Elections to Moray Council took place on 4 May 2017, on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. The election used the eight wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 26 Councillors being elected. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system - a form of proportional representation.
The Scottish National Party (SNP) were returned as the largest party on the council again, returning 9 seats out of 26 – a decline of 1 from 2012, and 5 short of an overall majority. The Conservatives returned 8 seats – an increase of 5. Independent candidates took 8 seats – a decline of 2. Labour returned 1 seat – a decline of 2 from 2017.
Following the election, a Conservative-Independent coalition administration was formed, with independent councillor George Alexander appointed Leader of the council, while Conservative councillor James Allan was appointed Convenor of the Moray Council.
Background
Previous election
At the previous election in 2012, the Scottish National Party saw their seat count increase by 1, and became the largest grouping on the council by vote share. The Independent group lost 2 seats and the Conservatives held all of their seats. Labour increased their representation on the council by 1. Due to the SNP not having enough seats to form an administration, the previous coalition between the Conservatives and the Independents group stayed as the Council's administration. +2012 Moray Council election resultPartySeatsVote shareSNP1039.4%Independent1028.8%Conservative317.5%Labour39.2% Source:
Composition There were 5 by-elections in the 2012-17 term. There were 2 by-elections in the Heldon & Laich ward: one resulted in an Independent gain from SNP, and the other was an Independent hold. There were 2 further by-elections in the Buckie ward: one resulted in an SNP gain from Independent, and the other resulted in an Independent hold. The other by-election was held in the Elgin City North ward, which resulted in an SNP gain from Labour. +Composition of Moray CouncilParty2012 election DissolutionSNP1011Independent103Conservative310Labour32 Source:
Results
Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections in 2012. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.
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Ward results
Speyside Glenlivet 2012: 2 X SNP & 1 X Independent 2017: 1 X SNP, 1 X Conservative & 1 X Independent 2012-2017: Conservative gain one seat from SNP
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Keith and Cullen 2012: 2 X Independent & 1 X SNP 2017: 1 X SNP, 1 X Conservative & 1 X Independent 2012-2017: Conservative gain one seat from Independent
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Buckie 2012: 2 X Independent & 1 X SNP 2017: 1 X SNP, 1 X Conservative & 1 X Independent 2012-2017: Conservative gain one seat from Independent
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Fochabers Lhanbryde 2012: 1 X SNP, 1 X Conservative & 1 X Labour 2017: 2 X SNP & 1 X Conservative 2012-2017: SNP gain one seat from Labour
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Heldon & Laich 2012: 2 X Independent, 1 X SNP & 1 X Conservative 2017: 2 X Independent, 1 X SNP & 1 X Conservative 2012-2017: No change
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Elgin City North 2012: 2 X SNP & 1 X Labour 2017: 1 X SNP, 1 X Conservative & 1 X Independent 2012-2017: Conservative & Independent each gain one seat from SNP & Labour
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Elgin City South 2012: 1 X SNP, 1 X Conservative & 1 X Labour 2017: 1 X SNP, 1 X Conservative & 1 X Labour 2012-2017: No change
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Forres 2012: 3 X Independent & 1 X SNP 2017: 2 X Independent, 1 X SNP & 1 X Conservative 2012-2017: Conservative gain from Independent
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Aftermath Following the election, a Conservative-Independent coalition administration was formed. Independent councillor George Alexander was appointed Leader of the council, while Conservative councillor James Allan was appointed Convenor of the Moray Council.
However, in May 2018, all but one of the Conservative councillors left the administration, leaving the independents and Convenor James Allan in a minority administration. Following negotiations, in June 2018, Graham Leadbitter was appointed the role of Council Leader and Shona Morrison was appointed Convenor of the Moray Council, the first women to take on the role in Moray Council's history.
On 21 October 2017, Speyside Glenlivet Conservative councillor Walter Wilson resigned from the party group following disagreements with colleagues in the party group. He sat as an Independent.
Elgin City North by-election On 10 May 2017, independent councillor Sandy Cooper resigned his seat less than a week after being elected in the 2017 elections. A by-election was held in Elgin City North ward on 13 July 2017, and it was won by Conservative candidate Maria McLean.
Keith and Cullen by-election On 24 October 2019, independent councillor Ron Shepherd retired due to ill-health. A by-election was held in the Keith and Cullen ward on 21 November 2019 and it was won by the Conservative candidate Laura Powell.
References