Highland Council election, 1999
Map showing results by ward.
Elections to the Highland Council were held on 6 May 1999; the same day as elections to the Scottish Parliament and to the 31 other councils in Scotland. 80 councillors were elected from 80 wards using the plurality system (a.k.a. 'First Past the Post'). Independent councillors retained their status as the majority group, with councillors also being elected representing the Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, and Scottish National Party.
Overall result
The Highland Council elections, 1999 |
Party |
Seats |
Gains |
Losses |
Net gain/loss |
Seats % |
Votes % |
Votes |
+/− |
|
Independent |
49 |
|
|
±0 |
61.25 |
57.39 |
43,810 |
−3.84 |
|
Liberal Democrats |
12 |
|
|
+6 |
15.00 |
10.62 |
8,108 |
+3.90 |
|
Labour |
10 |
|
|
+3 |
12.50 |
15.40 |
11,756 |
+4.43 |
|
SNP |
8 |
|
|
−1 |
10.00 |
12.39 |
9,456 |
−4.96 |
|
Independent Liberal |
1 |
|
|
+1 |
1.25 |
0.91 |
695 |
+0.91 |
|
Conservative |
0 |
|
|
−1 |
― |
3.29 |
2,509 |
+2.39 |
Caithness
The Highland Council election, 1999: Caithness North-West
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal Democrats |
Alastair MacDonald |
680 |
|
|
|
Independent |
John Mowat |
480 |
|
|
Majority |
278 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Thurso West
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Eric Saxon |
454 |
|
|
|
Independent |
James Fry |
407 |
|
|
|
Independent |
George Bruce |
357 |
|
|
Majority |
47 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Thurso Central
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
John Rosie |
553 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Elizabeth MacDonald |
482 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Ronald Henderson |
198 |
|
|
Majority |
71 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Thurso East
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Donald Waters |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Caithness Central
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal Democrats |
David Flear |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Caithness North-East
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
John Green |
793 |
|
|
|
Independent |
David Richard |
580 |
|
|
Majority |
213 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Wick West
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Deirdre Steven |
463 |
|
|
|
Independent |
William Fernie |
438 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Alistair Roy |
333 |
|
|
Majority |
25 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Pulteneytown
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Jim Oag |
673 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Niall Smith |
437 |
|
|
Majority |
236 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Caithness South-East
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent Liberal |
William Mowat |
695 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Jeanette Calder |
522 |
|
|
Majority |
173 |
|
|
Sutherland
The Highland Council election, 1999: Sutherland North-West
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Francis Keith |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Tongue and Farr
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal Democrats |
Barbara Jardine |
539 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Alexander Mackay |
514 |
|
|
Majority |
25 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Sutherland Central
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Alison Magee |
725 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Russell Taylor |
470 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Alexander Chalmers |
186 |
|
|
Majority |
255 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Golspie and Rogart
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Ian Ross |
687 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Helen Houston |
373 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Valerie Scott |
150 |
|
|
Majority |
314 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Brora
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Rita Finlayson |
802 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Ronald McDonald |
662 |
|
|
Majority |
140 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Dornoch Firth
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Duncan Allan |
1,104 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Gordon Campbell |
306 |
|
|
Majority |
798 |
|
|
Ross & Cromarty
The Highland Council election, 1999: Lochbroom
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
David Green |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Alness and Ardross
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
SNP |
Andrew Anderson |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Tain West
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Alasdair Rhind |
1,040 |
|
|
|
SNP |
Derek Louden |
415 |
|
|
Majority |
625 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Tain East
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
James Paterson |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Seaboard
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Richard Durham |
747 |
|
|
|
Labour |
John Mitchell |
493 |
|
|
Majority |
254 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Invergordon
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Lou Wilkerson |
622 |
|
|
|
SNP |
Morag McCourt |
355 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Maxine Smith |
320 |
|
|
Majority |
267 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Rosskeen and Saltburn
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Carolyn Wilson |
568 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Norman Chisholm |
350 |
|
|
|
SNP |
Andrew Currie |
302 |
|
|
|
Labour |
John Boocock |
270 |
|
|
Majority |
218 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Gairloch
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Roy Macintyre |
857 |
|
|
|
SNP |
Kris Murray Browne |
260 |
|
|
Majority |
597 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Lochcarron
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Ewan Mackinnon |
518 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Elizabeth Pritchard |
399 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Allan MacArthur |
143 |
|
|
Majority |
119 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Ferindonald
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Mike Finlayson |
848 |
|
|
|
SNP |
Robert Gibson |
627 |
|
|
Majority |
221 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Strathpeffer and Strathconon
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Douglas Briggs |
959 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Bill Mackenzie |
309 |
|
|
Majority |
650 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Dingwall South
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
SNP |
Margaret Paterson |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Dingwall North
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Andrew Paterson |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Muir of Ord
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
David Philip |
789 |
|
|
|
SNP |
John MacInnes |
572 |
|
|
Majority |
217 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Conon and Maryburgh
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Sandy MacKenzie |
743 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Evelyn Vass |
703 |
|
|
Majority |
40 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Knockbain and Killearnan
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
SNP |
Peter Cairns |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Black Isle North
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
David Alston |
596 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Thomas Anderson |
591 |
|
|
|
SNP |
Alistair Dunn |
268 |
|
|
Majority |
5 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Avoch and Fortrose
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Morris Downie |
865 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Duncan McPherson |
502 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Celia Stewart |
383 |
|
|
Majority |
363 |
|
|
Skye & Lochalsh
The Highland Council election, 1999: Snizort and Trotternish
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
SNP |
Gavin Scott Moncrieef |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Skye West
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Allan Beaton |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Portree
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Drew Millar |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Skye Central
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Angus Sutherland |
715 |
|
|
|
SNP |
Farquhar MacLennan |
322 |
|
|
Majority |
393 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Kyle and Sleat
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
William Fulton |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Kinlochshiel
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal Democrats |
Isabelle Campbell |
832 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Patricia Shaw |
171 |
|
|
Majority |
661 |
|
|
Inverness
The Highland Council election, 1999: Beauly and Strathglass
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Garry Coutts |
734 |
|
|
|
Independent |
John Sellar |
577 |
|
|
Majority |
157 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Kirkhill
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Jack Shiels |
906 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Molly Doyle |
595 |
|
|
Majority |
311 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Scorguie
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal Democrats |
Bernard Salmon |
815 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Jimmy MacDonald |
622 |
|
|
Majority |
193 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Muirtown
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Christine Cumming |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Merkinch
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Peter Corbett |
701 |
|
|
|
SNP |
Donnie Kerr |
238 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Alexander MacLean |
234 |
|
|
Majority |
463 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Inverness Central
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Eilidh MacDonald |
514 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Jim Alexander |
392 |
|
|
|
SNP |
Joerg Macthearlaich-Wiench |
300 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Moray MacDonald |
190 |
|
|
Majority |
122 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Culloden
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal Democrats |
John Cole |
667 |
|
|
|
SNP |
James McCreath |
381 |
|
|
|
Labour |
John Ford |
285 |
|
|
Majority |
286 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Ardersier, Croy, and Petty
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Roderick Balfour |
612 |
|
|
|
SNP |
Derek MacDonald |
461 |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrats |
Glynis Sinclair |
353 |
|
|
Majority |
151 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Loch Ness West
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Margaret Davidson |
1,018 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Patrick Paterson |
483 |
|
|
Majority |
535 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Inverness West
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Ronald Lyon |
708 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Debra Lake |
452 |
|
|
Majority |
256 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Canal
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
William Smith |
941 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Mark Grant |
453 |
|
|
Majority |
488 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Ballifeary
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Jim Thomson |
820 |
|
|
|
SNP |
Robert McLennan |
479 |
|
|
Majority |
341 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Lochardil
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Margaret MacLennan |
1,037 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Andrew Ingram |
546 |
|
|
Majority |
491 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Hilton
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal Democrats |
Angus Dick |
541 |
|
|
|
SNP |
Stuart Dickson |
431 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Alison Watson |
273 |
|
|
Majority |
110 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Milton
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Clive Goodman |
834 |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrats |
John Horne |
602 |
|
|
Majority |
232 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Raigmore
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
David Munro |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Loch Ness East
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Ella MacRae |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Culduthel
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Norrie Donald |
817 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Kenneth Thomson |
638 |
|
|
Majority |
179 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Inshes
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Janet Home |
639 |
|
|
|
SNP |
Ian Brown |
464 |
|
|
|
Independent |
John Holden |
339 |
|
|
Majority |
175 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Drumossie
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Kathleen Matheson |
919 |
|
|
|
SNP |
Robert Chalmers |
518 |
|
|
Majority |
401 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Westhill and Smithton
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
SNP |
Gillian McCreath |
442 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Malcolm Jack |
425 |
|
|
|
Independent |
George Davidson |
290 |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrats |
Jermaine Allison |
240 |
|
|
Majority |
17 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Balloch
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
SNP |
Robert Wynd |
596 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Walter McGarrity |
512 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
William Cameron |
445 |
|
|
Majority |
84 |
|
|
Nairn
The Highland Council election, 1999: Nairn Alltan
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
John Matheson |
662 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Andrew Gardiner |
425 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Tony Lister |
312 |
|
|
Majority |
237 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Nairn Ninian
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
SNP |
Elizabeth MacDonald |
450 |
|
|
|
Independent |
William Shand |
409 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Duncan McDonald |
312 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Mark Conway |
98 |
|
|
Majority |
41 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Nairn Auldearn
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Alexander Park |
Unopposed |
|
|
Badenoch & Strathspey
The Highland Council election, 1999: Badenoch West
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal Democrats |
Alexander Russell |
882 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
David Spry |
251 |
|
|
Majority |
631 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Strathspey South
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Angus Gordon |
657 |
|
|
|
SNP |
Karen Lawrie |
498 |
|
|
Majority |
159 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Strathspey North-East
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal Democrats |
Francis Black |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Grantown-on-Spey
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Basil Dunlop |
852 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Arthur Durance |
302 |
|
|
Majority |
550 |
|
|
Lochaber
The Highland Council election, 1999: Mallaig and Small Isles
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Charles King |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Kilmallie and Invergarry
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
George Bruce |
754 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Susan Carstairs |
258 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Donald Lawrie |
166 |
|
|
Majority |
496 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Claggan and Glen Spean
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
William MacLachlan |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Ardnamurchan and Morvern
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal Democrats |
Michael Foxley |
571 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Iain Thornber |
387 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Johnathan Slater |
197 |
|
|
Majority |
184 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Caol
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Olwyn Macdonald |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Fort William North
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Brian Murphy |
699 |
|
|
|
SNP |
Iain Macdonald |
559 |
|
|
Majority |
140 |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Fort William South
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Neil Clark |
Unopposed |
|
|
The Highland Council election, 1999: Glencoe
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Andrew McFarlane-Slack |
770 |
|
|
|
Labour |
William Spence |
428 |
|
|
|
SNP |
David Ingham |
257 |
|
|
Majority |
342 |
|
|
References
|
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|
Highland Council | |
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|
Badenoch and Strathspey District Council |
- 1974
- 1977
- 1980
- 1984
- 1988
- 1992
- Abolished
|
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|
Caithness District Council |
- 1974
- 1977
- 1980
- 1984
- 1988
- 1992
- Abolished
|
---|
|
Inverness District Council |
- 1974
- 1977
- 1980
- 1984
- 1988
- 1992
- Abolished
|
---|
|
Lochaber District Council |
- 1974
- 1977
- 1980
- 1984
- 1988
- 1992
- Abolished
|
---|
|
Nairn District Council |
- 1974
- 1977
- 1980
- 1984
- 1988
- 1992
- Abolished
|
---|
|
Ross and Cromarty District Council |
- 1974
- 1977
- 1980
- 1984
- 1988
- 1992
- Abolished
|
---|
|
Skye and Lochalsh District Council |
- 1974
- 1977
- 1980
- 1984
- 1988
- 1992
- Abolished
|
---|
|
Sutherland District Council |
- 1974
- 1977
- 1980
- 1984
- 1988
- 1992
- Abolished
|
---|