2022 Aberdeenshire Council election

The 2022 Aberdeenshire Council election is currently taking place as of Thursday 5 May 2022, on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. The election will use the 19 wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 70 councillors being elected. Each ward elects either three or four councillors, using the STV electoral system.[1]

2022 Aberdeenshire Council election
5 May 2022 (2022-05-05)
All 70 seats to Aberdeenshire Council
36 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Andy Kille Gwyneth Petrie Peter Argyll
Party Conservative SNP Liberal Democrats
Leader's seat Fraserburgh and District Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside
Last election 23 seats, 40.4% 21 seats, 28.4% 14 seats, 13.7%
Current seats 18 16 13
 
Leader N/A No leader Martin Ford
Party Independent Labour Green
Leader's seat N/A N/A East Garioch
Last election 10 seats, 11.0% 1 seat, 2.4% 1 seat, 1.9%
Current seats 18 0 1
The 19 multi-member wards.
Incumbent Council Leader

Andy Kille
Conservative


Background

Previous election
Main article: 2017 Aberdeenshire Council election
Image: 300 pixels
Party Seats Vote share
Conservatives 23 (up 9) 40.1% (up 18.9%)
SNP 21 (down 7) 28.2% (down 10.7%)
Liberal Democrats 14 (up 2) 14.4% (down 1%)
Independent 10 (down 1) 10.9% (down 3.8%)
Labour 1 (down 1) 4.4% (down 2.4%)
Green 1 (no change) 1.9% (down 0.5%)

Source: [2]

Composition

Since the previous election, several changes in the composition of the council occurred. Most were changes to the political affiliation of councillors including Conservative councillors Colin Pike, Jim Gifford, Lesley Berry, Jeff Hutchison, Mike Roy and Dianne Beagrie, SNP councillor Geva Blackett and Labour councillor Alison Evison who resigned from their respective parties to become independents.[3][4][5][6][7][8] Conservative councillors Sebastian Leslie and Robbie Withey were suspended from the party over unpaid council tax and assault allegations respectively.[9][10] Conservative councillor Sandy Wallace who resigned from the party and initially became an independent before defecting to the Libertarian Party.[11][12] Independent councillor Iain Sutherland joined the Conservatives[13] and SNP councillors Alastair Bews and Leigh Wilson resigned from the party and initially became an independent before defecting to the Alba Party.[14] SNP councillor Brian Topping also defected to the Alba Party.[15] Four by-elections were held and resulted in a Conservative hold,[16] an SNP hold,[17] a Conservative gain from the Lib Dems[18] and a Conservative gain from the SNP.[19]

Party 2017 result Dissolution
Conservative 23 18
SNP 21 16
Liberal Democrats 14 13
Independents 10 18[Note 1]
Labour 1 0
Green 1 1
Alba N/A 3
Libertarian 0 1

Retiring councillors
Ward Party Retiring councillor
Troup Independent Hamish Partridge
Fraserburgh and District SNP Charles Buchan
Conservative Andy Kille
Central Buchan Conservative Marion Buchan
SNP Jim Ingram
Peterhead North and Rattray SNP Anne Allan
Peterhead South and Cruden Independent Stephen Calder
Conservative Alan Fakley
Turriff and District Independent Sandy Duncan
Liberal Democrats Anne Robertson
West Garioch SNP Victoria Harper
Inverurie and District Independent Lesley Berry
East Garioch Green Martin Ford
Westhill and District Conservative Alistair McKelvie
Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford Conservative Moira Ingleby
Liberal Democrats John Latham
Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside Conservative Paul Gibb
Banchory and Mid-Deeside Liberal Democrats Rosemary Bruce
North Kincardine Liberal Democrats Ian Mollison
Stonehaven and Lower Deeside Libertarian Sandy Wallace
Mearns Liberal Democrats Bill Howatson
Independent Jeff Hutchison

Results
Aberdeenshire Council election result 2022
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative
  SNP
  Liberal Democrats
  Independent
  Labour
  Green
  Libertarian
  Alba
  Scottish Family
  ISP

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
Results of the 2022 Aberdeenshire Council election by ward
Ward %
Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 Total
Cllrs
Conservative SNP Lib Dem Labour Green Ind Others
Banff and District 3
Troup 3
Fraserburgh and District 4
Central Buchan 4
Peterhead North and Rattray 4
Peterhead South and Cruden 3
Turriff and District 4
Mid-Formartine 4
Ellon and District 4
West Garioch 3
Inverurie and District 4
East Garioch 4
Westhill and District 4
Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford 4
Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside 3
Banchory and Mid-Deeside 3
North Kincardine 4
Stonehaven and Lower Deeside 4
Mearns 4
Total 70

Ward results

Banff and District
  • 2017: 1 x SNP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Independent
  • 2022:
  • 2017-2022 Change:
Banff and District − 3 seats[20]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1
Conservative Stewart Adams
Alba Iain Cameron
Independent John Cox (incumbent)
Liberal Democrats Sandy Leslie
Labour James Low
SNP Glen Reynolds (incumbent)
Independent Mike Roy (incumbent)
Green Neil Woodward
Electorate: 9,150   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

    Troup
    • 2017: 1 x SNP, 1 x Independent, 1 x Conservative
    • 2022:
    • 2017-2022 Change:
    Troup − 3 seats[20]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    1
    Liberal Democrats Ian Bailey
    SNP Ross Cassie (incumbent)
    Conservative Mark Findlater (incumbent)
    Conservative Richard Menard
    Green Simon Scott
    Electorate: 7,640   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

      Fraserburgh and District
      • 2017: 2 x SNP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Independent
      • 2022:
      • 2017-2022 Change:
      Fraserburgh and District − 4 seats[20]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      1
      Conservative James Adams
      Liberal Democrats Ann Bell
      Independent Paul Greenall
      SNP Seamus Logan
      Independent Doreen Mair (incumbent)
      Scottish Family John McColl
      Alba Brian Topping (incumbent)
      Electorate: 11,626   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

        Central Buchan
        • 2017: 1 x SNP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Liberal Democrat, 1 x Independent
        • 2022:
        • 2017-2022 Change:
        Central Buchan − 4 seats[20]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        1
        Green Jamie Cole-Hamilton
        Alba Charlotte Diana Cross
        SNP Geoff Crowson
        Labour Arif Mahmood
        SNP David Mair
        Scottish Family Joanna Moore
        Conservative Steve Owen
        Conservative Hannah Powell
        Liberal Democrats Anne Simpson (incumbent)
        Independent Norman Smith (incumbent)
        Electorate: 11,124   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

          Peterhead North and Rattray
          • 2017: 2 x Independent, 1 x SNP, 1 x Conservative
          • 2022:
          • 2017-2022 Change:
          Peterhead North and Rattray − 4 seats[20]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          1
          Liberal Democrats Kevin Robert Anderson
          Independent Dianne Beagrie (incumbent)
          Independent Sharon Bradford
          Independent Alan S. Buchan (incumbent)
          Conservative Matthew James
          Alba Trish McPherson
          SNP Leanne McWhinnie
          Conservative Iain Sutherland (incumbent)
          Electorate: 11,798   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

            Peterhead South and Cruden
            • 2017: 1 x SNP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Independent
            • 2022:
            • 2017-2022 Change:
            Peterhead South and Cruden − 3 seats[20]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            1
            Conservative George Hall
            Conservative Neil Johnstone
            Liberal Democrats Colin Alexander Simpson
            SNP Stephen William Smith (incumbent)
            Electorate: 9,138   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

              Turriff and District
              • 2017: 1 x SNP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Liberal Democrat, 1 x Independent
              • 2022:
              • 2017-2022 Change:
              Turriff and District − 4 seats[20]
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              1
              SNP Susan Dubois
              SNP Alastair Forsyth (incumbent)
              Conservative Gordon Lang
              Liberal Democrats Anne Stirling
              Conservative Iain Walker Taylor (incumbent)
              Green Kathryn Louise Vincent
              Electorate: 10,414   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

                Mid-Formartine
                • 2017: 1 x SNP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Liberal Democrat, 1 x Independent
                • 2022:
                • 2017-2022 Change:
                Mid-Formartine − 4 seats[20]
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                1
                Liberal Democrats Andrew Hassan (incumbent)
                SNP Kenny Hutchison
                Independent Paul Johnston (incumbent)
                SNP Jenny Nicol
                Conservative Sheila Powell (incumbent)
                Conservative Derek Ritchie
                Electorate: 11,601   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

                  Ellon and District
                  • 2017: 2 x SNP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Liberal Democrat
                  • 2022:
                  • 2017-2022 Change:
                  Ellon and District − 4 seats[20]
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  1
                  Conservative John Crawley
                  Liberal Democrats Isobel Davidson (incumbent)
                  SNP Josh Gall
                  Labour Mark Lappin
                  SNP Louise McAllister (incumbent)
                  Conservative Gillian Owen (incumbent)
                  Green Craig William Stewart
                  Electorate: 11,813   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

                    West Garioch
                    • 2017: 1 x SNP, 1 x Liberal Democrat, 1 x Conservative
                    • 2022:
                    • 2017-2022 Change:
                    West Garioch − 3 seats[20]
                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                    1
                    Labour Sasha Brydon
                    SNP Moray Charles Grant
                    Independent Sebastian Leslie (incumbent)
                    Independent Sheena Margaret Lonchay
                    Green Anne Mansfield
                    Alba Elaine Helen Grace Mitchell
                    Conservative Sam Payne
                    Liberal Democrats Hazel Smith (incumbent)
                    Electorate: 9,209   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

                      Inverurie and District
                      • 2017: 1 x SNP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Liberal Democrat, 1 x Independent
                      • 2022:
                      • 2017-2022 Change:
                      Inverurie and District − 4 seats[20]
                      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                      1
                      SNP Neil Baillie (incumbent)
                      Liberal Democrats Marion Ewenson (incumbent)
                      Conservative David Keating[EGR]
                      SNP Archie Peebles
                      Green Denise May Rothnie
                      Independent Judy Margaret Whyte (incumbent)
                      Electorate: 12,091   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

                        East Garioch
                        • 2017: 1 x SNP, 1 x Green, 1 x Liberal Democrat, 1 x Conservative
                        • 2022:
                        • 2017-2022 Change:
                        East Garioch − 4 seats[20]
                        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                        1
                        Independent Drew Cullinane
                        Labour Rosanna Dobbin
                        Independent Jim Gifford[MFM]
                        Conservative Dominic Lonchay (incumbent)
                        Liberal Democrats Trevor Booth Mason
                        SNP Glen Reid (incumbent)
                        Electorate: 10,362   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

                          Westhill and District
                          • 2017: 2 x Conservative, 1 x SNP, 1 x Liberal Democrat
                          • 2022:
                          • 2017-2022 Change:
                          Westhill and District − 4 seats[20]
                          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                          1
                          ISP Stephen Cameron
                          SNP Fatima Joji
                          Conservative Ron McKail (incumbent)
                          Alba Colin MacKay
                          Conservative Craig Miller
                          Liberal Democrats Iris Margaret Walker (incumbent)
                          Labour Lesley Young
                          Electorate: 12,035   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

                            Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford
                            • 2017: 2 x Conservative, 1 x SNP, 1 x Liberal Democrat
                            • 2022:
                            • 2017-2022 Change:
                            Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford − 4 seats[20]
                            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                            1
                            Labour Bryan Scott Begg
                            Liberal Democrats Jeff Goodhall
                            Conservative Lauren Knight
                            Independent Rosie Leagas
                            SNP Gwyneth Petrie (incumbent)
                            Libertarian Stuart Whitby
                            Conservative Robbie Withey (incumbent)[Note 2]
                            Electorate: 12,145   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

                              Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside
                              • 2017: 1 x Conservative, 1 x SNP, 1 x Liberal Democrat
                              • 2022:
                              • 2017-2022 Change:
                              Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside − 3 seats[20]
                              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                              1
                              Liberal Democrats Peter Argyle (incumbent)
                              Independent Geva Blackett (incumbent)
                              Conservative Sarah Brown
                              SNP Anouk Kloppert[ELD]
                              Labour John Lawson
                              Conservative Claudia Leith
                              Electorate: 9,063   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

                                Banchory and Mid-Deeside

                                2017: 1 x Conservative, 1 x SNP, 1 x Liberal Democrats

                                2022:

                                2017-2022 Change:

                                Banchory and Mid-Deeside − 3 seats[20]
                                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                1
                                Labour Andy Brown
                                Liberal Democrats Yi-Pei Chou Turvey
                                Scottish Family Graeme Craib
                                Conservative Harriet Cross
                                SNP Eileen Durno (incumbent)
                                Conservative Ann Ross (incumbent)
                                Electorate: 9,066   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

                                  North Kincardine
                                  • 2017: 1 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Liberal Democrat
                                  • 2022:
                                  • 2017-2022 Change:
                                  North Kincardine − 4 seats[20]
                                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                  1
                                  SNP David Aitchison[WAD]
                                  Independent Alastair Bews (incumbent)
                                  Conservative Shirley Burnett
                                  Conservative Jeff Hutchison
                                  Scottish Family Elizabeth Wilson Leslie
                                  Independent Colin Pike (incumbent)
                                  Green Louise Claire Ross
                                  Liberal Democrats Mel Sullivan
                                  SNP Catherine Mary Victor
                                  Electorate: 12,381   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

                                    Stonehaven and Lower Deeside

                                    2017: 2 x Conservative, 1 x SNP, 1 x Liberal Democrat

                                    2022:

                                    2017-2022 Change:

                                    Stonehaven and Lower Deeside − 4 seats[20]
                                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                    1
                                    Conservative Wendy Agnew (incumbent)
                                    SNP Dawn Black
                                    Labour Raymond James Christie
                                    Liberal Democrats Sarah Dickinson (incumbent)
                                    SNP Dennis Robertson (incumbent)
                                    Green Rachel Katherine Shanks
                                    Independent Ma Simpson
                                    Conservative Alan Turner
                                    Electorate: 11,344   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

                                      Mearns
                                      • 2017: 2 x Conservative, 1 x SNP, 1 x Liberal Democrat
                                      • 2022:
                                      • 2017-2022 Change:
                                      Mearns − 4 seats[20]
                                      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                                      1
                                      Labour Yvonne Allan
                                      Conservative Laurie Carnie
                                      Conservative George Carr (incumbent)
                                      Independent Alison Elizabeth McBean Evison[NKI]
                                      Liberal Democrats Shona Ewen
                                      Green Douglas Fraser
                                      Scottish Family Diane Elizabeth Laurenson
                                      Independent David Allan Neill
                                      SNP Kevin Stelfox
                                      Independent Dave Stewart
                                      Alba Leigh Wilson (incumbent)
                                      Electorate: 12,170   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

                                        Notes
                                        1. ^
                                          Note 1: Includes 10 aligned independents, one member of the Democratic Independent and Green Group, five independents and two unaligned independents.
                                        2. ^
                                          Note 2: Councillor Robbie Withey was suspended from the Conservative Party in April 2022 after it was alleged he grabbed a man by the throat. As this was after the close of nomination of candidates for the election in May, he will appear on the ballot as a Conservative candidate.[21]
                                        3. ^
                                          EGR: Sitting councillor for East Garioch.
                                        4. ^
                                          ELD: Sitting councillor for Ellon and District.
                                        5. ^
                                          MFM: Sitting councillor for Mid-Formartine.
                                        6. ^
                                          NKI: Sitting councillor for North Kincardine.
                                        7. ^
                                          WAD: Sitting councillor for Westhill and District.

                                        References
                                        1. "Local Government Election 2022". Aberdeenshire Council. 31 March 2022.
                                        2. "Local Government Elections 2017 - Results". Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
                                        3. Boothroyd, David (6 March 2020). "One off the Ledger". Local Councils. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020.
                                        4. Wyllie, James (1 June 2020). "Aberdeenshire Council leader to be replaced after three members leave Conservatives to join independent group". Press and Journal. Archived from the original on 1 June 2020.
                                        5. Ritchie, Kyle (4 June 2020). "Banff councillor fourth to leave Aberdeenshire Council Conservative group". Grampian Online. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021.
                                        6. Garton-Crosbie, Abbi (23 August 2021). "SNP-Greens deal: Aberdeenshire councillor resigns from party". The National. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
                                        7. Hutcheon, Paul (19 February 2022). "Scotland's most senior councillor ditches Labour to stand as independent election candidate". Daily Record. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
                                        8. Hendry, Ben (18 January 2022). "Dianne Beagrie: North-east councillor quits Conservatives". Press and Journal. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
                                        9. Warnock, Joanne (3 May 2018). "Father of Game of Thrones star and Tory councillor suspended by party over council tax arrears, but claims he 'deliberately' defaulted". Press and Journal. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
                                        10. Grant, Alistair (11 April 2022). "Scottish Conservative councillor suspended after 'grabbing man by throat'". The Scotsman. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
                                        11. Warnock, Joanne (13 December 2018). "North-east councillor quits Tory party because he has 'no faith' in council leaders". Press and Journal. Archived from the original on 13 December 2018.
                                        12. "Aberdeen Councillor Flying the Flag of Liberty". Scottish Libertarian Party.
                                        13. Wylie, James (10 August 2020). "Peterhead councillor switches allegiances to join Conservatives". Press and Journal. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
                                        14. Beattie, Keiran (28 March 2021). "Former SNP councillors join Salmond's Alba Party amid concerns Sturgeon 'has no plan to achieve independence referendum'". Press and Journal. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
                                        15. Gordon, Tom (30 March 2021). "Brexiteer councillor Brian Topping unveiled as latest Alba Party defector from SNP". The Herald. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
                                        16. Warnock, Joanne (15 October 2017). "Conservatives keep hold of Inverurie with by-election win". Press and Journal.
                                        17. Brown, Kirsty (16 October 2020). "Ellon by-election awards seat to Louise McAllister". Grampian Online. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
                                        18. Ritchie, Kyle (18 June 2021). "East Garioch by-election won by David Keating of Scottish Conservatives". Grampian Online. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
                                        19. McRoberts, Kevin (20 August 2021). "Scottish Conservative Sheila Powell wins Mid-Formartine by-election". Ellon Times. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
                                        20. "NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF ELECTION AGENTS" (PDF). Aberdeenshire Council. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
                                        21. Grant, Alistair (11 April 2022). "Scottish Conservative councillor suspended after 'grabbing man by throat'". The Scotsman. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
                                        This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.