2012 Renfrewshire Council election

The 2012 Renfrewshire Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Renfrewshire Council. The election used the eleven 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 40 Councillors being elected.

2012 Renfrewshire Council election

← 2007 3 May 2012 (2012-05-03) 2017 →

All 40 seats to Renfrewshire Council
21 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Mark MacMillan Brian Lawson James MacLaren
Party Labour SNP Conservative
Leader's seat Paisley Southwest Paisley East and Ralston Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank
Last election 17 seats, 42.5% 17 seats, 42.5.5% 2 seats, 5%
Seats before 19 16 1
Seats won 22 15 1
Seat change Increase5 Decrease2 Decrease1

  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Eileen McCartin Paul Mack
Party Liberal Democrats Independent
Leader's seat Paisley Southwest Paisley South
Last election 4 seat, 10.0% 0 seat, 0%
Seats before 1 0
Seats won 1 1
Seat change Decrease3 Increase1

Map of council wards

Council Leader before election

Brian Lawson
SNP

Council Leader after election

Mark MacMillan
Labour

The election saw the Scottish Labour Party gain five seats to regain an overall majority on the council that they had lost at the time of the 2007 Local Elections, while also significantly increasing their vote. The Scottish National Party remained in second place on the council but recorded a disappointing performance as the party lost two seats and saw a slight drop in its vote share. Both the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats declined in numbers to just one seat each. Meanwhile, Independent and former Labour Party member, Paul Mack, secured a seat on the council.

Following the election the Labour majority administration was formed. This replaced the previous SNP – Lib Dem coalition that had existed from 2007 to 2012.

Election result

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Renfrewshire Local Election Result 2012
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 22 5 0 +5 55.0 47.6 25,812 +10.8
  SNP 15 1 3 -2 37.5 35.3 19,131 -0.1
  Conservative 1 0 1 -1 2.5 9.1 4,939 -2.4
  Liberal Democrats 1 0 3 -3 2.5 4.4 2,367 -5.3
  Independent 1 1 0 +1 2.5 1.6 881 -2.0
  Scottish Socialist 0 - - - - 1.2 678 0.0
  TUSC 0 - - - - 0.74 401 New
  Scottish Christian 0 - - - - 0.1 42 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

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Renfrew North

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  • 2007: 2xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
  • 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from SNP
Renfrew North – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
SNP Bill Perrie (incumbent) 34.32 1,398            
Labour Bill Brown 25.55 1,041            
Labour Alexander Murrin (incumbent) 19.10 778 798.9 817.2 831.7 858.4 920.8 1,150.5
SNP John Shaw 11.71 477 802.9 803.5 818.1 833.7 880.9  
Conservative Makarand Oak 5.52 225 229.6 229.9 235.2 269.2    
Liberal Democrats Euan Campbell 2.38 97 104 104.6 111.9      
TUSC Gerry Kavanagh 1.42 58 60.9 61.4        
Electorate: 9,521   Valid: 4,074   Spoilt: 98   Quota: 1,019   Turnout: 4,172 (42.79%)  

Renfrew South and Gallowhill

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  • 2007: 2xLab; 1xSNP
  • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
  • 2007-2012 Change: No change
Renfrew South and Gallowhill – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
SNP Cathy McEwan (incumbent) 28.87 1,258          
Labour Eddie Grady (incumbent)† 28.20 1,229          
Labour Margaret Devine 19.94 869 875 992.9 1,013.1 1,054.1 1,105.2
SNP Garry Quigley 14.43 629 773.2 777.7 788.4 805.6 824.4
Conservative Helen Mathie 4.52 197 198.9 200.2 228.1 235.2  
Scottish Socialist Douglas Canning 2.07 90 93.5 96.5 99.7    
Liberal Democrats Michael Hanley 1.97 86 87.9 90.1      
Electorate: 10,342   Valid: 4,358   Spoilt: 100   Quota: 1,090   Turnout: 4,458 (42.14%)  

Paisley East and Ralston

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  • 2007: 2xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab
  • 2012: 2xLab; 2xSNP
  • 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem
Paisley East and Ralston – 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Labour Jim Sharkey (incumbent) 32.69 1,832            
SNP Brian Lawson (incumbent) 27.80 1,558            
Conservative Robert Evans 10.28 576 584.1 593.1 602.9 603.2 827.7  
SNP Will Mylet 9.44 529 545.7 900.8 940.8 941.7 1,042.2 1,196.4
Liberal Democrats John Boyd 9.08 509 522.9 543.4 563.9 564.8    
Labour Maureen Sharkey 8.21 460 1,071.9 1,086.8 1,128.1      
Scottish Socialist Andy Bowden 2.52 141 153.4 160.9        
Electorate: 12,687   Valid: 5,605   Spoilt: 115   Quota: 1,120   Turnout: 5,720 (44.18%)  

Paisley North West

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  • 2007: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
  • 2012: 2xLab; 2xSNP
  • 2007-2012 Change: SNP gain from Lib Dem
Paisley North West – 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Labour Terry Kelly (incumbent) 29.82 1,349              
SNP Kenny MacLaren (incumbent) 23.98 1,085              
Labour Tommy Williams (incumbent) 15.89 719 1,045.5            
SNP Mags MacLaren 10.68 483 498.5 654.4 667.1 702.2 747.9 791.7 939.5
Conservative Allison Cook 6.34 287 293.6 297.6 303.7 310.5 365.7    
Independent David Murdoch 5.37 243 256.5 261.9 281.9 321.2 376.9 497.9  
Liberal Democrats Mike Dillon (incumbent) 4.66 211 226.8 230.9 244.5 257.1      
Scottish Socialist Jimmy Kerr 3.25 147 162.5 164.8 177        
Electorate: 12,944   Valid: 4,524   Spoilt: 80   Quota: 905   Turnout: 4,604 (34.95%)  

Paisley South

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  • 2007: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xLib Dem
  • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xIndependent
  • 2007-2012 Change: Lab and Independent gain one seat from SNP and Lib Dem
Paisley South – 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Labour Eddie Devine (incumbent) 31.66 1,827              
SNP Marie McGurk (incumbent) 22.98 1,326              
Labour Roy Glen 16.46 950 1,494.4            
Independent Paul Mack 11.06 638 673.7 738.2 752.9 783.4 808.3 975.9 1,206.6
Conservative Ron Garrett 7.24 418 436.4 450.5 454.1 461.3 504.1    
SNP Gavin Newlands 7.23 417 425.4 451.1 583.6 600.1 628.3 673.6  
Liberal Democrats Graeme McMeekin 2.05 118 125.4 141.1 145.1 149.9      
TUSC Harry Pfaff 1.32 76 81.9 102.3 103.7        
Electorate: 13,712   Valid: 5,770   Spoilt: 118   Quota: 1,155   Turnout: 5,888 (42.08%)  

Paisley South West

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  • 2007: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
  • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
  • 2007-2012 Change: No change
Paisley South West – 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
SNP Lorraine Cameron (incumbent) 26.57 1,335            
Labour Mark MacMillan (incumbent) 24.78 1,245            
Labour Jacqueline Henry 20.98 1,054            
Liberal Democrats Eileen McCartin (incumbent) 14.67 737 760.2 797 804.4 830.8 955 1,148.5
SNP Mike Loftus 5.71 287 541.8 565 569.4 596.6 623.9  
Conservative Sheila Fulton 5.17 260 266.2 277.7 280.3 287.9    
Scottish Socialist John Miller 2.13 107 115.4 140.7 145.4      
Electorate: 11,743   Valid: 5,025   Spoilt: 93   Quota: 1,006   Turnout: 5,118 (42.79%)  

Johnstone South, Elderslie and Howwood

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  • 2007: 3xLab; 1xSNP
  • 2012: 3xLab; 1xSNP
  • 2007-2012 Change: No change
Johnstone South, Elderslie and Howwood – 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Labour Iain McMillan (incumbent) 24.70 1,361              
Labour John Caldwell (incumbent) 23.59 1,300              
Labour John Hood (incumbent) 14.94 823 1,032.5 1,194.1          
SNP Stephen McGee 13.67 753 758.9 764.2 769.9 779.3 800.5 860.9 1,511.4
SNP Tracie McGee (incumbent) 11.92 657 668.9 672.6 677.5 693.4 711.9 762.8  
Conservative John McIntyre 6.8 372 374.7 377.1 380.4 419.1 440.5    
Scottish Socialist Gerry McCartney 2.38 131 134.9 141 147.9 156.4      
Liberal Democrats Ryan Morrison 2.05 113 115.7 117.8 121.1        
Electorate: 12,847   Valid: 5,510   Spoilt: 129   Quota: 1,103   Turnout: 5,639 (42.89%)  

Johnstone North, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch

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  • 2007: 2xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
  • 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from SNP
Johnstone North, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Labour Derek Bibby 37.03 1,750              
SNP Andy Doig 20.80 983 1,024.9 1,027.9 1,031.9 1,048.8 1,067.3 1,148.8 1,728.7
Labour Christopher Gilmour 16.27 769 1,218.5            
Conservative Wilma Begg 8.48 401 413.7 415.5 427 427.1 466.7    
SNP Ken MacDonald 12.70 600 616.6 619.4 623.4 628.7 650.3 708.6  
Liberal Democrats Margaret McDonough 2.52 119 125.5 127.5 134.6 141      
Scottish Socialist Geoff Knowles 1.31 62 66.2 68.7 72.1        
Scottish Christian Alex Lennox 0.88 42 45.2 46.8          
Electorate: 10,048   Valid: 4,726   Spoilt: 98   Quota: 1,182   Turnout: 4,824 (47.03%)  

Houston, Crosslee and Linwood

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  • 2007: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
  • 2012: 2xLab; 2xSNP
  • 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Con
Houston, Crosslee and Linwood – 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
Labour Stuart Clark 28.77 1,454          
Labour Anne Hall (incumbent) 24.34 1,230          
SNP Allan Noon (incumbent) 17.12 865 923.2 936.4 954.1 985.2 1,089.4
SNP Audrey Doig (incumbent) 14.94 755 801.3 835.5 847.5 869.9 951.3
Conservative Tom Begg 11.81 597 633.9 643.3 654.5 700.9  
Liberal Democrats Allan Heron 1.84 93 124.9 135.7 153.1    
TUSC Danny Williamson 1.17 59 92.5 107.1      
Electorate: 11,743   Valid: 5,053   Spoilt: 88   Quota: 1,011   Turnout: 5,141 (43.03%)  

Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank

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  • 2007: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2012: 1xLab; 1xCon; 1xSNP
  • 2007-2012 Change: No change
Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1
Labour Michael Holmes (incumbent) 30.35 1,277
Conservative James MacLaren 29.25 1,231
SNP Maria Brown 27.80 1,170
SNP Margaret Dymond 6.99 294
Liberal Democrats Martin Heron 4.11 173
TUSC Warren Vale 1.50 63
Electorate: 8,974   Valid: 4,208   Spoilt: 42   Quota: 1,053   Turnout: 4,250 (46.89%)  

Erskine and Inchinnan

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  • 2007: 2xLab; 2xSNP
  • 2012: 2xLab; 2xSNP
  • 2007-2012 Change: No change
Erskine and Inchinnan – 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
Labour James Harte (incumbent) 26.38 1,424  
SNP Iain Nicolson (incumbent) 21.67 1,170  
SNP James McQuade (incumbent) 20.41 1,102  
Labour Sam Mullin (incumbent) 19.84 1,071 1,371.8
Conservative Steven Millar 6.95 375 382.5
TUSC Jim Halfpenny 2.69 145 150.8
Liberal Democrats Ross Stalker 2.06 111 117
Electorate: 12,963   Valid: 5,398   Spoilt: 91   Quota: 1,080   Turnout: 5,489 (41.64%)  

Post-Election Changes

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  • Renfrew South and Gallowhill Labour Cllr Eddie Grady died on 23 May 2016.[1] A by-election was held on 11 August 2016 and the seat was won by the SNP's Jim Paterson.

By-election since 2012

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Renfrew South and Gallowhill By-election (11 August 2016) – 1 Seat[2]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
SNP Jim Paterson 47.8% 1,309
Labour Edward Grady 36.9% 1,012
Conservative Mark Dougan 13.4% 366
Liberal Democrats Ross Stalker 1.9% 53
Electorate: 10,466   Valid: 2,740   Spoilt: 22   Quota: 1,371   Turnout: 2,762 (26.18%)  

References

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  1. ^ "Tributes paid to Renfrewshire Labour councillor Eddie Grady". The London Gazette. 24 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Local Government By-Election – 11 July".