The 2003 Scottish local elections were held on 1 May 2003, the same day as Scottish Parliament elections and local elections in parts of England. All 32 Scottish councils had all their seats up for election – all Scottish councils are unitary authorities.

Quick Facts All 1,222 seats to Scottish councils, Turnout ...

2003 Scottish local elections

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All 1,222 seats to Scottish councils
Turnout	49.6%[1]
First party Second party   Leader Jack McConnell John Swinney Party Labour SNP Seats won 509 181 Seat change 42 23 Popular vote 611,843 451,660 Percentage 32.6% 24.1% Swing 3.7% 4.6%   Third party Fourth party   Leader Jim Wallace David McLetchie Party Liberal Democrats Conservative Seats won 175 122 Seat change 18 14 Popular vote 272,057 282,895 Percentage 14.5% 15.1% Swing 1.9% 1.6%
Colours denote the winning party with outright control
Colours denote the party with the most seats
Colours denote party of the elected councillor for each ward

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This was the last election for local government in Scotland to use the first past the post electoral system.

Minor council boundary took place to better reflect certain areas:^[2]

• Transfer of properties at Blackburn from Aberdeen City Council to Aberdeenshire Council
• Transfer of an area of land at West Farm, Broxburn from City of Edinburgh Council to West Lothian Council
• Transfer of an area of land and properties at Ardoch Sewage Works from Argyll & Bute Council to West Dunbartonshire Council
• Transfer of an area of land at Braehead from Glasgow City Council to Renfrewshire Council