Elections to Clackmannanshire Council took place on 5 May 2022, the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. As with other Scottish council elections, it was held using single transferable vote (STV)—a form of proportional representation—in which multiple candidates are elected in each ward and voters rank candidates in order of preference.
For the third consecutive election, the Scottish National Party (SNP) were returned as the largest party with nine seats, but remained shy of an overall majority. Labour gained back some of the ground they had lost at the previous election and were again returned as the second-largest party with five seats. The Conservatives lost 40 per cent of their seats to return three councillors, while the Greens won their first seat in a Clackmannanshire election.
The minority SNP administration retained control of the council with incumbent council leader Cllr Ellen Forson re-elected to the post. Cllr Donald Balsillie was elected Provost and Cllr Phil Fairlie was selected as the council's first convener.
At the previous election in 2017, the Scottish National Party (SNP) again won the most seats and governed with a minority administration, having returned eight councillors. Labour experienced heavy losses as their number fell from eight to five; they became the second largest party. The Conservatives made a net gain of four to hold five seats.[1][2]
The only change to the composition of the council came in March 2018 when Conservative councillor Chris Dixon resigned from the party and sat as an independent.[2][4] Three by-elections were held and resulted in two SNP holds[5][6] and a Conservative hold.[7]
The total number of candidates increased from 35 in 2017 to 36. The SNP again stood the most candidates at nine. However, this was two less than they had fielded in 2017. Similarly, the number of Labour candidates was less than 2017, with eight candidates standing across the five wards—one fewer than 2017. The Conservatives stood six candidates—up one from 2017—while the Greens also contested every ward, standing five candidates—the same number as they had in 2017. The number of Liberal Democrats standing (three) was one fewer than in 2017 and the number of independent candidates (three) increased by two. For the first time, the Alba Party contested an election in Clackmannanshire, standing two candidates.[2][8]
Note: Votes are the sum of first preference votes across all council wards. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 4 May 2017. This is because STV has an element of proportionality which is not present unless multiple seats are being elected. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at the dissolution of Scotland's councils.[9][10]
Ward summary
Results of the 2022 Clackmannanshire Council election by ward
Below is a list of seats which elected a different party or parties from 2017 in order to highlight the change in the political composition of the council from the previous election. The list does not include defeated incumbents who resigned or defected from their party and subsequently failed re-election while the party held the seat.
Incumbent council leader Ellen Forson said the result was "a vindication of all the hard work" the SNP administrations had done over the past decade. The party again formed a minority administration with Cllr Forson re-elected as council leader and Cllr Graham Lindsay elected as depute leader. The role of Provost was split following the creation of the convener post. The Provost would remain a ceremonial post, with the convener taking on the administrative responsibilities. Cllr Phil Fairlie was elected as the council's first convener, with Cllr Donald Balsillie elected as Provost. Cllr Craig Holden took on the roles of deputy convener and deputy Provost.[21][22][23]
Following the election, the leadership of the Labour group changed. Cllr Kenny Earle and Cllr Kathleen Martin stood down as leader and deputy leader respectively. Cllr Janine Rennie was selected to replace Earle as leader while Cllr Mark McLuckie was chosen as deputy leader.[24]
In December 2022, Clackmannanshire South councillor Craig Holden resigned from the SNP group citing a difference of opinions and became an independent. He had previously represented the ward as an independent councillor between 2007 and 2012.[25] Cllr Holden was replaced as deputy Provost by Cllr Jane McTaggart and as deputy convener by Cllr Balsillie in February 2023.[26]
