1999 Highland Council election
← 1995 6 May 1999 (1999-05-06) 2003 →
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, 61.22% 7 seats, 7.65% 7 seats, 12.2%
Seats won 49 12 10
Seat change Steady0 Increase5 Increase3
Popular vote 43,810 8,108 11,756
Percentage 57.39% 10.62% 15.4%
Swing Decrease3.84% Increase3.9% Increase4.43%
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
  Blank Blank Blank
Party SNP Independent Liberal Conservative
Last election 9 seats, 17.36% New 1 seat, 0.9%
Seats won 8 1 0
Seat change Decrease1 Increase1 Decrease1
Popular vote 9,456 695 2,509
Percentage 12.39% 0.91% 3.29%
Swing Decrease4.96% New Increase2.39%
Map showing results by ward
Council Convener before election

Peter Peacock
Independent

Council Convener after election

David Green
Independent

Elections to the Highland Council were held on 6 May 1999; 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, 1999
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Independent 49 ±0 61.25 57.39 43,810 −3.84
  Liberal Democrats 12 +6 15.00 10.62 8,108 +3.90
  Labour 10 +3 12.50 15.40 11,756 +4.43
  SNP 8 −1 10.00 12.39 9,456 −4.96
  Independent Liberal 1 +1 1.25 0.91 695 +0.91
  Conservative 0 −1 — 3.29 2,509 +2.39

Caithness

The Highland Council election, 1999: Caithness North-West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Alastair MacDonald 680
Independent John Mowat 480
Majority 278
The Highland Council election, 1999: Thurso West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Eric Saxon 454
Independent James Fry 407
Independent George Bruce 357
Majority 47
The Highland Council election, 1999: Thurso Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Rosie 553
Independent Elizabeth MacDonald 482
Independent Ronald Henderson 198
Majority 71
The Highland Council election, 1999: Thurso East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Donald Waters Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Caithness Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David Flear Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Caithness North-East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Green 793
Independent David Richard 580
Majority 213
The Highland Council election, 1999: Wick
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Graeme Smith 447
Labour Bill Mowat 402
Independent Anderson Murray 376
Majority 45
The Highland Council election, 1999: Wick West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Deirdre Steven 463
Independent William Fernie 438
Independent Alistair Roy 333
Majority 25
The Highland Council election, 1999: Pulteneytown
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Jim Oag 673
Independent Niall Smith 437
Majority 236
The Highland Council election, 1999: Caithness South-East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Liberal William Mowat 695
Independent Jeanette Calder 522
Majority 173

Sutherland

The Highland Council election, 1999: Sutherland North-West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Francis Keith Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Tongue and Farr
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Barbara Jardine 539
Independent Alexander Mackay 514
Majority 25
The Highland Council election, 1999: Sutherland Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Alison Magee 725
Independent Russell Taylor 470
Independent Alexander Chalmers 186
Majority 255
The Highland Council election, 1999: Golspie and Rogart
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ian Ross 687
Independent Helen Houston 373
Independent Valerie Scott 150
Majority 314
The Highland Council election, 1999: Brora
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Rita Finlayson 802
Independent Ronald McDonald 662
Majority 140
The Highland Council election, 1999: Dornoch Firth
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Duncan Allan 1,104
Independent Gordon Campbell 306
Majority 798

Ross & Cromarty

The Highland Council election, 1999: Lochbroom
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Green Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Alness and Ardross
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Andrew Anderson Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Tain West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Alasdair Rhind 1,040
SNP Derek Louden 415
Majority 625
The Highland Council election, 1999: Tain East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent James Paterson Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Seaboard
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Richard Durham 747
Labour John Mitchell 493
Majority 254
The Highland Council election, 1999: Invergordon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Lou Wilkerson 622
SNP Morag McCourt 355
Independent Maxine Smith 320
Majority 267
The Highland Council election, 1999: Rosskeen and Saltburn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Carolyn Wilson 568
Independent Norman Chisholm 350
SNP Andrew Currie 302
Labour John Boocock 270
Majority 218
The Highland Council election, 1999: Gairloch
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Roy Macintyre 857
SNP Kris Murray Browne 260
Majority 597
The Highland Council election, 1999: Lochcarron
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ewan Mackinnon 518
Independent Elizabeth Pritchard 399
Independent Allan MacArthur 143
Majority 119
The Highland Council election, 1999: Ferindonald
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Mike Finlayson 848
SNP Robert Gibson 627
Majority 221
The Highland Council election, 1999: Strathpeffer and Strathconon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Douglas Briggs 959
Conservative Bill Mackenzie 309
Majority 650
The Highland Council election, 1999: Dingwall South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Margaret Paterson Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Dingwall North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Andrew Paterson Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Muir of Ord
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Philip 789
SNP John MacInnes 572
Majority 217
The Highland Council election, 1999: Conon and Maryburgh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Sandy MacKenzie 743
Independent Evelyn Vass 703
Majority 40
The Highland Council election, 1999: Knockbain and Killearnan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Peter Cairns Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Black Isle North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Alston 596
Independent Thomas Anderson 591
SNP Alistair Dunn 268
Majority 5
The Highland Council election, 1999: Avoch and Fortrose
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Morris Downie 865
Independent Duncan McPherson 502
Conservative Celia Stewart 383
Majority 363

Skye & Lochalsh

The Highland Council election, 1999: Snizort and Trotternish
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Gavin Scott Moncrief Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Skye West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Allan Beaton Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Portree
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Drew Millar Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Skye Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Angus Sutherland 715
SNP Farquhar MacLennan 322
Majority 393
The Highland Council election, 1999: Kyle and Sleat
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Fulton Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Kinlochshiel
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Isabelle Campbell 832
Labour Patricia Shaw 171
Majority 661

Inverness

The Highland Council election, 1999: Beauly and Strathglass
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Garry Coutts 734
Independent John Sellar 577
Majority 157
The Highland Council election, 1999: Kirkhill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Jack Shiels 906
Independent Molly Doyle 595
Majority 311
The Highland Council election, 1999: Scorguie
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Bernard Salmon 815
Labour Jimmy MacDonald 622
Majority 193
The Highland Council election, 1999: Muirtown
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Christine Cumming Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Merkinch
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Peter Corbett 701
SNP Donnie Kerr 238
Labour Alexander MacLean 234
Majority 463
The Highland Council election, 1999: Inverness Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Eilidh MacDonald 514
Independent Jim Alexander 392
SNP Joerg Macthearlaich-Wiench 300
Conservative Moray MacDonald 190
Majority 122
The Highland Council election, 1999: Culloden
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats John Cole 667
SNP James McCreath 381
Labour John Ford 285
Majority 286
The Highland Council election, 1999: Ardersier, Croy, and Petty
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Roderick Balfour 612
SNP Derek MacDonald 461
Liberal Democrats Glynis Sinclair 353
Majority 151
The Highland Council election, 1999: Loch Ness West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Margaret Davidson 1,018
Independent Patrick Paterson 483
Majority 535
The Highland Council election, 1999: Inverness West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ronald Lyon 708
Labour Debra Lake 452
Majority 256
The Highland Council election, 1999: Canal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Smith 941
Labour Mark Grant 453
Majority 488
The Highland Council election, 1999: Ballifeary
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jim Thomson 820
SNP Robert McLennan 479
Majority 341
The Highland Council election, 1999: Lochardil
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Margaret MacLennan 1,037
Labour Andrew Ingram 546
Majority 491
The Highland Council election, 1999: Hilton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Angus Dick 541
SNP Stuart Dickson 431
Labour Alison Watson 273
Majority 110
The Highland Council election, 1999: Milton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Clive Goodman 834
Liberal Democrats John Horne 602
Majority 232
The Highland Council election, 1999: Crown
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Dick Simpson 636
Independent Patricia Hayden 434
Labour John Ward 335
Conservative Peter Saggers 191
Majority 202
The Highland Council election, 1999: Raigmore
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Munro Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Loch Ness East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ella MacRae Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Culduthel
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Norrie Donald 817
Labour Kenneth Thomson 638
Majority 179
The Highland Council election, 1999: Inshes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Janet Home 639
SNP Ian Brown 464
Independent John Holden 339
Majority 175
The Highland Council election, 1999: Drumossie
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Kathleen Matheson 919
SNP Robert Chalmers 518
Majority 401
The Highland Council election, 1999: Westhill and Smithton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Gillian McCreath 442
Labour Malcolm Jack 425
Independent George Davidson 290
Liberal Democrats Jermaine Allison 240
Majority 17
The Highland Council election, 1999: Balloch
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Robert Wynd 596
Labour Walter McGarrity 512
Conservative William Cameron 445
Majority 84

Nairn

The Highland Council election, 1999: Nairn Alltan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Matheson 662
Independent Andrew Gardiner 425
Conservative Tony Lister 312
Majority 237
The Highland Council election, 1999: Nairn Ninian
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Elizabeth MacDonald 450
Independent William Shand 409
Independent Duncan McDonald 312
Conservative Mark Conway 98
Majority 41
The Highland Council election, 1999: Nairn Cawdor
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Fraser 583
Independent Laurie Fraser 513
Conservative Jonathan Alford 133
Independent John MacKenzie 81
Majority 70
The Highland Council election, 1999: Nairn Auldearn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Alexander Park Unopposed

Badenoch & Strathspey

The Highland Council election, 1999: Badenoch West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Alexander Russell 882
Conservative David Spry 251
Majority 631
The Highland Council election, 1999: Badenoch East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Robert Severn 351
Independent Susan Paton 328
Liberal Democrats Gregor Rimell 303
Independent George Gibson 159
Majority 23
The Highland Council election, 1999: Strathspey South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Angus Gordon 657
SNP Karen Lawrie 498
Majority 159
The Highland Council election, 1999: Strathspey North-East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Francis Black Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Grantown-on-Spey
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Basil Dunlop 852
Independent Arthur Durance 302
Majority 550

Lochaber

The Highland Council election, 1999: Mallaig and Small Isles
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Charles King Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Kilmallie and Invergarry
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent George Bruce 754
Labour Susan Carstairs 258
Independent Donald Lawrie 166
Majority 496
The Highland Council election, 1999: Claggan and Glen Spean
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William MacLachlan Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Ardnamurchan and Morvern
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Michael Foxley 571
Independent Iain Thornber 387
Conservative Jonathan Slater 197
Majority 184
The Highland Council election, 1999: Caol
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Olwyn Macdonald Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Fort William North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Brian Murphy 699
SNP Iain Macdonald 559
Majority 140
The Highland Council election, 1999: Fort William South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Neil Clark Unopposed
The Highland Council election, 1999: Glencoe
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Andrew McFarlane-Slack 770
Labour William Spence 428
SNP David Ingham 257
Majority 342

References

Categories