# 1995 Highland Council election

The 1995 Highland Council election was held on 6 April 1995; the same day as elections to the 28 other new councils in Scotland. 72 councillors were elected from 72 wards using the first-past-the-post voting system. Independent councillors retained their status as the majority group, with councillors also being elected representing the Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, and Scottish National Party. The newly elected council existed in 'shadow' form until it assumed its full powers on 1 April 1996.

## Result

1995 Highland Council election result :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Independent | 49 | - | - | 15 | 68.1 | 61.2 | 40,358 | 6.0 |
| SNP | 9 | - | - | 5 | 12.5 | 17.4 | 11,441 | 1.2 |
| Labour | 7 | - | - | 1 | 9.7 | 12.2 | 8,043 | 2.3 |
| Liberal Democrats | 6 | - | - | 1 | 8.3 | 7.7 | 5,041 | 1.8 |
| Conservative | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 596 | 0.7 |
| Scottish Green | 0 | - | - | | 0.0 | 0.5 | 358 | |
| Scottish Christian Democrats | 0 | - | - | | 0.0 | 0.1 | 83 | New |
Note: Seat/vote changes relate to the previous Highland Regional Council election on 5 May 1994. That council had only 54 seats instead of 72.
Source:

## Ward results
### Caithness

The Highland Council election, 1995: Thurso West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | EC MacDonald | 759 |
| | Independent | JH Fry | 508 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 251 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Thurso East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | DM Waters | 920 |
| | Independent | WS Smith | 415 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 505 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Wick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | A Murray | Unopposed | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Pulteney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | JW Oag | 579 |
| | Independent | A Henderson | 470 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 109 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: North-East Caithness :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | JH Green | 587 |
| | Independent | DA Richard | 476 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 111 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: South-East Caithness :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal Democrats | WA Mowat | 611 |
| | Independent | P Sutherland | 354 |
| | Independent | J Smith | 118 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 257 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Central Caithness :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | JM Young | 919 |
| | SNP | WD Brown | 182 |
| | Scottish Christian Democrats | N MacInnes | 83 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 737 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: West Caithness :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | JM Mowat | 366 |
| | Independent | AI MacDonald | 291 |
| | SNP | DA Manson | 277 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 75 |

### Sutherland

The Highland Council election, 1995: Dornoch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | JD Allan | 680 |
| | Independent | S Board | 206 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 474 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Ardgay and Bonar Bridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | GW Holden | 426 |
| | Independent | RE Taylor | 307 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 119 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Central Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | AL Magee | 366 |
| | Liberal Democrats | A Murray | 281 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 85 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: North-West Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | FR Keith | 405 |
| | Independent | L MacKenzie | 346 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 59 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Tongue and Farr :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | A MacKay | 341 |
| | Liberal Democrats | EB Jardine | 336 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Golspie :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | DI MacRae | 466 |
| | Independent | HM Houston | 355 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 111 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Brora and Kildonan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | RR McDonald | 757 |
| | Independent | M Fielding | 241 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 516 |

### Skye and Lochalsh

The Highland Council election, 1995: Lochalsh :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | JF Munro | Unopposed | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Kyle and Sleat :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | W Fulton | 320 |
| | Independent | JA Mackay | 169 |
| | Independent | AR McKerlich | 134 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 151 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Broadford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | SNP | FM MacLennan | 331 |
| | Independent | E MacKenzie | 279 |
| | Independent | T Rayner | 119 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 52 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Portree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | AM Millar | 248 |
| | Independent | DM Burd | 210 |
| | Labour | V Samuels | 133 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 38 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Staffin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | SNP | GC Moncrieff | 322 |
| | Liberal Democrats | D Grant | 260 |
| | Independent | D MacDonald | 175 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 62 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Dunvegan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | AM Beaton | 447 |
| | Labour | LS Shurmer | 134 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 313 |

### Ross and Cromarty

The Highland Council election, 1995: Tain :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal Democrats | JH Stone | 1,079 |
| | Independent | A Rhind | 653 |
| | SNP | DW Louden | 412 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 426 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Fearn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | JW Paterson | 627 |
| | Labour | JK Boocock | 472 |
| | Liberal Democrats | AD Scobbie | 257 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 155 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Invergordon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | I Rhind | 663 |
| | SNP | R Gibson | 490 |
| | Independent | G Kelman | 308 |
| | Labour | AM Byron | 199 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 173 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Black Isle East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | DJ McPherson | 1,127 |
| | Liberal Democrats | IJ MacLeod | 736 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 391 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Black Isle West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | B Beattie | 627 |
| | Labour | M MacMillan | 459 |
| | Independent | T Anderson | 346 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 168 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Alness and Ardross :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | SNP | A Anderson | 666 |
| | Independent | JE MacInnes | 314 |
| | Independent | R Mardon | 137 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 352 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Ferindonald :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | V MacIver | 713 |
| | Independent | DL Dunbar | 453 |
| | Labour | ME MacDonald | 282 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 260 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Dingwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | SNP | MB Paterson | Unopposed | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Ord and Conon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | DY Philip | 654 |
| | Independent | H Fraser | 548 |
| | SNP | S MacKenzie | 407 |
| | Independent | N McWhinney | 39 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 106 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Maryburgh :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | SNP | DW Briggs | 896 |
| | Conservative | J Scott | 448 |
| | Scottish Green | E Scott | 136 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 448 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Lochbroom :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | DR Green | 443 |
| | SNP | J Urquhart | 201 |
| | Labour | L Chilton | 78 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 242 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Gairloch and Garve :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | HR MacIntyre | 616 |
| | Independent | GJ Harvey | 286 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 330 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Lochcarron :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | DN Cameron | 478 |
| | Independent | AI MacArthur | 150 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 328 |

### Inverness

The Highland Council election, 1995: Strathnairn and Strathdearn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | KG Matheson | 443 |
| | SNP | DA Cunningham | 253 |
| | Independent | CM Thomson | 167 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 190 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: East Loch Ness :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | E MacRae | 483 |
| | SNP | LA MacRae | 184 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 299 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Fort Augustus :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | PC Paterson | 415 |
| | Independent | HM Cary | 290 |
| | Independent | AW MacKenzie | 217 |
| | SNP | PJ Findlay | 171 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 125 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Drumnadrochit :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | MC Davidson | 251 |
| | SNP | AK MacPherson | 236 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Beauly :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | SNP | JS Munro | 611 |
| | Independent | JA Sellar | 297 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 314 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Kirkhill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | SJ Shiels | 360 |
| | Independent | M Doyle | 263 |
| | Conservative | CF Spencer-Nairn | 148 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 97 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Scorguie :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | JT MacDonald | 639 |
| | Liberal Democrats | RJ Mackay | 237 |
| | SNP | S MacKenzie | 168 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 402 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Merkinch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | AD MacLean | 813 |
| | SNP | IA MacIllechiar | 640 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 173 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Muirtown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | CM Cumming | 788 |
| | Independent | A Chisholm | 382 |
| | SNP | NG Will | 172 |
| | Liberal Democrats | J Horne | 124 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 406 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Columba :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | JW Thomson | 547 |
| | Independent | A Milne | 524 |
| | SNP | G Totten | 121 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Drummond :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | MA MacLennan | 708 |
| | Independent | WA Fraser | 495 |
| | SNP | JM Murgatroyd | 190 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 213 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Alt na Sgitheach :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | CL Goodman | 667 |
| | Independent | HH Sutherland | 442 |
| | SNP | A Begbie | 337 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 225 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Hilton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | A Darlington | 643 |
| | SNP | SA Brogan | 496 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 147 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Old Edinburgh :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | A Sellar | 1,027 |
| | SNP | AJ Paterek | 247 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 780 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Canal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | WJ Smith | 621 |
| | Labour | CM Grant | 502 |
| | SNP | CM Forbes | 223 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 119 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Raigmore :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | DR Munro | 722 |
| | Independent | M Bernardi | 321 |
| | SNP | C Brogan | 138 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 401 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Inshes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | JN Home | 633 |
| | Liberal Democrats | DW Fraser | 440 |
| | SNP | I Cameron | 231 |
| | Labour | A Watson | 189 |
| | Scottish Green | MT Falconer | 100 |
| | Independent | TM Honnor | 96 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 193 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Culloden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal Democrats | JC Cole | 680 |
| | SNP | R Wynd | 564 |
| | Labour | W McGarrity | 284 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 116 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Ardersier :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | PJ Peacock | 971 |
| | Independent | J Cattell | 257 |
| | SNP | WJ Reynolds | 208 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 714 |

### Nairn

The Highland Council election, 1995: East Nairn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | W Shand | 370 |
| | Independent | D McDonald | 360 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: North Nairn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | JN Matheson | 303 |
| | Independent | PL Gordon | 279 |
| | Independent | T Crane | 85 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Auldearn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | AS Park | 411 |
| | SNP | E MacDonald | 311 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 100 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Cawdor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | NJ Graham | Unopposed | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: West Nairn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | D Fraser | Unopposed | |

### Badenoch and Strathspey

The Highland Council election, 1995: Laggan, Dalwhinnie and Newtonmore :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | AJ Russell | Unopposed | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Kingussie and Kincraig :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | TR Wade | 324 |
| | Independent | S Paton | 280 |
| | Independent | WD MacKenzie | 228 |
| | SNP | A Lindsay | 140 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Aviemore :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | SNP | I Glen | 385 |
| | Independent | CA Haggerty | 326 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 59 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Carrbridge and Nethy Bridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | FD Black | 565 |
| | Independent | D Ritchie | 186 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 379 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Dulnain Bridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | A Gordon | Unopposed | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Grantown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | BM Dunlop | 367 |
| | Independent | G McCulloch | 363 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4 |

### Lochaber

The Highland Council election, 1995: Mallaig and the Small Isles :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | C King | 434 |
| | SNP | FM Dickson | 251 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 183 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Ardnamurchan and Morvern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | ME Foxley | Unopposed | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Kilmallie and Invergarry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | SNP | E Harper | 660 |
| | Independent | EH Wallace | 194 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 466 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Caol :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | O Macdonald | 657 |
| | Labour | JK MacKay | 492 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 165 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: North Fort William and Inverlochy :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | IJ MacDonald | 660 |
| | Scottish Green | DL Tayar | 122 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 538 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Claggan and Glen Spean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | SNP | I MacDonald | 320 |
| | Independent | J Anderson | 207 |
| | Independent | M Fraser | 167 |
| | Independent | A Mackin | 104 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 113 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Fort William South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | N Clark | 436 |
| | Independent | RW Morgan | 294 |
| | Independent | IM Chisholm | 154 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 142 |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Glencoe and Nether Lochaber :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | AR MacFarlane-Slack | Unopposed | |