# 2012 East Ayrshire Council election

Elections to East Ayrshire Council were held on 3 May 2012, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election is the second using 9 new 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 form of proportional representation. The new wards replaced 32 single-member wards which used the plurality (first past the post) system of election.

## Election result

2012 East Ayrshire Local Election Result :
| Party | Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| | SNP | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 46.9 | 39.5 | 14,518 | 0.3 |
| | Labour | 14 | 1 | 1 | | 43.8 | 41.4 | 15,190 | 0.3 |
| | Conservative | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6.3 | 11.3 | 4,134 | 1.5 |
| | Independent | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 3.1 | 7.6 | 2,806 | 2.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.2 | 68 | New |
| Total | Total | 32 | | | | | | 36,716 | |
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.

### Seats changing hands

| Seat | 2007 | 2007 | 2007 | 2012 | 2012 | 2012 |
| Seat | Party | Party | Member | Party | Party | Member |
| Annick | | Conservative | Rose-Ann Cunninghame | | Independent | Ellen Freel |
| Ballochmyle | | Labour | Jimmy Kelly | | SNP | Stephanie Primrose |
| Doon Valley | | Independent | Jim Sutherland | | Labour | Elaine Dinwoodie |

## Ward summary

Results of the 2012 East Ayrshire Council election by ward :
| Ward | % | Cllrs | % | Cllrs | % | Cllrs | % | Cllrs | % | Cllrs | Total Cllrs |
| Ward | SNP | SNP | Labour | Labour | Conservative | Conservative | Lib Dem | Lib Dem | Independent | Independent | | Total Cllrs |
| Annick | | 1 | | 1 | | 0 | | 0 | | 1 | 3 |
| Kilmarnock North | | 2 | | 1 | | 0 | | | | | 3 |
| Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse | | 2 | | 1 | | 1 | | | | 0 | 4 |
| Kilmarnock East and Hurlford | | 2 | | 2 | | 0 | | | | | 4 |
| Kilmarnock South | | 2 | | 1 | | 0 | | | | | 3 |
| Irvine Valley | | 2 | | 1 | | 1 | | | | 0 | 4 |
| Ballochmyle | | 2 | | 2 | | 0 | | | | | 4 |
| Cumnock and New Cumnock | | 1 | | 3 | | 0 | | | | 0 | 4 |
| Doon Valley | | 1 | | 2 | | 0 | | | | 0 | 3 |
| Total | | 15 | | 14 | | 2 | | 0 | | 1 | 32 |

## Ward results
### Annick

The SNP and Labour retained the seats they had won at the previous election while independent candidate Ellen Freel gained a seat from the Conservatives
Annick – 3 members :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Labour | John McGhee (incumbent) | 24.4 | 1,021 | 1,032 | 1,060 | | | |
| | SNP | Eòghann MacColl | 22.7 | 947 | 957 | 1,327 | | | |
| | Conservative | Rose-Ann Cunninghame (incumbent) | 20.9 | 873 | 886 | 907 | 941 | 943 | |
| | Independent | Ellen Freel | 19.4 | 810 | 827 | 858 | 960 | 965 | 1,394 |
| | SNP | John MacKay (incumbent) | 11.0 | 461 | 465 | | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Greg Foster | 1.6 | 68 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 9,497 Valid: 4,180 Spoilt: 57 Quota: 1,046 Turnout: 44.0% ||||||||||
Source:

### Kilmarnock North

The SNP (2) and Labour retained the seats they won at the previous election.
Kilmarnock North – 3 members :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | SNP | Helen Coffey (incumbent) | 44.7 | 1,475 | | |
| | Labour | Maureen McKay (incumbent) | 35.7 | 1,176 | | |
| | Conservative | Ian Grant | 11.6 | 383 | 417 | 476 |
| | SNP | Andrew Hershaw | 8.0 | 263 | 817 | 921 |
| Electorate: 9,324 Valid: 3,297 Spoilt: 40 Quota: 825 Turnout: 35.4% |||||||
Source:

### Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse

The SNP (2), Labour and the Conservatives retained the seats they had won at the previous election.
Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse – 4 members :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | SNP | Iain Linton (incumbent) | 24.3 | 1,210 | | | | | |
| | SNP | Douglas Reid (incumbent) | 20.7 | 1,032 | | | | | |
| | Labour | Lillian Jones | 20.6 | 1,025 | | | | | |
| | Conservative | Tom Cook (incumbent) | 16.6 | 828 | 864 | 869 | 870 | 980 | 1,171 |
| | Labour | Dave Meechan | 10.4 | 516 | 554 | 559 | 582 | 709 | |
| | Independent | Andi McCann | 7.5 | 375 | 417 | 423 | 424 | | |
| Electorate: 12,199 Valid: 4,986 Spoilt: 136 Quota: 998 Turnout: 40.9% ||||||||||
Source:

### Kilmarnock East and Hurlford

The SNP (2) and Labour (2) retained the seats they had won at the previous election.
Kilmarnock East and Hurlford – 4 members :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 |
| | SNP | John Campbell (incumbent) | 25.4 | 1,126 |
| | Labour | Gordon Cree (incumbent) | 23.8 | 1,054 |
| | Labour | Drew McIntyre (incumbent) | 22.2 | 984 |
| | SNP | James Buchanan (incumbent) | 21.3 | 944 |
| | Conservative | Rob Murray | 7.4 | 326 |
| Electorate: 11,311 Valid: 4,434 Spoilt: 142 Quota: 887 Turnout: 39.2% |||||
Source:

### Kilmarnock South

The SNP (2) and Labour retained the seats they had won at the previous election.
Kilmarnock South – 3 members :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Labour | John Knapp (incumbent) | 37.6 | 1,250 | | | |
| | SNP | Jim Todd (incumbent) | 23.8 | 791 | 814 | 822 | 949 |
| | SNP | Hugh Ross (incumbent) | 22.1 | 735 | 759 | 789 | 924 |
| | Labour | Ronnie Scott | 12.5 | 417 | 743 | 785 | |
| | Conservative | Alyson Holden | 4.1 | 135 | 138 | | |
| Electorate: 8,288 Valid: 3,328 Spoilt: 93 Quota: 833 Turnout: 40.2% ||||||||
Source:

### Irvine Valley

The SNP (2), Labour and the Conservatives retained the seats they had won at the previous election.
Irvine Valley – 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Labour | George Mair | 29.7 | 1,423 | | | | |
| | SNP | Alan Brown (incumbent) | 26.1 | 1,252 | | | | |
| | Conservative | John McFadzean | 17.9 | 857 | 896 | 940 | 942 | 1,188 |
| | SNP | Bobby McDill (incumbent) | 17.7 | 847 | 961 | | | |
| | Independent | May Anderson | 7.1 | 339 | 451 | 541 | 547 | |
| Electorate: 11,401 Valid: 4,718 Spoilt: 72 Quota: 944 Turnout: 41.4% |||||||||
Source:

### Ballochmyle

Labour retained two of the three seats they had won at the previous election while the SNP held their only seat and gained one seat from Labour.
Ballochmyle – 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | SNP | Jim Roberts (incumbent) | 25.4 | 1,109 | | | | | |
| | Labour | Neil McGhee (incumbent) | 23.3 | 1,018 | | | | | |
| | Labour | David Shaw (incumbent) | 18.5 | 810 | 827 | 857 | | | |
| | Labour | Neil Murray | 11.3 | 496 | 510 | 622 | 628 | 704 | |
| | SNP | Stephanie Primrose | 10.6 | 462 | 665 | 670 | 671 | 735 | 869 |
| | Conservative | Nick Martin | 8.0 | 348 | 352 | 353 | 354 | | |
| Electorate: 10,995 Valid: 4,243 Spoilt: 131 Quota: 849 Turnout: 38.6% ||||||||||
Source:

### Cumnock and New Cumnock

Labour (3) and the SNP retained the seats that they had won at the previous election.
Cumnock and New Cumnock – 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 |
| | Labour | Eric Ross (incumbent) | 23.8 | 987 | | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Kathy Morrice (incumbent) | 21.6 | 894 | | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Barney Menzies (incumbent) | 19.5 | 809 | 892 | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Billy Crawford (incumbent) | 14.8 | 612 | 672 | 677 | 741 | 744 | 763 | 800 | 945 |
| | Independent | Ian Allan | 7.4 | 308 | 310 | 311 | 314 | 352 | 409 | 475 | |
| | Conservative | James Boswell | 5.0 | 206 | 208 | 209 | 210 | 215 | | | |
| | SNP | Craig Murray | 4.3 | 180 | 185 | 253 | 255 | 258 | 286 | | |
| | Independent | David Fraser | 1.4 | 59 | 62 | 63 | 64 | | | | |
| Electorate: 10,947 Valid: 4,055 Spoilt: 89 Quota: 812 Turnout: 37.0% ||||||||||||
Source:

### Doon Valley

The SNP and Labour retained the seats they had won at the previous election while Labour gained one seat from independent councillor Jim Sutherland. In 2007, independent candidate Drew Filson was elected as an SNP councillor but subsequently left the party. A by-election held following the death of Cllr Sutherland in 2009 was won by Labour.
Doon Valley – 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Labour | Elaine Dinwoodie (incumbent) | 33.1 | 1,171 | | | | | |
| | SNP | John Bell | 22.3 | 790 | 812 | 832 | 950 | | |
| | Independent | Ian Borthwick | 13.8 | 488 | 501 | 540 | 680 | 708 | |
| | Independent | Drew Filson (incumbent) | 12.1 | 427 | 465 | 491 | | | |
| | Labour | Moira Pirie (incumbent) | 11.9 | 421 | 590 | 613 | 719 | 734 | 984 |
| | Conservative | Irene Grant | 5.0 | 178 | 181 | | | | |
| Electorate: 8,855 Valid: 3,475 Spoilt: 61 Quota: 869 Turnout: 39.2% ||||||||||
Source:

## By-elections from 2012–2017
### Kilmarnock North

Kilmarnock North by-election (27 March 2014) – 1 seat :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | SNP | Elaine Cowan | 44.2 | 1,334 | 1,358 | 1,473 | 2,042 |
| | Labour | Scott Thomson | 37.4 | 1,130 | 1,147 | 1,320 | |
| | Conservative | Ian Grant | 16.3 | 493 | 501 | | |
| | Scottish Green | Robin Tatler | 2.0 | 61 | | | |
| Electorate: 9,657 Valid: 3,018 Spoilt: 19 Quota: 1,510 Turnout: 35.6% ||||||||
Source:

### Irvine Valley

Irvine Valley by-election (1 October 2015) – 1 seat :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 |
| | SNP | Elena Whitham | 49.8 | 1,797 | 1,832 |
| | Conservative | Susan McFadzean | 24.5 | 865 | 884 |
| | Labour | Alex Walsh | 23.8 | 860 | 884 |
| | Scottish Green | Jen Broadhurst | 2.4 | 88 | |
| Electorate: 11,570 Valid: 3,610 Spoilt: 42 Quota: 1,805 Turnout: 31.2% ||||||
Source:

### Kilmarnock East and Hurlford

Kilmarnock East and Hurlford by-election (26 January 2017) – 1 seat :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | SNP | Fiona Campbell | 48.7 | 1,461 | 1,471 | 1,531 |
| | Labour | Dave Meechem | 29.4 | 881 | 893 | 1,122 |
| | Conservative | Jon Herd | 20.1 | 602 | 608 | |
| | Scottish Libertarian | Stephen McNamara | 1.8 | 53 | | |
| Electorate: 11,266 Valid: 2,997 Spoilt: 33 Quota: 1,449 Turnout: 26.6% |||||||
Source: