# 2012 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election

Elections to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) were held on 3 May 2012, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election was the second one using the 9 wards created as a result of 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 31 Councillors were elected.
Independent councillors retained the large majority of seats on the council and retained control of the administration. The Scottish National Party increased their representation, gaining 4 seats on the Isle of Lewis while losing 1 seat on Barra. The Scottish Labour Party also gained an additional seat.

## Election result

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Local Election Result 2012 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Independent | 21 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 67.7 | 71.6 | 8,211 | 7.2 |
| SNP | 7 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 22.6 | 23.8 | 2,733 | 11.7 |
| Labour | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9.7 | 4.6 | 523 | 2.1 |
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 2007. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

## Ward results
### Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas

* 2007: 2xSNP; 2xIndependent
* 2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLab
* 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from SNP
Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas – 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| | SNP | Donald Manford (incumbent) | 37.43% | 521 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Ronald Joseph MacKinnon | 15.09% | 210 | 226.3 | 228.7 | 234.7 | 242.8 | 263.8 | 292.6 | | | |
| | Independent | Donnie Steele | 9.41% | 131 | 142.6 | 144.6 | 150.6 | 155.9 | 179.4 | 200.8 | 204.1 | 222.2 | 263.6 |
| | Independent | Calum MacMillan | 8.84% | 123 | 144.4 | 147.8 | 150.3 | 152.2 | 156.2 | 165.2 | 166.5 | 192.9 | |
| | Independent | David Blaney (incumbent) | 8.48% | 118 | 135.2 | 139.2 | 142.2 | 147.7 | 157.6 | 183.8 | 185.9 | 201.3 | 247.9 |
| | Independent | Peter Carlin (incumbent) | 6.47% | 90 | 103 | 105 | 106 | 108.4 | 114.4 | | | | |
| | Independent | Calum MacAulay | 5.17% | 72 | 76.2 | 76.2 | 77.2 | 81.1 | | | | | |
| | SNP | Gerry MacLeod (incumbent) | 3.95% | 55 | 135.8 | 135.8 | 135.8 | 143.5 | 146.5 | 154.3 | 155.1 | | |
| | Independent | Allan MacLeod | 2.01% | 28 | 51.7 | 52.7 | 53.2 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Angus MacDonald | 1.94% | 27 | 27.9 | 27.9 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Eric Wallis | 1.22% | 17 | 17.9 | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 2,510 Valid: 1,392 Spoilt: 30 Quota: 279 Turnout: 1,424 (55.46)% ||||||||||||||

### Beinn Na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath

* 2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLab
* 2012: 2xIndependent; 1xLab
* 2007: No change
Beinn Na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath – 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Independent | Uisdean Robertson (incumbent) | 29.34% | 316 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Neil MacDonald Beaton | 19.67% | 212 | 222.6 | 241.1 | 263.5 | 264.0 | 359.7 |
| | Labour | Archie K. Campbell (incumbent)††† | 18.94% | 204 | 224.4 | 241.5 | 271.5 | | |
| | SNP | Andrew Walker | 16.43% | 177 | 181.2 | 186.5 | 219.7 | 219.9 | |
| | Independent | Martin Taylor (incumbent) | 8.64% | 93 | 97.2 | 111.5 | | | |
| | Independent | Michael MacLean | 6.96% | 75 | 76.3 | | | | |
| Electorate: 2,329 Valid: 1,077 Spoilt: 25 Quota: 270 Turnout: 1,102 (46.24)% ||||||||||

### Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas Nan Loch

* 2007: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP
* 2012: 1xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLab
* 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Independent
Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas Nan Loch – 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Independent | Catherine MacDonald (incumbent) | 62.09% | 498 | | | |
| | SNP | Philip Robert MacLean (incumbent) | 25.19% | 202 | | | |
| | Labour | D.J. MacRae | 8.6% | 69 | 163.8 | 163.9 | 193.5 |
| | SNP | David Cameron Wilson | 4.11% | 33 | 105.2 | 105.8 | |
| Electorate: 1,922 Valid: 802 Spoilt: 18 Quota: 201 Turnout: 830 (41.73)% ||||||||

### Sgir' Uige agus Ceann a Tuath Nan Loch

* 2007: 1xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLab
* 2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP
* 2007-2012 Change: Independent gain one seat from Lab
Sgir' Uige agus Ceann a Tuath Nan Loch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Independent | Norman Alexander MacDonald (incumbent) | 21.62% | 315 | 321 | 340 | 355 | 364.0 | | |
| | SNP | Bill Houston† | 20.37% | 292 | 297 | 313 | 401 | | | |
| | Independent | Cudig MacLeod | 16.25% | 233 | 240 | 307 | 339 | 348.9 | 350.3 | 521.8 |
| | Independent | Catherine MacIver | 15.97% | 229 | 238 | 253 | 278 | 284.2 | 285.5 | |
| | SNP | Annie MacDonald (incumbent) | 11.99% | 172 | 176 | 185 | | | | |
| | Independent | Norman A. P. MacDonald | 10.25% | 147 | 152 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Barry Shelby | 3.21% | 46 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 2,424 Valid: 1,434 Spoilt: 23 Quota: 359 Turnout: 1,457 (60.11)% |||||||||||

### Sgire an Rubha

* 2007: 3xIndependent
* 2012: 3xIndependent
* 2007-2012 Change: No change
Sgire an Rubha – 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Independent | Zena Stewart | 17.52% | 205 | 238 | 276 | 316 | | | |
| | Independent | Alasdair MacLeod | 17.52% | 205 | 219 | 242 | 291 | 297.8 | | |
| | Independent | Donald John MacSween (incumbent) | 15.13% | 177 | 187 | 200 | 227 | 230.3 | 231.7 | |
| | Independent | Norman MacLeod (incumbent) | 15.04% | 176 | 186 | 202 | 252 | 256.2 | 257.6 | 349.0 |
| | Independent | Donald Nicholson (incumbent) | 14.44% | 169 | 183 | 197 | | | | |
| | SNP | John Norman MacDonald | 12.05% | 141 | 149 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Iain Don MacIver | 8.29% | 97 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 1,921 Valid: 1,170 Spoilt: 19 Quota: 293 Turnout: 1,189 (60.91)% |||||||||||

### Steòrnabhagh a Deas

* 2007: 4xIndependent
* 2012: 3xIndependent; 1xSNP
* 2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Independent
Steòrnabhagh a Deas – 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 | Charlie Nicolson (incumbent) | 45.67% | 685 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Angus Campbell (incumbent) | 13.73% | 206 | 287.8 | 288.8 | 290.5 | 311.5 | | |
| | Independent | Angus McCormack (incumbent) | 12.6% | 189 | 298.9 | 306.2 | | | | |
| | Independent | Keith Dodson (incumbent) | 11.4% | 171 | 230.9 | 233.1 | 234.0 | 247.3 | 251.7 | |
| | SNP | Rae MacKenzie | 9.67% | 145 | 203.9 | 253.1 | 254.1 | 268.9 | 270.5 | 365.9 |
| | SNP | Bob Duncan | 3.8% | 57 | 63.7 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Uilleam Macleod | 3.13% | 47 | 66.1 | 67.1 | 67.5 | | | |
| Electorate: 2,962 Valid: 1,500 Spoilt: 26 Quota: 301 Turnout: 1,526 (50.65)% |||||||||||

### Steòrnabhagh a Tuath

* 2007: 4xIndependent
* 2012: 3xIndependent; 1xSNP
* 2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Independent
Steòrnabhagh a Tuath – 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 | Iain MacKenzie (incumbent) | 20.68% | 299 | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Roddie MacKay (incumbent) | 18.12% | 262 | 264.1 | 272.1 | 294.1 | | | | | |
| | SNP | Mohammed Ahmed | 12.17% | 176 | 176.4 | 179.5 | 182.5 | 182.8 | 194.9 | 207.1 | 218.2 | |
| | SNP | Gordon Murray | 12.03% | 174 | 174.7 | 180.7 | 192.7 | 193.2 | 208.4 | 228.7 | 251.1 | 358.4 |
| | Independent | Murdo Murray | 8.30% | 120 | 121.8 | 123.8 | 128.4 | 129.4 | 142.6 | 160.9 | | |
| | Independent | Iain MacLean MacAulay | 7.12% | 103 | 103.5 | 109.6 | 117.7 | 118.4 | 145.7 | 177.3 | 221.9 | 249.0 |
| | Independent | David Morrison | 6.36% | 92 | 93.1 | 97.1 | 104.1 | 104.8 | | | | |
| | Independent | Neil Campbell (incumbent) | 6.29% | 91 | 91.5 | 92.5 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Jackie MacKay (incumbent) | 6.15% | 89 | 89.8 | 95.8 | 108.1 | 108.8 | 123.2 | | | |
| | Labour | Kevin Paterson | 2.77% | 40 | 40.2 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 2,986 Valid: 1,446 Spoilt: 25 Quota: 290 Turnout: 1,471 (48.42)% |||||||||||||

### Loch a Tuath

* 2007: 3xIndependent
* 2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP
* 2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Independent
Loch a Tuath – 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Independent | Donald Finlayson Crichton | 28.0% | 331 | | | |
| | SNP | John A. MacIver (incumbent) | 24.53% | 290 | 298.4 | | |
| | Independent | Catriona Stewart (incumbent) | 23.88% | 273 | 282.5 | 283.1 | 333.1 |
| | Independent | Kenneth MacIver (incumbent) | 14.47% | 171 | 177.9 | 178.5 | 201.8 |
| | Independent | Alasdair Nicholson | 9.9% | 117 | 122.1 | 122.7 | |
| Electorate: 2,166 Valid: 1,182 Spoilt: 17 Quota: 296 Turnout: 1,199 (54.57%) ||||||||

### An Taobh Siar agus Nis

* 2007: 4xIndependent
* 2012: 3xIndependent; 1xSNP
* 2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Independent
An Taobh Siar agus Nis – 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 |
| | Independent | Iain Morrison (incumbent)†††† | 24.18% | 354 | |
| | Independent | John MacKay (incumbent) | 21.17% | 310 | |
| | SNP | Kenneth MacLeod | 20.36% | 298 | |
| | Independent | Kenneth MacLeod Murray (incumbent) †† | 19.74% | 289 | 316.4 |
| | Independent | Alastair MacLennan | 8.13% | 119 | 128.3 |
| | Independent | Alastair Dunlop | 6.42% | 94 | 103.3 |
| Electorate: 2,599 Valid: 1,464 Spoilt: 21 Quota: 293 Turnout: 1,485 (56.34%) ||||||

## Changes since election

* † Sgir' Uige Agus Ceann A Tuath Nan Loch SNP Cllr Bill Houston died on 15 September 2012. A by-election was held on 29 November 2012 and was won by the Independent Angus MacDonald Morrison.
* †† Sgir' An Taobh Siar agus Nis Independent Cllr Kenneth MacLeod Murray died on 23 December 2014. A by-election was to be held to fill the vacancy on 12 March 2015. Only Independent Alistair MacLennan was nominated and was deemed elected.
* ††† Beinn Na Foghla Agus Uibhist A Tuath Labour Cllr Archie K. McDonald resigned for health reasons on 25 January 2015. A by-election was held to fill the vacancy on 26 March 2015 and the seat was won by the Independent Andrew Walker.
* †††† Sgir' An Taobh Siar agus Nis Independent Cllr Iain Morrison died on 31 July 2015 after a battle with cancer. A by-election was held to fill the vacancy on 7 October 2015 and was won by the Independent John MacLeod.

## By-elections since 2012

Sgir’ Uige Agus Ceann A Tuath Nan Loch By-election (29 November 2012) – 1 Seat :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 |
| | Independent | Angus MacDonald Morrison | 73.47 | 745 |
| | SNP | John Norman MacDonald | 19.23 | 195 |
| | Independent | Les Mac An Ultaigh | 7.2 | 73 |
| Valid: 1,014 Spoilt: 14 Quota: 508 Turnout: 1,028 |||||
Beinn Na Faoghla Agus Uibhist A Tuath (26 March 2015) – 1 Seat :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 |
| | Independent | Andrew Walker | 59.1 | 437 |
| | SNP | Roslyn Macpherson | 40.9 | 302 |
| Valid: 739 Quota: |||||
An Taobh Siar agus Nis By-election (7 October 2015) – 1 Seat :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 |
| | Independent | John Norman MacLeod | 86.9% | 886 |
| | Independent | Richard Froggatt | 7.4% | 75 |
| | Scottish Green | Gavin MacLeod Humphreys | 5.8% | 59 |
| Valid: 1,020 Quota: 511 Turnout: (39.8%) |||||

## Ward areas in English

* Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas: Barra, Vatersay, Eriskay and South Uist
* Beinn Na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath: Benbecula and North Uist
* Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas Nan Loch: Harris and South Lewis
* Sgir' Uige agus Ceann a Tuath Nan Loch: Mid Lewis
* Sgire an Rubha: Eye Peninsula
* Steòrnabhagh a Deas: Stornoway South
* Steòrnabhagh a Tuath: Stornoway North
* Loch a Tuath: Broad Bay
* An Taobh Siar agus Nis: North West Lewis