2012 Elections to Scottish Borders Council were held on 3 May 2012, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections . The election used the 11 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, a form of proportional representation , with 34 Councillors elected.[ 1]
2012 Scottish Borders Council election
First party
Second party
Third party
Leader
Jim Fullarton
John Mitchell
David Parker
Party
Conservative
SNP
Independent
Leader's seat
East Berwickshire
Galashiels and District
Leaderdale and Melrose
Last election
11 seats, 32.4%
6 seats, 17.6%
5 seats, 14.7%
Seats before
12
6
4
Seats won
10
9
7
Seat change
1
3
2
Popular vote
8,644
7,723
8,454
Percentage
23.2%
20.8%
22.7%
Swing
3.6%
2.0%
1.6%
Fourth party
Fifth party
Leader
Graham Garvie
Sandy Aitchison
Party
Liberal Democrats
Borders
Leader's seat
Tweeddale East
Galashiels and District
Last election
10 seats, 29.4%
2 seats, 5.9%
Seats before
10
2
Seats won
6
2
Seat change
4
0
Popular vote
6,138
3,755
Percentage
16.5%
10.1%
Swing
8.1%
4.8%
The 11 multi-member wards
Council Leader before election
David Parker
Independent
Council Leader after election
David Parker
Independent
The election saw the Scottish Conservative Party remain the largest party on the Council though they lost 1 seat. The Scottish National Party replaced the Scottish Liberal Democrats as the second largest party by gaining 3 seats at the expense of the latter. The Lib Dems were reduced to 6 seats. Independents increased their numbers to 7 seats while the Borders Party retained their 2 seats.
Following the election the Scottish National Party formed a coalition with the support of the Independents and the Liberal Democrats. The Borders Party are also supporting this administration. This replaced the previous Conservative-Lib Dem-Independent coalition which existed from 2007-2012.
Scottish Borders Local Election Result 2012
Party
Seats
Gains
Losses
Net gain/loss
Seats %
Votes %
Votes
+/−
Conservative
10
1
2
-1
29.41
23.22
8,644
-3.58
SNP
9
4
1
+3
26.47
20.75
7,723
+1.95
Independent
7
3
1
+2
20.59
22.71
8,454
-1.61
Liberal Democrats
6
0
4
-4
17.65
16.49
6,138
-8.11
Borders
2
0
0
0
5.88
10.09
3,755
+4.79
Labour
0
-
-
-
-
6.31
2,347
+4.41
Scottish Green
0
-
-
-
-
0.44
161
-0.46
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.
2007: 1xLib Dem; 1xCon; 1xSNP
2012: 1xLib Dem; 1xCon; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: No change
Tweeddale West - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
Liberal Democrats
Catriona Bhatia (incumbent )
25.62
919
Conservative
Nathaniel Buckingham ††
24.67
885
887.4
978.6
SNP
Willie Archibald (incumbent )
21.75
780
782.1
833.4
839.6
934.3
Labour
Julia Reid
9.37
336
337.2
389.3
393.1
Liberal Democrats
Nancy Norman
9.31
334
347.9
415.5
449.4
548.9
Borders
David Pye
9.28
333
334.4
Electorate: 7,577 Valid: 3,587 Spoilt: 34 Quota: 897 Turnout: 3,621 (47.34%)
2007: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xCon
2012: 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: No change
Tweeddale East
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
SNP
Stuart Bell
26.41
990
Conservative
Gavin Logan (incumbent )
24.78
929
934.4
971.8
Liberal Democrats
Graham Garvie (incumbent )
16.38
614
622.3
674.5
686.7
811.9
1,087.9
Labour
Robin Tatler
15.23
571
579.6
629.9
631.2
731.2
Borders
Frances Pringle
9.20
345
352.9
439
448.7
Independent
David Cox
8.00
300
307.1
Electorate: 8,106 Valid: 3,749 Spoilt: 32 Quota: 938 Turnout: 3,781 (46.25%)
Galashiels and District
edit
2007: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xCon; 1xBP
2012: 2xSNP; 1xBP; 1xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: SNP and Independent gain one seat from Lib Dem and Con
Galashiels and District - 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
Borders
Sandy Aitchison (incumbent )
22.45
822
SNP
Bill Herd *
20.95
766
Independent
Bill White
13.69
501
522.9
524.6
590.6
701
894.8
SNP
John Mitchell (incumbent )
13.45
492
506
532.5
593.5
639.9
762
Liberal Democrats
Rick Kenney
11.40
417
432.9
434.8
490.3
609.4
Conservative
Fiona Lackenby (incumbent )
10.56
386
402.5
403.2
409.6
Labour
Robbie Tatler
7.47
273
280.8
281.7
Electorate: 10,813 Valid: 3,657 Spoilt: 69 Quota: 732 Turnout: 3,726 (33.82%)
= Outgoing Councillor from a different Ward.
2007: 1xLib Dem; 1xCon; 1xSNP
2012: 1xCon; 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: Independent gain one seat from SNP
Leaderdale and Melrose
edit
2007: 1xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xBP
2012: 1xIndependent; 1xBP; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
Leaderdale and Melrose - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
Independent
David Parker (incumbent )
36.34
1,304
Borders
Nicholas Watson (incumbent )†
17.31
621
705.9
758.9
929.6
SNP
Jim Torrance ††††
15.55
558
632.4
706.8
742.6
747.6
969.6
Conservative
Peter Duncan
12.29
441
488.3
500.2
Liberal Democrats
John Paton-Day (incumbent )
12.24
439
527.1
568.3
715.8
726.8
Labour
Agnes Craig
6.27
225
258.6
Electorate: 8,292 Valid: 3,588 Spoilt: 21 Quota: 898 Turnout: 3,609 (43.27%)
2007: 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xCon
2012: 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: No change
Mid Berwickshire - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
SNP
Donald Moffat (incumbent )
31.97
1,133
Conservative
John Greenwell
21.46
747
768.9
1,085.9
Liberal Democrats
Frances Renton (incumbent )
18.24
635
703.3
753.9
804.6
1,110.9
Borders
Tom Miers
15.34
534
598.5
635.3
688.3
Conservative
Trevor Jones (incumbent )
12.41
432
446.6
Electorate: 8,209 Valid: 3,481 Spoilt: 43 Quota: 871 Turnout: 3,524 (42.4%)
2007: 1xIndependent; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem
2012: 1xIndependent; 1xCon; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
East Berwickshire - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Independent
Michael Cook (incumbent )
35.96
1,236
Conservative
Jim Fullarton (incumbent )
21.24
730
835.9
875.4
SNP
Joan Umpherston Campbell
15.74
541
583.3
600.9
602.2
629.5
699
906.9
Labour
Kenryck Lloyd-Jones
12.66
435
472.1
485.9
486.6
521.9
596.9
Liberal Democrats
Ken Webb
6.58
226
263.1
285.9
289.5
329
Independent
Jack Johnston
3.96
136
192.9
226.9
229.7
Borders
Cat MacDonald-Home
3.87
133
161.6
Electorate: 8,383 Valid: 3,437 Spoilt: 37 Quota: 860 Turnout: 3,474 (41%)
2007: 1xLib Dem; 1xCon; 1xIndependent
2012: 2xCon; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: Con gain from Independent
Kelso and District - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Conservative
Tom Weatherston (incumbent )
23.98
777
777
794
824
Liberal Democrats
Alec Nicol (incumbent )
22.5
729
756
791
832
Conservative
Simon Mountford
14.29
463
471
482
518
522.6
529.2
610.1
703.7
SNP
Maggie Stanfield
12.75
413
444
462
507
510.5
511.6
590.1
Independent
Yvonne Huggins-Haig
10.0
324
331
365
435
438.7
440.2
Borders
Diana Miers
7.81
253
269
306
Independent
Colin McGrath
5.09
165
176
Scottish Green
Michael Scott
3.58
116
Electorate: 8,242 Valid: 3,240 Spoilt: 24 Quota: 811 Turnout: 3,264 (39.31%)
Jedburgh and District
edit
2007: 2xCon; 1xSNP
2012: 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: Independent gain one seat from Con
Jedburgh and District - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
SNP
Jim Brown (incumbent )
23.44
759
793
837
Conservative
Sandy Scott (incumbent )
21.68
702
704
769
771.1
948.5
Independent
Rory Stewart
16.95
549
580
642
650.2
781.1
801.9
1,050.6
Conservative
Len Wyse (incumbent )
12.75
413
417
430
432.5
Liberal Democrats
John Bathgate
11.98
388
409
459
464.7
539
567.4
Borders
Trevor Jackson
7.97
258
292
Labour
David Robert Scott Sharp
5.22
169
Electorate: 8,242 Valid: 3,238 Spoilt: 45 Quota: 810 Turnout: 3,283 (45.24%)
2007: 1xCon; 1xIndependent; 1xLib Dem
2012: 1xIndependent; 1xCon; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
Hawick and Denholm - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
Independent
Stuart Marshall (incumbent )
56.72
1,734
Conservative
Zandra Elliott (incumbent)†††
13.97
427
580.1
589.3
618.2
633.2
802.3
SNP
Alastair Cranston
12.46
381
506.2
523.9
539.3
593.1
749.9
Liberal Democrats
Watson McAteer
8.60
263
482.6
493.8
507.2
542.3
Labour
Michael A Grieve
4.81
147
191.1
205.9
215.2
Borders
Mary Douglas
2.45
75
96.8
105.8
Independent
Craig Bryson
0.98
30
88.1
Electorate: 7,183 Valid: 3,057 Spoilt: 34 Quota: 765 Turnout: 3,091 (42.56%)
Hawick and Hermitage
edit
2007: 1xIndependent; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem
2012: 1xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xCon
2007-2012 Change: No change
Hawick and Hermitage - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Independent
Davie Paterson (incumbent )
44.93
1,302
Liberal Democrats
Ron Smith (incumbent )
18.12
525
676.1
687.7
706.4
785.2
Conservative
George Turnbull (incumbent )
17.70
513
614
616.5
641.2
657.6
686.3
779.9
SNP
Tommy Stevenson
8.25
239
300.2
309.5
323.9
368.9
377.2
Labour
Bill Cumming
6.59
191
246.8
258.4
270.3
Borders
Frank Little
2.83
82
115.2
124.8
Scottish Green
Kevin Ferguson
1.59
46
65.5
Electorate: 7,041 Valid: 2,898 Spoilt: 34 Quota: 725 Turnout: 2,932 (41.16%)
Post Election Changes
edit
† On 4 February 2012 Leaderdale and Melrose Borders Party Cllr Nicholas Watson resigned his seat on the Council to pursue employment in Cumbria. The by-election was won by Iain Gillespie, also of the Borders Party, on 2 May 2013. Borders Party's Iain Gillespie wins Leaderdale and Melrose by-election
†† On 29 July 2013 Tweedale West Conservative and Unionist Party Cllr Nathaniel Buckingham resigned his seat on the Council due to work pressures and family commitments. The by-election was held on 10 October 2013 and was held by the Conservatives Keith Cockburn. Tweeddale West by-election result 2013 - Scottish Borders Council
††† On 22 February 2014 Hawick and Denholm Conservative and Unionist Cllr Zandra Elliot died.Hawick 'ambassador' Zandra Elliot dies A by-election was held to fill the vacancy and was won by the Independent Watson McAteer.
†††† On 2 June 2016 Leaderdale and Melrose SNP Cllr Jim Torrance resigned from the party and became an Independent citing lack of support from Christine Grahame MSP over the Council's plans to house the Great Tapestry of Scotland at Tweedbank.SBC Councillor quits over tapestry
By-elections since 2012
edit
Leaderdale and Melrose By-election (2 May 2013) - 1 Seat[ 2]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
Conservative
Rachael Hamilton
27.57
956
975
982
1,038
1,283
Borders
Iain Gillespie
23.48
814
844
900
1,118
1,444
2,066
Liberal Democrats
John Paton-Day
21.46
744
756
816
983
SNP
Harry Cummings
17.68
613
623
666
Labour
Robin Tatler
6.78
235
238
UKIP
Sherry Fowler
3.03
105
Electorate: 8,386 Valid: 3,467 Spoilt: 20 Quota: 1,734 Turnout: 3,487 (41.58%)
Tweeddale West By-election (10 October 2013) - 1 Seat[ 3]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Conservative
Keith Cockburn
42.65
1,155
1,165
1,176
1,193
1,255
1,288
1,616
Liberal Democrats
Nancy Norman
25.0
677
682
690
759
858
1,034
SNP
Morag Kerr
13.26
359
369
373
409
444
Borders
David Pye
8.4
228
237
245
272
Labour
Veronica McTernan
7.5
203
204
207
UKIP
Mars Goodman
1.56
43
44
Independent
David Cox
1.56
43
Electorate: 7,707 Valid: 2,708 Spoilt: 21 Quota: 1,355 Turnout: 2,729 (35.41%)
Hawick and Denholm By-election (22 May 2014) - 1 Seat[ 4]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Independent
Watson McAteer
25.5
732
750
803
900
1,010
1,222
1,505
Conservative
Trevor Adams
21.6
622
627
638
665
692
798
Liberal Democrats
Ian Turnbull
15.7
450
455
485
545
637
SNP
Harry Stoddart
14.6
419
423
461
505
Independent
Marion Short
11.3
326
334
385
Independent
Davie Paterson
8.7
250
269
Independent
Craig Bryson
2.6
74
Valid: 2,873 Spoilt: 47 Quota: 1,437 Turnout: 2,920 (%)