2003 Fife Council election

Main article: 2003 Scottish local elections

2003 Elections to Fife Council were held on 1 May 2003, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections and the Scottish Parliament election. The election was the last one to use plurality (first past the post) system of election to elect the 78 individual councillors.^[1]

2003 Fife Council election

← 1999 1 May 2003 (2003-05-01) 2007 →
All 78 seats to Fife Council 40 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Anne McGovern Party Labour Liberal Democrats SNP Leader's seat The Lochs Last election 43 21 9 Seats before 38 21 11 Seats won 36 23 11 Seat change 2 2 0 Popular vote 41,738 31,679 26,107 Percentage 33.2% 25.2% 20.8%   Fourth party Fifth party   Party Independent Conservative Leader's seat Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay Last election 4 1 Seats before 3 2 Seats won 6 2 Seat change 3 0 Popular vote 11,143 12,951 Percentage 8.9% 10.3%
Results by ward.
Council Leader before election Christine May Labour Council Leader after election Anne McGovern Labour

Party performance

Labour continued to control the council as a minority, having only 38 seats going into the election. Labour won 43 seats in 1999 elections but lost 5 seats in by-elections during the course of their term in office, but remained having the largest share of the vote and in numbers of councillors. SNP, Liberal Democrats and independents all increased their share of the vote and number of councillors.

2003 Fife Council election

← 1999 3 May 2003 (2003-05-03) 2007 →
All 78 seats to Fife Council 40 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	-->
First party Second party Third party   Leader Anne McGovern Party Labour Liberal Democrats SNP Leader's seat The Lochs Last election 43 21 9 Seats before 38 21 11 Seats won 36 23 11 Seat change 2 2 0 Popular vote 41,738 31,679 26,107 Percentage 33.2% 25.2% 20.8%   Fourth party Fifth party   Party Independent Conservative Leader's seat Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay Last election 4 1 Seats before 3 2 Seats won 5 2 Seat change 2 0 Popular vote 11,143 12,951 Percentage 8.9% 10.3%
Results by ward.
Council Leader before election Christine May Labour Council Leader after election Anne McGovern Labour

Election results

Fife Local Election Result 2003

Party		Seats	Gains	Losses	Net gain/loss	Seats %	Votes %	Votes	+/−
	Labour	36		7		46.2	33.3	41,698
	Liberal Democrats	23	2			29.5	25.2	31,609
	SNP	11	3			14.1	20.8	26,037
	Independent	6	4			6.4	8.9	11,143
	Conservative	2				2.6	10.3	12,951
	Scottish Socialist	0				0.0	1.5	1,936
	UKIP	0				0.0	0.0	23

Turnout was 46.2%

Ward results

In Order of the ward numbers:

Wards no1: Kincardine, Culross and Low Valleyfield

Kincardine, Culross and Low Valleyfield

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independent	William Ferguson	1,192
	Labour	Timothy J. Collins	266
	SNP	Ian M. Chisholm	185
	Liberal Democrats	Jane-Anne Shaw	58

Blairhall, High Valleyfield and Torryburn

Blairhall, High Valleyfield and Torryburn

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Annie R. McGovern	764
	Independent	Sandra Daly	733
	SNP	William Miller	208
	Liberal Democrats	Jane Utting	116

Oakley, Saline and Steelend

Oakley, Saline and Steelend

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Theresa Gunn	721
	SNP	Brian Clark	489
	Liberal Democrats	William M. Mackay	284

Cairneyhill, Carnock and Milesmark

Cairneyhill, Carnock and Milesmark

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Alan C. Kenney	761
	Liberal Democrats	Anne W. O'Brien	555
	SNP	Stephen R. Hossack	443

Crossford and Dunfermline Central

Crossford and Dunfermline Central

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	James P. Simpson	1,219
	Labour	Veronica T. Collins	253
	SNP	Andrew J. Lyst	214

Baldridgeburn

Baldridgeburn

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Andrew Brown	643
	Liberal Democrats	James Burke	558
	SNP	Grant W. Carradine	378

Wellwood and Headwell

Wellwood and Headwell

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Drew Edward	796
	SNP	Alastair I. Stewart	435
	Liberal Democrats	Sheila J. Mackay	356

Townhill and Bellyeoman

Townhill and Bellyeoman

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independent Campaign for Local Hospital Services	George L Wood	745
	Labour	Helen S. Law	638
	SNP	James Norris	252
	Liberal Democrats	Wink Thompson	147

Garvock and Carnegie

Garvock and Carnegie

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	James Tolson	898
	Labour	Kevin Nunn	364
	SNP	Fiona Goodall	307
	Conservative	Robert C. Beattie	216

Halbeath, Hill of Beath and Kingseat

Halbeath, Hill of Beath and Kingseat

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Alexander Sawers	795
	SNP	Robert Sherry	407
	Liberal Democrats	David F. Hingston	266

Woodmill

Woodmill

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Robert E. Young	1,103
	SNP	Willie Hewat	296
	Liberal Democrats	Russel McPhate	174

Linburn

Linburn

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Robert M. Rumney	786
	SNP	Brian J. Goodall	460
	Liberal Democrats	Lesley Anne Burke	346

Brucefield and Nethertown

Brucefield and Nethertown

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	William J. Rosiejak	919
	Labour	Frederick L. Forrester	480
	Conservative	Sheila A. Emmerson	159

Ward No. 14 Pitcorthie

Pitcorthie

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	Antony Martin	1,231
	Labour	William Sullivan	358
	Conservative	Dennis Halligan	197

Limekilns and Pitreavie

Limekilns and Pitreavie

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	Gerald A. McMullan	752
	Labour	Robert W. Eadie	734
	SNP	James Jackson	374
	Scottish Socialist	Gerald McLean	95

Rosyth West

Rosyth West

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Patrick Callaghan	662
	SNP	Douglas Chapman	652
	Liberal Democrats	William G. O'Brien	198

Rosyth East

Rosyth East

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Gordon W. Duff	750
	SNP	William Dunn	413
	Liberal Democrats	John R. Urquhart	101
	Conservative	Iris Vaughan	99
	Scottish Socialist	Andrew D. Jackson	92

Inverkeithing West and Rosyth South

Inverkeithing West and Rosyth South

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	Alice McGarry	754
	Labour	Zhivko Gulaboff	389
	Conservative	Valerie M. Finlay	145
	Liberal Democrats	Bruce L. Martin	120

Inverkeithing East and North Queensferry

Inverkeithing East and North Queensferry

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	James Philp	553
	SNP	John G. Murphy	414
	Conservative	David R. Dempsey	261
	Liberal Democrats	Kate Legg	152

Dalgety Bay West and Hillend

Dalgety Bay West and Hillend

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	David C. Arnott	801
	Conservative	Alan M. Trotter	522
	SNP	David Hannah	361
	Liberal Democrats	Mary E. Hipwell	302

Dalgety Bay East

Dalgety Bay East

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Stuart R. Randall	843
	Labour	Margaret McLachlan	433
	SNP	John W. Nicol	273
	Liberal Democrats	Francis C. Tollick	228

Ward no22: Crossgates and Moss-side

Crossgates and Moss-side

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Thomas Dair	826
	Independent	Mary Maxwell	516
	Conservative	Alec Jordan	109
	Liberal Democrats	Keith W. Smith	93

Cowdenbeath Central

Cowdenbeath Central

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independent	Alexander Maxwell	1,191
	Labour	Thomas G. Marshall	371
	Conservative	Elizabeth Randall	34
	Liberal Democrats	Sandra B. Maccabe	29

Oakfield and Cowdenbeath North

Oakfield and Cowdenbeath North

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	John Simpson	889
	SNP	Ann Bain	348
	Scottish Socialist	Linda Graham	134
	Conservative	William G. Graham	108
	Liberal Democrats	Stephen W. Rottger	57

Kelty

Kelty

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	James Brennan	770
	SNP	Alistair J. Bain	335
	Independent	James P. Ireland	177
	Scottish Socialist	John Penman	173
	Liberal Democrats	Florence J. Sanderson	57
	Conservative	Allan Vaughan	54

Ward No26: Ballingry and Lochore

Ballingry and Lochore

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independent	William L. Clarke	1,478
	Liberal Democrats	Vicky Coull	57
	Conservative	David C. Hicks	20

Crosshill and Lochgelly North

Crosshill and Lochgelly North

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	James Connelly	719
	SNP	Joseph Paterson	610
	Independent	Duncan McMahon	209
	Conservative	William A. Gardner	53
	Liberal Democrats	Charles S. Sanderson	40

Lumphinnans and Lochgelly South

Lumphinnans and Lochgelly South

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Grace C. Gray	634
	Independent	Ernest McPherson	562
	Scottish Socialist	Eileen B. Gilroy	104
	Conservative	John Wilson	38
	Liberal Democrats	Kathleen J. MacNaughton	35

Aberdour and Burntisland West

Aberdour and Burntisland West

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Ronald Edwards	536
	SNP	Carol Gorton	335
	Conservative	Alexander Spence	217
	Independent	Isabella Beveridge	208
	Liberal Democrats	David Forder	190
	Independent	Ian Quinney	178
Majority			201

Auchtertool and Burntisland East

Auchtertool and Burntisland East

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independent	William Leggatt	479
	Labour	Alan Smart	462
	SNP	George Kay	400
	Liberal Democrats	John Hipwell	269
Majority			17

Kinghorn and Invertiel

Kinghorn and Invertiel

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Fraser Ballantyne	728
	SNP	Ernest Conner	487
	Conservative	Gerald Buxton	244
	Liberal Democrats	David Riches	214
Majority			241

Linktown and Kirkcaldy Central

Linktown and Kirkcaldy Central

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	Alice Soper	642
	Labour	John Farmer	578
	SNP	David MacDonald	322
Majority			64

Raith and Longbraes

Raith and Longbraes

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	David Torrance	656
	Labour	Judith Hamilton	474
	Conservative	Maureen McLauchlan	269
	Liberal Democrats	David Muncey	251
Majority			182

Bennochy and Valley

Bennochy and Valley

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	George Allan	831
	SNP	Jacqueline Torrance	377
	Conservative	Douglas Robertson	159
	Liberal Democrats	Fiona Campbell	137
Majority			454

Templehall East

Templehall East

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Alexander Thomson	679
	SNP	Richard Todd	343
	Scottish Socialist	Louise McLeary	104
	Liberal Democrats	Lucy Portchmouth	86
Majority			336

Templehall West

Templehall West

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	William Brand	752
	SNP	William Symington	304
	Scottish Socialist	Maureen Closs	102
	Liberal Democrats	Douglas Dredge	95
Majority			443

Cardenden, Cluny and Chapel

Cardenden, Cluny and Chapel

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Margot Doig	911
	Independent	Lewis Gray	253
	Liberal Democrats	Margaret Dredge	247
Majority			658

Kinglassie, Bowhill and Dundonald

Kinglassie, Bowhill and Dundonald

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	William Aitken	1,230
	Independent	David Smart	222
	Liberal Democrats	Paul Northway	96
	Conservative	Keith Smith	78
Majority			1,008

Dunnikier

Dunnikier

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	Ann Watters	881
	Labour	Audrey Steven	352
	SNP	Annamaria Conner	320
Majority			529

Hayfield and Balsusney

Hayfield and Balsusney

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	John Mackenzie	646
	SNP	Brian Smith	313
	Liberal Democrats	Gordon Pay	197
	Scottish Socialist	Steve West	142
Majority			333

Smeaton and Overton

Smeaton and Overton

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	George Leslie	716
	Labour	Charles Haffey	528
	Liberal Democrats	Katherine Horner	75
Majority			188

Glebe Park, Pathhead and Sinclairtown

Glebe Park, Pathhead and Sinclairtown

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	Albert Ritchie	616
	Labour	Michael Coyne	593
	Liberal Democrats	John Barnett	240
Majority			23

Dysart and Gallatown

Dysart and Gallatown

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	John Cameron	1,102
	Liberal Democrats	Karen Barnett	462
Majority			640

Wemyss and Muiredge

Wemyss and Muiredge

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independent	Andrew Rodger	1,431
	Labour	Thomas Adams	487
	Liberal Democrats	Lois Lothian	72
Majority			944

Buckhaven and Denbeath

Buckhaven and Denbeath

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Andrew Paterson	857
	SNP	Tracy Cumming	383
	Liberal Democrats	Niall Dowds	124
Majority			474

Methilhill

Methilhill

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Joyce Smith	1,013
	SNP	Peter McCulloch	378
	Liberal Democrats	Elaine Clunie	83
Majority			635

Methil

Methil

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Irene Connelly	829
	SNP	Ronald Donaldson	415
	Liberal Democrats	Eric Evans	63
	Conservative	Gordon Michie	57
Majority			414

Leven East

Leven East

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Andrew Keddie	849
	SNP	Steven Gillespie	435
	Conservative	James North	246
	Liberal Democrats	Peter Lindsay	164
Majority			414

Leven West and Kirkland

Leven West and Kirkland

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Henry Blyth	1,087
	SNP	Alistair Suttie	420
	Conservative	Pauline Downing	91
	Liberal Democrats	John Watson	76
Majority			667

Ward No50: Kennoway

Kennoway

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	Bryan Thacker	743
	Labour	Vincent Heneghan	490
	Liberal Democrats	George Coull	73
	Conservative	Stewart Aitchison	64
Majority			253

Windygates, Star and Balgonie

Windygates, Star and Balgonie

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	David Alexander	964
	Labour	Marjory Groundwater	514
	Liberal Democrats	Brian Murray	126
	Conservative	Robert Heer	117
Majority			450

Markinch and Woodside East

Markinch and Woodside East

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	David Rougvie	1,074
	SNP	John Beare	545
	Conservative	Joan Chalmers	121
	Liberal Democrats	Harry Hutton	104
Majority			529

Auchmuty and Woodside West

Auchmuty and Woodside West

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Fiona Purdon	673
	Independent	Robert Taylor	663
	Liberal Democrats	Colin Martin	141
Majority			10

Pitteuchar and Finglassie North

Pitteuchar and Finglassie North

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	Michael Woods	1,164
	Labour	Kenneth Selbie	325
	Liberal Democrats	Paula Martin	102
Majority			839

Thornton, Stenton and Finglassie South

Thornton, Stenton and Finglassie South

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	David Cunningham	745
	Labour	James Young	627
	Liberal Democrats	James Balfour	122
	Conservative	Theresa Reed	101
	Liberal Democrats	Jane Kerr	80
Majority			118

Caskieberran and Rimbleton

Caskieberran and Rimbleton

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	Peter Grant	833
	Labour	Elizabeth Campbell	712
	Liberal Democrats	Judith Fryer	166
Majority			121

Newcastle and Tanshall

Newcastle and Tanshall

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Catherine Latto	598
	SNP	Marion Boyle	423
	Conservative	Valerie Brown	107
	Liberal Democrats	Sandra Reid	93
Majority			175

South Parks and Macedonia

South Parks and Macedonia

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	Alfred Patey	804
	Labour	Anthony Groundwater	488
	Conservative	Ian Brown	90
	Liberal Democrats	William Reid	85
Majority			316

Leslie and Whinnyknowe

Leslie and Whinnyknowe

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	SNP	Fiona Grant	1,186
	Labour	Agnes Mowbray	444
	Liberal Democrats	Philip Ross	117
Majority			742

Ward No60: Balgeddie and Collydean

Balgeddie and Collydean

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	William Kay	784
	SNP	James Slack	427
	Liberal Democrats	William Elder	154
	Conservative	Brian Mills	135
Majority			357

Cadham, Pitcoudie and Balfarg

Cadham, Pitcoudie and Balfarg

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Kay Morrison	686
	SNP	Steven Marwick	466
	Conservative	Douglas Chalmers	147
	Liberal Democrats	David Cole-Hamilton	122
Majority			220

Falkland, Freuchie and Strathmiglo

Falkland, Freuchie and Strathmiglo

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	Ewen W. Jardine	1,104
	Conservative	David P. Croll	327
	SNP	David MacDiarmid	270
	Labour	Margaret V. Murdoch	187
Majority			777

Auchtermuchty and Ladybank

Auchtermuchty and Ladybank

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	Donald Lothian	1,122
	Conservative	Murdo Fraser	390
	Labour	Margaret W. McCulloch	166
	Scottish Socialist	Carlo Morelli	160
Majority			732

Kettle, Springfield and Ceres

Kettle, Springfield and Ceres

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	Marilyn E. Whitehead	1,053
	Conservative	Donald Ellis	504
	Labour	Kate Findlay	156
Majority			549

Cupar North

Cupar North

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	Susan A. Clark	879
	Conservative	William S. Bruce	403
	Labour	David Stoddart	180
	Scottish Socialist	Thomas McAviney	133
Majority			476

Cupar South

Cupar South

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	Margaret C. Kennedy	1,201
	Conservative	Alison J. Murray	598
	Labour	Peter McTiernan	276
Majority			603

Newburgh and Tay Coast

Newburgh and Tay Coast

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	Andrew D. Arbuckle	1,098
	Conservative	Patricia M. Dalrymple	409
	Independent	Robert Ross	309
	Labour	Janet W. Bishop	190
	Scottish Socialist	Colin S. Cameron	70
	UKIP	Alexandra L. Oon	23
Majority			689

Newport-on-Tay and Wormit

Newport-on-Tay and Wormit

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	Timothy E. W. Brett	1,036
	Conservative	Ronald J. Caird	616
	SNP	James M. Finlayson	344
Majority			420

Tayport and Motray

Tayport and Motray

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	Margaret F. Taylor	1,212
	SNP	Kris Murray Browne	299
	Conservative	Belinda Weir	250
	Scottish Socialist	Keith S. White	162
Majority			913

Ward No70: Leuchars, Balmullo and Guardbridge

Leuchars, Balmullo and Guardbridge

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	Eleanor E. Gunstone	992
	Conservative	Norma Davis	350
Majority			642

Strathkinness and St Andrews West

Strathkinness and St Andrews West

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	Frances M. Melville	884
	Conservative	Dorothea M. Morrison	452
Majority			432

St Andrews Central

St Andrews Central

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	William Sangster	532
	Conservative	William Brooks	377
	SNP	Kevin J. Tierney	103
Majority			155

St Andrews South

St Andrews South

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	Sheila R. Hill	996
	Conservative	David R. King	556
	SNP	John J. Docherty	260
Majority			440

St Andrews South East

St Andrews South East

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	Jane A. Liston	646
	Conservative	Keith R. Neilson	426
	SNP	Penelope A. Smith	189
	Labour	Joseph A. Peterson	137
	Scottish Socialist	David W. Watt	72
Majority			220

Crail, Cameron and Kemback

Crail, Cameron and Kemback

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	Peter C. Douglas	1,037
	Conservative	John B. Steven	748
	Labour	Margaret Russell	177
	Scottish Socialist	Lilian Rooney	118
Majority			289

Anstruther and East Neuk Landward

Anstruther and East Neuk Landward

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	Elizabeth Riches	813
	Independent	Robert F. Harper	408
	Conservative	Keith A. Griffiths	179
	Independent	James Braid	166
	Labour	Simon D. Coote	79
	Scottish Socialist	Thomas E. Jones	50
Majority			405

Elie, St Monans and Pittenweem

Elie, St Monans and Pittenweem

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Mike Scott-Hayward	752
	Liberal Democrats	Donald F. Macgregor	721
	SNP	Kenneth Park	261
Majority			31

Largo

Largo

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	John A. Bell	908
	Conservative	Michael B. Foote	513
	SNP	John D. Ovenstone	282
	Labour	Rhona White	102
Majority			395

Subsequent by-elections

2005 – Auchtertool and Burntisland East

2005 Auchtertool and Burntisland East by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	SNP	George Kay	609	46.7	+21.9
	Labour		321	24.6	−4.1
	Independent		249	19.1	−10.7
	Liberal Democrats		71	5.4	−11.3
	Conservative		54	4.1	+4.1
Majority			288
Turnout				41.0	−10.8
	SNP gain from Independent		Swing	+16.3