# 2003 Moray Council election

The 2003 Moray Council election was held on 1 May 2003, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections and the Scottish Parliament general election. This was the last election to use the first-past-the-post voting system across 26 single member wards.

## Background

The 1999 election to the Moray Council saw the Independent group on the council expand by 13 seats, with the SNP losing 11. It is of note that the number of seats grew from 18 in 1995 to 26 in 1999.
1999 Moray Council election results :
| Party | Seats | Vote share |
| Independent | 15 | 36.9% |
| Labour | 6 | 20.5% |
| SNP | 2 | 30.4% |
| Liberal Democrat | 2 | 8.3% |
| Conservative | 1 | 3.8% |
Source:

## Results

2003 Moray Council election result :
| Party | Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| | Independent | 16 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 61.5 | 49.3 | 14,084 | 12.4 |
| | Labour | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 19.2 | 12.7 | 3,622 | 7.8 |
| | SNP | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11.5 | 25.2 | 7,194 | 5.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3.8 | 7.9 | 2,250 | 0.4 |
| | Conservative | 1 | 0 | 0 | | 3.8 | 4.3 | 1,229 | 0.5 |
| | Scottish Socialist | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.6 | 175 | New |
| Total | Total | 26 | | | | | | 28,554 | |
Source:

## Ward results
### Buckie Central

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | John Leslie (Incumbent) | 406 | 41.2 |
| | Independent | Joe Mackay | 316 | 32.0 |
| | SNP | Gordon McDonald | 264 | 26.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 90 | 9.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 986 | 40.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Buckie East & Findochty

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Sinclair Longmore (Incumbent) | 406 | 36.5 |
| | SNP | Linda McDonald | 355 | 31.9 |
| | Conservative | David Anderson | 263 | 23.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gordon Holm | 88 | 7.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 51 | 4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,112 | 44.3 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Buckie West

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | William Jappy (Incumbent) | 682 | 67.7 |
| | SNP | Ian Hamilton | 326 | 32.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 356 | 35.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,008 | 41.3 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Burghsea

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Eric McGillivray | 636 | 43.4 |
| | Independent | Alastair MacKenzie | 353 | 24.1 |
| | Independent | Cath Millar | 204 | 13.9 |
| | SNP | Angus Munro | 170 | 11.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Allison Bullock | 103 | 7.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 283 | 19.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,466 | 54.4 |
| | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats |

### Cathedral

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Ronald Sim | 391 | 46.4 |
| | SNP | Hamish McDonald | 259 | 30.8 |
| | Conservative | Alexander Thomson | 136 | 16.2 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Norma Anderson | 56 | 6.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 132 | 15.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 842 | 36.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Central West

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Alastair Bisset (Incumbent) | 919 | 70.2 |
| | SNP | Caroline Dunn | 391 | 29.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 528 | 40.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,310 | 50.1 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Elgin-Bishopmill East

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Alexander Keith (Incumbent) | 794 | 67.5 |
| | SNP | Donald Morrison | 282 | 24.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mary McLintock | 101 | 8.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 512 | 43.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,167 | 43.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Elgin-Bishopmill West

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Alan Burgess (Incumbent) | 431 | 35.1 |
| | Independent | Norman McKay | 330 | 26.9 |
| | SNP | Elaine Cooper | 203 | 16.5 |
| | Conservative | David Terron | 187 | 15.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Horton | 78 | 6.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 101 | 8.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,229 | 46.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Fife-Keith & Strathisla

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Percy Watt (Incumbent) | 838 | 75.0 |
| | SNP | Keith Alderson | 279 | 25.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 559 | 50.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,117 | 45.8 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Finderne

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Geoffrey Hamilton | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Forres Central

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Rex McIntosh (Incumbent) | 943 | 78.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Angela Cameron | 260 | 21.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 683 | 56.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,203 | 44.3 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Forres East

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Iain Young (Incumbent) | 643 | 47.8 |
| | Independent | Lorna Creswell | 400 | 29.8 |
| | SNP | Jimmy Dingwall | 206 | 15.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sheila Cameron | 95 | 7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 243 | 18.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,344 | 54.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Forres West & Altyre

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Alastair Urquhart (Incumbent) | 673 | 77.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Elizabeth Main | 193 | 22.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 480 | 55.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 866 | 40.1 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Glenlivet

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Bob Wilson (Incumbent) | 607 | 59.0 |
| | SNP | Michael McConachie | 421 | 41.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 186 | 18.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,028 | 43.8 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Heldon & Laich

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | John Hogg (Incumbent) | 810 | 66.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Bullock | 207 | 17.0 |
| | SNP | Alastair Main | 203 | 16.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 603 | 49.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,220 | 53.0 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Innes

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Eddie Coutts (Incumbent) | 637 | 48.6 |
| | SNP | Graeme McDonald | 365 | 27.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Cromar | 263 | 20.1 |
| | Independent | Kenneth Stuart | 46 | 3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 272 | 20.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,311 | 50.5 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Keith

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Linda Gorn (Incumbent) | 477 | 45.5 |
| | SNP | Rhona Paterson | 273 | 26.0 |
| | Independent | Edwin Henderson | 171 | 16.3 |
| | Labour | Mary McGregor | 128 | 12.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 204 | 19.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,049 | 44.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |

### Lennox

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | George McIntyre | 506 | 40.7 |
| | SNP | Mike Watt | 336 | 27.0 |
| | Independent | Robert Innes | 213 | 17.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Reid | 120 | 9.7 |
| | Independent | William Graham | 68 | 5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 170 | 13.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,243 | 52.1 |
| | Independent gain from SNP | Independent gain from SNP | Independent gain from SNP | Independent gain from SNP |

### Lhanbryde & Birnie

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Roma Hossack | 687 | 61.4 |
| | Labour | Stephen McBean | 267 | 23.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Donald Cameron | 165 | 14.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 420 | 37.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,119 | 48.2 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Lossiemouth East

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Tom Bothwell | 802 | 68.7 |
| | SNP | Iain Allan | 366 | 31.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 436 | 37.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,168 | 49.1 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Lossiemouth West

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | SNP | Joyce Stewart | 522 | 52.8 |
| | Independent | Ian Frame | 466 | 47.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 56 | 5.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 988 | 38.2 |
| | SNP gain from Independent | SNP gain from Independent | SNP gain from Independent | SNP gain from Independent |

### New Elgin East

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | John Divers | 579 | 55.1 |
| | SNP | Graham Leadbitter | 353 | 33.6 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Alexander MacGillivary | 119 | 11.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 226 | 21.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,051 | 42.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### New Elgin West

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | SNP | Robert Burns | 535 | 52.1 |
| | Labour | Muriel Ettles (Incumbent) | 491 | 47.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44 | 4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,025 | 42.2 |
| | SNP gain from Labour | SNP gain from Labour | SNP gain from Labour | SNP gain from Labour |

### Rathford

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Ron Shepherd (Incumbent) | 607 | 47.4 |
| | Independent | Daniel Cook | 530 | 41.4 |
| | SNP | Margaret Hamilton | 144 | 11.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 77 | 6.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,281 | 55.4 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Rural Keith & Rothes

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | SNP | Pearl Paul (Incumbent) | 581 | 54.4 |
| | Independent | Gordon Henderson | 252 | 23.6 |
| | Labour | Shuna Dicks | 135 | 12.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Milton | 100 | 9.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 329 | 30.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,068 | 47.7 |
| | SNP hold | SNP hold | SNP hold | SNP hold |

### Speyside

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Edward Aldridge (Incumbent) | 982 | 73.2 |
| | SNP | Peter Farquharson | 360 | 26.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 682 | 46.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,342 | 51.6 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

## Aftermath
### Buckie West by-election

On 1 July 2004 a by-election was held in the Buckie West ward after the death of independent councillor Bill Jappy. It was won by independent candidate Joseph Mackay.
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Joseph Mackay | 552 | 63.6 |
| | SNP | Gordon McDonald | 196 | 22.6 |
| | Conservative | Ian Moir | 89 | 10.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gordon Holms | 31 | 3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 356 | 41.0 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Source:

### August 2004 Speyside by-election

On 12 August 2004 a by-election was held in the Speyside ward.
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | SNP | - | 286 | 30.8 |
| | Independent | - | 244 | 26.3 |
| | Independent | - | 187 | 20.1 |
| | Conservative | - | 121 | 13.0 |
| | Independent | - | 91 | 9.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 42 | 4.5 |
| | SNP gain from Independent | SNP gain from Independent | SNP gain from Independent | SNP gain from Independent |

### November 2004 Speyside by-election

On 11 November 2004 a by-election was held in the Speyside ward.
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | - | 383 | 37.6 |
| | Conservative | - | 242 | 23.8 |
| | Independent | - | 232 | 22.8 |
| | Independent | - | 99 | 9.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | - | 62 | 6.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 141 | 13.8 |
| | Independent gain from SNP | Independent gain from SNP | Independent gain from SNP | Independent gain from SNP |