Politics of Aberdeen
# Politics of Aberdeen

The Politics of Aberdeen, Scotland have changed significantly in recent years. In 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, Grampian Regional Council and Aberdeen District Council were dissolved, creating the new unitary Aberdeen City Council to represent the city's council area.

## Aberdeen City Council

Aberdeen City Council represents the Aberdeen City council area of Scotland. Aberdeen City Council currently comprises forty-five councillors, who represent the city's thirteen multi-member wards, and is chaired by the Lord Provost.

The council area was created in 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994. However, a sense of Aberdeen as a city, with its own city council, can be traced back to 1900, when the city of county of Aberdeen was created. In 1975, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the county of city was combined with Bucksburn, Dyce, Newhills, Old Machar, Peterculter and the Stoneywood areas of the county of Aberdeen and, the Nigg area of the county of Kincardine, (including Cove Bay) to form the Aberdeen district of the Grampian region.

On 9 May 1995, by resolution under section 23 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, The City of Aberdeen Council changed the name of the local government area of "City of Aberdeen" to "Aberdeen City", which remains the existing unitary council area.

Prior to the 2003 election, the council had been considered a Labour stronghold. Between 2003 and 2007, the council was under the control of a Liberal Democrat and Conservative coalition, holding 23 of the 43 seats on the council. Following the May 2007 election, contested for the first time using a system of proportional representation, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party (SNP) formed a coalition to run the council, holding 27 of the 43 seats (following an SNP by-election gain from the Conservatives on 16 August 2007, the Liberal Democrat/SNP coalition held 28 of the 43 seats). At the May 2012 election, Labour entered into a coalition with the Conservatives and the independents to run the council, with 23 out of the 43 seats.

### Composition (2003–2007)

The city council's original composition from 1995 used 43 wards while using the standard first-past-the-post voting system. The final group of representative councillors and their political parties using this system were:

| | Party | Ward | Councillor |
| - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal Democrat | (34) Ashley | Martin Greig |
| | Scottish National Party | (9) Auchmill | Kevin Stewart |
| | Labour | (2) Bankhead/Stoneywood | Brian Rattary |
| | Liberal Democrat | (21) Berryden | John Stewart |
| | Liberal Democrat | (6) Bridge of Don | Millie McLeod |
| | Liberal Democrat | (35) Broomhill | Ian Yuill |
| | Labour | (28) Castlehill | Jim Hunter |
| | Liberal Democrat | (32) Cults | Aileen Malone |
| | Labour | (10) Cummings Park | Gordon Graham |
| | Liberal Democrat | (3) Danestone | Raymond Hutcheon |
| | Scottish National Party | (7) Donmouth | Muriel Jaffrey |
| | Liberal Democrat | (38) Duthie | Irene Cormack |
| | Liberal Democrat | (1) Dyce | Ron Clark |
| | Liberal Democrat | (36) Garthdee | Scott Cassie |
| | Liberal Democrat | (26) Gilcomston | Alison Smith |
| | Liberal Democrat | (29) Hazlehead | Karen Freel |
| | Labour | (15) Hilton | George Adam |
| | Liberal Democrat | (37) Holburn | David Falconer |
| | Liberal Democrat | (4) Jesmond | Gordon Leslie |
| | Labour | (42) Kincorth East | George Urquhart |
| | Independent | (41) Kincorth West | David Clyne |
| | Liberal Democrat | (19) Kittybrewster | Neil Fletcher |
| | Liberal Democrat | (27) Langstane | Steve Delaney |
| | Liberal Democrat | (43) Loirston | Katherine Dean |
| | Conservative | (33) Mannofield | Jill Wisely |
| | Labour | (12) Mastrick | Ramsey Milne |
| | Conservative | (24) Midstocket | John Porter |
| | Liberal Democrat | (31) Murtle | Matthew Duncan |
| | Liberal Democrat | (8) Newhills | Peter Stephen |
| | Liberal Democrat | (5) Oldmachar | John Reynolds |
| | Liberal Democrat | (30) Peterculter | Pamela MacDonald |
| | Labour | (23) Pittodrie | Ronald Webster |
| | Conservative | (25) Queens Cross | Brenda Craig |
| | Labour | (18) Seaton | Norman Collie |
| | Labour | (13) Sheddocksley | James Lamond |
| | Scottish National Party | (11) Springhill | Karen Shirron |
| | Labour | (17) St. Machar | Sandra Macdonald |
| | Labour | (20) Stockethill | June Lamond |
| | Labour | (14) Summerhill | Len Ironside |
| | Scottish National Party | (22) Sunnybank | Andrew May |
| | Labour | (39) Torry | Yvonne Allan |
| | Scottish National Party | (40) Tullos | Jim Kiddie |
| | Scottish National Party | (16) Woodside/Tillydrone | Alan Gowers |
| Source: Aberdeen City Council ||||

## New wards from May 2007

Before May 2007, councillors represented 43 single-member wards, but since then, all seats were contested by the first-past-the-post electoral system. On 5 May 2007, it was the first election to use the single transferable vote system of election and multi-member wards, each ward electing three or four councillors. The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland completed its final recommendations for new wards for all the council areas of Scotland and for Aberdeen it was concluded that there would be 13 multi-member wards with a total of 43 councillors. This system was introduced as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, and was designed to produce a form of proportional representation.

The composition of wards changed to:

4 councillors:

* (1) Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone
* (2) Bridge of Don
* (10) Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross
* (12) Torry/Ferryhill

3 councillors:

* (3) Kingswells/Sheddocksley – name later changed to Kingswells/Sheddocksley/Summerhill
* (4) Northfield – name later changed to Northfield/Mastrick North
* (5) Hilton/Stockethill – name later changed to Hilton/Woodside/Stockethill
* (6) Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen
* (7) Midstocket/Rosemount
* (8) George Street/Harbour
* (9) Lower Deeside
* (11) Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee
* (13) Kincorth/Loirston – name later changed to Kincorth/Nigg/Cove

### Composition (2007–2012)

| Ward | Councillors | Party |
| - | - | - |
| Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone | Ron Clark | Liberal Democrat |
| | Barney Crockett | Labour |
| | Mark McDonald | Scottish National Party |
| | George Penny | Liberal Democrat |
| Bridge of Don | Muriel Jaffrey | Scottish National Party |
| | Gordon Leslie | Liberal Democrat |
| | John Reynolds | Liberal Democrat |
| | Willie Young | Labour |
| Kingswells/Sheddocksley | Len Ironside | Labour |
| | Peter Stephen | Liberal Democrat |
| | Wendy Stuart | Scottish National Party |
| Northfield | Jackie Dunbar | Scottish National Party |
| | Gordon Graham | Labour |
| | Kevin Stewart | Scottish National Party |
| Hilton/Stockethill | George Adam | Labour |
| | Neil Fletcher | Liberal Democrat |
| | Kirsty West | Scottish National Party |
| Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen | Norman Collie | Labour |
| | Jim Noble | Scottish National Party |
| | Richard Robertson | Liberal Democrat |
| Midstocket/Rosemount | Bill Cormie | Scottish National Party |
| | Jenny Laing | Labour |
| | John Corral | Scottish National Party |
| George Street/Harbour | Andrew May | Scottish National Party |
| | Jim Hunter | Labour |
| | John Stewart | Liberal Democrat |
| Lower Deeside | Mary Boulton | Independent |
| | Aileen Malone | Liberal Democrat |
| | Alan Milne | Conservative |
| Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross | Jim Farquharson | Conservative |
| | Martin Greig | Liberal Democrat |
| | Jennifer Stewart | Liberal Democrat |
| | John West | Scottish National Party |
| Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee | Scott Cassie | Liberal Democrat |
| | Jill Wisely | Conservative |
| | Ian Yuill | Liberal Democrat |
| Torry/Ferryhill | Yvonne Allan | Labour |
| | Irene Cormack | Liberal Democrat |
| | Alan Donnelly | Conservative |
| | Jim Kiddle | Scottish National Party |
| Kincorth/Loirston | Neil Cooney | Labour |
| | Kate Dean | Liberal Democrat |
| | Callum McCaig | Scottish National Party |
| Source: ||||

**Changes since 2007 Election**

* A by-election was held in the Midstocket/Rosemount Ward following the death of the Conservatives' John Porter on 23 May 2007. The by-election, on 16 August 2007, was won by the SNP's John Corall.
* In January 2011, Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen Cllr Norman Collie resigned from the Labour Party and sat as an Independent.
* A by-election was held in the Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone Ward following the death of the Liberal Democrat's Ron Clark on 21 February 2011. The by-election, on 19 May 2011, was won by the SNP's Neil MacGregor.
* In June 2011, Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross Cllr Jim Farquaharson was expelled from the Conservative Party and sat as an Independent.
* In June 2011, Lower Deeside Cllr Alan Milne was expelled from the Conservative Party and sat as an Independent.
* A by-election was held in the Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee Ward following the resignation of the Liberal Democrat's Scott Cassie on 27 April 2011 after he was jailed for embezzlement. The by-election, on 23 June 2011, was won by the SNP's Gordon Scott Townson.
* In September 2011, Bridge of Don Cllr Gordon Leslie was suspended from the Liberal Democrats. He subsequently resigned from the party and sat as an Independent.
* In February 2012, George Street/Harbour Cllr Jim Hunter was suspended from the Labour Party. He subsequently resigned from the party and sat as an Independent.
* In March 2012, Bridge of Don Cllr John Reynolds resigned from the Liberal Democrats and sat as an Independent.

### Composition (2012–2017)

| Ward | Councillors | Party |
| - | - | - |
| Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone | Barney Crockett | Labour |
| | Graeme Lawrence | Labour |
| | Neil MacGregor | Scottish National Party |
| | Gill Samarai | Scottish National Party |
| Bridge of Don | Muriel Jaffrey | Scottish National Party |
| | John Reynolds | Independent |
| | Sandy Stuart | Scottish National Party |
| | Willie Young | Labour |
| Kingswells/Sheddocksley/Summerhill | David Cameron | Scottish National Party |
| | Steve Delaney | Liberal Democrat |
| | Len Ironside | Labour |
| Northfield/Mastrick North | Scott Carle | Labour |
| | Jackie Dunbar | Scottish National Party |
| | Gordon Graham | Labour |
| Hilton/Woodside/Stockethill | George Adam | Labour |
| | Kirsty Blackman ("née" West) | Scottish National Party |
| | Lesley Dunbar | Labour |
| Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen | Ross Grant | Labour |
| | Ramsey Milne | Labour |
| | Jim Noble | Scottish National Party |
| Midstocket/Rosemount | Bill Cormie | Scottish National Party |
| | Fraser Forsyth | Independent |
| | Jenny Laing | Labour |
| George Street/Harbour | Andrew May | Scottish National Party |
| | Jean Morrison | Labour |
| | Nathan Morrison | Labour |
| Lower Deeside | Mary Boulton | Independent |
| | M. Tauqeer Malik | Labour |
| | Aileen Malone | Liberal Democrat |
| Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross | John Corall | SNP |
| | Martin Greig | Liberal Democrat |
| | Jennifer Stewart | Liberal Democrat |
| | Ross Thomson | Conservative |
| Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee | Angela Taylor | Labour |
| | Gordon Townson | SNP |
| | Ian Yuill | Liberal Democrat |
| Torry/Ferryhill | Yvonne Allan | Labour |
| | Graham Dickson | Scottish National Party |
| | Alan Donnelly | Independent |
| | Jim Kiddle | Scottish National Party |
| Kincorth/Nigg/Cove | Neil Cooney | Labour |
| | Andrew Finlayson | Independent |
| | Callum McCaig | Scottish National Party |

**Changes since 2012 Election**

* In January 2014, Torry/Ferryhill Cllr Alan Donnelly was expelled from the Conservative Party group and sits as an Independent.
* In May 2014, Midstocket/Rosemount Cllr Jenny Laing replaced Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone Cllr Barney Crockett as Leader of the Council.
* In May 2014, Midstocket/Rosemount Cllr Fraser Forsyth resigned from the Conservative Party group and sits as an Independent.

## UK Parliament

In the United Kingdom Parliament, the city is divided between three constituencies:

| Party | Constituency | Member |
| - | - | - |
| Scottish National Party | Aberdeen North | Kirsty Blackman |
| Scottish National Party | Aberdeen South | Stephen Flynn |
| Scottish National Party | Gordon | Richard Thomson |

## Scottish Parliament

There are three Scottish Parliament constituencies that overlap the Aberdeen City Council area in the North East Scotland electoral region:

| Party | Constituency | Member |
| - | - | - |
| Scottish National Party | Aberdeen Central | Kevin Stewart |
| Scottish National Party | Aberdeen Donside | Jackie Dunbar |
| Scottish National Party | Aberdeen South and North Kincardine | Audrey Nicoll |

Other MSPs in the North East Scotland electoral region (but selected by the Additional Member proportional representation system, and not in constituencies overlapping Aberdeen City or the Aberdeen City Council area) are:

| Party | Members |
| - | - |
| Labour | Mercedes Villalba |
| Labour | Michael Marra |
| Conservative | Maurice Golden |
| Conservative | Tess White |
| Conservative | Liam Kerr |
| Conservative | Douglas Lumsden |
| Scottish Greens | Maggie Chapman |

## Scottish independence referendum

In 2014 a referendum was held asking voters in Scotland the question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" The referendum was held by the SNP administration after their victory in the 2011 Scottish Parliament election to determine whether Scotland should become an independent nation or remain a devolved part of the United Kingdom. Of the 3,623,344 votes cast (on a turnout of 84.6%) 2,001,926 were in favour of a "No" vote (55.3%) while 1,617,989 were "Yes" (44.7%): leading to Scotland remaining part of the United Kingdom.

The Aberdeen City local authority area had a higher than average No vote. 84,094 voters in the area voted against independence (58.6%) while 59,390 voted in favour of independence (41.4%). The Aberdeen City council area had the third lowest turnout in Scotland with 143,484 valid ballot papers on a turnout of 81.7%, ahead of Dundee and Glasgow.

## Twinned cities

Aberdeen is twinned with several cities across Europe and throughout the rest of the world. These include:

| - Bulawayo, Zimbabwe - Clermont-Ferrand, France - Gomel, Belarus | - Houston, United States (as part of Grampian) - Regensburg, Germany - Stavanger, Norway |
| - | - |
