Location of the ward
Location of the ward [1]

Aird and Loch Ness is one of the 21 wards used to elect members of the Highland Council. It includes Loch Ness, the town of Beauly, and the village of Fort Augustus. It elects four Councillors.

Councillors

Election Councillors
2007 Margaret Davidson
(Ind.)		 Helen Carmichael
(Ind.)		 Drew Hendry
(SNP)		 Hamish Wood
(Liberal Democrats)
2012
Oct 2015 Jean Davis
(Liberal Democrats)
2017 Emma Knox
(SNP)		 George Cruickshank
(Conservative)
Mar 2021 David Fraser
(Ind.)
2022 Helen Crawford
(Conservative)		 Chris Ballance
(Green)

Election Results

2022 election

Aird and Loch Ness - 4 seats[2]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
SNP Emma Knox (incumbent) 26.24% 1,364
Independent David Fraser (incumbent) 22.74% 1,182
Conservative Helen Crawford 21.14% 1,099
Scottish Green Chris Ballance 10.16% 528 706.1 727.9 730.0 783.0 924.5 1,165.0
Independent Aarron Duncan-MacLeod 8.27% 430 471.8 535.1 556.1 596.2 774.1
Liberal Democrats Holly Kingham 6.58% 342 369.3 385.5 398.3 523.1
Labour Michael Perera 4.87% 253 276.5 286.8 291.9
Electorate: 10,213   Valid: 5,198   Spoilt: 57   Quota: 1,040   Turnout: 51.5%  

    2021 by-election

    A by-election was originally scheduled to take place on 5 November 2020 to elect one councillor after the death of George Cruickshank. However, it was postponed to 11 March 2021.[3]

    Aird and Loch Ness By-election (11 March 2021) - 1 seat[4]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    123456
    Independent David Fraser 28.3% 997 1010 1076 1194 1663 2109
    SNP Gordon Shanks 28.2% 994 1010 1129 1198 1211  
    Conservative Gavin Berkenheger 23.4% 824 835 847 929    
    Liberal Democrats Martin Robertson 8.5% 300 335 397      
    Scottish Green Ryan MacKintosh 7.7% 272 297        
    Labour Bill Moore 3.8% 133          
    Electorate: 10,147   Valid: 3,520   Spoilt: 44   Quota: 1,761   Turnout: 3,564 (35.1%)  

      2017 Election

      Aird and Loch Ness - 4 seats[5]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      123456
      Independent Margaret Davidson (incumbent) 27.8% 1,405          
      Conservative George Cruickshank 19.7% 998 1,045.3        
      SNP Emma Knox 14.2% 719 734.1 734.3 842.07 1,270.6  
      Independent Helen Carmichael (incumbent) 12.4% 625 837.02 848.6 947.6 960.7 1,049.4
      Liberal Democrats Dr. Jean Davis (incumbent) 10.2% 515 558.6 568.1 654.5 671.2 714.9
      SNP Matt Friess 8.08% 409 424.9 425.3 491.8    
      Scottish Green Chris Ballance 7.7% 388 411.8 413.5      
      Electorate: between 9,735 and 9,752   Valid: 5,059   Spoilt: 66   Quota: 1,012   Turnout: 5,125 (52.6%)  

        2015 by-election

        A by-election was triggered by the resignation of Drew Hendry in July 2015, following his election as an MP.[6]

        Aird and Loch Ness By-election (8 October 2015) - 1 Seat[7]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        1234
        Liberal Democrats Jean Mary Elizabeth Davis 33.5% 1,029 1,099 1,208 1,511
        SNP Emma Ann Knox 32.5% 1,000 1,097 1,144 1,167
        Conservative George Cruickshank 15.2% 467 480 544  
        Independent Zofia Fraser 9.5% 293 330    
        Scottish Green Vikki Tania Trelfer 9.3% 287      
        Electorate: 9,584   Valid: 3,076   Spoilt: 24   Quota: 1,538   Turnout: 3,100 (32.35%)  

          2012 Election

          Aird and Loch Ness - 4 seats
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          12345678
          Independent Margaret Davidson (incumbent) 36.94% 1,194              
          SNP Drew Hendry (incumbent) 20.77% 840              
          Independent Helen Carmichael (incumbent) 16.3% 659 894.4            
          Liberal Democrats Hamish Wood (incumbent) 12.31% 498 546 575.4 579 585.9 652.4 768 858.1
          SNP Robert Stewart 7.1% 287 314.1 322.7 345.3 358.5 387 413.2  
          Conservative George Cruickshank 6.89% 279 297.4 307.4 307.9 335.8 351.9    
          Labour Mike Robb 5.46% 221 234.2 242.1 243.3 246.2      
          UKIP Fred Pidcock 1.63% 66 72.1 75.8 76.3        
          Electorate: 8,999   Valid: 4,044   Spoilt: 56   Quota: 809   Turnout: 4,100 (45.56%)  

            2007 Election

            The Highland Council election, 2007: Aird and Loch Ness
            Party Candidate 1st Pref  % Seat Count
            Independent Margaret Davidson 1,215 24.6 1 1
            Independent Helen Carmichael 1,125 22.8 2 1
            SNP Drew Hendry 892 18.1 3 5
            Liberal Democrats Hamish Wood 550 11.1 4 8
            Conservative Margaret Chown 355 7.2
            Independent John Martin 322 6.5
            Labour Andrew MacKintosh 292 5.9
            Independent Alexander Nicol 192 3.9

            2003 Election

            Prior to 2007, council elections used single member wards with a first-past-the-post voting system. The current boundaries for Aird and Loch Ness mainly include the 1999-2007 wards of Loch Ness West, Loch Ness East, Beauly and Strathglass and Kirkhill. A large part of the old Inverness West ward is also included. Seven other old wards overlap with Aird and Loch Ness, but the vast majority of their areas lie outside the present boundary.[8]

            Wards almost entirely contained within Aird and Loch Ness

            The Highland Council election, 2003: Beauly and Strathglass[9]
            Party Candidate Votes % ±%
            Independent Garry Coutts (incumbent) 555 50.3 Decrease 5.7
            Independent Helen Carmichael 549 49.7 New
            Majority 9 0.8 Decrease 11.2
            Turnout Unknown 56.6 Decrease 10.1
            The Highland Council election, 2003: Kirkhill[9]
            Party Candidate Votes % ±%
            Independent Jack Shiels (incumbent) 572 44.3 Decrease 16.1
            Independent Graham Cross 407 31.5 New
            Independent Hamish Wood 312 24.2 New
            Majority 165 12.8 Decrease 7.9
            Turnout Unknown 52.6 Decrease 8.8
            The Highland Council election, 2003: Loch Ness West[9]
            Party Candidate Votes % ±%
            Independent Margaret Davidson (incumbent) Unopposed
            The Highland Council election, 2003: Loch Ness East[9]
            Party Candidate Votes % ±%
            Independent Ella MacRae (incumbent) Unopposed

            Wards with a significant portion in Aird and Loch Ness

            The Highland Council election, 2003: Inverness West[9]
            Party Candidate Votes % ±%
            Independent Ronald Lyon (incumbent) 546 66.1 Increase 5.1
            Independent Joan Stewart 280 33.9 New
            Majority 266 32.2 Increase 10.1
            Turnout Unknown 41.9 Decrease 12.7

            1999 Election

            Prior to 2007, council elections used single member wards with a first-past-the-post voting system. The current boundaries for Aird and Loch Ness mainly include the 1999-2007 wards of Loch Ness West, Loch Ness East, Beauly and Strathglass and Kirkhill. A large part of the old Inverness West ward is also included. Seven other old wards overlap with Aird and Loch Ness, but the vast majority of their areas lie outside the present boundary.[8]

            Wards almost entirely contained within Aird and Loch Ness

            The Highland Council election, 1999: Beauly and Strathglass[10]
            Party Candidate Votes %
            Independent Garry Coutts 734 56.0
            Independent John Sellar 577 44.0
            Majority 157 12.0
            Turnout Unknown 66.7
            The Highland Council election, 1999: Kirkhill[10]
            Party Candidate Votes %
            Independent Jack Shiels (incumbent)¹ 906 60.4
            Independent Molly Doyle 595 39.6
            Majority 311 20.7
            Turnout Unknown 61.4

            ¹For previous Kirkhill ward boundary

            The Highland Council election, 1999: Loch Ness West[10]
            Party Candidate Votes %
            Independent Margaret Davidson (incumbent)² 1,018 67.8
            Independent Patrick Paterson 483 32.2
            Majority 535 35.6
            Turnout Unknown 70.5

            ²For Drumnadrochit ward

            The Highland Council election, 1999: Loch Ness East[10]
            Party Candidate Votes %
            Independent Ella MacRae (incumbent)³ Unopposed

            ³For East Loch Ness ward

            Wards with a significant portion in Aird and Loch Ness

            The Highland Council election, 1999: Inverness West[10]
            Party Candidate Votes %
            Independent Ronald Lyon 708 61.0
            Labour Debra Lake 452 39.0
            Majority 256 22.1
            Turnout Unknown 54.6

            1995 Election

            Prior to 2007, council elections used single member wards with a first-past-the-post voting system. The current boundaries for Aird and Loch Ness mainly include the 1995 wards of Beauly, Drumnadrochit, Kirkhill, Fort Augustus and East Loch Ness. Large parts of the Scorguie and Strathnairn and Strathdearn wards are also included. Five other old wards overlap with Aird and Loch Ness, but the vast majority of their areas lie outside the present boundary.[8]

            Wards almost entirely contained within Aird and Loch Ness

            The Highland Council election, 1995: East Loch Ness[11]
            Party Candidate Votes %
            Independent E MacRae 483 72.4
            SNP LA MacRae 184 27.6
            Majority 299 44.8
            Turnout Unknown 42.9
            The Highland Council election, 1995: Fort Augustus[11]
            Party Candidate Votes %
            Independent PC Paterson 415 38.0
            Independent HM Cary 290 26.5
            Independent AW MacKenzie 217 19.9
            SNP PJ Findlay 171 15.6
            Majority 125 11.4
            Turnout Unknown 63.3
            The Highland Council election, 1995: Drumnadrochit[11]
            Party Candidate Votes %
            Independent MC Davidson 251 51.5
            SNP AK MacPherson 236 48.5
            Majority 15 3.1
            Turnout Unknown 36.8
            The Highland Council election, 1995: Beauly[11]
            Party Candidate Votes %
            SNP JS Munro 611 67.3
            Independent JA Sellar 297 32.7
            Majority 314 34.6
            Turnout Unknown 55.1
            The Highland Council election, 1995: Kirkhill[11]
            Party Candidate Votes %
            Independent SJ Shiels 360 46.7
            Independent M Doyle 263 34.1
            Conservative CF Spencer-Nairn 148 19.2
            Majority 97 12.6
            Turnout Unknown 41.6

            Wards with a significant portion in Aird and Loch Ness

            The Highland Council election, 1995: Scorguie[11]
            Party Candidate Votes %
            Labour JT MacDonald 639 61.2
            Liberal Democrats RJ Mackay 237 22.7
            SNP S MacKenzie 168 16.1
            Majority 402 38.5
            Turnout Unknown 34.4
            The Highland Council election, 1995: Strathnairn and Strathdearn[11]
            Party Candidate Votes %
            Independent KG Matheson 443 51.3
            SNP DA Cunningham 253 29.3
            Independent CM Thomson 167 19.4
            Majority 190 22.0
            Turnout Unknown 45.7

            References

            1. ↑ "Scottish Boundary Commission | he Boundary Commission for Scotland is responsible for reviews of UK Parliament constituencies in Scotland".
            2. ↑ "2022 Local Government elections results". The Highland Council. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
            3. ↑ Smart, Joanna. "Local Government by-elections". www.highland.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
            4. ↑ "Ward 12 Aird and Loch Ness By-Election Results 2021". The Highland Council. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
            5. ↑ "2017 council election Ward 12 Aird and Loch Ness". The Highland Council. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
            6. ↑ Ramage, Iain (13 July 2015). "Drew Hendry steps down, triggering Highland by-election". Press and Journal. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
            7. ↑ "Ward 13 - Aird and Loch Ness By-election - Thursday 8 October 2015". highland.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 16 November 2015.
            8. 1 2 3 "Boundary Maps". Boundaries Scotland. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
            9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Scottish Council Elections 2003" (PDF). The Elections Centre. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
            10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Scottish Council Elections 1999" (PDF). The Elections Centre. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
            11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Scottish Council Elections 1995" (PDF). The Elections Centre. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
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