2003 East Ayrshire Council election
← 1999 1 May 2003 (2003-05-01) 2007 →
All 32 seats to East Ayrshire Council
17 seats needed for a majority
Registered92,144
Turnout51.8%
  First party Second party Third party
 
Lab
SNP
Con
Party Labour SNP Conservative
Last election 17 seats, 45.5% 14 seats, 40.9% 1 seat, 12.1%
Seats won 23 8 1
Seat change Increase 6 Decrease 6 Steady
Popular vote 23,480 16,827 5,958
Percentage 49.2% 35.3% 12.5%
Swing Increase 3.5 Decrease 5.5 Increase 3.2
Council Leader before election


Labour

Council Leader after election


Labour

Elections to East Ayrshire Council were held on 1 May 2003, the same day as the 31 other local government elections in Scotland and elections to the Scottish Parliament. This was the third election since the council's creation in 1995 and the last election to use first-past-the-post voting.

Labour maintained control of the council after increasing their vote share to 49.2%. The party won a majority of the seats and increased their representation on the council. The Scottish National Party (SNP) remained as the largest opposition party on the council despite a net loss of six seats and the Conservatives held their only seat on the council.

Following the introduction of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, local elections in Scotland would use the single transferable vote electoral system which meant this was the last election in which the 32 single-member wards created by the Third Statutory Reviews of Electoral Arrangements would be contested.

Summary

2003 East Ayrshire Council election result
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 23 7 1 Increase 6 71.9 49.2 23,480 Increase 3.5
  SNP 8 1 7 Decrease 6 25.0 35.3 16,827 Decrease 5.5
  Conservative 1 0 0 Steady 3.1 12.5 5,958 Increase 3.2
  Independent 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 1.7 814 Decrease 0.8
  Scottish Socialist 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 1.2 561 New
  BNP 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.2 73 New
Total 32 47,713

Source:[1][2]

Ward results

Stewarton East and Dunlop

Stewarton East and Dunlop
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Maureen McKay 579 37.1 New
Conservative Kenneth Thomson 506 32.4 Decrease 0.9
SNP Andrew Kent 476 30.5 Decrease 14.2
Majority 73 4.7 N/A
Turnout 1,561 52.7 Decrease 15.9
Registered electors 2,962
Labour gain from SNP Swing Increase 25.6

Source:[1][2]

Stewarton Central

Stewarton Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James O'Neill 565 37.9 Decrease 9.9
Independent Ann Hay 426 28.6 New
SNP Ian Primrose 342 22.9 Decrease 29.3
Conservative Tamzin Hobday 158 10.6 New
Majority 139 9.3 N/A
Turnout 1,491 49.2 Decrease 16.3
Registered electors 3,029
Labour gain from SNP Swing Increase 9.7

Source:[1][2]

Kilmaurs and Stewarton South

Kilmaurs and Stewarton South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John McGhee 770 48.3 Increase 22.4
SNP John MacKay 516 32.3 Decrease 10.4
Conservative Thomas Mackie 308 19.3 Increase 5.5
Majority 254 15.9 N/A
Turnout 1,594 53.2 Decrease 13.7
Registered electors 2,998
Labour gain from SNP Swing Increase 16.4

Source:[1][2]

North Kilmarnock, Fenwick and Waterside

North Kilmarnock, Fenwick and Waterside
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stephanie Young 832 40.7 Increase 3.4
SNP George Leslie 672 32.9 Decrease 0.3
Labour Robert Allan 541 26.5 Decrease 3.0
Majority 160 7.8 Increase 3.7
Turnout 2,045 49.7 Decrease 14.9
Registered electors 4,111
Conservative hold Swing Increase 1.8

Source:[1][2]

Crosshouse, Gatehead and Knockentiber

Crosshouse, Gatehead and Knockentiber
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Brian Reeves 660 52.2 Decrease 1.2
SNP David Carrigan 506 40.0 Increase 1.8
Conservative Ahsan Mustafa 99 7.8 Decrease 0.6
Majority 154 12.2 Decrease 2.9
Turnout 1,265 48.9 Decrease 13.7
Registered electors 2,588
Labour hold Swing Decrease 1.5

Source:[1][2]

Altonhill, Hillhead and Longpark

Altonhill, Hillhead and Longpark
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Daniel Coffey 733 54.6 Decrease 4.5
Labour Andrew McCann 419 31.2 Increase 0.5
Conservative Simon Young 116 8.6 Decrease 1.6
Scottish Socialist Mark Scott 74 5.5 New
Majority 314 23.4 Decrease 5.0
Turnout 1,342 44.3 Decrease 11.3
Registered electors 3,029
SNP hold Swing Decrease 2.5

Source:[1][2]

Onthank

Onthank
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Willie Coffey 714 56.3 Decrease 2.1
Labour Robert Milby 506 39.9 Increase 0.6
Scottish Socialist Hugh Ferguson 36 2.8 New
Conservative Thomas Donald 13 1.0 New
Majority 208 16.4 Decrease 2.7
Turnout 1,269 51.5 Decrease 9.8
Registered electors 2,462
SNP hold Swing Decrease 1.3

Source:[1][2]

Kilmarnock Central West

Kilmarnock Central West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Douglas Reid 737 51.5 Increase 2.0
Labour Robert Keohone 569 39.8 Decrease 2.2
Conservative Fredrick McMeekin 125 8.7 Increase 0.2
Majority 168 11.7 Increase 4.2
Turnout 1,431 51.5 Decrease 12.0
Registered electors 2,727
SNP hold Swing Increase 2.1

Source:[1][2]

Kilmarnock Central East

Kilmarnock Central East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Cree 719 46.3 Increase 8.0
SNP Lilian MacLean 646 41.6 Increase 2.7
Conservative Leonard Freeman 189 12.2 Increase 0.2
Majority 73 4.7 N/A
Turnout 1,554 55.0 Decrease 10.9
Registered electors 2,826
Labour gain from SNP Swing Increase 2.6

Source:[1][2]

North New Farm Loch and Dean

North New Farm Loch and Dean
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP John Weir 637 44.3 Increase 3.7
Labour John Blaney 466 32.4 Increase 1.2
Independent Matthew Donnelley 220 15.3 Decrease 4.7
Conservative Thomas Johnson 116 8.1 Decrease 0.1
Majority 171 11.9 Increase 2.5
Turnout 1,439 50.7 Decrease 13.0
Registered electors 2,838
SNP hold Swing Increase 1.2

Source:[1][2]

South New Farm Loch

South New Farm Loch
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Andrew MacIntyre 953 62.5 Increase 4.0
SNP Matthew Connelly 487 32.0 Decrease 9.5
Conservative Alexander Park 84 5.5 New
Majority 466 30.6 Increase 13.7
Turnout 1,524 57.2 Decrease 12.3
Registered electors 2,664
Labour Co-op hold Swing Increase 6.7

Source:[1][2]

Crookedholm, Moscow, Galston West and Hurlford North

Crookedholm, Moscow, Galston West and Hurlford North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Isabella MacRae 801 55.2 Increase 3.5
SNP Francis Dawson 528 36.4 Decrease 1.8
Conservative Moira McLean 122 8.4 Decrease 1.7
Majority 273 18.8 Increase 2.6
Turnout 1,451 51.8 Decrease 10.8
Registered electors 2,802
Labour Co-op hold Swing Increase 2.6

Source:[1][2]

Newmilns

Newmilns
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Henry Wilson 805 58.0 Increase 5.5
Labour Co-op Janice Spiers 409 29.5 Decrease 18.0
Conservative George Park 174 12.5 New
Majority 396 28.5 Increase 23.6
Turnout 1,388 52.7 Decrease 13.0
Registered electors 2,633
SNP hold Swing Increase 11.7

Source:[1][2]

Grange and Howard

Grange and Howard
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Iain Linton 765 42.0 Increase 4.4
Conservative Thomas Cook 604 33.2 Increase 0.2
Labour Co-op John Goodwin 452 24.8 Increase 3.2
Majority 161 8.8 Increase 4.2
Turnout 1,821 59.8 Decrease 10.7
Registered electors 3,044
SNP hold Swing Increase 2.1

Source:[1][2]

Kilmarnock Central South

Kilmarnock Central South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP John Campbell 706 43.3 Increase 5.2
Labour Co-op Alexander Walsh 654 40.1 Decrease 0.3
Conservative Henry McCall 269 16.5 Decrease 2.3
Majority 52 3.2 N/A
Turnout 1,629 52.0 Decrease 9.8
Registered electors 3,132
SNP gain from Labour Co-op Swing Increase 2.7

Source:[1][2]

Riccarton

Riccarton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Ray Murray 711 51.2 Increase 11.4
SNP John Keast 497 35.8 Decrease 9.4
Conservative Rose-Ann Fergusson-Cuninghame 181 13.0 Increase 5.3
Majority 214 15.4 N/A
Turnout 1,389 48.3 Decrease 14.0
Registered electors 2,877
Labour Co-op gain from SNP Swing Increase 10.4

Source:[1][2]

Shortlees

Shortlees
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Jane Danbrough 680 51.6 Decrease 2.5
SNP William McCulloch 511 38.8 Decrease 1.1
Scottish Socialist Colin Rutherford 72 5.5 New
Conservative Peter Houison-Craufurd 55 4.2 Decrease 1.8
Majority 169 12.8 Decrease 1.4
Turnout 1,318 44.7 Decrease 13.5
Registered electors 2,951
Labour Co-op hold Swing Decrease 0.7

Source:[1][2]

Bellfield

Bellfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op John Knapp 999 62.9 Increase 15.2
SNP Stephen McCluskey 406 25.6 Decrease 16.2
Scottish Socialist Colin Berry 118 7.4 New
Conservative Robert Yuill 64 4.0 Increase 0.5
Majority 596 37.4 Increase 21.5
Turnout 1,227 56.5 Decrease 14.1
Registered electors 2,811
Labour Co-op hold Swing Increase 15.7

Source:[1][2]

Hurlford

Hurlford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op James Raymond 998 70.6 Increase 9.0
SNP Arthur Sharp 328 23.2 Decrease 15.2
Conservative Alice McCall 88 6.2 New
Majority 670 47.3 Increase 24.2
Turnout 1,414 47.0 Decrease 12.1
Registered electors 3,006
Labour Co-op hold Swing Increase 17.1

Source:[1][2]

Galston East

Galston East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Stuart Finlayson 744 51.2 Increase 16.4
SNP Finlay MacLean 553 38.0 Decrease 6.8
Conservative Sara Donald 157 10.8 Increase 7.0
Majority 191 13.1 N/A
Turnout 1,454 54.8 Decrease 6.0
Registered electors 2,651
Labour Co-op gain from SNP Swing Increase 11.6

Source:[1][2]

Darvel

Darvel
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Robert McDill 1,110 69.7 Increase 6.0
Labour Co-op Graham Mitchell 364 22.8 Decrease 4.8
Conservative Elizabeth Murray 119 7.5 Decrease 1.2
Majority 746 46.8 Increase 10.6
Turnout 1,593 54.7 Decrease 13.5
Registered electors 2,914
SNP hold Swing Increase 5.4

Source:[1][2]

Mauchline

Mauchline
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Eric Jackson 867 53.3 Increase 2.1
SNP David Shankland 455 28.3 Decrease 2.9
Conservative Martin Nicholas 297 18.5 Increase 0.9
Majority 402 25.0 Increase 5.0
Turnout 1,609 56 Increase 4.6
Registered electors 2,875
Labour hold Swing Increase 2.5

Source:[1][2]

Catrine, Sorn and Mauchline East

Catrine, Sorn and Mauchline East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op George Smith 779 51.4 Increase 3.3
SNP Jacqueline Todd 500 33.0 Decrease 6.5
Conservative Kenneth Stirling 238 15.7 Increase 3.4
Majority 279 18.4 Increase 9.8
Turnout 1,517 52.3 Decrease 9.5
Registered electors 2,898
Labour Co-op hold Swing Increase 4.9

Source:[1][2]

Muirkirk, Lugar and Logan

Muirkirk, Lugar and Logan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Kelly 975 69.2 Decrease 0.5
SNP Helen Kelso 269 19.1 Decrease 11.2
Scottish Socialist Mark Gilroy 91 6.5 New
Conservative Peter Smith 73 5.2 New
Majority 706 50.1 Increase 10.7
Turnout 1,408 55.3 Decrease 10.2
Registered electors 2,544
Labour hold Swing Increase 5.3

Source:[1][2]

Drongan, Stair and Rankinston

Drongan, Stair and Rankinston
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Thomas Farrell 982 65.1 Decrease 8.5
SNP John MacAulay 251 16.6 Decrease 9.8
Conservative James Hume 180 11.9 New
Independent Robert Shennan 96 6.4 New
Majority 731 48.4 Increase 1.1
Turnout 1,509 49.0 Decrease 11.9
Registered electors 3,079
Labour Co-op hold Swing Increase 0.6

Source:[1][2]

Ochiltree, Skares, Netherthird and Craigens

Ochiltree, Skares, Netherthird and Craigens
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op William Menzies 772 49.2 Increase 9.0
SNP Julie Faulds 657 41.8 Decrease 5.8
Conservative Ian Waller 141 9.0 Decrease 3.2
Majority 115 7.3 N/A
Turnout 1,570 54.0 Decrease 8.3
Registered electors 2,908
Labour Co-op gain from SNP Swing Increase 7.4

Source:[1][2]

Auchinleck

Auchinleck
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Neil McGhee 924 62.9 Increase 8.5
SNP Iain Robb 343 23.4 Decrease 22.2
Scottish Socialist Gareth Jenkins 89 6.1 New
BNP Stephen Burns 73 5.0 New
Conservative Primpton Sword 39 2.7 New
Majority 581 39.6 Increase 30.8
Turnout 1,468 52.6 Decrease 9.7
Registered electors 2,790
Labour hold Swing Increase 15.3

Source:[1][2]

Cumnock West

Cumnock West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Crawford 839 59.4 Decrease 4.8
SNP Katherine Smith 303 21.4 Decrease 14.4
Conservative Gary Smith 141 10.0 New
Scottish Socialist James Monaghan 130 9.2 New
Majority 536 37.9 Increase 9.6
Turnout 1,413 48.7 Decrease 11.9
Registered electors 2,903
Labour hold Swing Increase 4.8

Source:[1][2]

Cumnock East

Cumnock East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Eric Ross 961 78.4 Increase 8.2
SNP James Kelso 215 17.5 Decrease 12.3
Conservative Craig Allison 50 4.1 New
Majority 746 60.8 Increase 20.4
Turnout 1,226 46.3 Decrease 10.6
Registered electors 2,650
Labour hold Swing Increase 13.2

Source:[1][3]

Patna and Dalrymple

Patna and Dalrymple
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Elaine Dinwoodie 1,039 71.5 Increase 4.3
Conservative Sophie Brodie 215 14.8 New
SNP Alexander MacKenzie 200 13.8 Decrease 19.0
Majority 824 56.7 Increase 22.3
Turnout 1,454 47.7 Decrease 7.0
Registered electors 3,051
Labour hold Swing Increase 11.6

Source:[1][2]

Dalmellington

Dalmellington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Elaine Stewart 789 52.7 Increase 1.1
SNP Andrew Filson 645 43.1 Increase 25.2
Conservative James Boswell 40 2.7 New
Scottish Socialist Anne Baker 23 1.5 New
Majority 144 9.6 Decrease 11.5
Turnout 1,497 58.6 Decrease 2.5
Registered electors 2,555
Labour hold Swing Decrease 12.0

Source:[1][2]

New Cumnock

New Cumnock
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Carmichael 1,004 67.7 Increase 6.2
SNP Michael Lopez 314 21.2 Increase 4.3
Conservative Walter Young 165 11.1 New
Majority 690 46.5 Increase 25.4
Turnout 1,483 52.3 Decrease 8.8
Registered electors 2,836
Labour hold Swing Increase 0.9

Source:[1][2]

By-elections (2003–07)

Altonhill, Hillhead and Longpark by-election, 18 May 2006
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Helen Coffey 715 59.0 Increase 4.4
Labour Matthew McLaughlin 296 24.4 Decrease 6.8
Conservative James Adams 178 14.7 Increase 6.1
Scottish Socialist Colin Rutherford 23 1.9 Decrease 3.6
Majority 419 34.6 Increase 11.2
Turnout 1,212 42.2 Decrease 2.1
Registered electors 2,869
SNP hold Swing Increase 5.6

Source:[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael (2003). Local Elections Handbook 2003 (PDF). Plymouth: Local Government Chronicle Elections Centre, University of Plymouth. ISBN 0-948858-35-4. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael (1999). Local Elections Handbook 1999 (PDF). Plymouth: Local Government Chronicle Elections Centre, University of Plymouth. ISBN 0-948858-25-7. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  3. ^ "East Ayrshire Council minutes 13 May 1999" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 13 May 1999. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  4. ^ Teale, Andrew. "Local Elections Archive Project - Altonhill, Hillhead and Longpark Ward". Retrieved 8 November 2022.
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