2022 Clackmannanshire Council election

Elections to Clackmannanshire Council took place on 5 May 2022 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. As with other Scottish council elections, it was held using single transferable vote (STV) – a form of proportional representation – in which multiple candidates are elected in each ward and voters rank candidates in order of preference.

2022 Clackmannanshire Council election
5 May 2022 (2022-05-05)
All 18 seats to Clackmannanshire Council
10 seats needed for a majority
Registered40,241
Turnout43.8%
  First party Second party
 
SNP
Lab
Leader Ellen Forson Kenny Earle
Party SNP Labour
Leader's seat Clackmannanshire South Clackmannanshire South
Last election 8 seats, 37.1% 5 seats, 27.8%
Seats before 8 5
Seats won 9 5
Seat change Increase 1 Steady
Popular vote 6,765 12,786
Percentage 39.4% 23.8%
Swing Increase 2.3% Decrease 4.0%
  Third party Fourth party
 
Con
Grn
Leader Bryan Quinn
Party Conservative Scottish Green
Leader's seat Clackmannanshire South
Last election 5 seats, 24.9% 0 seats, 6.5%
Seats before 4 0
Seats won 3 1
Seat change Decrease 2 Increase 1
Popular vote 3,996 1,438
Percentage 23.2% 8.4%
Swing Decrease 1.4% Increase 1.9%
Leader before election

Ellen Forson
(SNP)
No overall control

 Leader after election

Ellen Forson
(SNP)
No overall control

For the third consecutive election, the Scottish National Party (SNP) were returned as the largest party with nine seats but remained shy of an overall majority. Labour gained back some of the ground they had lost at the previous election and were again returned as the second-largest party with five seats. The Conservatives lost 40 per cent of their seats to return three councillors while the Greens their first seat in a Clackmannanshire election.

The minority SNP administration retained control of the council with incumbent council leader Cllr Ellen Forson re-elected to the post. Cllr Donald Balsillie was elected Provost and Cllr Phil Fairlie was selected as the council's first convener.

Background

Previous election
Main article: 2017 Clackmannanshire Council election

At the previous election in 2017, the Scottish National Party (SNP) again won the most seats and governed with a minority administration having returned eight councillors. Labour were on the end of heavy losses as their number fell from eight to five as they became the second largest party. The Conservatives made a net gain of four to hold five seats.[1][2]

2017 Clackmannanshire Council election result
Party Seats Vote share
SNP 8 37.1%
Labour 5 27.8%
Conservatives 5 24.9%

Source:[1][2]

Electoral system

The election used the five wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 18 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the single transferable vote (STV) – a form of proportional representation – electoral system where candidates are ranked in order of preference.[3]

Composition

The only change to the composition of the council came in March 2018 when Conservative councillor Chris Dixon resigned from the party and sat as an independent.[2][4] Three by-elections were held and resulted in two SNP holds[5][6] and a Conservative hold.[7]

Composition of Clackmannanshire Council
Party 2017 election Dissolution
SNP 8 8
Labour 5 5
Conservative 5 4
Independent 0 1

Retiring councillors
Retiring councillors
Ward Party Retiring councillor
Clackmannanshire West Labour George Matchett
SNP Tina Murphy
Les Sharp
Clackmannanshire North Labour Dave Clark
SNP Helen Lewis
Clackmannanshire Central Labour Derek Stewart
Conservative Mike Watson
Clackmannanshire South Independent Chris Dixon
Clackmannanshire East SNP Graham Lindsay

Source: [2][8]

Candidates

The total number of candidates increased from 35 in 2017 to 36. The SNP again stood the most candidates at nine, however this was two less than they had fielded in 2017. Similarly, the number of Labour candidates was less than 2017 with eight candidates standing across the five wards – one fewer than 2017. The Conservatives stood six candidates – up one from 2017 – while the Greens also contested every ward standing five candidates – the same number as they had in 2017. The number of Liberal Democrats standing (three) was one fewer than in 2017 and the number of independent candidates (three) increased by two. For the first time, the Alba Party contested an election in Clackmannanshire as they stood two candidates.[2][8]

Result
2022 Clackmannanshire Council election result
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  SNP 9 1 0 Increase 1 50.0 39.4 6,765 Increase 2.3
  Labour 5 0 0 Steady 27.8 23.8 4,091 Decrease 4.0
  Conservative 3 0 2 Decrease 2 16.7 23.2 3,996 Decrease 1.7
  Scottish Green 1 1 0 Increase 1 5.6 8.4 1,438 Increase 1.9
  Independent 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 2.5 423 Increase 2.1
  Liberal Democrats 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 2.0 350 Decrease 1.1
  Alba 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.7 128 New
Total 18 17,191

Source: [8]

Note: Votes are the sum of first preference votes across all council wards. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 4 May 2017. This is because STV has an element of proportionality which is not present unless multiple seats are being elected. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at the dissolution of Scotland's councils.[9][10]

Ward summary
Results of the 2022 Clackmannanshire Council election by ward
Ward % Cllrs % Cllrs % Cllrs % Cllrs % Cllrs Total
Cllrs
SNP Lab Con Green Others
Clackmannanshire West 43.6 2 26.8 1 22.8 1 4.0 0 2.7 0 4
Clackmannanshire North 41.4 2 18.7 1 21.9 1 5.7 0 12.3 0 4
Clackmannanshire Central 43.5 2 34.7 1 17.3 0 4.5 0 3
Clackmannanshire South 37.9 2 23.1 1 16.5 0 19.5 1 3.0 0 4
Clackmannanshire East 30.8 1 19.6 1 37.3 1 6.3 0 6.0 0 3
Total 39.4 9 23.8 5 23.2 3 8.4 1 5.2 0 18

Source: [8]

Seats changing hands

Below is a list of seats which elected a different party or parties from 2017 in order to highlight the change in the political composition of the council from the previous election. The list does not include defeated incumbents who resigned or defected from their party and subsequently failed re-election while the party held the seat.

Seats changing hands
Seat 2017 2022
Party Member Party Member
Clackmannanshire Central Conservative Mike Watson SNP Jane McTaggart
Clackmannanshire South Conservative Chris Dixon[Note 1] Green Bryan Quinn
Notes
  1. ^
    Note 1: In 2017, Chris Dixon was elected as a Conservative candidate but later resigned from the party.[2][4]

Ward results

Clackmannanshire West

The SNP (2), Conservatives (1) and Labour (1) retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

Clackmannanshire West - 4 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12
SNP Phil Fairlie 24.0 875  
Conservative Darren Lee 22.8 830  
Labour Mark McLuckie 21.6 787  
SNP Graham Lindsay 19.6 715 844
Labour Daniel Rooney 5.2 190 192
Scottish Green Cara Quinn 4.0 147 153
Liberal Democrats Laura Quin 2.7 99 101
Electorate: 8,936   Valid: 3,643   Spoilt: 111   Quota: 729   Turnout: 42.0%  

    Source:[11][12]

    Clackmannanshire North

    The SNP (2), Conservatives (1) and Labour (1) retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

    Clackmannanshire North - 4 seats
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    123456
    SNP Donald Balsillie 26.4 1,062          
    Conservative Martha Benny 21.9 884          
    Labour William Keogh 18.7 754 764 784 790 795 852
    SNP Fiona Law 15.0 605 799 800 848    
    Independent Ian Millar 7.0 280 285 297 309 314 345
    Scottish Green Clare Andrews 5.7 231 253 256 269 287 326
    Liberal Democrats Gordon Bruce 3.2 128 132 148 148 150  
    Alba Eva Comrie 2.1 84 93 95      
    Electorate: 8,643   Valid: 4,028   Spoilt: 111   Quota: 806   Turnout: 47.9%  

      Source:[13][14]

      Clackmannanshire Central

      The SNP and Labour retained the seats they had won at the previous election while the SNP also gained one seat from the Conservatives.

      Clackmannanshire Central - 3 seats
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      1234567
      SNP Wendy Hamilton 30.4 730            
      Conservative Kate Mason 17.3 416 417 426 437 455 476  
      Labour Carolynne Hunter 13.3 320 324 332 370      
      SNP Jane McTaggart 13.1 314 419 472 481 506 519 584
      Labour Janine Rennie 12.0 288 291 305 469 757    
      Labour Huw Sherrard 9.4 225 227 234        
      Scottish Green John Hosie 4.5 109 119          
      Electorate: 6,301   Valid: 2,402   Spoilt: 95   Quota: 601   Turnout: 39.6%  

        Source:[15][16]

        Clackmannanshire South

        The SNP (2) and Labour (1) retained the seats they had won at the previous election while the Greens gained a seat from the Conservatives.

        Clackmannanshire South - 4 seats
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        1234567
        Labour Kenneth Earle 23.1 877            
        SNP Ellen Forson 21.0 800            
        Scottish Green Bryan Quinn 19.5 742 768          
        SNP Craig Holden 16.9 643 662 697 701 720 747 800
        Conservative William Marlin 16.5 629 653 653 654 658 688  
        Independent Hugh van Lierop 1.8 68 77 78 79 92    
        Alba Matthew Reilly 1.2 44 47 47 47      
        Electorate: 9,357   Valid: 3,803   Spoilt: 100   Quota: 761   Turnout: 41.7%  

          Source:[17][18]

          Clackmannanshire East

          The SNP, Conservatives and Labour retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

          Clackmannanshire East - 3 seats
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          123456
          SNP Scott Harrison 30.8 1,021          
          Conservative Denis Coyne 30.4 1,008          
          Labour Kathleen Martin 19.6 650 685 692 709 760 951
          Conservative Neil Gault 6.9 229 232 384 405 417 435
          Scottish Green Marion Robertson 6.3 209 302 305 323 377  
          Liberal Democrats Angus Myles 3.7 123 136 140 153    
          Independent Les Calderwood 2.3 75 82 85      
          Electorate: 7,004   Valid: 3,315   Spoilt: 46   Quota: 829   Turnout: 48.0%  

            Source:[19][20]

            Aftermath

            Incumbent council leader Ellen Forson said the result was "a vindication of all the hard work" the SNP administrations had done over the past decade. The party again formed a minority administration with Cllr Forson re-elected as council leader and Cllr Graham Lindsay elected as depute leader. The role of Provost was split following the creation of the convener post. The Provost would remain a ceremonial post with the convener taking on the administrative responsibilities. Cllr Phil Fairlie was elected as the council's first convener with Cllr Donald Balsillie elected as Provost. Cllr Craig Holden took on the roles of deputy convener and deputy Provost.[21][22][23]

            Following the election, the leadership of the Labour group changed after Cllr Kenny Earle and Cllr Kathleen Martin stood down as leader and depute leader respectively. Cllr Janine Rennie was selected to replace him as leader while Cllr Mark McLuckie was chosen as depute leader.[24]

            References
            1. "Clackmannanshire Council". BBC. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
            2. Teale, Andrew. "Local Elections Archive Project - 2017 - Clackmannanshire". Retrieved 13 August 2023.
            3. "Notice of election". Clackmannanshire Council. 14 March 2022. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
            4. "Councillor Chris Dixon". Clackmannanshire Council. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
            5. "The SNP's Helen Lewis wins Clackmannanshire North by-election". Alloa Advertiser. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
            6. "Newly-elected Jane McTaggart ready to roll sleeves up". Alloa Advertiser. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
            7. "Conservatives' Denis Coyne wins Clackmannanshire East by-election". Alloa Advertiser. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
            8. Faulds, Allan. "Clackmannanshire Council 2022". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
            9. Faulds, Allan. "The Local STV Voting System Explained". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
            10. "Single Transferable Vote". Electoral Reform Society. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
            11. "Declaration of Results Report Ward 1 Clackmannanshire West" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
            12. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 1 Clackmannanshire West" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
            13. "Declaration of Results Report Ward 2 Clackmannanshire North" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
            14. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 2 Clackmannanshire North" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
            15. "Declaration of Results Report Ward 3 Clackmannanshire Central" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
            16. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 3 Clackmannanshire Central" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
            17. "Declaration of Results Report Ward 4 Clackmannanshire South" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
            18. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 4 Clackmannanshire South" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
            19. "Declaration of Results Report Ward 5 Clackmannanshire East" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
            20. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 5 Clackmannanshire East" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
            21. Bakonyi, Rajmund (6 May 2022). "Scottish Council Elections: Clackmannanshire returns nine SNP councillors". Alloa Advertiser. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
            22. Bakonyi, Rajmund (27 May 2022). "SNP form administration at Clackmannanshire Council". Alloa Advertiser. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
            23. Bakonyi, Rajmund (25 May 2022). "Duties of Clackmannanshire provost could be split". Alloa Advertiser. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
            24. Van Reenen, Danyel (23 May 2022). "Clacks Labour appoint new leader and deputy leader". Alloa Advertiser. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
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