East Ayrshire Council - Wards and Councillors

Scottish council · Scotland · 32 seats in 9 wards · All seats elected every five years · Next election 6 May 2027

The SNP run East Ayrshire Council as a minority administration. The council has 32 councillors in 9 wards. Seats by party: SNP 14, Labour 7, Other 6, Conservative 4. The next election is on 6 May 2027.

Control

Seats by party

SNP (Minority)

32 seats - 17 for a majority

Labour 7Conservative 4SNP 14Other 6Vacant 1

Seat changes since the 5 May 2022 election Other +2 Labour −3 1 vacant

Vote share at the 5 May 2022 election (32 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

SNP37.9%14

Labour29.5%10

Conservative17.7%4

Other13.9%4

Green0.5%0

Lib Dem0.4%0

Next election

6 May 2027

all 32 seats up, then every five years

Largest party

SNP 14

3 short of the 17 needed for a majority

Latest by-election

Kilmarnock North

SNP gain from Labour, 20 February 2025 (3 since 2021)

Constituencies

1 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

41%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

LabourSNPIndependent

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 9 wards

Councillors and last results

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

Ward and councillors	Last election
Annick Ellen Freel, John McFadzean, Stephen Canning, John McGhee	5 May 2022 SNP 33.1% lead 8.6 pts
Ballochmyle Alyson Simmons, Claire Leitch, William Lennox, Linda Mabon	5 May 2022 SNP 39.7% lead 7.0 pts
Cumnock and New Cumnock Jim McMahon, Vacant, Neill Watts, June Kyle	5 May 2022 Labour 43.4% lead 7.7 pts
Doon Valley Drew Filson, Jennifer Hogg, James Kyle	5 May 2022 Independent 27.9% lead 4.8 pts
Irvine Valley Sally Cogley, Kevin McGregor, Beverley Clark	5 May 2022 SNP 41.6% lead 19.0 pts
Kilmarnock East and Hurlford Graham Barton, Neal Ingram, Graham Boyd, Barry Douglas	5 May 2022 Labour 38.5% lead 1.3 pts
Kilmarnock North David Richardson, Elaine Cowan, Caroline Barton	5 May 2022 SNP 47.6% lead 19.7 pts
Kilmarnock South Jim Todd, Peter Mabon, Clare Maitland	5 May 2022 SNP 53.3% lead 21.9 pts
Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse Iain Linton, James Adams, Douglas Reid, Jayne Sangster	5 May 2022 SNP 38.4% lead 10.2 pts

Annick

Ellen Freel IndependentJohn McFadzean ConservativeJohn McGhee IndependentStephen Canning SNP

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (4 seats)

SNP33.1%

Conservative24.5%

Labour19.1%

Independent13.1%

Independent10.1%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
John McFadzean Elected	Conservative	1,516	24.5%
John McGhee Elected	Labour	1,183	19.1%
Stephen Canning Elected	SNP	1,048	16.9%
Wendy Hannah	SNP	998	16.1%
Ellen Freel Elected	Independent	812	13.1%
John Cairns	Independent	627	10.1%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Ballochmyle

Alyson Simmons ConservativeClaire Leitch SNPLinda Mabon LabourWilliam Lennox SNP

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (4 seats)

SNP39.7%

Labour32.7%

Conservative16.8%

Independent10.9%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Claire Leitch Elected	SNP	1,301	28.0%
Linda Holland Elected	Labour	1,085	23.4%
Alyson Simmons Elected	Conservative	779	16.8%
William Lennox Elected	SNP	542	11.7%
David Shaw	Independent	507	10.9%
Stephen McCarron	Labour	432	9.3%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Cumnock and New Cumnock

Jim McMahon SNPJune Kyle LabourNeill Watts ConservativeVacant Vacant

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (4 seats)

Labour43.4%

SNP35.7%

Conservative18.5%

Lib Dem2.4%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Billy Crawford Elected	Labour	1,349	30.1%
Jim McMahon Elected	SNP	897	20.0%
Neill Watts Elected	Conservative	827	18.5%
Jacqui Todd	SNP	701	15.7%
June Kyle Elected	Labour	593	13.2%
Fraser Wright	Lib Dem	109	2.4%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Doon Valley

Drew Filson IndependentJames Kyle LabourJennifer Hogg SNP

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (3 seats)

Independent27.9%

Labour23.1%

SNP20.8%

Conservative16.7%

Independent8.0%

Independent3.5%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Drew Filson Elected	Independent	1,077	27.9%
Elaine Stewart Elected	Labour	894	23.1%
Jennifer Hogg Elected	SNP	803	20.8%
Samantha Hainey	Conservative	644	16.7%
John Bell	Independent	311	8.0%
Murray Hendrie	Independent	137	3.5%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Last by-election, 14 November 2024

Labour32.2%

Conservative25.6%

SNP23.7%

Independent10.7%

Lib Dem4.2%

Scottish Green3.0%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Jim Kyle Elected	Labour	516	32.2%
Tracey Clark	Conservative	410	25.6%
Lorraine Pollock	SNP	379	23.7%
Jim Ireland	Independent	172	10.7%
Trevor Gordon Grant	Lib Dem	68	4.2%
Korin Matthew Vallance	Scottish Green	48	3.0%
Stef McNamara	Independent	9	0.6%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Irvine Valley

Beverley Clark SNPKevin McGregor LabourSally Cogley The Rubbish Party

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (3 seats)

SNP41.6%

Labour22.6%

The Rubbish Party18.5%

Conservative17.3%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Beverley Michele Clark Elected	SNP	1,309	30.8%
Kevin McGregor Elected	Labour	962	22.6%
Sally Cogley Elected	The Rubbish Party	787	18.5%
Susan McFadzean	Conservative	737	17.3%
Lee-Anne Margaret To	SNP	461	10.8%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Kilmarnock East and Hurlford

Barry Douglas LabourGraham Barton SNPGraham Boyd IndependentNeal Ingram SNP

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (4 seats)

Labour38.5%

SNP37.2%

Conservative12.1%

Independent10.8%

Lib Dem1.4%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Barry Douglas Elected	Labour	2,053	38.5%
Graham Barton Elected	SNP	1,501	28.2%
Jon Herd	Conservative	645	12.1%
Graham Boyd Elected	Independent	574	10.8%
Neal Ingram Elected	SNP	481	9.0%
Trevor Grant	Lib Dem	74	1.4%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Kilmarnock North

Caroline Barton SNPDavid Richardson IndependentElaine Cowan SNP

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (3 seats)

SNP47.6%

Labour27.9%

Conservative13.8%

Independent8.1%

Alba2.6%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Elaine Cowan Elected	SNP	1,483	38.2%
Maureen McKay Elected	Labour	1,084	27.9%
Allan MacDonald	Conservative	536	13.8%
David William Richardson Elected	SNP	364	9.4%
Ian Grant	Independent	316	8.1%
Wendy MacDonald	Alba	99	2.6%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Last by-election, 20 February 2025

SNP35.8%

Labour27.8%

Independent13.2%

Reform10.1%

Conservative7.6%

Scottish Green3.6%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Caroline Barton Elected	SNP	748	35.8%
Greg MacKenzie	Labour	582	27.8%
Ian Grant	Independent	277	13.2%
Sandra Joanne Kirkwood	Reform	212	10.1%
Allan MacDonald	Conservative	159	7.6%
Finlay Affleck	Scottish Green	75	3.6%
Lee Manley	Lib Dem	37	1.8%
Stephen McNamara	Independent	2	0.1%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Kilmarnock South

Clare Maitland SNPJim Todd SNPPeter Mabon Labour

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (3 seats)

SNP53.3%

Labour31.4%

Conservative12.2%

Alba1.9%

Scottish Libertarian Party1.3%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Jim Todd Elected	SNP	990	32.6%
Peter Mabon Elected	Labour	954	31.4%
Clare Maitland Elected	SNP	627	20.7%
Robin Bawa	Conservative	370	12.2%
Stewart John McLintock	Alba	57	1.9%
Keyrin James Von-Döring	Scottish Libertarian Party	38	1.3%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse

Douglas Reid SNPIain Linton SNPJames Adams ConservativeJayne Sangster Labour

Last scheduled election, 5 May 2022 (4 seats)

SNP38.4%

Labour28.2%

Conservative22.0%

Independent6.3%

Scottish Green3.9%

Alba1.2%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Lillian Jones Elected	Labour	1,662	28.2%
James Adams Elected	Conservative	1,297	22.0%
Iain Linton Elected	SNP	1,168	19.8%
Douglas Reid Elected	SNP	1,093	18.6%
Frank McNiff	Independent	369	6.3%
Elizabeth Anne Brown	Scottish Green	228	3.9%
Guy Njali Bola	Alba	71	1.2%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Last by-election, 14 November 2024

Labour39.4%

SNP33.3%

Conservative20.2%

Lib Dem4.7%

Independent2.4%

Candidate	Party	First prefs	Share
Jayne Sangster Elected	Labour	1,213	39.4%
Marie Robertson	SNP	1,025	33.3%
Allan MacDonald	Conservative	623	20.2%
Lee Manley	Lib Dem	145	4.7%
Stephen McNamara	Independent	75	2.4%

Party shares are of first-preference votes.

Councillors

Changed party since the election

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

Ward	Councillor	Elected as	Now
Annick	John McGhee	Labour 2022	Independent
Kilmarnock North	David Richardson	SNP 2022	Independent

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

3 by-elections since July 2021, 1 of them gains.

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
20 February 2025	Kilmarnock North	SNP gain from Labour
14 November 2024	Doon Valley	Labour hold	32.2%
14 November 2024	Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse	Labour hold	39.4%

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Kilmarnock and Loudoun		Labour	SNP 35%

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

People

Who lives in East Ayrshire

96,011 residents in 44,199 households

Voted Leave in 2016

41% 11 below GB

Degree or higher

40% 6 above GB

No qualifications

21% 3 above GB

Own their home

65% 4 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

24% 7 above GB

Rent privately

10% 10 below GB

Aged 15 to 34

26% 5 below GB

Aged 65 and over

25% 3 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

InverclydeLabour (Minority)ClackmannanshireSNP (Minority)South AyrshireConservative (Minority)North AyrshireSNP (Minority)FalkirkSNP (Minority)

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.