2003 Highland Council election
1 May 2003 (2003-05-01)
All 80 seats to Highland Council
41 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
  Blank Blank Blank
Party Independent Liberal Democrats Labour
Last election 49 seats, 57.39% 12 seats, 10.62% 10 seats, 15.4%
Seats won 57 9 8
Seat change Increase8 Decrease3 Decrease2
Popular vote 45,405 3,986 7,536
Percentage 69.6% 6.1% 11.6%
Swing Increase12.21% Decrease4.52% Decrease3.80%
  Fourth party
  Blank
Party SNP
Last election 8 seats, 12.39%
Seats won 6
Seat change Decrease2
Popular vote 6,664
Percentage 10.2%
Swing Decrease2.19%
Map showing results by ward
Council Convener before election

David Green
Independent

 Council Convener after election

Alison Magee
Independent

Elections to the Highland Council were held on 1 May 2003; the same day as elections to the Scottish Parliament and to the 31 other councils in Scotland. 80 councillors were elected from 80 wards using the plurality system (a.k.a. 'First Past the Post'). Independent councillors retained their status as the majority group, with councillors also being elected representing the Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, and Scottish National Party.

Overall result

The Highland Council elections, 2003
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Independent 57 11 4 +7 71.3 69.6 45,405 +12.21
  Liberal Democrats 9 2 5 −3 11.3 6.1 3,986 −4.52
  Labour 8 3 5 −2 10.0 11.6 7,536 −3.80
  SNP 6 1 3 −2 7.5 10.2 6,664 -2.19
  Conservative 0 0 0 0 — 1.2 799 −2.09
  Scottish Socialist 0 0 0 0 — 1.1 730 New
  Countryside 0 0 0 0 — 0.2 116 New

Caithness

The Highland Council election, 2003: Caithness North-West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Alastair MacDonald Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 2003: Thurso West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Eric Saxon 543
Independent James Fry 425
Majority 118
The Highland Council election, 2003: Thurso Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Donald Mackay 636
Labour John Rosie 527
Majority 109
The Highland Council election, 2003: Thurso East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Tom Jackson Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 2003: Caithness Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David Flear Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 2003: Caithness North-East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Green Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 2003: Wick
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Graeme Smith 536
Labour Bill Mowat 242
SNP Niall Smith 198
Majority 294
The Highland Council election, 2003: Wick West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Fernie 469
SNP James Sutherland 355
Labour Neil MacDonald 225
Majority 114
The Highland Council election, 2003: Pulteneytown
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Katrina MacNab 599
Labour Jim Oag 301
Majority 298
The Highland Council election, 2003: Caithness South-East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Mowat Unopposed

Sutherland

The Highland Council election, 2003: Sutherland North-West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Francis Keith 519
Independent John Forbes 442
Majority 77
The Highland Council election, 2003: Tongue and Farr
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Sandy Mackay 518
Liberal Democrats Barbara Jardine 376
Majority 142
The Highland Council election, 2003: Sutherland Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Alison Magee Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 2003: Golspie and Rogart
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ian Ross 912
Scottish Socialist Francis Ward 79
Majority 833
The Highland Council election, 2003: Brora
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Rita Finlayson 634
Independent Robbie Rowantree 602
Majority 32
The Highland Council election, 2003: Dornoch Firth
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Duncan Allan 826
Independent Gordon Campbell 339
Majority 487

Ross & Cromarty

The Highland Council election, 2003: Lochbroom
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Jean Urquhart 393
Independent Kenneth MacLeod 338
Labour Lauri Chilton 239
Majority 55
The Highland Council election, 2003: Alness and Ardross
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Andrew Anderson 961
Scottish Socialist Jean Cadden 88
Majority 873
The Highland Council election, 2003: Tain West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Alasdair Rhind 1,025
Scottish Socialist Sean Robertson 162
Majority 863
The Highland Council election, 2003: Tain East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Alan Torrance 540
Independent James Paterson 497
Majority 43
The Highland Council election, 2003: Seaboard
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Richard Durham 554
Independent Linda Bruce 232
SNP Andrew Currie 232
Majority 322
The Highland Council election, 2003: Invergordon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Connell 662
Independent Maxine Smith 251
Labour Lou Wilkerson 203
Majority 371
The Highland Council election, 2003: Rosskeen and Saltburn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Carolyn Wilson 900
Independent Dot MacLennan 292
Majority 608
The Highland Council election, 2003: Gairloch
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Roy Macintyre 601
Labour Co-op Christine Conniff 351
Majority 250
The Highland Council election, 2003: Lochcarron
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ewan Mackinnon 746
Countryside Neveille-Suzanette MacDonald-Rolfe 116
Majority 630
The Highland Council election, 2003: Ferindonald
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Val MacIver 531
Independent Mike Finlayson 492
Independent Dennis Dunbar 173
Majority 39
The Highland Council election, 2003: Strathpeffer and Strathconon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Douglas Briggs 812
Conservative John Scott 219
Majority
The Highland Council election, 2003: Dingwall South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Margaret Paterson 470
Labour Marilyn Ross 439
Majority 31
The Highland Council election, 2003: Dingwall North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael MacMillan 576
Independent Andrew Paterson 532
Majority 44
The Highland Council election, 2003: Muir of Ord
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Chisholm 806
Independent Tom Davis 380
Majority 426
The Highland Council election, 2003: Conon and Maryburgh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Angela MacLean 786
Independent David Philip 519
Majority 267
The Highland Council election, 2003: Knockbain and Killearnan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Isobel McCallum 980
Conservative Andrew Duncan 226
Majority 754
The Highland Council election, 2003: Black Isle North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Alston Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 2003: Avoch and Fortrose
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Billy Barclay 598
Independent Okain McLennan 584
Independent Morris Downie 496
Labour Leslie Hood 136
Majority 14

Skye & Lochalsh

The Highland Council election, 2003: Snizort and Trotternish
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Iain MacDonald 547
SNP Rod Liddon 306
Independent Ben Palmer 87
Majority 241
The Highland Council election, 2003: Skye West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Laing 538
Independent William Sutherland 330
Majority 208
The Highland Council election, 2003: Portree
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Drew Millar Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 2003: Skye Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Hamish Fraser Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 2003: Kyle and Sleat
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Fulton 529
Independent Audrey Sinclair 450
Majority 79
The Highland Council election, 2003: Kinlochshiel
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Isabelle Campbell Unopposed

Inverness

The Highland Council election, 2003: Beauly and Strathglass
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Garry Coutts 555
Independent Helen Carmichael 549
Majority 9
The Highland Council election, 2003: Kirkhill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Jack Shiels 572
Independent Graham Cross 407
Independent Hamish Wood 312
Majority 165
The Highland Council election, 2003: Scorguie
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Jimmy MacDonald 452
Liberal Democrats Shanea Fraser 227
Independent Christine Forbes 195
Labour Mark Grant 179
Majority 225
The Highland Council election, 2003: Muirtown
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Christine Cumming Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 2003: Merkinch
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Peter Corbett 642
Scottish Socialist Simon Cann 92
Majority 550
The Highland Council election, 2003: Inverness Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Eilidh MacDonald 319
Independent Jim Alexander 316
Liberal Democrats Daniel Farthing 174
Independent Hector MacDonald 170
Independent Donald MacKay 116
Majority 3
The Highland Council election, 2003: Culloden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Ford 434
SNP James McCreath 377
Liberal Democrats Michael Perrin 187
Majority 57
The Highland Council election, 2003: Ardersier, Croy, and Petty
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Roderick Balfour Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 2003: Loch Ness West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Margaret Davidson Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 2003: Inverness West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ronald Lyon 546
Independent Joan Stewart 280
Majority 266
The Highland Council election, 2003: Canal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Smith Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 2003: Ballifeary
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Alistair Milne 625
Labour Jim Thomson 465
Majority 160
The Highland Council election, 2003: Lochardil
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Margaret MacLennan 712
Independent Michael Gimson 377
Labour Andrew Ingram 211
Majority 335
The Highland Council election, 2003: Hilton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Angus Dick 547
Independent Thomas Lamont 368
Majority 179
The Highland Council election, 2003: Milton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Clive Goodman 494
SNP Ian Brown 429
Liberal Democrats Ruth Hunt 199
Majority 65
The Highland Council election, 2003: Crown
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Gray 734
Independent Hamish McKenzie 622
Majority 112
The Highland Council election, 2003: Raigmore
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Munro 521
SNP Scott MacKenzie 217
Independent Donald Robertson 89
Independent David Gallant 81
Majority 304
The Highland Council election, 2003: Loch Ness East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ella MacRae Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 2003: Culduthel
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Norrie Donald 1,061
Independent Ralph Sauer 245
Majority 816
The Highland Council election, 2003: Inshes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Janet Home 746
Independent John Holden 540
Majority 206
The Highland Council election, 2003: Drumossie
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Kathleen Matheson 754
Independent Farquhar Forbes 482
Majority 272
The Highland Council election, 2003: Westhill and Smithton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Gillian McCreath 461
Labour Malcolm Jack 397
Conservative Peter Saggers 152
Independent George Davidson 107
Majority 64
The Highland Council election, 2003: Balloch
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Robert Wynd 647
Liberal Democrats Glynis Sinclair 409
Conservative Tony Lister 202
Majority 238

Nairn

The Highland Council election, 2003: Nairn Alltan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Matheson 363
Independent Jim Lennon 300
Independent Bill Shand 297
SNP June Gordon 217
Independent Nigel Hanlin 53
Majority 63
The Highland Council election, 2003: Nairn Ninian
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Elizabeth MacDonald 606
Independent Andrew Brown 330
Independent Duncan McDonald 310
Majority 276
The Highland Council election, 2003: Nairn Cawdor
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Laurie Fraser 766
Independent Graham Marsden 242
Majority 524
The Highland Council election, 2003: Nairn Auldearn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Alexander Park 837
Independent James Young 394
Majority 443

Badenoch & Strathspey

The Highland Council election, 2003: Badenoch West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Sheena Slimon Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 2003: Badenoch East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Gregor Rimell 348
SNP Robert Severn 309
Independent Hendy Pollock 285
Majority 39
The Highland Council election, 2003: Strathspey South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Angus Gordon Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 2003: Strathspey North-East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Francis Black Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 2003: Grantown-on-Spey
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Basil Dunlop Unopposed

Lochaber

The Highland Council election, 2003: Mallaig and Small Isles
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Charles King Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 2003: Kilmallie and Invergarry
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Bill Clark 582
Independent George Bruce 411
Majority 171
The Highland Council election, 2003: Claggan and Glen Spean
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Thomas MacLennan 449
Independent William MacLachlan 325
Independent Alistair MacGregor 168
Majority 124
The Highland Council election, 2003: Ardnamurchan and Morvern
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Michael Foxley 545
Independent Iain Thornber 468
Majority 77
The Highland Council election, 2003: Caol
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Olwyn Macdonald 656
Independent Edward Hunter 627
Majority 29
The Highland Council election, 2003: Fort William North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Brian Murphy 733
Scottish Socialist Douglas Nolan 309
Majority 424
The Highland Council election, 2003: Fort William South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Neil Clark 450
Independent May Alexander 238
Independent Euan Harper 187
Majority 212
The Highland Council election, 2003: Glencoe
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Andrew McFarlane-Slack 722
SNP David Ingham 486
Majority 236
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