1990 Shetland Islands Council election

← 1986 May 3, 1990 (1990-05-03) 1994 →
All 25 seats to Shetland Islands Council 13 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Edward Thomason Bill Smith Party Independent Shetland Movement Labour Leader's seat Lerwick Harbour Lerwick Central Last election 16 5 5 Seats won 16 7 1 Seat change 0 2 3 Popular vote 1,962 1,083 246 Percentage 56.9% 31.4% 7.1% Swing 10.0% 17.8% 9.5%   Fourth party   Leader Leonard Groat Party Independent Labour Leader's seat Lerwick North Last election 0 Seats won 1 Seat change 1 Popular vote 0 Percentage 0.0[a] Swing New
The result of the election
Council Convener before election Edward Thomason Shetland Movement Council Convener after election Edward Thomason Shetland Movement

An election to the Shetland Islands Council was held on 3 May 1990 as part of regional elections. Independents maintained control of the 25 seat council. The Shetland Movement gained two seats, bringing their total to seven. The Scottish National Party and Liberal Democrats also ran candidates for the first time.

Former Labour councillor Leonard Groat stood on an Independent Labour ticket in protest against his party's support for the closure of Montfield Hospital in Lerwick.^[1]

Shetland Islands Council election, 1990^[2]

Party		Seats	Gains	Losses	Net gain/loss	Seats %	Votes %	Votes	+/−
	Independent	16	0	0	0	72	56.9	1,962	10.0
	Shetland Movement	7	2	0	2	24	31.4	1,083	17.8
	Independent Labour	1	1	0	1	4	0.0	0	New
	Labour	1	0	4	3	1	7.1	246	9.5
	Liberal Democrats	0	0	0	0	0.0	2.7	94	New
	SNP	0	0	0	0	0	1.9	65	New