1995 Scottish local government election
The first elections to the Highland Council were held on 6 April 1995; the same day as elections to the 28 other new councils in Scotland. 72 councillors were elected from 72 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 Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, and Scottish National Party. The newly elected council existed in 'shadow' form until it assumed its full powers on 1 April 1996.
Overall result
The Highland Council elections, 1995 Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Independent | 49 | | | | 68.06 | 61.22 | 40,358 | |
| SNP | 9 | | | | 12.50 | 17.36 | 11,441 | |
| Labour | 7 | | | | 9.72 | 12.20 | 8,043 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 6 | | | | 8.33 | 7.65 | 5,041 | |
| Conservative | 1 | | | | 1.39 | 0.90 | 596 | |
| Scottish Green | 0 | 0 | | | 0.00 | 0.54 | 358 | |
| Scottish Christian Democrats | 0 | 0 | | | 0.00 | 0.13 | 83 | |
Ward results
Caithness
The Highland Council election, 1995: Thurso West Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | EC MacDonald | 759 | |
| Independent | JH Fry | 508 | |
Majority | 251 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Thurso East Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | DM Waters | 920 | |
| Independent | WS Smith | 415 | |
Majority | 505 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Wick Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | A Murray | Unopposed | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Pulteney Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | JW Oag | 579 | |
| Independent | A Henderson | 470 | |
Majority | 109 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: North-East Caithness Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | JH Green | 587 | |
| Independent | DA Richard | 476 | |
Majority | 111 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: South-East Caithness Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Liberal Democrats | WA Mowat | 611 | |
| Independent | P Sutherland | 354 | |
| Independent | J Smith | 118 | |
Majority | 257 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Central Caithness Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | JM Young | 919 | |
| SNP | WD Brown | 182 | |
| Scottish Christian Democrats | N MacInnes | 83 | |
Majority | 737 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: West Caithness Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | JM Mowat | 366 | |
| Independent | AI MacDonald | 291 | |
| SNP | DA Manson | 277 | |
Majority | 75 | |
Sutherland
The Highland Council election, 1995: Dornoch Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | JD Allan | 680 | |
| Independent | S Board | 206 | |
Majority | 474 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Ardgay and Bonar Bridge Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | GW Holden | 426 | |
| Independent | RE Taylor | 307 | |
Majority | 119 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Central Sutherland Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | AL Magee | 366 | |
| Liberal Democrats | A Murray | 281 | |
Majority | 85 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: North-West Sutherland Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | FR Keith | 405 | |
| Independent | L MacKenzie | 346 | |
Majority | 59 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Tongue and Farr Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | A MacKay | 341 | |
| Liberal Democrats | EB Jardine | 336 | |
Majority | 5 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Golspie Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | DI MacRae | 466 | |
| Independent | HM Houston | 355 | |
Majority | 111 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Brora and Kildonan Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | RR McDonald | 757 | |
| Independent | M Fielding | 241 | |
Majority | 516 | |
Skye and Lochalsh
The Highland Council election, 1995: Lochalsh Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Liberal Democrats | JF Munro | Unopposed | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Kyle and Sleat Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | W Fulton | 320 | |
| Independent | JA Mackay | 169 | |
| Independent | AR McKerlich | 134 | |
Majority | 151 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Broadford Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| SNP | FM MacLennan | 331 | |
| Independent | E MacKenzie | 279 | |
| Independent | T Rayner | 119 | |
Majority | 52 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Portree Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | AM Millar | 248 | |
| Independent | DM Burd | 210 | |
| Labour | V Samuels | 133 | |
Majority | 38 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Staffin Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| SNP | GC Moncrieff | 322 | |
| Liberal Democrats | D Grant | 260 | |
| Independent | D MacDonald | 175 | |
Majority | 62 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Dunvegan Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | AM Beaton | 447 | |
| Labour | LS Shurmer | 134 | |
Majority | 313 | |
Ross and Cromarty
The Highland Council election, 1995: Tain Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Liberal Democrats | JH Stone | 1,079 | |
| Independent | A Rhind | 653 | |
| SNP | DW Louden | 412 | |
Majority | 426 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Fearn Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | JW Paterson | 627 | |
| Labour | JK Boocock | 472 | |
| Liberal Democrats | AD Scobbie | 257 | |
Majority | 155 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Invergordon Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | I Rhind | 663 | |
| SNP | R Gibson | 490 | |
| Independent | G Kelman | 308 | |
| Labour | AM Byron | 199 | |
Majority | 173 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Black Isle East Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | DJ McPherson | 1,127 | |
| Liberal Democrats | IJ MacLeod | 736 | |
Majority | 391 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Black Isle West Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | B Beattie | 627 | |
| Labour | M MacMillan | 459 | |
| Independent | T Anderson | 346 | |
Majority | 168 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Alness and Ardross Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| SNP | A Anderson | 666 | |
| Independent | JE MacInnes | 314 | |
| Independent | R Mardon | 137 | |
Majority | 352 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Ferindonald Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | V MacIver | 713 | |
| Independent | DL Dunbar | 453 | |
| Labour | ME MacDonald | 282 | |
Majority | 260 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Dingwall Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| SNP | MB Paterson | Unopposed | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Ord and Conon Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | DY Philip | 654 | |
| Independent | H Fraser | 548 | |
| SNP | S MacKenzie | 407 | |
| Independent | N McWhinney | 39 | |
Majority | 106 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Lochbroom Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | DR Green | 443 | |
| SNP | J Urquhart | 201 | |
| Labour | L Chilton | 78 | |
Majority | 242 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Gairloch and Garve Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | HR MacIntyre | 616 | |
| Independent | GJ Harvey | 286 | |
Majority | 330 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Lochcarron Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | DN Cameron | 478 | |
| Independent | AI MacArthur | 150 | |
Majority | 328 | |
Inverness
The Highland Council election, 1995: Strathnairn and Strathdearn Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | KG Matheson | 443 | |
| SNP | DA Cunningham | 253 | |
| Independent | CM Thomson | 167 | |
Majority | 190 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: East Loch Ness Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | E MacRae | 483 | |
| SNP | LA MacRae | 184 | |
Majority | 299 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Fort Augustus Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | PC Paterson | 415 | |
| Independent | HM Cary | 290 | |
| Independent | AW MacKenzie | 217 | |
| SNP | PJ Findlay | 171 | |
Majority | 125 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Drumnadrochit Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | MC Davidson | 251 | |
| SNP | AK MacPherson | 236 | |
Majority | 15 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Beauly Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| SNP | JS Munro | 611 | |
| Independent | JA Sellar | 297 | |
Majority | 314 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Kirkhill Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | SJ Shiels | 360 | |
| Independent | M Doyle | 263 | |
| Conservative | CF Spencer-Nairn | 148 | |
Majority | 97 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Scorguie Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Labour | JT MacDonald | 639 | |
| Liberal Democrats | RJ Mackay | 237 | |
| SNP | S MacKenzie | 168 | |
Majority | 402 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Merkinch Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Labour | AD MacLean | 813 | |
| SNP | IA MacIllechiar | 640 | |
Majority | 173 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Muirtown Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Labour | CM Cumming | 788 | |
| Independent | A Chisholm | 382 | |
| SNP | NG Will | 172 | |
| Liberal Democrats | J Horne | 124 | |
Majority | 406 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Columba Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Labour | JW Thomson | 547 | |
| Independent | A Milne | 524 | |
| SNP | G Totten | 121 | |
Majority | 23 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Drummond Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | MA MacLennan | 708 | |
| Independent | WA Fraser | 495 | |
| SNP | JM Murgatroyd | 190 | |
Majority | 213 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Alt na Sgitheach Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Labour | CL Goodman | 667 | |
| Independent | HH Sutherland | 442 | |
| SNP | A Begbie | 337 | |
Majority | 225 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Hilton Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Labour | A Darlington | 643 | |
| SNP | SA Brogan | 496 | |
Majority | 147 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Old Edinburgh Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | A Sellar | 1,027 | |
| SNP | AJ Paterek | 247 | |
Majority | 780 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Canal Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | WJ Smith | 621 | |
| Labour | CM Grant | 502 | |
| SNP | CM Forbes | 223 | |
Majority | 119 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Raigmore Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Labour | DR Munro | 722 | |
| Independent | M Bernardi | 321 | |
| SNP | C Brogan | 138 | |
Majority | 401 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Inshes Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | JN Home | 633 | |
| Liberal Democrats | DW Fraser | 440 | |
| SNP | I Cameron | 231 | |
| Labour | A Watson | 189 | |
| Scottish Green | MT Falconer | 100 | |
| Independent | TM Honnor | 96 | |
Majority | 193 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Culloden Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Liberal Democrats | JC Cole | 680 | |
| SNP | R Wynd | 564 | |
| Labour | W McGarrity | 284 | |
Majority | 116 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Ardersier Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | PJ Peacock | 971 | |
| Independent | J Cattell | 257 | |
| SNP | WJ Reynolds | 208 | |
Majority | 714 | |
Nairn
The Highland Council election, 1995: East Nairn Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | W Shand | 370 | |
| Independent | D McDonald | 360 | |
Majority | 10 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: North Nairn Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | JN Matheson | 303 | |
| Independent | PL Gordon | 279 | |
| Independent | T Crane | 85 | |
Majority | 24 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Auldearn Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | AS Park | 411 | |
| SNP | E MacDonald | 311 | |
Majority | 100 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Cawdor Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Conservative | NJ Graham | Unopposed | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: West Nairn Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | D Fraser | Unopposed | |
Badenoch and Strathspey
The Highland Council election, 1995: Laggan, Dalwhinnie and Newtonmore Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Liberal Democrats | AJ Russell | Unopposed | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Kingussie and Kincraig Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | TR Wade | 324 | |
| Independent | S Paton | 280 | |
| Independent | WD MacKenzie | 228 | |
| SNP | A Lindsay | 140 | |
Majority | 44 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Aviemore Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| SNP | I Glen | 385 | |
| Independent | CA Haggerty | 326 | |
Majority | 59 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Carrbridge and Nethy Bridge Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | FD Black | 565 | |
| Independent | D Ritchie | 186 | |
Majority | 379 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Dulnain Bridge Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | A Gordon | Unopposed | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Grantown Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | BM Dunlop | 367 | |
| Independent | G McCulloch | 363 | |
Majority | 4 | |
Lochaber
The Highland Council election, 1995: Mallaig and the Small Isles Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | C King | 434 | |
| SNP | FM Dickson | 251 | |
Majority | 183 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Ardnamurchan and Morvern Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Liberal Democrats | ME Foxley | Unopposed | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Kilmallie and Invergarry Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| SNP | E Harper | 660 | |
| Independent | EH Wallace | 194 | |
Majority | 466 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Caol Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | O Macdonald | 657 | |
| Labour | JK MacKay | 492 | |
Majority | 165 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: North Fort William and Inverlochy Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | IJ MacDonald | 660 | |
| Scottish Green | DL Tayar | 122 | |
Majority | 538 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Claggan and Glen Spean Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| SNP | I MacDonald | 320 | |
| Independent | J Anderson | 207 | |
| Independent | M Fraser | 167 | |
| Independent | A Mackin | 104 | |
Majority | 113 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Fort William South Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | N Clark | 436 | |
| Independent | RW Morgan | 294 | |
| Independent | IM Chisholm | 154 | |
Majority | 142 | |
The Highland Council election, 1995: Glencoe and Nether Lochaber Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | AR MacFarlane-Slack | Unopposed | |
References