This by-election was called after the resignation of Independent councillor Willie MacKay. The ward last elected four councillors together, in May 2022; the Liberal Democrats took the most votes with 30 per cent. Earlier contests were won by the Liberal Democrats in 2021 and led by independents and others in 2017. 5 candidates stood.
Every ward and councillor, who runs the council, and each by-election since May.
Highland council page →| Party | Share |
|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | 50.4% |
| Independent | 23.6% |
| SNP | 14.0% |
| Reform UK | 9.4% |
| Conservative | 2.6% |
Turnout 30 per cent.
SNP, Independent: fewer than 7 wins in 100 each.
Also on the ballot, not projected to win the seat: Reform UK and Conservative.
How often each candidate wins the seat across 10,000 simulations of this contest - chances of winning, not vote shares.
Scottish by-elections use the Single Transferable Vote: voters rank candidates and the count can transfer votes down the rankings. This projection models first preferences only. In 92 real Scottish council by-elections since 2007, the first-preference leader won 94 per cent of the time.
| Result | Conservative | Labour | Liberal Democrats | SNP | Independents and others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2022 | 15% | 6% | 30% | 25% | 23% |
First-preference share of the vote at the 2022 Scottish local elections; leading party in bold. Scottish wards elect several councillors at once by the single transferable vote. In 2022 the ward elected one councillor each from Conservative, Independents and others, Liberal Democrats and SNP.
Highland is a Scottish council: it runs every local service. Current control: SNP / Independent.
Seats under the independents-and-others heading here have been won by independents at elections since 2022.
How every council in Britain stands →
Wards coloured by the party that led first preferences at the 2022 election; the by-election ward is outlined. Hover a ward for its 2022 result.
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross Holyrood seat, May 2026: Liberal Democrat 48%, SNP 31%, Reform UK 13%.