Orkney elects Heather Woodbridge as Scotland's youngest council leader

Orkney Islands Council has elected the youngest council leader in Scotland.

Heather Woodbridge was announced as the new local authority leader on Tuesday, making her Orkney’s first female leader and the youngest in its nearly 50-year history.

The independent councillor had been depute leader under her predecessor councillor James Stockan since the last council election in 2022.

The 29-year-old took over the leader role uncontested during a special general meeting of the council at the council offices in Kirkwall.

Her ascendancy to leader meant a new depute leader had to be found.

A contest for the depute role saw councillor Sandy Cowie take more votes than Steven Heddle, as 11 councillors voted for the former and nine for the latter.

The leadership contest arose after the surprise resignation of councillor Stockan.

In January, the former council leader announced he would be resigning as political leader and as a councillor so he could retire.

He officially left his post on Monday, February 5.

Stockan had been at the head of Scotland’s smallest council since May 2017.

While there was plenty of speculation as to who may fill the leader role, Woodbridge had made it clear that she intended to stand early in the process.

However, it was expected that the role would be contested.

Councillor Lindsay Hall had been set to stand but – in a shock turn of events – he announced his withdrawal as a candidate at the start of Tuesday’s meeting.

He said he was doing so for “personal reasons”.

Earlier in the process, councillor Gillian Skuse said she would be standing for leader.

However, she pulled out of the race last week.

The new leadership team at Orkney Islands Council. From left: political leader Heather Woodbridge, convener Graham Bevan, and depute leader Sandy Cowie LDRS

The joint narrative from councillors at Tuesday’s meeting was that Orkney Islands Council faces a very tough time ahead, financially speaking.

As such, it will need a strong leadership team to represent it in Edinburgh, London, and beyond.

Woodbridge was proposed for the leader role by councillor Leslie Manson and seconded by Duncan Tullock.

Heather Woodbridge first became a councillor in October 2020 after the result of a by-election for the North Isles Ward.

She stepped into the role held by her father, Dr Kevin Woodbridge, who passed away earlier that year.

Speaking after her nomination, she said she had put herself forward “because she is committed to Orkney and its people”.

Woodbridge said: “I believe in fairness and equity for every island of Orkney – and for fairness and equity in Scotland.

Outlining her priorities for the council, the new Orkney council leader spoke about getting a fairer government settlement.

She also spoke about the need for a replacement internal ferry service, advocating for Orkney’s interests, and making sure the national care service works for the islands.

She said: “I have the political experience under my belt, the political ability, the energy and motivation, and the vision to take on the role of leader.”

The invitation for other candidates was met with silence.

As such, Heather Woodbridge was announced as the successful candidate to applause from the chamber.

The following contest to fill the now-empty depute leader seat saw two-term councillor Sandy Cowie up against Steven Heddle.

Depute leader of Orkney Islands Council Sandy Cowie. LDRS

Heddle is a former council leader who has been a councillor since 2007.

He is also currently the vice-president of COSLA, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

Despite Heddle’s wealth of experience, it was councillor Cowie who came out on top.

Perhaps indicating that the leadership contest has been a strain on relationships within the council, Cowie urged councillors: “Let’s pull together in the time-honoured Orkney way to succeed, overcome obstacles, achieve for our community, and maintain Orkney’s status as a great place to live, work, and play – and lets please get back to being colleagues and friends.”

After councillors cast their votes into the fishbowl, there was a nail-biting conclusion to the meeting.

Cowie tallied up 11 votes to Heddle’s nine.

The result appeared to be taken amicably, however.

Councillor Heddle became the first in the chamber to congratulate Cowie on his appointment.

Both Woodbridge and Cowie will continue in their leadership roles until the next council election in 2027.

They join Graham Bevan, who continues as convener, in the council’s leadership team.