2022 Dumfries and Galloway Council election

The 2022 Dumfries and Galloway Council election took place on 5 May 2022 to elect members of Dumfries and Galloway Council representing the Local Authority area of Dumfries and Galloway. It resulted in a council composition with no party receiving a majority of seats. The election used the twelve 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 43 councillors being elected.

Main article: 2022 Scottish local elections
2022 Dumfries and Galloway Council election
5 May 2022 (2022-05-05)
All 43 seats to Dumfries and Galloway Council
22 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Ian Carruthers Rob Davidson Elaine Murray
Party Conservative SNP Labour
Leader's seat Annandale South Abbey Nith
Last election 16 11 11
Seats after 16 11 9
Seat change Steady Steady Decrease 2
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Leader Richard Brodie Peter Barlow & Liz Ashburn
Party Lib Dem Scottish Green Independent
Leader's seat Annandale South Did not win
Last election 1 0 4
Seats after 1 0 6
Seat change Steady Steady Increase 2
A map of Dumfries & Galloway showing the political parties with the most 1st preference votes in each ward.
A pie chart showing the share of 1st preference votes in Dumfries & Galloway.
Council Leader before election

Elaine Murray
(Labour)

 Council Co-Leader after election

Stephen Thompson (SNP) and Linda Dorward (Labour)

Many prominent elected members stood down at this election, including the Leader of the Council, and former Dumfriesshire MSP, Elaine Murray.[1]

Results
2022 Dumfries and Galloway Council election result[2][3]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 16 0 0 Steady 37.21 38.76 21,462 Increase0.06
  SNP 11 0 0 Steady 25.58 28.17 15,602 Increase6.61
  Labour 9 0 2 Decrease 2 20.93 16.55 9,169 Decrease1.9
  Independent 6 2 0 Increase 2 13.95 8.6 4,762 Decrease8.66
  Scottish Green 0 0 0 Steady 0.00 4.51 2,496 Increase2.64
  Liberal Democrats 1 0 0 Steady 2.33 3.26 1,810 Increase0.79
  Alba 0 0 0 New 0.00 0.12 68 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 2007. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

Ward results

Stranraer and the Rhins
Stranraer and the Rhins - 4 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
Conservative Andrew Giusti (incumbent) 32.87 1,518            
SNP Ben Dashper 23.26 1,074            
Independent Willie Scobie (incumbent) 22.76 1,051            
Labour John McCutcheon 9.92 458 478.74 511.28 523.0 582.42 660.68  
Conservative Chrissie Hill 7.32 338 804.04 806.97 816.64 833.1 861.45 1,025.86
Scottish Green Peter Barlow 2.60 120 126.65 180.98 187.14      
Independent Tommy Sloan 1.28 59 98.92 118.89 198.15 239.43    
Electorate: 11,398   Valid: 4,618 (41.5%)   Spoilt: 108   Quota: 924   Turnout: 4,726  

    Mid Galloway and Wigtown West
    Mid Galloway and Wigtown West - 4 seats
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    12345
    Conservative David Inglis 30.81 1,529        
    SNP Katie Hagmann 30.33 1,505        
    Conservative Jackie McCamon 19.43 964 1,428.50      
    Labour Sandy Whitelaw 11.27 559 578.28 681.36 806.35 1,240.1
    Scottish Green Kenny Campbell 8.16 405 415.17 690.72 736.31  
    Electorate: 10,908   Valid: 4,962 (46.4%)   Spoilt: 98   Quota: 993   Turnout: 5,060  

      Dee and Glenkens
      Dee and Glenkens - 3 seats
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      123456
      SNP Andy McFarlane 25.44 1,139          
      Conservative John Denerley 20.37 912 912.37 927.43 942.45 963.52 1,603.68
      Conservative Susan Murdoch 17.66 791 791.47 801.52 835.52 859.71  
      Independent Dougie Campbell 14.63 655 657.74 721.92 809.37 1,108.76 1,227.96
      Scottish Green Laura Moodie 11.34 508 517.76 556.07 651.93    
      Labour Graham Trickey 6.05 271 272.94 320.22      
      Independent Anthony Bird 4.51 202 203.05        
      Electorate: 8,406   Valid: 4,478   Spoilt: 51   Quota: 1,120   Turnout: 4,529  

        Castle Douglas and Crocketford
        Castle Douglas and Crocketford - 3 seats
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        12345678
        Conservative Pauline Drysdale 30.25 1,220              
        SNP John Young 25.09 1,012              
        Independent Iain Clark Howie 9.99 403 425.31 425.73 468.15 521.73 582.37 827.87 1,115.45
        Independent Gill Dykes 9.57 386 409.35 409.43 432.59 463.7 550.84    
        Liberal Democrats Iain McDonald 7.76 313 329.6 329.94 382.21 495.45 553.27 633.43  
        Scottish Green Liz Ashburn 6.03 243 244.21 245.53          
        Labour Keith Heron 5.98 241 246.71 247.09 316.52        
        Conservative Iain Kennedy-Moffat 5.33 215 341.95 341.97 349.93 361.55      
        Electorate: 7,751   Valid: 4,033   Spoilt: 59   Quota: 1,009   Turnout: 4,092 (52.8%)  

          Abbey
          Abbey - 3 seats
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          123
          SNP Kim Lowe 31.13 1,267    
          Labour Davie Stitt 25.87 1,053    
          Conservative Ian Blake 24.69 1,005 1,014.24 1,020.15
          Conservative Robin Wishart 12.01 489 493.91 496.38
          Liberal Democrats Matthew Pumphrey 6.29 256 375.09 390.24
          Electorate: 8,592   Valid: 4,070   Spoilt: 76   Quota: 1,018   Turnout: 4,146 (48.3%)  

            North West Dumfries
            North West Dumfries - 4 seats
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            12345
            SNP Andy Ferguson 39.52 1,561        
            Conservative Graham Bell 28.43 1,123        
            Labour Emma Jordan 18.43 728 919.88      
            Labour Paula Stevenson 8.78 347 404.22 495.86 607.94 909.1
            Scottish Green Ann Johnstone 4.84 191 526.42 571.95 579.27  
            Electorate: 10,203   Valid: 3,950   Spoilt: 62   Quota: 791   Turnout: 4,012 (39.3%)  

              Mid and Upper Nithsdale
              Mid and Upper Nithsdale - 3 seats
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              1234
              SNP Tony Berretti 29.23 1,161      
              Independent Jim Dempster 27.37 1,087      
              Conservative Andrew Wood 15.84 629 631.88 642.83 1,139.94
              Conservative Kyle Thornton 14.88 591 596.61 612.95  
              Labour Callum Jamieson 12.69 504 595.34 630.2 664.05
              Electorate: 8,242   Valid: 3,972   Spoilt: 46   Quota: 994   Turnout: 4,018 (48.8%)  

                Lochar
                Lochar - 4 seats
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                1234
                SNP Tracey Little 33.68 1,787      
                Conservative Ivor Hyslop 25.41 1,348      
                Labour Linda Dorward 21.60 1,146      
                Conservative Maureen Johnstone 14.55 772 810.33 1,058.85 1,078.40
                Scottish Green Sandy Rogerson 4.77 253 733.92 740.62  
                Electorate: 11,299   Valid: 5,306   Spoilt: 60   Quota: 1,016   Turnout: 5,386 (47.7%)  

                  Nith
                  Nith - 4 seats
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  1234567
                  SNP John Gillespie Campbell 33.35 1,670            
                  Conservative Malcolm Johnstone 18.05 904 920 923 937.74 1,386.79    
                  Labour Keith Walters 16.68 835 949.4 1,291.2        
                  Conservative Alastair Muir 10.29 515 521.0 523.4 539.12      
                  Independent David Slater 9.75 488 546 562.8 621.97 642.89 785.24 1,029.72
                  Labour Angie Whitelaw 7.09 355 409          
                  Scottish Green Ann McLauchlan 4.79 240 540.4 559 624.58 629.76 655.28  
                  Electorate: 10,573   Valid: 5,007   Spoilt: 72   Quota: 1,002   Turnout: 5,079 (48.0%)  

                    Annandale South
                    Annandale South - 4 seats
                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                    123456
                    Conservative Ian Carruthers 21.90 1,118          
                    SNP George Jamieson 21.63 1,104          
                    Labour Sean Marshall 19.10 975 982.4 1,003.12 1,063.84    
                    Liberal Democrats Richard Brodie 17.67 902 911.2 924.35 995.49 1,017.45 1,396.61
                    Conservative Alan Weild 16.44 839 909.1 910.97 921.46 926.58  
                    Scottish Green Cameron Garrett 3.25 166 166.7 195.86      
                    Electorate: 11,245   Valid: 5,104   Spoilt: 94   Quota: 1,021   Turnout: 5,198 (46.2%)  

                      Annandale North
                      Annandale North - 4 seats
                      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                      12345
                      SNP Stephen Thompson (incumbent) 30.05 1,725        
                      Conservative Gail MacGregor 20.08 1,153        
                      Conservative Lynne Davis 19.40 1,114 1,134.03 1,135.51 1,142.51 1,165.86
                      Labour Carolyne Wilson 13.88 797 951.27 951.42 973.11 1,266.7
                      Conservative Doug Fairbairn 10.82 621 634.5 636.25 638.92 647.94
                      Scottish Green Jennifer Norris 4.58 263 487.72 487.76 548.49  
                      Alba Marion Collins 1.18 68 123.1 123.2    
                      Electorate: 11,910   Valid: 5,741   Spoilt: 74   Quota: 1,149   Turnout: 5,815 (48.8%)  

                        Annandale East and Eskdale
                        Annandale East and Eskdale - 3 seats
                        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                        1234567
                        Conservative Karen Carruthers 27.75 1,140            
                        Labour Archie Dryburgh 21.42 880 888.45 908.65 973.11 1,260.22    
                        Independent Denis Male 15.41 633 639.1 649.1 687.47 724.95 875.1 1,190.62
                        Conservative Ron Tait 14.95 614 693.1 699.67 712.75 724.95 751.84  
                        SNP Sylvia Willmot 14.53 597 597.88 640.98 660.98      
                        Liberal Democrats Kirsten Herbst-Gray 3.33 137 141.62 159.81        
                        Scottish Green Stephen Mattock 2.60 107 108.28          
                        Electorate: 8,699   Valid: 4,108   Spoilt: 82   Quota: 1,028   Turnout: 4,190 (48.2%)  

                          Aftermath

                          Over the 2017–2022 term, the SNP and Labour ran a coalition, while the Conservatives were the largest party. Following this election, the SNP under Cllr Stephen Thompson, Labour under Cllr Linda Dorward and the Independent Group (including 6 Independents and 1 Liberal Democrat) under Cllr Richard Brodie agreed to work together and form a "Rainbow Coalition".[4] Thompson and Dorward became co-leaders of the council.

                          Despite the collaboration between the SNP and Labour, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar claimed that the deal was an interim arrangement and "not for the duration of the entire council term".[5] Ultimately, the coalition agreement lasted only 8 months[6] and the Conservatives (with Independent support) took control of the administration.

                          Changes since 2022

                          Mid Galloway and Wigtown West by-election

                          In October 2022, Labour councillor Sandy Whitelaw resigned, triggering a by-election in Ward 2 - Mid Galloway and Wigtown West, which was held on 8 December 2022.[7]

                          Mid Galloway and Wigtown West – 1 seat[8]
                          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                          1
                          Conservative Richard Marsh 52.86 1,787
                          SNP Ian Gibson 26.00 879
                          Labour John Peter McCutcheon 9.64 326
                          Liberal Democrats Iain McDonald 5.62 190
                          Scottish Green Daniel Hooper-Jones 5.08 172
                          Electorate: 10,981   Valid: 3,354   Spoilt: 26   Quota: 1,678.00   Turnout: 3,380  

                            Change in Council Leadership

                            In February 2023, Labour councillors agreed to terminate their formal coalition with the SNP and Independent Councillors.[9] The resulting agreement led to Councillor Stephen Thompson (SNP) being declared Leader of Dumfries & Galloway Council and Councillor Richard Brodie (Lib Dem) declared as Deputy Leader.

                            In March 2023, Labour abstentions and Independent Councillors' support allowed a Conservative budget to pass. As a result, the SNP leadership resigned, including Councillor Thompson.[10] One week later, the Conservatives (with Independent Group support) elected Gail MacGregor as Council Leader, resulting in Dumfries & Galloway Council coming under Conservative administration.[11]

                            References
                            1. "Dumfries and Galloway Council's first ever female leader to step down". BBC News. 24 February 2022.
                            2. "Dumfries & Galloway result - Scottish Council Elections 2022". BBC News. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
                            3. "Dumfries and Galloway Council 2022". Ballot Box Scotland. 8 May 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
                            4. "Cross-party panel agreed to help run Dumfries and Galloway Council". BBC News. 2022-06-27. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
                            5. Brawn, Steph (17 July 2022). "Dumfries and Galloway: 'Interim' council deal shows Labour fear SNP, says MSP". The National. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
                            6. "Dumfries and Galloway Council's rainbow coalition reshuffle agreed". BBC News. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
                            7. Gillespie, Stuart (12 October 2022). "Councillor quits less than six months after election". Daily Record.
                            8. "Declaration Mid Galloway Wigtown West By Election December 2022" (PDF). Dumfries and Galloway Council.
                            9. McLean, Marc; Standard, Dumfries and Galloway (2023-02-07). "Council coalition hangs on to power". Daily Record. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
                            10. Rinaldi, Giancarlo (2023-02-28). "The rise and fall of Dumfries and Galloway's cross-party coalition". BBC News. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
                            11. Elliards, Xander (7 March 2023). "Tories take control of Scottish council as Labour blamed for playing 'games'". The National.
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