# 2003 Scottish Borders Council election

Elections for the Scottish Borders Council took place on Thursday 1 May 2003, alongside the wider Scottish local elections.
No party held a majority, with the largest grouping - local Independents - winning 14 of the council's 34 seats.

## Aggregate results

Scottish Borders Council election, 2003 :
| Party | Seats | Net gain/loss | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Independent | 14 | 0 | 30.4 | 12,216 | 0.8 |
| Conservative | 10 | 9 | 28.6 | 11,490 | 11.7 |
| Liberal Democrats | 9 | 5 | 26.3 | 10,561 | 1.8 |
| SNP | 1 | 3 | 11.5 | 4,625 | 6.6 |
| Scottish Socialist | 0 | 0 | 1.9 | 768 | New |
| Labour | 0 | 1 | 1.4 | 559 | 14.0 |

## Ward results

Ward 1: Eyemouth and District South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Michael Cook | 779 | 82.4 |
| | Conservative | Michael Norcott | 166 | 17.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 613 | 64.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 945 | 41.8 |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |
Ward 2: Chirnside and District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | James Fullarton | 614 | 57.9 |
| | SNP | Ms Aileen Orr | 446 | 42.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 168 | 15.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,060 | 43.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Ward 3: Coldstream and District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | John Law | 603 | 41.8 |
| | SNP | Donald Moffat | 556 | 38.5 |
| | Conservative | Robert Kennedy | 285 | 19.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 47 | 3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,444 | 57.5 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Ward 4: Duns and District South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Margaret McCrave | 450 | 40.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anne de Fernandez | 416 | 37.0 |
| | SNP | Gordon Mathews | 258 | 23.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 34 | 3.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,124 | 45.9 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent |
Ward 5: Duns and District North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | John Elliot | 449 | 38.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Maureen Ferguson | 366 | 31.0 |
| | Conservative | Gavin Calder | 93 | 8.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 83 | 7.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,150 | 47.3 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Ward 6: Eyemouth and District North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | George Russell | 615 | 55.0 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Morgan | 504 | 45.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 111 | 10.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,119 | 46.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
Ward 7: Kelso and District North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | David Lindores | 735 | 60.2 |
| | Conservative | Meriel Smith | 486 | 39.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 249 | 20.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,221 | 44.3 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Ward 8: Kelso Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Alasdair Hutton | Unopposed | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats |
Ward 9: Kelso and District South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alex Nicol | 796 | 55.2 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Thomson | 646 | 44.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 150 | 10.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 442 | 61.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
Ward 10: Jedburgh and District East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Sandy Scott | 487 | 46.3 |
| | SNP | Natasha York | 316 | 30.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Tunnah | 248 | 23.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 171 | 16.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,051 | 46.5 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats |
Ward 11: Jedburgh and District West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | John Wight | 738 | 61.6 |
| | SNP | James Brown | 460 | 38.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 278 | 23.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,198 | 52.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Ward 12: Hermitage :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Val Robson | 424 | 42.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anne Borthwick | 389 | 38.6 |
| | Conservative | Hubert Rutherford | 196 | 19.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 35 | 3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,009 | 47.7 |
| | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats |
Ward 13: Burnfoot and Mansfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | David Richardson | 401 | 42.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Norman Pender | 375 | 39.6 |
| | SNP | Harry Stoddart | 122 | 12.9 |
| | Conservative | John Lamont | 48 | 5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 26 | 2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 946 | 45.0 |
| | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats |
Ward 14: Silverbuthall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Mary Beck | 526 | 46.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Scott | 502 | 44.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jake Irvine | 110 | 9.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24 | 2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,138 | 53.0 |
| | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats |
Ward 15: Weensland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Kenneth McCartney | 664 | 46.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Scott | 369 | 25.9 |
| | Conservative | Ms. Alexandra Elliot | 299 | 21.0 |
| | SNP | Richard Cain | 90 | 6.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 295 | 20.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,422 | 59.1 |
| | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats |
Ward 16: Teviot and Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | David Paterson | 728 | 63.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ronald Smith | 325 | 28.2 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Loyd | 98 | 8.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 403 | 35.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,151 | 52.3 |
| | Independent gain from SNP | Independent gain from SNP | Independent gain from SNP | Independent gain from SNP |
Ward 17: Wilton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Andrew Farquhar | 526 | 47.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Oliver Angus | 320 | 28.8 |
| | Conservative | George Turnbull | 264 | 23.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 206 | 18.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,110 | 50.0 |
| | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats |
Ward 18: Galawater and Lauderdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Douglas Younger | 465 | 29.4 |
| | Independent | Alexander Aitchison | 415 | 26.2 |
| | Independent | Graeme Donald | 374 | 23.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Runciman | 328 | 20.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 50 | 2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,572 | 58.3 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent |
Ward 19: Earlston, Gordon and District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Miles Browne | Unopposed | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats |
Ward 20: Melrose and District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | William Smith | 831 | 58.5 |
| | Conservative | Jonathan Hill | 590 | 41.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 241 | 17.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,421 | 56.8 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Ward 21: Scott's View :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Carolyn Riddell-Carre | 729 | 57.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barbara Wright | 543 | 42.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 186 | 14.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,272 | 52.8 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent |
Ward 22: Alewater and Denholm :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Houston | 706 | 51.0 |
| | Conservative | John Greenwell | 677 | 49.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29 | 2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,383 | 56.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
Ward 23: Old Selkirk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Gordon Edgar | 618 | 40.7 |
| | Independent | John Thomson | 544 | 35.8 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Kerry Gentleman | 143 | 9.4 |
| | SNP | Alexander McKie | 127 | 8.4 |
| | Conservative | Guy Lee | 87 | 5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 74 | 4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,519 | 55.9 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Ward 24: Forest :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Vicky Davidson | 669 | 46.9 |
| | SNP | Christopher Renton | 514 | 36.0 |
| | Conservative | Kevin Newton | 243 | 17.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 155 | 10.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,426 | 53.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from SNP | Liberal Democrats gain from SNP | Liberal Democrats gain from SNP | Liberal Democrats gain from SNP |
Ward 25: Netherdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Fiona Moore | 317 | 28.3 |
| | Independent | Angus MacKay | 293 | 20.1 |
| | Independent | John Robertson | 261 | 23.3 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Graeme McIver | 249 | 22.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24 | 2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,120 | 46.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent |
Ward 26: Lower Landlee and Tweedbank :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | David Parker | 1,113 | 94.2 |
| | Conservative | Scott Smith | 69 | 5.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,044 | 88.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,182 | 52.8 |
| | Independent gain from SNP | Independent gain from SNP | Independent gain from SNP | Independent gain from SNP |
Ward 27: Upper Langlee and Landhope :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | SNP | John Mitchell | 585 | 65.2 |
| | Conservative | Robert Strang | 312 | 34.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 273 | 30.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 897 | 41.3 |
| | SNP hold | SNP hold | SNP hold | SNP hold |
Ward 28: Kilnknowe and Clovenfords :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Thomas Dumble | 462 | 41.8 |
| | SNP | Graham Fleming | 296 | 26.8 |
| | Conservative | Willie Hall | 236 | 21.4 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Joy McLelland | 110 | 10.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 166 | 15.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,104 | 46.9 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Ward 29: Mossilee and Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | William Lamb | 355 | 38.3 |
| | SNP | William Herd | 271 | 29.2 |
| | Labour | Carolyne Thomson | 160 | 17.2 |
| | Conservative | Brian Jones | 94 | 10.1 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Lesley McIver | 48 | 5.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 84 | 9.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 928 | 43.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
Ward 30: Innerleithen and Walkerburn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Patricia Purves | 862 | 57.9 |
| | SNP | William Cox | 317 | 21.3 |
| | Conservative | John Ballantine | 160 | 10.7 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Norman Lockhart | 150 | 10.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 545 | 36.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,489 | 55.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent |
Ward 31: Peebles and District South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Graham Garvie | 813 | 50.4 |
| | Conservative | Charles Cormack | 460 | 28.5 |
| | Independent | Hector Black | 341 | 21.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 353 | 21.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,614 | 56.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
Ward 32: Peebles and District East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Catriona Bhatia | 829 | 56.0 |
| | SNP | George Cowan | 267 | 18.0 |
| | Conservative | Hilary Ballantine | 178 | 12.0 |
| | Labour | John Thomson | 139 | 9.4 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Joan Rowley | 68 | 4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 562 | 38.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,481 | 54.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour |
Ward 33: Peebles and Upper Tweed :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Nancy Norman | 971 | 62.0 |
| | Conservative | Hugh Seymour | 335 | 21.4 |
| | Labour | Julia Reid | 260 | 16.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 636 | 40.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,566 | 57.5 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Ward 34: West Linton and District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Neil Calvert | 722 | 44.7 |
| | Independent | David Small | 634 | 39.3 |
| | Independent | Robert Bond | 259 | 16.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 88 | 5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,615 | 59.1 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent |