Reform UK has announced plans to stand in “as many Orkney wards as possible” at the Orkney Islands Council election next May, a move that could mark the most heavily party-contested poll the islands have seen in living memory. The party’s intentions follow a visit to the county by Highlands and Islands MSP Max Bannerman earlier this month.
Challenge to independent dominance
Party politics have traditionally played little part in local government at School Place, where independent councillors hold the vast majority of seats. The current configuration has, according to the party’s announcement, prompted Reform UK to try to break that pattern by fielding candidates across multiple wards.
Reporting on the party’s reasoning, Mr Bannerman criticised the council’s leadership and suggested a degree of public dissatisfaction with how the local authority is run. He said there was a strong feeling among some residents that councillors acted in concert rather than as independent representatives.
“One overarching theme of my trip, when speaking to local folk, is a real sense of disgruntlement towards Orkney Islands Council,”
“[Councillors] speak with one voice and act as one block group.”
Where things stand now
The last full council election, in 2022, saw the Scottish Greens win their first seats in Orkney, securing two victories at that time. The current composition at School Place is heavily independent: the party release states that 20 of the 21 councillors are declared independents. It also notes that one councillor, Kirkwall East’s John Ross Scott, left the Greens during the present term.
There has been further movement since the 2022 result. Kristopher Leask, the council’s Scottish Green councillor, was elected as an MSP for the Highlands and Islands in May and is expected to stand down from the council ahead of the next election, creating further uncertainty about how many candidates from party lists will appear on ward ballots next year.
- Reform UK intends to contest as many wards as possible in 2027.
- Traditionally, Orkney’s council has been dominated by independents; current figures show 20 of 21 councillors declared independent.
- The Scottish Greens previously won two seats in 2022; one current Green councillor is due to stand down after election to Holyrood.
| Group | Seats (current) |
|---|---|
| Independents | 20 |
| Scottish Greens | 1 (expected to vacate) |
Potential impact and next steps
If Reform UK succeeds in fielding candidates across the islands, next May’s ballot could represent a notable departure from recent practice and force a change in the dynamics at councillors’ meetings. Increased party presence may sharpen debates on leadership, policy priorities and how local services are delivered, though whether it will translate into electoral success is unknown.
Other mainstream parties have not yet publicly confirmed whether they will put up candidates in significant numbers. The Scottish Greens have said they intend to take part in the contest, although it is not yet clear how many wards they will contest following internal changes and the expected council departure of one of their members.
Residents seeking further information about the forthcoming election or candidate nominations should follow official notices from Orkney Islands Council as the nomination period approaches; details of staffing and ward arrangements will be confirmed by the Returning Officer nearer to the formal timetable.
