# 2003 East Ayrshire Council election

Elections to East Ayrshire Council were held on 1 May 2003, the same day as the 31 other local government elections in Scotland and elections to the Scottish Parliament. This was the third election since the council's creation in 1995 and the last election to use first-past-the-post voting.
Labour maintained control of the council after increasing their vote share to 49.2%. The party won a majority of the seats and increased their representation on the council. The Scottish National Party (SNP) remained as the largest opposition party on the council despite a net loss of six seats and the Conservatives held their only seat on the council.
Following the introduction of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, local elections in Scotland would use the single transferable vote electoral system which meant this was the last election in which the 32 single-member wards created by the Third Statutory Reviews of Electoral Arrangements would be contested.

## Summary

2003 East Ayrshire Council election result :
| Party | Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| | Labour | 23 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 71.9 | 49.2 | 23,480 | 3.5 |
| | SNP | 8 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 25.0 | 35.3 | 16,827 | 5.5 |
| | Conservative | 1 | 0 | 0 | | 3.1 | 12.5 | 5,958 | 3.2 |
| | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 1.7 | 814 | 0.8 |
| | Scottish Socialist | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 1.2 | 561 | New |
| | BNP | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.2 | 73 | New |
| Total | Total | 32 | | | | | | 47,713 | |
Source:

## Ward results
### Stewarton East and Dunlop

Stewarton East and Dunlop :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Maureen McKay | 579 | 37.1 | New |
| | Conservative | Kenneth Thomson | 506 | 32.4 | 0.9 |
| | SNP | Andrew Kent | 476 | 30.5 | 14.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 73 | 4.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,561 | 52.7 | 15.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,962 | | |
| | Labour gain from SNP | Labour gain from SNP | Swing | 25.6 | |
Source:

### Stewarton Central

Stewarton Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James O'Neill | 565 | 37.9 | 9.9 |
| | Independent | Ann Hay | 426 | 28.6 | New |
| | SNP | Ian Primrose | 342 | 22.9 | 29.3 |
| | Conservative | Tamzin Hobday | 158 | 10.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 139 | 9.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,491 | 49.2 | 16.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,029 | | |
| | Labour gain from SNP | Labour gain from SNP | Swing | 9.7 | |
Source:

### Kilmaurs and Stewarton South

Kilmaurs and Stewarton South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John McGhee | 770 | 48.3 | 22.4 |
| | SNP | John MacKay | 516 | 32.3 | 10.4 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Mackie | 308 | 19.3 | 5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 254 | 15.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,594 | 53.2 | 13.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,998 | | |
| | Labour gain from SNP | Labour gain from SNP | Swing | 16.4 | |
Source:

### North Kilmarnock, Fenwick and Waterside

North Kilmarnock, Fenwick and Waterside :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Stephanie Young | 832 | 40.7 | 3.4 |
| | SNP | George Leslie | 672 | 32.9 | 0.3 |
| | Labour | Robert Allan | 541 | 26.5 | 3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 160 | 7.8 | 3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,045 | 49.7 | 14.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,111 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.8 | |
Source:

### Crosshouse, Gatehead and Knockentiber

Crosshouse, Gatehead and Knockentiber :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Brian Reeves | 660 | 52.2 | 1.2 |
| | SNP | David Carrigan | 506 | 40.0 | 1.8 |
| | Conservative | Ahsan Mustafa | 99 | 7.8 | 0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 154 | 12.2 | 2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,265 | 48.9 | 13.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,588 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 1.5 | |
Source:

### Altonhill, Hillhead and Longpark

Altonhill, Hillhead and Longpark :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | Daniel Coffey | 733 | 54.6 | 4.5 |
| | Labour | Andrew McCann | 419 | 31.2 | 0.5 |
| | Conservative | Simon Young | 116 | 8.6 | 1.6 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Mark Scott | 74 | 5.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 314 | 23.4 | 5.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,342 | 44.3 | 11.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,029 | | |
| | SNP hold | SNP hold | Swing | 2.5 | |
Source:

### Onthank

Onthank :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | Willie Coffey | 714 | 56.3 | 2.1 |
| | Labour | Robert Milby | 506 | 39.9 | 0.6 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Hugh Ferguson | 36 | 2.8 | New |
| | Conservative | Thomas Donald | 13 | 1.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 208 | 16.4 | 2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,269 | 51.5 | 9.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,462 | | |
| | SNP hold | SNP hold | Swing | 1.3 | |
Source:

### Kilmarnock Central West

Kilmarnock Central West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | Douglas Reid | 737 | 51.5 | 2.0 |
| | Labour | Robert Keohone | 569 | 39.8 | 2.2 |
| | Conservative | Fredrick McMeekin | 125 | 8.7 | 0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 168 | 11.7 | 4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,431 | 51.5 | 12.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,727 | | |
| | SNP hold | SNP hold | Swing | 2.1 | |
Source:

### Kilmarnock Central East

Kilmarnock Central East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Cree | 719 | 46.3 | 8.0 |
| | SNP | Lilian MacLean | 646 | 41.6 | 2.7 |
| | Conservative | Leonard Freeman | 189 | 12.2 | 0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 73 | 4.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,554 | 55.0 | 10.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,826 | | |
| | Labour gain from SNP | Labour gain from SNP | Swing | 2.6 | |
Source:

### North New Farm Loch and Dean

North New Farm Loch and Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | John Weir | 637 | 44.3 | 3.7 |
| | Labour | John Blaney | 466 | 32.4 | 1.2 |
| | Independent | Matthew Donnelley | 220 | 15.3 | 4.7 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Johnson | 116 | 8.1 | 0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 171 | 11.9 | 2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,439 | 50.7 | 13.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,838 | | |
| | SNP hold | SNP hold | Swing | 1.2 | |
Source:

### South New Farm Loch

South New Farm Loch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Andrew MacIntyre | 953 | 62.5 | 4.0 |
| | SNP | Matthew Connelly | 487 | 32.0 | 9.5 |
| | Conservative | Alexander Park | 84 | 5.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 466 | 30.6 | 13.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,524 | 57.2 | 12.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,664 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 6.7 | |
Source:

### Crookedholm, Moscow, Galston West and Hurlford North

Crookedholm, Moscow, Galston West and Hurlford North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Isabella MacRae | 801 | 55.2 | 3.5 |
| | SNP | Francis Dawson | 528 | 36.4 | 1.8 |
| | Conservative | Moira McLean | 122 | 8.4 | 1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 273 | 18.8 | 2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,451 | 51.8 | 10.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,802 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 2.6 | |
Source:

### Newmilns

Newmilns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | Henry Wilson | 805 | 58.0 | 5.5 |
| | Labour Co-op | Janice Spiers | 409 | 29.5 | 18.0 |
| | Conservative | George Park | 174 | 12.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 396 | 28.5 | 23.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,388 | 52.7 | 13.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,633 | | |
| | SNP hold | SNP hold | Swing | 11.7 | |
Source:

### Grange and Howard

Grange and Howard :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | Iain Linton | 765 | 42.0 | 4.4 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Cook | 604 | 33.2 | 0.2 |
| | Labour Co-op | John Goodwin | 452 | 24.8 | 3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 161 | 8.8 | 4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,821 | 59.8 | 10.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,044 | | |
| | SNP hold | SNP hold | Swing | 2.1 | |
Source:

### Kilmarnock Central South

Kilmarnock Central South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | John Campbell | 706 | 43.3 | 5.2 |
| | Labour Co-op | Alexander Walsh | 654 | 40.1 | 0.3 |
| | Conservative | Henry McCall | 269 | 16.5 | 2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 52 | 3.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,629 | 52.0 | 9.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,132 | | |
| | SNP gain from Labour Co-op | SNP gain from Labour Co-op | Swing | 2.7 | |
Source:

### Riccarton

Riccarton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Ray Murray | 711 | 51.2 | 11.4 |
| | SNP | John Keast | 497 | 35.8 | 9.4 |
| | Conservative | Rose-Ann Fergusson-Cuninghame | 181 | 13.0 | 5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 214 | 15.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,389 | 48.3 | 14.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,877 | | |
| | Labour Co-op gain from SNP | Labour Co-op gain from SNP | Swing | 10.4 | |
Source:

### Shortlees

Shortlees :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Jane Danbrough | 680 | 51.6 | 2.5 |
| | SNP | William McCulloch | 511 | 38.8 | 1.1 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Colin Rutherford | 72 | 5.5 | New |
| | Conservative | Peter Houison-Craufurd | 55 | 4.2 | 1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 169 | 12.8 | 1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,318 | 44.7 | 13.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,951 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 0.7 | |
Source:

### Bellfield

Bellfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | John Knapp | 999 | 62.9 | 15.2 |
| | SNP | Stephen McCluskey | 406 | 25.6 | 16.2 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Colin Berry | 118 | 7.4 | New |
| | Conservative | Robert Yuill | 64 | 4.0 | 0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 596 | 37.4 | 21.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,227 | 56.5 | 14.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,811 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 15.7 | |
Source:

### Hurlford

Hurlford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | James Raymond | 998 | 70.6 | 9.0 |
| | SNP | Arthur Sharp | 328 | 23.2 | 15.2 |
| | Conservative | Alice McCall | 88 | 6.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 670 | 47.3 | 24.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,414 | 47.0 | 12.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,006 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 17.1 | |
Source:

### Galston East

Galston East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Stuart Finlayson | 744 | 51.2 | 16.4 |
| | SNP | Finlay MacLean | 553 | 38.0 | 6.8 |
| | Conservative | Sara Donald | 157 | 10.8 | 7.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 191 | 13.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,454 | 54.8 | 6.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,651 | | |
| | Labour Co-op gain from SNP | Labour Co-op gain from SNP | Swing | 11.6 | |
Source:

### Darvel

Darvel :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | Robert McDill | 1,110 | 69.7 | 6.0 |
| | Labour Co-op | Graham Mitchell | 364 | 22.8 | 4.8 |
| | Conservative | Elizabeth Murray | 119 | 7.5 | 1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 746 | 46.8 | 10.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,593 | 54.7 | 13.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,914 | | |
| | SNP hold | SNP hold | Swing | 5.4 | |
Source:

### Mauchline

Mauchline :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Eric Jackson | 867 | 53.3 | 2.1 |
| | SNP | David Shankland | 455 | 28.3 | 2.9 |
| | Conservative | Martin Nicholas | 297 | 18.5 | 0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 402 | 25.0 | 5.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,609 | 56.0 | 4.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,875 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.5 | |
Source:

### Catrine, Sorn and Mauchline East

Catrine, Sorn and Mauchline East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | George Smith | 779 | 51.4 | 3.3 |
| | SNP | Jacqueline Todd | 500 | 33.0 | 6.5 |
| | Conservative | Kenneth Stirling | 238 | 15.7 | 3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 279 | 18.4 | 9.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,517 | 52.3 | 9.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,898 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 4.9 | |
Source:

### Muirkirk, Lugar and Logan

Muirkirk, Lugar and Logan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James Kelly | 975 | 69.2 | 0.5 |
| | SNP | Helen Kelso | 269 | 19.1 | 11.2 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Mark Gilroy | 91 | 6.5 | New |
| | Conservative | Peter Smith | 73 | 5.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 706 | 50.1 | 10.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,408 | 55.3 | 10.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,544 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.3 | |
Source:

### Drongan, Stair and Rankinston

Drongan, Stair and Rankinston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Thomas Farrell | 982 | 65.1 | 8.5 |
| | SNP | John MacAulay | 251 | 16.6 | 9.8 |
| | Conservative | James Hume | 180 | 11.9 | New |
| | Independent | Robert Shennan | 96 | 6.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 731 | 48.4 | 1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,509 | 49.0 | 11.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,079 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 0.6 | |
Source:

### Ochiltree, Skares, Netherthird and Craigens

Ochiltree, Skares, Netherthird and Craigens :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | William Menzies | 772 | 49.2 | 9.0 |
| | SNP | Julie Faulds | 657 | 41.8 | 5.8 |
| | Conservative | Ian Waller | 141 | 9.0 | 3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 115 | 7.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,570 | 54.0 | 8.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,908 | | |
| | Labour Co-op gain from SNP | Labour Co-op gain from SNP | Swing | 7.4 | |
Source:

### Auchinleck

Auchinleck :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Neil McGhee | 924 | 62.9 | 8.5 |
| | SNP | Iain Robb | 343 | 23.4 | 22.2 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Gareth Jenkins | 89 | 6.1 | New |
| | BNP | Stephen Burns | 73 | 5.0 | New |
| | Conservative | Primpton Sword | 39 | 2.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 581 | 39.6 | 30.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,468 | 52.6 | 9.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,790 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 15.3 | |
Source:

### Cumnock West

Cumnock West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Crawford | 839 | 59.4 | 4.8 |
| | SNP | Katherine Smith | 303 | 21.4 | 14.4 |
| | Conservative | Gary Smith | 141 | 10.0 | New |
| | Scottish Socialist | James Monaghan | 130 | 9.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 536 | 37.9 | 9.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,413 | 48.7 | 11.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,903 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.8 | |
Source:

### Cumnock East

Cumnock East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Eric Ross | 961 | 78.4 | 8.2 |
| | SNP | James Kelso | 215 | 17.5 | 12.3 |
| | Conservative | Craig Allison | 50 | 4.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 746 | 60.8 | 20.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,226 | 46.3 | 10.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,650 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 13.2 | |
Source:

### Patna and Dalrymple

Patna and Dalrymple :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Elaine Dinwoodie | 1,039 | 71.5 | 4.3 |
| | Conservative | Sophie Brodie | 215 | 14.8 | New |
| | SNP | Alexander MacKenzie | 200 | 13.8 | 19.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 824 | 56.7 | 22.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,454 | 47.7 | 7.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,051 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 11.6 | |
Source:

### Dalmellington

Dalmellington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Elaine Stewart | 789 | 52.7 | 1.1 |
| | SNP | Andrew Filson | 645 | 43.1 | 25.2 |
| | Conservative | James Boswell | 40 | 2.7 | New |
| | Scottish Socialist | Anne Baker | 23 | 1.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 144 | 9.6 | 11.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,497 | 58.6 | 2.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,555 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 12.0 | |
Source:

### New Cumnock

New Cumnock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James Carmichael | 1,004 | 67.7 | 6.2 |
| | SNP | Michael Lopez | 314 | 21.2 | 4.3 |
| | Conservative | Walter Young | 165 | 11.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 690 | 46.5 | 25.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,483 | 52.3 | 8.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,836 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.9 | |
Source:

## By-elections (2003–07)

Altonhill, Hillhead and Longpark by-election, 18 May 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | Helen Coffey | 715 | 59.0 | 4.4 |
| | Labour | Matthew McLaughlin | 296 | 24.4 | 6.8 |
| | Conservative | James Adams | 178 | 14.7 | 6.1 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Colin Rutherford | 23 | 1.9 | 3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 419 | 34.6 | 11.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,212 | 42.2 | 2.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,869 | | |
| | SNP hold | SNP hold | Swing | 5.6 | |
Source: