A solid SNP lead is likely to see this being more an election for second place. Labour may be breathing a sigh of relief after recent Conservative woes, after the blues were breathing down their neck last time.
Wards Worth Watching
Wards Worth Watching: Argyll and Bute
A typically Independent-led council that has gotten progressively less Independent, whether that trend continues this election or not is all but impossible to predict in advance.
Wards Worth Watching: Shetland Islands
Shetland’s recent run of Independent-only councils was broken in 2017, but only due to an uncontested ward auto-electing an SNP candidate. This year is already looking more party political in terms of candidtes, but will that translate to seats?
Wards Worth Watching: Perth and Kinross
One of a number of historic SNP strongholds that swung Conservative in 2017, this time around could be a much closer competition.
Wards Worth Watching: West Dunbartonshire
Expect West Dunbartonshire to remain a hard fought SNP-Labour battleground. A local socialist party add some further flavour to what is the Conservative’s weakest mainland council.
Wards Worth Watching: South Ayrshire
A traditionally Conservative-leaning council that is likely to remain that way, there could nonetheless be advances for the SNP and Labour, who have been running the council together.
Wards Worth Watching: Clackmannanshire
There’s surprising capacity for excitement in the Wee County, with both the Conservatives and Labour at risk of losing “councillor in every ward” status, whilst the Greens eye up a breakthrough.
Wards Worth Watching: Falkirk
The SNP look secure in their lead here, making this more a battle for second. Conservative hopes of converting their 2017 vote lead over Labour into seats may be deflated by the ongoing stramash down south.
Wards Worth Watching: Inverclyde
A seemingly classic Central Belt council, the SNP will be seeking to fix a “wrong winner” outcome in 2017 where Labour held a lead, in part due to the Conservatives’ inability to turn votes into seats.
Wards Worth Watching: Angus
This mix of countryside farming and coastal fishing communities spent decades as an SNP stronghold before narrowly swinging Conservative. SNP chances of retaking a lead in votes seem strong.