Whirlwind of talks as parties seek power after local elections

An announcement on the new administration to lead Aberdeen City Council could come as early as today after a whirlwind of power talks last night.

The SNP emerged from Thursday's local election as the city's biggest party with 20 seats, three short of a majority.

A partnership with the Liberal Democrats, who won four seats in the city, would take them over the line - and last night the Lib Dem group leader Ian Yuill told the Press & Journal that he had spoken with the SNP.

However, he said that he also had plans to speak to both Labour and the Conservatives.

“We want to implement as much of our Liberal Democrat manifesto for Aberdeen as we can," he told the P&J's Alistair Gossip.

“Councillors should work together across the council. I can confirm we have had contact with two other political groups on the council, and I expect to speak to the other tonight. We want the council to deliver for all citizens and think all members should work to achieve that.”

In Aberdeenshire, the Conservatives were returned as the largest party, with Councillor Mark Findlater installed is party leader and likely leader of the council.

The results in full (Aberdeen)

The councillors elected to represent Aberdeen are as follows:

Ward 1 - Dyce / Bucksburn / Danestone

Gill Al-Samarai (SNP), Barney Crockett (Lab), Neil MacGregor (SNP) Avril MacKenzie (Con)

Ward 2 - Bridge of Don

Nurul Hoque Ali (Lab), Alison Alphonse (SNP), Sarah Cross (Con), Jessica Mennie (SNP)

Ward 3 - Kingswells / Sheddocksley / Summerhill

Kate Blake (Lab), David Cameron (SNP), Steve Delaney (Lib)

Ward 4 - Northfield / Mastrick North

Donna Clark (SNP), Gordon Graham (Lab), Ciaran McRae (SNP)

Ward 5 - Hilton / Woodside / Stockethill

Hazel Cameron (SNP), Neil Copland (SNP), Deena Tissera (Lab)

Ward 6 - Tillydrone / Seaton / Old Aberdeen

Ross Grant (Lab), Alexander McLellan (SNP), Kairin Van Sweeden (SNP)

Ward 7 - Midstocket / Rosemount

Jennifer Bonsell (Lab), Bill Cormie (SNP), Emma Farquhar (CON)

Ward 8 - George Street / Harbour

Desmond Bouse (Lib), Dell Henrickson (SNP), Michael Hutchison (SNP) Sandra MacDonald (Lab)

Ward 9 - Lower Deeside

Marie Boulton (Ind), M. Tauqeer Malik (Lab), Duncan Massey (Con)

Ward 10: Hazlehead / Queens Cross / Countesswells

John Cooke (SNP), Martin Greig (Lib), Ken McLeod (Con), Jennifer Stewart

Ward 11: Airyhall / Broomhill / Garthdee

Derek Davidson (SNP), Ryan Houghton (Con), Ian Yuill (Lib)

Ward 12: Torry / Ferryhill

Christian Allard (SNP), Lee Fairfull (SNP), Michael Kusznir (Con), Simon Watson (Lab)

Ward 13 - Kincorth / Nigg / Cove

Richard Brooks (Con), Alex Nicoll (SNP), Miranda Radley (SNP), Lynn Thomson (Lab)

The results in full (Aberdeenshire)

The councillors elected to represent Aberdeenshire are as follows:

Ward 1 – Banff and District

Stewart Adams (Con), John Cox (Ind) Glen Reynolds (SNP)

Ward 2 – Troup

Ross Cassie (SNP), Mark Findlater (Con), Richard Menard (Con)

Ward 3 - Fraserburgh and District

James Adams (Con), Ann Bell (Lib Dem), Seamus Logan (SNP), Doreen Mair (Ind)

Ward 4 – Central Buchan

Geoff Crowson (SNP), David Mair (SNP), Hannah Powell (Con), Anne Simpson (Lib Dem)

Ward 5 - Peterhead North & Rattray

Dianne Beagrie (Ind), Alan S. Buchan (Ind), Matthew James (Con), Leeann McWhinnie (SNP)

Ward 6 – Peterhead South & Cruden

George Hall (Con), Colin Simpson (Lib Dem), Stephen Smith (SNP)

Ward 7 – Turriff and District

Alastair Forsyth (SNP), Gordon Lang (Con), Anne Stirling (Lib Dem), Iain Taylor (Con)

Ward 8 – Mid Formartine

Andrew Hassan (Lib Dem), Paul Johnston (Ind), Jenny Nicol (SNP), Derek Ritchie (Con)

Ward 9 – Ellon & District

John Crawley (Con), Isobel Davidson (Lib Dem), Louise McAllister (SNP), Gillian Owen (Con)

Ward 10 – West Garioch

Moray Grant (SNP), Sam Payne (Con), Hazel Smith (Lib Dem)

Ward 11 – Inverurie & District

Neil Baillie (SNP), Marion Ewenson (Lib Dem), David Keating (Con), Judy Whyte (Ind)

Ward 12 – East Garioch

Jim Gifford (Ind), Dominic Lonchay (Con), Trevor Mason (Lib Dem), Glen Reid (SNP)

Ward 13 – Westhill and District

Fatima Joji (SNP), Ron McKail (Con), Craig Miller (Con), Iris Walker (Lib Dem)

Ward 14 - Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford

Jeff Goodhall (Lib Dems), Lauren Knight (Con), Gwyneth Petrie (SNP), Robbie Withey (Con)

Ward 15 - Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside

Geva Blackett (Ind), Sarah Brown (Con), Anouk Kloppert (SNP)

Ward 16 – Banchory & Mid Deeside

Yi-Pei Chou Turvey (Lib Dem), Eileen Durno (SNP), Ann Ross (Con)

Ward 17 - No. 17 North Kincardine

David Aitchison (SNP), Shirley Burnett (Con), Mel Sullivan (Lib Dem), Catherine Victor (SNP).

Ward 18 - Stonehaven and Lower Deeside

Wendy Agnew (Con), Dawn Black (SNP), Sarah Dickinson (Lib Dem), Alan Turner (Con)

Ward 19 - The Mearns

Laurie Carnie (Con), George Carr (Con), Alison Evison (Ind), Kevin Stelfox (SNP)