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2022 Shetland Islands Council election

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2022 Shetland Islands Council election
← 2017 5 May 2022 (2022-05-05) 2027 →
All 23 seats to Shetland Islands Council
12 seats needed for a majority
Registered13,325[1]
Turnout47.2%
  First party Second party
 
Leader Steven Coutts Alex Armitage
Party Independent Scottish Green
Leader's seat Shetland West (stood down) Shetland South
Last election 22 seats, 97.8% Did not contest
Seats before 21 0
Seats won 19 1
Seat change Decrease 2 Increase 1
Popular vote 5,542 442
Percentage 88.2% 7.0%
Swing Decrease 9.6% New
  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader Robbie McGregor Tom Morton
Party SNP Labour
Leader's seat Shetland South Shetland North
Last election 1 seat, 0.0%[note 1] Did not contest
Seats before 1 0
Seats won 1 1
Seat change Steady Increase 1
Popular vote 276 0[note 2]
Percentage 4.4% 0.0%
Swing Increase 4.4% New
Leader before election

Steven Coutts
Independent

Leader after election

Emma MacDonald
Independent

Elections to Shetland Islands 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.

The elections were the first held since the passage of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 which allowed wards in Scottish councils containing islands to be reduced to single- and dual-member wards. As a result, the Shetland West ward was reduced from three members to two.

As with previous elections in the area, independent councillors retained a large majority of the seats on the council and retained control of the administration. For the first time, the Greens won a seat on the council and Labour won their first seat on the council since 1994.

Background

Previous election

Main article: 2017 Shetland Islands Council election

At the previous election in 2017, independent councillors retained control of the council after taking all but one seat. The Scottish National Party (SNP) took the other seat and, in the process, won their first-ever representation on the council.[2]

2017 Shetland Islands Council election result
Party Seats Vote share
Independents 21 97.8%
SNP 1 0.0%[note 1]

Source: [2]

Electoral system

Local elections in Scotland use the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system – a form of proportional representation – in which voters rank candidates in order of preference.[3] The 2022 election was the first to use the seven wards created under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, with 23 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either two, three or four members.[4]

Composition

There were no changes to the political composition of the council following the election in 2017. Two by-elections were held and independents won both.[5]

Party 2017 result Dissolution
Independents 21
SNP 1

Retiring councillors

Party Ward Retiring councillor
Independent North Isles Alec Priest
Shetland North Alastair Cooper
Shetland West Steven Coutts
Theo Smith
Shetland South George Smith
Lerwick North Malcolm Bell
Lerwick South Peter Campbell
Stephen Flaws

Source: [2][6]

Boundary changes

Following the implementation of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, a review of the boundaries was undertaken in North Ayrshire, Argyll and Bute, Highland, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. The act allowed for single- or two-member wards to be created to allow for better representation of island communities. As a result, the seven existing wards were retained with realigned boundaries but the number of councillors was increased from 22 to 23. Lerwick North was renamed Lerwick North and Bressay but was otherwise unchanged, as were North Isles and Shetland North. The boundaries were adjusted in the remaining wards which resulted in Shetland Central and Shetland South being increased from three- to four-member wards and Shetland West being reduced to a dual-member ward.[7]

Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart opposed the proposals for the Shetland West ward over concerns that two councillors would not sufficiently represent their constituents on the council.[8]

Candidates

The total number of candidates increased from 33 in 2017 to 36. The number of independent candidates (29) outstripped any individual party but fell by one from the previous election. The Greens contested an election in Shetland for the first time and named more candidates than any other party at three. The SNP stood two candidates – an increase of one from 2017 – while Labour named one candidate, contesting their first election in Shetland since 1994. Sovereignty also named one candidate foe the election.[6][9][10]

Uncontested Seats

After nominations closed on 30 March 2022, two wards – North Isles and Shetland North – did not receive enough candidates to trigger an election. Both are three-member wards and only five candidates stood in total. As a result, all five candidates were automatically elected without a poll being conducted and a by-election was scheduled to fill the vacant North Isles seat. The lack of interest in standing for election was called a "threat to local democracy" by the Greens. Across Scotland, 18 councillors were automatically elected because the number of candidates was not enough to trigger an election. During the 2017 local elections in Scotland, just three council wards were uncontested but votes were held in every ward in both 2007 and 2012 – the first elections to use multi-member wards and the single transferable vote. Public disinterest in standing for election to local councils has been linked to the "ridiculous" size of some local authorities and the low pay councillors receive for their work.[11][12][13]

Campaign

During the election campaign, candidates gave particular focus to the cost of living, housing and the proposed construction of fixed-link tunnels.[14] A survey conducted by The Shetland Times prior to the election found highest support for the issues of fuel poverty, fixed links and digital connectivity as priorities for the new council.[15]

Results

Shetland Islands Council election result 2022
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Independent 19 10 12 Decrease 2 82.6 88.2 5,542 Decrease 10.8
  Scottish Green 1 1 0 Increase 1 4.3 7.0 442 New
  SNP 1 0 0 Steady 4.3 4.4 276 Increase 4.4
  Labour 1 1 0 Increase 1 4.3 0.0 0[note 2] New
  Sovereignty (Scotland) 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.4 26 New
  Vacant 1 1 0 Increase 1 4.3 N/A N/A N/A
Total 23 6,286

Source:[16]

Notes:

  • 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.[17][18]
  • Following boundary changes, the total number of seats was increased from 22 to 23.[7]

Ward summary

Results of the Shetland Islands Council election 2022 by ward
Ward % Cllrs % Cllrs % Cllrs % Cllrs % Cllrs Total
Cllrs
Independents Green SNP Labour Others
North Isles — 2 2[A]
Shetland North — 2 — 1 3
Shetland West 83.1 2 9.1 0 7.8 0 2
Shetland Central 91.2 4 7.0 0 1.8 0 4
Lerwick North and Bressay 100.0 3 3
Lerwick South 100.0 4 4
Shetland South 73.3 2 14.9 1 11.8 1 4
Total 88.2 19 7.0 1 4.4 1 0.0 1 0.4 0 22[A]
Notes
  1. ^
    A: Only two candidates stood for election in the three-member North Isles ward. A by-election was held on 4 August 2022 to elect a third member. Thus only 22 councillors were elected on 5 May 2022 instead of 23.

Source:[16]

Seats changing hands

Below is a list of seats which elected a different party or parties from 2017 in order to highlight the change in political composition of the council from the previous election. The list does not include defeated incumbents who resigned or defected from their party and subsequently failed re-election while the party held the seat.

Seats changing hands
Seat 2017 2022
Party Member Party Member
Shetland North Independent Alastair Cooper Labour Tom Morton
Shetland South Independent Gregor Smith Green Alex Armitage

Ward results

North Isles

Independent councillor Ryan Thomson retained the seat he had won at the previous election while independent candidate Duncan Anderson gained a seat. Incumbent councillors Alec Priest and Duncan Simpson did not stand for re-election and one seat was left vacant.

North Isles - 3 seats
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Duncan Anderson Unopposed
Independent Ryan Thomson Unopposed
Registered electors
Independent gain from Independent
Independent hold

Source: [19]

Shetland North

Independent councillors Emma MacDonald and Andrea Manson retained the seat he had won at the previous election while Labour gained a seat from former independent councillor Alastair Cooper who did not stand for re-election.

Shetland North - 3 seats
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Emma MacDonald Unopposed
Independent Andrea Manson Unopposed
Labour Tom Morton Unopposed
Registered electors
Independent hold
Independent hold
Labour gain from Independent

Source: [19]

Shetland West

Following boundary changes, Shetland West was reduced from a three-member ward to a two-member ward. Independent candidates Liz Boxwell and John Leask gained seats from former independent councillors Steven Coutts and Theo Smith while incumbent independent councillor Catherine Hughson chose not to defend her seat but stood in Shetland Central instead.

Shetland West - 2 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Independent Liz Boxwell 39.3 298              
Independent John Leask 17.8 135 154 154 158 171 178 205 298
Independent Mark Robinson 16.9 128 142 143 150 164 170 198  
Scottish Green Debra Nicolson 9.1 69 70 71 71 81 118    
SNP Zara Pennington 7.8 59 60 61 61 64      
Independent Andrew Holt 5.7 43 46 47 50        
Independent Ian Tinkler 2.8 21 21 21          
Independent Peter Fraser 0.7 5 6            
Electorate: 1,364   Valid: 758   Spoilt: 13   Quota: 253   Turnout: 56.5%  

Source: [20][21]

Shetland Central

Following boundary changes, Shetland Central was increased from a three-member ward to a four-member ward. Independent candidates Davie Sandison and Ian Scott held the seats they had won at the previous election while independent candidates Moraig Lyall and Catherine Hughson gained a seat. Cllr Lyall was elected at a by-election in 2019 after former independent councillor Mark Burgess had stood down from his role. In 2017, Cllr Hughson was elected in Shetland West.

Shetland Central - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
Independent Moraig Lyall (incumbent) 29.3 414  
Independent Davie Sandison (incumbent) 22.8 322  
Independent Catherine Hughson[note 3] 19.9 282 339
Independent Ian Scott (incumbent) 19.2 271 308
Scottish Green Martin Randall 7.0 99 116
Sovereignty Brian Nugent 1.8 26 29
Electorate: 3,168   Valid: 1,414   Spoilt: 8   Quota: 283   Turnout: 44.9%  

Source: [22][23]

Lerwick North and Bressay

Independent councillor Stephen Leask retained the seat he won at the previous election while independent candidates Gary Robinson and Arwed Wenger gained seats from former independent councillors Malcolm Bell - who did not stand for re-election - and John Fraser - who chose not to defend his seat but stood in Lerwick South instead.

Lerwick North and Bressay - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
Independent Stephen Leask (incumbent) 33.4 310        
Independent Gary Robinson 32.4 301        
Independent Arwed Wenger 14.7 136 164 189 220 312
Independent Marie Williamson 12.4 115 133 146 173  
Independent Stephen Ferguson 7.1 66 79 92    
Electorate: 2,410   Valid: 928   Spoilt: 13   Quota: 233   Turnout: 39.0%  

Source: [24][25]

Lerwick South

Independent councillor Cecil Smith retained the seat he won at the previous election while independent candidates Dennis Leask, John Fraser and Neil Pearson gained seats from former independent councillors Amanda Hawick, Beatrice Wishart - who stood down in 2019 after she was elected as MSP for Shetland - and Peter Campbell - who chose not to defend his seat but stood in Lerwick South instead. Former independent councillor Stephen Flaws, who was elected following a by-election in 2019, did not stand for re-election.

Lerwick South - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
Independent Dennis Leask 22.5 302          
Independent John Fraser[note 4] 19.5 262 268 289      
Independent Cecil Smith (incumbent) 18.4 251 257 275      
Independent Neil Pearson 12.7 171 177 206 213 215 281
Independent Amanda Hawick (incumbent) 11.4 153 156 168 173 176 208
Independent Peter Coleman 7.8 106 109 120 123 125  
Independent Shayne Mcleod 7.4 99 102        
Electorate: 3,036   Valid: 1,344   Spoilt: 17   Quota: 269   Turnout: 44.8%  

Source: [26][27]

Shetland South

Following boundary changes, Shetland South was increased from a three-member ward to a four-member ward. The SNP and independent councillor Allison Duncan retained the seats they had won at the previous election while the Greens and independent candidate Bryan Peterson gained seats. Former independent councillor George Smith did not stand for re-election.

Shetland South - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
Independent Allison Duncan (incumbent) 42.7 805      
Independent Bryan Peterson 27.1 500      
Scottish Green Alex Armitage 14.8 274 325 360 405
SNP Robbie McGregor (incumbent) 11.8 217 326 364 401
Independent Stewart Douglas 2.5 46 169 197  
Electorate: 3,348   Valid: 1,842   Spoilt: 14   Quota: 369   Turnout: 55.4%  

Source: [28][29]

Aftermath

Former council convener Malcolm Bell, who had held the role for the previous decade, had stood down prior to the election. Cllr Andrea Manson was elected to replace him by a single vote at the new council's first meeting on 23 May 2022. Former leader of the council Steven Coutts also stood down at the election and Cllr Emma MacDonald - who was previously depute leader of the council - was elected to replace him. Cllr Manson and Cllr MacDonald were the first women to hold the role of convener and leader respectively. Cllr MacDonald said she was "really excited" about taking on the role and added that being the council's first female leader "shows that this is a role that anybody can do, man or woman". Cllr Bryan Peterson was elected as depute convener and former council leader Gary Robinson was elected as depute leader.[30][31]

North Isles by-election

A by-election was called shortly after the election in the North Isles ward due to the lack of nominations received at the full election of the council. The by-election was held on 4 August 2022.[32] Two of the declared candidates, Stewart Douglas and Marie Williamson, had stood unsuccessfully in other wards (Shetland South and Lerwick North and Bressay respectively) during the full election. The by-election was won by Robert Thomson.[33]

North Isles by-election - 1 seat (4 August 2022)
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1
Independent Robert Thomson 68.6% 680
Independent Sonia Robertson 10.7% 106
Independent Gary Cleaver 10.1% 100
Independent Marie Williamson 9.3% 92
Independent Stewart Douglas 1.3% 13
Electorate: 2,152   Valid: 997   Quota:   Turnout: 46.2%  

Shetland West by-election

John Leask stood down from the Shetland West ward in August 2022, triggering a second by-election.[34]

Shetland West by-election - 1 seat (17 November 2022)[35]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1
Independent Mark Robinson 76.4% 375
Scottish Green Debra Nicolson 13.6% 67
SNP Zara Pennington 10.0% 45
Electorate: 1,350   Valid: 493   Quota:   Turnout: 36.5%  

Notes

  1. ^ a b The SNP named one candidate at the 2017 election in the Shetland South ward which was uncontested as the number of candidates was equal to the number of seats up for election.
  2. ^ a b Labour named one candidate at the 2022 election in the Shetland North ward which was uncontested as the number of candidates was equal to the number of seats up for election.
  3. ^ Sitting councillor for Shetland West.
  4. ^ Sitting councillor for Lerwick North.

References

  1. ^ Cope, Chris (21 April 2022). "One in four registered to vote through the post". Shetland News. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Teale, Andrew. "Local Elections Results 2017 Shetland". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Shetland Islands Council Election - 5 May 2022". Shetland Islands Council. 14 March 2022. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Boundary proposals would see isles gain extra councillor". Shetland News. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  5. ^ Murray, Keegan (8 November 2019). "Winners announced in two council by-elections". Shetland Times. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  6. ^ a b Taylor, Ryan (30 March 2022). "Names of council election candidates revealed". Shetland Times. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Review of Electoral Arrangements Shetland Islands Council Area Final Proposals" (PDF). Boundaries Scotland. May 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  8. ^ "Council boundary changes approved despite MSP's concern". Shetland News. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  9. ^ Johnson, Peter (29 March 2017). "Council election candidates confirmed". Shetland Times. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Third Green candidate throws hat into ring for council election". Shetland News. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  11. ^ Bhadani, Anita (31 March 2022). "'Threat to local democracy' as councillors elected without votes". The National. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  12. ^ Learmonth, Andrew (31 March 2022). "Eighteen councillors already elected in Scotland's local elections". The Herald. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  13. ^ Bowie, Justin; Philip, Andy (1 April 2022). "18 councillors are already elected ahead of May vote – here's why you should be alarmed". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  14. ^ "Election 2022". Shetland News. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  15. ^ The Shetland Times (1 April 2022). "Online poll reveals voters' number one priority is tackling fuel poverty".
  16. ^ a b Faulds, Allan. "Shetland Islands Council 2022". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  17. ^ Faulds, Allan. "The Local STV Voting System Explained". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  18. ^ "Single Transferable Vote". Electoral Reform Society. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  19. ^ a b "Notice of Uncontested Election". Shetland Islands Council. 30 March 2022. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  20. ^ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 3 Shetland West". Shetland Islands Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  21. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 3 Shetland West". Shetland Islands Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 4 Shetland Central". Shetland Islands Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  23. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 4 Shetland Central". Shetland Islands Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 5 Lerwick North and Bressay". Shetland Islands Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  25. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 5 Lerwick North and Bressay". Shetland Islands Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  26. ^ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 6 Lerwick South". Shetland Islands Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  27. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 6 Lerwick South". Shetland Islands Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  28. ^ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 7 Shetland South". Shetland Islands Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  29. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 7 Shetland South". Shetland Islands Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  30. ^ Cope, Chris (23 May 2022). "MacDonald and Manson make history as they take on top council jobs". Shetland News. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  31. ^ "Women are first to take top jobs at Shetland Islands Council". BBC News. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  32. ^ "North Isles Ward By-Election - 4 August 2022". Shetland Islands Council. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  33. ^ "Robert Thomson elected new councillor for the North Isles ward". Shetland News. 5 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  34. ^ "John Leask steps down from council". The Shetland Times. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  35. ^ Shetland Islands Council. "Notice of Poll".
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