# 2012 Renfrewshire Council election

The 2012 Renfrewshire Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Renfrewshire Council. The election used the eleven 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 form of proportional representation, with 40 Councillors being elected.
The election saw the Scottish Labour Party gain five seats to regain an overall majority on the council that they had lost at the time of the 2007 Local Elections, while also significantly increasing their vote. The Scottish National Party remained in second place on the council but recorded a disappointing performance as the party lost two seats and saw a slight drop in its vote share. Both the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats declined in numbers to just one seat each. Meanwhile, Independent and former Labour Party member, Paul Mack, secured a seat on the council.
Following the election the Labour majority administration was formed. This replaced the previous SNP – Lib Dem coalition that had existed from 2007 to 2012.

## Election result

Renfrewshire Local Election Result 2012 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 22 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 55.0 | 47.6 | 25,812 | +10.8 |
| SNP | 15 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 37.5 | 35.3 | 19,131 | -0.1 |
| Conservative | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 2.5 | 9.1 | 4,939 | -2.4 |
| Liberal Democrats | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 2.5 | 4.4 | 2,367 | -5.3 |
| Independent | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 881 | -2.0 |
| Scottish Socialist | 0 | - | - | - | - | 1.2 | 678 | 0.0 |
| TUSC | 0 | - | - | - | - | 0.74 | 401 | New |
| Scottish Christian | 0 | - | - | - | - | 0.1 | 42 | 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 2007. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

## Ward results
### Renfrew North

* 2007: 2xSNP; 1xLab
* 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
* 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from SNP
Renfrew North – 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | SNP | Bill Perrie (incumbent) | 34.32 | 1,398 | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Bill Brown | 25.55 | 1,041 | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Alexander Murrin (incumbent) | 19.10 | 778 | 798.9 | 817.2 | 831.7 | 858.4 | 920.8 | 1,150.5 |
| | SNP | John Shaw | 11.71 | 477 | 802.9 | 803.5 | 818.1 | 833.7 | 880.9 | |
| | Conservative | Makarand Oak | 5.52 | 225 | 229.6 | 229.9 | 235.2 | 269.2 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Euan Campbell | 2.38 | 97 | 104 | 104.6 | 111.9 | | | |
| | TUSC | Gerry Kavanagh | 1.42 | 58 | 60.9 | 61.4 | | | | |
| Electorate: 9,521 Valid: 4,074 Spoilt: 98 Quota: 1,019 Turnout: 4,172 (42.79%) |||||||||||

### Renfrew South and Gallowhill

* 2007: 2xLab; 1xSNP
* 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
* 2007-2012 Change: No change
Renfrew South and Gallowhill – 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | SNP | Cathy McEwan (incumbent) | 28.87 | 1,258 | | | | | |
| | Labour | Eddie Grady (incumbent)† | 28.20 | 1,229 | | | | | |
| | Labour | Margaret Devine | 19.94 | 869 | 875 | 992.9 | 1,013.1 | 1,054.1 | 1,105.2 |
| | SNP | Garry Quigley | 14.43 | 629 | 773.2 | 777.7 | 788.4 | 805.6 | 824.4 |
| | Conservative | Helen Mathie | 4.52 | 197 | 198.9 | 200.2 | 228.1 | 235.2 | |
| | Scottish Socialist | Douglas Canning | 2.07 | 90 | 93.5 | 96.5 | 99.7 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Hanley | 1.97 | 86 | 87.9 | 90.1 | | | |
| Electorate: 10,342 Valid: 4,358 Spoilt: 100 Quota: 1,090 Turnout: 4,458 (42.14%) ||||||||||

### Paisley East and Ralston

* 2007: 2xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab
* 2012: 2xLab; 2xSNP
* 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
Paisley East and Ralston – 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Labour | Jim Sharkey (incumbent) | 32.69 | 1,832 | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Brian Lawson (incumbent) | 27.80 | 1,558 | | | | | | |
| | Conservative | Robert Evans | 10.28 | 576 | 584.1 | 593.1 | 602.9 | 603.2 | 827.7 | |
| | SNP | Will Mylet | 9.44 | 529 | 545.7 | 900.8 | 940.8 | 941.7 | 1,042.2 | 1,196.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Boyd | 9.08 | 509 | 522.9 | 543.4 | 563.9 | 564.8 | | |
| | Labour | Maureen Sharkey | 8.21 | 460 | 1,071.9 | 1,086.8 | 1,128.1 | | | |
| | Scottish Socialist | Andy Bowden | 2.52 | 141 | 153.4 | 160.9 | | | | |
| Electorate: 12,687 Valid: 5,605 Spoilt: 115 Quota: 1,120 Turnout: 5,720 (44.18%) |||||||||||

### Paisley North West

* 2007: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
* 2012: 2xLab; 2xSNP
* 2007-2012 Change: SNP gain from Lib Dem
Paisley North West – 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | Labour | Terry Kelly (incumbent) | 29.82 | 1,349 | | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Kenny MacLaren (incumbent) | 23.98 | 1,085 | | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Tommy Williams (incumbent) | 15.89 | 719 | 1,045.5 | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Mags MacLaren | 10.68 | 483 | 498.5 | 654.4 | 667.1 | 702.2 | 747.9 | 791.7 | 939.5 |
| | Conservative | Allison Cook | 6.34 | 287 | 293.6 | 297.6 | 303.7 | 310.5 | 365.7 | | |
| | Independent | David Murdoch | 5.37 | 243 | 256.5 | 261.9 | 281.9 | 321.2 | 376.9 | 497.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mike Dillon (incumbent) | 4.66 | 211 | 226.8 | 230.9 | 244.5 | 257.1 | | | |
| | Scottish Socialist | Jimmy Kerr | 3.25 | 147 | 162.5 | 164.8 | 177 | | | | |
| Electorate: 12,944 Valid: 4,524 Spoilt: 80 Quota: 905 Turnout: 4,604 (34.95%) ||||||||||||

### Paisley South

* 2007: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xLib Dem
* 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xIndependent
* 2007-2012 Change: Lab and Independent gain one seat from SNP and Lib Dem
Paisley South – 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | Labour | Eddie Devine (incumbent) | 31.66 | 1,827 | | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Marie McGurk (incumbent) | 22.98 | 1,326 | | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Roy Glen | 16.46 | 950 | 1,494.4 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Paul Mack | 11.06 | 638 | 673.7 | 738.2 | 752.9 | 783.4 | 808.3 | 975.9 | 1,206.6 |
| | Conservative | Ron Garrett | 7.24 | 418 | 436.4 | 450.5 | 454.1 | 461.3 | 504.1 | | |
| | SNP | Gavin Newlands | 7.23 | 417 | 425.4 | 451.1 | 583.6 | 600.1 | 628.3 | 673.6 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Graeme McMeekin | 2.05 | 118 | 125.4 | 141.1 | 145.1 | 149.9 | | | |
| | TUSC | Harry Pfaff | 1.32 | 76 | 81.9 | 102.3 | 103.7 | | | | |
| Electorate: 13,712 Valid: 5,770 Spoilt: 118 Quota: 1,155 Turnout: 5,888 (42.08%) ||||||||||||

### Paisley South West

* 2007: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
* 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
* 2007-2012 Change: No change
Paisley South West – 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | SNP | Lorraine Cameron (incumbent) | 26.57 | 1,335 | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Mark MacMillan (incumbent) | 24.78 | 1,245 | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Jacqueline Henry | 20.98 | 1,054 | | | | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Eileen McCartin (incumbent) | 14.67 | 737 | 760.2 | 797 | 804.4 | 830.8 | 955 | 1,148.5 |
| | SNP | Mike Loftus | 5.71 | 287 | 541.8 | 565 | 569.4 | 596.6 | 623.9 | |
| | Conservative | Sheila Fulton | 5.17 | 260 | 266.2 | 277.7 | 280.3 | 287.9 | | |
| | Scottish Socialist | John Miller | 2.13 | 107 | 115.4 | 140.7 | 145.4 | | | |
| Electorate: 11,743 Valid: 5,025 Spoilt: 93 Quota: 1,006 Turnout: 5,118 (42.79%) |||||||||||

### Johnstone South, Elderslie and Howwood

* 2007: 3xLab; 1xSNP
* 2012: 3xLab; 1xSNP
* 2007-2012 Change: No change
Johnstone South, Elderslie and Howwood – 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | Labour | Iain McMillan (incumbent) | 24.70 | 1,361 | | | | | | | |
| | Labour | John Caldwell (incumbent) | 23.59 | 1,300 | | | | | | | |
| | Labour | John Hood (incumbent) | 14.94 | 823 | 1,032.5 | 1,194.1 | | | | | |
| | SNP | Stephen McGee | 13.67 | 753 | 758.9 | 764.2 | 769.9 | 779.3 | 800.5 | 860.9 | 1,511.4 |
| | SNP | Tracie McGee (incumbent) | 11.92 | 657 | 668.9 | 672.6 | 677.5 | 693.4 | 711.9 | 762.8 | |
| | Conservative | John McIntyre | 6.8 | 372 | 374.7 | 377.1 | 380.4 | 419.1 | 440.5 | | |
| | Scottish Socialist | Gerry McCartney | 2.38 | 131 | 134.9 | 141 | 147.9 | 156.4 | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ryan Morrison | 2.05 | 113 | 115.7 | 117.8 | 121.1 | | | | |
| Electorate: 12,847 Valid: 5,510 Spoilt: 129 Quota: 1,103 Turnout: 5,639 (42.89%) ||||||||||||

### Johnstone North, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch

* 2007: 2xSNP; 1xLab
* 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
* 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from SNP
Johnstone North, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch – 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | Labour | Derek Bibby | 37.03 | 1,750 | | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Andy Doig | 20.80 | 983 | 1,024.9 | 1,027.9 | 1,031.9 | 1,048.8 | 1,067.3 | 1,148.8 | 1,728.7 |
| | Labour | Christopher Gilmour | 16.27 | 769 | 1,218.5 | | | | | | |
| | Conservative | Wilma Begg | 8.48 | 401 | 413.7 | 415.5 | 427 | 427.1 | 466.7 | | |
| | SNP | Ken MacDonald | 12.70 | 600 | 616.6 | 619.4 | 623.4 | 628.7 | 650.3 | 708.6 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Margaret McDonough | 2.52 | 119 | 125.5 | 127.5 | 134.6 | 141 | | | |
| | Scottish Socialist | Geoff Knowles | 1.31 | 62 | 66.2 | 68.7 | 72.1 | | | | |
| | Scottish Christian | Alex Lennox | 0.88 | 42 | 45.2 | 46.8 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 10,048 Valid: 4,726 Spoilt: 98 Quota: 1,182 Turnout: 4,824 (47.03%) ||||||||||||

### Houston, Crosslee and Linwood

* 2007: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
* 2012: 2xLab; 2xSNP
* 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Con
Houston, Crosslee and Linwood – 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Labour | Stuart Clark | 28.77 | 1,454 | | | | | |
| | Labour | Anne Hall (incumbent) | 24.34 | 1,230 | | | | | |
| | SNP | Allan Noon (incumbent) | 17.12 | 865 | 923.2 | 936.4 | 954.1 | 985.2 | 1,089.4 |
| | SNP | Audrey Doig (incumbent) | 14.94 | 755 | 801.3 | 835.5 | 847.5 | 869.9 | 951.3 |
| | Conservative | Tom Begg | 11.81 | 597 | 633.9 | 643.3 | 654.5 | 700.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Allan Heron | 1.84 | 93 | 124.9 | 135.7 | 153.1 | | |
| | TUSC | Danny Williamson | 1.17 | 59 | 92.5 | 107.1 | | | |
| Electorate: 11,743 Valid: 5,053 Spoilt: 88 Quota: 1,011 Turnout: 5,141 (43.03%) ||||||||||

### Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank

* 2007: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
* 2012: 1xLab; 1xCon; 1xSNP
* 2007-2012 Change: No change
Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank – 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 |
| | Labour | Michael Holmes (incumbent) | 30.35 | 1,277 |
| | Conservative | James MacLaren | 29.25 | 1,231 |
| | SNP | Maria Brown | 27.80 | 1,170 |
| | SNP | Margaret Dymond | 6.99 | 294 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Heron | 4.11 | 173 |
| | TUSC | Warren Vale | 1.50 | 63 |
| Electorate: 8,974 Valid: 4,208 Spoilt: 42 Quota: 1,053 Turnout: 4,250 (46.89%) |||||

### Erskine and Inchinnan

* 2007: 2xLab; 2xSNP
* 2012: 2xLab; 2xSNP
* 2007-2012 Change: No change
Erskine and Inchinnan – 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 |
| | Labour | James Harte (incumbent) | 26.38 | 1,424 | |
| | SNP | Iain Nicolson (incumbent) | 21.67 | 1,170 | |
| | SNP | James McQuade (incumbent) | 20.41 | 1,102 | |
| | Labour | Sam Mullin (incumbent) | 19.84 | 1,071 | 1,371.8 |
| | Conservative | Steven Millar | 6.95 | 375 | 382.5 |
| | TUSC | Jim Halfpenny | 2.69 | 145 | 150.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ross Stalker | 2.06 | 111 | 117 |
| Electorate: 12,963 Valid: 5,398 Spoilt: 91 Quota: 1,080 Turnout: 5,489 (41.64%) ||||||

## Post-Election Changes

* † Renfrew South and Gallowhill Labour Cllr Eddie Grady died on 23 May 2016. A by-election was held on 11 August 2016 and the seat was won by the SNP's Jim Paterson.

## By-election since 2012

Renfrew South and Gallowhill By-election (11 August 2016) – 1 Seat :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | SNP | Jim Paterson | 47.8% | 1,309 |
| | Labour | Edward Grady | 36.9% | 1,012 |
| | Conservative | Mark Dougan | 13.4% | 366 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ross Stalker | 1.9% | 53 |
| Electorate: 10,466 Valid: 2,740 Spoilt: 22 Quota: 1,371 Turnout: 2,762 (26.18%) ||||||||