# 2017 Highland Council election

The 2017 Highland Council election was held on 4 May 2017 to elect members of the Highland Council. The election used the 21 wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004; each ward elected three or four councillors using the single transferable vote system (a form of proportional representation). A total of 74 councillors were elected, six less than in 2012.
The election was fought in new wards, as the recommendations by the Boundary Commission had been accepted by Scottish Ministers. There were big changes, particularly in Caithness where an entire ward was removed. This election was most notable for returning 10 Conservative councillors: the party's first representation on the council since 1995.
After the 2012 election an administration had been formed by the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Labour Party. This was the first time that the Independents had not had any role in the administration of the council. However, later in the 2012–17 term, this administration fell and the Independent group instead governed as a minority.
After the 2017 election, the Independent, Liberal Democrat and Labour groups formed a coalition administration.

## Election result

2017 Highland Council election :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Independent | 28 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 37.84 | 36.07 | 32,492 | 4.16 |
| SNP | 22 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 29.73 | 24.93 | 22,459 | 0.84 |
| Conservative | 10 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 13.51 | 15.65 | 14,095 | 10.60 |
| Liberal Democrats | 10 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 13.51 | 12.85 | 11,577 | 0.64 |
| Labour | 3 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4.05 | 6.90 | 6,218 | 5.73 |
| Scottish Green | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.35 | 3.14 | 2,832 | 2.18 |
| UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.19 | 169 | 0.19 |
| Scottish Christian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.12 | 104 | 1.01 |
| Scottish Socialist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.11 | 96 | New |
| Scottish Libertarian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.04 | 36 | New |
Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 3 May 2012. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils. These are also direct comparisons of seat change, not comparisons to 'notional' results as used in the national results, as such there is a net loss of six seats in the Net gain/loss column.

## Ward results
### North, West and Central Sutherland

* 2012: 1 SNP; 1 Lib Dem; 1 Independent
* 2017: 1 SNP; 1 Lib Dem; 1 Independent
* 2012-2017 Change: No change
North, West and Central Sutherland - 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Conservative | Russell Taylor | 19.84% | 557 | 561 | 565 | 622 | 658 | |
| | SNP | Kirsteen Currie | 19.81% | 556 | 564 | 571 | 612 | 681 | 689 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Linda Munro (incumbent) | 17.96% | 504 | 510 | 521 | 587 | 671 | 899 |
| | Independent | Hugh Morrison (incumbent) | 16.85% | 473 | 480 | 521 | 556 | 669 | 804 |
| | Independent | Malcolm Bangor-Jones | 11.08% | 311 | 327 | 341 | 367 | | |
| | Labour | William Sinclair | 9.44% | 265 | 269 | 274 | | | |
| | Independent | Michael Simpson | 3.17% | 89 | 91 | | | | |
| | Independent | Brendan O'Hanrahan | 1.85% | 52 | | | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 2,807 Spoilt: 38 Quota: 702 Turnout: 58.0% ||||||||||

### Thurso and North West Caithness

* 2017: 2 Independent, 1 Conservative, 1 SNP
* 2012-2017 Change: New ward
Thurso and North West Caithness - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | Independent | Matthew Reiss* | 36.69% | 1,924 | | | | | | | |
| | Conservative | Struan Mackie | 17.18% | 901 | 1,111 | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Karl Rosie | 14.23% | 746 | 813 | 816 | 823 | 875 | 899 | 957 | 1,059 |
| | Independent | Donnie MacKay + ††††† | 10.81% | 567 | 678 | 687 | 706 | 717 | 763 | 878 | 1,263 |
| | Independent | Gillian Coghill * | 7.95% | 417 | 643 | 658 | 683 | 703 | 758 | 870 | |
| | Labour | Roger Saxon + | 6.25% | 328 | 405 | 410 | 412 | 427 | 488 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alexander Glasgow | 3.78% | 198 | 241 | 250 | 257 | 276 | | | |
| | Scottish Green | Sandra Owsnett | 1.98% | 104 | 128 | 129 | 137 | | | | |
| | Independent | Tommy Farmer | 1.13% | 59 | 82 | 85 | | | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 5,244 Spoilt: 70 Quota: 1,049 Turnout: 51.4% ||||||||||||
* = Sitting Councillors for Landward Caithness Ward. + = Sitting Councillors for Thurso Ward.

### Wick and East Caithness

* 2017: 2 Independent, 1 Conservative, 1 SNP
* 2012-2017 Change: New ward
Wick and East Caithness - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | Independent | A.I. Willie MacKay + | 22.37% | 1,046 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Nicola Sinclair †††††††††††† | 20.68% | 967 | | | | | | | |
| | Conservative | Andrew Sinclair | 13.88% | 649 | 666 | 669 | 708 | 735 | 822 | 919 | 1,047 |
| | SNP | Raymond Bremner | 11.74% | 549 | 557 | 559 | 577 | 600 | 655 | 723 | 831 |
| | Labour | Neil MacDonald * | 8.64% | 404 | 417 | 420 | 455 | 495 | 556 | 671 | |
| | Independent | Linda Malik | 7.23% | 338 | 351 | 357 | 369 | 424 | | | |
| | Independent | Bill Fernie * | 6.99% | 327 | 353 | 361 | 396 | 436 | 518 | | |
| | Independent | Catherine Patterson | 4.79% | 224 | 233 | 238 | 247 | | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Luke Graham | 3.68% | 172 | 177 | 178 | | | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 4,676 Spoilt: 59 Quota: 936 Turnout: 47.6% ||||||||||||
* = Sitting Councillors for Wick Ward.
+ = Sitting Councillor for Landward Caithness Ward.

### East Sutherland and Edderton

* 2012: 1xLabour, 1xIndependent; 1xSNP
* 2017: 1 x Labour, 1 x Independent, 1 x Liberal Democrats
* 2012-2017 Change: 1 x Liberal Democrat gain from SNP
East Sutherland and Edderton - 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Labour | Deirdre MacKay (incumbent) | 21.20% | 755 | 757 | 831 | 946 | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Gale | 19.63% | 699 | 715 | 773 | 889 | 909 | | |
| | SNP | Graham Phillips (incumbent) | 18.20% | 648 | 653 | 711 | 725 | 732 | 735 | |
| | Independent | Jim McGillivray (incumbent) | 16.76% | 597 | 600 | 649 | 793 | 806 | 814 | 1,155 |
| | Conservative | Eva Short | 14.52% | 517 | 518 | 532 | | | | |
| | No Label | George Gunn | 8.68% | 309 | 311 | | | | | |
| | Scottish Libertarian | Harry Christian | 1.01% | 36 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 3,561 Spoilt: 30 Quota: 891 Turnout: 57.1% |||||||||||

### Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh

* 2012: 2 x Independent, 1 x SNP, 1 x Liberal Democrat
* 2017: 1 x Independent, 1 x SNP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Liberal Democrat
* 2012-2017 Change: 1 x Conservative gain from Independent
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | Conservative | Derek MacLeod | 18.44% | 1,036 | 1,055 | 1,061 | 1,064 | 1,206 | | | |
| | SNP | Ian Cockburn (incumbent) | 15.28% | 859 | 887 | 1,355 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Biz Campbell (incumbent) | 14.16% | 796 | 843 | 876 | 900 | 1,146 | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kate Stephen*†††††† | 13.38% | 752 | 841 | 864 | 883 | 993 | 1,026 | 1,035 | 1,560 |
| | Independent | Richard Greene (incumbent) | 11.67% | 656 | 673 | 686 | 700 | | | | |
| | Scottish Green | Topher Dawson | 11.18% | 628 | 674 | 721 | 839 | 928 | 935 | 939 | |
| | SNP | Alexander MacInnes | 10.82% | 608 | 610 | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Christopher Birt | 5.07% | 285 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 5,620 Spoilt: 75 Quota: 1,125 Turnout: 57.8% ||||||||||||
* = Sitting Councillor for Culloden and Ardersier Ward.

### Cromarty Firth

* 2012: 2 x Independent, 1 x SNP, 1 x Liberal Democrats
* 2017: 2 x Independent, 2 x SNP
* 2012-2017 Change: 1 x SNP gain from Liberal Democrats
Cromarty Firth - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | Independent | Carolyn Wilson (incumbent) | 27.01% | 1,108 | | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Pauline Munro ††††††††††† | 19.53% | 801 | 828 | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Maxine Smith ††††††††††† (incumbent) | 14.12% | 579 | 599 | 604 | 615 | 624 | 660 | 674 | 741 |
| | Independent | Mike Finlayson (incumbent) | 9.87% | 405 | 483 | 483 | 532 | 567 | 639 | 773 | 1,047 |
| | Conservative | Ian Smith | 8.43% | 346 | 368 | 368 | 373 | 390 | 468 | | |
| | Independent | Martin Rattray (incumbent) | 7.85% | 322 | 378 | 378 | 399 | 422 | 498 | 591 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mary MacDonald | 6.78% | 278 | 303 | 303 | 320 | 360 | | | |
| | Labour | Bill Curran | 3.78% | 155 | 162 | 162 | 170 | | | | |
| | Independent | Sheila Fletcher | 2.63% | 108 | 122 | 122 | | | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 4,102 Spoilt: 65 Quota: 821 Turnout: 43.4% ||||||||||||

### Tain and Easter Ross

* 2012: 2 x Independent, 1 x Liberal Democrat
* 2017: 1 x Independent, 1 x Liberal Democrat, 1 x SNP
* 2012-2017 Change: 1 x SNP gain from Independent
Tain and Easter Ross - 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | SNP | Derek Louden | 23.85% | 831 | 847 | 870 | 874 | | |
| | Independent | Fiona Robertson (incumbent) | 20.32% | 708 | 751 | 903 | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jamie Stone (incumbent) † | 19.49% | 679 | 696 | 851 | 860 | 861 | 1,342 |
| | Independent | Alasdair Rhind (incumbent) | 16.33% | 569 | 587 | 722 | 736 | 736 | |
| | Conservative | Ron Ferguson | 16.02% | 558 | 583 | | | | |
| | Independent | Sandra Skinner | 3.99% | 139 | | | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 3,484 Spoilt: 64 Quota: 872 Turnout: 49.9% ||||||||||

### Dingwall and Seaforth

* 2012: 2 x Independent, 1 x Liberal Democrat, 1 x SNP
* 2017: 2 x Independent, 1 x Liberal Democrat, 1 x SNP
* 2012-2017 Change: No Change
Dingwall and Seaforth - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | SNP | Graham MacKenzie (incumbent) | 28.62% | 1,267 | | | | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Angela MacLean (incumbent) | 19.61% | 868 | 941 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Margaret Paterson (incumbent) | 19.27% | 853 | 967 | | | | | |
| | Conservative | Reiner Luyken | 14.36% | 636 | 644 | 652 | 662 | 670 | 716 | |
| | Independent | Alister MacKinnon (incumbent) | 12.47% | 552 | 603 | 639 | 659 | 690 | 783 | 1,125 |
| | Labour | David Jardine | 4.47% | 198 | 233 | 240 | 249 | 265 | | |
| | No Label | Dave Allison | 1.20% | 53 | 67 | 72 | 73 | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 4,427 Spoilt: 44 Quota: 886 Turnout: 44.5% |||||||||||

### Black Isle

* 2012: 2 x Independent, 1 x Liberal Democrats, 1 x SNP
* 2017: 1 x Independent, 1 x Liberal Democrats, 1 x SNP
* 2012-2017 Change: 1 x Independent loss due to 4 wards being reduced to 3
Black Isle - 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | SNP | Craig Fraser (incumbent) | 26.88% | 1,234 | | | | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gordon Adam | 20.02% | 919 | 930 | 1,005 | 1,077 | 1,307 | | |
| | Conservative | Rainie Smith | 18.71% | 859 | 860 | 878 | 927 | 940 | 974 | |
| | Independent | Jennifer Barclay (incumbent) | 16.16% | 742 | 754 | 783 | 842 | 939 | 995 | 1,457 |
| | Scottish Green | Vikki Trelfer | 8.45% | 388 | 427 | 466 | 494 | | | |
| | Independent | Bev Smith | 5.36% | 246 | 250 | 263 | | | | |
| | Labour | Michael MacMillan | 4.42% | 203 | 209 | | | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 4,591 Spoilt: 42 Quota: 1,148 Turnout: 4,633 (54.9%) |||||||||||

### Eilean a' Cheò

* 2012: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
* 2017: 3xIndependent; 1xSNP
* 2012-2017 Change: Independent gain one seat from Lib Dem
Eilean a' Cheò (Skye) - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| | Independent | John Finlayson | 28.97% | 1,449 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Ronald MacDonald†††††††† | 14.34% | 717 | 829.5 | 835.2 | 847.5 | 892.3 | 925.9 | 992.6 | 999.3 | 1,001.9 | | | |
| | SNP | Calum MacLeod ††† | 12.52% | 626 | 656.6 | 666.9 | 676.5 | 690.4 | 710.3 | 726.6 | 1,028.8 | | | | |
| | Independent | John Gordon (incumbent) | 9.06% | 453 | 534.9 | 539.9 | 549.5 | 582.7 | 631.9 | 737.3 | 757.1 | 765.3 | 765.7 | 834.6 | 1,035.2 |
| | Independent | Hamish Fraser (incumbent) | 6.78% | 339 | 395.9 | 408.5 | 425.1 | 442.8 | 515.6 | 545.6 | 554.8 | 559.1 | 559.2 | 632.03 | |
| | Conservative | Malcolm MacLeod | 6.38% | 319 | 331.4 | 335.4 | 359.2 | 371 | 383.9 | 394.5 | 395.8 | 396.3 | 396.4 | | |
| | SNP | Ian Renwick (incumbent) | 6.20% | 310 | 317.4 | 320.4 | 323.4 | 334.8 | 351.7 | 363.5 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Campbell Dickson | 4.32% | 216 | 249.7 | 251.6 | 257.9 | 277.3 | 303.3 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Drew Millar (incumbent) | 4.26% | 213 | 241.1 | 243.4 | 250.4 | 265.8 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Moira Scoobie | 3.28% | 164 | 197.1 | 208 | 222.6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Peter O'Donnghaile | 1.96% | 98 | 104.5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ken MacLeod * | 1.94% | 97 | 106.6 | 131.2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 5,001 Spoilt: 80 Quota: 1,001 Turnout: 5,082 (59.1%) ||||||||||||||||
* = Sitting Councillor for Inverness Millburn Ward.

### Caol and Mallaig

* 2012: 3xIndependent
* 2017: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP
* 2012-2017 Change: SNP gain one seat from Independent
Caol and Mallaig - 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Independent | Allan Henderson (incumbent) | 28.29% | 917 | | | | |
| | Independent | Ben Thompson †††††††††††††† (incumbent) | 23.66% | 767 | 809.4 | 826.4 | | |
| | SNP | Billy MacLachlan†††† | 24.00% | 778 | 793.4 | 796.6 | 800.7 | 838.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Denis Rixson | 9.38% | 304 | 324.7 | 328.04 | 331.03 | 402.6 |
| | Conservative | Elizabeth Saggers | 8.17% | 265 | 271.4 | 275.5 | 276.9 | 290.6 |
| | Labour | Alan Carstairs | 5.58% | 181 | 187.4 | 189.4 | 191.5 | |
| | Independent | Liam Simmonds | 0.93% | 30 | 34.04 | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 3,242 Spoilt: 52 Quota: 811 Turnout: 3,294 (46.6%) |||||||||

### Aird and Loch Ness

* 2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
* 2017: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xCon
* 2012-2017 Change: Conservative gain one seat from Lib Dem
Aird and Loch Ness - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Independent | Margaret Davidson (incumbent) | 27.77% | 1,405 | | | | | |
| | Conservative | George Cruickshank††††††††† | 19.73% | 998 | 1,045.3 | | | | |
| | SNP | Emma Knox | 14.21% | 719 | 734.1 | 734.3 | 842.07 | 1,270.6 | |
| | Independent | Helen Carmichael (incumbent) | 12.35% | 625 | 837.02 | 848.6 | 947.6 | 960.7 | 1,049.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dr. Jean Davis (incumbent) | 10.18% | 515 | 558.6 | 568.1 | 654.5 | 671.2 | 714.9 |
| | SNP | Matt Friess | 8.08% | 409 | 424.9 | 425.3 | 491.8 | | |
| | Scottish Green | Chris Ballance | 7.67% | 388 | 411.8 | 413.5 | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 5,059 Spoilt: 66 Quota: 1,012 Turnout: 5,125 (52.6%) ||||||||||

### Inverness West

* 2012: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent
* 2017: 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent; 1xSNP
* 2012-2017 Change: No change
Inverness West - 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alex Graham (incumbent) | 27.65% | 964 | | | | | |
| | SNP | Bill Boyd | 20.71% | 722 | 727.8 | 752.3 | 782.6 | 785.5 | 1,077.3 |
| | Independent | Graham Ross †††††††††††† (incumbent) | 20.63% | 719 | 751.4 | 808.03 | 891.4 | | |
| | Conservative | Fergus MacKenzie | 11.93% | 416 | 431.6 | 445.3 | 489.2 | 493.7 | 501.2 |
| | SNP | Cath MacInnes | 8.61% | 300 | 304.9 | 317.2 | 345.5 | 347.8 | |
| | Labour | Addie Eghtedar | 6.74% | 235 | 244.9 | 261.7 | | | |
| | Independent | Allan Duffy (incumbent) | 3.73% | 130 | 139.4 | | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 3,486 Spoilt: 64 Quota: 872 Turnout: 3,550 (42.6%) ||||||||||

### Inverness Central

* 2012: 2xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLab
* 2017: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
* 2012-2017 Change: 1 less seat compared to 2012.
Inverness Central - 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | SNP | Richard Laird (incumbent)††††††† | 32.81% | 1,122 | | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Bet McAllister (incumbent) | 16.88% | 577 | 615.5 | 623.5 | 665.7 | 768.8 | 880.8 | | |
| | Independent | Janet Campbell (incumbent) | 15.27% | 522 | 546.03 | 560.9 | 577.8 | 640.4 | 828.8 | 839.4 | 1,063.4 |
| | Conservative | Donald MacKenzie | 12.46% | 426 | 430.3 | 434.3 | 474.7 | 498.04 | 533.7 | 536.6 | |
| | Independent | Donnie Kerr (incumbent) | 10.53% | 360 | 392.8 | 409.2 | 420.6 | 485.1 | | | |
| | Scottish Green | Russell Deacon | 6.08% | 208 | 305.09 | 311.3 | 346.04 | | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Margot Kerr | 4.50% | 154 | 170.7 | 172.7 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Diane Wilkinson | 1.46% | 50 | 58.8 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 3,419 Spoilt: 64 Quota: 855 Turnout: 3,483 (39.5%) ||||||||||||

### Inverness Ness-side

* 2012: 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLab
* 2017: 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xCon
* 2012-2017 Change: 1 less seat compared to 2012.
Inverness Ness-side - 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alasdair Christie (incumbent) | 42.75% | 1,739 | | | | | |
| | SNP | Ron MacWilliam | 25.96% | 1,056 | | | | | |
| | Conservative | Callum Smith | 14.18% | 577 | 748.2 | 749.2 | 756 | 851.6 | 1,110.9 |
| | Labour | Fraser Parr (incumbent) | 9.27% | 377 | 537.9 | 546.6 | 588.2 | 744.2 | |
| | Independent | Jean Slater (incumbent) | 6.27% | 255 | 427.06 | 437.3 | 471.1 | | |
| | Scottish Socialist | Feargus Murray | 1.57% | 64 | 99.2 | 105.5 | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 4,068 Spoilt: 29 Quota: 1,018 Turnout: 4,097 (51.1%) ||||||||||

### Inverness Millburn

* 2012: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
* 2017: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
* 2012-2017 Change: Conservative gain one seat from Lib Dem
Inverness Millburn - 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Labour | Jimmy Gray (incumbent) | 29.64% | 1,064 | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Ian Brown (incumbent) | 20.56% | 738 | 755.3 | 770.3 | 818.9 | 856.4 | 864.3 | 1,352.8 |
| | Conservative | Isabelle MacKenzie | 19.94% | 716 | 749.1 | 792.1 | 824.6 | 993.01 | | |
| | SNP | Jackie Hendry | 12.59% | 452 | 462.9 | 472.2 | 534.1 | 573.5 | 581.5 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | John West | 7.44% | 267 | 298.4 | 329.8 | 390.7 | | | |
| | Scottish Green | Anne Thomas | 5.93% | 213 | 229.1 | 255.4 | | | | |
| | Independent | Zosia Fraser | 3.90% | 140 | 158.3 | | | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 3,590 Spoilt: 65 Quota: 898 Turnout: 3,655 (47.7%) |||||||||||

### Culloden and Ardersier

* 2012: 1xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLab; 1xLib Dem
* 2017: 1xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLib Dem
* 2012-2017 Change: 1 less seat compared to 2012.
Culloden and Ardersier - 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | Independent | Roddy Balfour (incumbent) | 20.17% | 763 | 790 | 817 | 864 | 900 | 972.5 | | |
| | Conservative | Raine Cullen | 18.11% | 685 | 697 | 705 | 731 | 736 | 744.9 | 751.09 | |
| | SNP | Glynis Campbell-Sinclair (incumbent) | 17.69% | 669 | 677 | 704 | 724 | 1,280 | | | |
| | SNP | Pauline Munro | 16.47% | 623 | 627 | 655 | 682 | | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Trish Robertson (incumbent) | 15.65% | 592 | 601 | 633 | 707 | 743 | 800.4 | 810.9 | 1,188.7 |
| | Labour | Matt Wakeling | 5.68% | 215 | 220 | 241 | | | | | |
| | Scottish Green | Donnie MacLeod | 3.94% | 149 | 156 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Thomas Lamont | 2.27% | 86 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 3,782 Spoilt: 60 Quota: 946 Turnout: 3,842 (47.1%) ||||||||||||

### Nairn and Cawdor

* 2012: 2xIndependent; 2xSNP
* 2017: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xCon
* 2012-2017 Change: Conservative gain one seat from SNP.
Nairn and Cawdor- 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | Independent | Tom Heggie | 21.57% | 1,144 | | | | | | | | |
| | Conservative | Peter Saggers | 15.39% | 816 | 820.8 | 820.8 | 833.8 | 861.4 | 941.09 | 945.09 | 947.9 | 1,045.7 |
| | Independent | Laurie Fraser (incumbent) | 13.09% | 694 | 716.5 | 716.5 | 740.7 | 841.05 | 967.3 | 1,009.09 | 1,055.9 | 1,491.3 |
| | SNP | Liz MacDonald ††††††††††† (incumbent) | 12.20% | 647 | 654.9 | 661.9 | 666.1 | 686.9 | 710.4 | 1,228.7 | | |
| | SNP | Stephen Fuller (incumbent) | 11.05% | 586 | 590.7 | 598.7 | 603.8 | 634.9 | 657.0 | | | |
| | Independent | Michael Green (incumbent) | 10.52% | 558 | 571.06 | 573.06 | 584.2 | 658.7 | 758.8 | 792.9 | 824.5 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ritchie Cunningham | 6.96% | 369 | 374.9 | 377.9 | 421.2 | 458.3 | | | | |
| | Independent | Paul McIvor | 5.85% | 310 | 322.8 | 330.06 | 347.6 | | | | | |
| | Labour | Andrew Mackintosh | 2.77% | 147 | 148.9 | 151.9 | | | | | | |
| | Scottish Socialist | Louis McIntosh | 0.60% | 32 | 32.5 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 5,303 Spoilt: 96 Quota: 1,061 Turnout: 5,399 (52.5%) |||||||||||||

### Inverness South

* 2012: 2xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xIndependent
* 2017: 1SNP; 1Con; 1Lib Dem; 1Independent
* 2012-2017 Change: Conservative gain one seat from Lib Dem
Inverness South - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | SNP | Ken Gowans (incumbent) †† | 25.31% | 1,287 | | | | | | |
| | Conservative | Andrew Jarvie | 20.10% | 1,022 | | | | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Carolyn Caddick (incumbent) | 15.71% | 799 | 810.5 | 811.6 | 833.8 | 970.5 | 1,151.2 | |
| | Independent | Duncan MacPherson | 11.47% | 583 | 593.7 | 594.3 | 619.6 | 678.2 | 971.2 | 1,029.6 |
| | Independent | Jim Crawford (incumbent) | 10.36% | 527 | 537.5 | 538.3 | 564.3 | 621.8 | | |
| | Labour | Shaun Fraser | 7.61% | 387 | 394.9 | 395.3 | 401.3 | | | |
| | SNP | Michelle Gowans | 7.39% | 376 | 592.3 | 592.4 | 599.6 | 646.4 | 682.2 | 696.4 |
| | Scottish Christian | Donald MacLeod Boyd | 2.05% | 104 | 105.05 | 105.3 | | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 5,085 Spoilt: 48 Quota: 1,018 Turnout: 5,133 (45.3%) |||||||||||

### Badenoch and Strathspey

* 2012: 2xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLib Dem
* 2017: 1xCon; 1xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xGRN
* 2012-2017 Change: Conservative & Green each gain one seat from SNP & Liberal Democrat
Badenoch and Strathspey - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | Conservative | John Bruce | 23.58% | 1,266 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Bill Lobban (incumbent) | 22.15% | 1,189 | | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Muriel Cockburn | 18.48% | 992 | 993.8 | 1,005.9 | 1,014.8 | 1,040.5 | 1,089.9 | | |
| | Scottish Green | Pippa Hadley | 14.04% | 754 | 763.7 | 784.1 | 808.3 | 820.6 | 905.7 | 915.4 | 1,230.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gregor Rimell (incumbent) | 9.61% | 516 | 571.4 | 601.5 | 663.9 | 689.6 | 793.7 | 795.4 | |
| | Independent | Stewart Dick | 6.26% | 336 | 362.8 | 371.7 | 401.1 | 455.7 | | | |
| | UKIP | Les Durance | 3.15% | 169 | 198.6 | 202.7 | 210.9 | | | | |
| | Independent | Donald MacDonald | 2.74% | 147 | 167.8 | 185.3 | | | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 5,369 Spoilt: 43 Quota: 1,074 Turnout: 5,412 (51.0%) ||||||||||||

### Fort William and Ardnamurchan

* 2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLab
* 2017: 2xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xCon
* 2012-2017 Change: SNP & Conservative each gain one seat from Independent & Labour
Fort William and Ardnamurchan - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Independent | Andrew Baxter †††††††††† (incumbent) | 37.24% | 1,550 | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Blair Allan | 22.39% | 932 | | | | | | |
| | Conservative | Ian Ramon††††††††††††† | 12.73% | 530 | 648.9 | 650.0 | 713.5 | 842.3 | | |
| | SNP | Niall McLean | 10.50% | 437 | 550.3 | 630.2 | 650.9 | 715.9 | 716.1 | 852.2 |
| | Labour | Sally Semple | 8.27% | 344 | 425.9 | 428.5 | 488.9 | 595.9 | 599.2 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Trevor Escott | 4.61% | 192 | 250.7 | 254.6 | | | | |
| | Independent | Joanne Matheson | 4.25% | 177 | 389.3 | 392.6 | 454.7 | | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 4,162 Spoilt: 80 Quota: 833 Turnout: 4,242 (48.4%) |||||||||||

## Changes since 2017

* † Tain and Easter Ross Liberal Democrat Cllr Jamie Stone was elected MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross in June 2017. He resigned his council seat on 20 July 2017. The by-election took place on 28 September 2017. Alisdair Rhind was elected with 48.8% of the first preference vote. He had previously served as councillor for Tain and Easter Ross before losing his seat the previous May.
* †† Inverness South Ken Gowans resigned from the SNP on 5 September 2017. He rejoined the SNP in 2018.
* ††† Eilean a' Cheò Cllr Calum MacLeod left the SNP group in November 2017 following allegations of fracas.
* †††† Caol and Mallaig SNP Cllr Billy MacLachlan died in January 2018. A by-election took place on 5 April 2018. It was won by the Liberal Democrat candidate Denis Rixson, who had stood unsuccessfully for the seat in the 2017 local elections.
* ††††† Thurso and Northwest Caithness Independent Cllr Donnie Mackay left the independent-led administration in June 2018, in protest to a proposed roll-out of car park charges to more towns and toilet closures. He subsequently joined the Conservative party.
* †††††† Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Lib Dem Cllr Kate Stephen resigned her seat on 1 October 2018. This was due to an increase in her academic research. A by-election was held on 6 December 2018 which was won by the SNP's Alexander MacInnes.
* ††††††† Inverness Central SNP Cllr Richard Laird resigned his seat due to medical advice on 5 September 2019. A by-election was held on 14 November 2019 and Emma Roddick held the seat for the SNP.
* †††††††† Eilean a' Cheò Independent Cllr Ronald MacDonald resigned his Council seat on 19 December 2019 to concentrate on the implementation of the Ritchie Report to improve Health and Social Care Services in Skye. A by-election was held on 12 March 2020 and was won by Independent candidate Calum Munro.
* ††††††††† Aird and Loch Ness Conservative Cllr George Cruikshank died on 6 April 2020. A by-election was held on 11 March 2021 and was won by Independent candidate David Fraser.
* †††††††††† Cllr Andrew Baxter (Fort William and Ardnamurchan) was removed from the independent administration in the summer of 2020. He initially continued under the grouping "Real Independent", but has subsequently joined the Conservative group.
* ††††††††††† Three SNP members - Cllrs Maxine Smith & Pauline Munro (Cromarty Firth) and Cllr Liz MacDonald (Nairn and Cawdor) left the party on 17 September 2020 to continue as independents.
* †††††††††††† By-elections were held on 12 August 2021 for the seats vacated by Cllr Nicola Sinclair (Wick and East Caithness) and Cllr Graham Ross (Inverness West). These were won by Jill Tilt and Colin Aitken respectively, both of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
* ††††††††††††† A by-election was held on 2 December 2021 for the seat vacated by the sad death of Cllr Ian Ramon (Fort William and Ardnamurchan). The by-election was won by Sarah Fanet of the SNP.
* †††††††††††††† Independent Cllr Ben Thompson (Caol and Mallaig) resigned on 12 November 2021. No by-election was called for this vacancy as the next full election of the council is expected within six months of his resignation date.

## By-elections since 2017
### Tain and Easter Ross

Tain and Easter Ross By-election (28 September 2017) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | Independent | Alasdair Rhind | 49.38% | 1,266 | 1,267 | 1,290 |
| | SNP | Stan Peace | 23.87% | 612 | 616 | 634 |
| | Liberal Democrats | William Sinclair | 14.51% | 372 | 376 | 387 |
| | Conservative | Eva Short | 9.09% | 233 | 236 | 243 |
| | Independent | Gerald Holdsworth | 2.65% | 68 | 69 | |
| | Scottish Libertarian | Harry Christian | 0.51% | 13 | | |
| Electorate: TBC Valid: 2,564 Spoilt: 29 Quota: 1,283 Turnout: 2,593 (36.1%) |||||||

### Caol and Mallaig

Caol and Mallaig By-election (5 April 2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Denis Rixson | 31.14% | 658 | 671 | 706 | 791 | 968 |
| | SNP | Alex MacInnes | 27.17% | 574 | 591 | 615 | 617 | 737 |
| | Independent | Colin 'Woody' Wood | 21.49% | 454 | 471 | 539 | 580 | |
| | Conservative | Ian Smith | 8.66% | 183 | 188 | 200 | | |
| | Independent | Catherine MacKinnon | 6.91% | 146 | 176 | | | |
| | Independent | Ronald Joseph Campbell | 4.64% | 98 | | | | |
| Electorate: 7,088 Valid: 2,113 Quota: 1,057 Turnout: 2,131 (30.1%) |||||||||

### Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh

Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh By-election (7 December 2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | SNP | Alexander MacInnes | 33.07% | 1,318 | 1,320 | 1,322 | 1,327 | 1,354 | 1,397 | 1,575 | 1,798 |
| | Conservative | Gavin Berkeneger | 26.02% | 1,037 | 1,038 | 1,043 | 1,061 | 1,071 | 1,147 | 1,186 | 1,374 |
| | Independent | Richard Greene | 15.61% | 622 | 624 | 627 | 677 | 699 | 785 | 905 | |
| | Scottish Green | Irene Francis Brandt | 9.01% | 359 | 359 | 359 | 364 | 411 | 483 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | George Scott | 8.03% | 320 | 320 | 322 | 346 | 379 | | | |
| | Labour | Christopher Birt | 4.37% | 174 | 174 | 175 | 179 | | | | |
| | Independent | Jean Davis | 3.29% | 131 | 132 | 133 | | | | | |
| | UKIP | Les Durance | 0.40% | 16 | 18 | | | | | | |
| | Scottish Libertarian | Harry Christian | 0.20% | 8 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 9,900 Valid: 3,985 Spoilt: 39 Quota: 1,993 Turnout: 4,024 (40.6%) ||||||||||||

### Inverness Central

Inverness Central By-election (14 November 2019) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | SNP | Emma Roddick | 45.15% | 1,015 | 1,033 | 1,115 |
| | Conservative | Rachael Hatfield | 15.35% | 345 | 349 | 360 |
| | Independent | Richie Paxton | 12.32% | 277 | 303 | 338 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mary Dormer | 10.54% | 237 | 266 | 325 |
| | Scottish Green | Russell Deacon | 9.79% | 220 | 238 | |
| | Labour | Ardalan Eghtedar | 6.85% | 154 | | |
| Electorate: 8,877 Valid: 2,248 Spoilt: 28 Quota: 1,125 Turnout: 2,276 (25.6%) |||||||

### Eilean a' Cheò

Eilean a' Cheò (Skye) By-election (12 March 2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Independent | Calum Munro | 28.48% | 911 | 927 | 1,017 | 1,117 | 1,464 |
| | SNP | Andrew Kiss | 27.32% | 874 | 885 | 889 | 1,019 | 1,135 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Fay Thomson | 21.82% | 698 | 698 | 801 | 881 | |
| | Scottish Green | Dawn Kroonstuiver Campbell | 11.16% | 357 | 367 | 379 | | |
| | Conservative | Ruriadh Stewart | 9.82% | 314 | 315 | | | |
| | No Label | Màrtainn Mac a’ Bhàillidh | 1.41% | 45 | | | | |
| Electorate: 8,848 Valid: 3,199 Spoilt: 29 Quota: 1,600 Turnout: 3,228 (36.5%) |||||||||

### Aird and Loch Ness

Aird and Loch Ness By-election (11 March 2021) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Independent | David Fraser | 28.32% | 997 | 1,010 | 1,076 | 1,194 | 1,663 | 2,109 |
| | SNP | Gordon Shanks | 28.24% | 994 | 1,010 | 1,129 | 1,198 | 1,211 | |
| | Conservative | Gavin Berkenheger | 23.41% | 824 | 835 | 847 | 929 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Robertson | 8.52% | 300 | 335 | 397 | | | |
| | Scottish Green | Ryan MacKintosh | 7.73% | 272 | 297 | | | | |
| | Labour | Bill Moore | 3.78% | 133 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 10,147 Valid: 3,520 Spoilt: 44 Quota: 1,761 Turnout: 3,564 (35.1%) ||||||||||

### Wick and East Caithness

Wick and East Caithness By-election (12 August 2021) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jill Tilt | 27.25% | 657 | 660 | 848 | 986 | 1,501 |
| | Independent | Bill Fernie | 25.80% | 622 | 627 | 780 | 963 | |
| | SNP | Michael James Cameron | 24.60% | 593 | 593 | 606 | | |
| | Conservative | Daniel Ross | 21.78% | 523 | 525 | | | |
| | Scottish Libertarian | Harry Christian | 0.67% | 16 | | | | |
| Electorate: 10,040 Valid: 2,411 Spoilt: 28 Quota: 1,206 Turnout: 2,439 (24.3%) |||||||||

### Inverness West

Inverness West By-election (12 August 2021) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | SNP | Kate MacLean | 33.69% | 718 | 720 | 731 | 816 | 853 | 869 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Colin Aitken | 31.82% | 678 | 678 | 680 | 705 | 799 | 970 | 1,246 |
| | Conservative | Max Bannerman | 13.75% | 293 | 295 | 302 | 311 | 344 | | |
| | Independent | Duncan McDonald | 10.79% | 230 | 232 | 239 | 251 | | |
| | Scottish Green | Ryan MacKintosh | 7.46% | 159 | 160 | 164 | | | | |
| | ISP | Iain Cullens Forsyth | 1.97% | 42 | 42 | | | | | |
| | Scottish Libertarian | Calum Mark Liptrot | 0.52% | 11 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 8,485 Valid: 2,131 Spoilt: 18 Quota: 1,066 Turnout: 2,149 (25.3%) |||||||||||

### Fort William and Ardnamurchan

Fort William and Ardnamurchan By-election (2 December 2021) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | SNP | Sarah Fanet | 39.57% | 905 | 915 | 925 | 952 | 968 | 1,182 |
| | Conservative | Ruraidh Stewart | 21.21% | 485 | 488 | 504 | 547 | 651 | 688 |
| | Scottish Green | Kate Willis | 14.34% | 328 | 330 | 344 | 385 | 442 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roger Liley | 10.10% | 231 | 234 | 248 | 294 | | |
| | Independent | Andy McKenna | 8.48% | 194 | 202 | 238 | | | |
| | Independent | Joanne Matheson | 3.85% | 88 | 109 | | | | |
| | No Label | Mark Drayton | 2.45% | 56 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 9,015 Valid: 2,287 Spoilt: 40 Quota: 1,144 Turnout: 2,327 (25.6%) ||||||||||