Highland Council elections

Local government elections in Highland, Scotland From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Highland Council in Scotland holds elections every five years, previously holding them every four years from its creation as a single-tier authority in 1995 to 2007.

Council elections

As a regional council

More information Year ...
Year SNP Liberal[a] Conservative Green Labour Independent
1974 1 3 2 0 4 37
1978 2 2 1 0 5 37
1982[b] 2 2 1 0 5 42
1986 3 3 2 0 7 37[c]
1990 2 3 1 1 10 35[d]
1994[e] 4 5 2 0 8 35[d]
Close
  1. [a]
    Alliance from 1981 to 1988, Liberal Democrats from 1988 to 1995.
  2. [b]
    New ward boundaries.[1]
  3. [c]
    Includes 1 Independent Labour.
  4. [d]
    Includes 1 Independent Liberal.
  5. [e]
    New ward boundaries.[2]

As a unitary authority

More information Year ...
Year SNP Liberal Democrats Conservative Green Labour Independent
1995 9 6 1 0 7 49
1999[a] 8 12 0 0 10 50[b]
2003 6 9 0 0 8 57
2007[c] 17 21 0 0 7 35
2012 22 15 0 0 8 35
2017[d] 22 10 10 1 3 28
2022 22 15 10 4 2 21
Close
  1. [a]
    New ward boundaries.[3]
  2. [b]
    Includes 1 Independent Liberal.
  3. [c]
    Change to single transferable vote system and new ward boundaries.
  4. [d]
    New ward boundaries.[4]

Results maps

  • 1995 results map
    1995 results map
  • 1999 results map
    1999 results map
  • 2003 results map
    2003 results map
  • 2012 results map
    2012 results map

By-elections

2003-2007

More information Party, Candidate ...
Beauly and Strathglass By-Election 10 June 2004[5][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Helen Carmichael 564 54.9 +5.2
Independent David Martin 271 26.4 +26.4
Scottish Socialist Sean Wood 103 10.0 +10.0
Liberal Democrats Daniel Farthing 89 8.7 +8.7
Majority 293 28.5
Turnout 1,027
Independent hold Swing
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Lochardil By-Election 10 August 2006[7][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David Henderson 514 43.9 +43.9
Independent Michael Gimson 263 22.4 −6.6
SNP John Finnie 212 18.1 +18.1
Labour Fraser Parr 108 9.2 −7.0
Conservative Graeme Nicol 49 4.2 +4.2
Independent Robert Rodger 26 2.2 +2.2
Majority 251 21.4
Turnout 1,172
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
Close

2007-2012

More information Party, Candidate ...
Inverness West By-Election 24 April 2009[9]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1
Liberal Democrats Alasdair Christie 59.6 1,503
SNP Brian ÓhEadhra 22.1 556
Labour Andrew MacKintosh 8.3 210
Scottish Christian Sheila McLaughlan 4.6 115
Conservative Donald MacDonald 4.4 111
Solidarity George MacDonald 1.1 27
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent
Valid: 2,522   Spoilt: 18   Quota: 1,270   Turnout: 2,540  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Wick By-Election 7 April 2011[10]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234
SNP Gail Elizabeth Ross 46.8 979 984 999 1,049
Labour Neil MacDonald 19.6 409 410 421 463
Independent Niall Smith 9.9 207 209 217 245
Liberal Democrats Claire Mairi Clarke 9.9 206 211 219 236
Independent Jim Oag 8.8 184 191 202  
Independent Laurel Bush 3.5 73 75    
Conservative Michael Carr 1.6 33      
SNP gain from Independent
Valid: 2,091   Spoilt: 33   Quota: 1,047   Turnout: 2,124  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Tain and Easter Ross By-Election 9 June 2011[11]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234
Independent Fiona Robertson 32.2 811 840 933 1,204
SNP Derek Louden 33.2 837 860 928 1,037
Independent Ruairidh MacKenzie 18.5 467 481 547  
Liberal Democrats Antony Gardner 12.2 307 318    
Independent Michael Herd 3.9 97      
Independent gain from SNP
Valid: 2,519   Spoilt: 17   Quota: 1,260   Turnout: 2,536  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Inverness South By-Election 3 November 2011[12]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456
Liberal Democrats Carolyn Caddick 28.7 747 761 777 830 971 1,091
SNP Kenneth Gowans 33.9 885 903 922 967 1,005 1,084
Labour Katherine MacKenzie-Geegan 11.8 308 319 327 357 379  
Conservative David Bonsor 11.1 290 300 336 339    
Green Gale Falconer 6.0 157 172 189      
Scottish Christian Donald Boyd 4.8 126 130        
Independent David McGrath 3.6 94          
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour
Valid: 2,607   Spoilt: 13   Quota: 1,304   Turnout: 2,620  
Close

2012-2017

More information Party, Candidate ...
Landward Caithness By-Election 2 May 2013[13]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1
Independent Gillian Coghill 53.5 1,317
SNP Hanna Miedema 21.3 525
Labour David Baron 16.9 417
Conservative Barbara Anne Watson 8.3 203
Independent hold
Valid: 2,462   Spoilt: 17   Quota: 1,232   Turnout: 2,479  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Landward Caithness By-Election 28 November 2013[14]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1
Independent Matthew Reiss 44.8 1,150
Independent Winifred Sutherland 23.1 593
SNP Ed Boyter 20.5 526
Conservative Kerensa Carr 6.7 171
Independent Tina Irving 5.0 128
Independent gain from SNP
Valid: 2,568   Spoilt: 48   Quota: 1,295   Turnout: 2,616  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Black Isle By-Election 19 December 2013[15]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456
Independent Jennifer Barclay 32.8 1,003 1,031 1,061 1,157 1,210 1,343
SNP Jackie Hendry 14.3 439 439 453 470 530 594
Independent Bill Fraser 12.5 382 413 431 486 556 663
Liberal Democrats George Normington 10.9 334 373 408 434 489  
Independent Gwyn Phillips 9.0 275 289 304      
Green Myra Carus 8.8 269 280 319 362    
Labour Shaun Finlayson 6.0 184 194        
Conservative Douglas MacLean 5.7 175          
Independent hold
Valid: 3,061   Spoilt: 23   Quota: 1,531   Turnout: 3,084  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Caol and Mallaig By-Election 1 May 2014[16]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234
Independent Ben Thompson 39.0 932 950 1,009 1,176
SNP William MacDonald 30.4 726 739 756 881
Independent Sandy Watson 22.5 537 541 551  
UKIP Liam Simmonds 5.6 133 139    
Scottish Christian Susan Wallace 2.8 68      
Independent hold
Valid: 2,391   Spoilt: 23   Quota: 1,196   Turnout: 2,414 (34.43%)  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Nairn By-Election 7 May 2015[17]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234
SNP Stephen Fuller 41.0 2,709 2,782 2,854 3,135
Liberal Democrats Ritchie Cunningham 24.1 1,589 1,701 1,890 2,406
Independent Paul McIvor 15.3 1,011 1,042 1,440  
Independent Mairi MacGregor 12.7 837 893    
Labour Chris Johnson 6.9 455      
SNP hold
Valid: 6,601   Spoilt: 149   Quota: 3,302   Turnout: 6,750  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Aird and Loch Ness By-Election 8 October 2015[18]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234
Liberal Democrats Jean Davis 33.5 1,029 1,099 1,208 1,511
SNP Emma Ann Knox 32.5 1,000 1,097 1,144 1,167
Conservative George Cruickshank 15.2 467 480 544  
Independent Zofia Fraser 9.5 293 330    
Green Vikki Tania Trelfer 9.3 287      
Liberal Democrats hold
Valid: 3,076   Spoilt: 24   Quota: 1,538   Turnout: 3,100  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Culloden and Arderseir By-Election 6 October 2016[19]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345678
Liberal Democrats Trish Robertson 16.7 463 464 479 515 564 703 793 1,026
SNP Pauline Munro 27.2 753 755 775 796 862 908 970 1,001
Conservative Andrew Jarvie 15.9 439 442 452 468 478 515 589  
Independent Duncan MacPherson 9.9 274 285 324 346 369 414    
Independent John Ross 11.4 315 317 330 339 362      
Green Isla MacLeod-O'Reilly 6.5 180 182 188 209        
Labour Andrew MacKintosh 5.9 163 163 180          
Independent David McGrath 5.7 158 158            
Independent Thomas Lamont 0.8 23              
Liberal Democrats hold
Valid: 2,768   Spoilt: 50   Quota: 1,385   Turnout: 2,818  
Close

2017-2022

More information Party, Candidate ...
Tain and Easter Ross By-Election 28 September 2017[20]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123
Independent Alasdair Rhind 49.4 1,266 1,267 1,290
SNP Stan Peace 23.9 612 616 634
Liberal Democrats William Sinclair 14.5 372 376 387
Conservative Eva Short 9.1 233 236 243
Independent Gerald Holdsworth 2.7 68 69  
Scottish Libertarian Harry Christian 0.5 13    
Independent gain from Liberal Democrats
Valid: 2,564   Spoilt: 29   Quota: 1,283   Turnout: 2,593  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Caol and Mallaig By-Election 5 April 2018[21]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345
Liberal Democrats Denis Rixson 31.1 658 671 706 791 968
SNP Alex MacInnes 27.2 574 591 615 617 737
Independent Colin 'Woody' Wood 21.5 454 471 539 580  
Conservative Ian Smith 8.7 183 188 200    
Independent Catherine MacKinnon 6.9 146 176      
Independent Ronald Joseph Campbell 4.6 98        
Liberal Democrats gain from SNP
Valid: 2,113   Spoilt: 18   Quota: 1,057   Turnout: 2,131  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh By-Election 7 December 2018[22]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345678
SNP Alexander MacInnes 33.1 1,318 1,320 1,322 1,327 1,354 1,397 1,575 1,798
Conservative Gavin Berkeneger 26.0 1,037 1,038 1,043 1,061 1,071 1,147 1,186 1,374
Independent Richard Greene 15.6 622 624 627 677 699 785 905  
Green Irene Francis Brandt 9.0 359 359 359 364 411 483    
Liberal Democrats George Scott 8.0 320 320 322 346 379      
Labour Christopher Birt 4.4 174 174 175 179        
Independent Jean Davis 3.3 131 132 133          
UKIP Les Durance 0.4 16 18            
Scottish Libertarian Harry Christian 0.2 8              
SNP gain from Liberal Democrats
Valid: 3,985   Spoilt: 39   Quota: 1,993   Turnout: 4,024  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Inverness Central By-Election 14 November 2019[23]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123
SNP Emma Roddick 45.2 1,015 1,033 1,115
Conservative Rachael Hatfield 15.4 345 349 360
Independent Richie Paxton 12.3 277 303 338
Liberal Democrats Mary Dormer 10.5 237 266 325
Green Russell Deacon 9.8 220 238  
Labour Ardalan Eghtedar 6.9 154    
SNP hold
Electorate: 8,877   Valid: 2,248   Spoilt: 28   Quota: 1,125   Turnout: 2,276  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Eilean a' Cheò (Skye) By-Election 12 March 2020[24]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345
Independent Calum Munro 28.5 911 927 1,017 1,117 1,464
SNP Andrew Kiss 27.3 874 885 889 1,019 1,135
Liberal Democrats Fay Thomson 21.8 698 698 801 881  
Green Dawn Kroonstuiver Campbell 11.2 357 367 379    
Conservative Ruriadh Stewart 9.8 314 315      
No description Màrtainn Mac a’ Bhàillidh 1.4 45        
Independent hold
Valid: 3,199   Spoilt: 29   Quota: 1,600   Turnout: 3,228  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Aird and Loch Ness By-Election 11 March 2021[25]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456
Independent David Fraser 28.3 997 1,010 1,076 1,194 1,663 2,109
SNP Gordon Shanks 28.2 994 1,010 1,129 1,198 1,211  
Conservative Gavin Berkenheger 23.41% 824 835 847 929    
Liberal Democrats Martin Robertson 8.52% 300 335 397      
Green Ryan MacKintosh 7.7 272 297        
Labour Bill Moore 3.8 133          
Independent gain from Conservative
Valid: 3,520   Spoilt: 44   Quota: 1,761   Turnout: 3,564  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Wick and East Caithness By-Election 12 August 2021[26]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345
Liberal Democrats Jill Tilt 27.3 657 660 848 986 1,501
Independent Bill Fernie 25.8 622 627 780 963  
SNP Michael James Cameron 24.6 593 593 606    
Conservative Daniel Ross 21.8 523 525      
Scottish Libertarian Harry Christian 0.7 16        
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent
Valid: 2,411   Spoilt: 28   Quota: 1,206   Turnout: 2,439  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Inverness West By-Election 12 August 2021[27]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
Liberal Democrats Colin Aitken 31.8 678 678 680 705 799 970 1,246
SNP Kate MacLean 33.7 718 720 731 816 853 869  
Conservative Max Bannerman 13.8 293 295 302 311 344    
Independent Duncan McDonald 10.8 230 232 239 251    
Green Ryan MacKintosh 7.5 159 160 164        
ISP Iain Cullens Forsyth 2.0 42 42          
Scottish Libertarian Calum Mark Liptrot 0.5 11            
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent
Valid: 2,131   Spoilt: 18   Quota: 1,066   Turnout: 2,149  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Fort William and Ardnamurchan By-Election 2 December 2021[28]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456
SNP Sarah Fanet 39.8 905 915 925 952 968 1,182
Conservative Ruraidh Stewart 21.2 485 488 504 547 651 688
Green Kate Willis 14.3 328 330 344 385 442  
Liberal Democrats Roger Liley 10.1 231 234 248 294    
Independent Andy McKenna 8.5 194 202 238      
Independent Joanne Matheson 3.9 88 109        
No description Mark Drayton 2.6 56          
SNP gain from Conservative
Valid: 2,287   Spoilt: 40   Quota: 1,144   Turnout: 2,327  
Close

2022-2027

More information Party, Candidate ...
Tain and Easter Ross By-Election 28 September 2023[29]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456
Independent Maureen Ross 41.5 1,022 1,025 1,033 1,058 1,131 1,312
Liberal Democrats Charles Stephen 24.5 603 605 618 644 705 801
SNP Gordon Allison 18.8 464 467 491 506 514  
Conservative Veronica Morrison 8.4 207 210 210 216    
Labour Michael Perera 3.6 88 90 96      
Green Andrew Barnett 2.3 56 58        
Scottish Libertarian Harry Christian 0.9 23          
Independent gain from Liberal Democrats
Electorate: 7,226   Valid: 2,463   Spoilt: 25   Quota: 1,232   Turnout: 2,488  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Inverness South By-Election 11 April 2024[30]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345678
Independent Duncan Cameron McDonald 21.9 730 740 768 798 872 1,050 1,247 1,800
Liberal Democrats Jonathan Chartier 19.6 652 658 665 699 834 1,065 1,235  
SNP Gordon Shanks 19.2 641 647 679 778 830 838    
Conservative Ryan Forbes 16.0 533 535 541 551 595      
Labour Ron Stevenson 10.9 364 365 370 404        
Green Arun Sharma 7.1 237 237 246          
Alba Jimmy Duncan 3.2 107 112            
Sovereignty Andrew Macdonald 1.2 41              
Independent gain from Liberal Democrats
Valid: 3,305   Spoilt: 20   Quota: 1,653   Turnout: 3,325  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Tain and Easter Ross By-Election 13 June 2024[31]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
Independent Laura Dundas 36.0 895 898 938 946 997 1,179 1,582
Liberal Democrats Barbara Cohen 25.0 621 625 637 668 708 890  
SNP Gordon Allison 25.4 630 636 643 682 689    
Conservative Eva Short 5.4 134 135 143 145      
Green Andrew Barnett 3.6 89 94 95        
Independent John Shearer 3.6 89 91          
Scottish Libertarian Harry Christian 1.0 25            
Independent hold
Valid: 2,483   Spoilt: 24   Quota: 1,242   Turnout: 2,507  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Cromarty Firth By-Election 26 September 2024[32]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567891011
Liberal Democrats John Edmondson 20.3 481 481 493 498 531 544 557 573 641 714 806
Independent Sinclair Coghill 13.7 326 327 334 343 345 353 379 416 512 685 800
SNP Odette MacDonald 17.0 403 404 404 406 417 451 457 498 510 550  
Independent Martin Rattray 13.6 323 323 332 338 346 350 381 422 491    
Independent Richard Cross 12.0 285 285 291 303 305 310 316 341      
Independent Brideen Godley-MacKenzie 6.8 162 162 166 170 172 181 193        
Independent Tina McCaffery 4.1 97 98 101 105 107 109          
Green Ryan Barrowman 3.7 89 89 89 90 95            
Labour Michael Perera 3.2 77 77 82 83              
Reform Kim Jackson 2.2 52 70 72                
Conservative Innes Munro 2.4 57 59                  
Reform Roland Jackson 1.0 23                    
Liberal Democrats hold
Independent hold
Valid: 2,375   Spoilt: 45   Quota: 792   Turnout: 2,420  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Inverness Central By-Election 26 September 2024[33]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456
Labour Michael Gregson 27.9 479 481 522 548 688 929
SNP Martin MacGregor 32.1 551 555 619 624 672  
Liberal Democrats Chris Lewcock 16.7 286 301 328 409    
Conservative Donald MacKenzie 8.7 150 182 182      
Green Andrew Barnett 9.2 158 162        
Reform Iain Richmond 5.4 93          
Labour hold
Valid: 1,702   Spoilt: 15   Quota: 859   Turnout: 1,717  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Fort William and Ardnamurchan By-Election 21 November 2024[34]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1
Liberal Democrats Andrew Baxter 58.9 1,428
SNP Rebecca Machin 25.5 619
Green Marit Behner-Coady 6.0 146
Labour Susan Carstairs 4.5 109
Conservative Fiona Fawcett 4.4 107
Scottish Libertarian Nathan Lumb 0.6 15
Liberal Democrats hold
Valid: 2,424   Spoilt: 25   Quota: 1,213   Turnout: 2,449  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Cromarty Firth By-Election 19 June 2025[35]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456789
Independent Richard James Cross 21.1 503 512 518 529 544 646 740 986 1,211
SNP Odette MacDonald 23.8 568 570 584 627 667 709 749 812  
Independent Martin Rattray 15.4 368 374 383 389 393 454 524    
Reform Allan Macdonald 14.6 348 356 362 369 372 396      
Liberal Democrats Ross Costigane 12.2 290 298 323 329 349        
Green Anne Thomas 3.9 92 93 98 101          
Alba Steve Chisolm 3.8 91 92 93            
Labour Michael Robert Perera 3.2 77 79              
Conservative Ryan Forbes 2.0 48                
Independent hold
Valid: 2,385   Spoilt: 25   Quota: 1,193   Turnout: 2,410  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Eilean a' Cheò By-Election 19 June 2025[36]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345678
Independent Christine Gillies 23.5 823 834 846 912 1,021 1,224 1,515 2,009
Liberal Democrats Fay Thomson 21.1 741 765 795 847 902 1,023 1,228  
Independent Campbell Dickson 18.7 655 658 698 717 775 854    
SNP Mártainn Mac A'bhàillidh 15.0 527 530 536 593 613      
Independent Jonathan Macdonald 7.9 276 285 301 316        
Green Katy Lawrence 6.8 239 241 243          
Reform John Coupland 4.5 157 169            
Conservative George Macpherson 2.5 86              
Independent hold
Valid: 3,504   Spoilt: 19   Quota: 1,753   Turnout: 3,523  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Caol and Mallaig By-Election 25 September 2025[37]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345678
Independent Sammy Cameron 36.0 867 871 873 888 914 972 1,139 1,607
Independent Allan Henderson 30.0 723 723 725 728 752 806 967  
Liberal Democrats Isla Campbell 16.8 404 412 423 427 444 492    
SNP Aaron Taylor 8.6 207 208 212 216 219      
Reform Ryan Forbes 4.8 116 117 118 119        
Independent Matthew Prosser 1.2 30 30 30          
Labour Michael Perera 1.0 25 27            
Conservative Donald Mackenzie 0.7 18              
Independent gain from Green
Valid: 2,408   Spoilt: 18   Quota: 1,196   Turnout: 2,426  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Tain and Easter Ross By-Election 25 September 2025[38]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456
Liberal Democrats Connie Ramsay 38.8 935 944 971 1,042 1,141 1,584
Independent Eric Nimmons 28.4 686 704 712 812 924  
SNP Peter Newman 14.8 356 359 392 405    
Reform Stuart Wilson 12.9 312 319 322      
Green Andrew Barnett 3.2 78 82        
Conservative Manuel Androulakis 1.9 45          
Liberal Democrats gain from SNP
Valid: 2,430   Spoilt: 18   Quota: 1,207   Turnout: 2,448  
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Fort William and Ardnamurchan By-Election 11 December 2025[39]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345
Liberal Democrats Matthew Prosser 40.4 925 957 1,036 1,133 1,231
SNP Norrie Maclean 29.1 665 680 692 781 808
Reform Allan Macdonald 9.6 220 226 253 256
Green Ollie Crookwood 9.4 216 224 230    
Conservative Julia Peill 7.6 175 181      
Labour Michael Perera 3.8 87        
Liberal Democrats gain from SNP
Valid: 2,288   Spoilt: 17   Quota: 1,145   Turnout: 2,305  
Close

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI