat Annandale South
Last election 4 seats, 20.0% 1 seat, 2.4%
Seats before 9 1
Seats won 6 1
Seat change Increase 2 Steady
Popular vote 4,762 1,810
Percentage 8.6% 3.3%
Swing Decrease 11.4% Increase 0.9%
A map of Dumfries & Galloway showing the political parties with the most 1st preference votes in each ward.
A pie chart showing the share of 1st preference votes in Dumfries & Galloway.
Leader before election

Elaine Murray
(Labour)
No overall control

 Co-leaders after election

Stephen Thompson (SNP) and
Linda Dorward (Labour)
No overall control

Close

For the second consecutive election, the Conservatives were returned as the largest party with 16 seats but remained shy of an overall majority. The Scottish National Party (SNP) increased their vote share by 7.5% but failed to make any gains and were again returned as the second-largest party with 11 seats. Labour lost two seats to return nine councillors while the Liberal Democrats retained their only seat. Six independent candidates were also elected – an increase of two.

The Labour–SNP coalition administration retained control of the council with support from two independents and Lib Dem councillor Richard Brodie. Cllrs Stephen Thompson and Linda Dorward were elected co-leaders of the council. However, the partnership collapsed less than a year after the election as the Conservatives took minority control of the council.

Background

Previous election

Main article: 2017 Dumfries and Galloway Council election

At the previous election in 2017, the Conservatives gained two seats to hold 16 and replaced Labour as the largest party on the council. Labour lost four seats and the Scottish National Party (SNP) gained one as both returned 11 councillors. The two parties would form a coalition to run the council. The Liberal Democrats retained their only seat while the number of independents fell from seven to four.[1][2]

More information Party, Seats ...
2017 Dumfries and Galloway Council election result
Party Seats Vote share
Conservatives 16 37.2%
SNP 11 20.7%
Labour 11 17.7%
Independent 4 20.0%
Liberal Democrats 1 2.4%
Close

Source: [1][2]

Electoral system

The election used the nine wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 32 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system – a form of proportional representation – where candidates are ranked in order of preference.[3]

Composition

Between the 2017 and 2022 elections, there were a few changes to the composition of the council. All of these were due to changes in the political affiliations of councillors. Former council leader and Labour councillor Ronnie Nicolson and Conservative councillor David James resigned from their respective parties to sit as independents.[4][5] Labour councillor Jim Dempster was suspended from the party following an Islamophobic comment about then Transport Secretary Humza Yousaf.[6] Labour councillor Tommy Sloan resigned from the party and sat as an independent councillor and member of the Dumfries and Galloway Socialists Group while SNP councillor Dougie Campbell left the party and stood as an independent at the 2022 election.[7] SNP councillor Andrew Wood initially resigned from the party to sit as an independent. He later joined the Conservatives.[8] There were two by-elections and both resulted in Conservative holds.[9][10]

More information Party, 2017 result ...
Composition of Dumfries and Galloway Council
Party 2017 result Dissolution
Conservative 16 16
SNP 11 9
Labour 11 8
Independents 4 9
Liberal Democrats 1 1
Close

Retiring councillors

Many prominent elected members stood down at this election, including the leader of the council, and former Dumfriesshire MSP, Elaine Murray.[11]

More information Ward, Party ...
Retiring councillors
Ward Party Retiring councillor
Stranraer and the Rhins SNP Ros Surtees
Mid Galloway and Wigtown West Independent Jim McColm
Dee and Glenkens Independent Jane Maitland
Conservative Patsy Gilroy
Castle Douglas and Crocketford Independent David James
Abbey SNP Rob Davidson
North West Dumfries Independent Ronnie Nicholson
David John McKie
Mid and Upper Nithsdale Conservative Matthew Ronnie
Lochar Labour Jeff Leaver
Conservative John Charteris
Nith Labour Elaine Murray
John Martin
Annandale South SNP Henry McClelland
Annandale North Labour Adam Wilson
Close

Source: [2][7]

Candidates

The total number of candidates fell from 88 in 2017 to 74. The Conservatives named the most candidates at 24 - eight more than in 2017 when both Labour and the SNP named more candidates. Labour named 14 candidates in 2022 while the SNP named 12 candidates - both down from the 17 they named respectively in 2017. The Greens named 10 candidates, an increase of three from 2017. In 2017, the number of independent candidates (26) outstripped the number of candidates named by any individual political party but only eight independent candidates stood in 2022. The Liberal Democrats named five candidates - an increase of two from 2017. The Alba Party contested an election in Dumfries and Galloway for the first time while the Libertarians did not contest the election as they had done in 2017.[2][12]

Results

More information Party, Seats ...
2022 Dumfries and Galloway Council election result
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 16 1 1 Steady 37.2 38.8 21,462 Increase 1.6
  SNP 11 0 0 Steady 25.6 28.2 15,602 Increase 7.5
  Labour 9 1 3 Decrease 2 20.9 16.6 9,169 Decrease 1.1
  Independent 6 3 1 Increase 2 13.9 8.6 4,762 Decrease 11.4
  Liberal Democrats 1 0 0 Steady 2.3 3.3 1,810 Increase 0.9
  Green 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 4.5 2,496 Increase 2.7
  Alba 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.1 68 New
Total 43 55,369
Close

Source: [12][13]

Note: 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.[14][15]

Ward summary

More information Ward, % ...
Results of the 2022 Dumfries and Galloway Council election by ward
Ward % Cllrs % Cllrs % Cllrs % Cllrs % Cllrs % Cllrs Total
Cllrs
Conservative SNP Labour Independent Lib Dem Others
Stranraer and the Rhins 44.8 2 23.3 1 9.9 0 24.1 1 2.6 0 4
Mid Galloway and Wigtown West 50.2 2 30.3 1 11.3 1 8.2 0 4
Dee and Glenkens 38.0 1 25.4 1 6.1 0 14.6 1 4.5 0 11.3 0 3
Castle Douglas and Crocketford 35.6 1 25.1 1 6.0 0 19.6 1 7.8 0 6 0 3
Abbey 36.7 1 31.1 1 25.9 1 6.3 0 3
North West Dumfries 28.4 1 39.5 1 27.2 2 4.8 0 4
Mid and Upper Nithsdale 30.7 1 29.2 0 12.7 0 27.4 1 3
Lochar 39.8 2 33.6 1 29.1 1 4.8 0 4
Nith 28.3 1 33.4 1 23.8 1 9.7 1 4.8 0 4
Annandale South 38.3 1 21.6 1 19.1 1 17.7 1 3.3 0 4
Annandale North 50.3 2 30.0 1 13.9 1 5.8 0 4
Annandale East and Eskdale 42.7 1 14.5 0 21.4 1 15.4 1 3.3 0 2.6 0 3
Total 38.8 16 28.2 11 16.6 9 8.6 6 3.3 1 4.6 0 43
Close

Source: [12]

Seats changing hands

Below is a list of seats which elected a different party or parties from 2017 in order to highlight the change in political composition of the council from the previous election. The list does not include defeated incumbents who resigned or defected from their party and subsequently failed re-election while the party held the seat.

More information Seat, Party ...
Seats changing hands
Seat 2017 2022
Party Member Party Member
Stranraer and the Rhins Labour Tommy Sloan[Note 1] Conservative Chrissie Hill
Mid Galloway and Wigtown West Independent Jim McColm Labour Sandy Whitelaw
Mid and Upper Nithsdale Labour Jim Dempster Independent Jim Dempster[Note 2]
Nith Labour John Martin Independent David Slater
Annandale East and Eskdale Conservative Ronnie Tait Independent Denis Male
Close
Notes
  1. ^
    Note 1: In 2017, Tommy Sloan was elected as a Labour candidate but was later suspended by the party.[7]
  2. ^
    Note 2: In 2017, Cllr Dempster was elected as a Labour candidate but was later suspended by the party.[6]

Ward results

Stranraer and the Rhins

The Conservatives, the SNP and independent councillor Willie Scobie retained the seats they had won at the previous election while the Conservatives gained a seat from Labour. Independent candidate Tommy Sloan was elected as a Labour candidate in 2017 but later resigned from the party.

More information Party, Candidate ...
Stranraer and the Rhins - 4 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
Conservative Andrew Giusti (incumbent) 32.8 1,518            
SNP Ben Dashper 23.3 1,074            
Independent Willie Scobie (incumbent) 22.8 1,051            
Labour John McCutcheon 9.9 458 478 511 523 582 660  
Conservative Chrissie Hill 7.3 338 804 806 816 833 861 1,025
Green Peter Barlow 2.6 120 126 180 187      
Independent Tommy Sloan (incumbent) 1.3 59 98 118 198 239    
Electorate: 11,398   Valid: 4,618   Spoilt: 108   Quota: 924   Turnout: 41.5%  
Close

Source: [16][17]

Mid Galloway and Wigtown West

The Conservatives (2) and the SNP (1) retained the seats they had won at the previous election while Labour gained a seat from former independent councillor Jim McColm.

More information Party, Candidate ...
Mid Galloway and Wigtown West - 4 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345
Conservative David Inglis (incumbent) 30.8 1,529        
SNP Katie Hagmann (incumbent) 30.3 1,505        
Conservative Jackie McCamon 19.4 964 1,428      
Labour Sandy Whitelaw 11.3 559 578 681 806 1,240
Green Kenny Campbell 8.2 405 415 690 736  
Electorate: 10,908   Valid: 4,962   Spoilt: 98   Quota: 993   Turnout: 46.4%  
Close

Source: [18][19]

Dee and Glenkens

The Conservatives and the SNP held the seats they won at the previous election while independent candidate Dougie Campbell gained a seat from former independent councillor Jane Maitland. In 2017, Cllr Campbell was elected as an SNP candidate but later resigned from the party. He was re-elected as an independent candidate.

More information Party, Candidate ...
Dee and Glenkens - 3 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456
SNP Andy McFarlane 25.4 1,139          
Conservative John Denerley 20.3 912 912 927 942 963 1,603
Conservative Susan Murdoch 17.6 791 791 801 835 859  
Independent Dougie Campbell (incumbent) 14.6 655 657 721 809 1,108 1,227
Green Laura Moodie 11.3 508 517 556 651    
Labour Graham Trickey 6.0 271 272 320      
Independent Anthony Bird 4.5 202 203        
Electorate: 8,406   Valid: 4,478   Spoilt: 51   Quota: 1,120   Turnout: 53.9%  
Close

Source: [20][21]

Castle Douglas and Crocketford

The Conservatives, the SNP and independent councillor Iain Howie retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

More information Party, Candidate ...
Castle Douglas and Crocketford - 3 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345678
Conservative Pauline Drysdale 30.2 1,220              
SNP John Young (incumbent) 25.1 1,012              
Independent Iain Howie (incumbent) 10.0 403 425 425 468 521 582 827 1,115
Independent Gill Dykes 9.6 386 409 409 432 463 550    
Liberal Democrats Iain McDonald 7.8 313 329 329 382 495 553 633  
Green Liz Ashburn 6.0 243 244 245          
Labour Keith Heron 6.0 241 246 247 316        
Conservative Iain Kennedy-Moffat 5.3 215 341 341 349 361      
Electorate: 7,751   Valid: 4,033   Spoilt: 59   Quota: 1,009   Turnout: 52.8%  
Close

Source: [22][23]

Abbey

The Conservatives, the SNP and Labour retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

More information Party, Candidate ...
Abbey - 3 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123
SNP Kim Lowe 31.1 1,267    
Labour Davie Stitt (incumbent) 25.9 1,053    
Conservative Ian Blake (incumbent) 24.6 1,005 1,014 1,020
Conservative Robin Wishart 12.0 489 493 496
Liberal Democrats Matthew Pumphrey 6.3 256 375 390
Electorate: 8,592   Valid: 4,070   Spoilt: 76   Quota: 1,018   Turnout: 48.3%  
Close

Source: [24][25]

North West Dumfries

Labour (2), the SNP (1) and the Conservatives (1) retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

More information Party, Candidate ...
North West Dumfries - 4 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345
SNP Andy Ferguson (incumbent) 39.5 1,561        
Conservative Graham Bell (incumbent) 28.4 1,123        
Labour Emma Jordan 18.4 728 919      
Labour Paula Stevenson 8.8 347 404 495 607 909
Green Ann Johnstone 4.8 191 526 571 579  
Electorate: 10,203   Valid: 3,950   Spoilt: 62   Quota: 791   Turnout: 39.3%  
Close

Source: [26][27]

Mid and Upper Nithsdale

The SNP and the Conservatives retained the seats they had won at the previous election while independent candidate Jim Dempster gained a seat from Labour. In 2017, Cllr Dempster was elected as a Labour candidate but was later suspended by the party. He was re-elected as an independent candidate.

More information Party, Candidate ...
Mid and Upper Nithsdale - 3 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234
SNP Tony Berretti 29.2 1,161      
Independent Jim H. Dempster (incumbent) 27.4 1,087      
Conservative Andrew S. Wood (incumbent) 15.8 629 631 642 1,139
Conservative Kyle Thornton 14.8 591 596 612  
Labour Callum Jamieson 12.7 504 595 630 664
Electorate: 8,242   Valid: 3,972   Spoilt: 46   Quota: 994   Turnout: 48.8%  
Close

Source: [28][29]

Lochar

The Conservatives (2), the SNP (1) and Labour (1) retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

More information Party, Candidate ...
Lochar - 4 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234
SNP Tracey Little (incumbent) 33.7 1,787      
Conservative Ivor Hyslop (incumbent) 25.4 1,348      
Labour Linda Dorward 21.6 1,146      
Conservative Maureen Johnstone 14.5 772 810 1,058 1,078
Green Sandy Rogerson 4.8 253 733 740  
Electorate: 11,299   Valid: 5,306   Spoilt: 60   Quota: 1,016   Turnout: 47.7%  
Close

Source: [30][31]

Nith

The SNP and the Conservatives retained the seats they had won at the previous election while Labour retained one of the two seats and independent candidate Robert Slater gained a seat from Labour.

More information Party, Candidate ...
Nith - 4 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
SNP John Campbell (incumbent) 33.3 1,670            
Conservative Malcolm Johnstone (incumbent) 18.0 904 920 923 937 1,386    
Labour Keith Walters 16.7 835 949 1,291        
Conservative Alastair Muir 10.2 515 521 523 539      
Independent David R. Slater 9.7 488 546 562 621 642 785 1,029
Labour Angie Whitelaw 7.1 355 409          
Green Ann McLauchlan 4.8 240 540 559 624 629 655  
Electorate: 10,573   Valid: 5,007   Spoilt: 72   Quota: 1,002   Turnout: 48.0%  
Close

Source: [32][33]

Annandale South

The Conservatives, the SNP, Labour and the Liberal Democrats retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

More information Party, Candidate ...
Annandale South - 4 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456
Conservative Ian Carruthers (incumbent) 21.9 1,118          
SNP George Jamieson 21.6 1,104          
Labour Sean W. Marshall (incumbent) 19.1 975 982 1,003 1,063    
Liberal Democrats Richard Brodie (incumbent) 17.7 902 911 924 995 1,017 1,396
Conservative Alan Weild 16.4 839 909 910 921 926  
Green Cameron Garrett 3.3 166 166 195      
Electorate: 11,245   Valid: 5,104   Spoilt: 94   Quota: 1,021   Turnout: 46.2%  
Close

Source: [34][35]

Annandale North

The Conservatives (2), the SNP (1) and Labour (1) retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

More information Party, Candidate ...
Annandale North - 4 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345
SNP Stephen Thompson (incumbent) 30.1 1,725        
Conservative Gail MacGregor (incumbent) 20.0 1,153        
Conservative Lynne Davis 19.4 1,114 1,134 1,135 1,142 1,165
Labour Carolyne Wilson 13.9 797 951 951 973 1,266
Conservative Doug Fairbairn (incumbent) 10.8 621 634 636 638 647
Green Jennifer Norris 4.6 263 487 487 548  
Alba Marion Collins 1.2 68 123 123    
Electorate: 11,910   Valid: 5,741   Spoilt: 74   Quota: 1,149   Turnout: 48.8%  
Close

Source: [36][37]

Annandale East and Eskdale

Labour retained the seat they had won at the previous election while the Conservatives retained one of their two seats and lost one to independent candidate Denis Male.

More information Party, Candidate ...
Annandale East and Eskdale - 3 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
Conservative Karen Carruthers (incumbent) 27.7 1,140            
Labour Archie Dryburgh (incumbent) 21.4 880 888 908 973 1,260    
Independent Denis Male 15.4 633 639 649 687 724 875 1,190
Conservative Ron Tait (incumbent) 14.9 614 693 699 712 724 751  
SNP Sylvia Willmot 14.5 597 597 640 660      
Liberal Democrats Kirsten Herbst-Gray 3.3 137 141 159        
Green Stephen Mattock 2.6 107 108          
Electorate: 8,699   Valid: 4,108   Spoilt: 82   Quota: 1,028   Turnout: 48.2%  
Close

Source: [38][39]

Aftermath

Despite winning the most seats for the second consecutive election, the Conservatives remained in opposition. A coalition of SNP, Labour, independent and Liberal Democrat councillors – dubbed a "rainbow coalition" in the media including by the BBC - came together to run the council. Former Labour and SNP group leaders Elaine Murray and Rob Davidson stood down at the 2022 election. They were replaced in the roles by Cllr Linda Dorward and Cllr Stephen Thompson respectively. Cllr Dorward and Cllr Thompson were elected as co-leaders of the council.[40] The Conservatives were brought into the leadership fold in June 2022 when cross-party panels were created.[41]

In July 2022, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar claimed that the coalition was an interim arrangement and "not for the duration of the entire council term". In response, South Scotland MSP Emma Harper urged Sarwar not to "ruin arrangements" between councillors in Dumfries and Galloway.[42]

Ultimately, the coalition agreement in full lasted only eight months after Labour left the council leadership citing "clear political and policy differences" in February 2023. Cllr Dorward quit as co-leader leaving Cllr Thomson as leader of the council. Lib Dem councillor Richard Brodie was selected as deputy council leader.[43] The Conservatives attempted to take control of the council by proposing group leader Cllr Gail MacGregor as council leader but the move failed by 26 votes to 16. MacGregor described the rainbow coalition as having "thunderclouds surrounding it" and that it seemed to be in "disarray".[44]

In March 2023, the coalition collapsed after Labour abstentions coupled with independent and Lib Dem support for the Conservatives on budget motions saw the Conservative budget pass. As a result, Cllr Thompson resigned after his position had become untenable.[45] One week later, Cllr MacGregor was elected as council leader as the Conservatives took control of the council with support from independent and Lib Dem councillors. Independent councillor Dougie Campbell blamed the collapse of the coalition on the "irresponsible" behaviour of the Labour group and "interference" from party headquarters.[46]

During 2024, Cllr John Denerley became an independent councillor and was no longer part of the Conservatives.[47]

Just over two years into the Conservative regime, seven councillors quit the party following a row over the direction of the administration. Four of them – Cllrs Andrew Giusti, Chrissie Hill, David Inglis and Richard Marsh – formed a new political grouping on the council called Novantae. The other three, Cllrs Ian Carruthers, Karen Carruthers and Andrew Wood, formed a separate independent group.[48] A fortnight later, the Conservative administration collapsed after Cllr MacGregor stepped down as council leader in the midst of a no-confidence vote. The SNP took back control of the council and Cllr Thompson was re-elected council leader.[49]

Mid Galloway and Wigtown West by-election

In October 2022, Sandy Whitelaw, Labour councillor for Mid Galloway and Wigtown West, resigned for personal reasons.[50] A by-election was held on 8 December 2022 and was won by Conservative candidate Richard Marsh.[51]

More information Party, Candidate ...
Mid Galloway and Wigtown West by-election (8 December 2022) - 1 seat
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1
Conservative Richard Marsh 52.8 1,787
SNP Ian Gibson 26.0 879
Labour John McCutcheon 9.6 326
Liberal Democrats Iain McDonald 5.6 190
Green Daniel Hooper-Jones 5.1 172
Electorate: 10,981   Valid: 3,354   Spoilt: 26   Quota: 1,678   Turnout: 30.8%  
Close

Source:[52]

Stranraer and the Rhins by-election

In September 2025, Willie Scobie, long-serving independent councillor for Stranraer and the Rhins, resigned for health reasons.[53] A by-election was held on 20 November 2025 and was won by Conservative candidate Julie Currie.[54][55]

More information Party, Candidate ...
Stranraer and the Rhins by-election (20 November 2025) - 1 seat
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
Reform John Roberts 34.4 1,386 1,391 1,399 1,403 1,429 1,455 1,523
Conservative Julie Currie 33.5 1,302 1,305 1,321 1,330 1,375 1,417 1,565
SNP Simon Jones 13.9 541 545 554 612 659 730  
Labour John McCutcheon 6.1 239 242 258 283 311    
Independent Shaun Smith 5.3 207 208 220 239      
Green Michael Havard 3.6 141 142 158        
Liberal Democrats Tracey Warman 2.5 96 98          
Heritage Gisele Skinner 0.7 27            
Electorate: 11,573   Valid: 3,939   Spoilt: 29   Quota: 1,971   Turnout: 34.3%  
Close

Source:[56][57]

References

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