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2003 Aberdeenshire Council election

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2003 Aberdeenshire Council election

← 1999 1 May 2003 (2003-05-01) 2007 →

All 68 seats to Aberdeenshire Council
35 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Party Liberal Democrats SNP
Last election 28 seats, 32.8% 23 seats, 29.4%
Seats won 28 18
Seat change Steady Decrease5
Popular vote 27,953 23,068
Percentage 33.5% 27.6%
Swing Increase0.7% Decrease1.8%

  Third party Fourth party
 
Party Conservative Independent
Last election 7 seats, 18.4% 10 seats, 14.3%
Seats won 11 11
Seat change Increase4 Increase1
Popular vote 17,511 12,086
Percentage 21.0% 14.5%
Swing Increase2.6% Increase0.2%

Elections to the Aberdeenshire Council were held on 1 May 2003, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections and the Scottish Parliament general election. This was the last election to use the first-past-the-post voting system across 68 single member wards.

Background

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Previous election

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At the previous election in 1999, the Liberal Democrats won 28 seats, falling 7 short of an overall majority. The Scottish National Party (SNP) won 23 seats, falling 12 short an overall majority. Independents won 10, and the Conservatives won 7, both also falling well short of an overall majority.

1999 Aberdeenshire Council election result
Party Seats Vote share
Liberal Democrats 28 32.8%
SNP 23 29.4%
Independent 10 14.3%
Conservative 7 18.4%

Source:[1]

Composition

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There were several changes to the composition of the council during the 1999–2003 term.

Composition of Aberdeenshire Council
Party 1999 seats Dissolution
Liberal Democrats 28 27
SNP 23 22
Independent 10 10
Conservative 7 9

Source:[2]

Results

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2003 Aberdeenshire Council election result
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal Democrats 28 Steady 41.2 33.5 27,953 Increase0.7
  SNP 18 Decrease5 26.5 27.6 23,068 Decrease1.8
  Conservative 11 Increase4 16.2 21.0 17,511 Increase2.6
  Independent 11 Increase1 16.2 14.5 12,086 Increase0.2
  Labour 0 Steady 0.0 3.3 2,743 Decrease1.7
  Scottish Socialist 0 Steady 0.0 0.2 189 New

Source:[3][4][5]

Aftermath

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By-elections

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Huntly East by-election

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On 9 June 2005 a by-election was held in the Huntly East ward. The Scottish Conservative's Moira Ingleby held the seat.[6][7]

Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Moira Ingleby 419 34.3
Liberal Democrats Eleanor Anderson 360 29.5
SNP Robert Ness 224 18.3
Independent Hamish Jolly 181 14.8
Labour Bryan Begg 38 3.1
Majority 59 4.8
Conservative hold

References

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  1. ^ "Scottish Council Elections 1999" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Local elections". British Broadcasting Corporation. May 2003. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  3. ^ Teale, Andrew. "Local Election Results 2003". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Scottish Council Elections 2003" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Aberdeenshire Council - Elections" (PDF). Aberdeenshire Council. May 2003. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  6. ^ Teale, Andrew. "Huntly East Ward - Aberdeenshire". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Election of Member to Aberdeenshire Council for the Huntly East ward" (PDF). Aberdeenshire Council. Retrieved 27 July 2024.