Politics of Aberdeen

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The Politics of Aberdeen, Scotland have changed significantly in recent years. In 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, Grampian Regional Council and Aberdeen District Council were dissolved, creating the new unitary Aberdeen City Council to represent the city's council area.

Aberdeen City Council[]

See also: Category:Aberdeen City Council elections

Aberdeen City Council represents the Aberdeen City council area of Scotland. Aberdeen City Council currently comprises forty-three councillors, who represent the city's thirteen multi-member wards, and is chaired by the Lord Provost.

The council area was created in 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994. However, a sense of Aberdeen as a city, with its own city council, can be traced back to 1900, when the city of county of Aberdeen was created. In 1975, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the county of city was combined with Bucksburn, Dyce, Newhills, Old Machar, Peterculter and the Stoneywood areas of the county of Aberdeen and, the Nigg area of the county of Kincardine, (including Cove Bay) to form the Aberdeen district of the Grampian region.

On 9 May 1995, by resolution under section 23 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, The City of Aberdeen Council changed the name of the local government area of "City of Aberdeen" to "Aberdeen City", which remains the existing unitary council area.

Prior to the 2003 election, the council had been considered a Labour stronghold.[1] Between 2003 and 2007, the council was under the control of a Liberal Democrat and Conservative coalition, holding 23 of the 43 seats on the council. Following the May 2007 election, contested for the first time using a system of proportional representation, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party (SNP) formed a coalition to run the council, holding 27 of the 43 seats (following an SNP by-election gain from the Conservatives on 16 August 2007, the Liberal Democrat/SNP coalition held 28 of the 43 seats). At the May 2012 election, Labour entered into a coalition with the Conservatives and the independents to run the council, with 23 out of the 43 seats.

Composition (2003–2007)[]

See also: 2003 Aberdeen City Council election

The city council's original composition from 1995 used 43 wards while using the standard first-past-the-post voting system. The final group of representative councillors and their political parties using this system were:

Party Ward Councillor
Liberal Democrat (34) Ashley Martin Greig
Scottish National Party (9) Auchmill Kevin Stewart
Labour (2) Bankhead/Stoneywood Brian Rattary
Liberal Democrat (21) Berryden John Stewart
Liberal Democrat (6) Bridge of Don Millie McLeod
Liberal Democrat (35) Broomhill Ian Yuill
Labour (28) Castlehill Jim Hunter
Liberal Democrat (32) Cults Aileen Malone
Labour (10) Cummings Park Gordon Graham
Liberal Democrat (3) Danestone Raymond Hutcheon
Scottish National Party (7) Donmouth Muriel Jaffrey
Liberal Democrat (38) Duthie Irene Cormack
Liberal Democrat (1) Dyce Ron Clark
Liberal Democrat (36) Garthdee Scott Cassie
Liberal Democrat (26) Gilcomston Alison Smith
Liberal Democrat (29) Hazlehead Karen Freel
Labour (15) Hilton George Adam
Liberal Democrat (37) Holburn David Falconer
Liberal Democrat (4) Jesmond Gordon Leslie
Labour (42) Kincorth East George Urquhart
Independent (41) Kincorth West David Clyne
Liberal Democrat (19) Kittybrewster Neil Fletcher
Liberal Democrat (27) Langstane Steve Delaney
Liberal Democrat (43) Loirston Katherine Dean
Conservative (33) Mannofield Jill Wisely
Labour (12) Mastrick Ramsey Milne
Conservative (24) Midstocket John Porter
Liberal Democrat (31) Murtle Matthew Duncan
Liberal Democrat (8) Newhills Peter Stephen
Liberal Democrat (5) Oldmachar John Reynolds
Liberal Democrat (30) Peterculter Pamela MacDonald
Labour (23) Pittodrie Ronald Webster
Conservative (25) Queens Cross Brenda Craig
Labour (18) Seaton Norman Collie
Labour (13) Sheddocksley James Lamond
Scottish National Party (11) Springhill Karen Shirron
Labour (17) St. Machar Sandra Macdonald
Labour (20) Stockethill June Lamond
Labour (14) Summerhill Len Ironside
Scottish National Party (22) Sunnybank Andrew May
Labour (39) Torry Yvonne Allan
Scottish National Party (40) Tullos Jim Kiddie
Scottish National Party (16) Woodside/Tillydrone Alan Gowers
Source: Aberdeen City Council

New wards from May 2007[]

Before May 2007, councillors represented 43 single-member wards, but since then, all seats were contested by the first-past-the-post electoral system. On 5 May 2007, it was the first election to use the single transferable vote system of election and multi-member wards, each ward electing three or four councillors. The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland completed its final recommendations for new wards for all the council areas of Scotland and for Aberdeen it was concluded that there would be 13 multi-member wards with a total of 43 councillors. This system was introduced as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, and was designed to produce a form of proportional representation.[2]

The composition of wards changed to:

4 councillors:

3 councillors:

Composition (2007–2012)[]

See also: 2007 Aberdeen City Council election
Ward Councillors Party
Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone Ron Clark Liberal Democrat
Barney Crockett Labour
Mark McDonald Scottish National Party
George Penny Liberal Democrat
Bridge of Don Muriel Jaffrey Scottish National Party
Gordon Leslie Liberal Democrat
John Reynolds Liberal Democrat
Willie Young Labour
Kingswells/Sheddocksley Len Ironside Labour
Peter Stephen Liberal Democrat
Wendy Stuart Scottish National Party
Northfield Jackie Dunbar Scottish National Party
Gordon Graham Labour
Kevin Stewart Scottish National Party
Hilton/Stockethill George Adam Labour
Neil Fletcher Liberal Democrat
Kirsty West Scottish National Party
Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen Norman Collie Labour
Jim Noble Scottish National Party
Richard Robertson Liberal Democrat
Midstocket/Rosemount Bill Cormie Scottish National Party
Jenny Laing Labour
John Corral Scottish National Party
George Street/Harbour Andrew May Scottish National Party
Jim Hunter Labour
John Stewart Liberal Democrat
Lower Deeside Mary Boulton Independent
Aileen Malone Liberal Democrat
Alan Milne Conservative
Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross Jim Farquharson Conservative
Martin Greig Liberal Democrat
Jennifer Stewart Liberal Democrat
John West Scottish National Party
Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee Scott Cassie Liberal Democrat
Jill Wisely Conservative
Ian Yuill Liberal Democrat
Torry/Ferryhill Yvonne Allan Labour
Irene Cormack Liberal Democrat
Alan Donnelly Conservative
Jim Kiddle Scottish National Party
Kincorth/Loirston Neil Cooney Labour
Kate Dean Liberal Democrat
Callum McCaig Scottish National Party
Source: [1]

Changes since 2007 Election[]

  • A by-election was held in the Midstocket/Rosemount Ward following the death of the Conservatives' John Porter on 23 May 2007. The by-election, on 16 August 2007, was won by the SNP's John Corall.
  • In January 2011, Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen Cllr Norman Collie resigned from the Labour Party and sat as an Independent.
  • A by-election was held in the Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone Ward following the death of the Liberal Democrat's Ron Clark on 21 February 2011. The by-election, on 19 May 2011, was won by the SNP's Neil MacGregor.
  • In June 2011, Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross Cllr Jim Farquaharson was expelled from the Conservative Party and sat as an Independent.
  • In June 2011, Lower Deeside Cllr Alan Milne was expelled from the Conservative Party and sat as an Independent.
  • A by-election was held in the Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee Ward following the resignation of the Liberal Democrat's Scott Cassie on 27 April 2011 after he was jailed for embezzlement. The by-election, on 23 June 2011, was won by the SNP's Gordon Scott Townson.
  • In September 2011, Bridge of Don Cllr Gordon Leslie was suspended from the Liberal Democrats. He subsequently resigned from the party and sat as an Independent.
  • In February 2012, George Street/Harbour Cllr Jim Hunter was suspended from the Labour Party. He subsequently resigned from the party and sat as an Independent.
  • In March 2012, Bridge of Don Cllr John Reynolds resigned from the Liberal Democrats and sat as an Independent.

Composition (2012–2017)[]

See also: 2012 Aberdeen City Council election
Ward Councillors Party
Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone Barney Crockett Labour
Graeme Lawrence Labour
Neil MacGregor Scottish National Party
Gill Samarai Scottish National Party
Bridge of Don Muriel Jaffrey Scottish National Party
John Reynolds Independent
Sandy Stuart Scottish National Party
Willie Young Labour
Kingswells/Sheddocksley/Summerhill David Cameron Scottish National Party
Steve Delaney Liberal Democrat
Len Ironside Labour
Northfield/Mastrick North Scott Carle Labour
Jackie Dunbar Scottish National Party
Gordon Graham Labour
Hilton/Woodside/Stockethill George Adam Labour
Kirsty Blackman ("née" West) Scottish National Party
Lesley Dunbar Labour
Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen Ross Grant Labour
Ramsey Milne Labour
Jim Noble Scottish National Party
Midstocket/Rosemount Bill Cormie Scottish National Party
Fraser Forsyth Independent
Jenny Laing Labour
George Street/Harbour Andrew May Scottish National Party
Jean Morrison Labour
Nathan Morrison Labour
Lower Deeside Mary Boulton Independent
M. Tauqeer Malik Labour
Aileen Malone Liberal Democrat
Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross John Corall SNP
Martin Greig Liberal Democrat
Jennifer Stewart Liberal Democrat
Ross Thomson Conservative
Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee Angela Taylor Labour
Gordon Townson SNP
Ian Yuill Liberal Democrat
Torry/Ferryhill Yvonne Allan Labour
Graham Dickson Scottish National Party
Alan Donnelly Independent
Jim Kiddle Scottish National Party
Kincorth/Nigg/Cove Neil Cooney Labour
Andrew Finlayson Independent
Callum McCaig Scottish National Party

Changes since 2012 Election[]

  • 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 sits as an Independent.

Composition (2017–2022)[]

See also: 2017 Aberdeen City Council election

UK Parliament[]

In the United Kingdom Parliament, the city is divided between three constituencies:

Party Constituency Member
Scottish National Party Aberdeen North Kirsty Blackman
Scottish National Party Aberdeen South Stephen Flynn
Scottish National Party Gordon Richard Thomson

Scottish Parliament[]

There are three Scottish Parliament constituencies that overlap the Aberdeen City Council area in the North East Scotland electoral region:

Party Constituency Member
Scottish National Party Aberdeen Central Kevin Stewart
Scottish National Party Aberdeen Donside Jackie Dunbar
Scottish National Party Aberdeen South and North Kincardine Audrey Nicoll

Other MSPs in the North East Scotland electoral region (but selected by the Additional Member proportional representation system, and not in constituencies overlapping Aberdeen City or the Aberdeen City Council area) are:

Party Members
Labour Mercedes Villalba
Labour Michael Marra
Conservative Maurice Golden
Conservative Tess White
Conservative Liam Kerr
Conservative Douglas Lumsden
Liberal Democrat Maggie Chapman

Scottish independence referendum[]

Main article: Scottish independence referendum, 2014

In 2014 a referendum was held asking voters in Scotland the question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" The referendum was held by the SNP administration after their victory in the 2011 Scottish Parliament election to determine whether Scotland should become an independent nation or remain a devolved part of the United Kingdom. Of the 3,623,344 votes cast (on a turnout of 84.6%) 2,001,926 were in favour of a "No" vote (55.3%) while 1,617,989 were "Yes" (44.7%): leading to Scotland remaining part of the United Kingdom.

The Aberdeen City local authority area had a higher than average No vote. 84,094 voters in the area voted against independence (58.6%) while 59,390 voted in favour of independence (41.4%). The Aberdeen City council area had the third lowest turnout in Scotland with 143,484 valid ballot papers on a turnout of 81.7%, ahead of Dundee and Glasgow.

Twinned cities[]

Aberdeen is twinned with several cities across Europe and throughout the rest of the world.[3] These include:

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ David, Scott (30 December 2002). "Labour is set to lose council strongholds in elections". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 9 January 2006.
  2. ^ "Scottish elections 2007". The Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 27 January 2007. Retrieved 8 February 2007.
  3. ^ "Twinning". Aberdeen City Council. Retrieved 8 February 2007.

External links[]

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