SNP Become Largest Party in Perth and Kinross Council

Photo credit: Pete Wishart (@PeteWishart)

The Scottish National Party has become the largest party in Perth and Kinross Council, after all twelve wards reported their results on Friday.

The SNP now hold 16 seats on the council out of a possible 40, gaining one seat from their previous result in 2017. The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, who were previously the largest party in the council, lost three – dropping from 17 in 2017 to 14.

Four independent candidates were elected to the council this year, an increase from 2017’s three. Colin Stewart, who had previously stood as a Conservative candidate, was re-elected in the Strathmore ward as an Independent.

Scottish Labour also gained one seat from their 2017 results, with two councillors now elected to the council. Meanwhile, the Scottish Liberal Democrats saw no overall change in their seat number, with four councillors elected.

This leaves no party with an overall majority within the council, meaning that a coalition between parties will need to be formed if the council is to be run as a majority administration.

Heartland FM were at the count as the results were announced, and caught up with the winners of the Highland ward and Strathtay ward.

In the Highland ward, John Duff (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party) received 1,110 first preference votes and was elected at stage two. Xander McDade (Independent) received 977 first preference votes and was elected at stage five, while Mike Williamson (Scottish National Party) received 856 first preference votes and was elected at stage eight.

Meanwhile, in the Strathtay ward, Grant Laing (Scottish National Party) received 1,328 first preference votes and was elected at stage one. Ian James (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party) received 972 first preference votes and was elected at stage three, while Claire McLaren (Scottish Liberal Democrat Party) received 962 first preference votes and was elected at stage five, replacing Anne Jarvis (Conservative) on the council.

The full results are available below: