Jump to content

2011 Scottish Parliament election

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Unreal7 (talk | contribs) at 22:55, 7 July 2022 (→South Scotland). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

2011 Scottish Parliament election
← 2007 5 May 2011 (2011-05-05) 2016 →
All 129 seats to the Scottish Parliament
65 seats needed for a majority
TurnoutConstituency - 50.5% Decrease 3.4pp
Regional - 50.5% Decrease 3.5pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland (cropped).jpg
IainGrayMSP20110510.JPG
AnnabelGoldieMSP20110510.JPG
Leader Alex Salmond Iain Gray Annabel Goldie
Party SNP Labour Conservative
Leader's seat Aberdeenshire East East Lothian West Scotland
Last election 47 seats 46 seats 17 seats
Seats before 46 44 17
Seats won 69 37 15
Seat change Increase23* Decrease7* Decrease2*
Constituency vote 902,915 630,461 276,652
% and swing 45.4% Increase12.5% 31.7% Decrease0.5% 13.9% Decrease2.7%
Regional vote 876,421 523,469 245,967
% and swing 44.0% Increase13.0% 26.3% Decrease2.9% 12.4% Decrease1.5%
  Fourth party Fifth party
 
TavishScottMSP20110510.JPG
Scottish Green Leadership 2011.jpg
Leader Tavish Scott Patrick Harvie /
Eleanor Scott
Party Liberal Democrats Scottish Green
Leader's seat Shetland Glasgow /
Contested Highlands
and Islands
Last election 16 seats 2 seats
Seats before 17 1
Seats won 5 2
Seat change Decrease12* Increase1*
Constituency vote 157,714 Did not contest
% and swing 7.9% Decrease8.2% Did not contest
Regional vote 103,472 86,939
% and swing 5.2% Decrease6.1% 4.4% Increase0.3%
The left side shows constituency winners of the election by their party colours. The right side shows regional winners of the election for the additional members by their party colours.
* Indicates boundary change - so this is a nominal figure
First Minister before election

Alex Salmond
SNP

First Minister after election

Alex Salmond
SNP

This article is part of a series within the
Politics of the United Kingdom on the
Politics of Scotland
The Crown

Charles III

William, Duke of Rothesay

Executive

Swinney government

The Rt Hon John Swinney MSP

Kate Forbes MSP

Legislature

Sixth session

Alison Johnstone MSP

Law and justice

Angela Constance MSP

Dorothy Bain KC

The Rt Hon Lord Carloway KC PC

Elections and referendums
Scottish Parliament elections

United Kingdom Parliament elections

European Parliament elections

Local elections

Referendums
Scotland and the United Kingdom

Sunak ministry

The Rt Hon Keir Starmer MP

The Rt Hon Ian Murray MP

Administration

The 2011 Scottish Parliament 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 Additional Member System used to elect MSPs was allegedly originally implemented to prevent any party achieving an overall parliamentary majority.[1] The Scottish National Party (SNP) won a landslide of 69 seats, the most the party has ever held at either a Holyrood or Westminster election, allowing leader Alex Salmond to remain as First Minister of Scotland for a second term. The SNP gained 32 constituencies, twenty two from Scottish Labour, 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 came to be represented by MSPs of other political parties. Scottish Labour 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 16 to 5. Tavish Scott announced his resignation as party leader shortly after the election.[2] For Scottish Conservatives, the election proved disappointing as their popular vote dropped slightly and their number of seats fell by 2, with party leader Annabel Goldie also announcing her resignation.[3]

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.

Date

Under the Scotland Act 1998, an ordinary general election to the Scottish Parliament was held on the first Thursday in May four years after the 2007 election.[4]

Because of the problems of voter confusion and a high number of spoilt ballots in 2007 due to holding Scottish parliamentary and local elections simultaneously and under different voting systems, the next Scottish local elections were 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.[5] Labour MP Ian Davidson expressed opposition to the referendum being staged on the same date as other elections.[5] Scottish Secretary Michael Moore stated that having the referendum on another date would cost an additional £17 million.[5]

British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens living in Scotland who were 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.[6]

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.

Boundary Review

Main article: First Periodic Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries
The notional results of the 2007 election, based on the new boundaries

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 three seats, while Labour has lost the most seats, losing two overall.

Party Constituency
seats 		Regional
seats 		Total
seats 		Seat
change
SNP 21 25 46 –1
Labour 35 9 44 –2
Conservative 6 14 20 +3
Liberal Democrat 11 6 17 +1
Scottish Green 0 1 1 –1

Election system, seats, and regions

Main article: Scottish Parliament constituencies and electoral regions from 2011

The total number of Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) elected to the Parliament is 129.

The First Periodical Review of the Scottish Parliament constituencies and electoral 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-divided 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 seven additional member MSPs using an additional member system. A modified D'Hondt method, using the constituency results, is used to calculate which additional member MSPs the regions elect.[7][8]

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 electoral 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[9] can be summarised below;

Retiring MSPs

At the dissolution of Parliament on 22 March 2011, twenty MSPs were not seeking re-election.[10]

Constituency/Region Departing MSP Party
Mid Scotland and Fife Christopher Harvie SNP
Argyll and Bute Jim Mather
Lothians Ian McKee
South of Scotland Alasdair Morgan
Angus Andrew Welsh
Paisley North Wendy Alexander Scottish Labour
Midlothian Rhona Brankin
Glasgow Baillieston Margaret Curran
Lothians George Foulkes
North East Scotland Marlyn Glen
West Renfrewshire Trish Godman
Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley Cathy Jamieson
Motherwell and Wishaw Jack McConnell
Highlands and Islands Peter Peacock
Ross, Skye and Inverness West John Farquhar Munro Liberal Democrats
Aberdeen South Nicol Stephen
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Jamie Stone
Glasgow Bill Aitken Conservative
Mid Scotland and Fife Ted Brocklebank
Lothians Robin Harper Green

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 ballot, 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.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14] 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.[15] The same protesters 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 'ran away' from the possibility of an encounter with the other.[16]

Policy platforms

The main parties contesting the election all outlined the following main aims:[17]

Scottish National Party

  • Legislate to give Scotland a referendum on independence.
  • Maintain the council tax freeze throughout the next parliament.
  • Attempt to generate 100% of Scotland's electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
  • Continue offering free university tuition to Scottish students.
  • Maintain high police numbers.

Labour

  • 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 station and Glasgow International Airport, which was cancelled in 2009.
  • Continue free University tuition fees for all Scottish students.

Conservatives

  • 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.
  • Centralising the Scottish police forces into a single police force.

Liberal Democrats

  • Maintain free university tuition for Scottish students.
  • Aim to create 100,000 new jobs through selling off Scottish Water 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.

Greens

  • Bring in large-scale ecosystem restoration projects.
  • Replace council tax with land value tax.
  • Maintain free university tuition for Scottish students.
  • Focus on bringing restorative justice within Scotland's justice system.
  • Abolish the Forth Replacement Crossing.

Parties contesting the election

Contesting constituency and regional ballot

Only the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Labour Party and the Scottish Conservative Party contested all constituencies.[18][19]

Contesting regional ballot only

Contesting constituency ballot only

Opinion polls

Further information: Opinion polling for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election

In March 2011, two months before the election, Labour held a double-digit lead over the SNP in the opinion polls,[24] 44% to 29%.[25] 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.[24][26]

The chart shows the relative state of the parties since polling began from 2009, until the date of the election. The constituency vote is shown as semi-transparent lines, while the regional vote is shown in full lines.

Average 30-day trend line of poll results for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election. Results from 30 January 2009 to 4 May 2011

Result

The election produced a majority SNP government, making this the first time in the Scottish Parliament where a party had commanded a parliamentary majority. The SNP took 16 seats from Labour, many of whose key figures failed to be returned to parliament, although Labour leader Iain Gray 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 meant that there was sufficient support in the Scottish Parliament to hold a referendum on Scottish independence.[27]

Labour's defeat was 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 appeared to have haemorrhaged support to the SNP.[28] Jackie Baillie compared the result to Labour's performance in the 1983 UK general election.[27] Iain Gray conceded defeat to Alex Salmond and announced his intention to resign as leader of the Labour group of MSPs that autumn.[27]

The election saw a rout of the Liberal Democrats, with no victories in mainland constituencies[29] and 25 lost deposits (candidates gaining less than five per cent of the vote).[29] Leader Tavish Scott said their performance was due to the Liberal Democrats' involvement in the Westminster Government, which had been unpopular with many former LibDem supporters.[30] Scott resigned as leader two days after the election.[30]

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.[27] Prime Minister David Cameron congratulated the SNP on the result, but vowed to campaign for the Union in any independence referendum.[27]

The Scottish Greens won two seats, including their co-convenor Patrick Harvie.[27] Margo MacDonald again won election as an independent on the Lothian regional list.[27] George Galloway, under a Unionist anti-cuts banner, failed to receive enough votes to be elected to the Glasgow regional list.[27]

The SNP's overall majority assured Salmond of another term as First Minister, and he was reelected unopposed on 18 May.[31]

↓
69 37 15 5 2
SNP Labour Conservative LD
← Scottish general election, 2011 (+/- seats based on notional 2007 result)[32] →
Party Constituencies Regional additional members Total seats
Votes % ± Seats ± Votes % ± Seats ± Total ± %
SNP 902,915 45.4 Increase12.5 53 Increase32 876,421 44.0 Increase13.0 16 Decrease9 69 Increase23 53.5
Labour 630,461 31.7 Decrease0.5 15 Decrease20 523,469 26.3 Decrease2.9 22 Increase13 37 Decrease7 28.7
Conservative 276,652 13.9 Decrease2.7 3 Decrease3 245,967 12.4 Decrease1.5 12 Decrease2 15 Decrease5 11.6
Liberal Democrats 157,714 7.9 Decrease8.2 2 Decrease9 103,472 5.2 Decrease6.1 3 Decrease3 5 Decrease12 3.9
Scottish Green — — Decrease0.1 0 Steady 86,939 4.4 Increase0.3 2 Increase1 2 Increase1 1.6
Margo MacDonald — — — — — 18,732 0.9 Steady 1 Steady 1 Steady 0.8
Scottish Senior Citizens 1,618 0.1 Steady 0 Steady 33,253 1.7 Decrease0.2 0 Steady 0 Steady 0.0
UKIP 2,508 0.1 Increase0.1 0 Steady 18,138 0.9 Increase0.5 0 Steady 0 Steady 0.0
Scottish Christian 1,193 0.1 Decrease0.2 0 Steady 16,466 0.8 Decrease0.5 0 Steady 0 Steady 0.0
Socialist Labour — — — — — 16,847 0.9 Steady0.2 0 Steady 0 Steady 0.0
BNP — — — — — 15,580 0.8 Decrease0.4 0 Steady 0 Steady 0.0
Scottish Socialist — — — — — 8,272 0.4 Decrease0.2 0 Steady 0 Steady 0.0
Respect — — — — — 6,972 0.4 new 0 new 0 new 0.0
Scottish Unionist — — — — — 3,002 0.2 Decrease0.1 0 Steady 0 Steady 0.0
Ban Bankers Bonuses — — — — — 2,968 0.1 new 0 new 0 new 0.0
Solidarity — — — — — 2,837 0.1 Decrease1.4 0 Steady 0 Steady 0.0
Liberal 436 0.0 new 0 new 2,393 0.1 new 0 new 0 new 0.0
National Front 1,515 0.1 new 0 new 640 0.03 new 0 new 0 new 0.0
Angus Independents Representatives 1,321 0.1 new 0 new 471 0.03 new 0 new 0 new 0.0
Pirate — — — — — 1,431 0.1 new 0 new 0 new 0.0
CPA — — — — — 1,191 0.1 Decrease0.7 0 Steady 0 Steady 0.0
Scotland Homeland Party — — — — — 616 0.0 new 0 new 0 new 0.0
Land Party 276 0.0 new 0 new — — — — — 0 new 0.0
Communist 256 0.0 new 0 new — — — — — 0 new 0.0
Independent 12,411 0.6 Decrease0.6 0 Steady 4,759 0.2 Increase0.1 0 Steady 0 Steady 0.0
Valid votes 1,989,276 99.7 Increase3.8   1,990,836 99.7 Increase2.0  
Spoilt votes 6,363 0.3 Decrease3.8   5,987 0.3 Decrease2.0  
Total 1,995,639 100   73 – 1,996,823 100   56 – 129 – 100
Electorate/Turnout 3,950,626 50.5 Decrease3.4   3,950,626 50.5 Decrease3.5  

Votes summary

Popular Vote (Constituency)
SNP
 
 45.39%
Labour
 
 31.69%
Conservative
 
 13.91%
Liberal Democrats
 
 7.93%
Other
 
 1.08%
Popular Vote (Regional)
SNP
 
 44.04%
Labour
 
 26.31%
Conservative
 
 12.36%
Liberal Democrats
 
 5.20%
Green
 
 4.38%
Other
 
 7.71%
Parliament seats
SNP
 
 53.49%
Labour
 
 28.68%
Conservative
 
 11.63%
Liberal Democrats
 
 3.88%
Green
 
 1.55%
Other
 
 0.78%

Constituency and regional summary

Central Scotland

Scottish Parliament general election, 2011: Central Scotland
Constituency Elected member Result
Airdrie and Shotts Alex Neil SNP gain from Labour
Coatbridge and Chryston Elaine Smith Labour hold
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Jamie Hepburn SNP gain from Labour
East Kilbride Linda Fabiani SNP gain from Labour
Falkirk East Angus MacDonald SNP gain from Labour
Falkirk West Michael Matheson SNP hold
Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse Christina McKelvie SNP gain from Labour
Motherwell and Wishaw John Pentland Labour hold
Uddingston and Bellshill Michael McMahon Labour hold
Scottish parliamentary election, 2011: Central Scotland
Party Elected candidates Seats +/− Votes % +/−%
SNP Richard Lyle
John Wilson
Clare Adamson 		3 −2 108,261 46.4% +15.5%
Labour Siobhan McMahon
Mark Griffin
Margaret McCulloch 		3 +3 82,459 35.3% −4.6%
Conservative Margaret Mitchell 1 ±0 14,870 6.4% −1.9%
Liberal Democrats 0 −1 3,318 1.4% −3.8%

Glasgow

Scottish Parliament general election, 2011: Glasgow
Constituency Elected member Result
Glasgow Anniesland Bill Kidd SNP gain from Labour
Glasgow Cathcart James Dornan SNP gain from Labour
Glasgow Kelvin Sandra White SNP gain from Labour
Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn Patricia Ferguson Labour hold
Glasgow Pollok Johann Lamont Labour hold
Glasgow Provan Paul Martin Labour hold
Glasgow Shettleston John Mason SNP gain from Labour
Glasgow Southside Nicola Sturgeon SNP hold
Rutherglen James Kelly Labour hold
Scottish parliamentary election, 2011: Glasgow
Party Elected candidates Seats +/− Votes % +/−%
SNP Humza Yousaf
Bob Doris 		2 −2 83,109 39.8% +12.8%
Labour Hanzala Malik
Drew Smith
Anne McTaggart 		3 +3 73,031 35.0% −3.3%
Conservative Ruth Davidson 1 ±0 12,749 6.1% −0.6%
Scottish Green Patrick Harvie 1 ±0 12,454 6.0% +0.6%
Liberal Democrats 0 −1 5,312 2.5% −4.6%

Highlands and Islands

Scottish Parliament general election, 2011: Highlands and Islands
Constituency Elected member Result
Argyll & Bute Michael Russell SNP hold
Caithness, Sutherland & Ross Rob Gibson SNP gain from Liberal Democrats
Inverness & Nairn Fergus Ewing SNP hold
Moray Richard Lochhead SNP hold
Na h-Eileanan an Iar Alasdair Allan SNP hold
Orkney Liam McArthur Liberal Democrats hold
Shetland Tavish Scott Liberal Democrats hold
Skye, Lochaber & Badenoch Dave Thompson SNP gain from Liberal Democrats
Scottish parliamentary election, 2011: Highlands and Islands
Party Elected candidates Seats +/− Votes % +/−%
SNP John Finnie
Jean Urquhart
Mike MacKenzie 		3 +1 85,028 47.5% +13.1%
Labour Rhoda Grant
David Stewart 		2 −1 25,884 14.5% −3.2%
Liberal Democrats 0 ±0 21,729 12.1% −8.0%
Conservative Jamie McGrigor
Mary Scanlon 		2 ±0 20,843 11.6% −0.8%

Lothian

Scottish Parliament general election, 2011: Lothian
Constituency Elected member Result
Almond Valley Angela Constance SNP hold
Edinburgh Central Marco Biagi SNP gain from Labour
Edinburgh Eastern Kenny MacAskill SNP hold
Edinburgh Northern and Leith Malcolm Chisholm Labour hold
Edinburgh Pentlands Gordon MacDonald SNP gain from Conservative
Edinburgh Southern Jim Eadie SNP gain from Liberal Democrats
Edinburgh Western Colin Keir SNP gain from Liberal Democrats
Linlithgow Fiona Hyslop SNP gain from Labour
Midlothian North & Musselburgh Colin Beattie SNP gain from Labour
Scottish parliamentary election, 2011: Lothian
Party Elected candidates Seats +/− Votes % +/−%
SNP 0 −3 110,953 39.2% +12.9%
Labour Sarah Boyack
Kezia Dugdale
Neil Findlay 		3 +2 70,544 24.9% −1.3%
Conservative David McLetchie
Gavin Brown 		2 +1 33,019 11.7% −1.5%
Scottish Green Alison Johnstone 1 ±0 21,505 7.6% +0.5%
Independent Margo MacDonald 1 ±0 18,732 6.6% +0.0%
Liberal Democrats 0 15,588 5.5% −7.3

Mid Scotland and Fife

Scottish Parliament general election, 2011: Mid Scotland and Fife
Constituency Elected member Result
Clackmannanshire & Dunblane Keith Brown SNP hold
Cowdenbeath Helen Eadie Labour hold
Dunfermline Bill Walker SNP gain from Liberal Democrats
Fife North East Roderick Campbell SNP gain from Liberal Democrats
Kirkcaldy David Torrance SNP gain from Labour
Mid Fife & Glenrothes Tricia Marwick SNP hold
Perthshire North John Swinney SNP hold
Perthshire South & Kinross-shire Roseanna Cunningham SNP hold
Stirling Bruce Crawford SNP gain from Labour
Scottish Parliament election, 2011: Mid Scotland and Fife
Party Elected candidates Seats +/− Votes % +/−%
SNP Annabelle Ewing 1 ±0 116,691 45.2% +12.7%
Labour John Park
Claire Brennan-Baker
Richard Simpson 		3 0 64,623 25.0% −2.1%
Conservative Murdo Fraser
Liz Smith 		2 −1 36,458 14.1% −1.5%
Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie 1 +1 15,103 5.9% −7.7%

North East Scotland

Scottish Parliament general election, 2011: North East Scotland
Constituency Elected member Result
Aberdeen Central Kevin Stewart SNP gain from Labour
Aberdeen Donside Brian Adam SNP hold
Aberdeen South & North Kincardine Maureen Watt SNP gain from Liberal Democrats
Aberdeenshire East Alex Salmond SNP hold
Aberdeenshire West Dennis Robertson SNP gain from Liberal Democrats
Angus North & Mearns Nigel Don SNP hold
Angus South Graeme Dey SNP hold
Banffshire & Buchan Coast Stewart Stevenson SNP hold
Dundee City East Shona Robison SNP hold
Dundee City West Joe Fitzpatrick SNP hold
Scottish Parliament election, 2011: North East Scotland
Party Elected candidates Seats +/− Votes % +/−%
SNP Mark McDonald 1 ±0 140,749 52.7% +12.2%
Labour Richard Baker
Jenny Marra
Lewis MacDonald 		3 ±0 43,893 16.4% −3.2%
Conservative Alex Johnstone
Nanette Milne 		2 ±0 37,681 14.1% −1.1%
Liberal Democrats Alison McInnes 1 ±0 18,178 6.8% −8.4%

South Scotland

Scottish Parliament general election, 2011: South Scotland
Constituency Elected member Result
Ayr John Scott Conservative hold
Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley Adam Ingram SNP gain from Labour
Clydesdale Aileen Campbell SNP gain from Labour
Dumfriesshire Elaine Murray Labour hold
East Lothian Iain Gray Labour hold
Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire John Lamont Conservative hold
Galloway and West Dumfries Alex Fergusson Conservative hold
Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley Willie Coffey SNP hold
Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale Christine Grahame SNP hold
Scottish Parliament election, 2011: South Scotland
Party Elected candidates Seats +/− Votes % +/−%
SNP Joan McAlpine
Aileen McLeod
Paul Wheelhouse
Chic Brodie 		4 −1 114,270 40.96% +12.4
Labour Claudia Beamish
Graeme Pearson 		2 +2 70,596 25.3% −3.5
Conservative 0 −1 54,352 19.48% −2.8
Liberal Democrats Jim Hume 1 ±0 15,096 5.41% −4.5

West Scotland

Scottish Parliament general election, 2011: West Scotland
Constituency Elected member Result
Clydebank & Milngavie Gil Paterson SNP gain from Labour
Cunninghame North Kenneth Gibson SNP hold
Cunninghame South Margaret Burgess SNP gain from Labour
Dumbarton Jackie Baillie Labour hold
Eastwood Ken Macintosh Labour hold
Greenock & Inverclyde Duncan McNeil Labour hold
Paisley George Adam SNP gain from Labour
Renfrewshire North & West Derek Mackay SNP gain from Labour
Renfrewshire South Hugh Henry Labour hold
Strathkelvin & Bearsden Fiona McLeod SNP gain from Labour
Scottish Parliament election, 2011: West Scotland
Party Elected candidates Seats +/− Votes % +/−%
SNP Stewart Maxwell
Stuart McMillan 		2 −2 117,306 41.5% +13%
Labour Mary Fee
Neil Bibby
Margaret McDougall 		3 +3 92,530 32.8% −1.8%
Conservative Annabel Goldie
Jackson Carlaw 		2 ±0 35,995 12.7% −2.0%
Liberal Democrats 0 −1 9,148 3.2% −4.9%

Top target seats of the main parties

Below are listed all the constituencies which required a swing of less than 5% from the 2007 result to change hands. Because the election was fought under new boundaries, the figures are based on notional results from 2007.[33]

SNP targets

Incumbents defeated

Constituency/Region MSP Party MSP Since Office previously held
Airdrie and Shotts Karen Whitefield Scottish Labour 1999
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Cathie Craigie Scottish Labour 1999
East Kilbride Andy Kerr Scottish Labour 1999 Minister for Finance and Public Services
Falkirk East Cathy Peattie Scottish Labour 1999
Glasgow Anniesland Bill Butler Scottish Labour 2000
Glasgow Cathcart Charlie Gordon Scottish Labour 2005
Glasgow Kelvin Pauline McNeill Scottish Labour 1999
Glasgow Shettleston Frank McAveety Scottish Labour 1999 Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport
Kirkcaldy Marilyn Livingstone Scottish Labour 1999
Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse Tom McCabe Scottish Labour 1999
Clydesdale Karen Gillon Scottish Labour 1999
Clydebank and Milngavie Des McNulty Scottish Labour 1999 Deputy Minister for Communities
Cunninghame South Irene Oldfather Scottish Labour 1999
Strathkelvin and Bearsden David Whitton Scottish Labour 2007
Edinburgh South Mike Pringle Scottish Liberal Democrats 2003
North East Fife Iain Smith Scottish Liberal Democrats 1999
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Mike Rumbles Scottish Liberal Democrats 1999
Glasgow Robert Brown Scottish Liberal Democrats 1999
West of Scotland Ross Finnie Scottish Liberal Democrats 1999 Minister for the Environment and Rural Development
Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Jeremy Purvis Scottish Liberal Democrats 1999
Edinburgh West Margaret Smith Scottish Liberal Democrats 1999
Dunfermline West Jim Tolson Scottish Liberal Democrats 2007
Central Scotland Hugh O'Donnell Scottish Liberal Democrats 2007
South of Scotland Derek Brownlee Scottish Conservatives 2005
Glasgow Anne McLaughlin Scottish National Party 2009
Lothian Shirley-Anne Somerville Scottish National Party 2007
Lothian (was previously member in West of Scotland) Bill Wilson Scottish National Party 2007

See also

References

  1. ^ Newman, Cathy (6 May 2011). "SNP wins majority in Scottish elections". channel4.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  2. ^ "Scots Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott quits post". BBC News. 7 May 2011. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  3. ^ "BBC News - Scots Tory leader Annabel Goldie announces resignation". BBC. 24 April 2009. Archived from the original on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  4. ^ "Scotland Act 1998 - Section 2 Ordinary General Elections". Office of Public Sector Information. Archived from the original on 19 May 2007. Retrieved 8 May 2007.
  5. ^ a b c "Scots politicians oppose AV referendum date". BBC News. BBC. 30 September 2010. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  6. ^ The deadline for the receipt and determination of anonymous electoral registration applications was the same as the publication date of the notice of alteration to the Electoral Register (i.e. the fifth working day before election day).
  7. ^ "Electoral system: How it works". BBC News Online. 2 April 2003. Archived from the original on 4 September 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  8. ^ "D'Hondt system". BBC News. 28 September 2009. Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  9. ^ "Revised Recommendations" (PDF). Boundary Commission for Scotland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  10. ^ Black, Andrew (22 March 2011). "Scottish election: MSPs bidding farewell to Holyrood". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  11. ^ "BBC News - Scottish elections: Lib Dem candidate quits party". BBC. 27 March 2011. Archived from the original on 23 April 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  12. ^ Andrew Black (4 April 2011). "BBC News - Scottish election: John Farquhar Munro backs Salmond". BBC. Archived from the original on 5 May 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  13. ^ "BBC News - Scottish election: Lib Dem fails to lodge papers". BBC. 4 April 2011. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  14. ^ "Who won the first Scottish leaders' debate? | Election 2011 | STV News". News.stv.tv. 30 March 2011. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  15. ^ "BBC News - Scottish election: Iain Gray targeted by protesters". BBC. 7 April 2011. Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  16. ^ "Asdagate: Alex Salmond and Iain Gray accused of 'hiding' from each other during supermarket visit". STV News. 27 April 2011. Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  17. ^ "BBC News - Scotland election: Issues guide". BBC. 20 April 2011. Archived from the original on 6 May 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  18. ^ "Scottish Parliament Election 2011". STV News. Archived from the original on 16 April 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  19. ^ "Scottish Election 2011". The Herald. Archived from the original on 7 May 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  20. ^ "Lib Dem fails to lodge papers". BBC News. 4 April 2011. Archived from the original on 7 April 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  21. ^ "George Galloway". Archived from the original on 15 April 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  22. ^ "Scottish Homeland Party". Archived from the original on 6 May 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  23. ^ "Ban Bankers Bonuses" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 May 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  24. ^ a b Macnab, Scott (6 May 2011). "Holyrood Elections: A shared goal but there could only be one winner". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. Archived from the original on 25 September 2011.
  25. ^ "HOLYROOD VOTING INTENTIONS POLL" (PDF). TNS/bmrb. 7 March 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015.
  26. ^ "HOLYROOD VOTING INTENTIONS POLL" (PDF) (Press release). TNS/bmrb. 3 May 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 September 2014.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h "Scottish election: SNP wins election". BBC News. 6 May 2011. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  28. ^ Black, Andrew (6 May 2011). "Scottish Election: Campaign successes and stinkers". BBC News. Archived from the original on 6 May 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  29. ^ a b "Scottish election: SNP wins election". BBC News. 6 May 2011. Archived from the original on 7 May 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  30. ^ a b "Scottish election: SNP press Cameron on Scotland Bill". BBC News. 7 May 2011. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  31. ^ Scottish Parliament (18 May 2011). "Holyrood Roundup, Election of First Minister". Archived from the original on 16 February 2020 – via YouTube.
  32. ^ "2011 Scottish Parliament election: Results analysis". Scottish Parliament. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  33. ^ "The New Scottish Parliament Constituencies 2011" (PDF). BBC News online. 8 September 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 July 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2010.

Party manifestos

Party election broadcasts

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2011_Scottish_Parliament_election&oldid=1096981009"