Council Election Results
3rd May 2012
The results of The Highland Council elections resulted in the Independents securing 35 seats; Scottish National Party, 22, Liberal Democrat 15, and Labour 8.
In Caithness the elected councillors are -
Ward 2 - Thurso
Donnie Mackay - Independent
John S. Rosie - Independent
Roger Saxon Scottish Labour Party
Ward 3 - Wick
Bill Fernie - Independent
Neil MacDonald - Scottish Labour Party
Gail Elizabeth Ross Scottish National Party (SNP)
Ward 4 - Landward Caithness
David Bremner - Independent
Robert Coghill - Independent
A.I. Willie Mackay - Independent
Alex MacLeod - Scottish National Party (SNP)
The first meeting of the new Council will be held on Thursday 17 May when the office-bearers will be confirmed.
The average turn out across the 22 wards was 41%. The highest turn out was 51.92 per cent at Black Isle Ward, where the four councillors were all returned. 66% return on postal votes.
A total of 13 councillors did not seek re-election and they were -
Caithness: David Flear (13 years service), Lady Thurso (Marion) (five years).
Sutherland: Ian Ross (13 years)
Ross and Cromarty: Jean Urquhart (9 years)
Skye and Lochalsh: John Laing (9 years)
Inverness: Peter Corbett (13 years), David Henderson (6 years), John Finnie (five years), Roy Pederson (five years)
Nairn: Sandy Park (17 years)
Badenoch and Strathspey: Stuart Black (17 years).
Lochaber: Michael Foxley (26 years), Donald Cameron (five years)
8 lost their seats. They were Councillors Robbie Rowantree (Lib Dem), East Sutherland and Edderton; , Graeme Smith (Ind Members Group), Wick; Richard Durham (Ind) Tain and Easter Ross; Peter Cairns (SNP) Dingwall and Seaforth; David Chisholm (Ind Members Group) Dingwall and Seaforth; Pauline Munro (SNP) Inverness; Bob Wynd (SNP) Culloden and Ardersier; Graham Marsden (Lib Dem) Nairn.
The 21 new councillors include the youngest councillor to serve on the Council from May 2012 - 19-year-old Alex MacLeod (SNP), Landward Caithness.
The other new councillors are: Hugh Morrison (Ind), North West and Central Sutherland; Roger Saxon (Lab), Thurso; Neil MacDonald (Lab), Wick; Graham Philips (SNP), East Sutherland and Edderton; Ian Cockburn (SNP), Wester Ross Strathpeffer and Lochalsh; Jamie Stone (Lib Dem), Tain and Easter Ross; Graham Mackenzie (SNP), Dingwall and Seaforth), Alister Mackinnon (Ind), Dingwall and Seaforth; John Gordon (Ind), Eilean a'Cheo.
Allan Duffy (SNP), Inverness West; Graham Ross (Ind), Inverness West; Richard Laird (SNP), Inverness Central; Jean Slater (SNP), Inverness Ness-side; Kate Stephen (Lib Dem), Culloden and Ardersier; Michael Green (Ind), Nairn; Colin MacAulay (SNP), Nairn; Ken Gowans (SNP), Inverness South; Bill Lobban (SNP), Badenoch and Strathspey; Thomas MacLennan (Ind) Fort William and Ardnamurchan.
There are 59 male and 21 female members on the council.
The full list of Highland councillors and groupings are -
2012 Independents (35)
Roddy Balfour - Culloden and Ardersier
Billy Barclay - Black Isle
Andrew Baxter - Fort William and Ardnamurchan
David Bremner - Landward Caithness
Janet Campbell - Inverness Central
Helen Carmichael - Aird and Loch Ness
Bill Clark - Caol and Mallaig
Robert Coghill - Landward Caithness
Jim Crawford - Inverness South
Margaret Davidson - Aird and Loch Ness
Norrie Donald - Inverness Ness-side
Jaci Douglas - Badenoch and Strathspey
Bill Fernie - Wick
Mike Finlayson - Cromarty Firth
Hamish Fraser - Skye
Laurie Fraser - Nairn
John Gordon - Skye
Michael Green - Nairn
Richard Greene - Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh
Allan Henderson - Caol and Mallaig
Eddie Hunter - Caol and Mallaig
Thomas MacLennan - Fort William and Aird
Donnie Mackay - Thurso
Willie Mackay - Landward Caithness
Alister Mackinnon - Dingwall and Seaforth
Isobel McCallum - Black Isle
Jim McGillivray - East Sutherland and Edderton
Hugh Morrison - North West and Central Sutherland
Margaret Paterson - Dingwall and Seaforth
Alasdair Rhind - Tain and East Ross
Fiona Robertson - Tain and East Ross
John Rosie - Thurso
Graham Ross - Inverness West
Audrey Sinclair - Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh
Carolyn Wilson - Cromarty Firth
2012 SNP (22)
Ian Brown - Inverness Millburn
Ian Cockburn - Inverness South
Alan Duffy - Inverness West
David Fallows - Badenoch and Strathspey
George Farlow - North West and Central Sutherland
Craig Fraser - Black Isle
Bren Gormley - Fort William and Aird
Ken Gowans - Inverness South
Drew Hendry - Aird and Loch Ness
Donnie Kerr - Inverness Central
Richard Laird - Inverness Central
Bill Lobban - Badenoch and Strathspey
Colin Macaulay - Nairn
Liz MacDonald - Nairn
Alex McLeod - Landward Caithness
Graham Mackenzie - Dingwall and Seaforth
Graham Phillips - East Sutherland and Edderton
Ian Renwick - Skye
Gail Ross - Wick
Glynis Sinclair - Culloden and Aird
Jean Slater - Inverness Ness-side
Maxine Smith - Cromarty Firth
Lib Dems (15)
David Alston - Black Isle
Carolyn Caddick - Inverness South
Biz Campbell - Wester Ross, Strathfeffer and Lochalsh
Alasdair Christie - Inverness Ness-side
Alex Graham - Inverness West
Angela McLean - Dingwall and Seaforth
Kenneth McLeod - Inverness Millburn
Drew Miller - Skye
Linda Munro - North, West and Central Sutherland
Thomas Prag - Inverness South
Martin Rattray - Cromarty Firth
Gregor Rimell - Badenoch and Strathspey
Kate Stephen - Culloden and Ardersier
Jamie Stone - Tain and East Ross
Hamish Wood - Aird and Loch Ness
Labour (8)
John Ford - Culloden and Ardersier
Jimmy Gray - Inverness Millburn
Neil MacDonald - Wick
Deirdre Mackay - East Sutherland and Edderton
Bet Mcallister - Inverness Central
Brian Murphy - Fort William and Ardnamurchan
Fraser Parr - Inverness Ness-side
Roger Saxon - Thurso
Councillors by Ward - 2012
Ward 1 - North West and Central Sutherland
George Farlow - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Hugh Morrison - Independent
Linda Munro Scottish Liberal Democrats
Ward 2 - Thurso
Donnie Mackay - Independent
John S. Rosie - Independent
Roger Saxon Scottish Labour Party
Ward 3 - Wick
Bill Fernie - Independent
Neil MacDonald - Scottish Labour Party
Gail Elizabeth Ross Scottish National Party (SNP)
Ward 4 - Landward Caithness
David Bremner - Independent
Robert Coghill - Independent
A.I. Willie Mackay - Independent
Alex MacLeod - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Ward 5 - East Sutherland and Edderton
Deirdre Mackay - Scottish Labour Party
Jim McGillivray - Independent
Graham Phillips - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Ward 6 - Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh
Biz Campbell - Scottish Liberal Democrats
Ian Cockburn - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Richard Ian Greene - Independent
Audrey Sinclair - Independent
Ward 7 - Cromarty Firth
Mike Finlayson - Independent
Martin Rattray - Scottish Liberal Democrats
Maxine Smith - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Carolyn Anne Wilson - Independent
Ward 8 - Tain and Easter Ross
Alasdair Rhind - Independent
Fiona Robertson - Independent
Jamie Stone - Scottish Liberal Democrats
Ward 9 - Dingwall and Seaforth
Graham Alexander MacKenzie - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Alister Mackinnon - Independent
Angela MacLean - Scottish Liberal Democrats
Margaret Paterson - Independent
Ward 10 - Black Isle
David Alston - Scottish Liberal Democrats
Billy Barclay - Independent
Craig Alexander Fraser - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Isobel McCallum - Independent
Ward 11 - Eilean a' Cheò
Hamish Fraser - Independent
John R Gordon - Independent
Drew Millar - Scottish Liberal Democrats
Ian Renwick - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Ward 12 - Caol and Mallaig
Bill Clark - Independent
Allan Henderson - Independent
Eddie Hunter - Independent
Ward 13 - Aird and Loch Ness
Helen Carmichael - Independent
Margaret Christine Davidson - Independent
Drew Hendry - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Hamish Wood - Scottish Liberal Democrats
Ward 14 - Inverness West
Allan Duffy - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Alex Graham - Scottish Liberal Democrats
Graham Ross Independent
Ward 15 - Inverness Central
Janet Campbell - Independent
Donnie Kerr - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Richard Laird - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Bet McAllister - Scottish Labour Party
Ward 16 - Inverness Ness-side
Alasdair Christie - Scottish Liberal Democrats
Norrie Donald - Independent
Fraser Parr - Scottish Labour Party
Jean Nimmo Slater - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Ward 17 - Inverness Millburn
Ian George Brown - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Jimmy Gray - Scottish Labour Party
Ken MacLeod - Scottish Liberal Democrats
Ward 18 - Culloden and Ardersier
Roddy Balfour - Independent
John Ford - Scottish Labour Party
Glynis Sinclair - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Kate Stephen - Scottish Liberal Democrats
Ward 19 - Nairn
Laurie Richard Fraser - Independent
Michael Green - Independent
Colin John Macaulay - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Liz MacDonald - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Ward 20 - Inverness South
Carolyn Caddick - Scottish Liberal Democrats
Jim Crawford - Independent
Ken Gowans - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Thomas Prag - Scottish Liberal Democrats
Ward 21 - Badenoch and Strathspey
Jaci Douglas - Independent
David Fallows - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Bill Lobban - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Gregor Rimell - Scottish Liberal Democrats
Ward 22 - Fort William and Ardnamurchan
Andrew Phillip Baxter - Independent
Bren Gormley - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Thomas MacLennan - Independent
Brian Murphy - Scottish Labour Party
The above list is as it stands at election day but many changes can happen as can be seen by changes in the last council from 2007 -
On May 6, 2007, Badenoch and Strathspey Cllr Gregor Rimell became a Liberal Democrat and ceased to be an Independent
On October 26, 2007, Tain and Easter Ross Cllr Richard Durham became an Independent after leaving the Liberal Democrats
On December 12, 2007, Tain and Easter Ross Cllr Alan Torrance became a member of the Scottish National Party and ceased to be an Independent
On April 3, 2008, Landward Caithness Cllr David Bremner became an Independent, separate from the Administration, after being expelled from the Scottish National Party
In 2008, Wick Cllr Graeme Smith became a member of the Independent Members Group after leaving the Liberal Democrats
On March 13, 2009, North, West and Central Sutherland Cllr Linda Munro became a Liberal Democrat and ceased to be an Independent
On February 17, 2011 Inverness Central Cllr Janet Campbell became a member of the Independent Members Group after leaving the Liberal Democrats.
On February 17, 2011 Culloden and Ardersier Cllr Glynis Sinclair became an Independent after leaving the Liberal Democrats. She joined the Scottish National Party on May 24, 2011
In addition there were two small groups of independents created after they left the main independents group.
Bi-elections 2007 - 2011
On April 23, 2009 the Liberal Democrat's Alasdair Christie won a by-election which arose following the death of former Independent Councillor Jimmy MacDonald on January 31, 2009
On April 7, 2011 the SNP's Gail Elizabeth Ross won a by-election which arose following the resignation of Independent Councillor Katrina MacNab
On April 23, 2009 Independent Fiona Robertson won a by-election which arose following the death of SNP Councillor Alan Torrance
On November 3, 2011 the Liberal Democrat's Carolyn Caddick won a by-election which arose following the resignation of Labour Councillor John Holden
The councillors elected on 4th May 2012 will serve for 5 years and the next election will be in 2017.
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Yesterday
Council welcomes Visitor Levy flexibility plan
The Highland Council welcomes moves by the Scottish Government to introduce greater flexibility on how it could design a Visitor Levy Scheme for consultation. The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 currently provides local authorities with discretionary powers to implement percentage-based levies following statutory consultation.Yesterday
Highland Council is reaching out for views to shape its next 26/27 budget.
As it looks to set out its forthcoming priorities, the council is seeking involvement from members of the public, including businesses, community groups, parents, and young people. All their opinions are going to be crucial in deciding how Highland Council will take on its budget challenge for 2026-2027.Yesterday
Have your say in Thurso's future £100million investment by attending public consultation events
Thurso is to benefit from £100m investment in education and community facilities and are rolling out the first phase of public consultations on 9 and 10 December 2025. The Highland Council is inviting people that live, work, or study in Thurso, to come along to the public consultation events to have their say; this is an opportunity to help shape the future of Thurso, to gather views and ideas.2/12/2025
Finding new owners for empty homes - Scheme launched to help return more empty homes to active use
A new online portal has been launched to bring empty homeowners together with prospective buyers or developers with the aim of facilitating more properties to be used as homes again. Covering the whole of Scotland, this builds on the success of local pilots, referred to as "matchmaker schemes".1/12/2025
Consideration for short term let control area in Skye and Raasay
Steps towards introducing a short term let control area have been considered by Highland Council's Isle of Skye and Raasay area committee. On Monday (1 December 2025) the committee heard evidence to justify the grounds for the introduction of a Short Term Let Control Area covering all or part of Skye and Raasay.28/11/2025
Workforce North event spotlights Highland economy
EMPLOYERS and educators from across the Highlands have gathered to hear how a new initiative is aiming to transform the region's economy. Workforce North - A Call to Action brought together business leaders and teachers from primary and secondary schools from across the Highland Council area with a wide range of partners geared towards education, learning and skills development at Strathpeffer Pavillion.
27/11/2025
Council calls for meaningful engagement from Home Office Over 300 Asylum Seekers Being Sent to Inverness
The Highland Council continues to call for meaningful engagement from the Home Office over its plans to temporarily accommodate up to 300 adult male asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks, Inverness. It follows an email on Monday from Alex Norris MP, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, to Council Leader, Raymond Bremner, which failed to answer questions raised by the Council or address community concerns.27/11/2025
SSEN Transmission becomes first signatory to Highland Social Value Charter
SSEN Transmission has become the first company to sign up to the Highland Social Value Charter (HSVC), marking a significant milestone in delivering long-term socio-economic benefits for communities across the Highlands. Investment commitments from the company include funding for roads, new homes, jobs, and work for local contractors in addition to a local and regional fund for communities to apply to.25/11/2025
Wick - Aberdeen PSO - Update issued 24/11/2025
The Highland Council continues to work through the procurement process for the provision of the Wick Public Service Obligation for the Highland Council. We have now entered the preferred bidder stage and have entered a standstill period.25/11/2025
Highland Council winter road condition and school closure report for 25 November 2025
Maps of the Council's gritting routes by priority and policy are available online at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting (external link) The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Our Social Media
