2022 Aberdeenshire Council election explained

Elections to Aberdeenshire Council took place on Thursday 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.

For the second consecutive election, the Conservatives were returned as the largest party on the council, however they fell short of an overall majority despite gaining three seats on a reduced vote share. The Scottish National Party (SNP) remained the second largest party with 21 seats on an increased vote share from 2017. The Liberal Democrats also recorded no change in councillors, returning 14, on a slightly higher vote share than in 2017. Labour and the Greens lost their only seats on the council and the number of independent councillors returned decreased by one despite the number of votes being cast for these candidates increasing slightly.

The incumbent Conservative-Liberal Democrat-independent administration retained control of the council with Cllr Mark Findlater taking over from the retiring Andy Kille as leader of the council.

Background

Previous election

See main article: 2017 Aberdeenshire Council election.

At the previous election in 2017, the Conservatives were returned as the largest party for the first time. The Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party (SNP) had won every previous election in Aberdeenshire following the local government reforms in the 1990s. The Conservatives gained nine seats to hold 23 and leapfrog the SNP who lost seven seats, returning 21 councillors. The Liberal Democrats remained the third-largest party as they gained two seats to hold 14 while the number of independents fell by one to 10. Labour lost one seat to return one councillor and the Greens held their only seat.^{[1] [2]}

2017 Aberdeenshire Council election result

Party		Seats	Vote share
	Conservatives	23	40.1%
	SNP	21	28.2%
	Liberal Democrats	14	14.4%
	Independent	10	10.9%
	Labour	1	4.4%
	Green	1	1.9%

Source:^{[1] [2]}

Electoral system

The election used the 19 wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 70 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either three or four councillors, using the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system – a form of proportional representation – where candidates are ranked in order of preference.^[3]

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.^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]} Conservative councillors Sebastian Leslie and Robbie Withey were suspended from the party over unpaid council tax and assault allegations, respectively.^[10]

Conservative councillor Sandy Wallace, who resigned from the party and initially became an independent, defected 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 independents before defecting to the Alba Party.^[14] SNP councillor Brian Topping also defected to the Alba Party.^[15]

Four by-elections were held. The first was in Inverurie and District in October 2017 and resulted in a Conservative hold.^[16] This was followed by an SNP hold in Ellon and District in October 2020.^[17] The Conservatives gained a seat from the Lib Dems in East Garioch in June 2021.^[18] Finally, the Conservatives gained a second seat, this time from the SNP, in Mid-Formartine in August 2021.^[19]

Composition of Aberdeenshire Council

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

Retiring councillors

Retiring councilors

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
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

Source:^{[2] [20]}

Candidates

The total number of candidates increased from 116 in 2017 to 135. Unlike the previous election, the SNP did not field the highest number of candidates. After their success in the 2017 election, the Conservatives fielded a total of 33 candidates – 10 more than the previous election – while the number of SNP candidates fell from 34 to 26. Both parties, along with the Liberal Democrats, contested every ward. The number of independent candidates increased by three to 22 while the Lib Dems fielded one candidate in each of the 19 wards – the same as they did five years previous. Labour only contested 11 wards, three fewer than 2017 while the number of Green candidates increased from five to 10. For the first time, the Alba Party (seven), the Scottish Family Party (five) and the Independence for Scotland Party (ISP) (one) fielded candidates in an Aberdeenshire election. The Libertarians again put forward one candidate however the Social Democratic Party (SDP) did not contest the election as they had done in 2017.^{[2] [20]}

Results

Source: ^[21]

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.^{[22] [23]}

Ward summary

|- class="unsortable" align="centre"!rowspan=2 align="left"|Ward!%!Cllrs!%!Cllrs!%!Cllrs!%!Cllrs!%!Cllrs!rowspan=2|Total
Cllrs|- class="unsortable" align="center"!colspan=2|Con!colspan=2|SNP!colspan=2|Lib Dem!colspan=2|Ind!colspan=2|Others|-|align="left"|Banff and District|27.8|1|bgcolor="#efe146"|31.9|bgcolor="#efe146"|1|3.8|0|27.0|1|9.4|0|3|-|align="left"|Troup|bgcolor="#add8e6"|50.2|bgcolor="#add8e6"|2|37.3|1|8.5|0|colspan="2" |4.1|0|3|-|align="left"|Fraserburgh and District|32.4|1|20.0|1|4.8|1|bgcolor="#c0c0c0"|36.0|bgcolor="#c0c0c0"|1|6.7|0|4|-|align="left"|Central Buchan|bgcolor="#add8e6"|33.3|bgcolor="#add8e6"|1|31.1|2|13.0|1|11.3|0|11.3|0|4|-|align="left"|Peterhead North and Rattray|26.7|1|29.1|1|3.7|0|bgcolor="#c0c0c0"|38.1|bgcolor="#c0c0c0"|2|2.4|0|4|-|align="left"|Peterhead South and Cruden|41.3|1|bgcolor="#efe146"|46.5|bgcolor="#efe146"|1|12.2|1|colspan="4" |3|-|align="left"|Turriff and District|bgcolor="#add8e6"|39.1|bgcolor="#add8e6"|2|33.9|1|23.5|1|colspan="2" |3.5|0|4|-|align="left"|Mid-Formartine|33.3|1|bgcolor="#efe146"|33.7|bgcolor="#efe146"|1|14.9|1|18.2|1|colspan="2" |4|-|align="left"|Ellon and District|bgcolor="#add8e6"|35.6|bgcolor="#add8e6"|2|31.7|1|22.0|1|colspan="2" |10.7|0|4|-|align="left"|West Garioch|27.1|1|bgcolor="#efe146"|29.4|bgcolor="#efe146"|1|12.7|1|17.0|0|13.6|0|3|-|align="left"|Inverurie and District|25.7|1|bgcolor="#efe146"|31.1|bgcolor="#efe146"|1|17.0|1|22.5|1|3.8|0|4|-|align="left"|East Garioch|27.4|1|bgcolor="#efe146"|41.0|bgcolor="#efe146"|1|9.4|1|14.5|1|7.7|0|4|-|align="left"|Westhill and District|bgcolor="#add8e6"|39.6|bgcolor="#add8e6"|2|25.1|1|26.3|1|colspan="2" |9.0|0|4|-|align="left"|Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford|bgcolor="#add8e6"|40.4|bgcolor="#add8e6"|2|34.5|1|13.9|1|2.7|0|8.4|0|4|-|align="left"|Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside|bgcolor="#add8e6"|34.5|bgcolor="#add8e6"|1|21.7|1|17.5|0|22.7|1|3.7|0|3|-|align="left"|Banchory and Mid-Deeside|bgcolor="#add8e6"|42.7|bgcolor="#add8e6"|1|24.0|1|21.5|1|colspan="2" |11.8|0|3|-|align="left"|North Kincardine|26.9|1|bgcolor="#efe146"|36.2|bgcolor="#efe146"|2|15.5|1|14.3|0|7.1|0|4|-|align="left"|Stonehaven and Lower Deeside|bgcolor="#add8e6"|32.0|bgcolor="#add8e6"|2|27.0|1|22.7|1|8.3|0|10.0|0|4|-|align="left"|Mearns|bgcolor="#add8e6"|31.8|bgcolor="#add8e6"|2|29.0|1|6.5|0|21.0|1|11.8|0|4|- class="unsortable" class="sortbottom"!align="left"|Total!33.9!26!30.8!21!14.7!14!13.3!9!7.5!0!70|}

Source: ^[21]

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.

Seats changing hands

Seat	2017			2022
	Party		Member	Party		Member
Troup		Independent	Hamish Partridge		Conservative	Richard Menard
Fraserburgh and District		SNP	Brian Topping		Liberal Democrats	Ann Bell
Central Buchan		Independent	Norman Smith		SNP	Geoff Crowson
Peterhead South and Cruden		Independent	Stephen Calder		Liberal Democrats	Colin Alexander Simpson
Turriff and District		Independent	Sandy Duncan		Conservative	Gordon Lang
Ellon and District		SNP	Anouk Kloppert		Conservative	John Crawley
East Garioch		Green	Martin Ford		Independent	Jim Gifford
Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside		Liberal Democrats	Peter Argyle		Independent	Geva Blackett
North Kincardine		Labour	Alison Evison		SNP	Catherine Mary Victor
Mearns		Liberal Democrats	Bill Howatson		Independent	Alison Evison

Notes

Ward results

Banff and District

The SNP, Conservatives and independent candidate John Cox retained the seats they won at the previous election.

Troup

The SNP retained the seat they won at the previous election while the Conservatives held their seat and gained one from retiring independent councillor Hamish Partridge.

Fraserburgh and District

The Conservatives and independent candidate Doreen Mair retained the seats they won at the previous election while the SNP held one of their two seats and the Liberal Democrats gained one seat from the SNP. In 2017, Brian Topping was elected as an SNP candidate before defecting to the Alba Party.

Central Buchan

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats retained the seats they had won at the previous election while the SNP held their only seat and gained one from independent candidate Norman Smith.

Peterhead North and Rattray

The SNP and independent candidate Alan S. Buchan retained the seats they had won at the previous election. In 2017, independent candidate Dianne Beagrie was elected as a Conservative candidate and Conservative candidate Iain Sutherland was elected as an independent candidate. Cllr Beagrie retained her seat as an independent and the Conservatives retained their seat although Iain Sutherland was not re-elected.

Peterhead South and Cruden

The SNP and the Conservatives retained the seats they had won at the previous election while the Liberal Democrats gained one seat from retiring independent councillor Stephen Calder.

Turriff and District

The SNP and Liberal Democrats retained the seats they had won at the previous election while the Conservatives retained one seat and gained one from retiring independent councillor Sandy Duncan.

Mid-Formartine

The SNP, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and independent candidate Paul Johnston retained the seats they won at the previous election.

Ellon and District

The Liberal Democrats retained the seat they had won at the previous election while the Conservatives held one and gained one from the SNP and the SNP retained one of their two seats.

West Garioch

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

Inverurie and District

The SNP, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and independent candidate Judy Margaret Whyte retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

East Garioch

The SNP, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives retained the seats they had won at the previous election while independent candidate Jim Gifford gained a seat from the Greens. In 2017, Cllr Gifford was elected as a Conservative candidate in Mid-Formartine.

Westhill and District

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

Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford

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

Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside

The Conservatives and the SNP retained the seats they had won at the previous election. In 2017, Geva Blackett was elected as an SNP candidate but subsequently resigned from the party. She retained her seat as an independent candidate while the Liberal Democrats lost their seat.

Banchory and Mid-Deeside

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

North Kincardine

The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats retained the seats they had won at the previous election while the SNP retained their seat and gained one from Labour. In 2017, independent candidates Colin Pike and Alastair Bews were elected as Conservative and SNP councillors respectively before resigning from their parties. Neither was re-elected.

Stonehaven and Lower Deeside

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

Mearns

The Conservatives (2) and the SNP (1) retained the seats they had won at the previous election while independent candidate Alison Elizabeth McBean Evison gained a seat from the Liberal Democrats. Cllr Evison was previously a councillor for North Kincardine. In 2017, Alba Party candidate Leigh Wilson was elected as an SNP candidate. He was not re-elected.

Aftermath

On 18 May 2022, a coalition deal was announced between the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, and seven aligned independents to form the council administration.^[24] The following day, as part of the deal, Cllr Mark Findlater, Conservative councillor for the Troup ward, was appointed council leader with Cllr Anne Stirling from the Liberal Democrats becoming depute leader and Independent councillor Judy Whyte was elected Provost.^[25]

In 2023, Peterhead South and Cruden councillor George Hall left the Conservatives to sit as an independent.

The opposition SNP group suspended Cllr Catherine Victor in February 2024 for sharing an anti-Semitic post on social media.

During the council's budget meeting in February 2024, Conservative councillor Ann Ross quit the party to sit as an independent in protest at the proposed budget which would be "detrimental" to her ward.

November 2024 by-elections

In September 2024, newly-elected Aberdeenshire North and Moray East MP Seamus Logan stood down as councillor for Fraserburgh and District. His fellow SNP councillors Kevin Stelfox - councillor for Mearns - and David Mair - councillor for Central Buchan - also announced their decisions to stand down.^[26] All three by-elections, held on 7 November 2024, were won by the Conservative candidates - Iain Sutherland, Tracey Smith and Peter Chapman.^[27]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Local Government Elections 2017 - Results . 12 April 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170702212518/https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/elections/local-government-elections-2017/#list . 2 July 2017 . Aberdeenshire Council . dead.
2. Web site: Local Elections Archive Project - 2017 - Aberdeenshire . Andrew . Teale . 2 May 2023 . 29 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230829150737/https://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/results/2017/428/ . live .
3. Web site: Local Government Election 2022 . Aberdeenshire Council . 31 March 2022 . 10 April 2022 . 8 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220408101130/https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/elections/council-elections-2022/ . live .
4. Web site: One off the Ledger . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20201025184624/https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/2020/03/one-off-the-ledger/ . 25 October 2020 . David . Boothroyd . 6 March 2020 . Local Councils.
5. Web site: Aberdeenshire Council leader to be replaced after three members leave Conservatives to join independent group . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200601185026/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeenshire/2230325/aberdeenshire-council-leader-to-be-replaced-after-leaving-conservatives-for-independent-group/ . 1 June 2020 . The Press and Journal . James . Wyllie . 1 June 2020.
6. Web site: Banff councillor fourth to leave Aberdeenshire Council Conservative group . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210525173021/https://www.grampianonline.co.uk/news/banff-councillor-fourth-to-leave-aberdeenshire-council-conservative-group-201889/?cmpredirect . 25 May 2021 . Grampian Online . Kyle . Ritchie . 4 June 2020.
7. News: SNP-Greens deal: Aberdeenshire councillor resigns from party . The National . Abbi . Garton-Crosbie . 23 August 2021 . 13 April 2022 . 13 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220413151039/https://www.thenational.scot/news/19531200.snp-greens-deal-aberdeenshire-councillor-resigns-party/ . live .
8. Web site: Scotland's most senior councillor ditches Labour to stand as independent election candidate . Daily Record . Paul . Hutcheon . 19 February 2022 . 13 April 2022 . 13 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220413151039/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/scotlands-most-senior-councillor-ditches-26272283 . live .
9. Web site: Dianne Beagrie: North-east councillor quits Conservatives . The Press and Journal . Ben . Hendry . 18 January 2022 . 13 April 2022 . 13 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220413162033/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen-aberdeenshire/3855231/dianne-beagrie/ . live .
10. Web site: Father of Game of Thrones star and Tory councillor suspended by party over council tax arrears, but claims he 'deliberately' defaulted . The Press and Journal . Joanne . Warnock . 3 May 2018 . 12 April 2022 . 12 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220412164242/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen-aberdeenshire/1467205/father-of-game-of-thrones-star-and-tory-councillor-suspended-by-party-over-council-tax-arrears-but-claims-he-deliberately-defaulted/ . live .
11. Web site: North-east councillor quits Tory party because he has 'no faith' in council leaders . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20181213123901/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeenshire/1631026/north-east-councillor-quits-tory-party-because-he-has-no-faith-in-council-leaders/ . 13 December 2018 . The Press and Journal . Joanne . Warnock . 13 December 2018.
12. Web site: Aberdeen Councillor Flying the Flag of Liberty . 10 November 2020 . Scottish Libertarian Party . 12 April 2022 . 10 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201210232305/http://scottishlibertarians.com/aberdeen-councilor-flying-the-flag-of-liberty/ . live .
13. Web site: Peterhead councillor switches allegiances to join Conservatives . The Press and Journal . James . Wylie . 10 August 2020 . 13 April 2022 . 26 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220626182300/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen-aberdeenshire/2397664/peterhead-councillor-switches-allegiances-to-join-conservatives/ . live .
14. Web site: Former SNP councillors join Salmond's Alba Party amid concerns Sturgeon 'has no plan to achieve independence referendum' . The Press and Journal . Keiran . Beattie . 28 March 2021 . 13 April 2022 . subscription . 13 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220413154046/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen-aberdeenshire/3011227/former-snp-councillors-join-salmonds-alba-party-amid-concerns-sturgeon-has-no-plan-to-achieve-independence-referendum/ . live .
15. Web site: Brexiteer councillor Brian Topping unveiled as latest Alba Party defector from SNP . The Herald . Tom . Gordon . 30 March 2021 . 13 April 2022 . 13 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220413151039/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19197526.brexiteer-councillor-brian-topping-unveiled-latest-alba-party-defector-snp/ . live .
16. Web site: Conservatives keep hold of Inverurie with by-election win . The Press and Journal . Joanne . Warnock . 15 October 2017 . 13 April 2022 . 13 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220413152541/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen-aberdeenshire/1340734/conservatives-keep-hold-of-inverurie-with-by-election-win/ . live .
17. Web site: Ellon by-election awards seat to Louise McAllister . Grampian Online . Kirsty . Brown . 16 October 2020 . 13 April 2022 . 22 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220522190500/https://www.grampianonline.co.uk/news/mcallister-wins-ellon-by-election-215446/ . live .
18. Web site: East Garioch by-election won by David Keating of Scottish Conservatives . Grampian Online . Kyle . Ritchie . 18 June 2021 . 13 April 2022 . 13 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220413151040/https://www.grampianonline.co.uk/news/east-garioch-by-election-won-by-david-keating-of-scottish-co-242046/ . live .
19. Web site: Scottish Conservative Sheila Powell wins Mid-Formartine by-election . Ellon Times . Kevin . McRoberts . 20 August 2021 . 13 April 2022 . 7 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220507201536/https://www.ellontimes.co.uk/news/politics/council/scottish-conservative-sheila-powell-wins-mid-formartine-by-election-3353746 . live .
20. Web site: Aberdeenshire election 2022: 135 candidates hoping to represent the region's 19 wards . Aberdeen Live . Thomas . Durham . 4 May 2022 . 2 May 2023 . 2 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230502183443/https://www.aberdeenlive.news/news/aberdeen-news/aberdeenshire-election-2022-135-candidates-7037193 . live .
21. Web site: Aberdeenshire Council 2022 . Allan . Faulds . Ballot Box Scotland . 24 February 2024 . 24 February 2024 . 27 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230927213738/https://ballotbox.scot/le22/aberdeenshire/ . live .
22. Web site: The Local STV Voting System Explained . Allan . Faulds . 25 September 2021 . Ballot Box Scotland . 24 October 2022 . 23 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221023091055/https://ballotbox.scot/councils/stv-explained . live .
23. Web site: Single Transferable Vote . Electoral Reform Society . 24 October 2022 . 24 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221024210837/https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/voting-systems/types-of-voting-system/single-transferable-vote/ . live .
24. News: 18 May 2022 . Munro . Craig . Conservatives, Lib Dems and independents to run Aberdeenshire Council again as deal reached . 10 July 2022 . The Press and Journal . en-GB . 10 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220710220334/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen-aberdeenshire/4305887/conservatives-lib-dems-and-independents-to-run-aberdeenshire-council-again-as-deal-reached/ . live .
25. News: 20 May 2022 . Topp . Kirstie . Aberdeenshire Council – who is in charge? . 2 March 2024 . The Press and Journal . en-GB.
26. News: Three Aberdeenshire SNP councillors stepping down . BBC News . 5 September 2024 . 5 September 2024.
27. News: 'You can only play so much golf': Peter Chapman 'comes out of retirement' in Tory Aberdeenshire by-election hat-trick . Isaac . Buchan . Press and Journal . 8 November 2024 . 9 November 2024.