1994 Tayside Regional Council election

1994 Tayside Regional Council election
All 46 seats to Tayside Regional Council; 24 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	45.5% 2.3%
	Interactive map of results in the 46 Tayside electoral divisions
Council control before election; ; No overall control	Council control after election ; ; No overall control

The sixth and last election to Tayside Regional Council was held on 5 May 1994 as part of the wider 1994 Scottish regional elections. The election saw the Scottish National Party overtaking Labour to become the council's largest party, and following the election the SNP formed a minority administration. The Conservatives lost 10 seats and became the third largest party. 8 weeks later, leader of the council Lena Graham resigned 'for personal reasons' and Ewan Dow took over as council leader.

Background

The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 created a two-tier system of local government in Scotland. Tayside was one of 9 regions, below which were 3 districts; Dundee, Angus and Perth and Kinross. The region was governed by Tayside Regional Council, whose 46 councillors were elected every 4 years using the first past the post voting system.^[1] The previous election was held on 3 May 1990, and ended in victory for Labour who took 18 seats. The Conservatives came second with 14 seats, and the SNP finished third with 10.^[2]^: 45

The SNP stood on a platform of anti-privatisation, campaigning against the Conservative government's attempts to privatise the water and sewerage systems.^[3] A total of 160 candidates stood for 46 seats; 40 women and 120 men. The SNP stood in the most electoral divisions (45), followed by the Conservatives (41), Labour (36), the Liberal Democrats (25) and the Scottish Greens (8).^[4] Two Liberal Democrat candidates were disqualified before the election after it transpired that their proposers had already nominated other individuals.^[5]

Aftermath

The election ended with the SNP as the largest party, gaining 12 seats, although they were short of an overall majority. Labour took legal action after the SNP won Whitfield by just 1 vote, alleging that a spoiled ballot paper was counted in the SNP candidate's favour.^[6] The challenge was dropped after the Labour candidate George Barr was allowed to examine the contentious ballot paper.^[7]

Some Labour councillors backed nominating candidates to convenerships, knowing that they could only be elected with Conservative support. This was condemned by Scottish Labour's general secretary Jack McConnell, who told the councillors that "no Labour administration worth its salt would get the support of the Tories". Conservative group leader Bruce Mackie denied such a move, saying "There is no question at all of us working in any alliance with any other party."^[8] The SNP eventually formed a minority administration, with former group leader Frances Duncan elected convener and Lena Graham elected as council leader.^[9]

Graham resigned just 8 weeks into the role, and was replaced by Ewan Dow, a newly elected councillor. Dow was just 22 years old when he was appointed, making him the youngest Scottish council leader in history.^[10]

Aggregate results

1994 Tayside Regional Council election

Party		Votes	%	+/–	Seats	+/–
	SNP	54,640	39.58	8.8	22	12
	Labour	35,561	25.76	3.2	16	2
	Conservative	28,869	20.91	9.0	4	10
	Liberal Democrats	13,026	9.44	3.5	2	0
	Independent	2,386	1.73	0.5	1	0
	Independent Labour	2,143	1.55	0.1	1	0
	Scottish Green	907	0.66	1.0	0	0
	Others	518	0.38	0.3	0	0
Total		138,050	100.00	–	46	–

Registered voters/turnout		306,292	45.5
Source: Elections Centre

Ward results

Each of the 46 electoral divisions elected one councillor. Boundaries were changed since the last election after a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland.^[1]

Angus

1. Arbroath Central^[2]^: 10
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	A. King	1,440	48.7
	Liberal Democrats	R. B. Spears	1,218	41.2
	Conservative	R. Irvine	296	48.7
Majority			222
Turnout				45.5
	SNP win (new seat)

2. Carnoustie East/Arbroath West^[2]^: 10
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	G. A. Lamont	1,103	31.2
	Liberal Democrats	G. Ryalls	937	26.5
	Conservative	J. A. McAdam	835	23.6
	Labour	P. A. Wardlaw	325	9.2
Majority			166
Turnout				52.3
	SNP win (new seat)

3. Arbroath North/Central Angus^[2]^: 10
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	H. M. W. Angus	1,423	50.2
	Conservative	E. C. Hill	700	24.7
	Labour	J. Warren	346	12.2
	Liberal Democrats	H. O'F. Will	289	10.2
	Scottish Green	P. C. Roberts	74	2.6
Majority			723
Turnout				43.5%
	SNP win (new seat)

4. Arbroath East^[2]^: 10
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	A. W. Shand	1,791	48.8
	Labour	F. G. Pearson	792	21.6
	Conservative	R. D. Ramsay	292	7.9
Majority			999
Turnout				51.9
	SNP win (new seat)

5. Carnoustie West^[2]^: 10
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	R. Lamont	1,329	41.1
	Conservative	J. Gray	759	25.1
	Labour	P. A. Murphy	727	24.1
	Liberal Democrats	G. McBeth	198	6.5
Majority			570
Turnout				45.9
	SNP win (new seat)

6. Forfar West^[2]^: 10
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	F. E. Duncan	2,067	67.5
	Conservative	B. J. T. Townsend	642	21.1
	Labour	L. Hood	345	11.2
Majority			1421
Turnout				43.7
	SNP win (new seat)

7. Forfar East^[2]^: 10
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	I. S. Hudghton	1,883	63.1
	Conservative	A. A. A. Cochrane-Dyet	523	17.5
	Liberal Democrats	H. C. Fleming	289	9.6
	Labour	G. MacDonald	289	9.6
Majority			1,360
Turnout				42.0
	SNP win (new seat)

8. Montrose South^[2]^: 10
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	W. A. West	1,435	59.1
	Conservative	D. J. Stubbs	579	23.8
	Labour	S. Singh	248	10.2
	Liberal Democrats	A. W. Warren	165	3.8
Majority			856
Turnout				38.7
	SNP win (new seat)

9. Montrose North^[2]^: 10
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	D. C. Doward	1,460	49.8
	Conservative	W. Johnston	897	30.6
	Labour	J. Stewart	571	19.5
Majority			563
Turnout				43.3
	SNP win (new seat)

10. Kirriemuir/Western Glens^[2]^: 10
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	H. S. Arbuthnott	1,415	44.9
	SNP	R. Berrie	1,347	42.8
	Labour	D. K. Todd	384	12.2
Majority			68
Turnout				44.7
	Conservative win (new seat)

11. Brechin/Eastern Glens^[2]^: 10
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	G. P. Allan	2,061	56.6
	Conservative	R. J. L. Melville	971	26.6
	Labour	I. A. McFatridge	431	11.8
	Liberal Democrats	M. I. Gillespie	175	4.8
Majority			1090
Turnout				49.9
	SNP win (new seat)

City of Dundee

12. Central^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	J. D. Kemp	1,031	47.8
	SNP	D. C. L. Blake	478	23.6
	Liberal Democrats	D. A. Stansfield	316	14.9
	Conservative	J. C. W. Justice	189	8.9
	Scottish Green	F. Conacher	99	4.6
Majority			553
Turnout				30.1
	Labour win (new seat)

13. Riverside^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	N. I. C. Powrie	1,429	42.1
	Labour	S. R. Butcher	1,206	35.6
	SNP	C. Cashley	423	12.4
	Liberal Democrats	D. R. MacDonald	260	7.6
	Scottish Green	E. C. Hood	72	2.0
Majority			223
Turnout				50.2
	Conservative win (new seat)

14. Lochee^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	G. W. Buckman	1,767	60.6
	SNP	N. Maiden	622	21.3
	Conservative	A. G. L. Powrie	297	10.1
	Liberal Democrats	R. J. Coates	141	4.8
	Scottish Green	C. J. S. Cassells	87	2.9
Majority			1,145
Turnout				44.9
	Labour win (new seat)

15. Law^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	B. Paterson	1,637	54.7
	SNP	P. L. Mulheron	755	25.2
	Conservative	W. C. Blackwood	365	12.2
	Liberal Democrats	S. M. Tennant	153	5.1
	Scottish Green	S. M. Hendry	82	2.7
Majority			882
Turnout				44.4
	Labour win (new seat)

16. Dens^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	J. C. McGovern	1,546	60.4
	SNP	E. Black	650	25.4
	Conservative	D. E. Hay	176	6.8
	Scottish Militant Labour	P. H. Manley	154	6.0
	Communist	T. D. Burn	30	1.1
Majority			869
Turnout				35.2
	Labour win (new seat)

17. Stannergate^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	D. Macmillan	1,413	39.1
	SNP	J. Corrigan	1,082	30.0
	Conservative	P. D. Scott	935	25.9
	Liberal Democrats	E. A. Dwyer	177	4.9
Majority			331
Turnout				53.9
	Labour win (new seat)

18. Ninewells^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	W. Derby	1,693	58.2
	SNP	M. T. B. Anderson	700	24.0
	Conservative	J. N. Gowans	294	10.1
	Liberal Democrats	G. Cowie	222	7.6
Majority			993
Turnout				46.7
	Labour win (new seat)

19. Charleston^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	J. R. Letford	1,834	61.8
	SNP	D. Cashley	994	33.5
	Liberal Democrats	C. Newell	139	4.6
Majority			840
Turnout				45.4
	Labour win (new seat)

20. Kingsway West^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	G. C. Hood	1,113	50.3
	SNP	M. Lennie	497	22.5
	Scottish Militant Labour	B. Wallace	334	15.1
	Liberal Democrats	I. K. Ridley	265	12.0
Majority			686
Turnout				38.2
	Labour win (new seat)

21. St. Mary's^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independent Labour	I. Borthwick	2,021	61.1
	Labour	W. Wright	831	21.3
	SNP	E. S. Scott	454	13.7
Majority			1,190
Turnout				50.6
	Independent Labour win (new seat)

22. Kirkton^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	W. Barr	1,529	57.9
	SNP	N. Maiden	1,108	42.0
Majority			421
Turnout				41.5
	Labour win (new seat)

23. Clepington^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	M. J. Rolfe	1,886	57.6
	SNP	D. McGovern	732	22.3
	Conservative	D. J. Searle	468	14.2
	Liberal Democrats	J. M. Mainland	188	5.7
Majority			1,154
Turnout				47.6
	Labour win (new seat)

24. Kingsway East^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	M. Barr	1,239	50.4
	SNP	A. A. Petrie	775	31.5
	Conservative	S. McQuire	387	15.7
	Scottish Green	D. M. McCabe	55	2.2
Majority			464
Turnout				38.7
	Labour win (new seat)

25. Fintry^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	H. Connolly	2,028	69.3
	SNP	K. Young	808	27.6
	Conservative	D. Kinnear	88	3.0
Majority			1,220
Turnout				43.9
	Labour win (new seat)

26. Whitfield^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	J. C. Duthie	895	46.0
	Labour	G. Barr	894	45.9
	Liberal Democrats	D. T. Dargie	58	2.9
	Conservative	J. D. Mackie	40	2.0
Majority			1
Turnout				36.7
	SNP win (new seat)

27. Douglas and Angus^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	J. Mudie	1,950	66.3
	SNP	F. Carlin	842	28.6
	Conservative	E. T. Hay	146	4.9
Majority			1,108
Turnout				44.5
	Labour win (new seat)

28. Broughty Ferry^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	J. C. Cathro	1,266	35.8
	SNP	K. J. N. Guild	1,157	32.7
	Labour	I. Birnie	881	24.9
	Liberal Democrats	R. B. Johnston	229	6.4
Majority			109
Turnout				50.8
	Conservative win (new seat)

29. Barnhill^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	B.D. Mackie	1,265	37.9
	SNP	A. J. Lawrence	942	28.8
	Liberal Democrats	A. Best	611	18.3
	Labour	G. Cruickshank	517	15.5
Majority			323
Turnout				49.9
	Conservative win (new seat)

30. Monifieth^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	R. J. Murray	1,655	52.0
	Conservative	D. McNaughton	1,052	33.1
	Labour	A. R. Butler	470	14.7
Majority			603
Turnout				46.4
	SNP win (new seat)

31. Sidlaw^[2]^: 10-12
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	F. Ellis	1,668	52.0
	Conservative	A. H. Brown	1,397	37.6
	Labour	G. J. Martin	458	12.3
	Scottish Green	S. E. Baird	186	5.0
Majority			271
Turnout				53.1
	SNP win (new seat)

Perth and Kinross

32. Perth St. Johnstoun^[2]^: 12-13
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independent	J. Doig	1,704	65.6
	Conservative	J. McNicol	637	24.5
	Scottish Green	P. F. Cheer	254	9.1
Majority			1,067
Turnout				38.0
	Independent win (new seat)

33. Perth Moncrieffe^[2]^: 12-13
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	M. H. Lennie	1,327	44.4
	SNP	N. M. Sime	943	31.5
	Conservative	L. Hurrell	442	14.7
	Liberal Democrats	G. Syme	227	9.2
Majority			384
Turnout				44.1
	Labour win (new seat)

34. Perth Viewlands^[2]^: 12-13
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	L. Caddell	2,250	63.2
	Conservative	I. Spresser	739	20.7
	SNP	E. C. MacLachlan	566	15.9
Majority			1,511
Turnout				50.8
	Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

35. Perth Letham^[2]^: 12-13
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	C. Gillies	1,338	48.1
	SNP	C. M. Davidson	1,190	42.8
	Conservative	R. Fraser	252	9.0
Majority			148
Turnout				43.4
	Labour win (new seat)

36. Perth Inveralmond
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	M. O'Malley	1,508	61.9
	SNP	J. Duthie	824	33.8
	Conservative	M. Doyle	104	4.2
Majority			684
Turnout				39.2
	Labour win (new seat)

37. Bridge of Earn/The Carse^[2]^: 12-13
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	E. G. Dow	1,990	61.5
	Conservative	P. McCormack	1,242	38.4
Majority			384
Turnout				44.1
	SNP win (new seat)

38. Glenfarg/Methven Etc.^[2]^: 12-13
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	J. G. K. Russell	1,113	44.2
	Independent	E. V. Pentland	682	22.3
	Conservative	A. J. Stewart	677	22.1
	Liberal Democrats	A. Pearson	580	18.0
Majority			430
Turnout				47.7
	SNP win (new seat)

39. Auchterarder^[2]^: 12-13
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	J. McLaclan	1,510	55.4
	Conservative	J. A. O. Fordyce	1,215	44.5
Majority			295
Turnout				45.3
	SNP win (new seat)

40. Crieff^[2]^: 12-13
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	A. M. Smith	1,620	53.8
	Conservative	R. E. Buchan	1,391	46.2
Majority			229
Turnout				43.8
	SNP win (new seat)

41. Pitlochry/Aberfeldy Etc.^[2]^: 12-13
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	J. Cullivan	2,112	59.2
	Liberal Democrats	J. C. F. Cameron	1,454	40.7
Majority			658
Turnout				50.3
	SNP win (new seat)

42. Dunkeld/Strathtay^[2]^: 12-13
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	R. A. Scott	1,618	51.9
	SNP	J. Mackay	977	31.3
	Conservative	C. Cormack	521	16.7
Majority			341
Turnout				53.4
	Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

43. Blairgowrie/Glenshee^[2]^: 12-13
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	J. L. Wilson	1,842	55.3
	Conservative	J. Mackay	985	29.6
	Labour	R. Sweeney	500	15.0
Majority			857
Turnout				47.9
	SNP win (new seat)

44. Alyth/Coupar Angus^[2]^: 12-13
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	A. D. Grant	1,526	51.1
	Conservative	J. Main	1,201	40.2
	Labour	K. Wallace	254	8.5
Majority			325
Turnout				48.8
	SNP win (new seat)

45. Scone and St. Martin's^[2]^: 12-13
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	J. E. Lloyd	1,251	38.0
	Conservative	W. S. Courts	958	29.4
	Liberal Democrats	B. T. J. Gourdie	817	24.8
Majority			283
Turnout				42.0
	SNP win (new seat)

46. Kinross^[2]^: 12-13
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	L. Graham	2,601	76.8
	Conservative	A. I. Campbell	785	23.1
Majority			1816
Turnout				45.5
	SNP win (new seat)

References

^ ^a ^b "Local Government Electoral Arrangements 1974 to 1996" (PDF). Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa ^ab ^ac ^ad ^ae ^af ^ag ^ah ^ai ^aj ^ak ^al ^am ^an ^ao ^ap ^aq ^ar ^as ^at Bochel, JM; Denver, DT (1994). The Scottish Regional Elections 1994 Results and Statistics (PDF). Dundee: University of Dundee.
^ "SNP sets sights on Tayside". The Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
^ Bochel, HM; Denver, DT (1994). The Scottish Regional Elections 1994 Results and Statistics (PDF). Dundee: University of Dundee. pp. 46–47. ISBN 1-869820-05-3.
^ "Parties claim election records". The Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
^ "Legal challenge in one-vote win". The Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
^ "Ballot action dropped". The Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
^ "Labour rocked by local party power bid". The Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
^ "Tayside proves a first for the SNP". The Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
^ "Baptism of fire for young council leader". The Herald. 27 July 1994. Retrieved 27 May 2016.

[LGBCS-1] "Local Government Electoral Arrangements 1974 to 1996" (PDF). Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2020.

[Handbook1994-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa ^ab ^ac ^ad ^ae ^af ^ag ^ah ^ai ^aj ^ak ^al ^am ^an ^ao ^ap ^aq ^ar ^as ^at Bochel, JM; Denver, DT (1994). The Scottish Regional Elections 1994 Results and Statistics (PDF). Dundee: University of Dundee.

[3] "SNP sets sights on Tayside". The Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2020.

[4] Bochel, HM; Denver, DT (1994). The Scottish Regional Elections 1994 Results and Statistics (PDF). Dundee: University of Dundee. pp. 46–47. ISBN 1-869820-05-3.

[5] "Parties claim election records". The Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2020.

[6] "Legal challenge in one-vote win". The Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2020.

[7] "Ballot action dropped". The Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2020.

[8] "Labour rocked by local party power bid". The Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2020.

[9] "Tayside proves a first for the SNP". The Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2020.

[10] "Baptism of fire for young council leader". The Herald. 27 July 1994. Retrieved 27 May 2016.

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