This by-election was called after the death of Independent councillor Dougie Philand. The ward last elected three councillors together, in May 2022; independents and others took the most votes with 49 per cent. Earlier contests were led by independents and others in 2017 and 2012. 7 candidates stood.
Every ward and councillor, who runs the council, and each by-election since May.
Argyll and Bute council page →| Party | Share |
|---|---|
| SNP | 46.1% |
| Liberal Democrats | 17.4% |
| Conservative | 12.9% |
| Reform UK | 8.5% |
| Restore Britain | 7.0% |
| Independence for Scotland | 5.3% |
| Independent | 2.8% |
Turnout 29 per cent.
Reform UK: fewer than 5 wins in 100 each.
Also on the ballot, not projected to win the seat: Liberal Democrats, Conservative, Restore Britain and other candidates.
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 | 12% | 5% | 3% | 31% | 49% |
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 Independents and others, Conservative and SNP.
Argyll and Bute is a Scottish council: it runs every local service. Current control: SNP / Liberal Democrat / Independent / Labour / Green.
Seats under the independents-and-others heading here have been won by independents at elections since 2022.
Argyll and Bute council page →
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.
Argyll and Bute Holyrood seat, May 2026: SNP 40%, Liberal Democrat 31%, Reform UK 13%.