Aberdeenshire Council - Wards and Councillors

Scottish council · Scotland · 70 seats in 19 wards · All seats elected every five years · Next election 6 May 2027

Aberdeenshire Council is run by a Conservative / Liberal Democrats / Independent coalition. The council has 70 councillors in 19 wards. Seats by party: Conservative 20, SNP 19, Lib Dem 14, Other 10, Reform 7. The next election is on 6 May 2027.

Control

Seats by party

Conservative / Liberal Democrats / Independent Coalition

70 seats - 36 for a majority

Reform 7Conservative 20Lib Dem 14SNP 19Other 10

Seat changes since the 5 May 2022 election Reform +7 Other +1 SNP −2 Conservative −6

Vote share at the 5 May 2022 election (70 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Conservative33.9%26

SNP30.8%21

Lib Dem14.7%14

Other14.5%9

Labour4.1%0

Green2.0%0

Next election

6 May 2027

all 70 seats up, then every five years

Largest party

Conservative 20

16 short of the 36 needed for a majority

Latest by-election

Peterhead South & Cruden

SNP gain from Conservative, 2 July 2026 (4 since 2021)

Constituencies

2 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

45%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

ConservativeSNP

Coloured by the party holding most of the ward's seats today; where seats are split evenly, by the party with the higher share at the last election.

All 19 wards

Councillors and last results

Select a ward for its full results, candidates and last by-election.

Ward and councillors	Last election
Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside Sarah Brown, Geva Blackett, Anouk Kloppert	5 May 2022 Conservative 34.5% lead 11.8 pts
Banchory and Mid Deeside Eileen Durno, Ann Ross, Yi-Pei Chou Turvey	5 May 2022 Conservative 42.7% lead 18.7 pts
Banff and District John Cox, Stewart Adams, Glen Reynolds	5 May 2022 SNP 31.9% lead 4.1 pts
Central Buchan Peter Chapman, Hannah Powell, Anne Simpson, Geoff Crowson	5 May 2022 Conservative 33.3% lead 2.2 pts
East Garioch Jim Gifford, Trevor Mason, Dominic Lonchay, Glen Reid	5 May 2022 SNP 41.0% lead 13.6 pts
Ellon and District John Crawley, Louise McAllister, Gillian Owen, Isobel Davidson	5 May 2022 Conservative 35.6% lead 3.9 pts
Fraserburgh and District Doreen Mair, Ann Bell, James Adams, Iain Sutherland	5 May 2022 Conservative 32.4% lead 0.3 pts
Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford Robbie Withey, Gwyneth Petrie, Lauren Knight, Jeff Goodhall	5 May 2022 Conservative 40.4% lead 5.9 pts
Inverurie and District Neil Baillie, David Keating, Judy Whyte, Marion Ewenson	5 May 2022 SNP 31.1% lead 5.4 pts
Mearns Alison Evison, Laurie Carnie, Tracey Smith, George Carr	5 May 2022 Conservative 31.8% lead 2.8 pts
Mid Formartine Andrew Hassan, Jenny Nicol, Paul Johnston, Derek Ritchie	5 May 2022 SNP 33.7% lead 0.4 pts
North Kincardine Mel Sullivan, Catherine Victor, Shirley Burnett, David Aitchison	5 May 2022 SNP 36.2% lead 9.3 pts
Peterhead North and Rattray Dianne Beagrie, Alan Buchan, Leeann McWhinnie, Matthew James	5 May 2022 SNP 29.1% lead 2.4 pts
Peterhead South and Cruden Stephen Smith, Angus Matheson, Colin Simpson	5 May 2022 SNP 46.5% lead 5.2 pts
Stonehaven and Lower Deeside Sarah Dickinson, Wendy Agnew, Dawn Black, Alan Turner	5 May 2022 Conservative 32.0% lead 5.0 pts
Troup Richard Menard, Mark Findlater, Ross Cassie	5 May 2022 Conservative 50.2% lead 12.9 pts
Turriff and District Iain Taylor, Gordon Lang, Anne Stirling, Alastair Forsyth	5 May 2022 Conservative 39.1% lead 5.2 pts
West Garioch Sam Payne, Hazel Smith, Moray Grant	5 May 2022 SNP 29.4% lead 2.3 pts
Westhill and District Ron McKail, Iris Walker, Craig Miller, Fatima Joji	5 May 2022 Conservative 39.6% lead 13.3 pts

Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside

Anouk Kloppert SNPGeva Blackett IndependentSarah Brown Conservative

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (3 seats)

Conservative34.5%

Independent22.7%

SNP21.7%

Lib Dem17.5%

Labour3.7%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Geva Blackett Elected	Independent	1,098	22.7%
Anouk Kloppert Elected	SNP	1,049	21.7%
Sarah Brown Elected	Conservative	1,029	21.3%
Peter Argyle	Lib Dem	846	17.5%
Claudia Leith	Conservative	640	13.2%
John Lawson	Labour	179	3.7%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Banchory and Mid Deeside

Ann Ross IndependentEileen Durno SNPYi-Pei Chou Turvey Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (3 seats)

Conservative42.7%

SNP24.0%

Lib Dem21.5%

Labour11.1%

Scottish Family Party0.7%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Ann Ross Elected	Conservative	1,211	25.1%
Eileen Durno Elected	SNP	1,158	24.0%
Yi-Pei Chou Turvey Elected	Lib Dem	1,040	21.5%
Harriet Cross	Conservative	852	17.6%
Andy Brown	Labour	536	11.1%
Graeme Craib	Scottish Family Party	35	0.7%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Banff and District

Glen Reynolds SNPJohn Cox ReformStewart Adams Conservative

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (3 seats)

SNP31.9%

Conservative27.8%

Independent19.8%

Independent7.2%

Labour5.0%

Lib Dem3.8%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Glen Reynolds Elected	SNP	1,265	31.9%
Stewart Adams Elected	Conservative	1,103	27.8%
John Cox Elected	Independent	787	19.8%
Mike Roy	Independent	285	7.2%
James Andrew Low	Labour	200	5.0%
Sandy Leslie	Lib Dem	150	3.8%
Neil Woodward	Scottish Green	105	2.6%
Iain Ronald McLachlan Cameron	Alba	73	1.8%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Central Buchan

Anne Simpson Lib DemGeoff Crowson SNPHannah Powell ConservativePeter Chapman Conservative

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (4 seats)

Conservative33.3%

SNP31.1%

Lib Dem13.0%

Independent11.3%

Labour4.6%

Scottish Green2.9%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Hannah Powell Elected	Conservative	871	18.7%
David Mair Elected	SNP	744	16.0%
Geoff Crowson Elected	SNP	705	15.1%
Steve Owen	Conservative	679	14.6%
Anne Margaret Simpson Elected	Lib Dem	607	13.0%
Norman Smith	Independent	527	11.3%
Arif Mahmood	Labour	213	4.6%
Jamie Cole-Hamilton	Scottish Green	135	2.9%
Charlotte Diana Cross	Alba	111	2.4%
Joanna Moore	Scottish Family Party	65	1.4%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Last by-election, 7 November 2024

Conservative41.3%

SNP28.5%

Lib Dem14.3%

Reform10.9%

Scottish Family Party2.7%

Independent2.3%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Peter Chapman Elected	Conservative	1,260	41.3%
Sarah Ann Jane Wilken	SNP	869	28.5%
Ian James Bailey	Lib Dem	435	14.3%
Andy Curwen	Reform	331	10.9%
Phil Reynolds	Scottish Family Party	83	2.7%
Dean Ward	Independent	71	2.3%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

East Garioch

Dominic Lonchay ReformGlen Reid SNPJim Gifford IndependentTrevor Mason Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (4 seats)

SNP41.0%

Conservative27.4%

Lib Dem9.4%

Labour7.7%

Independent7.6%

Independent6.9%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Glen Reid Elected	SNP	1,727	41.0%
Dominic Lonchay Elected	Conservative	1,156	27.4%
Trevor Mason Elected	Lib Dem	398	9.4%
Rosanna Dobbin	Labour	323	7.7%
Jim Gifford Elected	Independent	321	7.6%
Drew Cullinane	Independent	290	6.9%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Ellon and District

Gillian Owen IndependentIsobel Davidson Lib DemJohn Crawley ReformLouise McAllister SNP

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (4 seats)

Conservative35.6%

SNP31.7%

Lib Dem22.0%

Labour6.3%

Scottish Green4.4%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Isobel Davidson Elected	Lib Dem	1,205	22.0%
Louise McAllister Elected	SNP	1,139	20.8%
John Crawley Elected	Conservative	1,050	19.1%
Gillian Owen Elected	Conservative	906	16.5%
Josh Gall	SNP	599	10.9%
Mark Lappin	Labour	348	6.3%
Craig Stewart	Scottish Green	241	4.4%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Fraserburgh and District

Ann Bell Lib DemDoreen Mair IndependentIain Sutherland ConservativeJames Adams Conservative

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (4 seats)

Conservative32.4%

Independent32.1%

SNP20.0%

Alba5.8%

Lib Dem4.8%

Independent3.9%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
James Adams Elected	Conservative	1,526	32.4%
Doreen Mair Elected	Independent	1,509	32.1%
Seamus Logan Elected	SNP	941	20.0%
Brian Topping	Alba	274	5.8%
Ann Bell Elected	Lib Dem	228	4.8%
Paul Greenall	Independent	182	3.9%
John William McColl	Scottish Family Party	43	0.9%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Last by-election, 7 November 2024

Conservative36.3%

SNP28.4%

Reform25.9%

Lib Dem7.0%

Scottish Family Party2.3%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Iain Sutherland Elected	Conservative	1,145	36.3%
Mike McDonald	SNP	895	28.4%
Conrad Strachan Ritchie	Reform	817	25.9%
Sandy Leslie	Lib Dem	222	7.0%
Dawn Smith	Scottish Family Party	71	2.3%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford

Gwyneth Petrie SNPJeff Goodhall Lib DemLauren Knight ReformRobbie Withey Independent

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (4 seats)

Conservative40.4%

SNP34.5%

Lib Dem13.9%

Labour7.8%

Independent2.7%

Scottish Libertarian Party0.6%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Gwyneth Elaine Petrie Elected	SNP	1,945	34.5%
Lauren Knight Elected	Conservative	1,491	26.5%
Robbie Withey Elected	Conservative	788	14.0%
Jeff Goodhall Elected	Lib Dem	784	13.9%
Bryan Scott Begg	Labour	441	7.8%
Rosie Leagas	Independent	152	2.7%
Stuart Whitby	Scottish Libertarian Party	34	0.6%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Inverurie and District

David Keating ConservativeJudy Whyte IndependentMarion Ewenson Lib DemNeil Baillie SNP

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (4 seats)

SNP31.1%

Conservative25.7%

Independent22.5%

Lib Dem17.0%

Scottish Green3.8%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
David Keating Elected	Conservative	1,276	25.7%
Neill Baillie Elected	SNP	1,200	24.1%
Judy Margaret Whyte Elected	Independent	1,120	22.5%
Marion Ewenson Elected	Lib Dem	843	17.0%
Archie Peebles	SNP	343	6.9%
Denise May Rothnie	Scottish Green	187	3.8%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Mearns

Alison Evison IndependentGeorge Carr ConservativeLaurie Carnie ReformTracey Smith Conservative

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (4 seats)

Conservative31.8%

SNP29.0%

Independent10.8%

Independent8.9%

Lib Dem6.5%

Labour5.8%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Kevin Stelfox Elected	SNP	1,677	29.0%
George Carr Elected	Conservative	1,217	21.0%
Alison Evison Elected	Independent	623	10.8%
Laurie Carnie Elected	Conservative	619	10.7%
Dave Stewart	Independent	513	8.9%
Shona Ewen	Lib Dem	377	6.5%
Yvonne Allan	Labour	336	5.8%
Douglas Fraser	Scottish Green	194	3.4%
Leigh Wilson	Alba	99	1.7%
David Allen Neill	Independent	75	1.3%
Diane Elizabeth Laurenson	Scottish Family Party	52	0.9%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Last by-election, 7 November 2024

Conservative39.2%

SNP24.2%

Lib Dem21.7%

Reform10.9%

Scottish Green4.0%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Tracey Smith Elected	Conservative	1,347	39.2%
Hannah Elizabeth Scott	SNP	832	24.2%
Isobel Knights	Lib Dem	745	21.7%
Claudia Leith	Reform	375	10.9%
William Stanley Raymond Linegar	Scottish Green	136	4.0%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Mid Formartine

Andrew Hassan Lib DemDerek Ritchie ConservativeJenny Nicol SNPPaul Johnston Independent

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (4 seats)

SNP33.7%

Conservative33.3%

Independent18.2%

Lib Dem14.9%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Jenny Nicol Elected	SNP	971	19.2%
Paul Johnston Elected	Independent	916	18.2%
Derek Ritchie Elected	Conservative	876	17.4%
Sheila Powell	Conservative	803	15.9%
Andrew John Hassan Elected	Lib Dem	752	14.9%
Kenny Hutchison	SNP	728	14.4%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

North Kincardine

Catherine Victor SNPDavid Aitchison SNPMel Sullivan Lib DemShirley Burnett Conservative

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (4 seats)

SNP36.2%

Conservative26.9%

Lib Dem15.5%

Independent9.6%

Scottish Green5.7%

Independent4.7%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
David Aitchison Elected	SNP	1,182	21.6%
Shirley Burnett Elected	Conservative	855	15.6%
Mel Sullivan Elected	Lib Dem	850	15.5%
Catherine Mary Victor Elected	SNP	799	14.6%
Jeff Hutchison	Conservative	620	11.3%
Colin Pike	Independent	527	9.6%
Louise Claire Ross	Scottish Green	314	5.7%
Alastair Bews	Independent	255	4.7%
Elizabeth Wilson Leslie	Scottish Family Party	75	1.4%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Peterhead North and Rattray

Alan Buchan ReformDianne Beagrie IndependentLeeann McWhinnie SNPMatthew James Conservative

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (4 seats)

SNP29.1%

Conservative26.7%

Independent23.2%

Independent13.0%

Lib Dem3.7%

Alba2.4%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Leeann McWhinnie Elected	SNP	1,222	29.1%
Dianne Beagrie Elected	Independent	974	23.2%
Matthew James Elected	Conservative	599	14.3%
Alan S Buchan Elected	Independent	548	13.0%
Iain Sutherland	Conservative	523	12.5%
Kevin Robert Anderson	Lib Dem	156	3.7%
Trish McPherson	Alba	99	2.4%
Sharon Bradford	Independent	79	1.9%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Peterhead South and Cruden

Angus Matheson SNPColin Simpson Lib DemStephen Smith SNP

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (3 seats)

SNP46.5%

Conservative41.3%

Lib Dem12.2%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Stephen William Smith Elected	SNP	1,578	46.5%
George Hall Elected	Conservative	1,105	32.5%
Colin Alexander Simpson Elected	Lib Dem	414	12.2%
Neil Johnstone	Conservative	298	8.8%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Last by-election, 2 July 2026

SNP36.5%

Reform22.9%

Conservative21.3%

Independent7.4%

Independent6.5%

Lib Dem2.8%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Angus Matheson Elected	SNP	741	36.5%
Andy Curwen	Reform	465	22.9%
Ross Gibb	Conservative	432	21.3%
John Ross	Independent	150	7.4%
Ross Thomson	Independent	132	6.5%
Tony Ware	Lib Dem	56	2.8%
Dave Bestwick	Scottish Family Party	54	2.7%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Stonehaven and Lower Deeside

Alan Turner ConservativeDawn Black SNPSarah Dickinson Lib DemWendy Agnew Conservative

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (4 seats)

Conservative32.0%

SNP27.0%

Lib Dem22.7%

Independent8.3%

Labour6.9%

Scottish Green3.1%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Sarah Dickinson Elected	Lib Dem	1,263	22.7%
Wendy Agnew Elected	Conservative	1,147	20.6%
Dawn Black Elected	SNP	951	17.1%
Alan Turner Elected	Conservative	630	11.3%
Dennis Robertson	SNP	550	9.9%
Ma Simpson	Independent	462	8.3%
Raymond James Christie	Labour	383	6.9%
Rachel Shanks	Scottish Green	173	3.1%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Troup

Mark Findlater ReformRichard Menard ConservativeRoss Cassie SNP

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (3 seats)

Conservative50.2%

SNP37.3%

Lib Dem8.5%

Scottish Green4.1%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Mark Findlater Elected	Conservative	1,305	42.5%
Ross Alexander Cassie Elected	SNP	1,144	37.3%
Ian James Bailey	Lib Dem	260	8.5%
Richard Menard Elected	Conservative	236	7.7%
Simon Andrew Scott	Scottish Green	125	4.1%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Turriff and District

Alastair Forsyth SNPAnne Stirling Lib DemGordon Lang ConservativeIain Taylor Conservative

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (4 seats)

Conservative39.1%

SNP33.9%

Lib Dem23.5%

Scottish Green3.5%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Iain Taylor Elected	Conservative	1,075	23.8%
Anne Stirling Elected	Lib Dem	1,059	23.5%
Alastair Forsyth Elected	SNP	792	17.5%
Susan DuBois	SNP	740	16.4%
Gordon Lang Elected	Conservative	690	15.3%
Kathryn Louise Vincent	Scottish Green	159	3.5%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

West Garioch

Hazel Smith Lib DemMoray Grant SNPSam Payne Conservative

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (3 seats)

SNP29.4%

Conservative27.1%

Lib Dem12.7%

Independent10.6%

Labour7.6%

Independent6.4%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Moray Charles Grant Elected	SNP	1,247	29.4%
Sam Payne Elected	Conservative	1,150	27.1%
Hazel Smith Elected	Lib Dem	539	12.7%
Sheena Margaret Lonchay	Independent	451	10.6%
Sasha Brydon	Labour	324	7.6%
Sebastian Leslie	Independent	273	6.4%
Anne Mansfield	Scottish Green	182	4.3%
Elaine Mitchell	Alba	71	1.7%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Westhill and District

Craig Miller ConservativeFatima Joji SNPIris Walker Lib DemRon McKail Conservative

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (4 seats)

Conservative39.6%

Lib Dem26.3%

SNP25.1%

Labour7.6%

Alba0.8%

Independence for Scotland Party0.6%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Ron McKail Elected	Conservative	1,655	29.0%
Iris Walker Elected	Lib Dem	1,498	26.3%
Fatima Joji Elected	SNP	1,430	25.1%
Craig Miller Elected	Conservative	605	10.6%
Lesley Young	Labour	434	7.6%
Colin McKay	Alba	48	0.8%
Stephen William Cameron	Independence for Scotland Party	36	0.6%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Councillors

Changed party since the election

10 councillors now sit for a different party from the one they were elected for.

Ward	Councillor	Elected as	Now
Banchory and Mid Deeside	Ann Ross	Conservative 2022	Independent
Banff and District	John Cox	Independent 2022	Reform
East Garioch	Dominic Lonchay	Conservative 2022	Reform
Ellon and District	Gillian Owen	Conservative 2022	Independent
Ellon and District	John Crawley	Conservative 2022	Reform
Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford	Lauren Knight	Conservative 2022	Reform
Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford	Robbie Withey	Conservative 2022	Independent
Mearns	Laurie Carnie	Conservative 2022	Reform
Peterhead North and Rattray	Alan Buchan	Independent 2022	Reform
Troup	Mark Findlater	Conservative 2022	Reform

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

4 by-elections since July 2021, 4 of them gains.

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
2 July 2026	Peterhead South & Cruden	SNP gain from Conservative	36.5%
7 November 2024	Central Buchan	Conservative gain from SNP	41.3%
7 November 2024	Fraserburgh and District	Conservative gain from SNP	36.3%
7 November 2024	Mearns	Conservative gain from SNP	39.2%

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Aberdeenshire North and Moray East		SNP	Conservative 28%
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine		Conservative	Conservative 39%

Scottish councils: seats are listed without shares. The projection is PollCheck's demographic model at current polling, not a forecast.

People

Who lives in Aberdeenshire

195,550 residents in 87,107 households

Voted Leave in 2016

45% 7 below GB

Degree or higher

43% 9 above GB

No qualifications

16% 2 below GB

Own their home

72% 11 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

17% same as GB

Rent privately

9% 11 below GB

Aged 15 to 34

24% 7 below GB

Aged 65 and over

26% 4 above GB

GB figure. 2021 Census (Scotland: 2022): age as a share of residents aged 15 and over, qualifications of residents aged 16 and over, housing as a share of households. Leave: 2016 EU referendum, Electoral Commission results by counting area.

Similar

Councils most like this one

Shetland IslandsIndependent Orkney IslandsIndependent HighlandSNP / Independent Coalition MorayConservative (Minority)Na h-Eileanan SiarIndependent

Closest on the measures above: the 2016 Leave vote, age, qualifications and housing. Maps show which party holds each ward.

Sources

Sources and method

Seat totals and control: PollCheck council control tracker. Councillors: Open Council Data (CC BY-SA 4.0). Election results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), with some vote counts from DCLEAPIL, Leman (2025) (CC BY-SA 4.0), and corrections checked against councils' official declarations. Ward boundaries: Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Census: Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland.

Councillor lists and DCLEAPIL-derived vote counts on this page are available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Scottish councils use STV: party shares are of first-preference votes. The lead is the gap between the top two parties' shares.