# 2012 North Ayrshire Council election

The 2012 North Ayrshire Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of North Ayrshire Council. The election used the eight wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with each ward electing three or four councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation, with 30 Councillors being elected.
The election saw the Scottish National Party make further advances by gaining four seats to become the largest party on the Council while also increasing their vote share significantly. Labour lost one seat to become the second-largest party on the Council. Independents gained a seat to have a total of six members. The Conservatives lost two-thirds of their former seats, while the Liberal Democrats were wiped out, losing both their seats.
Following the election, the SNP formed a minority administration on the Council. This replaced the previous Labour minority administration which existed from 2007 to 2012. This was also the first time Labour had not been part of the administration on the council for over 30 years.

## Election result

2012 North Ayrshire Council election result :
| Party | Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| | SNP | 12 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 40.0 | 35.6 | 14,623 | 6.1 |
| | Labour | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 36.7 | 31.4 | 12,906 | 1.0 |
| | Independent | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 20.0 | 19.0 | 7,808 | 2.1 |
| | Conservative | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3.3 | 9.3 | 3,834 | 4.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 655 | 5.1 |
| | Socialist Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 1.1 | 443 | 0.6 |
| | Scottish Socialist | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.9 | 378 | 0.4 |
| | UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.5 | 221 | New |
| | Scottish Senior Citizens | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.4 | 163 | New |
| | TUSC | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.1 | 51 | New |
| Total | Total | 30 | | | | | | 41,082 | |
Source:
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
### Irvine West

Labour (2) and the SNP (1) retained the seats they had won at the previous election while the SNP gained one seat from the Conservatives.
Irvine West - 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 |
| | SNP | Matthew Brown (incumbent) | 31.6 | 1,624 | | | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Ian Clarkson (incumbent) | 26.8 | 1,374 | | | | | | | | |
| | Labour | David O'Neill (incumbent) | 13.5 | 691 | 720 | 950 | 958 | 995 | 1,039 | | | |
| | Conservative | Pat McPhee (incumbent) | 12.0 | 614 | 634 | 652 | 653 | 657 | 682 | 683 | 773 | |
| | SNP | Ruth Maguire | 5.2 | 265 | 695 | 704 | 713 | 730 | 769 | 770 | 840 | 945 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gordon Bain | 4.8 | 246 | 272 | 283 | 289 | 300 | 330 | 331 | | |
| | Independent | Derek Owen | 3.6 | 187 | 197 | 202 | 216 | 231 | | | | |
| | Socialist Labour | Bobby Cochrane | 1.6 | 81 | 92 | 112 | 123 | | | | | |
| | TUSC | Ian Kerr | 1.0 | 51 | 61 | 65 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 14,793 Valid: 5,133 Spoilt: 157 Quota: 1,027 Turnout: 34.7% |||||||||||||
Source:

### Irvine East

Labour (2) and the SNP (1) retained the seats they had won at the previous election while the SNP gained one seat from the Liberal Democrats.
Irvine East - 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 | Joan Sturgeon (incumbent) | 20.6 | 1,045 | | | | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Marie Burns | 18.1 | 917 | 941 | 941 | 960 | 998 | 1,039 | | | | |
| | Labour | Irene Oldfather | 15.0 | 763 | 764 | 766 | 782 | 819 | 851 | 854 | 1,032 | | |
| | Labour | John Easdale | 12.7 | 643 | 643 | 645 | 652 | 673 | 697 | 700 | 874 | 886 | 1,098 |
| | Independent | Tom Barr (incumbent) | 10.6 | 537 | 538 | 542 | 558 | 604 | 742 | 746 | 763 | 765 | |
| | Labour | David Logan | 8.1 | 413 | 413 | 415 | 428 | 445 | 452 | 454 | | | |
| | Conservative | Chris Barr | 7.4 | 377 | 377 | 377 | 377 | 409 | | | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ruby Kirkwood (incumbent) | 5.2 | 263 | 263 | 263 | 267 | | | | | | |
| | Scottish Socialist | Denise Morton | 1.7 | 89 | 89 | 98 | | | | | | | |
| | Socialist Labour | James McDaid | 0.5 | 27 | 27 | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 14,994 Valid: 5,074 Spoilt: 116 Quota: 1,015 Turnout: 33.8% ||||||||||||||
Source:

### Kilwinning

Labour (2) and the SNP (1) retained the seats they had won at the previous election while independent candidate Robert Steel gained a seat from the Liberal Democrats.
Kilwinning - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 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 |
| | SNP | John Ferguson (incumbent) | 29.2 | 1,440 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Joe Cullinane | 21.3 | 1,054 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Robert Steel | 14.1 | 695 | 720 | 722 | 735 | 754 | 771 | 946 | 966 | 1,092 | | |
| | Labour | Donald Reid | 10.6 | 525 | 533 | 548 | 548 | 557 | 559 | 590 | 867 | 909 | 929 | 1,012 |
| | Conservative | Scott Gallacher | 7.3 | 363 | 369 | 370 | 372 | 373 | 385 | 398 | 407 | | | |
| | Labour | Helen Hainey | 5.6 | 279 | 295 | 335 | 337 | 341 | 352 | 373 | | | | |
| | Independent | Colin Hedley | 5.1 | 254 | 268 | 270 | 293 | 299 | 319 | | | | | |
| | SNP | Iain Walker | 3.0 | 148 | 489 | 490 | 490 | 501 | 511 | 532 | 547 | 568 | 581 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stuart Gardiner | 1.7 | 82 | 88 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | | | | | |
| | Scottish Socialist | Andy Jones | 1.1 | 54 | 60 | 61 | 63 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Philip Hogg | 0.9 | 45 | 47 | 47 | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 13,087 Valid: 4,939 Spoilt: 157 Quota: 988 Turnout: 37.7% |||||||||||||||
Source:

### Saltcoats and Stevenston

Labour (2), the SNP (1) and independent councillor Ronnie McNicol retained the seats they had won at the previous election.
Saltcoats and Stevenston - 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 | Jim Montgomerie | 36.2 | 1,926 | | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Willie Gibson (incumbent) | 23.4 | 1,244 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Ronnie McNicol (incumbent) | 13.2 | 703 | 771 | 789 | 796 | 816 | 884 | 993 | 1,210 |
| | Labour | Alan Munro (incumbent) | 10.1 | 540 | 1,124 | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Nan Wallace | 9.0 | 481 | 510 | 642 | 650 | 667 | 688 | 729 | |
| | Conservative | David Rocks | 3.6 | 193 | 198 | 199 | 201 | 205 | | | |
| | Scottish Senior Citizens | Jimmy Miller | 3.1 | 163 | 210 | 216 | 225 | 239 | 282 | | |
| | Socialist Labour | Debbie Anderson | 1.4 | 76 | 91 | 94 | 100 | | | | |
| Electorate: 15,274 Valid: 5,326 Spoilt: 138 Quota: 1,066 Turnout: 34.9% ||||||||||||
Source:

### Ardrossan and Arran

The SNP, Labour and independent councillor John Hunter retained the seats they had won at the previous election while the SNP gained one seat from former independent councillor Margie Currie.
Ardrossan and Arran - 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 |
| | SNP | Tony Gurney (incumbent) | 17.6 | 982 | 986 | 998 | 1,033 | 1,048 | 1,081 | 1,095 | 1,149 |
| | SNP | John Bruce | 15.0 | 837 | 841 | 868 | 889 | 918 | 1,109 | 1,113 | 1,157 |
| | Independent | John Hunter (incumbent) | 14.2 | 792 | 796 | 833 | 895 | 1,025 | 1,191 | | |
| | Labour | Peter McNamara (incumbent) | 12.9 | 721 | 730 | 738 | 770 | 812 | 871 | 881 | 1,414 |
| | Labour | Loretta Gardner | 11.8 | 659 | 667 | 692 | 720 | 750 | 793 | 798 | |
| | Independent | Marc A. Head | 10.5 | 588 | 595 | 609 | 620 | 714 | | | |
| | Conservative | David Tate | 8.8 | 491 | 507 | 551 | 561 | | | | |
| | Scottish Socialist | Campbell Martin | 4.2 | 235 | 237 | 250 | | | | | |
| | UKIP | Gordon Niven Allison | 3.9 | 221 | 227 | | | | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nick Smith | 1.1 | 64 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 13,674 Valid: 5,590 Spoilt: 106 Quota: 1,119 Turnout: 40.9% ||||||||||||
Source:

### Dalry and West Kilbride

Independent councillor Elizabeth McLardy retained the seat she had won at the previous election while the SNP and independent councillor Robert Barr each gained a seat from Labour and the Conservatives. In 2007, Cllr Barr had been elected as a Conservative candidate but later left the party.
Dalry and West Kilbride - 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 | Robert Barr (incumbent) | 29.4 | 1,278 | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Catherine McMillan | 22.6 | 982 | 1,010 | 1,018 | 1,041 | 1,077 | 1,084 | 1,340 |
| | Independent | Elizabeth McLardy (incumbent) | 19.6 | 853 | 884 | 899 | 929 | 1,117 | | |
| | Labour | John Reid (incumbent) | 16.0 | 697 | 729 | 737 | 765 | 810 | 815 | |
| | Conservative | Davina Saunders | 9.8 | 425 | 447 | 450 | 450 | | | |
| | Socialist Labour | Louise McDaid | 2.2 | 94 | 97 | 99 | | | | |
| | Independent | John Willis | 0.5 | 24 | 41 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 9,513 Valid: 4,353 Spoilt: 47 Quota: 1,089 Turnout: 45.8% |||||||||||
Source:

### Kilbirnie and Beith

The SNP, Labour and independent councillor Jean Highgate retained the seats they had won at the previous election.
Kilbirnie and Beith - 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 | Anthea Dickson (incumbent) | 24.8 | 1,101 | 1,107 | 1,121 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Jean Highgate (incumbent) | 17.1 | 758 | 767 | 804 | 804 | 910 | 947 | 1,000 | 1,368 |
| | SNP | Craig Wilson | 17.1 | 762 | 763 | 771 | 778 | 807 | 853 | 886 | |
| | Labour | John Bell (incumbent) | 17.0 | 756 | 765 | 773 | 773 | 785 | 1,370 | | |
| | Labour | Allan Wilson | 16.2 | 721 | 727 | 731 | 731 | 745 | | | |
| | Conservative | Ted Nevill | 5.1 | 228 | 228 | 231 | 231 | | | | |
| | Independent | Josh McCormick | 1.7 | 77 | 81 | | | | | | |
| | Socialist Labour | Tristan Lindsay | 0.9 | 41 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 10,662 Valid: 4,444 Spoilt: 97 Quota: 1,112 Turnout: 41.7% ||||||||||||
Source:

### North Coast and Cumbraes

The SNP (2), Labour (1) and the Conservatives (1) retained the seats they had won at the previous election.
North Coast and Cumbraes - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | SNP | Alan Hill (incumbent) | 27.4 | 1,705 | | | | | |
| | Labour | Alex Gallagher (incumbent) | 18.4 | 1,144 | 1,167 | 1,197 | 1,281 | | |
| | Conservative | Tom Marshall | 18.4 | 1,143 | 1,161 | 1,173 | 1,176 | 1,182 | 1,599 |
| | SNP | Alex McLean | 17.5 | 1,090 | 1,441 | | | | |
| | Independent | Ian Murdoch | 16.3 | 1,017 | 1,050 | 1,103 | 1,126 | 1,137 | |
| | Socialist Labour | James Anderson | 2.0 | 124 | 128 | 137 | | | |
| Electorate: 13,226 Valid: 6,223 Spoilt: 97 Quota: 1,245 Turnout: 47.0% ||||||||||
Source:

## By-elections
### 2014 North Coast and Cumbraes by-election

North Coast and Cumbraes by-election (30 October 2014) - 1 seat :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | SNP | Grace McLean | 38.7 | 2,021 | 2,045 | 2,156 | 2,279 | 2,966 |
| | Independent | Drew Cochrane | 22.8 | 1,190 | 1,234 | 1,411 | 2,000 | |
| | Conservative | Toni Dawson | 21.5 | 1,125 | 1,174 | 1,296 | | |
| | Labour | Valerie Reid | 13.2 | 691 | 711 | | | |
| | UKIP | Meilan Henderson | 3.6 | 192 | | | | |
| Electorate: 14,052 Valid: 5,219 Spoilt: 45 Quota: 2,610 Turnout: 37.5% |||||||||
Source:

### 2016 Irvine West by-election

Irvine West by-election (11 August 2016) - 1 Seat :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | SNP | Robin Sturgeon | 37.5 | 1,164 | 1,168 | 1,207 | 1,226 | 1,277 | |
| | Labour | Louise McPhater | 33.1 | 1,029 | 1,046 | 1,060 | 1,118 | 1,301 | 1,697 |
| | Conservative | Angela Stephen | 20.6 | 639 | 650 | 655 | 658 | | |
| | Socialist Labour | Bobby Cochrane | 4.2 | 131 | 133 | 146 | | | |
| | Scottish Green | Josh McCormick | 3.0 | 94 | 100 | | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nick Smith | 1.5 | 48 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 14,849 Valid: 3,105 Spoilt: 46 Quota: 1,553 Turnout: 20.9% ||||||||||
Source: