Falkirk Council election
The 2022 elections to Falkirk Council were held on 5 May 2022 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. The election will use the nine wards created following the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland's 5th Review, with 30 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either three or four members, using the STV electoral system.[1]
At the last election in 2017, the Scottish National Party (SNP) won the most seats and formed a minority administration.[2]
Background
Previous election
At the previous election in 2017, the Scottish National Party (SNP) became the largest party, despite losing one seat, overtaking Labour who lost five seats. Two independents were elected, one less than 2012 while the Conservatives gained five seats.[3]
2017 Falkirk Council election result
| Party
|
Seats
|
Gains
|
Losses
|
Net gain/loss
|
Seats %
|
Votes %
|
Votes
|
+/−
|
|
|
SNP
|
12
|
|
1
|
 1
|
40.0
|
38.8
|
20,861
|
1.6
|
|
|
Labour
|
9
|
|
5
|
5
|
30.0
|
23.1
|
12,421
|
14.6
|
|
|
Conservative
|
7
|
5
|
|
 5
|
23.3
|
24.5
|
13,168
|
13.3
|
|
|
Independent
|
2
|
|
1
|
1
|
6.7
|
9.8
|
5,308
|
0.7
|
|
|
Scottish Green
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.0
|
3.6
|
1,933
|
New
|
| Total
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
53,754
|
|
- Notes[3]
- Votes are the sum of first preference votes across all council wards. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections in May 2012. This is because STV has an element of proportionality which is not present unless multiple seats are being elected. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.
- Following boundary changes, the number of seats in Falkirk fell from 32 in 2012 to 30 in 2017. Gains and losses are represented against national results which may differ from other published sources.
Composition
Since the previous election, several changes in the composition of the council occurred. Labour councillor John McLuckie and Conservative councillor James Kerr were suspended by their respective parties after having been charged by the police following an investigation into planning irregularities in Falkirk.[4] SNP councillor Niall Coleman resigned from the party to become an independent.[5] Two by-elections were held and resulted in an SNP hold[6] and an SNP gain from Labour.[2]
Retiring councillors
