# 2003 Scottish local elections

The 2003 Scottish local elections were held on 1 May 2003, the same day as Scottish Parliament elections and local elections in parts of England. All 32 Scottish councils had all their seats up for election – all Scottish councils are unitary authorities.
This was the last election for local government in Scotland to use the first past the post electoral system.

## Boundary changes

Minor council boundary took place to better reflect certain areas:
* Transfer of properties at Blackburn from Aberdeen City Council to Aberdeenshire Council
* Transfer of an area of land at West Farm, Broxburn from City of Edinburgh Council to West Lothian Council
* Transfer of an area of land and properties at Ardoch Sewage Works from Argyll & Bute Council to West Dunbartonshire Council
* Transfer of an area of land at Braehead from Glasgow City Council to Renfrewshire Council

## Results

Summary of the 1 May 2003 Scottish council election results :
| Parties | Parties | Votes | Votes % | +/- | Wards | Net Gain/Loss |
| | Labour | 611,843 | 32.6 | −3.7% | 509 | −42 |
| | SNP | 451,660 | 24.1 | −4.6% | 181 | −23 |
| | Conservative | 282,895 | 15.1 | +1.6% | 122 | +14 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 272,057 | 14.5 | +1.9% | 175 | +18 |
| | Independent | 189,749 | 10.1 | +3.0% | 230 | +39 |
| | Other | 67,533 | 3.6 | +2.0% | 4 | −6 |
| Total | Total | 1,875,737 | | | 1,222 | |

## Councils

| Council | 1999 result | Control before election (if different) | 2003 result | Details |
| Aberdeen City | Labour | NOC | No overall control | Details |
| Aberdeenshire | No overall control | | No overall control | Details |
| Angus | SNP | | SNP | Details |
| Argyll and Bute | Independent | | Independent | Details |
| Clackmannanshire | No overall control | | Labour | Details |
| Dumfries and Galloway | Labour | | No overall control | Details |
| Dundee City | No overall control | | No overall control | Details |
| East Ayrshire | Labour | | Labour | Details |
| East Dunbartonshire | No overall control | | No overall control | Details |
| East Lothian | Labour | | Labour | Details |
| East Renfrewshire | No overall control | | No overall control | Details |
| City of Edinburgh | Labour | | Labour | Details |
| Falkirk | Labour | | No overall control | Details |
| Fife | Labour | Labour Minority | No overall control (Lab) | Details |
| Glasgow City | Labour | | Labour | Details |
| Highland | Independent | | Independent | Details |
| Inverclyde | Labour | NOC | Liberal Democrats | Details |
| Midlothian | Labour | | Labour | Details |
| Moray | Independent | | Independent | Details |
| Na h-Eileanan Siar | Independent | | Independent | Details |
| North Ayrshire | Labour | | Labour | Details |
| North Lanarkshire | Labour | | Labour | Details |
| Orkney | Independent | | Independent | Details |
| Perth and Kinross | No overall control | | No overall control | Details |
| Renfrewshire | Labour | | Labour | Details |
| Scottish Borders | No overall control | | No overall control | Details |
| Shetland | Independent | | Independent | Details |
| South Ayrshire | Labour | NOC | No overall control | Details |
| South Lanarkshire | Labour | | No overall control (Lab minority) | Details |
| Stirling | No overall control (Lab minority) | | Labour | Details |
| West Dunbartonshire | Labour | NOC (Ind+SNP+SSP) | Labour | Details |
| West Lothian | Labour | | Labour | Details |