2017 Aberdeenshire Council election

The Aberdeenshire Council election of 2017 was held on 4 May 2017, on the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election will use the 19 wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with each ward electing three or four councillors using the single transferable vote system a form of proportional representation, with 70 councillors being elected, an increase of one member compared to 2012.

2017 Aberdeenshire Council election

4 May 2017 (2017-05-04)

All 70 seats to Aberdeenshire Council
36 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Jim Gifford Richard Thomson Peter Argyle
Party Conservative SNP Liberal Democrats
Leader's seat Mid Formantine Ellon and District Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside
Last election 14 seats, 21.2% 28 seats, 38.9% 12 seats, 15.4%
Seats won 23 21 14
Seat change 9 7 2
First preferences 37,301 26,180 12,606
First preferences (%) 40.4% 28.4% 13.7%
Swing (pp) 19.2% 10.5% 1.7%

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Leader Norman Smith Alison Evison Martin Ford
Party Independent Labour Scottish Green
Last election 11 seats, 14.7% 2 seats, 6.8% 1 seat, 2.4%
Seats after 10 1 1
Seat change 1 1
First preferences 10,168 4,094 1,781
First preferences (%) 11.0% 4.4% 1.9%
Swing (pp) 3.7% 2.4% 0.5%

Results by ward.

Council Leader before election

Hamish Vernal

Council Leader after election

Jim Gifford

The Scottish Conservatives returned the most councillors, the first time it has been the largest party in the region since the 1982 election, when the area was under the Grampian Regional Council, although they were stopped short of an overall majority. The number of Scottish National Party councillors fell by a quarter but remained the second largest group. The Scottish Liberal Democrats picked up a couple of seats while the other parties gained roughly the same results as the previous election.

On 18 May, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Aligned Independents formed an administration, with Jim Gifford (Conservative) elected as council leader and Bill Howatson (Liberal Democrat) was made Provost.[1]

Results

[2]

Aberdeenshire Local Election Result 2017
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 23 9 0 +9 32.86 40.1 37,291 +18.9
  SNP 21 0 7 -7 30.00 28.2 26,200 -10.7
  Liberal Democrats 14 2 0 +2 20.00 14.4 13,355 -1.0
  Independent 10 2 3 -1 14.29 10.9 10,168 -3.8
  Labour 1 0 1 -1 1.43 4.4 4,094 -2.4
  Scottish Green 1 0 0 - 1.43 1.9 1,781 -0.5
  Scottish Libertarian 0 - - - 0.0 0.08 79 +0.08
  SDP 0 - - - 0 0.05 48 +0.05

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 2007. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

Ward results

Banff and District

  • 2012: 2 x SNP, 1 x Conservative
  • 2017: 1 x SNP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Independent
  • 2012-2017: 1 x Independent gain from SNP
Banff and District - 3 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1
Conservative Mike Roy (incumbent) 36.18% 1,509
Independent John B. Cox (incumbent) 26.18% 1,092
SNP Glen Reynolds 25.15% 1,049
Liberal Democrats Alison Simpson 12.49% 521
Electorate: 9,187   Valid: 4,171   Spoilt: 53   Quota: 1,043   Turnout: 46.0%

    Troup

    • 2012: 1 x SNP, 1 x Independent, 1 x Conservative
    • 2017: 1 x SNP, 1 x Independent, 1 x Conservative
    • 2012-2017 Change: No Change
    Troup - 3 seats
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    123456
    Conservative Mark Findlater (incumbent) 44.79% 1,535          
    Independent Hamish Partridge (incumbent) 14.97% 513 721 759 912    
    SNP Ross Cassie (incumbent) 20.63% 707 740 759 795 804 1,165
    SNP Ricky Taylor 11.47% 393 406 420 438 443  
    Liberal Democrats Sandy Leslie 4.17% 143 278 355      
    Labour Ray Stephen 3.97% 136 201        
    Electorate: 7,902   Valid: 3,427   Spoilt: 68   Quota: 857   Turnout: 44.20%

      Fraserburgh and District

      • 2012: 2 x SNP, 2 x Independent
      • 2017: 2 x SNP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Independent
      • 2012-2017 Change: 1 x Conservative gain from Independent
      Fraserburgh and District - 4 seats
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      123456789
      Conservative Andy Kille 24.10% 1,229                
      Independent Doreen Mair 14.57% 743 781 790 873 950 1,061      
      SNP Charles Cummin Buchan (incumbent) 12.04% 614 617 758 783 811 855 859 910 999
      SNP Brian Topping (incumbent) 12.78% 652 653 709 731 763 776 780 827 968
      Independent Ian Tait (incumbent) 9.73% 496 529 532 564 590 637 644 743  
      Independent Michael Watt (incumbent) 6.45% 329 352 359 397 429 470 478    
      Liberal Democrats Ann Bell 5.14% 262 292 299 313 362        
      Labour Kenneth Watt 5.23% 267 282 287 311          
      Independent Charlie Reid 4.94% 252 258 267            
      SNP David Donn 5.02% 256 257              
      Electorate: TBC   Valid: 5,100   Spoilt: 93   Quota: 1,021   Turnout: 42.9%

        Central Buchan

        • 2012: 2 x SNP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Independent
        • 2017: 1 x SNP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Liberal Democrat, 1 x Independent
        • 2012-2017: Change: 1 x Liberal Democrat gain from SNP
        Central Buchan - 4 seats
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        12345
        Conservative Marion Buchan 37.28% 1,808        
        SNP Jim Ingram (incumbent) 24.50% 1,188        
        Independent Norman Smith (incumbent) 17.79% 863 1,133      
        Liberal Democrats Anne Simpson 10.41% 505 760 777 854 1,169
        SNP Lenny Pirie (incumbent) 10.02% 486 518 700 728  
        Electorate: TBC   Valid: 4,850   Spoilt: 66   Quota: 971   Turnout: 44.3%

          Peterhead North and Rattray

          • 2012: 2 x SNP, 2 x Independent
          • 2017: 2 x Independent, 1 x SNP, 1 x Conservative
          • 2012-2017 Change: 1 x Conservative gain from SNP
          Peterhead North and Rattray - 4 seats
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          123456
          Conservative Dianne Beagrie 41.33% 1,899          
          SNP Anne Allan (incumbent) 22.02% 1,012          
          Independent Alan S. Buchan (incumbent) 12.77% 587 855 861 925    
          Independent Iain Sutherland 9.64% 443 658 661 728 731 972
          SNP Fiona McRae (incumbent) 11.95% 549 593 667 689 690  
          Liberal Democrats Alistair Massey 2.29% 105 228 230      
          Electorate: TBC   Valid: 4,595   Spoilt: 95   Quota: 920   Turnout: 39.0%

            Peterhead South and Cruden

            • 2012: 2 x SNP, 1 x Independent
            • 2017: 1 x SNP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Independent
            • 2012-2017 Change: Conservatives gain one seat from SNP
            Peterhead South and Cruden - 3 seats
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            12345
            Conservative Alan Fakley 37.00% 1,364        
            SNP Stephen William Smith (incumbent) 21.35% 787 801 828 857 1,384
            Independent Stephen Calder 15.16% 559 618 719 909 932
            SNP Stuart Wallace Pratt (incumbent) 15.16% 559 567 583 616  
            Independent Sam Coull 7.40% 273 351 416    
            Liberal Democrats Colin Simpson 5.07% 187 289      
            Electorate: TBC   Valid: 3,687   Spoilt: 82   Quota: 922   Turnout: 40.8%

              Turriff and District

              • 2012: 1 x SNP, 1 x Liberal Democrat, 1 x Independent
              • 2017: 1 x SNP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Liberal Democrat, 1 x Independent
              • 2012-2017 Change: 1 x Conservative win due to one additional seat compared to 2012
              Turriff and District - 4 seats
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              12345
              Conservative Iain Taylor* 37.36% 1,854        
              SNP Alastair Forsyth 25.39% 1,260        
              Liberal Democrats Anne Robertson (incumbent) 19.77% 981 1,324      
              Independent Sandy Duncan (incumbent) 10.96% 544 682 802 918 1,262
              Independent Mike Rawlins 6.53% 324 429 514 559  
              Electorate: TBC   Valid: 4,963   Spoilt: 52   Quota: 993   Turnout: 46.8%
                • = Sitting Councillor for Banff and District Ward.

                Mid-Formartine

                • 2012: 2 x SNP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Independent
                • 2017: 1 x SNP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Liberal Democrat, 1 x Independent
                • 2012-2017 Change: 1 x Liberal Democrat gain from SNP
                Mid-Formartine - 4 seats
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                1234567
                Conservative Jim Gifford (incumbent) 34.61% 1,797            
                Independent Paul Johnston (incumbent) 20.61% 1,070            
                SNP Karen Adam 19.99% 1,038 1,057          
                Liberal Democrats Andrew Hassan 9.46% 491 724 731 731 860 930 1,227
                Independent Jeff Goodhall 4.79% 249 456 467 468 534 627  
                SNP Cryle Shand (incumbent) 5.82% 302 310 314 329 358    
                Labour Kirsten Muat 4.72% 245 301 303 303      
                Electorate: TBC   Valid: 5,192   Spoilt: 43   Quota: 1,039   Turnout: 46.1%

                  Ellon and District

                  • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem
                  • 2017: 2xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem
                  • 2012-2017 Change: no change
                  Ellon and District - 4 seats
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  1234
                  Conservative Gillian Louise Owen (incumbent) 40.94 2,258      
                  Liberal Democrats Isobel Davidson (incumbent) 19.71 1,087 1,703.86    
                  SNP Richard Thomson (incumbent)†††† 17.9 987 1,034.02 1,093.74 1,264.34
                  SNP Anouk Kahanov-Kloppert 13.93 768 793.55 843.88 1,024.70
                  Labour John Morgan 7.52 415 548.39 835.99  
                  Electorate: TBC   Valid: 5,515   Spoilt: 64   Quota: 1,104   Turnout: 5,579 (47.2%)

                    West Garioch

                    • 2012: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xCon
                    • 2017: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xCon
                    • 2012-2017 Change: no change
                    West Garioch - 3 seats
                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                    123456
                    Conservative Sebastian Leslie†† 42.49 1,809          
                    SNP Victoria Harper 19.73 840 858.10 874.33 879.02 979.03 1,487.26
                    Liberal Democrats Hazel Smith 15.64 666 1,011.06 1,155.76      
                    SNP Elaine Mitchell 10.31 439 450.52 460.75 465.65 577.54  
                    Scottish Green Richard Paul Openshaw 7.19 306 353.71 401.52 436.47    
                    Labour Peter Young 4.63 197 266.5        
                    Electorate: TBC   Valid: 4,257   Spoilt: 53   Quota: 1,065   Turnout: 4,310 (47.6%)

                      Inverurie and District

                      • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem
                      • 2017: 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLibDem; 1xIndependent
                      • 2012-2017 Change: Independent gain one seat from SNP
                      Inverurie and District - 4 seats
                      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                      1234
                      Conservative Colin Clark (incumbent)† 35.95 1,732      
                      SNP Neil Baillie 22.52 1,085      
                      Independent Judy Margaret Whyte 20.38 982      
                      Liberal Democrats Marion Ewenson 11.79 568 951.1 958.69 965.63
                      SNP Bryan Hunter Stuart (incumbent) 5.09 245 261.41 360.1 362.9
                      Labour Sarah Flavell 4.28 206 265.42 269.77 271.69
                      Electorate: TBC   Valid: 4,818   Spoilt: 48   Quota: 964   Turnout: 4,866 (43.3%)

                        East Garioch

                        • 2012: 1xSNP; 1xGRN; 1xLib Dem
                        • 2017: 1xSNP; 1xGRN; 1xLib Dem; 1xCon
                        • 2012-2017 Change: One additional seat in the assembly, gained by Conservatives
                        East Garioch - 4 seats
                        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                        123456
                        Conservative Dominic Lonchay 31.34 1,429          
                        Scottish Green Martin Anthony Ford (incumbent) 18.64 850 921.27        
                        Liberal Democrats Fergie Hood (incumbent) 18.47 842 1,077.53        
                        SNP Glen Reid 15.09 688 695.96 706.30 707.68 752.38 1,360.51
                        SNP Conor McKay 12.52 571 577.87 590.28 591.88 658.89  
                        Labour Ann Thorpe 3.93 179 228.57 294.78 297.37    
                        Electorate: TBC   Valid: 4,559   Spoilt: 37   Quota: 912   Turnout: 4,596 (45.17%)

                          Westhill and District

                          • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem
                          • 2017: 2xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLibDem
                          • 2012-2017 Change: Conservatives gain one seat from SNP
                          Westhill and District - 4 seats
                          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                          1234567
                          Conservative Ron McKail (incumbent) 33.67 2,019            
                          Liberal Democrats Iris Margaret Walker (incumbent) 22.85 1,370            
                          SNP David Robert Aitchison (incumbent) 14.63 877 884.71 893.94 912.92 921.93 987.15 1,603.65
                          Conservative Alistair McKelvie 13.81 828 1,564          
                          SNP Heather Coull 9.29 557 561.06 567.94 584.07 593.09 689.29  
                          Labour Lindsey Kirkhill 4.44 266 279.39 331.55 377.96 422.04    
                          Scottish Libertarian Derek Scott 1.31 79 83.46 114.63 126.79      
                          Electorate: TBC   Valid: 5,996   Spoilt: 65   Quota: 1,200   Turnout: 6,061 (50.4%)

                            Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford

                            • 2012: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent
                            • 2017: 2xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLibDem
                            • 2012-2017 Change: Conservatives gain one seat from Independent
                            Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford - 4 seats
                            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                            123456
                            Conservative Moira Ingleby (incumbent) 30.69 1,741          
                            Conservative Robbie Withey 20.43 1,159          
                            Liberal Democrats John Latham (incumbent) 17.54 995 1,212.54        
                            SNP Gwyneth Petrie (incumbent) 15.78 895 924.24 930.54 931.06 994.03 1,639.02
                            SNP Kate Monahan 10.38 589 594.92 601.66 602.01 701.6  
                            Labour Bryan Begg 5.18 294 363.27 390.63 396.05    
                            Electorate: TBC   Valid: 5,673   Spoilt: 112   Quota: 1,135   Turnout: 5,785 (47.8%)

                              Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside

                              • 2012: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
                              • 2017: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
                              • 2012-2017 Change: no change
                              Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside - 3 seats
                              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                              12
                              Conservative Paul Gibb 43.97 2,093  
                              SNP Geva Blackett (incumbent) 29.66 1,364  
                              Liberal Democrats Peter Argyle (incumbent) 18.91 900 1,307.70
                              Independent Anne Reid 4.74 226 338.17
                              Labour Claire Miller 3.7 176 238.99
                              Electorate: TBC   Valid: 4,759   Spoilt: 32   Quota: 1,190   Turnout: 4,791 (53.2%)

                                Banchory and Mid-Deeside

                                • 2012: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
                                • 2017: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
                                • 2012-2017 Change: no change
                                Banchory and Mid-Deeside - 3 seats
                                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                1234
                                Conservative Ann Ross 52.8 2,525      
                                SNP Eileen Durno 21.89 1,046 1,088.11 1,162.35 1,417.64
                                Liberal Democrats Rosemary Bruce 20.25 968 1,689.6    
                                Labour Iain Gillies 5.04 241 352.58 596.12  
                                Electorate: TBC   Valid: 4,780   Spoilt: 33   Quota: 1,196   Turnout: 4,813 (54.6%)

                                  North Kincardine

                                  • 2012: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem
                                  • 2017: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem
                                  • 2012-2017 Change: no change
                                  North Kincardine - 4 seats
                                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                  123
                                  Conservative Colin Pike 30.46 1,685    
                                  Liberal Democrats Ian Mollison (incumbent) 22.08 1,221    
                                  SNP Alastair Bews (incumbent) †††††† 20.55 1,138    
                                  Labour Alison Evison (incumbent) 16.27 901 1,074.91 1,124.67
                                  SNP Kes Smith 6.47 358 375.49 387.16
                                  Scottish Green William Ball 3.25 180 224.25 237.88
                                  SDP David Lansdell 0.87 48 95.34 100.66
                                  Electorate: TBC   Valid: 5,531   Spoilt: 48   Quota: 1,107   Turnout: 5,579 ()

                                    Stonehaven and Lower Deeside

                                    • 2012: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xLib Dem
                                    • 2017: 2xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLibDem
                                    • 2012-2017 Change: Conservatives gain one seat from Labour
                                    Stonehaven and Lower Deeside - 4 seats
                                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                    12345
                                    Conservative Wendy Agnew (incumbent) 30.83 1,703        
                                    SNP Dennis Robertson 23.54 1,300        
                                    Liberal Democrats Sarah Dickinson 17.09 944 1,030.38 1,057.08 1,084.63 1,155.68
                                    Conservative Sandy Wallace††† 14.85 820 1,196.42      
                                    Labour Raymond Christie (incumbent) 6.36 351 381.9 403.05 410.4 457.09
                                    Scottish Green Rachel Shanks 3.84 212 223.24 312.79 316.27 365.31
                                    Independent Philip Bishop 3.49 193 217.23 229.83 243.06  
                                    Electorate: TBC   Valid: 5,523   Spoilt: 87   Quota: 1,105   Turnout: 5,610 (49.7%)

                                      Mearns

                                      • 2012: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent
                                      • 2017: 2xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLibDem
                                      • 2012-2017 Change: Conservatives gain one seat from Independent
                                      Mearns - 4 seats
                                      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                      1234567
                                      Conservative George Carr (incumbent) 36.19 2,034            
                                      SNP Leigh Wilson††††† 16.03 901 914.41 935.75 936.02 997.27 1,045.19 1,735.42
                                      SNP Carole Wise 12.46 700 705.36 715.36 715.57 751.47 815.73  
                                      Liberal Democrats Bill Howatson (incumbent) 10.66 599 701.79 767.94 772.58 863.53 1,100.31 1,145.13
                                      Independent Dave Stewart (incumbent) 8.4 472 517.14 546.48 549.66 596.82    
                                      Conservative Jeff Hutchison 8.2 461 1,116.16 1,141.52        
                                      Scottish Green Karen Allan 4.15 233 248.19 284.09 284.94      
                                      Labour Patrick Coffield 3.91 220 237.43          
                                      Electorate: TBC   Valid: 5,620   Spoilt: 70   Quota: 1,125   Turnout: 5,690 (48.3%)

                                        Changes since 2017

                                        • † Inverurie & District Conservative Cllr Colin Clark was elected as an MP for Gordon on 8 June 2017. He resigned his Council seat on 28 June 2017.[3] A by-election was held on 12 October 2017 and Lesley Berry of the Conservatives won.
                                        • †† West Garioch Conservative Cllr Sebastian Leslie was suspended from the party on 18 September 2018 and became an Independent having refused to pay his Council Tax.
                                        • ††† Stonehaven and Lower Deeside Conservative Cllr Sandy Wallace resigned from the party and became an Independent on 12 December 2018 citing he had no faith in either the Prime Minister or the Conservative controlled Coalition in Aberdeenshire.[4] On 10 November 2020, the Scottish Libertarian Party announced that Wallace had joined the party.[5]
                                        • †††† Ellon & District SNP Cllr Richard Thomson was elected an MP for Gordon in the 2019 UK General Election. He resigned his Council seat in April 2020.[6] A by-election was held on 15 October and was won by the SNP's Louise Mcallister.
                                        • ††††† Mearns SNP Cllr Leigh Wislson resigned from the party and became an Independent on 15 May 2020 citing professional circumstances.[7]
                                        • †††††† North Kincardine SNP Cllr Alistair Bews resigned from the party and became an Independent on 17 May 2020 citing personal and professional reasons.[8]

                                        By-elections since 2017

                                        Ellon & District By-election (15 October 2020) - 1 Seat
                                        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                        1234
                                        SNP Louise Mcallister 42.4% 1,683 1,725 1,757 1,916
                                        Conservative John Crawley 41.7% 1,658 1,663 1,679 1,840
                                        Liberal Democrats Trevor Mason 10.2% 405 443 485  
                                        Labour John Bennett 2.9% 114 126    
                                        Scottish Green Peter Kennedy 2.8% 112      
                                        Electorate: 11,893   Valid: 3,972   Spoilt: 34   Quota: 1,987   Turnout: 4,006 (33.7%)
                                          Inverurie & District By-election (12 October 2017) - 1 Seat[9]
                                          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                          1234
                                          Conservative Lesley Berry 48.53% 1,672 1,679 1,715 1,871
                                          SNP Elaine Mitchell 33.27% 1,146 1,161 1,234 1,300
                                          Liberal Democrats Scott Bremner 8.56% 295 309 412
                                          Labour Sarah Flavell 8.01% 276 290
                                          Scottish Green Craig Stewart 1.62% 56
                                          Electorate: NA   Valid: 3,445   Spoilt: 26   Quota: 1,723   Turnout: 30.9%

                                            References

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