2022 South Ayrshire Council election
5 May 2022 (2022-05-05)
All 28 seats to South Ayrshire Council
15 seats needed for a majority
Registered92,112
Turnout49.7%
  First party Second party
 
Con
SNP
Leader Martin Dowey Peter Henderson
Party Conservative SNP
Leader's seat Ayr West Girvan and South Carrick
Last election 12 seats, 43.4% 9 seats, 30.2%
Seats before 11 9
Seats won 10 9
Seat change Decrease 2 Steady
Popular vote 14,520 14,838
Percentage 33.3% 34.1%
Swing Decrease 10.1% Increase 3.9%
  Third party Fourth party
 
Lab
Ind
Leader Brian McGinley N/A
Party Labour Independent
Leader's seat Ayr East N/A
Last election 5 seats, 15.2% 2 seats, 10.7%
Seats before 5 3
Seats won 5 4
Seat change Steady Increase 2
Popular vote 7,276 5,313
Percentage 16.7% 12.2%
Swing Increase 1.5% Increase 1.5%
Leader before election

Peter Henderson
(SNP)
No overall control

 Leader after election

Martin Dowey
(Conservative)
No overall control

Elections to South Ayrshire 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.

Despite shedding almost a quarter of their vote and coming second in the popular vote, the Conservatives retained their position as the largest party returning 10 councillors - two less than in the previous election. Both the Scottish National Party (SNP) – who topped the popular vote – and Labour made no gains or losses to remain as the second and third parties respectively. The number of independents returned increased from two to four.

Following the election the Conservatives formed a minority administration, replacing the previous SNP-Labour-Independent administration which was formed as a result of the previous election in 2017.

Background

Previous election

At the previous election in 2017, the Conservatives won the most seats returning 12 councillors. The Scottish National Party (SNP) maintained their position as the second-largest party while boundary changes saw Labour lose out as they lost four seats to return five councillors. Two independents were also returned.[1][2]

2017 South Ayrshire Council election result
Party Seats Vote share
Conservatives 12 43.4%
SNP 9 30.2%
Labour 5 15.2%
Independent 2 10.7%

Source:[1][2]

Electoral system

The election used the eight wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 28 councillors elected. Each ward elected either three or four members, using the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system – a form of proportional representation – where candidates are ranked in order of preference.[3]

Composition

There was one change to the composition of the council following the previous election in 2017. Conservative councillor Hugh Hunter was de-selected in the run-up to the 2022 elections and resigned from the party to stand as an independent.[4][5]

Composition of South Ayrshire Council
Party 2017 result Dissolution
Conservative 12 11
SNP 9 9
Labour 5 5
Independents 2 3

Retiring Councillors

Retiring councillors
Council Ward Party Retiring Councillor
Troon Conservative Peter Convery
Prestwick Conservative Margaret Toner
Labour Helen Moonie
Ayr North SNP Douglas Campbell
Ayr West SNP Siobhian Brown
Kyle Labour Andy Campbell
Girvan and South Carrick Conservative Ian Fitzsimmons

Source:[2][6]

Candidates

The total number of candidates increased from 45 in 2017 to 61 mainly due to the increased number of parties contesting the election. Unlike the previous vote, the Conservatives fielded the highest number of candidates at 19 – seven more than they had in 2017. Both the SNP and Labour also fielded at least one candidate in every ward but the 13 candidates fielded by the SNP and the eight fielded by Labour was one less than in 2017. The Liberal Democrats named six candidates in this election after fielding none in South Ayrshire in 2017. The number of independent candidates increased from nine in 2017 to 10 but the Greens did not contest the election as they did five years previous. Both the Scottish Family Party and the Alba Party fielded their first ever candidates in a South Ayrshire election.[2][6][7]

Results

2022 South Ayrshire Council election
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 10 0 2 Decrease 2 35.7 32.6 14,520 Decrease 10.1
  SNP 9 0 0 Steady 32.1 33.4 14,849 Increase 3.9
  Labour 5 0 0 Steady 17.8 16.3 7,276 Increase 1.5
  Independent 4 2 0 Increase 2 14.2 15.3 6,820 Increase 1.5
  Liberal Democrats 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 1.5 671 New
  Alba 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.6 275 New
  Scottish Family 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.2 108 New
Total 28 43,488

Source: [8]

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.[9][10]

Ward summary

Results of the 2022 South Ayrshire Council election by ward
Ward  % Cllrs  % Cllrs  % Cllrs  % Cllrs  % Cllrs Total
Cllrs
Con SNP Lab Ind Others
Troon 37.3 2 35.9 1 19.2 1 2.8 0 4.7 0 4
Prestwick 25.5 1 34.8 1 15.4 1 23.2 1 1.2 0 4
Ayr North 20.5 1 45.9 2 24.1 1 6.3 0 3.2 0 4
Ayr East 30.0 1 39.2 1 16.5 1 12.1 0 2.3 0 3
Ayr West 39.6 2 21.9 1 10.9 0 22.8 1 4.8 0 4
Kyle 36.7 1 33.9 1 23.0 1 6.4 0 3
Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton 35.5 1 32.0 1 12.4 0 17.7 1 2.5 0 3
Girvan and South Carrick 28.0 1 24.9 1 8.8 0 37.2 1 1.2 0 3
Total 32.6 10 33.4 9 16.3 5 15.3 4 2.2 0 28

Source: [8]

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
Prestwick Conservative Hugh Hunter Independent Hugh Hunter[Note 1]
Ayr West Conservative Derek McCabe Independent Bob Shields
Notes
  1. ^
    Note 1: In 2017, Hugh Hunter was elected as a Conservative candidate but was later deselected and stood as an independent in 2022.[5]

Ward results

Troon

The Conservatives (2), the SNP (1) and Labour (1) retained the seats they won at the previous election.

Troon - 4 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345678
SNP Craig MacKay (incumbent) 23.0 1,607              
Labour Philip Saxton (incumbent) 19.2 1,342 1,352 1,405          
Conservative Bob Pollock (incumbent) 16.2 1,131 1,134 1,146 1,147 1,209 1,463    
Conservative Kenneth Bell 14.5 1,015 1,016 1,029 1,029 1,074 1,275 1,335 1,497
SNP Annie McIndoe 12.8 898 1,080 1,120 1,122 1,184 1,192 1,193  
Conservative Rose Hall 6.5 459 459 466 466 496      
Liberal Democrats Judith Godden 4.7 329 333 373 376        
Independent Linda Lunan 2.8 198 200            
Electorate: 13,025   Valid: 6,979   Spoilt: 128   Quota: 1,396   Turnout: 54.6%  

    Source: [11][12]

    Prestwick

    The Conservatives held one of the two seats they won at the previous election and lost one to independent candidate Hugh Hunter while the SNP and Labour retained the seats they had won at the previous election. In 2017, Hugh Hunter was elected as a Conservative candidate.

    Prestwick - 4 seats
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    12345678
    SNP Ian Cochrane (incumbent) 25.5 1,685              
    Independent Hugh Hunter (incumbent) 23.2 1,544              
    Conservative Martin Kilbride 17.0 1,132 1,135 1,195 1,236 1,239 1,726    
    Labour Cameron Ramsay 15.3 1,020 1,038 1,077 1,086 1,100 1,114 1,181 1,591
    SNP Norrie Smith 9.2 614 928 955 958 995 997 1,002  
    Conservative Derek Stillie 7.3 488 488 516 539 544      
    Alba John Caddis 1.1 78 84 90 91        
    Conservative Owen Daniel North 1.0 71 72 79          
    Electorate: 12,507   Valid: 6,642   Spoilt: 107   Quota: 1,329   Turnout: 54.0%  

      Source: [13][14]

      Ayr North

      The SNP (2), Labour (1) and the Conservatives (1) retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

      Ayr North - 4 seats
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      1234567
      SNP Laura Brennan-Whitefield (incumbent) 38.8 1,913            
      Labour Ian Cavana (incumbent) 24.0 1,185            
      Conservative Ian Davis (incumbent) 13.7 675 687 715 719 723 745 1,046
      SNP Mark Dixon 6.9 344 1,143          
      Conservative David Paterson 6.8 336 341 349 352 354 367  
      Independent Andrew Russell 6.2 309 326 346 365 403 462 481
      Liberal Democrats Mason Graham 1.6 80 90 137 156 172    
      Alba Denise Sommerville 1.6 79 90 94 124      
      Electorate: 12,973   Valid: 4,921   Spoilt: 166   Quota: 985   Turnout: 39.2%  

        Source: [15][16]

        Ayr East

        The SNP, Labour and the Conservatives retained the seats they won at the previous election.

        Ayr East - 3 seats
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        123456789
        SNP Chris Cullen (incumbent) 27.8 1,377                
        Conservative Mary Kilpatrick (incumbent) 19.4 959 960 980 1,003 1,024 1,068 1,565    
        Labour Brian McGinley (incumbent) 16.4 814 820 860 888 919 992 1,021 1,108 1,408
        SNP Ian Douglas 11.2 556 676 684 703 727 779 783 791  
        Conservative Alan Lamont 10.5 520 520 525 545 560 584      
        Independent Chic Brodie 4.7 232 233 236 268 364        
        Independent Andrew Bryden 3.7 185 187 204 245          
        Independent David John Ramsay 3.6 180 181 189            
        Liberal Democrats Deirdre Kennedy 2.2 113 114              
        Electorate: 10,276   Valid: 4,936   Spoilt: 95   Quota: 1,235   Turnout: 49.0%  

          Source: [17][18]

          Ayr West

          The Conservatives retained two of the three seats they won at the previous election and lost one to independent candidate Bob Shields while the SNP retained their only seat.

          Ayr West - 4 seats
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          123456789
          Conservative Martin Dowey (incumbent) 27.1 2,271                
          Independent Bob Shields 22.8 1,909                
          SNP George Weir 14.5 1,217 1,218 1,237 1,252 1,275 1,282 1,870    
          Labour John Duncan 10.9 915 930 961 981 1,117 1,140 1,165 1,247  
          Conservative Lee Lyons (incumbent) 8.3 699 1,113 1,164 1,199 1,235 1,646 1,649 1,652 1,893
          SNP Margaret Weir 7.3 614 614 624 628 653 655      
          Conservative Derek McCabe (incumbent) 4.0 341 465 503 515 548        
          Liberal Democrats Jamie Ross 3.5 295 305 341 349          
          Scottish Family Gordon Hawley Bryce 1.2 108 111 118            
          Electorate: 14,541   Valid: 8,369   Spoilt: 133   Quota: 1,674   Turnout: 58.5%  

            Source: [19][20]

            Kyle

            The SNP, Labour and the Conservatives retained the seats they won at the previous election.

            Kyle - 3 seats
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            123456
            SNP Julie Dettbarn (incumbent) 33.9 1,635          
            Labour Duncan Townson 23.0 1,110 1,236        
            Conservative Stephen Ferry 19.8 955 964 967 971 1,072 1,836
            Conservative Arthur Spurling (incumbent) 16.8 814 823 826 830 879  
            Liberal Democrats John Aitken 4.8 235 288 299 365    
            Alba Geoff Bush 1.4 71 154 156      
            Electorate: 10,625   Valid: 4,820   Spoilt: 57   Quota: 1,206   Turnout: 45.9%  

              Source: [21][22]

              Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton

              The SNP, the Conservatives and independent candidate Brian Connolly retained the seats they won at the previous election.

              Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton - 3 seats
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              123456
              SNP William James Grant (incumbent) 31.9 1,370          
              Conservative Ian Campbell (incumbent) 20.9 895 903 914 1,435    
              Independent Brian Connolly (incumbent) 17.6 756 857 892 920 1,043 1,402
              Conservative Laura McEwan 14.5 623 629 635      
              Labour Nicola Saxton 12.4 532 598 651 690 752  
              Liberal Democrats Stephen Ralph 2.4 106 130        
              Electorate: 9,316   Valid: 4,282   Spoilt: 74   Quota: 1,071   Turnout: 46.8%  

                Source: [23][24]

                Girvan and South Carrick

                Independent candidate Alec Clark, the SNP and the Conservatives held the seats they won at the previous election.

                Girvan and South Carrick - 3 seats
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                1234567
                Independent Alec Clark (incumbent) 31.4 1,277            
                SNP Peter Henderson (incumbent) 24.8 1,008 1,071          
                Conservative Gavin Scott 14.1 573 600 601 607 684 753 1,371
                Conservative Linda Kane 13.8 563 591 592 594 620 734  
                Labour Aaron Gilpin 8.8 358 398 410 423 508    
                Independent Todor Joseph Radic 5.6 230 286 296 321      
                Alba Eileen Spence 1.1 47 51 61        
                Electorate: 8,849   Valid: 4,056   Spoilt: 75   Quota: 1,015   Turnout: 46.7%  

                  Source: [25][26]

                  Aftermath

                  It had initially been expected that the ruling SNP-Labour-Independent administration would continue to run the council, but discussions broke down between the parties amid Labour's claims of a "political stitch-up". As a result, the SNP planned to run the council as a minority administration on a "collaboration and consensus basis".[27] However, the Conservative group formed a minority administration and took control of the council[28] after the first full-council meeting thanks to Labour abstentions. The party also had the support of two of the local authority's four independents.[29]

                  In June 2023, both the SNP and Labour groups made changes to their leadership. Cllr Peter Henderson, leader of the SNP group, retired as a councillor due to "personal ill-health" which triggered a by-election in Girvan and South Carrick. He was replaced by Cllr William Grant as the SNP group leader. Labour group leader Cllr Brian McGinley was replaced in the role by Cllr Duncan Townson.[30][31]

                  Girvan and South Carrick by-election

                  Cllr Henderson stood down on 30 June 2023 and a by-election took place on 21 September 2023.[32] This resulted in a Conservative gain from the SNP and Alan Lamont was elected on the fourth count.[33]

                  Girvan and South Carrick (21 September 2023) - 1 seat
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  1234
                  Conservative Alan Lamont 47.5 1,315 1,323 1,346 1,497
                  SNP Joseph McLaughlin 28.1 778 802 824 947
                  Labour Nicola Saxton 18.0 499 507 551  
                  Liberal Democrats Jamie Ross 3.9 108 113    
                  Alba Denise Sommerville 2.5 70      
                  Electorate: 8,648   Valid: 2,770   Spoilt: 32   Quota: 1,386   Turnout: 32.4%  

                    Source:[34]

                    References

                    1. 1 2 "South Ayrshire Council". BBC News. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
                    2. 1 2 3 4 Teale, Andrew. "Local Elections Archive Project - 2017 - South Ayrshire". Retrieved 17 March 2023.
                    3. ↑ "Notice of Election" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
                    4. ↑ Wilson, Stuart (9 November 2021). "Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party to drop Prestwick councillor Hugh Hunter from 2022 local election team". Daily Record. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
                    5. 1 2 Wilson, Stuart (13 February 2022). "Former South Ayrshire Conservative councillor Hugh Hunter confirms Independent bid for May election". Daily Record. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
                    6. 1 2 Wilson, Stuart (30 March 2022). "Scottish council elections 2022: South Ayrshire candidates revealed for May 5 vote". Daily Record. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
                    7. ↑ "Notice of Election Agents" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
                    8. 1 2 Faulds, Allan. "South Ayrshire Council 2022". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
                    9. ↑ Faulds, Allan (25 September 2021). "The Local STV Voting System Explained". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
                    10. ↑ "Single Transferable Vote". Electoral Reform Society. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
                    11. ↑ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 1 Troon" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
                    12. ↑ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 1 Troon" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
                    13. ↑ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 2 Prestwick" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
                    14. ↑ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 2 Prestwick" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
                    15. ↑ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 3 Ayr North" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
                    16. ↑ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 3 Ayr North" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
                    17. ↑ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 4 Ayr East" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
                    18. ↑ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 4 Ayr East" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
                    19. ↑ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 5 Ayr West" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
                    20. ↑ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 5 Ayr West" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
                    21. ↑ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 6 Kyle" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
                    22. ↑ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 6 Kyle" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
                    23. ↑ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 7 Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
                    24. ↑ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 7 Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
                    25. ↑ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 8 Girvan and South Carrick" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
                    26. ↑ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 8 Girvan and South Carrick" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
                    27. ↑ Dyson, Kevin (10 May 2022). "SNP to run South Ayrshire as minority administration as Labour claim 'political stitch-up'". Daily Record. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
                    28. ↑ Wilson, Stuart (19 May 2022). "BREAKING: Tories take control of South Ayrshire Council". Daily Record. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
                    29. ↑ Richards, Xander; Robertson, Adam (26 May 2022). "Every Scottish council with a Tory-Labour deal - see the full list". The National. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
                    30. ↑ Lyon, Adam (9 June 2023). "South Ayrshire SNP leader Peter Henderson to retire this month". Ayr Advertiser. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
                    31. ↑ Dyson, Kevin (9 June 2023). "South Ayrshire Council: All change for SNP and Labour leadership". Ayr Advertiser. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
                    32. ↑ Gibson, Darren (16 August 2023). "Girvan and South Carrick: By-election taking place in Ward 8". Ayr Advertiser. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
                    33. ↑ Dyson, Kevin (22 September 2023). "Conservatives snatch precious seat from SNP in South Ayrshire by-election". Daily Record. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
                    34. ↑ Faulds, Allan. "By-Election Result: Girvan and South Carrick". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
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