2022 West Lothian Council election
2022 Scottish local government election
2022 West Lothian Council election
First party
Second party
Third party
Leader
Janet Campbell
Lawrence Fitzpatrick
Damian Timson
Party
SNP
Labour
Conservative
Leader's seat
Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh
Livingston South
East Calder and East Livingston
Last election
13 seats, 37.3%
12 seats, 29.0%
7 seats, 23.2%
Seats before
14
10
8
Seats won
15
12
4
Seat change
2
3
Popular vote
22,424
16,921
9,427
Percentage
37.9%
28.6%
15.9%
Swing
0.6%
0.5%
7.3%
Fourth party
Fifth party
Party
Independent
Liberal Democrats
Last election
1 seat, 4.9%
0 seats, 2.6%
Seats before
1
0
Seats won
1
1
Seat change
1
Popular vote
3,775
2,831
Percentage
6.4%
4.8%
Swing
1.4%
2.2%
Overall result
SNP vote share by wards
Labour vote share by wards
Conservative vote share by wards
Council Leader before election
Lawrence Fitzpatrick
Labour
Council Leader after election
Lawrence Fitzpatrick
Labour
The 2022 West Lothian Council election was held on 5 May 2022, on the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland. The election used the nine wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 , with 33 Councillors elected. Each ward elects either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system - a form of proportional representation .
Following the election, it was announced Labour would run the council as a minority administration with loose coalition support from the four Conservative councillors, the Independent Stuart Borrowman and Liberal Democrat, Sally Pattle.[ 1]
Background
Previous election
At the previous election in 2017, the Scottish National Party (SNP) won the most seats, forming the largest block, but were 4 seats short of a majority. Close behind the SNP were Labour , who won the next largest amount of seats, winning 12. The Conservatives won 7 seats, gaining 6 seats and increasing their vote share by 14.3%. The sole independent , Stuart Borrowman also held his seat. Following the result, the Labour and Conservative groups worked together in the chamber to hold a majority,[ 2] although both parties denied this claim.[ 3] This agreement led to Cllr Lawrence Fitzpatrick being appointed Council Leader and Conservative Cllr Tom Kerr was appointed Provost of West Lothian. However, in November 2021, SNP Councillors tabled a motion of no-confidence against Cllr Fitzpatrick's administration. The motion failed following support from the Conservatives.[ 4]
Source:[ 5]
Electoral system
The election used the 9 wards created following the fifth statutory review of electoral arrangements conducted by Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland in 2016, with 33 councillors elected. Each ward elected either three or four councillors, using the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system – a form of proportional representation – where candidates are ranked in order of preference.
Composition
There were two by-elections in 2021 which saw each main party field candidates. The Livingston South by-election held in March 2021 following the retirement of SNP Cllr Peter Johnston resulted in the SNP retaining the seat.[ 6] Meanwhile in the October 2021 East Livingston and East Calder by-election which was called following the death of Labour Cllr Dave King resulted in a gain for the SNP.[ 7] In the weeks following the by-election Labour Cllr Angela Doran-Timson joined the Conservatives.[ 8] [ 9]
Retiring Councillors
SNP Councillor Frank Anderson was deselected by his party. He announced that he would stand as an Independent candidate in East Livingston and East Calder.[ 10]
Candidates
The total number of candidates increased from 67 in 2017 to 73. Like in 2017, the SNP stood the most candidates at 17, a decrease of 6, while Labour stood 16. The Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, and Greens stood 9 candidates each. Unlike in 2017, the Scottish Family Party, Alba and the Independence for Scotland Party stood candidates, standing 5, 3 and 1 respectively. There were 4 independent candidates, an increase of 2.
Results
2022 West Lothian Council election result
Party
Seats
Gains
Losses
Net gain/loss
Seats %
Votes %
Votes
+/−
SNP
15
2
0
2
45.5
37.9
22,424
0.6
Labour
12
0
0
36.4
28.6
16,921
0.5
Conservative
4
0
3
3
12.1
15.9
9,427
7.3
Independent
1
0
0
3.0
6.4
3,775
1.4
Liberal Democrats
1
1
0
1
3.0
4.8
2,831
2.2
Scottish Green
0
0
0
0.0
5.3
3,119
2.6
Scottish Family
0
0
0
0.0
0.8
457
New
Alba
0
0
0
0.0
0.4
232
New
ISP
0
0
0
0.0
0.1
43
New
Total
33
59,229
Source:[ 11]
Ward summary
Source:[ 11]
Seats changing hands
Below is a list of seats which elected a different party or parties from 2017 in order to highlight the change in political composition of the council from the previous election. The list does not include defeated incumbents who resigned or defected from their party and subsequently failed re-election while the party held the seat.
Source:[ 5] [ 11]
Ward results
Linlithgow
2012: 1 x Conservative, 1 x SNP, 1 x Labour
2017: 1 x Conservative, 1 x SNP, 1 x Labour
2022: 1 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Liberal Democrat
2017-2022 Change: 1 x Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative
Linlithgow - 3 seats[ 12] [ 13]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
SNP
Pauline Orr
26.26%
1,869
Liberal Democrats
Sally Pattle
20.33%
1,447
1,457
1,466
1,901
Conservative
Chris Horne
19.83%
1,411
1,413
1,445
1,484
1,508
Labour
Tom Conn (incumbent )
19.54%
1,391
1,406
1,413
1,733
1,788
Scottish Green
Pamela Barnes
13.22%
941
988
992
Scottish Family
Rik Smith
0.81%
58
59
Electorate: 12,435 Valid: 7,117 Spoilt: 53 Quota: 1,780 Turnout: 57.7%[ 14]
Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh
2012: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
2017: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
2022: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
2017-2022 Change: No Change
Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh - 4 seats[ 12] [ 15]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
SNP
Diane Calder (incumbent )
29.04%
1,990
Labour
Ann Davidson
19.04%
1,305
1,321
1,329
1,336
1,345
1,430
Conservative
Angela Doran-Timson (incumbent [LAB] )
17.73%
1,215
1,220
1,222
1,239
1,252
1,299
1,305
1,328
1,611
SNP
Janet Campbell (incumbent )
12.84%
880
1,419
Labour
Hazel McLeod
10.56%
724
732
735
745
752
773
819
981
Scottish Green
Cam Wright
4.35%
298
317
332
345
383
447
449
Liberal Democrats
Charles Corser
3.72%
255
261
264
275
287
Alba
Phil Noble
1.39%
95
100
103
115
Scottish Family
Kenneth Sutherland
1.33%
91
92
93
Electorate: 16,643 Valid: 6,853 Spoilt: 167 Quota: 1,371 Turnout: 42.2%[ 16]
Livingston North
2012: 2 x SNP, 2 x Labour
2017: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
2022: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
2017-2022 Change: No Change
Livingston North - 4 seats[ 12] [ 17]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
SNP
Robert De Bold (incumbent )
29.51%
2,133
SNP
Andrew Miller (incumbent )
19.09%
1,380
1,945
Labour
Anne McMillan
18.63%
1,347
1,380
1,447
Conservative
Alison Adamson (incumbent )
17.37%
1,256
1,265
1,275
1,275
1,315
1,391
1,495
Labour
Michael Rae
5.12%
370
375
399
399
429
538
Scottish Green
Mark Wilkinson
4.48%
324
351
550
550
572
636
749
Liberal Democrats
Catrina McDonald
3.85%
278
288
309
310
329
Scottish Family
Robert Bell
1.95%
141
146
158
158
Electorate: 18,312 Valid: 7,229 Spoilt: 166 Quota: 1,446 Turnout: 40.4%[ 18]
Livingston South
2012: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
2017: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
2021 (by-election): 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
2022: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
2017-2022 Change: No Change
Livingston South - 4 seats[ 12] [ 19]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
SNP
Maria Macaulay
29.76%
2,252
Labour
Lawrence Fitzpatrick (incumbent )
26.80%
2,028
Conservative
Peter Heggie (incumbent )
11.68%
884
888
946
954
984
1,013
1,032
1,034
1,134
1,385
SNP
Moira Shemilt (incumbent )
9.23%
698
1,344
1,374
1,385
1,403
1,459
1,631
Labour
Craig Smith
5.58%
422
430
736
745
786
841
911
931
1,106
Independent
Eddie Anderson
5.08%
384
393
422
434
453
601
657
680
Scottish Green
Cameron Glasgow
4.34%
328
360
381
386
424
443
Independent
Eddie Millar
4.27%
323
333
347
362
373
Liberal Democrats
Caron Lindsay
2.21%
167
171
189
195
Scottish Family
Margaret Hamilton
1.06%
80
82
87
Electorate: 19,101 Valid: 7,566 Spoilt: 118 Quota: 1,514 Turnout: 40.2%[ 20]
East Livingston and East Calder
2012: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
2017: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
2021 (by-election): 3 x SNP, 1 x Conservative
2022: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
2017-2022 Change: No Change
East Livingston and East Calder - 4 seats[ 12] [ 21]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
SNP
Carl John (incumbent )
26.43%
1,741
Conservative
Damian Doran-Timson (incumbent )
18.29%
1,205
1,213
1,239
1,279
1,288
1,310
1,317
1,377
Labour
Danny Logue
16.38%
1,079
1,095
1,106
1,164
1,437
SNP
Veronica Smith
9.44%
622
907
915
927
936
946
1,287
1,499
Independent
Frank Anderson (incumbent [SNP] )
7.55%
497
508
519
539
542
551
583
Scottish Green
Neal Drummond
6.62%
436
474
478
534
542
560
585
686
SNP
Thomas Ullathorne
5.92%
390
426
426
427
433
435
Labour
Andy Rafferty
4.74%
312
318
319
330
Liberal Democrats
Robert Howden
3.31%
218
224
230
Scottish Family
Ruth Hutchison
1.32%
87
88
Electorate: 17,970 Valid: 6,587 Spoilt: 121 Quota: 1,318 Turnout: 37.3%[ 22]
Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley
2012: 2 x Labour, 1 x SNP
2017: 2 x Labour, 1 x SNP
2022: 2 x Labour, 1 x SNP
2017-2022 Change: No Change
Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley - 3 seats[ 12] [ 23]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
SNP
Pauline Clark (incumbent )
25.47%
1,292
Labour
Cathy Muldoon (incumbent )
21.94%
1,113
1,114
1,123
1,158
1,202
1,363
Labour
Craig Meek
18.22%
924
925
930
948
975
1,219
1,295
Conservative
Elaine Fairbairn
14.16%
718
718
720
740
754
SNP
Greg McCarra
12.85%
652
671
693
700
778
801
804
Scottish Green
Neil Barnes
3.65%
185
186
197
216
Liberal Democrats
Gillian Pattle
2.33%
118
118
127
Alba
Hani Mohamed
1.38%
70
70
Electorate: 12,714 Valid: 5,072 Spoilt: 148 Quota: 1,269 Turnout: 41.1%[ 24]
Whitburn and Blackburn
2012: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
2017: 2 x Labour, 1 x SNP, 1 x Conservative
2022: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
2017-2022 Change: 1 x SNP gain from Conservative
Whitburn and Blackburn - 4 seats[ 12] [ 25]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
SNP
Jim Dickson (incumbent )
28.26%
1,734
Labour
George Paul (incumbent )
20.16%
1,237
Conservative
Bruce Fairbairn (incumbent )
18.50%
1,135
1,139
1,139
1,175
1,187
Labour
Kirsteen Sullivan
17.21%
1,056
1,069
1,076
1,122
1,189
1,747
SNP
Mary Robertson Dickson
10.37%
636
1,085
1,085
1,095
1,196
1,230
Liberal Democrats
Derek Pattle
2.41%
148
152
152
Scottish Green
Carole Racionzer
3.10%
190
203
204
231
Electorate: 16,945 Valid: 6,136 Spoilt: 204 Quota: 1,228 Turnout: 37.4%[ 26]
Bathgate
2012: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
2017: 2xLabour; 1 x SNP; 1 x Conservative
2022: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
2017-2022 Change: 1 x SNP gain from Conservative
Bathgate - 4 seats[ 12] [ 27]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Labour
Harry Cartmill (incumbent )
33.67%
2,496
SNP
William Boyle (incumbent )
24.36%
1,806
SNP
Pauline Stafford
16.05%
1,190
1,265
1,507
Conservative
Charles Kennedy (incumbent )
14.14%
1,048
1,162
1,167
1,168
1,174
1,208
1,236
Labour
Tony Pearson
5.06%
375
1,015
1,023
1,027
1,034
1,094
1,246
1,774
Scottish Green
Siobhan Flannigan
3.79%
281
323
351
360
392
425
Liberal Democrats
John Mackenzie
2.02%
150
186
191
192
195
Alba
Gordon Dent
0.90%
67
74
83
85
Electorate: 18,082 Valid: 7,413 Spoilt: 138 Quota: 1,483 Turnout: 41.8%[ 28]
Armadale and Blackridge
2012: 1 x Independent, 1 x Labour, 1 x SNP
2017: 1 x Independent, 1 x Labour, 1 x SNP
2022: 1 x Independent, 1 x Labour, 1 x SNP
2017-2022 Change: No Change
Armadale and Blackridge - 3 seats[ 12] [ 29]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
Independent
Stuart Borrowman (incumbent )
48.92%
2,571
SNP
Lynda Kenna
22.05%
1,159
1,407
Labour
Andrew McGuire (incumbent )
14.12%
742
1,110
1,130
1,148
1,196
1,319
Conservative
Chris Terry
10.56%
555
789
790
794
820
834
Scottish Green
Sophie Brodie
2.59%
136
232
264
291
308
Liberal Democrats
Helen Mackenzie
0.95%
50
107
110
121
ISP
John Hannah
0.82%
43
78
91
Electorate: 13,162 Valid: 5,256 Spoilt: 58 Quota: 1,315 Turnout: 40.4%[ 30]
Aftermath
Although the SNP won the most seats, Labour were chosen to run the council after doing a deal with the Conservatives. The council resembles the set up after the previous election, with Labour running a minority administration with loose coalition support from the four Conservative councillors, the Independent Stuart Borrowman and Liberal Democrat, Sally Pattle.[ 1]
In response to the announcement, former Labour councillor and MSP Neil Findlay , who represented Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley from 2003 to 2012, called his own party "shameful [for] voting Tories into office", saying the Conservatives were "the enemy of my class".[ 31]
Armadale and Blackridge by-election
In May 2024, independent councillor Stuart Borrowman died.[ 32] A by-election was held on 22 August 2024 to elect his replacement, and was won by Labour candidate Susan Manion.[ 33] [ 34]
Armadale and Blackridge by-election (22 August 2024) - 1 seat
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Labour
Susan Manion
28.9
795
814
853
890
955
1,103
1,427
SNP
Keith Alan Barclay
28.3
777
805
820
903
917
967
Reform UK
David McLennan
18.9
519
519
534
559
637
ISP
John Hannah
8.6
236
240
245
Conservative
Douglas Smith
8.2
226
227
248
272
Liberal Democrats
Douglas Thomas Butler
4.4
122
131
Scottish Green
Adam William Rafferty
2.7
73
Electorate: 13,371 Valid: 2,748 Spoilt: 22 Quota: 1,375 Turnout: 20.7%
Source:[ 35] [ 36]
Whitburn and Blackburn by-election
In September 2024, Labour councillor Kirsteen Sullivan resigned after being elected as the Member of Parliament for the Bathgate and Linlithgow constituency at the 2024 general Election.[ 37] A by-election has been scheduled for 14 November 2024.[ 38]
Whitburn and Blackburn by-election (14 November 2024) - 1 seat
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
SNP
Aileen Brown
1,022
1,063
1,078
1,091
1,173
1,238
Liberal Democrats
Douglas Thomas Butler
97
111
Scottish Green
Cameron Glasgow
92
Conservative
Charles Kennedy
239
239
259
Independent
Thomas Robert Lynch
421
429
452
498
Reform UK
David McLennan
578
579
586
653
739
Labour
David Blackie Russell
1,093
1,108
1,126
1,164
1,283
1,424
1,778
Electorate: 17,247 Valid: 3,542 Spoilt: 35 Quota: 1,772 Turnout: 20.7
Notes
^ BRO: Sitting councillor for Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh.
^ LAB: On 26 October 2021 Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh Labour Cllr Angela Doran-Timson left the Labour Party and joined the Conservatives.
[ 8] [ 9]
^ SNP: Deselected by the Scottish National Party
[ 10]
References
^ a b Sommerville, Stuart (24 May 2022). "West Lothian council to be run by Labour after 'grubby coalition' with Tories" . Edinburgh Live .
^ "Labour warns against West Lothian Council coalition with Tories" . BBC News . 18 May 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2022 .
^ "Labour denies minority deal with Tories in West Lothian" . Edinburgh Evening News . 27 May 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2022 .
^ Sommerville, Stuart (24 November 2021). "West Lothian Council: SNP Motion of no confidence fails" . Falkirk Herald . Retrieved 5 April 2022 .
^ a b Teale, Andrew. "Local Election Results 2017" . Local Elections Archive Project . Retrieved 14 August 2024 .
^ Faulds, Allan (16 March 2021). "Livingston South (West Lothian) By-Election Result" . Ballot Box Scotland . Retrieved 5 April 2022 .
^ Faulds, Allan (6 August 2021). "By-Election Result: East Livingston and East Calder" . Ballot Box Scotland . Retrieved 5 April 2022 .
^ a b Swanson, Ian (25 October 2021). "West Lothian Labour councillor defects to Tories after marrying Tory group leader" . Edinburgh Evening News . Retrieved 5 April 2022 .
^ a b Sommerville, Stuart (27 October 2021). "Labour councillors express "huge surprise" at colleague defecting to Tories" . Edinburgh Live . Retrieved 5 April 2022 .
^ a b Sommerville, Stuart (31 March 2022). "West Lothian's longest serving councillor accuses SNP of ageism as he anticipates being dropped from the party" . West Lothian Courier - Daily Record . Retrieved 5 April 2022 .
^ a b c Faulds, Allan. "West Lothian Council 2022" . Ballot Box Scotland . Retrieved 12 November 2024 .
^ a b c d e f g h i "NOTICE OF POLL - West Lothian Council" (PDF) . West Lothian Council . West Lothian Council. 30 March 2022.
^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 1 Linlithgow)" (PDF) . West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ "Declaration of Results (Ward 1 Linlithgow)" (PDF) . West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 2 Broxburn, Uphall and Wincburgh)" (PDF) . West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ "Declaration of Results (Ward 2 Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh)" (PDF) . West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 3 Livingston North)" (PDF) . West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ "Declaration of Results (Ward 3 Livingston North)" (PDF) . West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 4 Livingston South)" (PDF) . West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ "Declaration of Results (Ward 4 Livingston South)" (PDF) . West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 5 East Livingston and East Calder)" (PDF) . West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ "Declaration of Results (Ward 5 East Livingston and East Calder)" (PDF) . West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 6 Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley)" (PDF) . West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ "Declaration of Results (Ward 6 Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley)" (PDF) . West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 7 Whitburn and Blackburn)" (PDF) . West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ "Declaration of Results (Ward 7 Whitburn and Blackburn)" (PDF) . West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 8 Bathgate)" (PDF) . West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ "Declaration of Results (Ward 8 Bathgate)" (PDF) . West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 9 Armadale and Blackridge)" (PDF) . West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ "Declaration of Results (Ward 9 Armadale and Blackridge)" (PDF) . West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ Garton-Crosbie, Abbi (27 May 2022). "Key Scottish Labour figures blast 'shameful' Tory council deals" . The National . Retrieved 20 July 2022 .
^ Sommerville, Stuart (24 May 2024). "Tributes paid after death of long serving West Lothian councillor" . Edinburgh Live . Retrieved 12 November 2024 .
^ Sommerville, Stuart (23 August 2024). "Labour wins West Lothian by-election sparked by death of councillor" . Edinburgh Live . Retrieved 12 November 2024 .
^ "Labour's Susan Manion wins Armdale and Blackridge by-election narrowly beating the SNP" . The Edinburgh Reporter . 23 August 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024 .
^ "Declaration of Results - Ward 9 - Armadale and Blackridge" (PDF) . West Lothian Council . Retrieved 12 November 2024 .
^ "Preference Summary Report - Ward 9 - Armadale and Blackridge" (PDF) . West Lothian Council . Retrieved 12 November 2024 .
^ "By-Election is to be held in the Whitburn and Blackburn Ward" . West Lothian Council . 26 September 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024 .
^ Sommerville, Stuart (2 October 2024). "Date set for council by-election in Whitburn and Blackburn ward" . The Edinburgh Reporter . Retrieved 2 October 2024 .