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2017 Dumfries and Galloway Council election

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All 43 seats to Dumfries and Galloway Council 22 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Ian Carruthers Rob Davidson Elaine Murray Party Conservative SNP Labour Leader's seat Annandale South Abbey Nith Last election 14 seats, 26.6% 10 seats, 19.5% 15 seats, 29.3% Seats before 13 11 12 Seats won 16 11 11 Seat change 2 1 4 Popular vote 21,138 11,779 10,077 Percentage 38.7% 21.6% 18.5% Swing 12.1% 2.1% 10.9%   Fourth party Fifth party   Leader Jane Maitland Richard John Brodie Party Independent Liberal Democrats Leader's seat Dee and Glenkens Annandale South Last election 7 seats, 18.1% 1 seat, 4.0% Seats before 5 1 Seats won 4 1 Seat change 3 Popular vote 9,425 1,350 Percentage 17.3% 2.5% Swing 0.8% 1.5%
The 12 multi-member wards
Council Leader before election Ronnie Nicholson Labour Council Leader after election Elaine Murray Labour

The 2017 Dumfries and Galloway Council election took place on 4 May 2017 to elect members of Dumfries and Galloway Council. The election used the twelve 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 being elected, a reduction of 4 members and 1 ward since 2012.

Following the election the Conservative Party became the largest party, with Labour falling from first place into third place in terms of votes and seats. The SNP also drew with Labour in terms of seats as they both won 11 seats.

This election also saw Independent councillors Willie Scobie and Jane Maitland returned, but saw Marion McCutcheon, George Prentice, Tom McAughtrie, Yen Hongmei Jin, Denis Male and Craig Peacock all losing their seats. Elaine Murray, the former Labour MSP for Dumfriesshire was elected to the Council in the Nith ward.

Following the election, Ian Carruthers (Annandale South) was elected as the Conservative group leader, Rob Davidson (Abbey) as the SNP group leader and Elaine Murray (Nith) as the Labour group leader. Richard Brodie (Annandale South), is the sole Liberal Democrat councillor.

On 23 May, almost three weeks following the election, Labour and the SNP formed a coalition to form a majority council with Murray as council leader and Rob Davidson as depute leader and civic head. Although the Conservatives were elected the largest party with 16 seats, they remained in opposition.

Results

2017 Dumfries and Galloway Council election result

Party		Seats	Gains	Losses	Net gain/loss	Seats %	Votes %	Votes	+/−
	Conservative	16	2	0	2	37.2	38.7	21,138	12.1
	SNP	11	1	0	1	25.6	21.6	11,779	2.1
	Labour	11	0	4	4	25.6	18.5	10,077	10.9
	Independent	4	0	3	3	9.3	17.3	9,425	0.8
	Liberal Democrats	1	0	0		2.3	2.5	1,350	1.5
	Scottish Green	0	0	0		0.0	1.9	1,026	0.1
	Scottish Libertarian	0	0	0		0.0	0.2	118	New

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 3 May 2012. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

Ward results

Stranraer and the Rhins

• 2012: 1x Ind, 1x SNP, 1xLab
• 2017: 1x No description, 1x Con, 1x SNP, 1x Lab
• 2012-2017 Change: Conservative gain extra seat

Mid Galloway and Wigtown West

• 2017: 2x Con, 1x SNP, 1x Ind
• 2012-2017 Change: New ward

Dee and Glenkens

• 2017: 1x Con, 1x SNP, 1x Ind
• 2012-2017 Change: New ward

Castle Douglas and Crocketford

• 2017: 1x Con, 1x SNP, 1x Ind
• 2012-2017 Change: New ward

Abbey

• 2012: 2x Lab, 1x Con, 1x SNP
• 2017: 1x Con, 1x Lab, 1x SNP
• 2012-2017 Change: 1 less seat compared to 2012. Labour lose 1 seat.

North West Dumfries

• 2012: 2x Lab, 1x Con, 1x SNP
• 2017: 2x Lab, 1x Con, 1x SNP
• 2012-2017 Change: No Change

Mid and Upper Nithsdale

• 2012: 2x Lab, 1x Con, 1x SNP
• 2017: 1x Con, 1x Lab, 1x SNP
• 2012-2017 Change: 1 less seat compared to 2012. Labour lose 1 seat.

Lochar

• 2012: 2x Lab, 1x Con, 1x SNP
• 2017: 1x Lab, 2x Con, 1x SNP
• 2012-2017 Change: Con gain from Lab

Nith

• 2012: 2x Lab, 1x SNP, 1x Con
• 2017: 2x Lab, 1x SNP, 1x Con
• 2012-2017 Change: No Change

Annandale South

• 2012: 2x Lab, 1x Lib Dem, 1x Con
• 2017: 1x Con, 1x Lib Dem, 1x SNP, 1x Lab
• 2012-2017 Change: SNP gain from Lab

Annandale North

• 2012 Notional: 2x Con, 1x Lab, 1x SNP
• 2017: 2x Con, 1x Lab, 1x SNP
• 2012-2017 Change: No Change

Annandale East and Eskdale

• 2012: 2x Con, 1x Lab, 1X Ind
• 2017: 2x Con, 1x Lab
• 2012-2017 Change: 1 less seat compared to 2012. 1 Independent loss.

Aftermath

On 26 February 2019, Labour Cllr Ronnie Nicholson resigned from the party and became an Independent.

On 12 April 2019, Castle Douglas and Crocketford Conservative Cllr David James resigned from the party and became an Independent claiming the party avoided making policies.

On 5 July 2019, Mid and Upper Nithsdale SNP Cllr Andrew Wood resigned from the party and became an Independent. On 21 September 2020, Cllr. Wood announced that he had joined the Conservative party.

By-elections

Dee and Glenkens by-election

On 18 October 2018, Dee and Glenkens Conservative councillor Patsy Gilroy resigned her seat. She was appointed as Lord Lieutenant of the Stewartry by Her Majesty The Queen on 5 November 2018. A by-election was held on 13 December 2018. The seat was won by Pauline Drysdale of the Conservative party.

Mid Galloway and Wigtown West by-election

On 25 October 2019, Mid Galloway and Wigtown West Conservative Cllr Graham Nicol died suddenly. A by-election was held on the 23 January 2020. The seat was won by Jackie McCamon of the Conservative party.

References

1. Findlay, Nicola (26 February 2019). "Former Council leader quits over teacher cuts". bbc.co.uk.
2. Findlay, Nicola (12 April 2019). "Castle Douglas Cllr resigns". dailyrecord.
3. "Former SNP stalwart switches to Conservatives over concerns about independence". 21 September 2020.
4. "Patsy Gilroy stands down as councillor". 18 October 2018.
5. "Queen appoints Lord-Lieutenant of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright".
6. "Dee and Glenkens By-Election".
7. "Ward 03 - Dee & Glenkens By-Election 13 December 2018" (PDF). dumgal.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
8. Nicol, Graham (7 November 2019). "Mid Galloway and Wigtown West Cllr dies". www.bbc.co.uk.

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