2022 Dumfries and Galloway Council election

Elections to Dumfries and Galloway Council took place on 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.

2022 Dumfries and Galloway Council election

← 2017 5 May 2022 (2022-05-05) 2027 →

All 43 seats to Dumfries and Galloway Council
22 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Ian Carruthers Rob Davidson Elaine Murray
Party Conservative SNP Labour
Leader's seat Annandale South Abbey
(stood down)
Nith
(stood down)
Last election 16 seats, 37.2% 11 seats, 20.7% 11 seats, 17.7%
Seats won 16 11 9
Seat change Steady Steady Decrease 2
Popular vote 21,462 15,602 9,169
Percentage 38.8% 28.2% 16.6%
Swing Increase 1.6% Increase 7.5% Decrease 1.1%

  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Ind
Leader Richard Brodie
Party Independent Liberal Democrats
Leader's seat Annandale South
Last election 4 seats, 20.0% 1 seat, 2.4%
Seats won 6 1
Seat change Increase 2 Steady
Popular vote 4,762 1,810
Percentage 8.6% 3.3%
Swing Decrease 11.4% Increase 0.9%

A map of Dumfries & Galloway showing the political parties with the most 1st preference votes in each ward.

A pie chart showing the share of 1st preference votes in Dumfries & Galloway.

Leader before election

Elaine Murray
(Labour)
No overall control

Co-leaders after election

Stephen Thompson (SNP) and
Linda Dorward (Labour)
No overall control

For the second consecutive election, the Conservatives were returned as the largest party with 16 seats but remained shy of an overall majority. The Scottish National Party (SNP) increased their vote share by 7.5% but failed to make any gains and were again returned as the second-largest party with 11 seats. Labour lost two seats to return nine councillors while the Liberal Democrats retained their only seat. Six independent candidates were also elected – an increase of two.

The Labour–SNP coalition administration retained control of the council with support from two independents and Lib Dem councillor Richard Brodie. Cllrs Stephen Thompson and Linda Dorward were elected co-leaders of the council. However, the partnership collapsed less than a year after the election as the Conservatives took minority control of the council.

Background

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Previous election

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At the previous election in 2017, the Conservatives gained two seats to hold 16 and replaced Labour as the largest party on the council. Labour lost four seats and the Scottish National Party (SNP) gained one as both returned 11 councillors. The two parties would form a coalition to run the council. The Liberal Democrats retained their only seat while the number of independents fell from seven to four.[1][2]

2017 Dumfries and Galloway Council election result
Party Seats Vote share
Conservatives 16 37.2%
SNP 11 20.7%
Labour 11 17.7%
Independent 4 20.0%
Liberal Democrats 1 2.4%

Source: [1][2]

Electoral system

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The election used the nine wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 32 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system – a form of proportional representation – where candidates are ranked in order of preference.[3]

Composition

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Between the 2017 and 2022 elections, there were a few changes to the composition of the council. All of these were due to changes in the political affiliations of councillors. Former council leader and Labour councillor Ronnie Nicolson and Conservative councillor David James resigned from their respective parties to sit as independents.[4][5] Labour councillor Tommy Sloan resigned from the party and sat as an independent councillor and member of the Dumfries and Galloway Socialists Group while SNP councillor Dougie Campbell left the party and stood as an independent at the 2022 election.[6] SNP councillor Andrew Wood initially resigned from the party to sit as an independent. He later joined the Conservatives.[7] There were two by-elections and both resulted in Conservative holds.[8][9]

Composition of Dumfries and Galloway Council
Party 2017 result Dissolution
Conservative 16 16
SNP 11 9
Labour 11 9
Independents 4 8
Liberal Democrats 1 1

Retiring councillors

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Many prominent elected members stood down at this election, including the leader of the council, and former Dumfriesshire MSP, Elaine Murray.[10]

Retiring councillors
Ward Party Retiring councillor
Stranraer and the Rhins SNP Ros Surtees
Independent Tommy Sloan
Mid Galloway and Wigtown West Independent Jim McColm
Dee and Glenkens Independent Jane Maitland
Conservative Patsy Gilroy
Castle Douglas and Crocketford Independent David James
Abbey SNP Rob Davidson
North West Dumfries Labour Ronnie Nicholson
Independent David John McKie
Mid and Upper Nithsdale Conservative Matthew Ronnie
Lochar Labour Jeff Leaver
Conservative John Charteris
Nith Labour Elaine Murray
John Martin
Annandale South SNP Henry McClelland
Annandale North Labour Adam Wilson

Source: [2][6]

Results

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2022 Dumfries and Galloway Council election result
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 16 0 0   37.2 38.8 21,462   1.6
  SNP 11 0 0   25.6 28.2 15,602   7.5
  Labour 9 0 2   2 20.9 16.6 9,169   1.1
  Independent 6 2 0   2 13.9 8.6 4,762   11.4
  Liberal Democrats 1 0 0   2.3 3.3 1,810   0.9
  Scottish Green 0 0 0   0.0 4.5 2,496   2.7
  Alba 0 0 0   0.0 0.1 68 New
Total 43 55,369

Source: [11][12]

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.[13][14]

Ward results

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Stranraer and the Rhins

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Stranraer and the Rhins - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Conservative Andrew Giusti (incumbent) 32.87 1,518            
SNP Ben Dashper 23.26 1,074            
Independent Willie Scobie (incumbent) 22.76 1,051            
Labour John McCutcheon 9.92 458 478.74 511.28 523.0 582.42 660.68  
Conservative Chrissie Hill 7.32 338 804.04 806.97 816.64 833.1 861.45 1,025.86
Scottish Green Peter Barlow 2.60 120 126.65 180.98 187.14      
Independent Tommy Sloan 1.28 59 98.92 118.89 198.15 239.43    
Electorate: 11,398   Valid: 4,618 (41.5%)   Spoilt: 108   Quota: 924   Turnout: 4,726  

Mid Galloway and Wigtown West

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Mid Galloway and Wigtown West - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
Conservative David Inglis 30.81 1,529        
SNP Katie Hagmann 30.33 1,505        
Conservative Jackie McCamon 19.43 964 1,428.50      
Labour Sandy Whitelaw 11.27 559 578.28 681.36 806.35 1,240.1
Scottish Green Kenny Campbell 8.16 405 415.17 690.72 736.31  
Electorate: 10,908   Valid: 4,962 (46.4%)   Spoilt: 98   Quota: 993   Turnout: 5,060  

Dee and Glenkens

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Dee and Glenkens - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
SNP Andy McFarlane 25.44 1,139          
Conservative John Denerley 20.37 912 912.37 927.43 942.45 963.52 1,603.68
Conservative Susan Murdoch 17.66 791 791.47 801.52 835.52 859.71  
Independent Dougie Campbell (incumbent) 14.63 655 657.74 721.92 809.37 1,108.76 1,227.96
Scottish Green Laura Moodie 11.34 508 517.76 556.07 651.93    
Labour Graham Trickey 6.05 271 272.94 320.22      
Independent Anthony Bird 4.51 202 203.05        
Electorate: 8,406   Valid: 4,478   Spoilt: 51   Quota: 1,120   Turnout: 4,529  

Castle Douglas and Crocketford

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Castle Douglas and Crocketford - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Conservative Pauline Drysdale 30.25 1,220              
SNP John Young 25.09 1,012              
Independent Iain Clark Howie 9.99 403 425.31 425.73 468.15 521.73 582.37 827.87 1,115.45
Independent Gill Dykes 9.57 386 409.35 409.43 432.59 463.7 550.84    
Liberal Democrats Iain McDonald 7.76 313 329.6 329.94 382.21 495.45 553.27 633.43  
Scottish Green Liz Ashburn 6.03 243 244.21 245.53          
Labour Keith Heron 5.98 241 246.71 247.09 316.52        
Conservative Iain Kennedy-Moffat 5.33 215 341.95 341.97 349.93 361.55      
Electorate: 7,751   Valid: 4,033   Spoilt: 59   Quota: 1,009   Turnout: 4,092 (52.8%)  

Abbey

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Abbey - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3
SNP Kim Lowe 31.13 1,267    
Labour Davie Stitt 25.87 1,053    
Conservative Ian Blake 24.69 1,005 1,014.24 1,020.15
Conservative Robin Wishart 12.01 489 493.91 496.38
Liberal Democrats Matthew Pumphrey 6.29 256 375.09 390.24
Electorate: 8,592   Valid: 4,070   Spoilt: 76   Quota: 1,018   Turnout: 4,146 (48.3%)  

North West Dumfries

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North West Dumfries - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
SNP Andy Ferguson 39.52 1,561        
Conservative Graham Bell 28.43 1,123        
Labour Emma Jordan 18.43 728 919.88      
Labour Paula Stevenson 8.78 347 404.22 495.86 607.94 909.1
Scottish Green Ann Johnstone 4.84 191 526.42 571.95 579.27  
Electorate: 10,203   Valid: 3,950   Spoilt: 62   Quota: 791   Turnout: 4,012 (39.3%)  

Mid and Upper Nithsdale

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Mid and Upper Nithsdale - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
SNP Tony Berretti 29.23 1,161      
Independent Jim Dempster 27.37 1,087      
Conservative Andrew Wood 15.84 629 631.88 642.83 1,139.94
Conservative Kyle Thornton 14.88 591 596.61 612.95  
Labour Callum Jamieson 12.69 504 595.34 630.2 664.05
Electorate: 8,242   Valid: 3,972   Spoilt: 46   Quota: 994   Turnout: 4,018 (48.8%)  

Lochar

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Lochar - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
SNP Tracey Little 33.68 1,787      
Conservative Ivor Hyslop 25.41 1,348      
Labour Linda Dorward 21.60 1,146      
Conservative Maureen Johnstone 14.55 772 810.33 1,058.85 1,078.40
Scottish Green Sandy Rogerson 4.77 253 733.92 740.62  
Electorate: 11,299   Valid: 5,306   Spoilt: 60   Quota: 1,016   Turnout: 5,386 (47.7%)  

Nith

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Nith - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
SNP John Gillespie Campbell 33.35 1,670            
Conservative Malcolm Johnstone 18.05 904 920 923 937.74 1,386.79    
Labour Keith Walters 16.68 835 949.4 1,291.2        
Conservative Alastair Muir 10.29 515 521.0 523.4 539.12      
Independent David Slater 9.75 488 546 562.8 621.97 642.89 785.24 1,029.72
Labour Angie Whitelaw 7.09 355 409          
Scottish Green Ann McLauchlan 4.79 240 540.4 559 624.58 629.76 655.28  
Electorate: 10,573   Valid: 5,007   Spoilt: 72   Quota: 1,002   Turnout: 5,079 (48.0%)  

Annandale South

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Annandale South - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
Conservative Ian Carruthers 21.90 1,118          
SNP George Jamieson 21.63 1,104          
Labour Sean Marshall 19.10 975 982.4 1,003.12 1,063.84    
Liberal Democrats Richard Brodie 17.67 902 911.2 924.35 995.49 1,017.45 1,396.61
Conservative Alan Weild 16.44 839 909.1 910.97 921.46 926.58  
Scottish Green Cameron Garrett 3.25 166 166.7 195.86      
Electorate: 11,245   Valid: 5,104   Spoilt: 94   Quota: 1,021   Turnout: 5,198 (46.2%)  

Annandale North

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Annandale North - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
SNP Stephen Thompson (incumbent) 30.05 1,725        
Conservative Gail MacGregor 20.08 1,153        
Conservative Lynne Davis 19.40 1,114 1,134.03 1,135.51 1,142.51 1,165.86
Labour Carolyne Wilson 13.88 797 951.27 951.42 973.11 1,266.7
Conservative Doug Fairbairn 10.82 621 634.5 636.25 638.92 647.94
Scottish Green Jennifer Norris 4.58 263 487.72 487.76 548.49  
Alba Marion Collins 1.18 68 123.1 123.2    
Electorate: 11,910   Valid: 5,741   Spoilt: 74   Quota: 1,149   Turnout: 5,815 (48.8%)  

Annandale East and Eskdale

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Annandale East and Eskdale - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Conservative Karen Carruthers 27.75 1,140            
Labour Archie Dryburgh 21.42 880 888.45 908.65 973.11 1,260.22    
Independent Denis Male 15.41 633 639.1 649.1 687.47 724.95 875.1 1,190.62
Conservative Ron Tait 14.95 614 693.1 699.67 712.75 724.95 751.84  
SNP Sylvia Willmot 14.53 597 597.88 640.98 660.98      
Liberal Democrats Kirsten Herbst-Gray 3.33 137 141.62 159.81        
Scottish Green Stephen Mattock 2.60 107 108.28          
Electorate: 8,699   Valid: 4,108   Spoilt: 82   Quota: 1,028   Turnout: 4,190 (48.2%)  

Aftermath

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Over the 2017–2022 term, the SNP and Labour ran a coalition, while the Conservatives were the largest party. Following this election, the SNP under Cllr Stephen Thompson, Labour under Cllr Linda Dorward and the Independent Group (including 6 Independents and 1 Liberal Democrat) under Cllr Richard Brodie agreed to work together and form a "Rainbow Coalition".[15] Thompson and Dorward became co-leaders of the council.

Despite the collaboration between the SNP and Labour, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar claimed that the deal was an interim arrangement and "not for the duration of the entire council term".[16] Ultimately, the coalition agreement lasted only 8 months[17] and the Conservatives (with Independent support) took control of the administration.

Mid Galloway and Wigtown West by-election

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In October 2022, Labour councillor Sandy Whitelaw resigned, triggering a by-election in Ward 2 - Mid Galloway and Wigtown West, which was held on 8 December 2022.[18]

Mid Galloway and Wigtown West – 1 seat[19]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1
Conservative Richard Marsh 52.86 1,787
SNP Ian Gibson 26.00 879
Labour John Peter McCutcheon 9.64 326
Liberal Democrats Iain McDonald 5.62 190
Scottish Green Daniel Hooper-Jones 5.08 172
Electorate: 10,981   Valid: 3,354   Spoilt: 26   Quota: 1,678   Turnout: 3,380  

Change in Council Leadership

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In February 2023, Labour councillors agreed to terminate their formal coalition with the SNP and Independent Councillors.[20] The resulting agreement led to Councillor Stephen Thompson (SNP) being declared Leader of Dumfries & Galloway Council and Councillor Richard Brodie (Lib Dem) declared as Deputy Leader.

In March 2023, Labour abstentions and Independent Councillors' support allowed a Conservative budget to pass. As a result, the SNP leadership resigned, including Councillor Thompson.[21] One week later, the Conservatives (with independent group support) elected Gail MacGregor as Council Leader, resulting in Dumfries and Galloway Council coming under Conservative administration.[22]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Dumfries and Galloway Council". BBC. 5 May 2017. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Teale, Andrew. "Local Elections Archive Project - 2017 - Dumfries and Galloway". Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Notice of Election" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Former Council leader quits over teacher cuts". BBC News. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  5. ^ Gillespie, Stewart (12 April 2019). "Castle Douglas and Crocketford councillor David James resigns from Conservative group". Daily Record. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b Faulds, Allan. "Words Worth Watching: Dumfries and Galloway". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  7. ^ McCall, Chris (21 September 2020). "Former SNP stalwart switches to Conservatives over concerns about Scottish independence plan". Daily Record. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Conservatives win Dumfries and Galloway council by-election". BBC News. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Councillor Jackie McCamon Wins Coveted National Award". Dumfries and Galloway News. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Dumfries and Galloway Council's first ever female leader to step down". BBC News. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  11. ^ Faulds, Allan. "Dumfries and Galloway Council 2022". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Dumfries & Galloway result - Scottish Council Elections 2022". BBC News. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  13. ^ Faulds, Allan. "The Local STV Voting System Explained". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Single Transferable Vote". Electoral Reform Society. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Cross-party panel agreed to help run Dumfries and Galloway Council". BBC News. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  16. ^ Brawn, Steph (17 July 2022). "Dumfries and Galloway: 'Interim' council deal shows Labour fear SNP, says MSP". The National. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Dumfries and Galloway Council's rainbow coalition reshuffle agreed". BBC News. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  18. ^ Gillespie, Stuart (12 October 2022). "Councillor quits less than six months after election". Daily Record.
  19. ^ "Declaration Mid Galloway Wigtown West By Election December 2022" (PDF). Dumfries and Galloway Council.
  20. ^ McLean, Marc (7 February 2023). "Council coalition hangs on to power". Daily Record. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  21. ^ Rinaldi, Giancarlo (28 February 2023). "The rise and fall of Dumfries and Galloway's cross-party coalition". BBC News. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  22. ^ Elliards, Xander (7 March 2023). "Tories take control of Scottish council as Labour blamed for playing 'games'". The National.