# 2007 Moray Council election

The 2007 Moray Council Council election was held on 3 May 2007, the same day as the Scottish Parliament election. The election was the first using the eight new wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004. 26 councillors were elected. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system. Previously there were single-member wards which used the first past the post electoral system.
The election resulted in a previously independent council becoming an independent/Conservative coalition, with a majority of four. The use of STV electoral system benefited the SNP and the Conservatives, with them gaining 6 and 2 seats respectively. It did not benefit Labour at all, which fell from second place in terms of seats to last. In addition, the Liberal Democrats lost their sole representative on the council

## Background
### Previous election

The previous election in 2003 were the last to use the first-past-the-post voting system. At that election, independent won 16 seats - more than all the other groups combined.
2003 Moray Council election results :
| Party | Seats | Vote share |
| Independent | 16 | 49.3% |
| Labour | 5 | 12.7% |
| SNP | 3 | 25.2% |
| Liberal Democrats | 1 | 7.9% |
| Conservative | 1 | 4.3% |
Source:

### Composition

There were 3 by-elections in the 2003-07 term. One by-election was held in the Buckie West ward and was an Independent hold. The other two by-elections were held in the Speyside ward, one resulted in a SNP gain from Independent, and the other resulted in an Independent gain from SNP. As such the composition of the council did not change between 2003 and 2007.
Composition of Moray Council :
| Party | 2003 election | Dissolution |
| Independent | 16 | 16 |
| Labour | 5 | 5 |
| SNP | 3 | 3 |
| Liberal Democrats | 1 | 1 |
| Conservative | 1 | 1 |
Source:

## Results

2007 Moray Council election result :
| Party | Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| | Independent | 12 | - | - | 4 | 46.2 | 36.9 | 12,535 | 12.4 |
| | SNP | 9 | - | - | 6 | 34.6 | 35.2 | 11,942 | 10.0 |
| | Conservative | 3 | - | - | 2 | 11.5 | 15.8 | 5,374 | 11.5 |
| | Labour | 2 | - | - | 3 | 7.7 | 8.7 | 2,945 | 4.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 587 | 6.2 |
| | Scottish Senior Citizens | 0 | - | - | | 0.0 | 1.3 | 438 | New |
| | UKIP | 0 | - | - | | 0.0 | 0.3 | 116 | New |
| Total | Total | 26 | | | | | | 33,938 | |
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 1 May 2003. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.
Source:

## Ward results
### Speyside Glenlivet

Speyside Glenlivet - 3 Seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | SNP | Pearl Paul | 29.2 | 1,107 | | | | | |
| | SNP | Mike McConnachie | 23.2 | 881 | 974 | | | | |
| | Conservative | Gordon Henderson | 17.3 | 658 | 665 | 668 | 711 | 801 | |
| | Independent | Fiona Murdoch | 15.1 | 571 | 583 | 589 | 617 | 862 | 1,259 |
| | Independent | Adrina Taylor | 12.2 | 462 | 477 | 480 | 493 | | |
| | UKIP | Matthew Desmond | 3.1 | 116 | 118 | 120 | | | |
| Valid: 3,795 Spoilt: 90 Quota: 949 Turnout: 55.7% ||||||||||
Source:

### Keith and Cullen

Keith and Cullen - 3 Seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | SNP | Gary Coull | 36.9 | 1,555 | | | | |
| | Independent | Ron Shepherd | 19.6 | 827 | 882 | 945 | 1,022 | 1,243 |
| | Independent | Stewart Cree | 16.6 | 698 | 809 | 847 | 955 | 1,293 |
| | Independent | Percy Watt | 13.8 | 582 | 657 | 701 | 786 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Matheson | 7.1 | 300 | 366 | 411 | | |
| | Conservative | Olive Starsmore | 6.1 | 256 | 269 | | | |
| Valid: 4,218 Spoilt: 55 Quota: 1,055 Turnout: 53.8% |||||||||
Source:

### Buckie

Buckie - 3 Seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | SNP | Gordon McDonald | 32.4 | 1,188 | | | | |
| | Independent | Anne McKay | 19.3 | 708 | 755 | 829 | 969 | |
| | Independent | Joe Mackay | 19.0 | 698 | 755 | 790 | 902 | 927 |
| | Labour | John Leslie | 13.8 | 507 | 551 | 573 | 622 | 631 |
| | Conservative | Ian Moir | 10.8 | 397 | 413 | 436 | | |
| | Independent | Bruce Smith | 4.6 | 169 | 187 | | | |
| Valid: 3,667 Spoilt: 66 Quota: 917 Turnout: 50.4% |||||||||
Source:

### Fochabers Lhanbryde

Fochabers Lhanbryde - 3 Seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | SNP | Anita McDonald | 28.9 | 1,159 | | | | | | | | |
| | Conservative | Douglas Ross | 18.1 | 727 | 738 | 742 | 751 | 795 | 847 | 926 | 929 | 1,101 |
| | Independent | George McIntyre | 15.1 | 608 | 623 | 630 | 640 | 675 | 826 | 1,017 | | |
| | Labour | Lans Bangura | 11.0 | 440 | 459 | 460 | 470 | 539 | 586 | 638 | 640 | |
| | Independent | Eddie Coutts | 9.3 | 374 | 381 | 388 | 396 | 428 | 476 | | | |
| | Independent | Paul McBain | 8.3 | 333 | 347 | 352 | 364 | 416 | | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Horton | 7.2 | 287 | 310 | 314 | 319 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Gordon Davidson | 1.4 | 56 | 61 | 67 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Alan Bodman | 0.8 | 32 | 34 | | | | | | | |
| Valid: 4,016 Spoilt: 45 Quota: 1,005 Turnout: 53.1% |||||||||||||
Source:

### Heldon & Laich

Heldon & Laich - 4 Seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | SNP | David Stewart | 21.0 | 1,646 | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Eric McGillivray | 15.3 | 813 | 886 | 905 | 945 | 957 | 1,002 | 1,062 | | |
| | Independent | John Hogg | 14.0 | 744 | 781 | 787 | 797 | 810 | 844 | 941 | 952 | 1,099 |
| | Conservative | Allan Wright | 11.4 | 606 | 634 | 640 | 645 | 653 | 671 | 726 | 730 | 799 |
| | Independent | Chris Tuke | 10.0 | 531 | 564 | 594 | 607 | 615 | 635 | 677 | 688 | |
| | Independent | Harry Halkett | 6.7 | 354 | 399 | 401 | 418 | 502 | 621 | | | |
| | Independent | Eric Paton | 4.8 | 254 | 311 | 315 | 326 | 366 | | | | |
| | Independent | Des Donaldson | 2.9 | 155 | 196 | 203 | 215 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Martyn Harris | 2.2 | 114 | 126 | 141 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Neil Hutchinson | 1.7 | 92 | 104 | | | | | | | |
| Valid: 5,309 Spoilt: 81 Quota: 1,062 Turnout: 54.4% |||||||||||||
Source:

### Elgin City North

Elgin City North - 3 Seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | SNP | Mike Shand | 41.3 | 1,500 | | | |
| | Labour | Barry Jarvis | 23.9 | 866 | 1,005 | | |
| | Independent | John Russell | 18.5 | 671 | 837 | 876 | 1,349 |
| | Conservative | Frank Brown | 16.3 | 592 | 648 | 666 | |
| Valid: 3,629 Spoilt: 46 Quota: 908 Turnout: 45.8% ||||||||
Source:

### Elgin City South

Elgin City South - 3 Seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 |
| | SNP | Graham Leadbitter | 33.2 | 1,304 | |
| | Labour | John Divers | 28.8 | 1,132 | |
| | Independent | Alistair Bisset | 23.0 | 904 | 1,019 |
| | Conservative | Dennis Thompson | 15.1 | 592 | 656 |
| Valid: 3,932 Spoilt: 50 Quota: 984 Turnout: 50.7% ||||||
Source:

### Forres

Forres - 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 | Irene Ogilvie | 29.8 | 1,602 | | | | | | |
| | Conservative | Iain Young | 28.8 | 1,546 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Jeff Hamilton | 13.3 | 716 | 789 | 880 | 992 | 1,122 | | |
| | Independent | Lee Bell | 9.0 | 482 | 540 | 610 | 672 | 831 | 849 | 1,160 |
| | Scottish Senior Citizens | Thomas Anderson | 8.2 | 438 | 549 | 615 | 653 | 719 | 726 | |
| | Independent | Pat Carroll | 6.1 | 326 | 368 | 413 | 492 | | | |
| | Independent | Rick Walker | 4.9 | 261 | 294 | 356 | | | | |
| Valid: 5,371 Spoilt: 129 Quota: 1,075 Turnout: 51.1% |||||||||||
Source:

## Aftermath

As no single political grouping on the council had enough seats to form a majority administration, the independent and Conservative groupings together formed a coalition.

### Elgin City South by-election

On 14 February 2008, a by-election was held in the Elgin City South ward after the death of independent councillor Alistair Bisset. It was won by the SNP candidate John Sharp.
Elgin City South by-election (14 February 2008) - 1 seat :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | SNP | John Alexander Sharp | 32.10 | 670 | 670 | 672 | 672 | 679 | 685 | 706 | 763 | 884 |
| | Independent | Hamish Simpson | 24.3 | 513 | 513 | 518 | 523 | 527 | 540 | 612 | 722 | 845 |
| | Labour | Mark Cascarino | 17.0 | 358 | 358 | 361 | 363 | 370 | 380 | 403 | 459 | |
| | Independent | James Scott Allan | 10.6 | 223 | 224 | 227 | 229 | 233 | 240 | 278 | | |
| | Conservative | Frank Brown | 9.8 | 206 | 206 | 206 | 208 | 216 | 223 | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter J Horton | 2.3 | 48 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 53 | | | | |
| | Scottish Senior Citizens | Andy Anderson | 1.5 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 37 | | | | | |
| | UKIP | Matthew Coughlan Desmond | 1.0 | 20 | 20 | 20 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Martyn Harris | 0.8 | 16 | 16 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Gordon Davidson | 0.1 | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 7,886 Valid: 2,087 Spoilt: 25 Quota: 1,044 Turnout: 2,112 |||||||||||||
Source:

### Forres by-election

On 11 November 2010, a by-election was held in the Forres ward after the retirement of Conservative councillor Iain Young. It was won by independent candidate Lorna Creswell.
Forres by-election (11 November 2010) - 1 seat :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | SNP | Aaron John McLean | 24.1 | 773 | 774 | 789 | 800 | 837 | 899 | 950 | 1,045 |
| | Independent | Lorna Creswell | 17.5 | 562 | 576 | 615 | 686 | 726 | 878 | 999 | 1,399 |
| | Independent | Anne Audrey Skene | 14.4 | 463 | 464 | 491 | 541 | 572 | 695 | 860 | |
| | Conservative | Paul McBain | 14.4 | 463 | 464 | 476 | 486 | 491 | 511 | | |
| | Scottish Green | Fabio Villani | 12.5 | 401 | 405 | 419 | 433 | 459 | | | |
| | Labour | Mark Cascarino | 6.1 | 195 | 195 | 201 | 205 | | | | |
| | Independent | Janet Kennedy | 6.0 | 192 | 194 | 201 | | | | | |
| | Scottish Senior Citizens | Andy Anderson | 4.1 | 132 | 135 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Jane Elizabeth Cotton | 0.9 | 30 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 11,224 Valid: 3,210 Spoilt: 23 Quota: 1,606 Turnout: 28.8% ||||||||||||
Source: