2017 Dundee City Council election

2017 Dundee City Council election

← 2012 4 May 2017 (2017-05-04) 2022 →

All 29 seats to Dundee City Council
15 seats needed for a majority
Turnout39.6%
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader John Alexander Kevin Keenan Derek Scott
Party SNP Labour Conservative
Leader's seat Strathmartine Strathmartine The Ferry
Last election 16 seats, 43.4% 10 seats, 30.1% 1 seat, 11.3%
Seats won 14 9 3
Seat change Decrease 2 Decrease 1 Increase 2
Popular vote 18,289 8,997 7,644
Percentage 41.3% 20.3% 17.2%
Swing Decrease 2.1% Decrease 9.8% Increase 5.9%

  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Fraser Macpherson Ian Borthwick
Party Liberal Democrats Independent
Leader's seat West End Strathmartine
Last election 1 seat, 9.0% 1 seat, 4.4%
Seats won 2 1
Seat change Increase 1 Steady
Popular vote 5,011 2,364
Percentage 11.3% 5.3%
Swing Increase 2.3% Increase 0.9%

The eight multi-member wards; colours denote the winning party, as shown in the main table of results.


Council Leader before election

Ken Guild
SNP

Elected Council Leader

John Alexander
SNP

Elections to Dundee City Council were held on 4 May 2017 on the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election used the eight 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). A total of 29 Councillors were elected.

After the 2012 election a Scottish National Party (SNP) majority administration of 16 was formed. In 2017 the SNP lost 2 seats reducing their numbers to 14, being one seat short of an overall majority. They formed an administration with the support of the Independent Ian Borthwick.[1]

Background

[edit]

Previous election

[edit]

At the previous election in 2012 the SNP took 16 seats and was able to form a majority administration. Labour were second with 10 and the remaining groups had 1 seat each.

Party Seats Vote share
SNP 16 43.4%
Labour 10 30.1%
Conservative 1 11.3%
Liberal Democrats 1 9.0%
Independent 1 4.4%

Source:[2]

Composition

[edit]

Throughout the term of the previous council, there was minimal change in the composition of members. In January 2016, Craig Melville, who was an SNP councillor for Maryfield was suspended from the party, thereby taking the number of councillors the SNP had to 15. Melville later resigned as a councillor and a by-election took place which was won back by the SNP thus resulting in the SNP returning back to 16 seats for the remainder of the term.

Party 2012 term 2017 result
Election Dissolution Seats +/-[a]
SNP 16 16 14 Decrease 2
Labour 10 10 9 Decrease 1
Conservative 1 1 3 Increase 2
Liberal Democrats 1 1 2 Increase 1
Independent 1 1 1 Steady

Retiring councillors

[edit]

Ahead of the election, seven councillors announced their retirement and would not stand for re-election, that included Bob Duncan who was Lord Provost and the council leader, Ken Guild.

Ward Party Retiring councillor
Coldside SNP Jimmy Black[3]
Coldside SNP David Bowes[4]
East End Labour Lesley Brennan[5]
Lochee SNP Bob Duncan[3]
Lochee Labour Norma McGovern[5]
The Ferry Labour Laurie Bidwell[5]
The Ferry SNP Ken Guild[3]

Results

[edit]
2017 Dundee City Council election result [6][7]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  SNP 14 Decrease 2 48.3 41.3 18,289 Decrease 2.1
  Labour 9 Decrease 1 31.0 20.3 8,997 Decrease 9.8
  Conservative 3 Increase 2 10.3 17.2 7,644 Increase 5.9
  Liberal Democrats 2 Increase 1 6.9 11.3 5,011 Increase 2.3
  Independent 1 Steady 3.5 5.3 2,364 Increase 0.9
  Scottish Green 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 2.5 1,102 Increase 1.9
  TUSC 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 1.6 688 Increase 0.3
  UKIP 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.2 103 New
  Scottish Socialist 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.1 59 New

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 2012. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

Votes summary

[edit]
14 9 3 2 1
SNP Labour Conservative LD Independent
First preference vote share
SNP
41.3%
Labour
21.0%
Conservative
17.2%
Liberal Democrats
11.3%
Independent
5.3%
Green
2.5%
Other
2.0%
Council seats
SNP
48.3%
Labour
31.0%
Conservative
10.3%
Liberal Democrats
6.9%
Independent
3.5%

Ward summary

[edit]
Results of the 2017 Dundee City Council election by ward
Ward % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats Total
SNP Lab Conservative Lib Dems Independent Others
Strathmartine 43.2% 2 18.9% 1 9.0% 0 13.6% 0 13.5% 1 1.7% 0 4
Lochee 42.7% 2 29.3% 2 12.1% 0 2.1% 0 9.7% 0 4.1% 0 4
West End 28.6% 1 11.6% 1 11.8% 1 38.5% 1 2.4% 0 9.6% 0 4
Coldside 44.2% 2 27.9% 2 11.0% 0 2.8% 0 8.6% 0 5.6% 0 4
Maryfield 49.4% 2 21.6% 1 17.6% 0 5.3% 0 6.1% 0 3
North East 53.7% 2 27.0% 1 9.1% 0 1.3% 0 5.8% 0 3.0% 0 3
East End 53.3% 2 21.7% 1 12.9% 0 2.5% 0 4.6% 0 5.0% 0 3
The Ferry 29.9% 1 11.7% 0 38.9% 2 15.8% 1 3.6% 0 4
Total 41.3% 14 20.3% 9 17.3% 3 11.3% 2 5.3% 1 4.6% 0 29

Ward results

[edit]

Strathmartine

[edit]
  • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
  • 2017: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
  • 2012-2017 Change: No Change
Strathmartine - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
SNP John Alexander (incumbent) 32.1% 1,956            
Labour Kevin Keenan (incumbent) 18.9% 1,155 1,178.7 1,182.9 1,220.9      
Liberal Democrats Daniel Coleman 13.6% 828 866 869.5 884.5 884.8 1,076.9  
Independent Ian Borthwick (incumbent) 13.5% 825 876.5 883.3 911.9 912.2 1,085.4 1,641.1
SNP Stewart Hunter (incumbent) 11.2% 680 1,250.05          
Conservative Robert Lindsay 9.0% 546 549.8 550.1 555.2 555.3    
TUSC Sinead Daly 1.7% 105 115.2 118.7        
Electorate: 15,017   Valid: 6,095   Spoilt: 139   Quota: 1,220   Turnout: 6,234 (41.5%)  

Lochee

[edit]
  • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1x independent
  • 2017: 2xSNP; 2xLab
  • 2012-2017: Labour Gain from independent
Lochee - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
SNP Alan Ross (incumbent) 28.6% 1,661                  
Labour Charlie Malone 15.9% 924 933.3 940.3 943.7 959.9 993.4 1,020.9 1,217.7    
SNP Roisin Smith 14.1% 818 1,256.9                
Labour Michael Marra 13.4% 778 785.5 793.2 794.5 812.8 819.4 848.4 968.5 1,012.5 1,241.8
Conservative Mason Mcilreavy 12.1% 700 702.4 703.9 708.2 724.5 728.5 739.2 813.2 814.9  
Independent Tom Ferguson (incumbent) 9.7% 565 574.3 582.4 584.4 597.5 623.6 673.4      
Scottish Green Gordon Matheson 2.3% 132 137.4 163.6 166.2 185.8 206.5        
TUSC Leah Ganley 1.8% 102 104.1 108.06 110.06 112.2          
Liberal Democrats Lynn Hutchison 1.6% 91 91.6 92.2 106.5            
Liberal Democrats Kirsty McKenzie 0.5% 31 32.5 35.1              
Electorate: 14,276   Valid: 5,802   Spoilt: 163   Quota: 1,161   Turnout: 5,965 (41.8%)  

West End

[edit]
  • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab
  • 2017: 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLab
  • 2012-2017: Conservative gain one seat from SNP
West End - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Liberal Democrats Fraser MacPherson (incumbent) 38.5% 2,105              
SNP Bill Campbell (incumbent) 19.9% 1,090 1,210.9            
Conservative Donald Hay 11.8% 643 887.2 888.5 889.5 901.3 929.8 958.6 987.2
Labour Richard McCready (incumbent) 11.6% 637 876.9 883.6 889.2 904.04 932.9 1,078.6 1,416.7
SNP Steven Rome 8.7% 474 506.6 597.5 611.1 623.5 637.1 838.8  
Scottish Green Morgan Petrie 6.1% 331 432.2 439.5 472.7 495.1 515.9    
Independent Andrew McBride 1.2% 67 118.3 119.6 123.09 136.9      
Independent Bradley Booth 1.2% 65 93.8 95.1 96.7        
Scottish Socialist Tam Wilson 1.1% 59 66.2 66.9          
Electorate: 12,959   Valid: 5,471   Spoilt: 67   Quota: 1,095   Turnout: 5,538 (42.7%)  

Coldside

[edit]
  • 2012: 2xSNP; 2xLab
  • 2017: 2xSNP; 2xLab
  • 2012-2017: No Change
Coldside - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
SNP Mark Flynn 27.7% 1,560                  
Labour George McIrvine 16.6% 933 951.4 959.5 965.4 974.7 996.08 1,059.9 1,223.9    
SNP Anne Rendall 16.5% 925 1,252.9                
Labour Helen Wright (incumbent) 11.3% 633 638.02 647.9 650.5 664.04 677.9 725.9 843.7 908.9 1,139.8
Conservative Duncan Shaw 11.0% 618 621.07 622.1 625.4 628.4 657.5 663.9 709.8 715.1  
Independent Mohammed Asif (incumbent) 8.6% 481 495.2 504.07 505.1 510.3 529.2 615.8      
Scottish Green Conor Marshall 4.1% 232 252.4 291.6 295.2 327.9 351.1        
Liberal Democrats Kristopher Hall 1.8% 101 106.02 108.8 139.1 141.2          
TUSC Wayne Scott 1.5% 82 84.8 90.7 93.9            
Liberal Democrats Christopher McIntyre 1.0% 57 60.9 62.3              
Electorate: 14,262   Valid: 5,622   Spoilt: 229   Quota: 1,125   Turnout: 5,851 (41%)  

Maryfield

[edit]
  • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2017: 2xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2012-2017: No change
Maryfield - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
SNP Ken Lynn (incumbent) 30.3% 1,240        
Labour Georgia Cruickshank (incumbent) 21.6% 885 894.8 902.9 968.3 1,051.9
SNP Lynne Short (incumbent) 19.1% 782 968.2 972.9 997.4 1,084.3
Conservative James Clancy 17.6% 722 722.8 726.9 775.9 792.9
TUSC Stuart Fairweather 6.1% 250 253.3 253.5 270.8  
Liberal Democrats Jenny Blain 4.1% 168 169.2 194.7    
Liberal Democrats Robbie McKaig 1.2% 48 49.6      
Electorate: 12,021   Valid: 4,095   Spoilt: 89   Quota: 1,024   Turnout: 4,184 (34.8%)  

North East

[edit]
  • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2017: 2xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2012-2017: No Change
North East - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
SNP Gregor Murray†† (incumbent) 32.8% 1,256  
Labour Brian Gordon† (incumbent) 26.9% 1,033  
SNP Willie Sawers (incumbent) 20.9% 800 1,057.6
Conservative Curtis Large 9.1% 350 351.4
Independent Alan Beddows 5.8% 223 229.2
Scottish Green Alison Orr 1.6% 62 71
TUSC Michael Taylor 1.6% 52 56.5
Liberal Democrats Tracy Mulholland 1.3% 50 51.9
Electorate: 11,337   Valid: 3,826   Spoilt: 98   Quota: 957   Turnout: 3,924 (34.6%)  

East End

[edit]
  • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2017: 2xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2012-2017: No Change
East End - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
SNP Will Dawson (incumbent) 38.6% 1,553              
Labour Margaret Richardson 24% 965 982.7 986.5 993.5 1,004.1 1,047.1 1,089.7 1,177.9
SNP Christina Roberts (incumbent) 20.2% 811 1,144.2            
Conservative Darren Kane 14.2% 571 575.6 576.2 585.5 589.5 619.7 630.3 677.2
Independent Darryl Guthrie 5.1% 205 217.3 219.2 225.3 237.3 252.6 303.5  
Scottish Green Caitlin Meldrum 2.8% 113 124.1 132.1 133.4 145.5 165.3    
Liberal Democrats Ryan Finnegan 2.7% 110 120.8 122.2 126.5 137.8      
UKIP William Morren 1.4% 56 58.3 58.9          
TUSC Ian McKay 1.3% 54 64.8 66.7 68.9        
Electorate: 12,113   Valid: 4,019   Spoilt: 562   Quota: 1,110   Turnout: 4,581 (37.8%)  

The Ferry

[edit]
  • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLab
  • 2017: 2xCon; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
  • 2012-2017: Conservative & Lib Dem each gain one seat from Labour & SNP.
The Ferry - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Conservative Derek Scott (incumbent) 31.8% 2,859                
SNP Kevin Cordell (incumbent) 17.9% 1,608 1,616.9 1,618.9 1,622.9 1,684.9 1,809.8      
Liberal Democrats Craig Duncan 15.8% 1,422 1,498.6 1,502.6 1,509.3 1,557.4 1,967.8      
SNP Vari McDonald * 12.0% 1,075 1,079.5 1,084.5 1,085.5 1,139.8 1,230.6 1,260.8 1,272.8  
Labour Angela Lyall 11.7% 1,054 1,079.3 1,093.3 1,097.3 1,139.7        
Conservative Philip Scott 7.1% 635 1,532.9 1,534.6 1,556.5 1,566.4 1,679.9 1,732.6 1,732.7 2,013.7
Scottish Green Pol Clementsmith 2.6% 232 237.2 247.9 249.9          
UKIP Calum Walker 0.52% 47 50.7 52.7            
TUSC Paul Johnson 0.48% 43 44.9              
Electorate: 16,062   Valid: 8,975   Spoilt: 831   Quota: 1,796   Turnout: 9,153 (57%)  
  • = Outgoing Councillor from a different ward.

Aftermath

[edit]
  • † In February 2019, North East Labour Cllr. Brian Gordon died after a short illness. A by-election took place on 2 May 2019 which was won by Steven Rome of the SNP.[8][9]
  • On 15 May 2019, North East SNP Cllr. Gregor Murray resigned from the party, accusing the party of being institutionally transphobic. Cllr. Murray continues to serve the ward as an Independent.[10]
  • On 11 May 2021, Lochee SNP Cllr Alan Ross resigned from the party and became an Independent. On 4 February 2022, he joined the Alba Party, becoming the first Alba councillor in Dundee.[11][12]

North East by-election

[edit]

In February 2019, North East Labour Cllr. Brian Gordon died after a short illness. A by-election took place on 2 May 2019 which was won by Steven Rome of the SNP.

North East by-election (2 May 2019) - 1 seat [9]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
SNP Steven Rome 46.9% 1,507 1,510 1,534 1,555 1,576 2,045
Labour Jim Malone 38.1% 1,224 1,229 1,248 1,284 1,388  
Conservative Robert Lindsay 8.4% 271 274 280 290    
TUSC Michael Taylor 2.8% 91 109 122      
Scottish Green Alison Orr 2.4% 77 82        
Citizens First Roger Keech 1.4% 45          
Electorate: 11,434   Valid: 3,215   Spoilt: 31   Quota: 1,608   Turnout: 28.4%  

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Seat change from dissolution.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "SNP strikes deal with veteran councillor to form new council administration" – via www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk.
  2. ^ Teale, Andrew. "Local Election Results 2012". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Hill, Adam (4 November 2016). "Dundee council leader says he will not 'outstay his welcome' as he prepares to retire". Dundee Evening Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  4. ^ Hill, Adam (5 November 2016). "Fourth SNP Dundee councillor reveals plan to step down". Dundee Evening Telegraph. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Hamilton, Lindsey (12 November 2016). "Dundee councillor Laurie Bidwell stepping down". Dundee Evening Telegraph. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  6. ^ "City Council Elections 2012". Dundee City Council. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  7. ^ Board, Electoral Management. "Electoral Management Board - SLGE2017 Summary Results Data". electionsscotland.info. Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Date set for council by-election following death of Brian Gordon". Retrieved 14 April 2019 – via www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk.
  9. ^ a b "North East By Election - Election Results". Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  10. ^ Morkis, Stefan. "EXCLUSIVE: Dundee councillor Gregor Murray quits SNP over party's 'institutional transphobia'".
  11. ^ "Former SNP city development chief unveiled as latest defector to Alba party". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Former SNP councillor becomes Alba's first representative in Scotland's Yes city". The National. Retrieved 15 March 2022.