Scottish Parliament election, 2011
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Scottish Parliament general election was held on Thursday, 5 May 2011 to elect 129 members
to the Scottish Parliament
.
The election delivered the first majority government since the opening of Holyrood, a remarkable feat as the mixed member proportional representation
system is used to elect MSPs and was originally implemented to prevent single party governments as well as produce proportional results in Scotland
. The Scottish National Party
won 69 seats, the most the party has ever held at either a Holyrood or Westminister election, allowing leader Alex Salmond
to remain First Minister of Scotland
. The SNP
gained 32 constituencies, twenty two from the Scottish Labour Party
, nine from the Scottish Liberal Democrats
and one from the Scottish Conservatives. Such was the scale of their gains that, of the 73 constituencies in Scotland
, only 20 are now represented by MSPs of other political parties. The Scottish Labour Party
lost seven seats and suffered their worst election defeat in Scotland
since 1931, with huge losses in their traditional Central Belt
constituencies and for the first time having to rely on the regional lists
to elect members within these areas. They did, however, remain the largest opposition party. Party leader Iain Gray
announced his resignation following his party's disappointing result. The Scottish Liberal Democrats
were soundly defeated; their popular vote share was cut in half and their seat total reduced from 17 to 5. Tavish Scott
announced his resignation as party leader shortly after the election. For Scottish Conservatives, the election proved disappointing as their popular vote dropped slightly and their number of seats fell by 5, with party leader Annabel Goldie
also announcing her resignation.
During the campaign, the four main party leaders engaged in a series of televised debates, as they had in every previous general election. These key debates were held on 29 March (STV), 1 May (BBC
), and 3 May (STV). The results of the election were broadcast live on BBC Scotland and STV, on the night of the election.
It was the fourth general election
since the devolved parliament was established in 1999 and was held on the same day as elections to the National Assembly for Wales
and the Northern Ireland Assembly, as well as English local elections
and the UK-wide referendum on the alternative vote.
, an ordinary general election to the Scottish Parliament was held on the first Thursday in May four years after the 2007 election
.
Because of the problems of voter confusion and a high number of spoiled ballots in 2007 due to holding Scottish parliamentary and local elections simultaneously and under different voting systems, the next Scottish local elections are to be held in 2012
instead of 2011. This policy decision was contradicted, however, by the staging of the Alternative Vote referendum on 5 May 2011 as well. Labour MP Ian Davidson
expressed opposition to the referendum being staged on the same date as other elections. Scottish Secretary
Michael Moore
stated that having the referendum on another date would cost an additional £17 million.
British, Irish, Commonwealth
and European Union
citizens living in Scotland
who were be aged 18 or over on election day were entitled to vote. The deadline to register to vote in the election was midnight on Friday 15 April 2011, though anyone who qualified as an anonymous elector had until midnight on Tuesday 26 April 2011 to register.
It was held on the same day as elections for Northern Ireland's 26 local councils
, the Northern Irish Assembly and Welsh Assembly
elections, a number of local elections in England and the United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum.
The First Periodical Review of the Scottish Parliament's constituencies and regions
by the Boundary Commission for Scotland was announced on 3 July 2007. The Commission published its provisional proposals for the regional boundaries in 2009.
The Scottish Parliament uses an Additional Members System, designed to produce approximate proportional representation
for each region.
There are 8 regions each sub-divied into smaller constituencies.
There are a total of 73 constituencies
.
Each constituency elects one (MSP) by the plurality
(first past the post) system of election.
Each region elects 7 additional member MSPs using a additional member
system.
A modified D'Hondt method
, using the constituency results, is used to calculate which additional member MSPs the regions elect.
The Scottish Parliament constituencies have not been coterminous with Scottish Westminster constituencies
since the 2005 general election
, when the 72 former Westminster constituencies were replaced with a new set of 59, generally larger, constituencies (see Scottish Parliament (Constituencies) Act 2004
).
For details of the Revised proposals for constituencies at the Next Scottish Parliament election - Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions from 2011
The Boundary Commission have also recommended changes to the electoral regions used to elect "list" members of the Scottish Parliament. The recommendations can be summarised below;
, Iain Whyte from the Glasgow Maryhill & Springburn
constituency ballot and David Meikle from the Glasgow regional ballot.
The Liberal Democrat
regional candidate for the Central Scotland
region Hugh O'Donnell also withdrew on 27 March, citing discontent with the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition at Westminster. Another Liberal Democrat, John Farquhar Munro
, came out in support of Alex Salmond for First Minister, even though he also claimed not to support the SNP. In the Clydesdale
constituency, the Liberal Democrat candidate John Paton-Day failed to lodge his papers in time for the nomination deadline, leaving the constituency as the only one in Scotland with no Liberal Democrat candidate. On 17 April, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott
described himself as 'uncomfortable' with his Scottish party being 'related' to the Conservatives due to the coalition at Westminster.
A televised debate between the four main party leaders was shown on STV on 29 March, with SNP leader Alex Salmond
and Conservative leader Annabel Goldie
identified as the strongest performers. The Scottish Sun newspaper came out in support of the SNP's campaign to win a second term, even though the newspaper does not back independence
.
Whilst campaigning in Glasgow Central station
, the Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray
was ambushed by a group of anti-cuts protestors who chased him into a nearby fast-food outlet.
The same protestors had already targeted Conservative leader Annabel Goldie
a month earlier. On 27 April, Iain Gray and SNP leader Alex Salmond
were both present simultaneously in an Ardrossan
branch of the Asda
supermarket chain; both parties alleged that the other party's leader had 'ran away' from the possibility of an encounter with the other.
Scottish National Party
Labour Party
Liberal Democrats
Scottish Green Party
retained East Lothian
by 151 votes. The SNP took a further eight seats from the Liberal Democrats and one seat from the Conservatives. The SNP overall majority means that there is sufficient support in the Scottish Parliament
to hold a referendum on Scottish independence
.
Labour's defeat has been attributed to several factors: the party focused too heavily on criticising the Conservative-led coalition at Westminster, and assumed that former Lib Dem voters would automatically switch their vote to Labour, when in fact they appear to have haemorrhaged support to the SNP. Jackie Baillie
compared the result to Labour's performance in the 1983 UK general election
. Iain Gray announced his intention to resign as leader of the Labour group of MSPs in the autumn.
The election saw a rout of the Liberal Democrats, with no victories in mainland constituencies and 25 lost deposits (candidates gaining less than five per cent of the vote). Leader Tavish Scott
said their performance was due to the Liberal Democrat presence in the Westminster Government
, which was an unpopular move in Scotland. Scott resigned as leader two days after the election.
For the Conservatives, the main disappointment was the loss of Edinburgh Pentlands
, the seat of former party leader David McLetchie
, to the SNP. McLetchie was elected on the Lothian regional list and the Conservatives only made a net loss of five seats, with leader Annabel Goldie
claiming that their support had held firm. Prime Minister David Cameron
congratulated the SNP on the result, but vowed to campaign for the Union in any independence referendum.
George Galloway
, under an anti-cuts banner, failed to receive enough votes to be elected to the Glasgow regional list
. The Scottish Greens
won two seats, including their leader Patrick Harvie
. Margo MacDonald
again won election as an independent on the Lothian regional list.
|-
| || Total
| 1,989,222
|100.00
|—
|73
|±0
|1,991,051
|100.00
|—
|56
|±0
|129
|±0
|100.00
|}
of less than 5% from the 2007 result to change hands. Because the election will be fought under new boundaries, the figures are based on notional results.
Members of the 4th Scottish Parliament
This is a list of Members of the Scottish Parliament or, in Gaelic, Buill Pàrlamaid na h-Alba elected to the third Scottish Parliament at the 2011 election...
to the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
.
The election delivered the first majority government since the opening of Holyrood, a remarkable feat as the mixed member proportional representation
Mixed member proportional representation
Mixed-member proportional representation, also termed mixed-member proportional voting and commonly abbreviated to MMP, is a voting system originally used to elect representatives to the German Bundestag, and nowadays adopted by numerous legislatures around the world...
system is used to elect MSPs and was originally implemented to prevent single party governments as well as produce proportional results in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
won 69 seats, the most the party has ever held at either a Holyrood or Westminister election, allowing leader Alex Salmond
Alex Salmond
Alexander Elliot Anderson "Alex" Salmond MSP is a Scottish politician and current First Minister of Scotland. He became Scotland's fourth First Minister in May 2007. He is the Leader of the Scottish National Party , having served as Member of the Scottish Parliament for Gordon...
to remain First Minister of Scotland
First Minister of Scotland
The First Minister of Scotland is the political leader of Scotland and head of the Scottish Government. The First Minister chairs the Scottish Cabinet and is primarily responsible for the formulation, development and presentation of Scottish Government policy...
. The SNP
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
gained 32 constituencies, twenty two from the Scottish Labour Party
Scottish Labour Party
The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland....
, nine from the Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Liberal Democrats
The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England...
and one from the Scottish Conservatives. Such was the scale of their gains that, of the 73 constituencies in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, only 20 are now represented by MSPs of other political parties. The Scottish Labour Party
Scottish Labour Party
The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland....
lost seven seats and suffered their worst election defeat in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
since 1931, with huge losses in their traditional Central Belt
Central Belt
The Central Belt of Scotland is a common term used to describe the area of highest population density within Scotland. Despite the name, it is not geographically central but is nevertheless situated at the 'waist' of Scotland on a conventional map and the term 'central' is used in many local...
constituencies and for the first time having to rely on the regional lists
Additional Member System
The Additional Member System is the term used in the United Kingdom for the mixed member proportional representation voting system used in Scotland, Wales and the London Assembly....
to elect members within these areas. They did, however, remain the largest opposition party. Party leader Iain Gray
Iain Gray
Iain Gray is a Scottish politician and the Leader of Scottish Labour Party Opposition in the Scottish Parliament. Gray was elected as the Member of the Scottish Parliament for the East Lothian constituency in 2007 having previously represented Edinburgh Pentlands from 1999 to 2003.-Background and...
announced his resignation following his party's disappointing result. The Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Liberal Democrats
The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England...
were soundly defeated; their popular vote share was cut in half and their seat total reduced from 17 to 5. Tavish Scott
Tavish Scott
Tavish Hamilton Scott MSP is a Scottish politician and MSP for Shetland. He was Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 2008 to 2011...
announced his resignation as party leader shortly after the election. For Scottish Conservatives, the election proved disappointing as their popular vote dropped slightly and their number of seats fell by 5, with party leader Annabel Goldie
Annabel Goldie
Annabel MacNicoll Goldie is a Scottish Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament for the West of Scotland Region. She was the Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party in the Scottish Parliament from 2005 until 2011....
also announcing her resignation.
During the campaign, the four main party leaders engaged in a series of televised debates, as they had in every previous general election. These key debates were held on 29 March (STV), 1 May (BBC
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
), and 3 May (STV). The results of the election were broadcast live on BBC Scotland and STV, on the night of the election.
It was the fourth general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
since the devolved parliament was established in 1999 and was held on the same day as elections to the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales election, 2011
The National Assembly for Wales election 2011 was the most recent election for the National Assembly. The poll was held on Thursday, 5 May 2011 and decided the incumbency for all the assembly's seats...
and the Northern Ireland Assembly, as well as English local elections
United Kingdom local elections, 2011
The 2011 United Kingdom local elections were held on Thursday 5 May 2011. In England, direct elections were held in all 36 Metropolitan boroughs, 194 Second-tier district authorities, 49 unitary authorities and various mayoral posts, meaning local elections took place in all parts of England with...
and the UK-wide referendum on the alternative vote.
Date
Under the Scotland Act 1998Scotland Act 1998
The Scotland Act 1998 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is the Act which established the devolved Scottish Parliament.The Act will be amended by the Scotland Bill 2011, if and when it receives royal assent.-History:...
, an ordinary general election to the Scottish Parliament was held on the first Thursday in May four years after the 2007 election
Scottish Parliament election, 2007
The 2007 Scottish Parliament election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the Scottish Parliament. It was the third general election to the devolved Scottish Parliament since it was created in 1999...
.
Because of the problems of voter confusion and a high number of spoiled ballots in 2007 due to holding Scottish parliamentary and local elections simultaneously and under different voting systems, the next Scottish local elections are to be held in 2012
Scottish local elections, 2012
The 2012 Scottish Local Elections, will be held on May 3, in all 32 Scottish Local Authorities. The election was due to be held on May 5, 2011, but Scottish Ministers heeded the advice of the Gould Report and split the Holyrood and Local Elections - in order to avoid a repeat of the 2007 fiasco...
instead of 2011. This policy decision was contradicted, however, by the staging of the Alternative Vote referendum on 5 May 2011 as well. Labour MP Ian Davidson
Ian Davidson (Scottish politician)
Ian Graham Davidson is a Scottish Labour Co-operative politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Glasgow South West since 2005...
expressed opposition to the referendum being staged on the same date as other elections. Scottish Secretary
Secretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
Michael Moore
Michael Moore (UK politician)
Michael Kevin Moore is a British Liberal Democrat politician, currently the Secretary of State for Scotland in the UK coalition government, and the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk....
stated that having the referendum on another date would cost an additional £17 million.
British, Irish, Commonwealth
Commonwealth citizen
A Commonwealth citizen, which replaces the former category of British subject, is generally a person who is a national of any country within the Commonwealth of Nations....
and European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
citizens living in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
who were be aged 18 or over on election day were entitled to vote. The deadline to register to vote in the election was midnight on Friday 15 April 2011, though anyone who qualified as an anonymous elector had until midnight on Tuesday 26 April 2011 to register.
It was held on the same day as elections for Northern Ireland's 26 local councils
Local government in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is divided into 26 districts for local government purposes. In Northern Ireland local councils do not carry out the same range of functions as those in the rest of the United Kingdom, for example they have no responsibility for education, for road building or for housing...
, the Northern Irish Assembly and Welsh Assembly
National Assembly for Wales election, 2011
The National Assembly for Wales election 2011 was the most recent election for the National Assembly. The poll was held on Thursday, 5 May 2011 and decided the incumbency for all the assembly's seats...
elections, a number of local elections in England and the United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum.
Boundary Review
The table below shows the notional figures for seats won by each party at the last election. The Conservatives have been the biggest gainers as a result of the boundary changes, winning an extra 3 seats and Labour has lost the most seats, losing 2 overall.| Party | Constituency Seats | Regional Seats | Total Seats | Seat Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNP Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.... |
21 | 25 | 46 | –1 |
| Labour Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
35 | 9 | 44 | –2 |
| Conservative | 6 | 14 | 20 | +3 |
| Liberal Democrat Scottish Liberal Democrats The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England... |
11 | 6 | 17 | +1 |
| Scottish Green Scottish Green Party The Scottish Green Party is a green party in Scotland. It has two MSPs in the devolved Scottish Parliament, Alison Johnstone, representing Lothian, and Patrick Harvie, for Glasgow.-Organisation:... |
0 | 1 | 1 | –1 |
Election system, seats, and regions
The total number of Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) elected to the Parliament is 129.The First Periodical Review of the Scottish Parliament's constituencies and regions
Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions
Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions were first used in 1999, in the first general election of the Scottish Parliament , created by the Scotland Act 1998....
by the Boundary Commission for Scotland was announced on 3 July 2007. The Commission published its provisional proposals for the regional boundaries in 2009.
The Scottish Parliament uses an Additional Members System, designed to produce approximate proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
for each region.
There are 8 regions each sub-divied into smaller constituencies.
There are a total of 73 constituencies
Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions
Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions were first used in 1999, in the first general election of the Scottish Parliament , created by the Scotland Act 1998....
.
Each constituency elects one (MSP) by the plurality
Plurality voting system
The plurality voting system is a single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member constituencies...
(first past the post) system of election.
Each region elects 7 additional member MSPs using a additional member
Mixed member proportional representation
Mixed-member proportional representation, also termed mixed-member proportional voting and commonly abbreviated to MMP, is a voting system originally used to elect representatives to the German Bundestag, and nowadays adopted by numerous legislatures around the world...
system.
A modified D'Hondt method
D'Hondt method
The d'Hondt method is a highest averages method for allocating seats in party-list proportional representation. The method described is named after Belgian mathematician Victor D'Hondt who described it in 1878...
, using the constituency results, is used to calculate which additional member MSPs the regions elect.
The Scottish Parliament constituencies have not been coterminous with Scottish Westminster constituencies
Scottish Westminster constituencies
Scottish Westminster constituencies were Scottish constituencies of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain, normally at the Palace of Westminster, from 1708 to 1801, and have been constituencies of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, also at Westminster,...
since the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
, when the 72 former Westminster constituencies were replaced with a new set of 59, generally larger, constituencies (see Scottish Parliament (Constituencies) Act 2004
Scottish Parliament (Constituencies) Act 2004
The Scottish Parliament Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that amends the Scotland Act 1998 which established the Scottish Parliament....
).
For details of the Revised proposals for constituencies at the Next Scottish Parliament election - Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions from 2011
Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions from 2011
As a result of the first periodical review of Scottish Parliament constituencies, , new constituencies and additional member regions of the Scottish Parliament are to be introduced for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election...
The Boundary Commission have also recommended changes to the electoral regions used to elect "list" members of the Scottish Parliament. The recommendations can be summarised below;
- Glasgow. Made of the proposed Glasgow seats of Anniesland, Cathcart, Kelvin, Maryhill and Springburn, Pollok, Provan, Shettleston, and Southside, and Rutherglen.
- Highlands and Islands. Consisting of the newly formed constituencies of Argyll and Bute, Caithness Sutherland and Ross, Inverness and Nairn, Moray, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, and Skye Lochaber and Badenoch.
- West Scotland. Made from the newly drawn seats of Clydebank and Milngavie, Cunninghame North, Cunninghame South, Dumbarton, Eastwood, Greenock and Inverclyde, Paisley, Renfrewshire North and West, Renfrewshire South, and Strathkelvin and Bearsden.
- Central Scotland. Formed by the combination of the recommended Airdrie and Shotts, Coatbridge and Chryston, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, East Kilbride, Falkirk East, Falkirk West, Hamilton Larkhall and Stonehouse, Motherwell and Wishaw, and Uddingston and Bellshill.
- Lothian. Made from the redrawn constituencies of Almond Valley, Edinburgh Central, Edinburgh Eastern, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Edinburgh Pentlands, Edinburgh Southern, Edinburgh Western, Linlithgow, and Midlothian North and Musselburgh.
- Mid Scotland and Fife. Made from the combination of Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, Mid Fife and Glenrothes, North East Fife, Perthshire North, Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, and Stirling.
- North East Scotland. Consisting of the redrawn seats Aberdeen Central, Aberdeen Donside, Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Aberdeenshire East, Aberdeenshire West, Angus North and Mearns, Angus South, Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Dundee City East, and Dundee City West
- South Scotland. Created by the combination of Ayr, Carrick Cumnock and Doon Valley, Clydesdale, Dumfriesshire, East Lothian, Ettrick Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Galloway and West Dumfries, Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, and Midlothian South, Tweedale and Lauderdale.
Retiring MSPs
| Constituency/Region | Departing MSP | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid Scotland and Fife | Christopher Harvie | Scottish National Party Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.... |
|
| Argyll and Bute Argyll and Bute (Scottish Parliament constituency) Argyll and Bute is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election... |
Jim Mather Jim Mather Jim Mather is a Scottish National Party politician, former Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism and until the 2011 election, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Argyll and Bute .... |
Scottish National Party Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.... |
|
| Lothians Lothians (Scottish Parliament electoral region) The Lothians was one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament from 1999 to 2011. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament... |
Ian McKee Ian McKee Dr. Ian McKee is a Scottish National Party politician who was Member of the Scottish Parliament for Lothians region from 2007 to 2011.He was elected during the 2007 election for the Lothians region.... |
Scottish National Party Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.... |
|
| South of Scotland South of Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region) South of Scotland is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament... |
Alasdair Morgan Alasdair Morgan Alasdair Neil Morgan is a Scottish politician. He was a Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for the South of Scotland region from 2003 to 2011, having previously been first MP from 1997 to 2001 and then MSP from 1999 to 2003 for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale... |
Scottish National Party Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.... |
|
| Angus Angus (Scottish Parliament constituency) Angus is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election... |
Andrew Welsh Andrew Welsh (politician) Andrew Paton Welsh is a Scottish politician. He was educated at Govan High School and Glasgow University.Andrew Welsh was the Scottish National Party Member of Parliament for the House of Commons constituencies of South Angus from 1974 to 1979, East Angus from 1987 to 1997 and Angus from 1997 to... |
Scottish National Party Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.... |
|
| Paisley North Paisley North (Scottish Parliament constituency) Paisley North is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election... |
Wendy Alexander Wendy Alexander Wendy Alexander is a Scottish politician and the former Member of the Scottish Parliament for Paisley North. She held various Scottish Government cabinet posts and was the leader of the Labour Party group in the Scottish Parliament from 2007-2008... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
|
| Midlothian Midlothian (Scottish Parliament constituency) Midlothian is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
Rhona Brankin Rhona Brankin Rhona Brankin is a former Labour Co-operative Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Midlothian constituency. She was first elected in 1999 and was re-elected in 2003 and 2007... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
|
| Glasgow Baillieston Glasgow Baillieston (Scottish Parliament constituency) Glasgow Baillieston was a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elected one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
Margaret Curran Margaret Curran Margaret Patricia Curran is a Scottish Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Glasgow East since 2010, and is currently Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
|
| West Renfrewshire West Renfrewshire (Scottish Parliament constituency) West Renfrewshire was a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elected one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election... |
Trish Godman Trish Godman Patricia "Trish" Godman is a misandrist and Scottish Labour politician. She was Member of the Scottish Parliament for West Renfrewshire constituency from the Scottish Parliament general election, 1999 until her retirement in 2011.Before entering the Scottish Parliament Godman was a Glasgow City... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
|
| Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Scottish Parliament constituency) Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, Scotland. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
Cathy Jamieson Cathy Jamieson Catherine Mary "Cathy" Jamieson is a UK Labour party politician and the Member of Parliament for Kilmarnock & Loudoun. She has previously been Deputy Leader and Acting Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, former Minister for Justice in the Scottish Executive, and Labour Co-operative Member of the... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
|
| Lothians Lothians (Scottish Parliament electoral region) The Lothians was one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament from 1999 to 2011. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament... |
George Foulkes George Foulkes, Baron Foulkes of Cumnock George Foulkes, Baron Foulkes of Cumnock, PC is a British Labour Party life peer. He has been a member of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Scottish Parliament... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
|
| Motherwell and Wishaw Motherwell and Wishaw (Scottish Parliament constituency) Motherwell and Wishaw is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
Jack McConnell Jack McConnell Jack Wilson McConnell, Baron McConnell of Glenscorrodale is a British Labour life peer in the House of Lords. He was third First Minister of Scotland from 2001 to 2007, making him the longest serving First Minister in the history of the Scottish Parliament... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
|
| North East Scotland | Marlyn Glen Marlyn Glen Marlyn Glen is a Scottish Labour politician, and was Member of the Scottish Parliament for North East Scotland region from 2003 till she stood down in the election of 2011.... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
|
| Highlands and Islands Highlands and Islands (Scottish Parliament electoral region) The Highlands and Islands is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. Eight of the parliament's first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament .The... |
Peter Peacock Peter Peacock Peter Peacock has been a Labour regional list Member of the Scottish Parliament for Highlands and Islands since 1999. Peacock was appointed a deputy minister when first elected in 1999, and promoted to Minister for Education and Young People in the Scottish Executive after the 2003 election... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
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| Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (Scottish Parliament constituency) Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross was a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elected one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election... |
Jamie Stone Jamie Stone James "Jamie" Stone is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician. He was a member of the Scottish Parliament for the constituency of Caithness, Sutherland, and Easter Ross, which is the northern-most mainland Scotland constituency and one of the largest constituencies in Britain... |
Scottish Liberal Democrats Scottish Liberal Democrats The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England... |
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| Ross, Skye and Inverness West Ross, Skye and Inverness West (Scottish Parliament constituency) Ross, Skye and Inverness West is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election... |
John Farquhar Munro John Farquhar Munro John Farquhar Munro is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician, and was the MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West from 1999 until his retirement in 2011.... |
Scottish Liberal Democrats Scottish Liberal Democrats The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England... |
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| Aberdeen South Aberdeen South (Scottish Parliament constituency) Aberdeen South is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election... |
Nicol Stephen Nicol Stephen Nicol Ross Stephen, Baron Stephen of Lower Deeside in the City of Aberdeen is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeen South, and was leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 2005 to 2008... |
Scottish Liberal Democrats Scottish Liberal Democrats The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England... |
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| Glasgow Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region) Glasgow is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament , which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament... |
Bill Aitken | Scottish Conservative Party | |
| Mid Scotland and Fife Mid Scotland and Fife (Scottish Parliament electoral region) Mid Scotland and Fife is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament... |
Ted Brocklebank Ted Brocklebank -Career:Brocklebank was previously a journalist and a television producer, having been Head of News and Current Affairs at Grampian Television. He stood for the Fife North East constituency in the 1999 election for the Scottish Parliament, coming second to Liberal Democrat Iain Smith. This was... |
Scottish Conservative Party | |
| Lothians Lothians (Scottish Parliament electoral region) The Lothians was one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament from 1999 to 2011. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament... |
Robin Harper Robin Harper Robin Harper FRSSA is a Scottish politician, and was a Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Lothians region. He was co-convener of the Scottish Green Party... |
Scottish Green Party Scottish Green Party The Scottish Green Party is a green party in Scotland. It has two MSPs in the devolved Scottish Parliament, Alison Johnstone, representing Lothian, and Patrick Harvie, for Glasgow.-Organisation:... |
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Campaign
The parliament was dissolved on 22 March 2011 and the campaign began thereafter. The Conservatives saw 3 of their candidates drop out of the election during the period 25–28 March: Malcolm McAskill from the Glasgow regional ballotGlasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)
Glasgow is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament , which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament...
, Iain Whyte from the Glasgow Maryhill & Springburn
Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn (Scottish Parliament constituency)
Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It will elect one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election...
constituency ballot and David Meikle from the Glasgow regional ballot.
The Liberal Democrat
Scottish Liberal Democrats
The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England...
regional candidate for the Central Scotland
Central Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)
Central Scotland is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. Ten of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament...
region Hugh O'Donnell also withdrew on 27 March, citing discontent with the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition at Westminster. Another Liberal Democrat, John Farquhar Munro
John Farquhar Munro
John Farquhar Munro is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician, and was the MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West from 1999 until his retirement in 2011....
, came out in support of Alex Salmond for First Minister, even though he also claimed not to support the SNP. In the Clydesdale
Clydesdale (Scottish Parliament constituency)
Clydesdale is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election...
constituency, the Liberal Democrat candidate John Paton-Day failed to lodge his papers in time for the nomination deadline, leaving the constituency as the only one in Scotland with no Liberal Democrat candidate. On 17 April, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott
Tavish Scott
Tavish Hamilton Scott MSP is a Scottish politician and MSP for Shetland. He was Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 2008 to 2011...
described himself as 'uncomfortable' with his Scottish party being 'related' to the Conservatives due to the coalition at Westminster.
A televised debate between the four main party leaders was shown on STV on 29 March, with SNP leader Alex Salmond
Alex Salmond
Alexander Elliot Anderson "Alex" Salmond MSP is a Scottish politician and current First Minister of Scotland. He became Scotland's fourth First Minister in May 2007. He is the Leader of the Scottish National Party , having served as Member of the Scottish Parliament for Gordon...
and Conservative leader Annabel Goldie
Annabel Goldie
Annabel MacNicoll Goldie is a Scottish Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament for the West of Scotland Region. She was the Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party in the Scottish Parliament from 2005 until 2011....
identified as the strongest performers. The Scottish Sun newspaper came out in support of the SNP's campaign to win a second term, even though the newspaper does not back independence
Scottish independence
Scottish independence is a political ambition of political parties, advocacy groups and individuals for Scotland to secede from the United Kingdom and become an independent sovereign state, separate from England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
.
Whilst campaigning in Glasgow Central station
Glasgow Central station
Glasgow Central is the larger of the two present main-line railway terminals in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. The station was opened by the Caledonian Railway on 31 July 1879 and is currently managed by Network Rail...
, the Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray
Iain Gray
Iain Gray is a Scottish politician and the Leader of Scottish Labour Party Opposition in the Scottish Parliament. Gray was elected as the Member of the Scottish Parliament for the East Lothian constituency in 2007 having previously represented Edinburgh Pentlands from 1999 to 2003.-Background and...
was ambushed by a group of anti-cuts protestors who chased him into a nearby fast-food outlet.
Subway (restaurant)
Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011...
The same protestors had already targeted Conservative leader Annabel Goldie
Annabel Goldie
Annabel MacNicoll Goldie is a Scottish Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament for the West of Scotland Region. She was the Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party in the Scottish Parliament from 2005 until 2011....
a month earlier. On 27 April, Iain Gray and SNP leader Alex Salmond
Alex Salmond
Alexander Elliot Anderson "Alex" Salmond MSP is a Scottish politician and current First Minister of Scotland. He became Scotland's fourth First Minister in May 2007. He is the Leader of the Scottish National Party , having served as Member of the Scottish Parliament for Gordon...
were both present simultaneously in an Ardrossan
Ardrossan
Ardrossan is a town on the North Ayrshire coast in south-western Scotland. The name "Ardrossan" describes its physical position — 'ard' from the Gaelic àird meaning headland, 'ros' a promontory and the diminutive suffix '-an' - headland of the little promontory...
branch of the Asda
Asda
Asda Stores Ltd is a British supermarket chain which retails food, clothing, general merchandise, toys and financial services. It also has a mobile telephone network, , Asda Mobile...
supermarket chain; both parties alleged that the other party's leader had 'ran away' from the possibility of an encounter with the other.
Policy platforms
The main parties contesting the election have all outlined the following main aims:Scottish National PartyScottish National PartyThe Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
- Maintain the council taxCouncil taxCouncil Tax is the system of local taxation used in England, Scotland and Wales to part fund the services provided by local government in each country. It was introduced in 1993 by the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as a successor to the unpopular Community Charge...
freeze throughout the next parliament. - Attempt to generate 100% of Scotland's electricity from renewable sourcesRenewable energyRenewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
by 2020. - Legislate to give Scotland a referendumReferendumA referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
on independenceScottish independenceScottish independence is a political ambition of political parties, advocacy groups and individuals for Scotland to secede from the United Kingdom and become an independent sovereign state, separate from England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
. - Continue offering free university tuition to Scottish students.
- Maintain high police numbers.
Labour PartyScottish Labour PartyThe Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland....
- Introduce Scottish Living Wage of £7.15 an hour, starting in the public sector.
- Abolish youth unemployment and aim to create 250,000 jobs by 2020.
- Compulsory six-month jail sentences for people convicted of knife-carrying.
- Initiate two-year council tax freeze.
- Re-instate the proposed rail link between Glasgow Central stationGlasgow Central stationGlasgow Central is the larger of the two present main-line railway terminals in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. The station was opened by the Caledonian Railway on 31 July 1879 and is currently managed by Network Rail...
and Glasgow International AirportGlasgow International AirportGlasgow International Airport is an international airport in Scotland, located west of Glasgow city centre, near the towns of Paisley and Renfrew in Renfrewshire...
, which was cancelled in 2009. - Continue free University tuition fees for all Scottish students.
Conservative Party
- A council tax freeze during the period 2012-2013.
- Re-introduce prescription charges at 2009 standards (£5 for a single item).
- Consider building new nuclear power stations, but not on new sites.
- Bring in Variable University Graduate Fee, with no more than £4,000 being paid annually per student.
- Replace community service with short prison sentences.
Liberal DemocratsScottish Liberal DemocratsThe Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England...
- Maintain free university tuition for Scottish students.
- Aim to create 100,000 new jobs through selling off Scottish WaterScottish WaterScottish Water is a statutory corporation in Scotland that provides water and sewerage services. Unlike in England and Wales, water and sewerage provision in Scotland continues as a public corporation accountable to the public through the Scottish Government....
which would free £1.5 billion for investment purposes. - Oppose moves to create a centralised Scottish police force.
- Maintain the Scottish bus pass, but progressively bring the qualifying age up to 65.
- Reform the council tax.
Scottish Green PartyScottish Green PartyThe Scottish Green Party is a green party in Scotland. It has two MSPs in the devolved Scottish Parliament, Alison Johnstone, representing Lothian, and Patrick Harvie, for Glasgow.-Organisation:...
- Bring in large-scale ecosystem restoration projects.
- Replace council tax with land value taxLand value taxA land value tax is a levy on the unimproved value of land. It is an ad valorem tax on land that disregards the value of buildings, personal property and other improvements...
. - Maintain free university tuition for Scottish students.
- Focus on bringing restorative justice within Scotland's justice system.
- Abolish the second Forth crossing.
Contesting constituency and regional ballot
Only the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Labour Party and the Scottish Conservative Party contested all constituencies.- Scottish National PartyScottish National PartyThe Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
(SNP) - Scottish Labour PartyScottish Labour PartyThe Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland....
- Scottish Conservative Party
- Scottish Liberal DemocratsScottish Liberal DemocratsThe Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England...
- Contesting all constituencies except ClydesdaleClydesdale (Scottish Parliament constituency)Clydesdale is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... - All Scotland Pensioner's Party/Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party - Contesting Mid Fife & GlenrothesMid Fife and Glenrothes (Scottish Parliament constituency)Mid Fife and Glenrothes is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election...
and Motherwell & WishawMotherwell and Wishaw (Scottish Parliament constituency)Motherwell and Wishaw is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... - Scottish Christian Party - Contesting Inverness & NairnInverness and Nairn (Scottish Parliament constituency)Inverness and Nairn is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election...
and Motherwell & WishawMotherwell and Wishaw (Scottish Parliament constituency)Motherwell and Wishaw is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... - Liberal PartyLiberal Party (UK, 1989)The Liberal Party is a United Kingdom political party. It was formed in 1989 by a group of individuals within the original Liberal Party who felt that the merger of the party with the Social Democratic Party, to form the Liberal Democrats, had ended the spirit of the Liberal Party, claiming that...
- Contesting Argyll & ButeArgyll and Bute (Scottish Parliament constituency)Argyll and Bute is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election... - National Front - Contesting Aberdeen CentralAberdeen Central (Scottish Parliament constituency)Aberdeen Central is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election and is one of nine constituencies in the North East Scotland electoral region...
, Aberdeen DonsideAberdeen Donside (Scottish Parliament constituency)Aberdeen Donside is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It will elect one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election...
, Aberdeen South & North KincardineAberdeen South and North Kincardine (Scottish Parliament constituency)Aberdeen South and North Kincardine is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election...
, Almond ValleyAlmond Valley (Scottish Parliament constituency)Almond Valley is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election...
, LinlithgowLinlithgow (Scottish Parliament constituency)Linlithgow is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election...
and only the North East Scotland region - UK Independence Party (UKIP) - Contesting Inverness & NairnInverness and Nairn (Scottish Parliament constituency)Inverness and Nairn is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election...
, MorayMoray (Scottish Parliament constituency)Moray is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election...
and North East Fife
Contesting regional ballot only
- Scottish Green PartyScottish Green PartyThe Scottish Green Party is a green party in Scotland. It has two MSPs in the devolved Scottish Parliament, Alison Johnstone, representing Lothian, and Patrick Harvie, for Glasgow.-Organisation:...
- SolidaritySolidarity (Scotland)Solidarity is a political party in Scotland, launched on September 3, 2006 as a breakaway from the Scottish Socialist Party in the aftermath of Tommy Sheridan's libel action...
- all regions except GlasgowGlasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)Glasgow is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament , which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament... - Respect Party 'Coalition Against Cuts'- GlasgowGlasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)Glasgow is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament , which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament...
only - Scottish Socialist PartyScottish Socialist PartyThe Scottish Socialist Party is a left-wing Scottish political party. Positioning itself significantly to the left of Scotland's centre-left parties, the SSP campaigns on a socialist economic platform and for Scottish independence....
- British National PartyBritish National PartyThe British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
(BNP) - Socialist Labour PartySocialist Labour Party (UK)The Socialist Labour Party is a far left socialist political party in the United Kingdom. The party is led by former trade union leader Arthur Scargill, who established it in 1996 as a breakaway from the Labour Party...
- Scottish Homeland Party - contesting GlasgowGlasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)Glasgow is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament , which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament...
and CentralCentral Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)Central Scotland is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. Ten of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament...
regions - Pirate PartyPirate Party UKPirate Party UK is a political party in the United Kingdom. The Pirate Party's core policies are to bring about reform to Copyright and Patent laws, support privacy and reduce surveillance from government and businesses, and guarantee genuine freedom of speech for everyone.The Pirate Party UK...
- Scottish Unionist Party
- Christian Peoples AllianceChristian Peoples AllianceThe Christian Peoples Alliance is a Christian democratic political party in the United Kingdom. Founded in its present form in 1999; it grew out of a cross-party advocacy group known as the Movement for Christian Democracy. The party is active throughout England and has fledgling groups specific...
- Ban Bankers Bonuses - contesting the Highlands and Islands and West of Scotland regional lists.
Contesting constituency ballot only
- Communist Party of BritainCommunist Party of BritainThe Communist Party of Britain is a communist political party in Great Britain. Although founded in 1988 it traces its origins back to 1920 and the Communist Party of Great Britain, and claims the legacy of that party and its most influential members Harry Pollitt and John Gollan as its...
- Contesting Glasgow AnnieslandGlasgow Anniesland (Scottish Parliament constituency)Glasgow Anniesland is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... - Land Party - Contesting CowdenbeathCowdenbeath (Scottish Parliament constituency)Cowdenbeath is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election...
Opinion polls
In March 2011, two months before the election, Labour held a double-digit lead over the SNP in the opinion polls, 44% to 29%. The SNP's support subsequently rallied, with the two parties level in April polling. In the final poll on the eve of the election, the SNP were eleven points clear of Labour.Election result
The election produced a majority SNP government, making this the first time in the Scottish Parliament where a party has commanded a parliamentary majority. The Nationalists took 16 seats from Labour, many of whose key figures failed to be returned to parliament, although Labour leader Iain GrayIain Gray
Iain Gray is a Scottish politician and the Leader of Scottish Labour Party Opposition in the Scottish Parliament. Gray was elected as the Member of the Scottish Parliament for the East Lothian constituency in 2007 having previously represented Edinburgh Pentlands from 1999 to 2003.-Background and...
retained East Lothian
East Lothian (Scottish Parliament constituency)
East Lothian is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election...
by 151 votes. The SNP took a further eight seats from the Liberal Democrats and one seat from the Conservatives. The SNP overall majority means that there is sufficient support in the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
to hold a referendum on Scottish independence
Scottish independence
Scottish independence is a political ambition of political parties, advocacy groups and individuals for Scotland to secede from the United Kingdom and become an independent sovereign state, separate from England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
.
Labour's defeat has been attributed to several factors: the party focused too heavily on criticising the Conservative-led coalition at Westminster, and assumed that former Lib Dem voters would automatically switch their vote to Labour, when in fact they appear to have haemorrhaged support to the SNP. Jackie Baillie
Jackie Baillie
Jacqueline Marie Baillie is a Scottish Labour Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Dumbarton constituency and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy.-Background:...
compared the result to Labour's performance in the 1983 UK general election
United Kingdom general election, 1983
The 1983 United Kingdom general election was held on 9 June 1983. It gave the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945...
. Iain Gray announced his intention to resign as leader of the Labour group of MSPs in the autumn.
The election saw a rout of the Liberal Democrats, with no victories in mainland constituencies and 25 lost deposits (candidates gaining less than five per cent of the vote). Leader Tavish Scott
Tavish Scott
Tavish Hamilton Scott MSP is a Scottish politician and MSP for Shetland. He was Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 2008 to 2011...
said their performance was due to the Liberal Democrat presence in the Westminster Government
Cameron Ministry
David Cameron is Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, after being invited by Queen Elizabeth II to form a new government after the resignation as Prime Minister of Gordon Brown on 11 May 2010. Leading a coalition government formed by the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats, the coalition...
, which was an unpopular move in Scotland. Scott resigned as leader two days after the election.
For the Conservatives, the main disappointment was the loss of Edinburgh Pentlands
Edinburgh Pentlands (Scottish Parliament constituency)
Edinburgh Pentlands is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election...
, the seat of former party leader David McLetchie
David McLetchie
David McLetchie is a Scottish politician, currently a Scottish Conservative and Unionist Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Lothian electoral region...
, to the SNP. McLetchie was elected on the Lothian regional list and the Conservatives only made a net loss of five seats, with leader Annabel Goldie
Annabel Goldie
Annabel MacNicoll Goldie is a Scottish Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament for the West of Scotland Region. She was the Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party in the Scottish Parliament from 2005 until 2011....
claiming that their support had held firm. Prime Minister David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
congratulated the SNP on the result, but vowed to campaign for the Union in any independence referendum.
George Galloway
George Galloway
George Galloway is a British politician, author, journalist and broadcaster who was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010. He was formerly an MP for the Labour Party, first for Glasgow Hillhead and later for Glasgow Kelvin, before his expulsion from the party in October 2003, the same year...
, under an anti-cuts banner, failed to receive enough votes to be elected to the Glasgow regional list
Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)
Glasgow is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament , which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament...
. The Scottish Greens
Scottish Green Party
The Scottish Green Party is a green party in Scotland. It has two MSPs in the devolved Scottish Parliament, Alison Johnstone, representing Lothian, and Patrick Harvie, for Glasgow.-Organisation:...
won two seats, including their leader Patrick Harvie
Patrick Harvie
Patrick Harvie is the co-convenor of the Scottish Green Party and Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Glasgow region...
. Margo MacDonald
Margo MacDonald
Margo MacDonald MSP is a Scottish politician and former Scottish National Party MP and Deputy Leader...
again won election as an independent on the Lothian regional list.
|-
| || Total
| 1,989,222
|100.00
|—
|73
|±0
|1,991,051
|100.00
|—
|56
|±0
|129
|±0
|100.00
|}
- Overall turnout: 50%
Votes summary
Central Scotland
Glasgow
Highlands and Islands
Lothian
Mid Scotland and Fife
North East Scotland
South Scotland
West Scotland
Top target seats of the main parties
Below are listed all the constituencies which required a swingSwing (United Kingdom)
An Electoral Swing Analysis shows the extent of change in voter support from one election to another. It can be used as a means of comparison between individual candidates or political parties for a given electoral region or demographic....
of less than 5% from the 2007 result to change hands. Because the election will be fought under new boundaries, the figures are based on notional results.
SNP targets
| Rank | Constituency | Winning party 2007 | Swing to gain | SNP's place 2007 | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glasgow Southside Glasgow Southside (Scottish Parliament constituency) Glasgow Southside is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
0.07 | 2nd | SNP gain | ||
| 2 | Linlithgow Linlithgow (Scottish Parliament constituency) Linlithgow is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
0.45 | 2nd | SNP gain | ||
| 3 | Stirling Stirling (Scottish Parliament constituency) Stirling is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
0.61 | 2nd | SNP gain | ||
| 4 | Edinburgh Eastern Edinburgh Eastern (Scottish Parliament constituency) Edinburgh Eastern is a proposed constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It will elect one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
0.80 | 2nd | SNP gain | ||
| 5 | Airdrie and Shotts Airdrie and Shotts (Scottish Parliament constituency) Airdrie and Shotts is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
1.32 | 2nd | SNP gain | ||
| 6 | Clydesdale Clydesdale (Scottish Parliament constituency) Clydesdale is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
1.85 | 2nd | SNP gain | ||
| 7 | Glasgow Kelvin Glasgow Kelvin (Scottish Parliament constituency) Glasgow Kelvin is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
2.23 | 2nd | SNP gain | ||
| 8 | Midlothian North & Musselburgh Midlothian North and Musselburgh (Scottish Parliament constituency) Midlothian North and Musselburgh is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
2.59 | 2nd | SNP gain | ||
| 9 | Dumbarton Dumbarton (Scottish Parliament constituency) Dumbarton is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election... |
2.64 | 2nd | Labour hold | ||
| 10 | Falkirk East Falkirk East (Scottish Parliament constituency) Falkirk East is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
3.05 | 2nd | SNP gain | ||
| 11 | East Lothian East Lothian (Scottish Parliament constituency) East Lothian is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
3.76 | 2nd | Labour hold | ||
| 12 | East Kilbride East Kilbride (Scottish Parliament constituency) East Kilbride is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
3.78 | 2nd | SNP gain | ||
| 13 | Glasgow Cathcart Glasgow Cathcart (Scottish Parliament constituency) Glasgow Cathcart is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
3.50 | 2nd | SNP gain | ||
| 14 | Edinburgh Northern & Leith |
3.63 | 2nd | Labour hold | ||
| 15 | Aberdeen South & North Kincardine Aberdeen South and North Kincardine (Scottish Parliament constituency) Aberdeen South and North Kincardine is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election... |
3.66 | 2nd | SNP gain | ||
| 16 | Galloway & West Dumfries Galloway and West Dumfries (Scottish Parliament constituency) Galloway and West Dumfries is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
3.84 | 2nd | Con hold | ||
| 17 | Cumbernauld & Kilsyth |
3.94 | 2nd | SNP gain | ||
| 18 | Edinburgh Central Edinburgh Central (Scottish Parliament constituency) Edinburgh Central is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
4.05 | 3rd | SNP gain | ||
| 19 | Caithness, Sutherland & Ross Caithness, Sutherland and Ross (Scottish Parliament constituency) Caithness, Sutherland and Ross is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election... |
4.28 | 2nd | SNP gain | ||
| 20 | Edinburgh Pentlands Edinburgh Pentlands (Scottish Parliament constituency) Edinburgh Pentlands is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
4.49 | 3rd | SNP gain | ||
| 21 | Dunfermline Dunfermline (Scottish Parliament constituency) For earlier results see Dunfermline West.Dunfermline is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election.... |
4.55 | 3rd | SNP gain | ||
| 22 | Cunninghame South Cunninghame South (Scottish Parliament constituency) Cunninghame South is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament. It elects one MSP by the first past the post method of election once every four years. Currently, the constituency comprises of the towns of Irvine, Kilwinning and Stevenston, located within the North Ayrshire council area in... |
4.61 | 2nd | SNP gain | ||
Conservative targets
| Rank | Constituency | Winning party 2007 | Swing to gain | Con place 2007 | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perthshire South & Kinross-shire Perthshire South and Kinross-shire (Scottish Parliament constituency) Perthshire and Kinross-shire is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
2.23 | 2nd | SNP hold | ||
Labour targets
| Rank | Constituency | Winning party 2007 | Swing to gain | Labour's place 2007 | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Almond Valley Almond Valley (Scottish Parliament constituency) Almond Valley is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
0.007 | 2nd | SNP hold | ||
| 2 | Cunninghame North Cunninghame North (Scottish Parliament constituency) Cunninghame North is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament. It elects one MSP by the first past the post method of election once every four years... |
0.07 | 2nd | SNP hold | ||
| 3 | Dunfermline Dunfermline (Scottish Parliament constituency) For earlier results see Dunfermline West.Dunfermline is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election.... |
0.14 | 2nd | SNP gain | ||
| 4 | Aberdeen Central Aberdeen Central (Scottish Parliament constituency) Aberdeen Central is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election and is one of nine constituencies in the North East Scotland electoral region... |
0.69 | 2nd | SNP hold | ||
| 5 | Dumfriesshire Dumfriesshire (Scottish Parliament constituency) Dumfriesshire is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
1.05 | 2nd | Labour gain | ||
| 6 | Edinburgh Central Edinburgh Central (Scottish Parliament constituency) Edinburgh Central is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
1.28 | 2nd | SNP gain | ||
| 7 | Falkirk West Falkirk West (Scottish Parliament constituency) Falkirk West is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
1.28 | 2nd | SNP hold | ||
| 8 | Clackmannanshire & Dunblane Clackmannanshire and Dunblane (Scottish Parliament constituency) Clackmannanshire and Dunblane is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It will elect one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
1.39 | 2nd | SNP hold | ||
| 9 | Kilmarnock & Irvine Valley Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley (Scottish Parliament constituency) Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
2.01 | 2nd | SNP hold | ||
| 10 | Na h-Eileanan an Iar |
2.52 | 2nd | SNP hold | ||
| 11 | Dundee City West Dundee City West (Scottish Parliament constituency) Dundee City West is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election... |
4.22 | 2nd | SNP hold | ||
| 12 | Edinburgh Pentlands Edinburgh Pentlands (Scottish Parliament constituency) Edinburgh Pentlands is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
4.31 | 2nd | SNP gain | ||
| 13 | Mid Fife & Glenrothes Mid Fife and Glenrothes (Scottish Parliament constituency) Mid Fife and Glenrothes is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
4.53 | 2nd | SNP hold | ||
Liberal Democrat targets
| Rank | Constituency | Winning party 2007 | Swing to gain | LD's place 2007 | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argyll & Bute Argyll and Bute (Scottish Parliament constituency) Argyll and Bute is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election... |
1.41 | 2nd | SNP hold | ||
| 2 | Aberdeen Central Aberdeen Central (Scottish Parliament constituency) Aberdeen Central is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election and is one of nine constituencies in the North East Scotland electoral region... |
1.70 | 3rd | SNP hold | ||
| 3 | Midlothian South, Tweeddale & Lauderdale Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale (Scottish Parliament constituency) Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It will elect one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
1.66 | 2nd | SNP hold | ||
| 4 | Ettrick, Roxburgh & Berwickshire Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Scottish Parliament constituency) Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It will elect one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
2.61 | 2nd | Con hold | ||
| 5 | Edinburgh Northern and Leith |
4.16 | 3rd | Labour hold | ||
Incumbents defeated
| Constituency/Region | MSP | Party | MSP Since | Office previously held | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airdrie and Shotts Airdrie and Shotts (Scottish Parliament constituency) Airdrie and Shotts is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
Karen Whitefield Karen Whitefield Karen Whitefield is a Scottish politician and former Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Airdrie and Shotts constituency.... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
1999 | ||
| Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Cumbernauld and Kilsyth (Scottish Parliament constituency) Cumbernauld and Kilsyth is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
Cathie Craigie Cathie Craigie Cathie Craigie was a Scottish Labour politician and was Member of the Scottish Parliament for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency from 1999 to 2011. She was re-elected in 2003 with a majority of 520 votes, and increased this to 2,079 in 2007... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
1999 | ||
| East Kilbride East Kilbride (Scottish Parliament constituency) East Kilbride is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
Andy Kerr | Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
1999 | Minister for Finance and Public Services | |
| Falkirk East Falkirk East (Scottish Parliament constituency) Falkirk East is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
Cathy Peattie Cathy Peattie Cathy Peattie is a Scottish Labour politician and was the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Falkirk East from 1999 to 2011. In the Scottish Parliament general election, 2011, she was defeated by Angus MacDonald of the Scottish National Party.-External links:* new site for 2011 election*... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
1999 | ||
| Glasgow Anniesland Glasgow Anniesland (Scottish Parliament constituency) Glasgow Anniesland is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
Bill Butler | Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
2000 | ||
| Glasgow Cathcart Glasgow Cathcart (Scottish Parliament constituency) Glasgow Cathcart is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
Charlie Gordon Charlie Gordon Charles Gordon is a Scottish Labour Party politician. He is the former Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Cathcart.... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
2005 | ||
| Glasgow Kelvin Glasgow Kelvin (Scottish Parliament constituency) Glasgow Kelvin is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
Pauline McNeill Pauline McNeill Pauline McNeill is a Labour politician and formerly a Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Kelvin, Scotland, having been elected in the Scottish Parliament elections in 1999, 2003 and 2007... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
1999 | ||
| Glasgow Shettleston Glasgow Shettleston (Scottish Parliament constituency) Glasgow Shettleston is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
Frank McAveety | Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
1999 | Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport | |
| Kirkcaldy Kirkcaldy (Scottish Parliament constituency) Kirkcaldy is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
Marilyn Livingstone Marilyn Livingstone Marilyn Livingstone is a Scottish Labour Co-operative politician, who served as the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Kirkcaldy constituency from 1999-2011.... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
1999 | ||
| Clydesdale Clydesdale (Scottish Parliament constituency) Clydesdale is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
Karen Gillon Karen Gillon Karen Gillon, née Turnbull is a Scottish Labour politician, and was Member of the Scottish Parliament for Clydesdale from 1999 to 2011. She had previously served as personal assistant to Helen Liddell MP since 1997.... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
1999 | ||
| Clydebank and Milngavie Clydebank and Milngavie (Scottish Parliament constituency) Clydebank and Milngavie is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election... |
Des McNulty Des McNulty Des McNulty is a Labour politician, and was a Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Clydebank and Milngavie constituency from 1999 to 2011, serving as Labour's Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning until he was defeated for re-election at the 2011 election.-Early life... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
1999 | Deputy Minister for Communities | |
| Cunninghame South Cunninghame South (Scottish Parliament constituency) Cunninghame South is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament. It elects one MSP by the first past the post method of election once every four years. Currently, the constituency comprises of the towns of Irvine, Kilwinning and Stevenston, located within the North Ayrshire council area in... |
Irene Oldfather Irene Oldfather Irene Oldfather is a Scottish Labour politician, and was the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Cunninghame South constituency from 1999 until 2011.-References:... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
1999 | ||
| Strathkelvin and Bearsden Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Scottish Parliament constituency) Strathkelvin and Bearsden is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election... |
David Whitton David Whitton David Whitton is a British journalist, Labour party politician and former MSP. He was elected to the Scottish Parliament for Strathkelvin and Bearsden in 2007, defeating the incumbent Independent MSP Jean Turner, and losing the seat at the 2011 election to Fiona McLeod of the Scottish National... |
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
2007 | ||
| Edinburgh South Edinburgh South (Scottish Parliament constituency) Edinburgh South was a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elected one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
Mike Pringle | Scottish Liberal Democrats Scottish Liberal Democrats The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England... |
2003 | ||
| North East Fife | Iain Smith | Scottish Liberal Democrats Scottish Liberal Democrats The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England... |
1999 | ||
| West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (Scottish Parliament constituency) West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election... |
Mike Rumbles Mike Rumbles Mike Rumbles is a former Scottish Liberal Democrat politician, and was MSP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine until defeated at the 2011 election in the successor constituency of Aberdeenshire West.-Background:... |
Scottish Liberal Democrats Scottish Liberal Democrats The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England... |
1999 | ||
| Glasgow Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region) Glasgow is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament , which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament... |
Robert Brown Robert Brown (Scottish politician) Robert E. Brown is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician and former MSP for Glasgow Region.-Career:A graduate of University of Aberdeen, he was Depute Procurator Fiscal of Dumbarton 1972-1974 and has since been a partner & consultant with a Glasgow firm of solicitors... |
Scottish Liberal Democrats Scottish Liberal Democrats The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England... |
1999 | ||
| West of Scotland West of Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region) West of Scotland is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament... |
Ross Finnie Ross Finnie Ross Finnie is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician and former Member of the Scottish Parliament. He is a former Minister for the Environment and Rural Development in the Scottish Executive, and Member of the Scottish Parliament for the West of Scotland region... |
Scottish Liberal Democrats Scottish Liberal Democrats The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England... |
1999 | ||
| Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Scottish Parliament constituency) Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
Jeremy Purvis Jeremy Purvis Jeremy Purvis is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician, and was MSP for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale from 2003 to 2011.-Background:... |
Scottish Liberal Democrats Scottish Liberal Democrats The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England... |
1999 | ||
| Edinburgh West Edinburgh West (Scottish Parliament constituency) Edinburgh West is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election... |
Margaret Smith Margaret Smith (Scottish politician) Margaret Smith is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician, and former MSP for Edinburgh West, a seat she held from the 1999 election until the 2011 election. She was the Scottish Liberal Democrats' Education Spokesperson.... |
Scottish Liberal Democrats Scottish Liberal Democrats The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England... |
1999 | ||
| Dunfermline West Dunfermline West (Scottish Parliament constituency) Dunfermline West was a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elected one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election.... |
Jim Tolson Jim Tolson Jim Tolson is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician, and former Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Dunfermline West. He lost his seat to the Scottish National Party's Bill Walker in the 2011 election.-External links:... |
Scottish Liberal Democrats Scottish Liberal Democrats The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England... |
2007 | ||
| Central Scotland Central Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region) Central Scotland is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. Ten of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament... |
Hugh O'Donnell (politician) | Scottish Liberal Democrats Scottish Liberal Democrats The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England... |
2007 | ||
| South of Scotland South of Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region) South of Scotland is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament... |
Derek Brownlee Derek Brownlee Derek Brownlee is a Scottish accountant and politician, who is a former Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament for the South of Scotland Region .-Background:... |
Scottish Conservative Party | 2005 | ||
| Glasgow Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region) Glasgow is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament , which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament... |
Anne McLaughlin Anne McLaughlin Anne McLaughlin is a Scottish National Party politician and was a Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow between 2009 and 2011... |
Scottish National Party Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.... |
2009 | ||
| Lothian Lothian (Scottish Parliament electoral region) Lothian is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament. Nine of the parliament's 73first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament... |
Shirley-Anne Somerville Shirley-Anne Somerville Shirley-Anne Somerville was a Scottish politician and SNP MSP for the Lothians region from 2007 to 2011.-Early life:Somerville was born on 2 September 1974 in Kirkcaldy and attended Kirkcaldy High School, followed by the University of Strathclyde, where she took a B.A... |
Scottish National Party Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.... |
2007 | ||
| Lothian Lothian (Scottish Parliament electoral region) Lothian is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament. Nine of the parliament's 73first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament... (was previously member in West of Scotland West of Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region) West of Scotland is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament... ) |
Bill Wilson | Scottish National Party Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.... |
2007 | ||
See also
- Arbuthnott CommissionArbuthnott CommissionThe Arbuthnott Commission on Boundary Differences and Voting Systems was set up in July 2004 by Alistair Darling, then Secretary of State for Scotland, under the chairmanship of Sir John Arbuthnott, to examine various consequences of having four different systems of voting in Scotland, and...
- National Assembly for Wales election, 2011National Assembly for Wales election, 2011The National Assembly for Wales election 2011 was the most recent election for the National Assembly. The poll was held on Thursday, 5 May 2011 and decided the incumbency for all the assembly's seats...
- Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2011
- Murphy and Boyack review of the Labour Party in Scotland
- Scottish Labour Party leadership election, 2011Scottish Labour Party leadership election, 2011The 2011 Scottish Labour Party leadership election is an internal party election to choose a new leader of the Scottish Labour Party. The election follows the announcement by Iain Gray that he would stand down as leader in the autumn of 2011 followin the party's heavy defeat to the Scottish...
- Scottish Conservative Party leadership election, 2011Scottish Conservative Party leadership election, 2011The 2011 Scottish Conservative Party leadership election was an internal party election to elect a new leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, the third largest political party in the devolved Scottish Parliament. Ruth Davidson was declared the winner of the contest on November 4,...
- Scottish Liberal Democrats leadership election, 2011Scottish Liberal Democrats leadership election, 2011The 2011 Scottish Liberal Democrats leadership election was triggered by the resignation of party leader Tavish Scott on 7 May 2011, due to the very poor showing of the party at the 2011 Scottish parliament election, in which the Liberal Democrats only returned 5 MSPs and lost 12.Nominations for...
External links
- Election 2011, a Briefing by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre
- Scottish Election Study
Party manifestos
- British National Party Manifesto
- Communist Party of Britain Manifesto
- Pirate Party UK Scottish Manifesto
- Respect Party 'Coalition Against Cuts' Manifesto
- Scottish Christian Party Manifesto
- Scottish Conservative Party Manifesto
- Scottish Green Party Manifesto
- Scottish Homeland Party Manifesto
- Scottish Labour Party Manifesto
- Scottish Liberal Democrats Manifesto
- Scottish National Party Manifesto
- Scottish Socialist Party Manifesto
- UK Independence Party Manifesto