2022 Falkirk Council election

The next elections to Falkirk Council was held on 5 May 2022 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. The election will use the nine wards created following the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland's 5th Review, with 30 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either three or four members, using the STV electoral system.[1]

Main article: 2022 Scottish local elections
2022 Falkirk Council election
5 May 2022 (2022-05-05)
All 30 seats to Falkirk Council
16 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Cecil Meiklejohn Robert Bissett
Party SNP Labour
Leader's seat Falkirk North Falkirk North
Last election 12 seats, 38.8% 9 seats, 23.1%
Seats before 12 7
Seats after 12 9
Popular vote 21,066 12,179
Percentage 39.7% 23.0%
Swing Increase0.9 Decrease0.1
  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader James Kerr N/A
Party Conservative Independent
Leader's seat Upper Braes
Last election 7 seats, 24.5% 2 seats, 9.8%
Seats before 7 4
Seats after 5 4
Popular vote 10,326 6,018
Percentage 19.5% 11.4%
Swing Decrease5.0 Increase1.6
Council Leader before election

Cecil Meiklejohn
SNP

 Council Leader after election

Cecil Meiklejohn
SNP

At the last election in 2017, the Scottish National Party (SNP) won the most seats and formed a minority administration.[2]

Background

Previous election

At the previous election in 2017, the Scottish National Party (SNP) became the largest party, despite losing one seat, overtaking Labour who lost five seats. Two independents were elected, one less than 2012 while the Conservatives gained five seats.[3]

2017 Falkirk Council election result
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  SNP 12 Steady 1 Decrease1 40 38.8 20,861 Decrease1.6
  Labour 9 Steady 5 Decrease5 30 23.1 12,421 Decrease14.6
  Conservative 7 5 Steady Increase5 23.3 24.5 13,168 Increase13.3
  Independent 2 Steady 1 Decrease1 6.7 9.8 5,308 Decrease0.7
  Scottish Green 0 Steady Steady Steady 0 3.6 1,933 New
Total 30 53,754
Notes[3]
  • 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 in May 2012. 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 dissolution of Scotland's councils.
  • Following boundary changes, the number of seats in Falkirk fell from 32 in 2012 to 30 in 2017. Gains and losses are represented against national results which may differ from other published sources.

Composition

Since the previous election, several changes in the composition of the council occurred. Labour councillor John McLuckie and Conservative councillor James Kerr were suspended by their respective parties after having been charged by the police following an investigation into planning irregularities in Falkirk.[4] SNP councillor Niall Coleman resigned from the party to become an independent.[5] Two by-elections were held and resulted in an SNP hold[6] and an SNP gain from Labour.[2]

Party 2017 result Dissolution
SNP 12 12
Labour 9 7
Conservative 7 7
Independents 2 4

Retiring councillors
Ward Party Retiring councillor
Grangemouth Labour Allyson Black
Denny and Banknock Labour Jim Blackwood
Carse, Kinnaird and Tryst Labour Joan Coombes
Bonnybridge and Larbert Independent Niall Coleman
Falkirk North SNP David Alexander
Independent Dennis Goldie
Falkirk South Conservative John Patrick
Lower Braes Conservative Malcolm Nicol
Upper Braes SNP Gordon Hughes

Results
2022 Falkirk Council election
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  SNP 12 Steady Steady Steady 40 39.7 21,066 Increase0.9
  Labour 9 Steady Steady Steady 30 23.0 12,179 Decrease0.1
  Conservative 5 Steady Decrease2 Decrease2 16.7 19.5 10,326 Decrease5.0
  Independent 4 Increase2 Steady Increase2 13.3 11.4 6,018 Increase1.6
  Scottish Green Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady 4.5 2,365 Increase0.9
  Liberal Democrats Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady 1.1 603 New
  Alba Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady 0.8 424 New
  Other Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady 0.1 27 Steady
Total 30 53,008

Ward summary
Results of the 2022 Falkirk Council election by ward
Ward %
Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 Total
Cllrs
SNP Lab Conservative Green Lib Dem Ind Alba Others
Bo'ness and Blackness 21.74 1 18.64 1 15.12 0 2.44 0 1.61 0 40.58 1 3
Grangemouth 44.85 1 23.38 1 15.23 0 2.42 0 15.06 1 0.54 0 3
Denny and Banknock 46.49 2 20.66 1 16.16 0 3.15 0 13.54 1 4
Carse, Kinnaird and Tryst 44.37 2 24.55 1 24.06 1 4.14 0 2.88 0 4
Bonnybridge and Larbert 33.88 1 17.60 1 18.41 0 4.91 0 25.22 1 3
Falkirk North 47.41 2 28.86 1 13.27 1 5.90 0 4.55 0 4
Falkirk South 41.66 1 22.34 1 28.56 1 5.67 0 1.77 0 3
Lower Braes 39.35 1 27.00 1 23.34 1 5.78 0 3.24 0 1.30 0 3
Upper Braes 34.88 1 23.13 1 21.86 1 5.60 0 2.53 0 10.88 0 1.15 0 3
Total 30

Ward results

Bo'ness and Blackness
  • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2017: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
  • 2022: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
  • 2017-2022 Change: Independent gain one seat from Conservative
Bo'ness and Blackness - 3 seats[7]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345
Independent Ann Ritchie (incumbent) 40.51 2,262
SNP Stacey Devine 21.70 1,212 1,434.54
Labour David Aitchison (incumbent) 18.64 1,041 1,229.03 1,238.47
Conservative Lynn Munro (incumbent) 15.10 843 950.83 951.93 984.18 995.82
Scottish Green Debra Pickering 2.44 136 136 193.94 245.43 211.02
Liberal Democrats Nicholas William Pitts 1.61 90 125.3 126.18
Electorate: 12,389   Valid: 5,584   Spoilt: 70   Quota: 1,394   Turnout: 45.6%  

    Grangemouth
    • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xIndependent
    • 2017: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
    • 2022: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
    • 2017-2022 Change: No change
    Grangemouth - 3 seats[7]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    12345678
    SNP David Balfour (incumbent) 35.85 1,808
    Labour Alan Nimmo[LOB] 23.38 1,179 1,211.98 1,217.28 1,244.09 1,281.31
    Conservative Mandy Bryson 13.58 685 694.08 708.01 702.38 725.98 729.38
    Independent Robert Spears (incumbent) 12.12 611 645.79 647.79 668.61 731.75 738.42 1,071.96 1,391.08
    SNP John Haston 9.00 454 873.93 876.23 942.91 960.45 962.68 984.84
    Independent Marc Bozza 3.11 157 165.78 169.77 176.68
    Scottish Green Rhys Stenhouse 2.42 122 137.73 138.43
    UKIP Martin Stuart 0.54 27 27.61
    Electorate: 12,741   Valid: 5,043   Spoilt: 161   Quota: 1,261   Turnout: 40.5%  

      Denny and Banknock
      • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xLab 1xIndependent
      • 2017: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
      • 2022: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
      • 2017-2022 Change: Independent gain one seat from Conservative
      Denny and Banknock - 4 seats[7]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      1
      SNP Paul Garner (incumbent) 29.42 1,868
      SNP Fiona Collie (incumbent) 17.07 1,084 1,571.69
      Conservative Nigel Harris (incumbent) 16.16 1,026 1,033.67 1,041.5 1,056.96 1,073.66 1,092.16
      Labour Alf Kelly 14.00 889 903.71 935.17 1,011.42 1,368.98
      Independent Brian McCabe 13.54 860 890.68 929.43 1,031.31 1,072.02 1,106.23 1,610.76
      Labour James Marshall 6.66 423 433.27 444.87 461.56
      Scottish Green Rachel Hart 3.15 200 223.01 346.01
      Electorate: 15,534   Valid: 6,350   Spoilt: 128   Quota: 1, 271   Turnout: 43.8%  

        Carse, Kinnaird and Tryst
        • 2012: 2xLab; 2xSNP
        • 2017: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
        • 2022: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
        • 2017-2022 Change: No change
        Carse, Kinnaird and Tryst - 4 seats[7]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        1234567
        SNP Gary Bouse (incumbent) 27.32 1,961
        Labour Margaret Anslow 24.55 1,762 1,762 1,436.
        SNP Laura Murtagh (incumbent) 17.05 1,224 1,670.56
        Conservative Jim Flynn (incumbent) 15.06 1,081 1,088.49 1.143.63 1,150.23
        Conservative Robert Kemp 9.00 646 649.75 674.35 678.09 711.89 778.53
        Scottish Green Tom McLaughlin 4.14 297 326.45 270.98 370.48 492.89 610.00
        Liberal Democrats Sean McCay 2.88 207 215.57 278.97 314.47
        Electorate: 17,252   Valid: 7,178   Spoilt: 156   Quota: 1,436   Turnout: 42.5%  

          Bonnybridge and Larbert
          • 2012: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
          • 2017: 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xIndependent
          • 2022: 1xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLab
          • 2017-2022 Change: Labour gain one seat from Conservative
          Bonnybridge and Larbert - 3 seats[7]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          123456
          Independent Billy Buchanan (incumbent) 25.22 1,423
          SNP Bryan Deakin 21.48 1,212 1,214.26 1,276.53 1,988.19
          Conservative David Grant (incumbent) 18.39 1,038 1,040.52 1,056.57 1,064.59 1,084.79
          Labour Jack Redmond 17.60 993 996.38 1,072.64 1,111.79 1,327.54 1,942.15
          SNP Jim Muir 12.40 700 700.94 797.07
          Scottish Green David Robertson 4.91 277 277.94
          Electorate: 13,094   Valid: 5,643   Spoilt: 87   Quota: 1,411   Turnout: 43.8%  

            Falkirk North
            • 2012: 2xSNP; 2xLab
            • 2017: 2xSNP; 2xLab
            • 2022: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
            • 2017-2022 Change: Conservative gain one seat from Labour
            Falkirk North - 4 seats[7]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            1
            SNP Cecil Meiklejohn (incumbent) 35.01 2,260
            Labour Robert Bissett (incumbent) 22.68 1,464
            Conservative James Bundy 13.27 857 863.85 867.95 880.64 912.95 947.87 1,277.89
            SNP Iain Sinclair 12.41 801 1,625.50
            Labour Robbie Burgess 6.18 399 423.41 466.48 604.17 651.31 929.0
            Scottish Green Judith McLaughlin 5.90 381 424.26 553.38 557.96 631.1
            Alba Zohaib Arshad 4.55 294 307.28 345.31 348.36
            Electorate: 16,749   Valid: 6,456   Spoilt: 174   Quota: 1,292   Turnout: 39.6%  

              Falkirk South
              • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
              • 2017: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
              • 2022: 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLab
              • 2017-2022 Change: No change
              Falkirk South - 3 seats[7]
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              12345
              SNP Lorna Binnie (incumbent) 30.18 1,843
              Conservative Sarah Patrick 28.56 1,744
              Labour Euan Stainbank 22.34 1,364 1,380.46 1,478.63 1,524.51 1,652.32
              SNP Emma Russell (incumbent) 11.48 701 959.03 964.61 977.33
              Scottish Green Hunter Thomson 5.67 346 359.16 377.86 408.23
              Independent Richard Wilson 1.77 108 111.09 138.58
              Electorate: TBC   Valid: 6,106   Spoilt: 102   Quota: 1,527   Turnout: 46.3%  

                Lower Braes
                • 2012: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
                • 2017: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
                • 2022: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
                • 2017-2022 Change: No change
                Lower Braes - 3 seats[7]
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                123456
                Labour Anne Hannah 27.00 1,393
                SNP Gordon Forrest 23.36 1,205 1,213.21 1,237.65 1,248.06 1,330.98
                Conservative James Kerr[UPB] 23.34 1,204 1,225.29 1,237.65 1,297.984 1,330.97
                SNP Adanna McCue (incumbent) 15.99 825 830.32 841.55 848.75 848.91
                Scottish Green Doug Sheehan 5.78 298 309.76 378.19 320.97
                Liberal Democrats Hunter Ashley 3.24 167 195.32 201.86
                Alba Scott Fallon 1.30 67 69.44
                Electorate: 12,003   Valid: 5,159   Spoilt: 48   Quota: 1,290   Turnout: 43.6%  

                  Upper Braes
                  • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
                  • 2017: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
                  • 2022: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
                  • 2017-2022 Change: No change
                  Upper Braes - 3 seats[7]
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  1
                  SNP Jim Robertson 34.88 1,918
                  Labour Siobhan Paterson 23.13 1,272 1,365.42 1,370.55 1,384.12
                  Conservative Claire Brown 21.86 1,202 1,214.45 1,219.45 1,224.46 1,225.95 1,233.53 1,259.08 1,406.68
                  Independent John McLuckie (incumbent) 8.35 459 489.57 499.27 548.80 550.05 568.17 603.26
                  Scottish Green Rachel Kidd 5.60 308 516.93 520.78 535.32 536.81 586.76 644.66 740.41
                  Liberal Democrats Austin Reid 2.53 139 161.65 161.65 168.21 170.22 177.23
                  Independent Ian Kennedy 1.62 89 98.34 114.04
                  Alba Colin Todd 1.15 63 110.56 114.13 118.13 118.39
                  Independent Mark Tunnicliff 0.89 49 55.23
                  Electorate: 12,734   Valid: 5,499   Spoilt: 79   Quota: 1,375   Turnout: 43.8%  

                    Notes
                    1. ^
                      LOB: Sitting councillor for Lower Braes.
                    2. ^
                      UPB: Sitting councillor for Upper Braes.

                    References
                    1. "Elections & voting - Local Government Elections 2022". Falkirk Council. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
                    2. Webster, Laura (15 October 2021). "SNP secure Falkirk by-election win as Labour's support 'collapses'". The National. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
                    3. Teale, Andrew. "Local Elections Results 2017 Falkirk". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
                    4. "Falkirk councillors charged over planning concerns". BBC News. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
                    5. Trimble, James (13 March 2022). "Falkirk councillor resigns from SNP". Falkirk Herald. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
                    6. "Bonnybridge and Larbert (Fk) By-Election 15/02/18". Ballot Box Scotland. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
                    7. "Falkirk Council 2022 Election Results". Falkirk Council. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
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