The 2012 Highland Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Highland Council . The election used the twenty-two wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 , with each ward electing three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system (a form of proportional representation ) and 80 Councillors being elected.
The election saw Independent councillors remain the largest group, while the Scottish National Party increased their representation, replacing the Scottish Liberal Democrats in second place. The Scottish Labour Party also gained an additional seat. Following the election an administration was formed between the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Labour Party. This was the first time that the Independents have not had any role in the administration of the council.
Election result
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 3 May 2007. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.
Ward results
North, West and Central Sutherland
2007: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent
2012: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: No change
North, West and Central Sutherland – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
SNP
George Farlow (incumbent )
26.23%
626
Independent
Hugh Morrison
22.50%
537
541.5
554.9
563.9
601.3
Liberal Democrats
Linda Munro (incumbent )†††††††††
18.89%
451
455.6
478.7
506.8
529.2
530.5
566.7
613.4
Scottish Senior Citizens
Russell Taylor
8.21%
196
199.1
210.5
225.6
235.8
236.2
257.7
349
Independent
Neil MacInnes
7.21%
172
175.4
180.1
190.1
198.4
198.9
234.1
Scottish Christian
Hector MacLennan
5.32%
127
127.9
129.1
140.2
147.2
147.6
Conservative
Les Mason
4.06%
97
97.5
100.6
Independent
Jess Thomas
4.02%
96
97.7
110.5
118.5
Scottish Green
Mandy Haggith
3.56%
85
89.9
Electorate: 4,913 Valid: 2,387 Spoilt: 16 Quota: 597 Turnout: 2,403 (48.91%)
Thurso
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xLab
2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
Thurso – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Independent
Donnie MacKay (incumbent )
29.38%
703
Labour
Roger Saxon
25.32%
606
SNP
Don Smith
17.97%
430
444.1
445.3
448.5
465.6
514.1
Independent
John Rosie (incumbent )
12.49%
299
357.7
359.8
369.7
413.5
518.2
708.7
Liberal Democrats
Nick Noble
9.40%
225
234.9
235.9
248.4
266.3
Independent
Ian Grant
3.68%
88
95.1
95.9
105.3
Conservative
Reg Holder
1.76%
42
43.9
44.1
Electorate: 6,192 Valid: 2,393 Spoilt: 33 Quota: 599 Turnout: 2,426 (39.18%)
Wick
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem
2012: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: SNP and Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem and Independent
Landward Caithness
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012: 3xIndependent; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: Independent gain one seat from Lib Dem
Landward Caithness – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Independent
A. I. Willie MacKay (incumbent )
28.58%
1,015
Independent
David Bremner (incumbent )
18.33%
651
721.4
Independent
Robert Coghill (incumbent ) †††††
17.97%
638
749.7
SNP
Alex MacLeod ††††
15.49%
550
576.7
579.6
580.8
592.8
598.5
656.8
756.3
Labour
David Baron
8.51%
302
312.5
316.5
317.6
324.7
343.9
397.2
Independent
Bill Mowat
6.87%
244
274.2
282.7
284.9
297
329.2
Conservative
Richard White
3.07%
109
112.6
115.2
115.6
118.1
Independent
John Campbell
1.18%
42
54.3
57.2
58.1
Electorate: 8,546 Valid: 3,551 Spoilt: 36 Quota: 711 Turnout: 3,587 (41.97%)
East Sutherland and Edderton
2007: 1xLib Dem; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
2012: 1xLab; 1xIndependent; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
East Sutherland and Edderton – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Labour
Deirdre MacKay (incumbent )
32.21%
966
Independent
Jim McGillivray (incumbent )
19.27%
578
622
642.9
691.2
811
SNP
Graham Phillips
17.34%
520
544.6
548
554.7
605.8
618.1
771.7
Independent
Richard Gale
12.74%
382
424.5
442.8
485.3
567.8
585.7
Liberal Democrats
Robbie Rowantree *
9.67%
290
334.5
340.1
402.1
Conservative
Kerensa Carr
6.27%
188
198.5
220.6
UKIP
Annie Murray
2.5%
75
81.9
Electorate: 6,179 Valid: 2,999 Spoilt: 36 Quota: 750 Turnout: 3,034 (49.1%)
* = Sitting Councillor from a different Ward.
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: No change
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Liberal Democrats
Biz Campbell † (incumbent )
27.59%
1,162
Independent
Richard Greene (incumbent )
20.68%
871
Independent
Audrey Sinclair (incumbent )
16.08%
677
802.7
811.9
941.6
SNP
Ian Cockburn
15.01%
632
670.2
672.9
697.1
708.9
740.6
1,107.2
SNP
Paul Monaghan
8.98%
378
388.2
389.5
407.5
418.2
436.8
Conservative
Alaine MacDonald
6.10%
257
284.7
286.3
303.2
315.4
Independent
Richard Mitchell
5.56%
234
265
271.8
Electorate: 9,612 Valid: 4,211 Spoilt: 62 Quota: 843 Turnout: 4,273 (44.45%)
Cromarty Firth
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: No change
Cromarty Firth – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Independent
Carolyn Wilson (incumbent )
23.60%
768
SNP
Maxine Smith (incumbent )
17.95%
584
604.7
606.9
660.8
SNP
Sheila Fletcher
14.26%
464
469.5
470.6
489.2
494.9
547.95
Independent
Mike Finlayson (incumbent )
11.95%
389
429.4
452.3
519
519.8
621.3
777.1
Liberal Democrats
Martin Rattray (incumbent )†††
11.09%
361
378.7
394.6
481.4
483.4
547.96
630.9
Labour
John McInnes
9.96%
324
332.2
336.5
367.4
367.9
Independent
Tina Deborah McCaffery
9.19%
299
307.1
313.2
Conservative
Jane Rous
1.99%
65
68.5
Electorate: 9,456 Valid: 3,254 Spoilt: 65 Quota: 651 Turnout: 3,319 (35.1%)
Tain and Easter Ross
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: No change
Tain and Easter Ross – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Independent
Alasdair Rhind (incumbent )
32.67%
1,008
Independent
Fiona Robertson (incumbent )
24.44%
754
861.9
Liberal Democrats
Jamie Stone
16.47%
508
560.7
591.2
598.9
611.6
639.2
774.9
SNP
Charlie Falconer
13.61%
420
432.2
441.8
446.8
450.9
468.8
514.8
Independent
Richard Durham (incumbent )
8.14%
250
284.9
312.6
315.9
333.2
347.2
Labour
Ron Stevenson
2.53%
78
81
82.8
86.2
89.6
Conservative
David Rutherford
1.43%
44
48.7
52.3
54.1
TUSC
Sean Robertson
0.74%
23
24.9
27.2
Electorate: 7,051 Valid: 3,085 Spoilt: 21 Quota: 772 Turnout: 3,106 (44.05%)
Dingwall and Seaforth
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: No change
Dingwall and Seaforth – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Independent
Margaret Paterson (incumbent )
20.98%
748
Liberal Democrats
Angela MacLean (incumbent )
16.77%
598
607.4
613.5
646.7
693.3
768.2
SNP
Graham MacKenzie
12.20%
435
440.5
441.5
441.5
465.9
495.9
503.2
835.7
Labour
John Erskine
11.78%
420
422.8
424.8
429.9
448.9
486.1
495.8
533.5
554.6
SNP
Peter Cairns (incumbent )
10.88%
388
389.3
393.3
396.3
406.4
438.5
443.4
Independent
David Chisholm (incumbent )
8.36%
298
300.4
305.4
318.6
349.2
Independent
Alister MacKinnon
7.57%
270
274
298.2
315.3
405.5
507.4
521.4
543.2
564.7
718.6
Independent
Fred Lees
6.17%
220
223.8
258.9
270.1
Conservative
Matthew MacDonald
2.78%
99
99.99
104.99
Scottish Christian
David Forbes
2.52%
90
90.50
Electorate: 9,256 Valid: 3,566 Spoilt: 48 Quota: 714 Turnout: 3,614 (39.04%)
Black Isle
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: No change
Black Isle – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Independent
Billy Barclay (incumbent )††††††
26.77%
1,130
Independent
Isobel McCallum (incumbent )
16.04%
677
759.7
776.9
815.7
868.8
Liberal Democrats
David Alston (incumbent )
15.30%
646
691.4
698.9
742.7
789.2
795.4
842.5
912.9
SNP
Craig Fraser (incumbent )
14.45%
610
636.5
640.5
649.7
678.7
681.5
713.6
755
767.8
917
Scottish Green
Myra Carus
6.92%
292
308.9
311.9
318.7
349.9
351.6
390.5
438.9
458.8
Independent
Morris MacKenzie Downie
5.69%
240
276.8
283.8
296.3
302.8
306.5
358.6
Labour
Michael MacMillan
5.12%
216
226.1
229.3
230.6
Independent
Okain McLennan
5.03%
212
236.7
242.5
249.2
265.5
269.1
Conservative
Pamela Cornwell
3.34%
141
149.3
153.1
Scottish Christian
Paul Horwood
1.35%
57
60.5
Electorate: 8,205 Valid: 4,221 Spoilt: 39 Quota: 845 Turnout: 4,260 (51.92%)
Eilean a' Cheò
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: No change
Caol and Mallaig
2007: 3xIndependent
2012: 3xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: No change
Caol and Mallaig – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Independent
Allan Henderson (incumbent )
32.64%
905
Independent
Bill Clark †† (incumbent )
25.59%
710
Independent
Eddie Hunter (incumbent )†††††††
18.24%
506
627.7
636.1
648.9
676.2
691.9
731.2
SNP
Niall Rownatree
14.82%
411
436.9
438.6
448.1
459.3
474
492.4
Independent
George Kerr
2.56%
71
83.1
84.4
88.7
95.2
106.1
Conservative
Elizabeth Saggers
2.38%
66
73.7
74.1
77.4
80.6
Independent
Sally Semple
2.16%
60
66.9
67.5
71.2
Scottish Christian
Susan Wallace
1.62%
45
50
50
Electorate: 6,752 Valid: 2,774 Spoilt: 44 Quota: 694 Turnout: 2,818 (41.74%)
Aird and Loch Ness
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: No change
Aird and Loch Ness – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Independent
Margaret Davidson (incumbent )
36.94%
1,194
SNP
Drew Hendry (incumbent )††††††††††
20.77%
840
Independent
Helen Carmichael (incumbent )
16.30%
659
894.4
Liberal Democrats
Hamish Wood (incumbent )
12.31%
498
546
575.4
579
585.9
652.4
768
858.1
SNP
Robert Stewart
7.10%
287
314.1
322.7
345.3
358.5
387
413.2
Conservative
George Cruickshank
6.89%
279
297.4
307.4
307.9
335.8
351.9
Labour
Mike Robb
5.46%
221
234.2
242.1
243.3
246.2
UKIP
Fred Pidcock
1.63%
66
72.1
75.8
76.3
Electorate: 8,999 Valid: 4,044 Spoilt: 56 Quota: 809 Turnout: 4,100 (45.56%)
Inverness West
2007: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent
2012: 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: No change
Inverness West – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Liberal Democrats
Alex Graham (incumbent )
24.68%
610
613
615
650
Independent
Graham Ross
23.46%
580
594
611
639
SNP
Allan Duffy
18.53%
458
467
472
481
485.9
488.4
725.9
Labour
Robert Ford
13.88%
343
349
355
359
366.1
369.9
393.8
SNP
Pauline Munro (incumbent )
11.37%
281
288
295
296
301.6
305.5
Conservative
Mary Fraser
3.80%
94
94
107
Scottish Christian
Alan Petitt
2.27%
56
60
TUSC
George MacDonald
2.02%
50
Electorate: 6,659 Valid: 2,472 Spoilt: 41 Quota: 619 Turnout: 2,513 (37.74%)
Inverness Central
2007: 1xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab
2012: 2xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLab
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
Inverness Central – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Independent
Janet Campbell (incumbent )
29.97%
887
Labour
Bet McAllister (incumbent )
26.36%
867
SNP
Donnie Kerr ††† (incumbent )
20.43%
672
SNP
Richard Laird
11.49%
378
420.6
462.5
473.6
490.2
500.5
619.6
Liberal Democrats
Angus Dick
9.64%
257
316.9
360
360.6
372.9
452.8
Conservative
Ray Doctor
7.81%
153
175.7
184.4
184.6
210.8
Scottish Christian
Rich Omand
2.28%
75
91
103.5
103.9
Electorate: 9,251 Valid: 3,289 Spoilt: 59 Quota: 658 Turnout: 3,348 (36.19%)
Inverness Ness-side
2007: 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLab
2012: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: No change
Inverness Ness-side – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
SNP
Jean Slater
23.75%
879
Liberal Democrats
Alasdair Christie *
21.48%
795
Labour
Fraser Parr (incumbent )
17.83%
660
693.9
705.5
722.9
776.8
Independent
Norrie Donald (incumbent )
16.78%
621
653.9
671.2
712.1
863.7
Conservative
Peter Guthrie
8.97%
332
337.5
347.1
367.9
400.9
Independent
John West
8.05%
298
314.6
319.7
332.6
Scottish Christian
Alasdair Moodie
3.13%
116
122.3
123.9
Electorate: 8,822 Valid: 3,701 Spoilt: 33 Quota: 741 Turnout: 3,734 (42.33%)
* = Sitting Councillor from a different Ward.
Inverness Millburn
2007: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: No change
Culloden and Ardersier
2007: 1xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLab; 1xLib Dem
2012: 1xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xLab
2007-2012 Change: No change
Culloden and Ardersier – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Independent
Roddy Balfour (incumbent )
29.71%
1,023
SNP
Glynis Sinclair (incumbent )
16.44%
566
616.6
618.6
621.9
648.1
678
682.3
1,024.6
Labour
John Ford (incumbent )††††††††††††
13.91%
479
509.4
514.3
524.3
547.6
586.8
595.9
644.3
Liberal Democrats
Kate Stephen
13.80%
475
530.8
535.8
618.6
668.4
728.5
SNP
Bob Wynd (incumbent )
10.89%
375
390.7
393.9
402.7
429.9
455.2
459.6
Scottish Green
Donnie MacLeod
4.93%
170
209.2
219.1
227.4
Independent
David McGrath
4.79%
165
192.1
238.1
261.9
300.9
Conservative
Alex Stephen
4.47%
154
177.2
178.8
Independent
Bill Jamieson
1.05%
36
82.4
Electorate: 8,606 Valid: 3,443 Spoilt: 36 Quota: 689 Turnout: 3,479 (40.43%)
Nairn
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012: 2xIndependent; 2xSNP
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
Nairn – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
SNP
Liz MacDonald (incumbent )
28.36%
1,120
Independent
Laurie Fraser (incumbent )
15.73%
621
646
684
800.1
Independent
Michael Green
12.23%
483
511.9
543.5
641.2
645.8
778.1
968.7
Labour
Ashley Broadbent
11.60%
458
468.9
479.5
516.8
517.7
606.5
SNP
Colin John MacRury MacAulay ††††††††
10.31%
407
615.3
625.5
652.1
653.1
716.4
810.4
Liberal Democrats
Graham Marsden (incumbent )
8.38%
330
348.6
406.3
442.9
444.6
Independent
Ritchie Cunningham
8.23%
325
338.8
366.4
Conservative
Rossie MacRae
5.19%
205
210
Electorate: 9,136 Valid: 3,949 Spoilt: 63 Quota: 790 Turnout: 4,012 (43.91%)
Inverness South
2007: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
2012: 2xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: Lib Dem gain one seat from Lab
Inverness South – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
SNP
Ken Gowans
20.34%
696
Independent
Jim Crawford (incumbent )
17.36%
594
594.5
659.5
772.5
Liberal Democrats
Carolyn Caddick (incumbent )
16.63%
569
569.6
590.7
688.7
SNP
Bill Boyd
11.49%
393
401.3
411.3
429.4
437.9
438.2
495.6
Labour
Katherine MacKenzie
10.32%
353
353.3
363.3
385.3
398.8
399.1
Liberal Democrats
Thomas Prag (incumbent )
9.79%
335
335.2
346.2
378.2
401.4
403.9
505.3
631.9
Conservative
David Bonsor
9.38%
321
321.1
343.1
Scottish Christian
Donald MacLeod Boyd
4.68%
160
160.1
Electorate: 9,479 Valid: 3,421 Spoilt: 37 Quota: 685 Turnout: 3,458 (36.48%)
Badenoch and Strathspey
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2012: 2xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Independent
Badenoch and Strathspey – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
Independent
Jaci Douglas (incumbent )
24.68%
1,082
SNP
Bill Lobban
17.99%
789
813.3
818.9
840.1
844.8
970.6
SNP
David Fallows (incumbent )†††††††††††
16.49%
723
750.3
764.5
796.6
805.8
912.2
Liberal Democrats
Gregor Rimell (incumbent )
14.73%
646
707.3
720.3
927.9
Labour
Kieran Turner
12.91%
566
596.5
610.7
640.6
653.6
Conservative
Les Durance
10.22%
448
466.5
518.1
UKIP
Ross Durance
2.99%
131
141.4
Electorate: 10,348 Valid: 4,385 Spoilt: 49 Quota: 878 Turnout: 4,434 (42.85%)
Fort William and Ardnamurchan
2007: 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLab
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLab
2007-2012 Change: Independent gain one seat from Lib Dem
Fort William and Ardnamurchan – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Independent
Andrew Baxter †††
18.63%
647
678
713
Labour
Brian Murphy (incumbent )
16.53%
574
585
631
633.3
688.5
719.3
SNP
Bren Gormley (incumbent )
16.33%
567
577
583
585.4
855.7
Independent
Davie Corrigan
13.48%
468
489
514
518.2
552.2
580.7
584.9
Independent
Thomas MacLennan †††
12.90%
448
473
518
521.8
555.9
582.7
590.1
873.3
SNP
William MacDonald
11.90%
413
418
434
435
Liberal Democrats
Jamie MacKie
5.18%
180
219
Conservative
Alexander Gillespie
5.04%
175
Electorate: 8,593 Valid: 3,472 Spoilt: 58 Quota: 695 Turnout: 3,530 (41.08%)