2012 Aberdeen City Council election

The 2012 Aberdeen City Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Aberdeen City Council. The election used the 13 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 elected.

2012 Aberdeen City Council election

← 2007 3 May 2012 (2012-05-03) 2017 →

All 43 seats to Aberdeen City Council
22 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
  Blank
Leader Barney Crockett Callum McCaig Aileen Malone
Party Labour SNP Liberal Democrats
Leader's seat Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone Kincorth/Loirston Lower Deeside
Last election 10 seats, 23.3% 12 seats, 27.9% 15 seats, 34.9%
Seats before 8 15 11
Seats won 17 15 5
Seat change Increase7 Increase3 Decrease10
Popular vote 16,264 17,131 8,293
Percentage 29.7% 31.3% 15.1%
Swing Increase6.4% Increase3.4% Decrease19.8%

  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Marie Boulton Fraser Forsyth
Party Independent Conservative
Leader's seat Lower Deeside Midtsocket/Rosemount
Last election 1 seats, 2.3% 5 seats, 11.6%
Seats before 7 2
Seats won 3 3
Seat change Increase2 Decrease2
Popular vote 6,117 5,285
Percentage 11.2% 9.7%
Swing Increase8.9% Decrease1.9%

The 13 multi-member wards

Council Leader before election

Callum McCaig
SNP

Council Leader after election

Barney Crockett
Labour

Local political activist Renee Slater caused great controversy when she registered a mannequin doll as 'Helena Torry' in the Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross ward. This was withdrawn soon after being spotted and a report has been issued to Grampian Police.[1]

The election saw the Scottish Liberal Democrats decimated as they lost two-thirds of their Councillors. The Scottish National Party secured 3 gains copper-fastening their by-election gains during the 2007–2012 term. However, it was Labour who proved to be the biggest winners with 7 gains and 17 total seats as they secured first place. Independents gained 2 seats while the Tories lost 2 seats.

On 9 May an agreement was reached to form a coalition. The coalition was formed between the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party and three Independent councillors. Labour had 17 seats, the Tories contributed three and there were three independent members.

Election results

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Aberdeen City Local Election Result 2012
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 17 7 0 +7 39.5 29.7 16,264 +5.1
  SNP 15 4 1 +3 34.9 31.3 17,131 +1.8
  Liberal Democrats 5 0 10 -10 11.6 15.1 8,293 -11.8
  Independent 3 2 0 +2 7.0 11.17 6,117 +8.47
  Conservative 3 0 2 -2 7.0 9.7 5,285 -4.4
  Scottish Green 0 - - - - 2.45 1,342 +0.85
  National Front 0 - - - - 0.45 249 +0.45
  UKIP 0 - - - - 0.11 58 New

Note: 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

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Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone

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  • 2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xLab; 1xSNP
  • 2012: 2xSNP; 2xLab
  • 2007-2012 Change: SNP and Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Labour Barney Crockett (incumbent) 29.4% 1,378                
SNP Neil MacGregor (incumbent) 25.5% 1,198                
SNP Gill Samarai 8.8% 412 419 513.1 525.7 536.4 544.1 948.6    
Conservative Duncan Stewart 7.7% 360 367 370.3 380.7 402.6        
SNP Caroline Elizabeth Little 7.6% 358 367.6 479.8 487.4 507.4 525.3      
Liberal Democrats Brian Malone 7.5% 353 368.3 377.4 392.8 428.1 585.7 607.1 607.7  
Labour Graeme Lawrence 7.3% 344 681.7 693.1 718.1 771 816.2 834.2 835.2 991.4
Independent Angela Joss 3.7% 174 190.2 195.9 232.8          
Scottish Green Rhonda Reekie 2.5% 117 128.1 134.9            
Electorate: 14,122   Valid: 4,694   Spoilt: 92   Quota: 939   Turnout: 4,786 (33.24%)  

Bridge of Don

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  • 2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLab
  • 2007-2012 Change: SNP and Independent gain one seat from Lib Dem
Bridge of Don - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Independent John Reynolds (incumbent) 28.0% 1,530                
SNP Muriel Jaffrey (incumbent) 20.5% 1,119                
Labour Willie Young (incumbent) 18.8% 1,031 1,085.9 1,087 1,112.5          
SNP Sandy Stuart 9.5% 520 559.5 570.9 576.8 578.5 595.6 612.5 985.5 1,107.2
SNP Graham Bennett 7.2% 396 418.2 425.3 433.9 434.8 449.4 465.1    
Liberal Democrats Millie McLeod 6.2% 338 412.8 414.1 436.1 438.7 498.4 640.7 660.3  
Conservative Francis Davidson Webster 6.1% 333 360.3 360.5 364.3 365.2 385.1      
Independent Gordon A. Leslie (incumbent) 2.0% 107 217.6 218.5 238.4 241        
Scottish Green Daniel Kenneth Juett 1.8% 97 107.2 107.5            
Electorate: 14,188   Valid: 5,471   Spoilt: 68   Quota: 1,095   Turnout: 5,539 (38.56%)  

Kingswells/Sheddocksley

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  • 2007: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab
  • 2012: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab
  • 2007-2012: No change
Kingswells/Sheddocksley - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
SNP David John Cameron 24.9% 928 936              
Liberal Democrats Steve Delaney 21.5% 802 803 803.2 812.2 828.2 950.2      
Labour Len Ironside (incumbent) 18.1% 675 677 677.2 679.2 700.2 719.2 723.7 798.5 1,259.3
Labour Jason Butcher 13.4% 499 503 503.3 507.3 516.3 532.3 534.5 576.4  
SNP Wendy Alison Stuart (incumbent) 10.1% 375 381 383.9 392.9 409.9 428 431.1    
Conservative Steve Robertson 6.9% 256 257 257.1 270.1 280.1        
Independent Barry James Thomson 2.2% 83 89 89 105          
UKIP Philip Clarke 1.6% 58 64 64.1            
National Front Dave MacDonald 1.4% 51                
Electorate: 3,798   Valid: 3,727   Spoilt: 71   Quota: 932   Turnout: (35.08%)  

Northfield

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  • 2007: 2xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
  • 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from SNP
Northfield - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
SNP Jackie Dunbar (incumbent) 34.2% 1,314          
Labour Gordon Graham (incumbent) 22.9% 879 893.5 911.5 924.3 945.3 1,079.3
Labour Scott Carle 22.6% 869 886.1 892.1 910.9 934.2 1,089.5
SNP Paula Helen Mann 13.9% 535 831.5 847.3 860.5 877  
Conservative George Ross 2.3% 90 91.1 98.1 114.6    
National Front Christopher Sean Willett 2.1% 80 81.3        
Liberal Democrats David Evans 2.1% 79 84.4 85.6      
Electorate: 11,419   Valid: 3,846   Spoilt: 128   Quota: 962   Turnout: 3,974 (33.68%)  

Hilton/Stockethill

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  • 2007: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xLib Dem
  • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
  • 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
Hilton/Stockethill - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Labour George Adam (incumbent) 37.8% 1,421                    
SNP Kirsty Blackman (incumbent)††††† 21.9% 823 851.1 857.4 861.8 870.8 890.8 934.5 934.8 960.2    
SNP John Lind 13.6% 512 522.5 525.5 527.5 536.8 545.8 561.5 577.9 587.9 602.5  
Labour Lesley Dunbar 7.2% 271 628.8 635.1 641.5 657.5 683.9 708.2 756.7 797.1 798.9 918.8
Conservative Aric Gilinsky 5.4% 203 206.7 210.7 212.7 216.7 221.7 237.4 272.4      
Liberal Democrats Brian Dean 3.9% 145 161.6 165.3 166.3 172.9 196.9 213.3        
Independent David Page Henderson 2.7% 101 108.8 109.8 121.1 161.5 177.8          
Scottish Green Elva Hills 2.6% 99 102 107 117.7 125.4            
Independent Archibald Robertson 2.3% 87 97.5 100.8 113.5              
Independent Douglas James Thomson 1.5% 55 58 59                
National Front Claire Emma O'Rourke 1.1% 41 42.7                  
Electorate: 10,254   Valid: 3,758   Spoilt: 315   Quota: 940   Turnout: 4,073 (36.65%)  

Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen

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  • 2007: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xLib Dem
  • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
  • 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Labour Ross Grant 30.4% 846              
SNP Jim Noble (incumbent) 25.5% 710              
Labour Ramsay Milne 14.1% 392 513 513.6 516.9 527.7 560.5 614.4 724.4
SNP Mike Park 7.8% 218 224.6 237.6 241.7 250.9 268.9 304.2 350.4
Scottish Green Gina Ford 6.4% 179 182.4 182.6 185.6 199.8 244.4 290.9  
Independent Norman Collie (incumbent) 5.8% 161 164.7 165 169 188.2      
Liberal Democrats David Green 4.6% 129 133.5 133.7 133.7 171.8      
Conservative Daniel Stephen McCroskrie 4.3% 119 121.1 121.2 123.2        
National Front Mike Phillips 0.9% 25 25.9 25.9          
Electorate: 12,655   Valid: 2,779   Spoilt: 92   Quota: 695   Turnout: 2,871 (21.96%)  

Midstocket/Rosemount

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  • 2007: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab;
  • 2012: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
  • 2007-2012 Change: No change = Cons regain seat lost in by-election Aug 2007
Midstocket/Rosemount - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Labour Jenny Laing (incumbent)†† 32.4% 1,247            
SNP Bill Cormie (incumbent) 32.1% 1,233            
Conservative Fraser Forsyth††† 13.8% 531 555.7 579.9 600.2 686.1 751.7 867.6
SNP Iolanda Serci 6.9% 264 292.8 458.5 468.2 498.2 580.9  
Scottish Green John Laing McCallum 6.4% 245 315.8 333.9 360.7 461.3    
Liberal Democrats William Sell 6.4% 245 282.3 299.2 321.5      
Independent Patrick McGuire 2.1% 82 102.8 112.2        
Electorate: 3,895   Valid: 3,847   Spoilt: 48   Quota: 962   Turnout: (33.38%)  

George Street/Harbour

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  • 2007: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xLib Dem
  • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
  • 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
George Street/Harbour - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
SNP Andrew May (incumbent)†††††† 25.3% 672                  
Labour Jean Morrison 17.2% 456 456.5 457.5 457.5 458.5 475.5 521.5 534.9 597 710.2
Labour Nathan Morrison 14.3% 381 381.3 382.3 385.3 386.3 391.3 414.3 443.8 494.8 570.9
Liberal Democrats Kris Chapman 9.9% 262 262.2 262.2 263.2 265.2 328.2 383.2 419.8 464.9  
SNP James Wiseman West 8.4% 224 229.3 230.3 237.3 238.3 248.3 268.4      
Independent Jim Hunter (incumbent) 8.4% 222 222.2 224.2 228.2 244.2 266.2 296.2 327.7    
Scottish Green Richie Brian 7.3% 194 194.2 195.2 197.2 203.2 217.2        
Conservative Brian George Davidson 6.7% 178 178.1 179.1 179.1 181.1          
National Front Ross Alexander Willett 1.1% 29 29 29              
Independent Andrew Lovie 0.9% 26 26 32 33            
Independent Andy Rudgely 0.5% 14 14                
Electorate: 12,991   Valid: 2,658   Spoilt: 76   Quota: 665   Turnout: 2,734 (20.46%)  

Lower Deeside

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  • 2007: 1xLib Dem; 1xCon; 1xIndependent
  • 2012: 1xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab
  • 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Con
Lower Deeside - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
Independent Marie Boulton (incumbent) 30.7% 1,520          
Liberal Democrats Aileen Malone (incumbent) 15.3% 755 814.2 823.4 992.7 1,140.9 1,539.9
Labour M. Tauqeer Malik 15.0% 744 779 789.4 841.2 1,007.5 1,068.9
Conservative Raymond Murchie 14.4% 712 741.4 754.5 881.8 950.2  
SNP Dorothy Janet McCaig 13.3% 659 677.4 684.9 739.4    
Independent Peter Reiss 9.9% 490 568.6 621.3      
Independent Andy Anderson 1.3% 64 94.7        
Electorate: 11,301   Valid: 4,944   Spoilt: 33   Quota: 1,237   Turnout: 4,977 (43.75%)  

Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross

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  • 2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xCon; 1xSNP
  • 2012: 2xLib Dem; 1xCon; 1xSNP
  • 2007-2012 Change: No change
Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Liberal Democrats Jennifer Stewart (incumbent) 25.5% 1,498              
Liberal Democrats Martin Greig (incumbent) 23.8% 1,399              
Conservative Ross Thomson 15.3% 899 962.9 1,005.7 1,012.9 1,017.2 1,186.1    
Labour Sandra MacDonald 12.5% 738 777.9 805.6 864.1 873.6 922.3 923.3  
SNP John Munro Corall * 10.8% 634 654.6 667.1 691.4 931.6 975.2 975.8 1,139.5
Independent Jim Farquharson (incumbent) 5.6% 328 379.6 414.9 439.6 441.4      
SNP Stephen Mark Flynn 4.2% 248 262.8 269.1 274        
Scottish Green Peter Alexander Kennedy 2.4% 140 158.6 173.6          
Electorate: 13,658   Valid: 5,884   Spoilt: 65   Quota: 1,177   Turnout: 5,949 (43.08%)  
  • = Outgoing Councillor from a different Ward.

Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee

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  • 2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xCon
  • 2012: 1xLib Dem; 1xLab; 1xSNP
  • 2007-2012 Change: SNP and Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem and Con
Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
Liberal Democrats Ian Yuill (incumbent) 34.0% 1,626      
Labour Angela Taylor 22.4% 1,073 1,157.6 1,193.9 1,260.9
SNP Gordon Scott Townson (incumbent) 22.3% 1,065 1,139 1,164.9 1,222.6
Conservative Bill Berry 15.2% 728 843 871.3 896.7
Scottish Green Bex Holmes 3.1% 149 182.3 221.6  
Independent Paul Briggs 2.9% 140 166.4    
Electorate: 11,858   Valid: 4,781   Spoilt: 47   Quota: 1,196   Turnout: 4,828 (40.32%)  

Torry/Ferryhill

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  • 2007: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xLib Dem; 1xCon
  • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
  • 2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
Torry/Ferryhill - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Labour Yvonne Allan (incumbent) 26.4% 1,134                  
SNP Graham Robert Dickson 16.5% 706 726.2 726.2 729.4 734.2 741.7 755.1 768.6 804.4 862.1
Conservative Alan Donnelly (incumbent)† 15.3% 657 663.8 663.8 667.8 677.1 684.8 690.8 715.3 819.5 890.5
SNP Jim Kiddie (incumbent) 14.4% 619 631.7 631.7 634.7 640.1 649.6 667.6 692.6 730.1 797.8
Labour Kathryn Russell 8.0% 345 523.6 524.6 527.4 531.3 548.3 575.4 610.4 704.5  
Liberal Democrats Richard Robertson * 7.7% 331 335.9 335.9 335.9 340.9 346.4 376.3 400.8    
Independent David Fryer 3.9% 169 173.9 177.1 177.1 197.6 234.5 257      
Scottish Green Andrew Reekie 3.1% 131 137.3 139.6 139.8 139.8 154.3        
Independent Suzanne Kelly 2.1% 91 101.2 108.2 111.2 124.9          
Independent William Brown 1.4% 61 67.3 71.3 72.3            
National Front Billy Watson 0.5% 23 24.9 24.9              
Independent Hamish Hay MacKay 0.5% 21 21.5                
Electorate: 14,625   Valid: 4,288   Spoilt: 118   Quota: 858   Turnout: 4,406 (29.32%)  
  • = Outgoing Councillor from a different Ward.

Kincorth/Loirston

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  • 2007: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab
  • 2012: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
  • 2007-2012 Change: Independent gain one seat from Lib Dem
Kincorth/Loirston - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
SNP Callum McCaig (incumbent)†††† 34.1% 1,389            
Labour Neil Cooney (incumbent) 30.7% 1,250            
Independent Andrew William Finlayson 11.6% 471 542.3 554.6 630.2 688.3 860.9 1,066.7
Liberal Democrats Kate Dean (incumbent) 8.1% 331 372.9 382.9 403.2 468.8    
Labour Eleanor Morrison 7.1% 291 366.3 544.3 560.7 589.8 681.9  
Conservative Alan Martin 5.4% 219 234.2 237 240.6      
Independent Neale Bothwell 2.9% 120 140 144.5        
Electorate: 11,848   Valid: 4,071   Spoilt: 78   Quota: 1,018   Turnout: 4,149 (34.36%)  

References

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  1. ^ Peck, Tom (20 April 2012). "Woman arrested after entering mannequin into council elections". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2012.

https://web.archive.org/web/20120508053322/http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/council_government/councillors/elections_unit/election_results_2012.asp

Post-Election Changes

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  • † In January 2014, Torry/Ferryhill Cllr Alan Donnelly was expelled from the Conservative Party group and sits as an Independent.
  • †† In May 2014, Midstocket/Rosemount Cllr Jenny Laing replaced Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone Cllr Barney Crockett as leader of the council.
  • ††† In May 2014, Midstocket/Rosemount Cllr Fraser Forsyth resigned from the Conservative Party group and sat as an Independent [1] He announced his future resignation on 24 June 2015 as he would be moving with his family to York and formally resigned his seat on 30 July 2015.[2] A by-election was held on 1 October 2015 and the by-election was won by the SNP's Alex Nicoll.
  • †††† On 11 May 2015, Kincorth/Loirston SNP Cllr Callum McCaig resigned his seat on the council to concentrate on his duties as MP for Aberdeen South. [3] A by-election was held on 30 July 2015 and it was won by the SNP's Stephen Flynn.
  • †††††On 11 May 2015, Hilton/Stockethill SNP Cllr Kirsty Blackman resigned her seat on the council to concentrate on her duties as MP for Aberdeen North.[4] A by-election was held on 30 July 2015 and it was won by the SNP's Neil Copeland.
  • †††††† On 28 May 2015, George Street/Harbour SNP Cllr Andrew May announced he would resign his seat on the council in July 2015.[5] A by-election was held on 1 October 2015 and the seat was held by the SNP's Michael Hutchison.

By-election since 2012

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Hilton/Woodside/Stockethill By-election (30 July 2015) - 1 Seat[1]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1
SNP Neil Copland 54.5% 1,690
Labour Charlie Pirie 24.9% 771
Conservative Roy Alastair Begg 11.3% 350
Scottish Green Peter Kennedy 4.2% 130
Liberal Democrats Jonathan Waddell 4.1% 125
Electorate: 12,050   Valid: 3,099   Spoilt: 33   Quota: 1,534   Turnout: 3,132 (25.7%)  
Kincorth/Nigg/Cove By-election (30 July 2015) - 1 Seat[2]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1
SNP Stephen Flynn 60.5% 1,939
Labour Donna Clark 18.9% 606
Conservative Philip Patrick Sellar 9.8% 313
Liberal Democrats Ken McLeod 6.5% 207
Scottish Green Dan Yeats 3.6% 114
Electorate: 12,693   Valid: 3,205   Spoilt: 26   Quota: 1,590   Turnout: 3,231 (25.3%)  
Midstocket/Rosemount By-election (1 October 2015) - 1 Seat[3]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
SNP Alex Nicoll 40.9% 1,168 1,225 1,275 1,433
Conservative Tom Mason 23.6% 672 687 771 927
Labour Howard Gemmell 21.2% 605 629 692  
Liberal Democrats Ken McLeod 8.3% 238 270    
Scottish Green Jennifer Phillips 6.0% 170      
Electorate: 11,825   Valid: 2,853   Spoilt: 19   Quota: 1,427   Turnout: 2,872 (24.29%)  
George Street/Harbour By-election (1 October 2015) - 1 Seat[3]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1
SNP Michael Hutchison 51.2% 961
Labour Mike Scott 26.1% 490
Conservative Brian Davidson 10.4% 195
Scottish Green Alex Jarvis 7.2% 136
Liberal Democrats Euan Davidson 5.1% 96
Electorate: 12,179   Valid: 1,878   Spoilt: 20   Quota: 940   Turnout: 1,898 (15.58%)  
  1. ^ "Local Government By-Election – 30 July 2015". aberdeencity.gov.uk. 31 July 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  2. ^ "Local Government By-Election – 30 July 2015". aberdeencity.gov.uk. 31 July 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Local Government By-Elections Aberdeen City Council Notice of Poll and Statement of Persons Nominated". aberdeencity.gov.uk. 31 August 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.