2012 Aberdeen City Council election

Main article: Scottish local elections, 2012

The 2012 Aberdeen City Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Aberdeen City Council. The election used the 13 wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with each ward electing three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation, with 43 Councillors elected.

2012 Aberdeen City Council election

← 2007 3 May 2012 (2012-05-03) 2017 →
All 43 seats to Aberdeen City Council 22 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Barney Crockett Callum McCaig Aileen Malone Party Labour SNP Liberal Democrats Leader's seat Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone Kincorth/Loirston Lower Deeside Last election 10 seats, 23.3% 12 seats, 27.9% 15 seats, 34.9% Seats before 8 15 11 Seats won 17 15 5 Seat change 7 3 10 Popular vote 16,264 17,131 8,293 Percentage 29.7% 31.3% 15.1% Swing 6.4% 3.4% 19.8%   Fourth party Fifth party   Leader Marie Boulton Fraser Forsyth Party Independent Conservative Leader's seat Lower Deeside Midtsocket/Rosemount Last election 1 seats, 2.3% 5 seats, 11.6% Seats before 7 2 Seats won 3 3 Seat change 2 2 Popular vote 6,117 5,285 Percentage 11.2% 9.7% Swing 8.9% 1.9%
The 13 multi-member wards
Council Leader before election Callum McCaig SNP Council Leader after election Barney Crockett Labour

Local political activist Renee Slater caused great controversy when she registered a mannequin doll as 'Helena Torry' in the Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross ward. This was withdrawn soon after being spotted and a report has been issued to Grampian Police.^[1]

The election saw the Scottish Liberal Democrats decimated as they lost two-thirds of their Councillors. The Scottish National Party secured 3 gains copper-fastening their by-election gains during the 2007–2012 term. However, it was Labour who proved to be the biggest winners with 7 gains and 17 total seats as they secured first place. Independents gained 2 seats while the Tories lost 2 seats.

On 9 May an agreement was reached to form a coalition. The coalition was formed between the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party and three Independent councillors. Labour had 17 seats, the Tories contributed three and there were three independent members.

Election results

Aberdeen City Local Election Result 2012

Party		Seats	Gains	Losses	Net gain/loss	Seats %	Votes %	Votes	+/−
	Labour	17	7	0	+7	39.5	29.7	16,264	+5.1
	SNP	15	4	1	+3	34.9	31.3	17,131	+1.8
	Liberal Democrats	5	0	10	-10	11.6	15.1	8,293	-11.8
	Independent	3	2	0	+2	7.0	11.17	6,117	+8.47
	Conservative	3	0	2	-2	7.0	9.7	5,285	-4.4
	Scottish Green	0	-	-	-	-	2.45	1,342	+0.85
	National Front	0	-	-	-	-	0.45	249	+0.45
	UKIP	0	-	-	-	-	0.11	58	New

Note: The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 3 May 2007. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

Ward results

Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone

• 2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xLab; 1xSNP
• 2012: 2xSNP; 2xLab
• 2007-2012 Change: SNP and Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem

Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone - 4 seats

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
	Labour	Barney Crockett (incumbent)	29.4%	1,378
	SNP	Neil MacGregor (incumbent)	25.5%	1,198
	SNP	Gill Samarai	8.8%	412	419	513.1	525.7	536.4	544.1	948.6
	Conservative	Duncan Stewart	7.7%	360	367	370.3	380.7	402.6
	SNP	Caroline Elizabeth Little	7.6%	358	367.6	479.8	487.4	507.4	525.3
	Liberal Democrats	Brian Malone	7.5%	353	368.3	377.4	392.8	428.1	585.7	607.1	607.7
	Labour	Graeme Lawrence	7.3%	344	681.7	693.1	718.1	771	816.2	834.2	835.2	991.4
	Independent	Angela Joss	3.7%	174	190.2	195.9	232.8
	Scottish Green	Rhonda Reekie	2.5%	117	128.1	134.9
Electorate: 14,122   Valid: 4,694   Spoilt: 92   Quota: 939   Turnout: 4,786 (33.24%)

Bridge of Don

• 2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xLab
• 2012: 2xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLab
• 2007-2012 Change: SNP and Independent gain one seat from Lib Dem

Bridge of Don - 4 seats

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
	Independent	John Reynolds (incumbent)	28.0%	1,530
	SNP	Muriel Jaffrey (incumbent)	20.5%	1,119
	Labour	Willie Young (incumbent)	18.8%	1,031	1,085.9	1,087	1,112.5
	SNP	Sandy Stuart	9.5%	520	559.5	570.9	576.8	578.5	595.6	612.5	985.5	1,107.2
	SNP	Graham Bennett	7.2%	396	418.2	425.3	433.9	434.8	449.4	465.1
	Liberal Democrats	Millie McLeod	6.2%	338	412.8	414.1	436.1	438.7	498.4	640.7	660.3
	Conservative	Francis Davidson Webster	6.1%	333	360.3	360.5	364.3	365.2	385.1
	Independent	Gordon A. Leslie (incumbent)	2.0%	107	217.6	218.5	238.4	241
	Scottish Green	Daniel Kenneth Juett	1.8%	97	107.2	107.5
Electorate: 14,188   Valid: 5,471   Spoilt: 68   Quota: 1,095   Turnout: 5,539 (38.56%)

Kingswells/Sheddocksley

• 2007: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab
• 2012: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab
• 2007-2012: No change

Kingswells/Sheddocksley - 3 seats

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
	SNP	David John Cameron	24.9%	928	936
	Liberal Democrats	Steve Delaney	21.5%	802	803	803.2	812.2	828.2	950.2
	Labour	Len Ironside (incumbent)	18.1%	675	677	677.2	679.2	700.2	719.2	723.7	798.5	1,259.3
	Labour	Jason Butcher	13.4%	499	503	503.3	507.3	516.3	532.3	534.5	576.4
	SNP	Wendy Alison Stuart (incumbent)	10.1%	375	381	383.9	392.9	409.9	428	431.1
	Conservative	Steve Robertson	6.9%	256	257	257.1	270.1	280.1
	Independent	Barry James Thomson	2.2%	83	89	89	105
	UKIP	Philip Clarke	1.6%	58	64	64.1
	National Front	Dave MacDonald	1.4%	51
Electorate: 3,798   Valid: 3,727   Spoilt: 71   Quota: 932   Turnout: (35.08%)

Northfield

• 2007: 2xSNP; 1xLab
• 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
• 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from SNP

Northfield - 3 seats

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6
	SNP	Jackie Dunbar (incumbent)	34.2%	1,314
	Labour	Gordon Graham (incumbent)	22.9%	879	893.5	911.5	924.3	945.3	1,079.3
	Labour	Scott Carle	22.6%	869	886.1	892.1	910.9	934.2	1,089.5
	SNP	Paula Helen Mann	13.9%	535	831.5	847.3	860.5	877
	Conservative	George Ross	2.3%	90	91.1	98.1	114.6
	National Front	Christopher Sean Willett	2.1%	80	81.3
	Liberal Democrats	David Evans	2.1%	79	84.4	85.6
Electorate: 11,419   Valid: 3,846   Spoilt: 128   Quota: 962   Turnout: 3,974 (33.68%)

Hilton/Stockethill

• 2007: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xLib Dem
• 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
• 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem

Hilton/Stockethill - 3 seats

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
	Labour	George Adam (incumbent)	37.8%	1,421
	SNP	Kirsty Blackman (incumbent)†††††	21.9%	823	851.1	857.4	861.8	870.8	890.8	934.5	934.8	960.2
	SNP	John Lind	13.6%	512	522.5	525.5	527.5	536.8	545.8	561.5	577.9	587.9	602.5
	Labour	Lesley Dunbar	7.2%	271	628.8	635.1	641.5	657.5	683.9	708.2	756.7	797.1	798.9	918.8
	Conservative	Aric Gilinsky	5.4%	203	206.7	210.7	212.7	216.7	221.7	237.4	272.4
	Liberal Democrats	Brian Dean	3.9%	145	161.6	165.3	166.3	172.9	196.9	213.3
	Independent	David Page Henderson	2.7%	101	108.8	109.8	121.1	161.5	177.8
	Scottish Green	Elva Hills	2.6%	99	102	107	117.7	125.4
	Independent	Archibald Robertson	2.3%	87	97.5	100.8	113.5
	Independent	Douglas James Thomson	1.5%	55	58	59
	National Front	Claire Emma O'Rourke	1.1%	41	42.7
Electorate: 10,254   Valid: 3,758   Spoilt: 315   Quota: 940   Turnout: 4,073 (36.65%)

Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen

• 2007: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xLib Dem
• 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
• 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem

Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen - 3 seats

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
	Labour	Ross Grant	30.4%	846
	SNP	Jim Noble (incumbent)	25.5%	710
	Labour	Ramsay Milne	14.1%	392	513	513.6	516.9	527.7	560.5	614.4	724.4
	SNP	Mike Park	7.8%	218	224.6	237.6	241.7	250.9	268.9	304.2	350.4
	Scottish Green	Gina Ford	6.4%	179	182.4	182.6	185.6	199.8	244.4	290.9
	Independent	Norman Collie (incumbent)	5.8%	161	164.7	165	169	188.2
	Liberal Democrats	David Green	4.6%	129	133.5	133.7	133.7	171.8
	Conservative	Daniel Stephen McCroskrie	4.3%	119	121.1	121.2	123.2
	National Front	Mike Phillips	0.9%	25	25.9	25.9
Electorate: 12,655   Valid: 2,779   Spoilt: 92   Quota: 695   Turnout: 2,871 (21.96%)

Midstocket/Rosemount

• 2007: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab;
• 2012: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
• 2007-2012 Change: No change = Cons regain seat lost in by-election Aug 2007

Midstocket/Rosemount - 3 seats

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7
	Labour	Jenny Laing (incumbent)††	32.4%	1,247
	SNP	Bill Cormie (incumbent)	32.1%	1,233
	Conservative	Fraser Forsyth†††	13.8%	531	555.7	579.9	600.2	686.1	751.7	867.6
	SNP	Iolanda Serci	6.9%	264	292.8	458.5	468.2	498.2	580.9
	Scottish Green	John Laing McCallum	6.4%	245	315.8	333.9	360.7	461.3
	Liberal Democrats	William Sell	6.4%	245	282.3	299.2	321.5
	Independent	Patrick McGuire	2.1%	82	102.8	112.2
Electorate: 3,895   Valid: 3,847   Spoilt: 48   Quota: 962   Turnout: (33.38%)

George Street/Harbour

• 2007: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xLib Dem
• 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
• 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem

George Street/Harbour - 3 seats

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
	SNP	Andrew May (incumbent)††††††	25.3%	672
	Labour	Jean Morrison	17.2%	456	456.5	457.5	457.5	458.5	475.5	521.5	534.9	597	710.2
	Labour	Nathan Morrison	14.3%	381	381.3	382.3	385.3	386.3	391.3	414.3	443.8	494.8	570.9
	Liberal Democrats	Kris Chapman	9.9%	262	262.2	262.2	263.2	265.2	328.2	383.2	419.8	464.9
	SNP	James Wiseman West	8.4%	224	229.3	230.3	237.3	238.3	248.3	268.4
	Independent	Jim Hunter (incumbent)	8.4%	222	222.2	224.2	228.2	244.2	266.2	296.2	327.7
	Scottish Green	Richie Brian	7.3%	194	194.2	195.2	197.2	203.2	217.2
	Conservative	Brian George Davidson	6.7%	178	178.1	179.1	179.1	181.1
	National Front	Ross Alexander Willett	1.1%	29	29	29
	Independent	Andrew Lovie	0.9%	26	26	32	33
	Independent	Andy Rudgely	0.5%	14	14
Electorate: 12,991   Valid: 2,658   Spoilt: 76   Quota: 665   Turnout: 2,734 (20.46%)

Lower Deeside

• 2007: 1xLib Dem; 1xCon; 1xIndependent
• 2012: 1xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab
• 2007-2012 Change: Lab gain one seat from Con

Lower Deeside - 3 seats

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6
	Independent	Marie Boulton (incumbent)	30.7%	1,520
	Liberal Democrats	Aileen Malone (incumbent)	15.3%	755	814.2	823.4	992.7	1,140.9	1,539.9
	Labour	M. Tauqeer Malik	15.0%	744	779	789.4	841.2	1,007.5	1,068.9
	Conservative	Raymond Murchie	14.4%	712	741.4	754.5	881.8	950.2
	SNP	Dorothy Janet McCaig	13.3%	659	677.4	684.9	739.4
	Independent	Peter Reiss	9.9%	490	568.6	621.3
	Independent	Andy Anderson	1.3%	64	94.7
Electorate: 11,301   Valid: 4,944   Spoilt: 33   Quota: 1,237   Turnout: 4,977 (43.75%)

Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross

• 2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xCon; 1xSNP
• 2012: 2xLib Dem; 1xCon; 1xSNP
• 2007-2012 Change: No change

Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross - 4 seats

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
	Liberal Democrats	Jennifer Stewart (incumbent)	25.5%	1,498
	Liberal Democrats	Martin Greig (incumbent)	23.8%	1,399
	Conservative	Ross Thomson	15.3%	899	962.9	1,005.7	1,012.9	1,017.2	1,186.1
	Labour	Sandra MacDonald	12.5%	738	777.9	805.6	864.1	873.6	922.3	923.3
	SNP	John Munro Corall *	10.8%	634	654.6	667.1	691.4	931.6	975.2	975.8	1,139.5
	Independent	Jim Farquharson (incumbent)	5.6%	328	379.6	414.9	439.6	441.4
	SNP	Stephen Mark Flynn	4.2%	248	262.8	269.1	274
	Scottish Green	Peter Alexander Kennedy	2.4%	140	158.6	173.6
Electorate: 13,658   Valid: 5,884   Spoilt: 65   Quota: 1,177   Turnout: 5,949 (43.08%)

• = Outgoing Councillor from a different Ward.

Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee

• 2007: 2xLib Dem; 1xCon
• 2012: 1xLib Dem; 1xLab; 1xSNP
• 2007-2012 Change: SNP and Lab gain one seat from Lib Dem and Con

Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee - 3 seats

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4
	Liberal Democrats	Ian Yuill (incumbent)	34.0%	1,626
	Labour	Angela Taylor	22.4%	1,073	1,157.6	1,193.9	1,260.9
	SNP	Gordon Scott Townson (incumbent)	22.3%	1,065	1,139	1,164.9	1,222.6
	Conservative	Bill Berry	15.2%	728	843	871.3	896.7
	Scottish Green	Bex Holmes	3.1%	149	182.3	221.6
	Independent	Paul Briggs	2.9%	140	166.4
Electorate: 11,858   Valid: 4,781   Spoilt: 47   Quota: 1,196   Turnout: 4,828 (40.32%)

Torry/Ferryhill

• 2007: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xLib Dem; 1xCon
• 2012: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
• 2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem

Torry/Ferryhill - 4 seats

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
	Labour	Yvonne Allan (incumbent)	26.4%	1,134
	SNP	Graham Robert Dickson	16.5%	706	726.2	726.2	729.4	734.2	741.7	755.1	768.6	804.4	862.1
	Conservative	Alan Donnelly (incumbent)†	15.3%	657	663.8	663.8	667.8	677.1	684.8	690.8	715.3	819.5	890.5
	SNP	Jim Kiddie (incumbent)	14.4%	619	631.7	631.7	634.7	640.1	649.6	667.6	692.6	730.1	797.8
	Labour	Kathryn Russell	8.0%	345	523.6	524.6	527.4	531.3	548.3	575.4	610.4	704.5
	Liberal Democrats	Richard Robertson *	7.7%	331	335.9	335.9	335.9	340.9	346.4	376.3	400.8
	Independent	David Fryer	3.9%	169	173.9	177.1	177.1	197.6	234.5	257
	Scottish Green	Andrew Reekie	3.1%	131	137.3	139.6	139.8	139.8	154.3
	Independent	Suzanne Kelly	2.1%	91	101.2	108.2	111.2	124.9
	Independent	William Brown	1.4%	61	67.3	71.3	72.3
	National Front	Billy Watson	0.5%	23	24.9	24.9
	Independent	Hamish Hay MacKay	0.5%	21	21.5
Electorate: 14,625   Valid: 4,288   Spoilt: 118   Quota: 858   Turnout: 4,406 (29.32%)

• = Outgoing Councillor from a different Ward.

Kincorth/Loirston

• 2007: 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xLab
• 2012: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
• 2007-2012 Change: Independent gain one seat from Lib Dem

Kincorth/Loirston - 3 seats

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7
	SNP	Callum McCaig (incumbent)††††	34.1%	1,389
	Labour	Neil Cooney (incumbent)	30.7%	1,250
	Independent	Andrew William Finlayson	11.6%	471	542.3	554.6	630.2	688.3	860.9	1,066.7
	Liberal Democrats	Kate Dean (incumbent)	8.1%	331	372.9	382.9	403.2	468.8
	Labour	Eleanor Morrison	7.1%	291	366.3	544.3	560.7	589.8	681.9
	Conservative	Alan Martin	5.4%	219	234.2	237	240.6
	Independent	Neale Bothwell	2.9%	120	140	144.5
Electorate: 11,848   Valid: 4,071   Spoilt: 78   Quota: 1,018   Turnout: 4,149 (34.36%)

References

1. Peck, Tom (20 April 2012). "Woman arrested after entering mannequin into council elections". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2012.

https://web.archive.org/web/20120508053322/http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/council_government/councillors/elections_unit/election_results_2012.asp

Post-Election Changes

• † 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 sat as an Independent He announced his future resignation on 24 June 2015 as he would be moving with his family to York and formally resigned his seat on 30 July 2015. A by-election was held on 1 October 2015 and the by-election was won by the SNP's Alex Nicoll.
• †††† On 11 May 2015, Kincorth/Loirston SNP Cllr Callum McCaig resigned his seat on the council to concentrate on his duties as MP for Aberdeen South. A by-election was held on 30 July 2015 and it was won by the SNP's Stephen Flynn.
• †††††On 11 May 2015, Hilton/Stockethill SNP Cllr Kirsty Blackman resigned her seat on the council to concentrate on her duties as MP for Aberdeen North. A by-election was held on 30 July 2015 and it was won by the SNP's Neil Copeland.
• †††††† On 28 May 2015, George Street/Harbour SNP Cllr Andrew May announced he would resign his seat on the council in July 2015. A by-election was held on 1 October 2015 and the seat was held by the SNP's Michael Hutchison.

By-election since 2012

Hilton/Woodside/Stockethill By-election (30 July 2015) - 1 Seat^[1]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1
	SNP	Neil Copland	54.5%	1,690
	Labour	Charlie Pirie	24.9%	771
	Conservative	Roy Alastair Begg	11.3%	350
	Scottish Green	Peter Kennedy	4.2%	130
	Liberal Democrats	Jonathan Waddell	4.1%	125
Electorate: 12,050   Valid: 3,099   Spoilt: 33   Quota: 1,534   Turnout: 3,132 (25.7%)

Kincorth/Nigg/Cove By-election (30 July 2015) - 1 Seat^[2]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1
	SNP	Stephen Flynn	60.5%	1,939
	Labour	Donna Clark	18.9%	606
	Conservative	Philip Patrick Sellar	9.8%	313
	Liberal Democrats	Ken McLeod	6.5%	207
	Scottish Green	Dan Yeats	3.6%	114
Electorate: 12,693   Valid: 3,205   Spoilt: 26   Quota: 1,590   Turnout: 3,231 (25.3%)

Midstocket/Rosemount By-election (1 October 2015) - 1 Seat^[3]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4
	SNP	Alex Nicoll	40.9%	1,168	1,225	1,275	1,433
	Conservative	Tom Mason	23.6%	672	687	771	927
	Labour	Howard Gemmell	21.2%	605	629	692
	Liberal Democrats	Ken McLeod	8.3%	238	270
	Scottish Green	Jennifer Phillips	6.0%	170
Electorate: 11,825   Valid: 2,853   Spoilt: 19   Quota: 1,427   Turnout: 2,872 (24.29%)

George Street/Harbour By-election (1 October 2015) - 1 Seat^[3]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1
	SNP	Michael Hutchison	51.2%	961
	Labour	Mike Scott	26.1%	490
	Conservative	Brian Davidson	10.4%	195
	Scottish Green	Alex Jarvis	7.2%	136
	Liberal Democrats	Euan Davidson	5.1%	96
Electorate: 12,179   Valid: 1,878   Spoilt: 20   Quota: 940   Turnout: 1,898 (15.58%)

1. "Local Government By-Election – 30 July 2015". aberdeencity.gov.uk. 31 July 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
2. "Local Government By-Election – 30 July 2015". aberdeencity.gov.uk. 31 July 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
3. "Local Government By-Elections Aberdeen City Council Notice of Poll and Statement of Persons Nominated". aberdeencity.gov.uk. 31 August 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.