Contents

Overall 2022 Result
Overview
Past Results
Individual Ward Results:

Overall 2022 Result

Council-Wide Results

NOTE: Caol and Mallaig ward was uncontested, meaning no vote was held. This will impact vote share slightly. In 2017, Caol and Mallaig was an Independent led ward.

A really dramatic election in Highland, as for the first time ever Independents weren’t collectively the largest bloc. A net loss of seven seats put them on 21, one behind the SNP who remained steady on 22 and also took a vote lead. They’d likely have won a further 3 seats if they hadn’t under-nominated. The Lib Dems had a tremendous result here, which looks a lot like rebuilding support in a historic stronghold, gaining five seats to elect 15 councillors, on a 7% increase in their vote. Perhaps they benefitted most from departing Independents? Compared to poor results elsewhere, the Conservatives held steady in seat terms, still on 10.

Labour continued to wither in Highland despite a national advance, losing one of their seats and leaving them with a pair. After the Lib Dems, the Greens then probably had the best election in Highland, quadrupling their group, despite the loss of their 2017 councillor. One of those was in uncontested Caol and Mallaig ward, mind you.

They also saw a couple of knife-edge results, with their Inverness West councillor benefitting from Labour falling 0.3% behind Conservatives at the crucial stage. The reverse would likely have led to Labour winning. Across the city in Inverness South, one of those SNP under-nominations, only 27 votes separated them from a fifth seat. If they hadn’t inexplicably not stood a candidate there, I bet they’d have taken a seat in Wester Ross too. This is quite a long section for one party, but this is a really notable result, giving the Greens their first substantial group of councillors outside the two big cities.

Administration

After the election, the SNP and Independent groups reached an agreement to form an administration. Highland Independents typically act as a single group, and thus a total of 17 of them joined the administration, leaving 4 outwith it.

Interactive Map

Overview

This is the big one – the biggest one. In a country that makes a mockery of the concept of local government, Highland council is a joke so bad it’s long since ceased to be funny. Famously huge, Highland covers what used to be the counties of Inverness, Nairn, Caithness, Sutherland, and Ross and Cromarty, along with small portions of historic Argyll and Moray. Under the 1973 Act, Highland was a region, under which there were districts for Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, Inverness, Skye and Lochalsh, Nairn, Lochaber, and Badenoch and Strathspey.

Come the 90’s, rather than turn those districts into unitary authorities or do some mild mergers, we just took the region made that a unitary. Nobody likes this anymore. Nobody. Combining a major and rapidly growing city in Inverness with a dizzying array of rural communities simply hasn’t worked. Even some MSPs, past and present, have begun to talk about the need to divide Highland back up.

Politically, the Highlands have often been diverse, with all of Labour, the Conservatives and Lib Dems holding Westminster seats here historically. By the late 20th century, the Lib Dems were typically the lead party, though Labour had a brief spell in the Inverness-centred constituency in 1997 and 2005 before the Lib Dems reasserted themselves. The SNP have held the Scottish parliament equivalent since 1999, and all Highland constituencies since 2011. They similarly gained the Westminster seats in 2015, though the Lib Dems have held the northernmost since 2017.

At local level, Highand has long been the most Independent leaning of the big rural councils. They historically held clear majorities on the region and in all districts, with only Inverness ever having an Independent minority. That continued into the unitary era, with Independent majorities in all three FPTP elections. It was clear the Highlands weren’t entirely Independent-minded however, as the Lib Dems, Labour and SNP all had consistently solid groups through that time.

Previous STV Elections

2007
2012
2017

Individual Ward Results

North, West and Central Sutherland (Ward 1)

Councillors and Key Stats

3 Councillors, in order elected:
🟡SNP: Marianne Hutchison
🟠Lib Dem: Michael Baird
Independent: Hugh Morrison
Change vs 2017: No change
Turnout: 55.8%
Electorate: 4998
Valid: 2756 (98.9%)
Spoiled: 53 (1.1%)
Quota: 690

Candidates

🟠Lib Dem: Michael Baird
🔵Conservative: Charlotte Gibson
🟡SNP: Marianne Hutchison
🟤Freedom Alliance: Robert Jardine
Independent: Hugh Morrison
🔴Labour: Clive Soley
🟣Family: Philipp Tanzer


North, West and Central Sutherland: First Preferences
North, West and Central Sutherland: Transfers
North, West and Central Sutherland: Results by Polling District
North, West and Central Sutherland: Second Preferences
North, West and Central Sutherland: Two-Candidate Preferred

Thurso and Northwest Caithness (Ward 2)

Councillors and Key Stats

4 Councillors, in order elected:
🟠Lib Dem: Ron Gunn
Independent: Matthew Reiss
🔵Conservative: Struan Mackie
🟡SNP: Karl Rosie
Change vs 2017: +1 Lib Dem, -1 Independent (Donnie MacKay, who joined Conservatives mid-term, retired)
Turnout: 50.5%
Electorate: 10242
Valid: 5139 (99.3%)
Spoiled: 34 (0.7%)
Quota: 1028

Candidates

Independent: Alexander Glasgow
Independent: Iain Gregory
🟠Lib Dem: Ron Gunn
🔵Conservative: Struan Mackie
Independent: Matthew Reiss
🟡SNP: Karl Rosie

Thurso and Northwest Caithness: First Preferences
Thurso and Northwest Caithness: Transfers
Thurso and Northwest Caithness: Results by Polling District
Thurso and Northwest Caithness: Second Preferences
Thurso and Northwest Caithness: Two-Candidate Preferred
Thurso and Northwest Caithness: Two-Party Preferred

Wick and East Caithness (Ward 3)

Councillors and Key Stats

4 Councillors, in order elected:
🟠Lib Dem: Jan McEwan
🟡SNP: Raymond Bremner
Independent: A.I Willie MacKay
🔵Conservative: Andrew Jarvie
Change vs 2017: +1 Lib Dem, -1 Independent (Nicola Sinclair resigned mid-term)
Turnout: 41.8%
Electorate: 10103
Valid: 4180 (98.9%)
Spoiled: 45 (1.1%)
Quota: 837

Candidates

🟡SNP: Raymond Bremner
Independent: Bill Fernie
🔵Conservative: Andrew Jarvie
🔴Labour: Neil MacDonald
Independent: A.I Willie MacKay
🟠Lib Dem: Jan McEwan

Wick and East Caithness: First Preferences
Wick and East Caithness: Transfers
Wick and East Caithness: Results by Polling District
Wick and East Caithness: Second Preferences
Wick and East Caithness: Two-Candidate Preferred

East Sutherland and Edderton (Ward 4)

Councillors and Key Stats

3 Councillors, in order elected:
🟠Lib Dem: Richard Gale
🟡SNP: Leslie-Anne Niven
Independent: Jim McGillivray
Change vs 2017: +1 SNP, -1 Labour
Electorate: 6446
Turnout: 50.5%
Valid: 3214 (98.8%)
Spoiled: 39 (1.2%)
Quota: 804

Candidates

🔵Conservative: Max Bannerman
🟤Libertarian: Harry Christian
🟠Lib Dem: Richard Gale
Independent: Jim McGillivray
🟡SNP: Leslie-Anne Niven

East Sutherland and Edderton: First Preferences
East Sutherland and Edderton: Transfers
East Sutherland and Edderton: Results by Polling District
East Sutherland and Edderton: Second Preferences
East Sutherland and Edderton: Two-Candidate Preferred

Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh (Ward 5)

Councillors and Key Stats

4 Councillors, in order elected:
Independent: Biz Campbell
🟡SNP: Liz Kraft
🟡SNP: Chris Birt
🔵Conservative: Patrick Logue
Change vs 2017: +1 SNP, -1 Lib Dem
Turnout: 52.7%
Electorate: 10406
Valid: 5411 (98.7%)
Spoiled: 74 (1.3%)
Quota: 1083

Candidates

🟡SNP: Chris Birt
Independent: Biz Campbell
🟠Lib Dem: Margot Kerr
🟡SNP: Liz Kraft
🔵Conservative: Patrick Logue

Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh: First Preferences
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh: Transfers
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh: Results by Polling District
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh: Second Preferences
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh: Two-Candidate Preferred
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh: Two-Party Preferred

Cromarty Firth (Ward 6)

Councillors and Key Stats

4 Councillors, in order elected:
🟡SNP: Tamala Collier
🟠Lib Dem: Molly Nolan
Independent: Pauline Munro
Independent: Maxine Morley-Smith
Change vs 2017: +1 Lib Dem, -1 SNP (Pauline Munro and Maxine Morley-Smith elected as SNP in 2017, previous Independents Carolyn Wilson and Mike Finlayson retired)
Turnout: 39.6%
Electorate: 9918
Valid: 3870 (98.5%)
Spoiled: 58 (1.5%)
Quota: 775

Candidates

🔵Conservative: Andrew Baxter
🟡SNP: Tamala Collier
Independent: Eric Fraser
Independent: Maxine Morley-Smith
Independent: Pauline Munro
🟠Lib Dem: Molly Nolan
🟢Green: Daniel Reat
Independent: Kate Stevenson
🔴Labour: Kirsty Stewart

Cromarty Firth: First Preferences
Cromarty Firth: Transfers
Cromarty Firth: Results by Polling District
Cromarty Firth: Second Preferences
Cromarty Firth: Two-Candidate Preferred

Tain and Easter Ross (Ward 7)

Councillors and Key Stats

3 Councillors, in order elected:
🟡SNP: Derek Louden
🟠Lib Dem: Sarah Rawlings
Independent: Alasdair Rhind
Change vs 2017: No partisan change (Alasdair Rhind elected in 2017 by-election, defeats Fiona Robertson)
Turnout: 48.0%
Electorate: 7234
Valid: 3434 (98.9%)
Spoiled: 37 (1.1%)
Quota: 859

Candidates

🟡SNP: Derek Louden
🔵Conservative: Veronica Morrison
🟠Lib Dem: Sarah Rawlings
Independent: Alasdair Rhind
Independent: Fiona Robertson

Tain and Easter Ross: First Preferences
Tain and Easter Ross: Transfers
Tain and Easter Ross: Results by Polling District
Tain and Easter Ross: Second Preferences
Tain and Easter Ross: Two-Candidate Preferred
Tain and Easter Ross: Two-Party Preferred

Dingwall and Seaforth (Ward 8)

Councillors and Key Stats

4 Councillors, in order elected:
🟡SNP: Graham MacKenzie
🟠Lib Dem: Angela MacLean
Independent: Margaret Paterson
Independent: Sean Kennedy
Change vs 2017: No partisan change (Sean Kennedy replaced retiring Alister MacKinnon)
Turnout: 45.3%
Electorate: 10385
Valid: 4640 (98.7%)
Spoiled: 60 (1.3%)
Quota: 929

Candidates

🔵Conservative: Gavin Berkenheger
🔴Labour: Les Hood
Independent: Sean Kennedy
🟡SNP: Graham MacKenzie
🟠Lib Dem: Angela MacLean
Independent: Margaret Paterson
🟢Green: Thomas Widrow

Dingwall and Seaforth: First Preferences
Dingwall and Seaforth: Transfers
Dingwall and Seaforth: Results by Polling District
Dingwall and Seaforth: Second Preferences
Dingwall and Seaforth: Two-Candidate Preferred

Black Isle (Ward 9)

Councillors and Key Stats

3 Councillors, in order elected:
🟡SNP: Lyndsey Johnston
Independent: Sarah Atkin
🟠Lib Dem: Morven-May MacCallum
Change vs 2017: No partisan change (Sarah Atkin replaces retiring Jennifer Barclay)
Turnout: 53.7%
Electorate: 8842
Valid: 4709 (99.1%)
Spoiled: 43 (0.9%)
Quota: 1178

Candidates

Independent: Sarah Atkin
🔴Labour: Margaret Bryant
🟡SNP: Lyndsey Johnston
🟠Lib Dem: Morven-May MacCallum
Independent: Okain McLennan
Independent: Bev Smith
🔵Conservative: Theo Stratton
🟢Green: Anne Thomas

Black Isle: First Preferences
Black Isle: Transfers
Black Isle: Results by Polling District
Black Isle: Second Preferences
Black Isle: Two-Candidate Preferred

Eilean a' Cheò (Ward 10)

Councillors and Key Stats

4 Councillors, in order elected:
Independent: John Finlayson
🟡SNP: Drew Millar
Independent: Calum Munro
🔵Conservative: Ruraidh Stewart
Change vs 2017: +1 Conservative, -1 Independent (Calum Munro newly elected, John Gordon retired, Ronald MacDonald retired mid-term)
Turnout: 46.0%
Electorate: 10887
Valid: 4921 (98.3%)
Spoiled: 86 (1.7%)
Quota: 1231

Candidates

🟠Lib Dem: Jack Clark
Independent: John Finlayson
Independent: Donald MacDonald
Alba: Hector MacLeod
🟡SNP: Drew Millar
Independent: Calum Munro
🔴Labour: Peter Ó Donnghaile
🔵Conservative: Ruraidh Stewart
Independent: Fay Thomson

Eilean a' Cheò: First Preferences
Eilean a' Cheò: Transfers
Eilean a' Cheò: Results by Polling District
Eilean a' Cheò: Second Preferences
Eilean a' Cheò: Two-Candidate Preferred
Eilean a' Cheò: Two-Party Preferred

Caol and Mallaig (Ward 11)

Councillors and Key Stats

3 Councillors, in order elected:
🟢Green: Andrew Baldrey
🟠Lib Dem: John Grafton
🔵Conservative: Liz Saggers
Change vs 2017: +1 Green, +1 Lib Dem, +1 Conservative, -2 Independent (Allan Henderson and Ben Thompson retired), -1 SNP
Electorate: N/A
Turnout: N/A
Valid: N/A
Spoiled: N/A
Quota: N/A

Candidates

🟢Green: Andrew Baldrey
🟠Lib Dem: John Grafton
🔵Conservative: Liz Saggers

As the number of candidates nominated in Caol and Mallaig was equal to the number of seats available, all candidates were elected unopposed and no vote was held.

Based on 2017 results, had the SNP contested this ward, the most likely outcome is they would have elected a councillor at the Greens’ expense. Had incumbent Independent Allan Henderson re-stood he’d have done likewise, and had both the SNP and Henderson re-stood, it’s likely the Conservatives would also have failed to win a seat.

Although Lib Dem results in 2017 were comparatively weak, they did well at a 2018 by-election. Given their performance in the other Lochaber ward and that the other 2017 Independent, Ben Thompson, had resigned a few months before the election, of the three elected councillors theirs is the only one that could be reasonably certain of having been elected at a contested vote.

As no vote was held, the candidates are listed as elected in alphabetical order.

Aird and Loch Ness (Ward 12)

Councillors and Key Stats

4 Councillors, in order elected:
🟡SNP: Emma Knox
Independent: David Fraser
🔵Conservative: Helen Crawford
🟢Green: Chris Ballance
Change vs 2017: +1 Green, -1 Independent (Helen Carmichael and Margaret Davidson retired, David Fraser elected at 2021 by-election)
Electorate: 10213
Turnout: 51.5%
Valid: 5198 (98.9%)
Spoiled: 57 (1.1%)
Quota: 1040

Candidates

🟢Green: Chris Ballance
🔵Conservative: Helen Crawford
Independent: Aarron Duncan-MacLeod
Independent: David Fraser
🟠Lib Dem: Holly Kingham
🟡SNP: Emma Knox
🔴Labour: Michael Perera

Aird and Loch Ness: First Preferences
Aird and Loch Ness: Transfers
Aird and Loch Ness: Results by Polling District
Aird and Loch Ness: Second Preferences
Aird and Loch Ness: Two-Candidate Preferred
Aird and Loch Ness: Two-Party Preferred

Inverness West (Ward 13)

Councillors and Key Stats

3 Councillors, in order elected:
🟠Lib Dem: Alex Graham
🟡SNP: Bill Boyd
🟢Green: Ryan Mackintosh
Change vs 2017: +1 Green, -1 Independent (Graham Ross resigned in 2021)
Turnout: 45.6%
Electorate: 8495
Valid: 3503 (98.8%)
Spoiled: 42 (1.2%)
Quota: 876

Candidates

🟡SNP: Bill Boyd
🔵Conservative: Ryan Forbes
🟤Independence for Scotland: Iain Forsyth
🔴Labour: Shaun Fraser
🟠Lib Dem: Alex Graham
🟢Green: Ryan Mackintosh
Independent: Duncan McDonald
Independent: David Sansum
Independent: Helen Smith

Inverness West: First Preferences
Inverness West: Transfers
Inverness West: Results by Polling District
Inverness West: Second Preferences
Inverness West: Two-Candidate Preferred

Inverness Central (Ward 14)

Councillors and Key Stats

3 Councillors, in order elected:
🔴Labour: Bet McAllister
🟡SNP: Michael Cameron
🟡SNP: Kate MacLean
Change vs 2017: +1 SNP, -1 Independent (Janet Campbell retired)
Turnout: 38.9%
Electorate: 8647
Valid: 3286 (97.7%)
Spoiled: 76 (2.3%)
Quota: 822

Candidates

Independent: Andrew Barnett
🟡SNP: Michael Cameron
🔵Conservative: Donald MacKenzie
Independent: Luigi MacKinnon
🟡SNP: Kate MacLean
🔴Labour: Bet McAllister
🟣Family: John McColl
🟠Lib Dem: Martin Ratray
🟤TUSC: Sean Robertson
🟢Green: Arun Sharma

Inverness Central: First Preferences
Inverness Central: Transfers
Inverness Central: Results by Polling District
Inverness Central: Second Preferences
Inverness Central: Two-Candidate Preferred

Inverness Ness-side (Ward 15)

Councillors and Key Stats

3 Councillors, in order elected:
🟠Lib Dem: Alasdair Christie
🟡SNP: Jackie Hendry
🔴Labour: Andrew Mackintosh
Change vs 2017: +1 Labour, -1 Conservative
Turnout: 49.4%
Electorate: 8857
Valid: 4346 (99.2%)
Spoiled: 33 (0.8%)
Quota: 1087

Candidates

🟠Lib Dem: Alasdair Christie
🟡SNP: Jackie Hendry
🟤Libertarian: Calum Liptrot
🔴Labour: Andrew Mackintosh
🟢Green: Claire MacLean
Independent: Ron MacWilliam
🔵Conservative: Ric Scott

Inverness Ness-side: First Preferences
Inverness Ness-side: Transfers
Inverness Ness-side: Results by Polling District
Inverness Ness-side: Second Preferences
Inverness Ness-side: Two-Candidate Preferred

Inverness Millburn (Ward 16)

Councillors and Key Stats

3 Councillors, in order elected:
🟡SNP: Ian Brown
🟠Lib Dem: David Gregg
🔵Conservative: Isabelle MacKenzie
Change vs 2017: +1 Lib Dem, -1 Labour
Turnout: 46.7%
Electorate: 7602
Valid: 3508 (98.7%)
Spoiled: 45 (1.3%)
Quota: 878

Candidates

🟡SNP: Ian Brown
🟠Lib Dem: David Gregg
🔵Conservative: Isabelle MacKenzie
🔴Labour: Lewis Whyte

Inverness Millburn: First Preferences
Inverness Millburn: Transfers
Inverness Millburn: Results by Polling District
Inverness Millburn: Second Preferences
Inverness Millburn: Two-Candidate Preferred

Culloden and Ardersier (Ward 17)

Councillors and Key Stats

3 Councillors, in order elected:
🟡SNP: Glynis Campbell-Sinclair
🟠Lib Dem: Trish Robertson
Independent: Morven Reid
Change vs 2017: No partisan change (Morven Reid replaces retiring Roddy Balfour)
Turnout: 48.7%
Electorate: 10721
Valid: 5156 (98.8%)
Spoiled: 62 (1.2%)
Quota: 1032

Candidates

🔴Labour: Steven Calvert
🟡SNP: Glynis Campbell-Sinclair
Alba: Mya Chemonges-Murzynowska
Independent: Morven Reid
Independent: Mel Robertson
🟠Lib Dem: Trish Robertson
🔵Conservative: Mary Scanlon

Culloden and Ardersier: First Preferences
Culloden and Ardersier: Transfers
Culloden and Ardersier: Results by Polling District
Culloden and Ardersier: Second Preferences
Culloden and Ardersier: Two-Candidate Preferred

Nairn and Cawdor (Ward 18)

Councillors and Key Stats

4 Councillors, in order elected:
🟡SNP: Paul Oldham
Independent: Laurie Fraser
Independent: Michael Green
🔵Conservative: Babs Jarvie
Change vs 2017: No partisan change (Michael Green replaces the late Tom Heggie)
Turnout: 39.5%
Electorate: 15083
Valid: 5823 (97.7%)
Spoiled: 135 (2.3%)
Quota: 1165

Candidates

Independent: Kevin Brooks
Independent: Laurie Fraser
Independent: Michael Green
🔵Conservative: Babs Jarvie
🟣Family: Cal MacLeod
🟡SNP: Paul Oldham
🟠Lib Dem: Kevin Reid
Alba: Marjory Smith

Nairn and Cawdor: First Preferences
Nairn and Cawdor: Transfers
Nairn and Cawdor: Results by Polling District
Nairn and Cawdor: Second Preferences
Nairn and Cawdor: Two-Candidate Preferred
Nairn and Cawdor: Two-Party Preferred

Inverness South (Ward 19)

Councillors and Key Stats

4 Councillors, in order elected:
🟡SNP: Ken Gowans
Independent: Duncan MacPherson
🟠Lib Dem: Colin Aitken
🔵Conservative: Andrew Sinclair
Change vs 2017: No change
Turnout: 44.4%
Electorate: 12571
Valid: 5543 (99.3%)
Spoiled: 37 (0.7%)
Quota: 1109

Candidates

🟠Lib Dem: Colin Aitken
Alba: Jimmy Duncan
🟢Green: Claire Filer
🟡SNP: Ken Gowans
🔴Labour: David Jardine
Independent: Duncan MacPherson
🔵Conservative: Andrew Sinclair

Inverness South: First Preferences
Inverness South: Transfers
Inverness South: Results by Polling District
Inverness South: Second Preferences
Inverness South: Two-Candidate Preferred
Inverness South: Two-Party Preferred

Badenoch and Strathspey (Ward 20)

Councillors and Key Stats

4 Councillors, in order elected:
Independent: Russell Jones
🟡SNP: Muriel Cockburn
Independent: Bill Lobban
🔵Conservative: John Bruce
Change vs 2017: +1 Independent (Russell Jones), -1 Green
Turnout: 51.6%
Electorate: 10899
Valid: 5529 (98.4%)
Spoiled: 92 (1.6%)
Quota: 1106

Candidates

🔵Conservative: John Bruce
🟡SNP: Muriel Cockburn
🟡SNP: Dave Fallows
🟠Lib Dem: Declan Gallacher
🟢Green: Pippa Hadley
Independent: Russell Jones
Independent: Bill Lobban
🔴Labour: Charlie Whelan

Badenoch and Strathspey: First Preferences
Badenoch and Strathspey: Transfers
Badenoch and Strathspey: Results by Polling District
Badenoch and Strathspey: Second Preferences
Badenoch and Strathspey: Two-Candidate Preferred
Badenoch and Strathspey: Two-Party Preferred

Fort William and Ardnamurchan (Ward 21)

Councillors and Key Stats

4 Councillors, in order elected:
🟠Lib Dem: Angus MacDonald
🟡SNP: Sarah Fanet
Independent: Thomas MacLennan
🟢Green: Kate Willis
Change vs 2017: +1 Lib Dem, +1 Green, -1 SNP, -1 Conservative (Independent Thomas MacLennan replaces Andrew Baxter)
Turnout: 45.0%
Electorate: 9021
Valid: 4003 (98.7%)
Spoiled: 53 (1.3%)
Quota: 801

Candidates

🟡SNP: Sarah Fanet
🔵Conservative: Fiona Fawcett
🟠Lib Dem: Angus MacDonald
Independent: Thomas MacLennan
🟢Green: Kate Willis

Fort William and Ardnamurchan: First Preferences
Fort William and Ardnamurchan: Transfers
Fort William and Ardnamurchan: Results by Polling District
Fort William and Ardnamurchan: Second Preferences
Fort William and Ardnamurchan: Two-Candidate Preferred

Data Notes

Changes in Affiliation

Andrew Jarvie (Wick and East Caithness) from 🔵Conservative to ⚪Independent; left the party in December 2022 following a disagreement over statements he made at a council meeting.

Patrick Logue (Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh) from 🔵Conservative to ⚪Independent; no public information, changed on council website no later than early February 2024. This was further followed by a move to 🟠Lib Dem which was publicised at the end of February. In March he was confirmed to have joined ⚫Alba.

Karl Rosie (Thurso and Northwest Caithness) from 🟡SNP to ⚪Independent; quit the party in February 2024 citing dissatisfaction with the party leadership and approach to Independence.

By-Elections

Tain and Easter Ross (ward 7) - 28th of September 2023

Councillors and Key Stats

1 Councillor elected:
⚪Independent: Maureen Ross
Change vs 2022 (notional): Independent Gain from Lib Dem
Change vs vacating: Independent Gain from Lib Dem
Turnout: 34.4% (-13.6)
Electorate: 7226
Valid: 2463(99.0%)
Spoiled: 25 (1.0%)
Quota: 1232
2 Continuing Councillors:
🟡SNP: Derek Louden
⚪Independent: Alasdair Rhind

Candidates

🟡SNP: Gordon Allison
🟢Green: Andrew Barnett
🟤Libertarian: Harry Christian
🔵Conservative: Veronica Morrison
🔴Labour: Michael Perera
Independent: Maureen Ross
🟠Lib Dem: Charles Stephen

Tain and Easter Ross By-Election: Context

Lib Dem councillor Sarah Rawlings resigned for health reasons, prompting this by-election.
Read the BBS pre-election preview here.
Read the BBS results analysis here.

Tain and Easter Ross By-Election: First Preferences
Tain and Easter Ross By-Election: Transfers
Tain and Easter Ross By-Election: Results by Polling District
Tain and Easter Ross By-Election: Second Preferences
Tain and Easter Ross By-Election: Two-Candidate Preferred
Tain and Easter Ross By-Election: Two-Party Preferred

Inverness South (Ward 19) - 11th of April 2024

Inverness South By-Election: Context

Lib Dem councillor Colin Aitken resigned due to other work commitments. He had previously represented the Inverness West ward following a by-election in August 2021. More information is available on the Highland Council website.
Read the BBS pre-election preview here.
Read the BBS results analysis here (TBC).

Key dates:

  • 7th of March – Close of nominations
  • 22nd of March – Deadline to register to vote
  • 25th of March – Deadline for postal vote applications
  • 11th of April – Polling Day
  • 12th of April – Count
Inverness South By-Election: Candidates

🟠Lib Dem: Jonathan Chartier
Alba: Jimmy Duncan
🔵Conservative: Ryan Forbes
🟤Sovereignty: Andrew MacDonald
Independent: Duncan McDonald
🟡SNP: Gordon Shanks
🟢Green: Arun Sharma
🔴Labour: Ron Stevenson