2012 Renfrewshire Council election

The 2012 Renfrewshire Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Renfrewshire Council. The election used the eleven 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 a form of proportional representation, with 40 Councillors being elected.

Main article: 2012 Scottish local elections

2012 Renfrewshire Council election

3 May 2012 (2012-05-03)
All 40 seats to Renfrewshire Council 21 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Mark MacMillan Brian Lawson James MacLaren Party Labour SNP Conservative Leader's seat Paisley South West Paisley East and Ralston Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank Last election 17 seats, 42.5% 17 seats, 42.5.5% 2 seats, 5% Seats before 19 16 1 Seats won 22 15 1 Seat change 5 2 1   Fourth party Fifth party   Leader Eileen McCartin Paul Mack Party Liberal Democrats Independent Leader's seat Paisley South West Paisley South Last election 4 seat, 10.0% 0 seat, 0% Seats before 1 0 Seats won 1 1 Seat change 3 1
Map of council wards
Council Leader before election Brian Lawson SNP Council Leader after election Mark MacMillan Labour

The election saw the Scottish Labour Party gain 5 seats to regain an overall majority on the Council that they had lost at the time of the 2007 Local Elections, while also significantly increasing their vote. The Scottish National Party remained in second place on the Council but recorded a disappointing performance as the party lost 2 seats and saw a slight drop in its vote share. Both the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats declined in numbers to just 1 seat each. Meanwhile, Independent and former Labour Party member, Paul Mack, secured a seat on the Council.

Following the election the Labour majority administration was formed. This replaced the previous SNP - Lib Dem coalition that had existed from 2007-2012.

Election result

Renfrewshire Local Election Result 2012

Party		Seats	Gains	Losses	Net gain/loss	Seats %	Votes %	Votes	+/−
	Labour	22	5	0	+5	55.0	47.6	25,812	+10.8
	SNP	15	1	3	-2	37.5	35.3	19,131	-0.1
	Conservative	1	0	1	-1	2.5	9.1	4,939	-2.4
	Liberal Democrats	1	0	3	-3	2.5	4.4	2,367	-5.3
	Independent	1	1	0	+1	2.5	1.6	881	-2.0
	Scottish Socialist	0	-	-	-	-	1.2	678	-
	TUSC	0	-	-	-	-	0.74	401	+0.74
	Scottish Christian	0	-	-	-	-	0.1	42	+0.1

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 2007. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

Ward results

Renfrew North

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

Renfrew North - 3 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count 1	Count 2	Count 3	Count 4	Count 5	Count 6	Count 7
	SNP	Bill Perrie (incumbent)	34.32	1,398
	Labour	Bill Brown	25.55	1,041
	Labour	Alexander Murrin (incumbent)	19.10	778	798.9	817.2	831.7	858.4	920.8	1,150.5
	SNP	John Shaw	11.71	477	802.9	803.5	818.1	833.7	880.9
	Conservative	Makarand Oak	5.52	225	229.6	229.9	235.2	269.2
	Liberal Democrats	Euan Campbell	2.38	97	104	104.6	111.9
	TUSC	Gerry Kavanagh	1.42	58	60.9	61.4
Electorate: 9,521   Valid: 4,074   Spoilt: 98   Quota: 1,019   Turnout: 4,172 (42.79%)

Renfrew South and Gallowhill

• 2007: 2xLab; 1xSNP
• 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
• 2007-2012 Change: No change

Renfrew South and Gallowhill - 3 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count 1	Count 2	Count 3	Count 4	Count 5	Count 6
	SNP	Cathy McEwan (incumbent)	28.87	1,258
	Labour	Eddie Grady (incumbent)†	28.20	1,229
	Labour	Margaret Devine	19.94	869	875	992.9	1,013.1	1,054.1	1,105.2
	SNP	Garry Quigley	14.43	629	773.2	777.7	788.4	805.6	824.4
	Conservative	Helen Mathie	4.52	197	198.9	200.2	228.1	235.2
	Scottish Socialist	Douglas Canning	2.07	90	93.5	96.5	99.7
	Liberal Democrats	Michael Hanley	1.97	86	87.9	90.1
Electorate: 10,342   Valid: 4,358   Spoilt: 100   Quota: 1,090   Turnout: 4,458 (42.14%)

Paisley East and Ralston

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

Paisley East and Ralston - 4 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count 1	Count 2	Count 3	Count 4	Count 5	Count 6	Count 7
	Labour	Jim Sharkey (incumbent)	32.69	1,832
	SNP	Brian Lawson (incumbent)	27.80	1,558
	Conservative	Robert Evans	10.28	576	584.1	593.1	602.9	603.2	827.7
	SNP	Will Mylet	9.44	529	545.7	900.8	940.8	941.7	1,042.2	1,196.4
	Liberal Democrats	John Boyd	9.08	509	522.9	543.4	563.9	564.8
	Labour	Maureen Sharkey	8.21	460	1,071.9	1,086.8	1,128.1
	Scottish Socialist	Andy Bowden	2.52	141	153.4	160.9
Electorate: 12,687   Valid: 5,605   Spoilt: 115   Quota: 1,120   Turnout: 5,720 (44.18%)

Paisley North West

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

Paisley North West - 4 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count 1	Count 2	Count 3	Count 4	Count 5	Count 6	Count 7	Count 8
	Labour	Terry Kelly (incumbent)	29.82	1,349
	SNP	Kenny MacLaren (incumbent)	23.98	1,085
	Labour	Tommy Williams (incumbent)	15.89	719	1,045.5
	SNP	Mags MacLaren	10.68	483	498.5	654.4	667.1	702.2	747.9	791.7	939.5
	Conservative	Allison Cook	6.34	287	293.6	297.6	303.7	310.5	365.7
	Independent	David Murdoch	5.37	243	256.5	261.9	281.9	321.2	376.9	497.9
	Liberal Democrats	Mike Dillon (incumbent)	4.66	211	226.8	230.9	244.5	257.1
	Scottish Socialist	Jimmy Kerr	3.25	147	162.5	164.8	177
Electorate: 12,944   Valid: 4,524   Spoilt: 80   Quota: 905   Turnout: 4,604 (34.95%)

Paisley South

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

Paisley South - 4 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count 1	Count 2	Count 3	Count 4	Count 5	Count 6	Count 7	Count 8
	Labour	Eddie Devine (incumbent)	31.66	1,827
	SNP	Marie McGurk (incumbent)	22.98	1,326
	Labour	Roy Glen	16.46	950	1,494.4
	Independent	Paul Mack	11.06	638	673.7	738.2	752.9	783.4	808.3	975.9	1,206.6
	Conservative	Ron Garrett	7.24	418	436.4	450.5	454.1	461.3	504.1
	SNP	Gavin Newlands	7.23	417	425.4	451.1	583.6	600.1	628.3	673.6
	Liberal Democrats	Graeme McMeekin	2.05	118	125.4	141.1	145.1	149.9
	TUSC	Harry Pfaff	1.32	76	81.9	102.3	103.7
Electorate: 13,712   Valid: 5,770   Spoilt: 118   Quota: 1,155   Turnout: 5,888 (42.08%)

Paisley South West

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

Paisley South West - 4 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count 1	Count 2	Count 3	Count 4	Count 5	Count 6	Count 7
	SNP	Lorraine Cameron (incumbent)	26.57	1,335
	Labour	Mark MacMillan (incumbent)	24.78	1,245
	Labour	Jacqueline Henry	20.98	1,054
	Liberal Democrats	Eileen McCartin (incumbent)	14.67	737	760.2	797	804.4	830.8	955	1,148.5
	SNP	Mike Loftus	5.71	287	541.8	565	569.4	596.6	623.9
	Conservative	Sheila Fulton	5.17	260	266.2	277.7	280.3	287.9
	Scottish Socialist	John Miller	2.13	107	115.4	140.7	145.4
Electorate: 11,743   Valid: 5,025   Spoilt: 93   Quota: 1,006   Turnout: 5,118 (42.79%)

Johnstone South, Elderslie and Howwood

• 2007: 3xLab; 1xSNP
• 2012: 3xLab; 1xSNP
• 2007-2012 Change: No change

Johnstone South, Elderslie and Howwood - 4 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count 1	Count 2	Count 3	Count 4	Count 5	Count 6	Count 7	Count 8
	Labour	Iain McMillan (incumbent)	24.70	1,361
	Labour	John Caldwell (incumbent)	23.59	1,300
	Labour	John Hood (incumbent)	14.94	823	1,032.5	1,194.1
	SNP	Stephen McGee	13.67	753	758.9	764.2	769.9	779.3	800.5	860.9	1,511.4
	SNP	Tracie McGee (incumbent)	11.92	657	668.9	672.6	677.5	693.4	711.9	762.8
	Conservative	John McIntyre	6.8	372	374.7	377.1	380.4	419.1	440.5
	Scottish Socialist	Gerry McCartney	2.38	131	134.9	141	147.9	156.4
	Liberal Democrats	Ryan Morrison	2.05	113	115.7	117.8	121.1
Electorate: 12,847   Valid: 5,510   Spoilt: 129   Quota: 1,103   Turnout: 5,639 (42.89%)

Johnstone North, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch

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

Johnstone North, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch - 3 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count 1	Count 2	Count 3	Count 4	Count 5	Count 6	Count 7	Count 8
	Labour	Derek Bibby (incumbent)	37.03	1,750
	SNP	Andy Doig	20.80	983	1,024.9	1,027.9	1,031.9	1,048.8	1,067.3	1,148.8	1,728.7
	Labour	Christopher Gilmour	16.27	769	1,218.5
	Conservative	Wilma Begg	8.48	401	413.7	415.5	427	427.1	466.7
	SNP	Ken MacDonald	12.70	600	616.6	619.4	623.4	628.7	650.3	708.6
	Liberal Democrats	Margaret McDonough	2.52	119	125.5	127.5	134.6	141
	Scottish Socialist	Geoff Knowles	1.31	62	66.2	68.7	72.1
	Scottish Christian	Alex Lennox	0.88	42	45.2	46.8
Electorate: 10,048   Valid: 4,726   Spoilt: 98   Quota: 1,182   Turnout: 4,824 (47.03%)

Houston, Crosslee and Linwood

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

Houston, Crosslee and Linwood - 4 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count 1	Count 2	Count 3	Count 4	Count 5	Count 6
	Labour	Stuart Clark	28.77	1,454
	Labour	Anne Hall (incumbent)	24.34	1,230
	SNP	Allan Noon (incumbent)	17.12	865	923.2	936.4	954.1	985.2	1,089.4
	SNP	Audrey Doig (incumbent)	14.94	755	801.3	835.5	847.5	869.9	951.3
	Conservative	Tom Begg	11.81	597	633.9	643.3	654.5	700.9
	Liberal Democrats	Allan Heron	1.84	93	124.9	135.7	153.1
	TUSC	Danny Williamson	1.17	59	92.5	107.1
Electorate: 11,743   Valid: 5,053   Spoilt: 88   Quota: 1,011   Turnout: 5,141 (43.03%)

Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank

• 2007: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
• 2012: 1xLab; 1xCon; 1xSNP
• 2007-2012 Change: No change

Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank - 3 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count 1
	Labour	Michael Holmes (incumbent)	30.35	1,277
	Conservative	James MacLaren	29.25	1,231
	SNP	Maria Brown	27.80	1,170
	SNP	Margaret Dymond	6.99	294
	Liberal Democrats	Martin Heron	4.11	173
	TUSC	Warren Vale	1.50	63
Electorate: 8,974   Valid: 4,208   Spoilt: 42   Quota: 1,053   Turnout: 4,250 (46.89%)

Erskine and Inchinnan

• 2007: 2xLab; 2xSNP
• 2012: 2xLab; 2xSNP
• 2007-2012 Change: No change

Erskine and Inchinnan - 4 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count 1	Count 2
	Labour	James Harte (incumbent)	26.38	1,424
	SNP	Iain Nicolson (incumbent)	21.67	1,170
	SNP	James McQuade (incumbent)	20.41	1,102
	Labour	Sam Mullin (incumbent)	19.84	1,071	1,371.8
	Conservative	Steven Millar	6.95	375	382.5
	TUSC	Jim Halfpenny	2.69	145	150.8
	Liberal Democrats	Ross Stalker	2.06	111	117
Electorate: 12,963   Valid: 5,398   Spoilt: 91   Quota: 1,080   Turnout: 5,489 (41.64%)

Post-Election Changes

• † Renfrew South and Gallowhill Labour Cllr Eddie Grady died on 23 May 2016. A by-election was held on 11 August 2016 and the seat was won by the SNP's Jim Paterson.

By-election since 2012

Renfrew South and Gallowhill By-election (11 August 2016) - 1 Seat[1]
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count 1	Count 2	Count 3	Count 4
	SNP	Jim Paterson	47.8%	1,309
	Labour	Edward Grady	36.9%	1,012
	Conservative	Mark Dougan	13.4%	366
	Liberal Democrats	Ross Stalker	1.9%	53
Electorate: 10,466   Valid: 2,740   Spoilt: 22   Quota: 1,371   Turnout: 2,762 (26.18%)

References

1. "Local Government By-Election – 11 July". Missing or empty |url= (help)

https://web.archive.org/web/20120511014144/http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/ilwwcm/publishing.nsf/Content/Navigation-cs-ElectionResultsLGHomePage