2017 West Lothian Council election

2017 West Lothian Council election
4 May 2017 (2017-05-04)
All 33 seats to West Lothian Council
17 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Peter Johnston John McGinty
Party SNP Labour
Leader's seat Livingston South Bathgate
Last election 15 seats, 40.4% 16 seats, 38.1%
Seats before 15 16
Seats won 13 12
Seat change Decrease 2 Decrease 4
Popular vote 23,218 18,082
Percentage 37.3% 29.0%
Swing Decrease 3.1% Decrease 9.1%
  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader Damian Timson Stuart Borrowman
Party Conservative Independent
Leader's seat East Calder and East Livingston Armadale and Blackridge
Last election 1 seat, 3.1% 1 seat, 5.3%
Seats before 1 1
Seats won 7 1
Seat change Increase 6 Steady
Popular vote 14,449 3,088
Percentage 23.2% 5.0%
Swing Increase 14.3% Decrease 0.3%
Council Leader before election

John McGinty
Labour

 Council Leader after election

Lawrence Fitzpatrick
Labour

The 2017 West Lothian Council election took place on 4 May 2017. The election used the 9 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 33 Councillors being elected. The election resulted in no overall party majority, leading to the Labour Party and the Conservative Party forming a coalition administration.

Results

2017 West Lothian local election result
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  SNP 13 0 2 Decrease 2 39.4 37.3 23,218 Decrease 3.1
  Labour 12 0 4 Decrease 4 36.4 29.0 18,082 Decrease 9.1
  Conservative 7 6 0 Increase 6 21.2 23.2 14,449 Increase 14.3
  Independent 1 0 0 Steady 3.0 5.0 3,088 Decrease 0.3
  Green 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 2.7 1,695 New
  Liberal Democrats 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 2.6 1,632 Increase2.2
  TUSC 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.1 57 New
  UKIP 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.1 40 Decrease 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 in 2012. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

Ward results

Linlithgow

  • 2012: 1 x Conservative, 1 x SNP, 1 x Labour
  • 2017: 1 x Conservative, 1 x SNP, 1 x Labour
  • 2012-2017 Change: No Change
Linlithgow - 3 seats[1]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
Conservative Tom Kerr (incumbent) 41.92% 3,037            
Labour Tom Conn (incumbent) 14.63% 1,060 1,425 1,450 1,558 1,956    
SNP David Tait (incumbent) 16.01% 1,160 1,215 1,217 1,310 1,390 1,405 2,529
SNP Sue Friel 15.06% 1,091 1,126 1,129 1,246 1,319 1,341  
Liberal Democrats Sally Pattle 5.26% 381 692 714 872      
Green Maire McCormack 6.57% 476 535 541        
UKIP Alan Cooper 0.55% 40 113          
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 7,245   Spoilt: 74   Quota: 1,812   Turnout: 59.0%  

Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh

  • 2012: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
  • 2017: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
  • 2012-2017 Change: 1 x Conservative gain from Labour
Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh - 4 seats[2]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456789
SNP Diane Calder (incumbent) 27.24% 1,898                
Conservative Chris Horne 27.23% 1,897                
Labour Angela Doran††† 19.00% 1,324 1,340 1,448            
SNP Janet Campbell (incumbent) 8.37% 583 868 880 882 894 961 990 1,057 1,666
SNP Pippa Plevin 6.06% 422 571 577 577 580 626 668 739  
Labour Audrey Middleton 4.49% 313 318 368 410 423 467 628    
Liberal Democrats John Woods 3.12% 217 224 350 352 368 454      
Green June Douglas 3.67% 256 274 297 299 313        
TUSC Elaine Mallon 0.82% 57 59 72 74          
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 6,967   Spoilt: 165   Quota: 1,394   Turnout: 46.2%  

Livingston North

  • 2012: 2 x SNP, 2 x Labour
  • 2017: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
  • 2012-2017 Change: 1 x Conservative gain from Labour
Livingston North - 4 seats[3]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
Conservative Alison Adamson 25.45% 1,940            
Labour Dom McGuire 13.03% 993 1,077 1,092 1,209 1,898    
SNP Robert De Bold (incumbent) 16.31% 1,243 1,254 1,279 1,303 1,327 1,347 2,161
SNP Andrew Miller (incumbent) 15.35% 1,170 1,175 1,207 1,235 1,260 1,297 1,606
SNP Lorna Menzies Craig 14.53% 1,107 1,115 1,141 1,163 1,181 1,210  
Labour Anne McMillan (incumbent) 9.52% 726 764 782 853      
Liberal Democrats Caron Lindsay 3.28% 250 360 417        
Green Mark Wilkinson 2.53% 193 213          
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 7,622   Spoilt: 123   Quota: 1,525   Turnout: 43.5%  

Livingston South

  • 2012: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
  • 2017: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
  • 2012-2017 Change: 1 x Conservative gain from Labour
Livingston South - 4 seats[4]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
Labour Lawrence Fitzpatrick (incumbent) 27.12% 2,228            
SNP Peter Johnston (incumbent) † 20.69% 1,700            
Conservative Peter Heggie 19.40% 1,594 1,673          
SNP Moira Shemilt 13.02% 1,070 1,109 1,151 1,151 1,169 1,268 1,827
Labour Danny Logue (incumbent) 8.41% 691 1,080 1,083 1,091 1,137 1,216 1,241
SNP Annmargaret Watson 7.17% 589 593 598 599 602 620  
Green Jayne Glass 2.44% 200 221 223 225 275    
Liberal Democrats Jill Pattle 1.75% 144 154 155 160      
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 8,216   Spoilt: 140   Quota: 1,644   Turnout: 46.3%  

East Livingston and East Calder

  • 2012: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
  • 2017: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
  • 2012-2017 Change: 1 x Conservative gain from Labour
East Livingston and East Calder - 4 seats[5]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
Labour Dave King (incumbent)†† 23.75% 1,749            
Conservative Damian Timson 22.00% 1,620            
SNP Frank Anderson (incumbent) 20.09% 1,479            
SNP Carl John (incumbent) 13.20% 972 994 998 1,002 1,014 1,105 1,648
Labour Scott Rogers 7.13% 525 724 765 766 829 918 941
SNP Veronica Smith 7.54% 555 561 564 565 578 652  
Green Neal Drummond 3.60% 265 274 284 285 366    
Liberal Democrats Charles Corser 2.69% 198 208 239 239      
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 7,363   Spoilt: 141   Quota: 1,473   Turnout: 45.9%  

Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley

  • 2012: 2 x Labour, 1 x SNP
  • 2017: 2 x Labour, 1 x SNP
  • 2012-2017 Change: No Change
Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley - 3 seats[6]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456
Labour David Dodds (incumbent) 29.81% 1,623          
SNP Pauline Clark 18.53% 1,012 1,022 1,035 1,079 1,781  
Labour Cathy Muldoon (incumbent) 17.68% 966 1,070 1,206 1,233 1,293 1,417
Conservative Marion Kerr 15.23% 832 842 867 892 896 920
SNP Greg McCarra (incumbent) 14.33% 783 787 794 817    
Green Pamela Barnes 2.25% 123 128 162      
Liberal Democrats Kenneth Brown 2.27% 124 127        
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 5,463   Spoilt: 159   Quota: 1,366   Turnout: 46.6%  

Whitburn and Blackburn

  • 2012: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
  • 2017: 2 x Labour, 1 x SNP, 1 x Conservative
  • 2012-2017 Change: 1 x Conservative gain from SNP
Whitburn and Blackburn - 4 seats[7]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
Labour George Paul (incumbent) 28.08% 1,822            
SNP Jim Dickson (incumbent) 24.44% 1,586            
Conservative Bruce Fairbairn 21.99% 1,427            
Labour Kirsteen Sullivan 8.59% 557 1,015 1,020 1,054 1,149 1,209 1,486
SNP Mary Dickson (incumbent) 7.75% 503 519 742 744 766 1,129  
SNP John Leslie 6.47% 420 426 468 470 481    
Liberal Democrats Bob Howden 2.68% 174 182 186 224      
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 6,489   Spoilt: 175   Quota: 1,298   Turnout: 42.6%  

Bathgate

  • 2012: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
  • 2017: 2xLabour; 1xSNP; 1xConservative
  • 2012-2017 Change: Conservative gain one seat from SNP
Bathgate - 4 seats[8]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
SNP William Hannah Boyle (incumbent) 20.20% 1,554            
Labour Harry Cartmill (incumbent) 21.40% 1,646            
Labour John McGinty (incumbent) 14.98% 1,152 1,227 1,228 1,257 1,278 1,291 1,597
Conservative Charles Kennedy 17.93% 1,379 1,388 1,389 1,400 1,409 1,413 1,574
SNP Barry Burrows 8.49% 653 658 668 675 709 1,031 1,176
Independent James Walker 9.68% 745 752 752 765 795 806  
SNP Lisa McArthur 4.50% 346 347 350 355 380    
Green Dale McDowell 1.56% 120 122 123 143      
Liberal Democrats Fiona Ann Stevens 1.26% 97 98 98        
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 7,692   Spoilt: 174   Quota: 1,539   Turnout: 45.1%  

Armadale and Blackridge

  • 2012: 1 x Independent, 1 x Labour, 1 x SNP
  • 2017: 1 x Independent, 1 x Labour, 1 x SNP
  • 2012-2017 Change: No Change
Armadale and Blackridge - 3 seats[9]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456
Independent Stuart Borrowman (incumbent) 45.02% 2,343          
SNP Sarah King (incumbent) 25.41% 1,322          
Labour Andrew McGuire 13.59% 707 1,012 1,016 1,056 1,131 1,589
Conservative Ian Burgess 13.89% 723 1,016 1,017 1,035 1,057  
Green Paula Stokes 1.19% 62 149 157 189    
Liberal Democrats Chris Smillie 0.90% 47 117 118      
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 5,204   Spoilt: 56   Quota: 1,302   Turnout: 42.20%  

Aftermath

On 26 October 2021 Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh Labour councillor Angela Doran-Timson left the Labour Party and joined the Conservatives.[10]

Livingston South by-election

On 29 March 2020, Livingston South SNP councillor Peter Johnston resigned his seat due to illness.[11] The by-election was postponed due to the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic.[12] The by-election was held on 11 March 2021 and was won by SNP candidate, Maria MacAulay.

Livingston South by-election (11 March 2021) - 1 seat
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
SNP Maria MacAulay 43.9% 2,465 2,467 2,496 2,603 2,703 2,763 3,370
Labour Gordon Connolly 24.6% 1,382 1,384 1,419 1,481 1,579 2,098  
Conservative Douglas Smith 17.6% 989 996 1,025 1,037 1,124    
Independent Eddie Millar 5.9% 332 338 365 413      
Green Cameron Glasgow 4.2% 234 234 273        
Liberal Democrats Caron Lindsay 3.3% 185 186          
UKIP John Mumford 0.5% 29            
Electorate: 18,784   Valid: 5,616   Spoilt: 52   Quota: 2,809   Turnout: 30.2%  

Source:[13][14]

East Livingston and East Calder by-election

On 11 May 2021, East Livingston and East Calder Labour councillor Dave King died. A by-election was held on 5 August 2021 and was won by SNP candidate, Thomas Ullathorne.

East Livingston and East Calder by-election (5 August 2021) - 1 seat
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345
SNP Thomas Ullathorne 42.5 1,890 1,906 1,918 2,122 2,368
Conservative David Philip 24.4 1,085 1,088 1,103 1,131 1,425
Labour Danny Logue 21.8 969 972 1,012 1,094  
Green Neal Drummond 7.6 336 343 377    
Liberal Democrats Hans Edginton 2.7 118 122      
ISP John Hannah 1.1 47        
Electorate: 17,866   Valid: 4,445   Spoilt: 48   Quota: 2,223   Turnout: 25.1%  

Source:[15][16]

References

  1. ↑ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report – Stage 1 – Linlithgow" (PDF). West Lothian Council. 5 May 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2021.
  2. ↑ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report – Ward 2 – Broxburn Uphall and Winchburgh" (PDF). West Lothian Council. 5 May 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2021.
  3. ↑ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report – Ward 3 – Livingston North" (PDF). West Lothian Council. 5 May 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2021.
  4. ↑ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report – Ward 4 – Livingston South" (PDF). West Lothian Council. 5 May 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2021.
  5. ↑ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report – Ward 5 – East Livingston and East Calder" (PDF). West Lothian Council. 5 May 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report – Ward 6 – Fauldhouse and the Breich [sic] Valley" (PDF). West Lothian Council. 5 May 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2021.
  7. ↑ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report – Ward 7 – Whitburn and Blackburn" (PDF). West Lothian Council. 5 May 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2021.
  8. ↑ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report – Ward 8 – Bathgate" (PDF). West Lothian Council. 5 May 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2021.
  9. ↑ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report – Ward 9 – Armadale and Blackridge" (PDF). West Lothian Council. 5 May 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "West Lothian Labour councillor defects to Tories after marrying Tory group leader". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  11. ↑ Sommerville, Stuart (14 April 2020). "Livingston councillor steps down after serving Livingston fro [sic] 35 years". Daily Record. Retrieved 19 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ↑ "Livingston South By-Election". West Lothian Council. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  13. ↑ "Ward 4 - Livingston South - Declaration of Results Report" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  14. ↑ "Ward 4 - Livingston South - Candidate Votes per Stage Report" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  15. ↑ "Ward 5 - East Livingston and East Calder - Declaration of Results Report" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  16. ↑ "Ward 5 - East Livingston and East Calder - Candidate Votes per Stage Report" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
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