2022 West Lothian Council election

The 2022 West Lothian Council election took place on 5 May 2022. Elected positions in all 9 wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 were up for election, with each ward electing three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote (STV) system form of proportional representation, with 33 Councillors being elected in total.

2022 West Lothian Council election
5 May 2022 (2022-05-05)
All 33 seats to West Lothian Council
17 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Janet Campbell Lawrence Fitzpatrick Damian Timson
Party SNP Labour Conservative
Leader's seat Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh Livingston South East Calder and East Livingston
Last election 13 seats, 37.3% 12 seats, 29.0% 7 seats, 23.2%
Seats before 13 12
Seats after 15 12 4
Seat change Increase2 Steady Decrease3
  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Party Independent Liberal Democrats
Last election 1 seat, 4.9% 0 seats, 2.6%
Seats before 1 0
Seats after 1 1
Seat change Steady Increase1
Council Leader before election

Lawrence Fitzpatrick
Labour

 Council Leader after election

Lawrence Fitzpatrick
Labour

Background

2017 results
2017 West Lothian local election result
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  SNP 13 0 Decrease2 Decrease2 39.39 37.29 23,218 Decrease11.36
  Labour 12 0 Decrease4 Decrease4 36.36 29.04 18,082 Decrease9.06
  Conservative 7 6 0 Increase6 21.21 23.21 14,449 Increase14.42
  Independent 1 0 0 Steady 3.03 4.96 3,088 Decrease0.31
  Scottish Green 0 - - - - 2.72 1,695 New
  Liberal Democrats 0 - - - - 2.62 1,632 Increase2.24
  TUSC 0 - - - - 0.092 57 New
  UKIP 0 - - - - 0.064 40 Decrease0.09

Following the 2017 West Lothian Council election, the Labour and Conservative groups worked together in the chamber to hold a majority,[1] although both parties denied this claim.[2] This agreement led to Cllr Lawrence Fitzpatrick being appointed Council Leader and Conservative Cllr Tom Kerr was appointed Provost of West Lothian.

There were two by-elections in 2021 which saw each main party field candidates. The Livingston South by-election held in March 2021 following the retirement of SNP Cllr Peter Johnston resulted in the SNP retaining the seat.[3] Meanwhile in the October 2021 East Livingston and East Calder by-election which was called following the death of Labour Cllr Dave King resulted in a gain for the SNP.[4] In the weeks following the by-election Labour Cllr Angela Doran-Timson joined the Conservatives.[5][6]

In November 2021, SNP Councillors tabled a motion of no-confidence against Cllr Fitzpatrick's administration. The motion failed following support from the Conservatives.[7]

Retiring Councillors
Councillor Ward Party
Tom Kerr Linlithgow Conservative
David Tait Linlithgow SNP
Dom McGuire Livingston North Labour
David Dodds Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley Labour
John McGinty Bathgate Labour
Sarah King Armadale and Blackridge SNP

SNP Councillor Frank Anderson was deselected by his party. He announced that he would stand as an Independent candidate in East Livingston and East Calder.[8]

Candidates standing
Party No. of
candidates		 Change
(from 2017)
SNP 17 Decrease6
Labour 16 0
Conservative 9 0
Liberal Democrats 9 0
Green 9 Increase1
Family 5 Increase5
Independent 4 Increase2
Alba 3 Increase3
ISP 1 Increase1

Results
2022 West Lothian Council election
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  SNP 15 2 0 Increase2 45.45 37.86 22,424 Increase0.57
  Labour 12 0 0 Steady 36.36 28.57 16,921 Decrease0.47
  Conservative 4 0 3 Decrease3 12.12 15.92 9,427 Decrease7.29
  Independent 1 0 0 Steady 3.03 6.37 3,775 Increase1.41
  Liberal Democrats 1 1 0 Increase1 3.03 4.78 2,831 Increase2.16
  Scottish Green 0 0 0 Steady 0 5.27 3,119 Increase2.60
  Alba 0 0 0 Steady 0 0.39 232 New
  Scottish Family 0 0 0 Steady 0 0.77 457 New
  ISP 0 0 0 Steady 0 0.07 43 New

Ward summary
Results of the 2022 West Lothian Council election
by ward
Ward %
Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 Total
Cllrs
SNP Lab Green Conservative Lib Dem Others
Linlithgow 26.26 1 19.54 1 13.22 0 19.83 0 20.33 1 0.33 0 3
Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh 41.88 2 29.61 1 4.35 0 17.73 1 3.72 0 2.71 0 4
Livingston North 48.60 2 23.75 1 4.48 0 20.68 1 3.85 0 1.95 0 4
Livingston South 38.99 2 32.38 1 4.34 0 11.68 1 2.21 0 10.40 0 4
East Livingston and East Calder 41.79 2 21.12 1 6.62 0 18.29 1 3.31 0 8.87 0 4
Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley 38.33 1 40.16 2 3.65 0 14.16 0 2.33 0 1.38 0 3
Whitburn and Blackburn 38.62 2 37.37 2 3.10 0 18.50 0 2.41 0 4
Bathgate 40.42 2 38.73 2 3.79 0 14.14 0 2.02 0 0.90 0 4
Armadale and Blackridge 22.05 1 14.12 1 2.59 0 10.56 0 0.95 0 49.73 1 3
Total 37.86 15 28.57 12 5.27 0 12.12 4 4.78 1 7.61 1 33

Wards

Linlithgow
  • 2012: 1 x Conservative, 1 x SNP, 1 x Labour
  • 2017: 1 x Conservative, 1 x SNP, 1 x Labour
  • 2022: 1 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Liberal Democrat
  • 2017-2022 Change: 1 x Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative
Linlithgow - 3 seats[9][10]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345
SNP Pauline Orr 26.26% 1,869        
Liberal Democrats Sally Pattle 20.33% 1,447 1,457 1,466 1,901  
Conservative Chris Horne 19.83% 1,411 1,413 1,445 1,484  1,508
Labour Tom Conn (incumbent) 19.54% 1,391 1,406 1,413 1,733 1,788
Scottish Green Pamela Barnes 13.22% 941 988 992    
Scottish Family Rik Smith 0.81% 58 59      
Electorate: 12,435   Valid: 7,117   Spoilt: 53   Quota: 1,780   Turnout: 57.7%[11]  

    Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh
    • 2012: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
    • 2017: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
    • 2022: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
    • 2017-2022 Change: No Change
    Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh - 4 seats[9][12]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    123456789
    SNP Diane Calder (incumbent) 29.04% 1,990                
    Labour Ann Davidson 19.04% 1,305 1,321 1,329 1,336 1,345 1,430      
    Conservative Angela Doran-Timson (incumbent[LAB]) 17.73% 1,215 1,220 1,222 1,239 1,252 1,299 1,305 1,328 1,611
    SNP Janet Campbell (incumbent) 12.84% 880 1,419              
    Labour Hazel McLeod 10.56% 724 732 735 745 752 773 819 981  
    Scottish Green Cam Wright 4.35% 298 317 332 345 383 447 449    
    Liberal Democrats Charles Corser 3.72% 255 261 264 275 287        
    Alba Phil Noble 1.39% 95 100 103 115          
    Scottish Family Kenneth Sutherland 1.33% 91 92 93            
    Electorate: 16,643   Valid: 6,853   Spoilt: 167   Quota: 1,371   Turnout: 42.2%[13]  

      Livingston North
      • 2012: 2 x SNP, 2 x Labour
      • 2017: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
      • 2022: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
      • 2017-2022 Change: No Change
      Livingston North - 4 seats[9][14]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      1234567
      SNP Robert De Bold (incumbent) 29.51% 2,133            
      SNP Andrew Miller (incumbent) 19.09% 1,380 1,945          
      Labour Anne McMillan 18.63% 1,347 1,380 1,447        
      Conservative Alison Adamson (incumbent) 17.37% 1,256 1,265 1,275 1,275 1,315 1,391 1,495
      Labour Michael Rae 5.12% 370 375 399 399 429 538  
      Scottish Green Mark Wilkinson 4.48% 324 351 550 550 572 636 749
      Liberal Democrats Catrina McDonald 3.85% 278 288 309 310 329    
      Scottish Family Robert Bell 1.95% 141 146 158 158      
      Electorate: 18,312   Valid: 7,229   Spoilt: 166   Quota: 1,446   Turnout: 40.4%[15]  

        Livingston South
        • 2012: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
        • 2017: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
        • 2021 (by-election): 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
        • 2022: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
        • 2017-2022 Change: No Change
        Livingston South - 4 seats[9][16]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        12345678910
        SNP Maria Macaulay 29.76% 2,252                  
        Labour Lawrence Fitzpatrick (incumbent) 26.80% 2,028                  
        Conservative Peter Heggie (incumbent) 11.68% 884 888 946 954 984 1,013 1,032 1,034 1,134 1,385
        SNP Moira Shemilt (incumbent) 9.23% 698 1,344 1,374 1,385 1,403 1,459 1,631      
        Labour Craig Smith 5.58% 422 430 736 745 786 841 911 931 1,106  
        Independent Eddie Anderson 5.08% 384 393 422 434 453 601 657 680    
        Scottish Green Cameron Glasgow 4.34% 328 360 381 386 424 443        
        Independent Eddie Millar 4.27% 323 333 347 362 373          
        Liberal Democrats Caron Lindsay 2.21% 167 171 189 195            
        Scottish Family Margaret Hamilton 1.06% 80 82 87              
        Electorate: 19,101   Valid: 7,566   Spoilt: 118   Quota: 1,514   Turnout: 40.2%[17]  

          East Livingston and East Calder
          • 2012: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
          • 2017: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
          • 2021 (by-election): 3 x SNP, 1 x Conservative
          • 2022: 2 x SNP, 1 x Labour, 1 x Conservative
          • 2017-2022 Change: No Change
          East Livingston and East Calder - 4 seats[9][18]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          12345678
          SNP Carl John (incumbent) 26.43% 1,741              
          Conservative Damian Doran-Timson (incumbent) 18.29% 1,205 1,213 1,239 1,279 1,288 1,310 1,317 1,377
          Labour Danny Logue 16.38% 1,079 1,095 1,106 1,164 1,437      
          SNP Veronica Smith 9.44% 622 907 915 927 936 946 1,287 1,499
          Independent Frank Anderson (incumbent[SNP]) 7.55% 497 508 519 539 542 551 583  
          Scottish Green Neal Drummond 6.62% 436 474 478 534 542 560 585 686
          SNP Thomas Ullathorne 5.92% 390 426 426 427 433 435    
          Labour Andy Rafferty 4.74% 312 318 319 330        
          Liberal Democrats Robert Howden 3.31% 218 224 230          
          Scottish Family Ruth Hutchison 1.32% 87 88            
          Electorate: 17,970   Valid: 6,587   Spoilt: 121   Quota: 1,318   Turnout: 37.3%[19]  

            Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley
            • 2012: 2 x Labour, 1 x SNP
            • 2017: 2 x Labour, 1 x SNP
            • 2022: 2 x Labour, 1 x SNP
            • 2017-2022 Change: No Change
            Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley - 3 seats[9][20]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            1234567
            SNP Pauline Clark (incumbent) 25.47% 1,292            
            Labour Cathy Muldoon (incumbent) 21.94% 1,113 1,114 1,123 1,158 1,202 1,363  
            Labour Craig Meek 18.22% 924 925 930 948 975 1,219 1,295
            Conservative Elaine Fairbairn 14.16% 718 718 720 740 754    
            SNP Greg McCarra 12.85% 652 671 693 700 778 801 804
            Scottish Green Neil Barnes 3.65% 185 186 197 216      
            Liberal Democrats Gillian Pattle 2.33% 118 118 127        
            Alba Hani Mohamed 1.38% 70 70          
            Electorate: 12,714   Valid: 5,072   Spoilt: 148   Quota: 1,269   Turnout: 41.1%[21]  

              Whitburn and Blackburn
              • 2012: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
              • 2017: 2 x Labour, 1 x SNP, 1 x Conservative
              • 2022: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
              • 2017-2022 Change: 1 x SNP gain from Conservative
              Whitburn and Blackburn - 4 seats[9][22]
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              123456
              SNP Jim Dickson (incumbent) 28.26% 1,734          
              Labour George Paul (incumbent) 20.16% 1,237          
              Conservative Bruce Fairbairn (incumbent) 18.50% 1,135 1,139 1,139 1,175 1,187  
              Labour Kirsteen Sullivan 17.21% 1,056 1,069 1,076 1,122 1,189 1,747
              SNP Mary Robertson Dickson 10.37% 636 1,085 1,085 1,095 1,196 1,230
              Liberal Democrats Derek Pattle 2.41% 148 152 152      
              Scottish Green Carole Racionzer 3.10% 190 203 204 231    
              Electorate: 16,945   Valid: 6,136   Spoilt: 204   Quota: 1,228   Turnout: 37.4%[23]  

                Bathgate
                • 2012: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
                • 2017: 2xLabour; 1 x SNP; 1 x Conservative
                • 2022: 2 x Labour, 2 x SNP
                • 2017-2022 Change: 1 x SNP gain from Conservative
                Bathgate - 4 seats[9][24]
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                12345678
                Labour Harry Cartmill (incumbent) 33.67% 2,496              
                SNP William Boyle (incumbent) 24.36% 1,806              
                SNP Pauline Stafford 16.05% 1,190 1,265 1,507          
                Conservative Charles Kennedy (incumbent) 14.14% 1,048 1,162 1,167 1,168 1,174 1,208 1,236  
                Labour Tony Pearson 5.06% 375 1,015 1,023 1,027 1,034 1,094 1,246 1,774
                Scottish Green Siobhan Flannigan 3.79% 281 323 351 360 392 425    
                Liberal Democrats John Mackenzie 2.02% 150 186 191 192 195      
                Alba Gordon Dent 0.90% 67 74 83 85        
                Electorate: 18,082   Valid: 7,413   Spoilt: 138   Quota: 1,483   Turnout: 41.8%[25]  

                  Armadale and Blackridge
                  • 2012: 1 x Independent, 1 x Labour, 1 x SNP
                  • 2017: 1 x Independent, 1 x Labour, 1 x SNP
                  • 2022: 1 x Independent, 1 x Labour, 1 x SNP
                  • 2017-2022 Change: No Change
                  Armadale and Blackridge - 3 seats[9][26]
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  123456
                  Independent Stuart Borrowman (incumbent) 48.92% 2,571          
                  SNP Lynda Kenna 22.05% 1,159 1,407        
                  Labour Andrew McGuire (incumbent) 14.12% 742 1,110 1,130 1,148 1,196 1,319
                  Conservative Chris Terry 10.56% 555 789 790 794 820 834
                  Scottish Green Sophie Brodie 2.59% 136 232 264 291 308  
                  Liberal Democrats Helen Mackenzie 0.95% 50 107 110 121    
                  ISP John Hannah 0.82% 43 78 91      
                  Electorate: 13,162   Valid: 5,256   Spoilt: 58   Quota: 1,315   Turnout: 40.4%[27]  

                    Aftermath

                    Although the SNP won the most seats, Labour were chosen to run the council after doing a deal with the Conservatives. The council resembles the set up after the previous election, with Labour running a minority administration with loose coalition support from the four Conservative councillors, the Independent Stuart Borrowman and Liberal Democrat, Sally Pattle.[28]

                    In response to the announcement, former Labour councillor and MSP Neil Findlay, who represented Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley from 2003 to 2012, called his own party "shameful [for] voting Tories into office", saying the Conservatives were "the enemy of my class".[29]

                    Notes
                    1. ^
                      BRO: Sitting councillor for Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh.
                    2. ^
                      LAB: On 26 October 2021 Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh Labour Cllr Angela Doran-Timson left the Labour Party and joined the Conservatives.[5][6]
                    3. ^
                      SNP: Deselected by the Scottish National Party[8]

                    References
                    1. "Labour warns against West Lothian Council coalition with Tories". BBC News. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
                    2. "Labour denies minority deal with Tories in West Lothian". Edinburgh Evening News. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
                    3. Faulds, Allan (16 March 2021). "Livingston South (West Lothian) By-Election Result". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
                    4. Faulds, Allan (6 August 2021). "By-Election Result: East Livingston and East Calder". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
                    5. Swanson, Ian (25 October 2021). "West Lothian Labour councillor defects to Tories after marrying Tory group leader". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
                    6. Sommerville, Stuart (27 October 2021). "Labour councillors express "huge surprise" at colleague defecting to Tories". Edinburgh Live. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
                    7. Sommerville, Stuart (24 November 2021). "West Lothian Council: SNP Motion of no confidence fails". Falkirk Herald. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
                    8. Sommerville, Stuart (31 March 2022). "West Lothian's longest serving councillor accuses SNP of ageism as he anticipates being dropped from the party". West Lothian Courier - Daily Record. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
                    9. "NOTICE OF POLL - West Lothian Council" (PDF). West Lothian Council. West Lothian Council. 30 March 2022.
                    10. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 1 Linlithgow)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                    11. "Declaration of Results (Ward 1 Linlithgow)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                    12. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 2 Broxburn, Uphall and Wincburgh)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                    13. "Declaration of Results (Ward 2 Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                    14. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 3 Livingston North)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                    15. "Declaration of Results (Ward 3 Livingston North)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                    16. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 4 Livingston South)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                    17. "Declaration of Results (Ward 4 Livingston South)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                    18. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 5 East Livingston and East Calder)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                    19. "Declaration of Results (Ward 5 East Livingston and East Calder)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                    20. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 6 Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                    21. "Declaration of Results (Ward 6 Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                    22. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 7 Whitburn and Blackburn)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                    23. "Declaration of Results (Ward 7 Whitburn and Blackburn)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                    24. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 8 Bathgate)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                    25. "Declaration of Results (Ward 8 Bathgate)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                    26. "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report (Ward 9 Armadale and Blackridge)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                    27. "Declaration of Results (Ward 9 Armadale and Blackridge)" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
                    28. Sommerville, Stuart (24 May 2022). "West Lothian council to be run by Labour after 'grubby coalition' with Tories". Edinburgh Live.
                    29. Garton-Crosbie, Abbi (27 May 2022). "Key Scottish Labour figures blast 'shameful' Tory council deals". The National. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
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