London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jun 15, 2026

Scottish election results 2022: Isles' first female councillors since 2012

Scottish election results 2022: Isles' first female councillors since 2012

The SNP's Susan Thomson and Frances Murray have been elected the Western Isles' first female councillors since 2012.

Six other women who stood as candidates were unsuccessful.

The islands had been seeking greater female representation on the local authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

In 2017, for the first time in its history, no women were elected to the comhairle. Seven women stood for election that year.

Ms Thomson will be one of three councillors who will represent ward two - Uibhist a Deas, Eirisgeigh agus Beinn na Faoghla. Ms Murray will be one of four representing Steòrnabhagh a Deas.


Following her result, Ms Thomson said she hoped she had not been elected just because she was a woman.

She said: "I think people voted for a whole raft of reasons. People recognise they need a broad perspective on the council - different experiences to make good policies and decisions."

Frances Murray will join her SNP colleague Ms Thomson on the comhairle


Catriona Murray, one of the women unsuccessful in the election, said there remained challenges for women who wanted to stand.

She said one was that council employees, many of which are women, could not seek election.

Ms Murray also said many women had care responsibilities at home, and some felt they could not give a role on the council "100% of their time".

The election in the Western Isles will see the comhairle have exactly the same make-up as previously.

It has 20 independent councillors, six SNP and one Conservative.

There are two vacancies because not enough candidates put themselves forward.


Meanwhile, the Highland Council elections have seen Inverness getting its first Green councillor.

Ryan MacIntosh was elected for the Scottish Green Party in Inverness West.

There have also been gains for the SNP - including Jackie Hendry, the wife of Inverness MP Drew Hendry.

Alasdair Christie, who was the deputy leader of the Highland Council under the previous administration, was among Lib Dems voted in.

The final results have seen the election of 22 SNP, 21 independents, 15 Liberal Democrats, 10 Conservatives, four Greens and two Labour candidates.

The first meeting of the new council will be held on 26 May.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Parliament Opens Week of Fast-Tracked Security and Infrastructure Legislation
Northern Ireland Projects £21 Million Boost From Major Cultural and Sporting Events
UK and Japan Sign Technology Security Pact to Strengthen AI and Supply Chain Cooperation
UK Welcomes US-Iran Peace Breakthrough Aimed at Restoring Strait of Hormuz Shipping
British Forces Intercept Russian Shadow Fleet Oil Tanker in English Channel Sanctions Operation
UK to Ban Social Media for Under-16s Under Landmark Online Safety Expansion
Anti-Immigrant Riots Spread Across Belfast, Raising Security Concerns
Ministry of Defence Opens Europe's Largest Drone Testing Facility in Swindon
Kemi Badenoch Calls for Deregulation to Restore City's Global Competitiveness
UK Housing Market Posts Sharpest June Price Decline in Fourteen Years
NHS Waiting Lists Rise to 7.22 Million as Diagnostic Delays Reach New Highs
Makerfield By-Election Raises Prospect of Labour Leadership Challenge
Bank of England Expected to Hold Interest Rates at 3.75% Despite Growing Policy Divisions
Royal Marines Seize Sanctioned Russian Oil Tanker in English Channel
Prime Minister Keir Starmer Set to Ban Social Media and AI Chatbots for Under-16s
United Kingdom Markets Rally After US-Iran Deal Reopens Strait of Hormuz
Defence Secretary John Healey Resigns Over Military Spending Dispute, Triggering Cabinet Crisis
Royal Navy Takes Part in Trooping the Colour for the First Time in 350 Years
Think Tank Warns Labour's European Union Reset Could Carry Significant Economic Costs
UK Semiconductor Centre and Japan's Rapidus Forge Advanced Chip Manufacturing Partnership
UK and Japan Launch Offshore Wind Compact Backed by £9 Billion in Investment
Starmer and Trump Discuss Iran Peace Efforts and Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz
United Kingdom and Japan Sign £18 Billion Investment Partnership Focused on Clean Energy and Advanced Technology
Barclays Moves to Acquire GoHenry in Bid to Expand Youth-Focused Fintech Services
UK Lupus Patients Show Remission in NHS Genetic Therapy Trial
London Clean Air Zones Linked to Fewer Emergency Hospital Admissions for Respiratory Illness
UK World Cup Scheduling Research Suggests Energy Bill Savings From Off-Peak Usage
UK Economic Anxiety Rises Among Young People Over Long-Term Job Prospects
NHS Expands Meningitis B Vaccination Programme for School Leavers and New Students
London Ultra-Low Emission Zone Linked to Drop in Emergency Respiratory Hospital Admissions
Derbyshire Police Officer Investigated Over Alleged Use of AI-Generated Evidence in Case Files
UK Parents Back Proposed Under-16 Social Media Ban as Online Safety Concerns Grow
Four Palestine Action Activists Jailed Over Sabotage Attack on Israeli-Linked Arms Facility
Barclays to Acquire GoHenry in Push to Expand Digital Banking for Children and Teenagers
UK Government Reaffirms Defence Spending Commitment Amid Cabinet Pressure and Political Disputes
Belfast Unrest Prompts Security Review as Paramilitary Activity Comes Under Renewed Scrutiny
SpaceX IPO Pushes Elon Musk to Become World’s First Trillionaire After Record Valuation Surge
United States and Iran Near Landmark Peace Framework as Negotiations Reach Final Stages
UK Competition Watchdog Investigates Ryanair Family Seating Charges
Imperial College Study Links London Emissions Charges to Lower Hospital Admissions
Scottish First Minister Launches US Trade Initiative Ahead of World Cup Match in Boston
Fifteen Million Workers Gain Expanded Sick Pay Rights Under UK Reforms
British Retail Investors Secure Record Participation in SpaceX Share Offering
Keir Starmer and Micheál Martin Coordinate Response to Northern Ireland Violence
NHS Prepares for Major Disruption as Resident Doctors Announce Four-Day Strike
Bank of England Expected to Hold Rates as Energy Costs Complicate Inflation Outlook
Britain Moves to Ban Under-16s From High-Risk Social Media Platforms and AI Chatbots
UK Economy Contracts as Middle East Conflict Weighs on Growth
Defence Secretary John Healey Resigns Over Military Spending Dispute With Treasury
Prime Minister Keir Starmer Faces Leadership Crisis After Senior Cabinet Resignations
×