2022 Falkirk Council election

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2022 Falkirk Council election
5 May 2022 (2022-05-05)
All 30 seats to Falkirk Council
16 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Cecil Meiklejohn Robert Bissett
Party SNP Labour
Leader's seat Falkirk North Falkirk North
Last election 12 seats, 38.8% 9 seats, 23.1%
Seats before 12 7
Seats after 12 9
Popular vote 21,066 12,179
Percentage 39.7% 23.0%
Swing Increase0.9% Decrease0.1%
  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader James Kerr N/A
Party Conservative Independent
Leader's seat Upper Braes
Last election 7 seats, 24.5% 2 seats, 9.8%
Seats before 7 4
Seats after 5 4
Popular vote 10,326 6,018
Percentage 19.5% 11.4%
Swing Decrease5.0% Increase1.6%
Results of the 2022 Falkirk Council Election by wards.
Council Leader before election

Cecil Meiklejohn
SNP

 Council Leader after election

Cecil Meiklejohn
SNP

The 2022 Falkirk Council election was held on 5 May 2022 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. The election used the nine wards created following the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland's 5th Review, with 30 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either three or four members, using the STV electoral system.[1]

At the last election in 2017, the Scottish National Party (SNP) won the most seats and formed a minority administration.[2]

Background

Previous election

At the previous election in 2017, the Scottish National Party (SNP) became the largest party, despite losing one seat, overtaking Labour who lost five seats. Two independents were elected, one less than 2012 while the Conservatives gained five seats.[3]

2017 Falkirk Council election result
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  SNP 12 Steady 1 Decrease1 40.0 38.8 20,861 Decrease1.6
  Labour 9 Steady 5 Decrease5 30.0 23.1 12,421 Decrease14.6
  Conservative 7 5 Steady Increase5 23.3 24.5 13,168 Increase13.3
  Independent 2 Steady 1 Decrease1 6.7 9.8 5,308 Decrease0.7
  Green 0 Steady Steady Steady 0.0 3.6 1,933 New
Total 30 53,754
Notes
[3]
  • Votes are the sum of first preference votes across all council wards. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections in May 2012. This is because STV has an element of proportionality which is not present unless multiple seats are being elected. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.
  • Following boundary changes, the number of seats in Falkirk fell from 32 in 2012 to 30 in 2017. Gains and losses are represented against national results which may differ from other published sources.

Composition

Since the previous election, several changes in the composition of the council occurred. Labour councillor John McLuckie and Conservative councillor James Kerr were suspended by their respective parties after having been charged by the police following an investigation into planning irregularities in Falkirk.[4] SNP councillor Niall Coleman resigned from the party to become an independent.[5] Two by-elections were held and resulted in an SNP hold[6] and an SNP gain from Labour.[2]

Party 2017 result Dissolution
SNP 12 12
Labour 9 7
Conservative 7 7
Independents 2 4

Retiring councillors

Ward Party Retiring councillor
Grangemouth Labour Allyson Black
Denny and Banknock Labour Jim Blackwood
Carse, Kinnaird and Tryst Labour Joan Coombes
Bonnybridge and Larbert Independent Niall Coleman
Falkirk North SNP David Alexander
Independent Dennis Goldie
Falkirk South Conservative John Patrick
Lower Braes Conservative Malcolm Nicol
Upper Braes SNP Gordon Hughes

Results

2022 Falkirk Council election
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  SNP 12 Steady0 Steady0 Steady0 40.0 39.7 21,066 Increase0.9
  Labour 9 Increase1 Decrease1 Steady0 30.0 23.0 12,179 Decrease0.1
  Conservative 5 Increase1 Decrease3 Decrease2 16.7 19.5 10,326 Decrease5.0
  Independent 4 Increase2 Steady0 Increase2 13.3 11.4 6,018 Increase1.6
  Green 0 Steady0 Steady0 Steady0 0.0 4.5 2,365 Increase0.9
  Liberal Democrats 0 Steady0 Steady0 Steady0 0.0 1.1 603 New
  Alba 0 Steady0 Steady0 Steady0 0.0 0.8 424 New
  UKIP 0 Steady0 Steady0 Steady0 0.0 0.1 27 Steady0.0
Total 30 53,008

Ward summary

Results of the 2022 Falkirk Council election by ward
Ward %
Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 Total
Cllrs
SNP Lab Conservative Green Lib Dem Ind Alba Others
Bo'ness and Blackness 21.74 1 18.64 1 15.12 0 2.44 0 1.61 0 40.58 1 3
Grangemouth 44.85 1 23.38 1 15.23 0 2.42 0 15.06 1 0.54 0 3
Denny and Banknock 46.49 2 20.66 1 16.16 0 3.15 0 13.54 1 4
Carse, Kinnaird and Tryst 44.37 2 24.55 1 24.06 1 4.14 0 2.88 0 4
Bonnybridge and Larbert 33.88 1 17.60 1 18.41 0 4.91 0 25.22 1 3
Falkirk North 47.41 2 28.86 1 13.27 1 5.90 0 4.55 0 4
Falkirk South 41.66 1 22.34 1 28.56 1 5.67 0 1.77 0 3
Lower Braes 39.35 1 27.00 1 23.34 1 5.78 0 3.24 0 1.30 0 3
Upper Braes 34.88 1 23.13 1 21.86 1 5.60 0 2.53 0 10.88 0 1.15 0 3
Total 30

Ward results

Bo'ness and Blackness

  • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2017: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
  • 2022: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
  • 2017-2022 Change: Independent gain one seat from Conservative
Bo'ness and Blackness - 3 seats[7]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345
Independent Ann Ritchie (incumbent) 40.51 2,262
SNP Stacey Devine 21.70 1,212 1,434.54
Labour David Aitchison (incumbent) 18.64 1,041 1,229.03 1,238.47
Conservative Lynn Munro (incumbent) 15.10 843 950.83 951.93 984.18 995.82
Green Debra Pickering 2.44 136 136 193.94 245.43 211.02
Liberal Democrats Nicholas William Pitts 1.61 90 125.3 126.18
Electorate: 12,389   Valid: 5,584   Spoilt: 70   Quota: 1,394   Turnout: 45.6%  

Grangemouth

  • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xIndependent
  • 2017: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
  • 2022: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
  • 2017-2022 Change: No change
Grangemouth - 3 seats[7]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345678
SNP David Balfour (incumbent) 35.85 1,808
Labour Alan Nimmo[LOB] 23.38 1,179 1,211.98 1,217.28 1,244.09 1,281.31
Conservative Mandy Bryson 13.58 685 694.08 708.01 702.38 725.98 729.38
Independent Robert Spears (incumbent) 12.12 611 645.79 647.79 668.61 731.75 738.42 1,071.96 1,391.08
SNP John Haston 9.00 454 873.93 876.23 942.91 960.45 962.68 984.84
Independent Marc Bozza 3.11 157 165.78 169.77 176.68
Green Rhys Stenhouse 2.42 122 137.73 138.43
UKIP Martin Stuart 0.54 27 27.61
Electorate: 12,741   Valid: 5,043   Spoilt: 161   Quota: 1,261   Turnout: 40.5%  

Denny and Banknock

  • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xLab 1xIndependent
  • 2017: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
  • 2022: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
  • 2017-2022 Change: Independent gain one seat from Conservative
Denny and Banknock - 4 seats[7]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1
SNP Paul Garner (incumbent) 29.42 1,868
SNP Fiona Collie (incumbent) 17.07 1,084 1,571.69
Conservative Nigel Harris (incumbent) 16.16 1,026 1,033.67 1,041.5 1,056.96 1,073.66 1,092.16
Labour Alf Kelly 14.00 889 903.71 935.17 1,011.42 1,368.98
Independent Brian McCabe 13.54 860 890.68 929.43 1,031.31 1,072.02 1,106.23 1,610.76
Labour James Marshall 6.66 423 433.27 444.87 461.56
Green Rachel Hart 3.15 200 223.01 346.01
Electorate: 15,534   Valid: 6,350   Spoilt: 128   Quota: 1,271   Turnout: 43.8%  

Carse, Kinnaird and Tryst

  • 2012: 2xLab; 2xSNP
  • 2017: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
  • 2022: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
  • 2017-2022 Change: No change
Carse, Kinnaird and Tryst - 4 seats[7]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
SNP Gary Bouse (incumbent) 27.32 1,961
Labour Margaret Anslow 24.55 1,762 1,762 1,436.
SNP Laura Murtagh (incumbent) 17.05 1,224 1,670.56
Conservative Jim Flynn (incumbent) 15.06 1,081 1,088.49 1.143.63 1,150.23
Conservative Robert Kemp 9.00 646 649.75 674.35 678.09 711.89 778.53
Green Tom McLaughlin 4.14 297 326.45 270.98 370.48 492.89 610.00
Liberal Democrats Sean McCay 2.88 207 215.57 278.97 314.47
Electorate: 17,252   Valid: 7,178   Spoilt: 156   Quota: 1,436   Turnout: 42.5%  

Bonnybridge and Larbert

  • 2012: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
  • 2017: 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xIndependent
  • 2022: 1xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2017-2022 Change: Labour gain one seat from Conservative
Bonnybridge and Larbert - 3 seats[7]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456
Independent Billy Buchanan (incumbent) 25.22 1,423
SNP Bryan Deakin 21.48 1,212 1,214.26 1,276.53 1,988.19
Conservative David Grant (incumbent) 18.39 1,038 1,040.52 1,056.57 1,064.59 1,084.79
Labour Jack Redmond 17.60 993 996.38 1,072.64 1,111.79 1,327.54 1,942.15
SNP Jim Muir 12.40 700 700.94 797.07
Green David Robertson 4.91 277 277.94
Electorate: 13,094   Valid: 5,643   Spoilt: 87   Quota: 1,411   Turnout: 43.8%  

Falkirk North

  • 2012: 2xSNP; 2xLab
  • 2017: 2xSNP; 2xLab
  • 2022: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
  • 2017-2022 Change: Conservative gain one seat from Labour
Falkirk North - 4 seats[7]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
SNP Cecil Meiklejohn (incumbent) 35.01 2,260
Labour Robert Bissett (incumbent) 22.68 1,464
Conservative James Bundy 13.27 857 863.85 867.95 880.64 912.95 947.87 1,277.89
SNP Iain Sinclair 12.41 801 1,625.50
Labour Robbie Burgess 6.18 399 423.41 466.48 604.17 651.31 929.0
Green Judith McLaughlin 5.90 381 424.26 553.38 557.96 631.1
Alba Zohaib Arshad 4.55 294 307.28 345.31 348.36
Electorate: 16,749   Valid: 6,456   Spoilt: 174   Quota: 1,292   Turnout: 39.6%  

Falkirk South

  • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
  • 2017: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
  • 2022: 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLab
  • 2017-2022 Change: No change
Falkirk South - 3 seats[7]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345
SNP Lorna Binnie (incumbent) 30.18 1,843
Conservative Sarah Patrick 28.56 1,744
Labour Euan Stainbank 22.34 1,364 1,380.46 1,478.63 1,524.51 1,652.32
SNP Emma Russell (incumbent) 11.48 701 959.03 964.61 977.33
Green Hunter Thomson 5.67 346 359.16 377.86 408.23
Independent Richard Wilson 1.77 108 111.09 138.58
Electorate: 13,395   Valid: 6,106   Spoilt: 102   Quota: 1,527   Turnout: 46.3%  

Lower Braes

  • 2012: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2017: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2022: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
  • 2017-2022 Change: No change
Lower Braes - 3 seats[7]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456
Labour Anne Hannah 27.00 1,393
SNP Gordon Forrest 23.36 1,205 1,213.21 1,237.65 1,248.06 1,330.98
Conservative James Kerr[UPB] 23.34 1,204 1,225.29 1,237.65 1,297.984 1,330.97
SNP Adanna McCue (incumbent) 15.99 825 830.32 841.55 848.75 848.91
Green Doug Sheehan 5.78 298 309.76 378.19 320.97
Liberal Democrats Hunter Ashley 3.24 167 195.32 201.86
Alba Scott Fallon 1.30 67 69.44
Electorate: 12,003   Valid: 5,159   Spoilt: 48   Quota: 1,290   Turnout: 43.6%  

Upper Braes

  • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
  • 2017: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2022: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
  • 2017-2022 Change: No change
Upper Braes - 3 seats[7]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1
SNP Jim Robertson 34.88 1,918
Labour Siobhan Paterson 23.13 1,272 1,365.42 1,370.55 1,384.12
Conservative Claire Brown 21.86 1,202 1,214.45 1,219.45 1,224.46 1,225.95 1,233.53 1,259.08 1,406.68
Independent John McLuckie (incumbent) 8.35 459 489.57 499.27 548.80 550.05 568.17 603.26
Green Rachel Kidd 5.60 308 516.93 520.78 535.32 536.81 586.76 644.66 740.41
Liberal Democrats Austin Reid 2.53 139 161.65 161.65 168.21 170.22 177.23
Independent Ian Kennedy 1.62 89 98.34 114.04
Alba Colin Todd 1.15 63 110.56 114.13 118.13 118.39
Independent Mark Tunnicliff 0.89 49 55.23
Electorate: 12,734   Valid: 5,499   Spoilt: 79   Quota: 1,375   Turnout: 43.8%  

Aftermath

Falkirk South by-election

In July 2024, Labour councillor Euan Stainbank was elected as MP for Falkirk at the 2024 United Kingdom general election and subsequently resigned as a councillor in August 2024.[8] A by-election was held on 17 October 2024 and was won by Labour candidate Claire Aitken.[9]

Falkirk South (17 October 2024) – 1 seat
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
SNP Carol Anne Beattie 31.3 1,043 1,048 1,113 1,156 1,189 1,218  
Labour Claire Aitken 30.5 1,014 1,048 1,090 1,132 1,161 1,329 1,724
Conservative David Grant 14.7 488 498 503 524 652    
Reform Stuart Martin 9.9 330 341 343 371      
Independent Sharron McKean 5.5 184 199 216        
Green Tom McLaughlin 4.5 151 161          
Liberal Democrats Sean McCay 3.6 119            
Electorate: 13,528   Valid: 3,329   Spoilt: 36   Quota: 1,665   Turnout: 24.9%  

Source:[10][11]

Notes

  1. LOB: Sitting councillor for Lower Braes.
  2. UPB: Sitting councillor for Upper Braes.

References

  1. "Elections & voting - Local Government Elections 2022". Falkirk Council. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  2. Webster, Laura (15 October 2021). "SNP secure Falkirk by-election win as Labour's support 'collapses'". The National. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  3. Teale, Andrew. "Local Elections Results 2017 Falkirk". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  4. "Falkirk councillors charged over planning concerns". BBC News. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  5. Trimble, James (13 March 2022). "Falkirk councillor resigns from SNP". Falkirk Herald. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  6. "Bonnybridge and Larbert (Fk) By-Election 15/02/18". Ballot Box Scotland. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  7. "Falkirk Council 2022 Election Results". Falkirk Council. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  8. Dobie, Fiona (16 September 2024). "Candidates confirmed for Falkirk South by-election". The Falkirk Herald. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  9. Buchanan, Jill (18 October 2024). "Labour victory in Falkirk South by-election". The Falkirk Herald. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  10. "Declaration of Results Report Ward 7 Falkirk South" (PDF). Falkirk Council. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  11. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 7 Falkirk South" (PDF). Falkirk Council. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.