2016 Scottish Parliament election

Scottish Parliament election, 2016
← outgoing members elected members →
All 129 seats to the Scottish Parliament; 65 seats needed for a majority
	Opinion polls
Turnout	55.6% 5.2%
	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.
First Minister before election; Nicola Sturgeon; SNP	Elected First Minister ; Nicola Sturgeon; SNP

The 2016 Scottish Parliament election was held on Thursday 5 May 2016^[1] to elect 129 members to the Scottish Parliament. It was the fifth general election since the parliament was established in 1999. It was the first parliamentary election in Scotland in which 16 and 17 year olds were able to vote, under the provisions of the Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Act.^[2]^[3] It was also the first time the three main parties were led by women.

Parliament went into dissolution on 24 March 2016, allowing the official period of campaigning to get underway. Five parties had MSPs in the previous parliament: Scottish National Party (SNP) led by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Labour Party led by Kezia Dugdale, Scottish Conservatives led by Ruth Davidson, Scottish Liberal Democrats led by Willie Rennie, Scottish Greens, led by their co-conveners Patrick Harvie and Maggie Chapman. Of those five parties, four changed their leader since the 2011 election.

During the campaign, a series of televised debates took place, including party leaders of the elected parties. BBC Scotland held the first leaders’ debate on 24 March, STV broadcast the next on 29 March, and BBC Scotland hosted the final debate on 1 May.

The Scottish National Party won the election and a third term in government, but fell two seats short of securing a second consecutive overall majority.^[4]^[5] The Conservatives saw a significant increase in support and displaced the Labour Party as the second largest party at the Scottish Parliament.^[4]^[5] The Scottish Greens won six seats on the regional list and overtook the Liberal Democrats, who remained on five seats.^[4]^[5]

Date

Under the Scotland Act 1998, an ordinary general election to the Scottish Parliament would normally have been held on the first Thursday in May four years after the 2011 election, i.e. in May 2015.^[6] In May 2010, the new UK Government stated in its coalition agreement that the next United Kingdom general election would also be held in May 2015.^[7] This proposal was criticised by the Scottish National Party and Labour, as it had been recommended after the 2007 election that elections with different voting systems should be held on separate days: a recommendation which all of the political parties had then accepted.^[8] In response to this criticism, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg offered the right to vary the date of the Scottish Parliament election by a year either way.^[9] All the main political parties then stated their support for delaying the election by a year.^[10]^[11] The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, a statute of the UK Parliament, moved the date of the Scottish Parliament general election to 5 May 2016.^[1]

The date of the poll may be varied by up to one month either way by the monarch, on the proposal of the Presiding Officer.^[6]

If Parliament itself resolves that it should be dissolved, with at least two-thirds of the Members (i.e. 86 Members) voting in favour, the Presiding Officer proposes a date for an extraordinary general election and the Parliament is dissolved by the monarch by royal proclamation.

It does not necessarily require a two-thirds majority to precipitate an extraordinary general election, because under the Scotland Act Parliament is also dissolved if it fails to nominate one of its members to be First Minister within certain time limits, irrespective of whether at the beginning or in the middle of a parliamentary term. Therefore, if the First Minister resigned, Parliament would then have 28 days to elect a successor (s46(2)b and s46(3)a). If no new First Minister was elected then the Presiding Officer would ask for Parliament to be dissolved under s3(1)a. This process could also be triggered if the First Minister lost a vote of confidence by a simple majority (i.e. more than 50%), as s/he must then resign (Scotland Act 1998 s45(2)). To date the Parliament has never held a confidence vote on a First Minister.

No extraordinary general elections have been held to date. Any extraordinary general elections would be in addition to ordinary general elections, unless held less than six months before the due date of an ordinary general election, in which case they supplant it. The subsequent ordinary general election reverts to the first Thursday in May, a multiple of four years after 1999.^[12]

It was envisaged that the general election would still have taken place as scheduled if Scotland had voted in favour of independence in 2014.^[13]

Retiring MSPs

Constituency/Region	Departing MSP	Party
Edinburgh Central	Marco Biagi^[14]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party
Cunninghame South	Margaret Burgess^[15]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross	Rob Gibson^[16]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party
Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley	Adam Ingram^[17]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party
Edinburgh Eastern	Kenny MacAskill^[18]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party
Strathkelvin and Bearsden	Fiona McLeod^[19]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party
Aberdeenshire East	Alex Salmond^[20]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch	Dave Thompson^[21]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party
North East Scotland	Richard Baker^[22]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party
Edinburgh Northern and Leith	Malcolm Chisholm^[23]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party
Renfrewshire South	Hugh Henry^[24]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party
West Scotland	Margaret McDougall^[25]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party
Greenock and Inverclyde	Duncan McNeil^[26]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party
South Scotland	Graeme Pearson^[27]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party
Mid Scotland and Fife	Richard Simpson^[28]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party
Glasgow	Drew Smith^[29]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party
Lothian	Gavin Brown^[30]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Conservative Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Conservative Party
Lothian	Cameron Buchanan^[31]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Conservative Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Conservative Party
Galloway and West Dumfries	Alex Fergusson^[32]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Conservative Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Conservative Party
West Scotland	Annabel Goldie^[33]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Conservative Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Conservative Party
Highlands and Islands	Jamie McGrigor^[34]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Conservative Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Conservative Party
North East Scotland	Nanette Milne^[32]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Conservative Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Conservative Party
Highlands and Islands	Mary Scanlon^[35]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Conservative Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Conservative Party
Mid Fife and Glenrothes	Tricia Marwick^[36]	style="background-color: Template:Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament/meta/color" \|	Presiding Officer

Deselected MSPs

Changes to the SNP's selection procedures the previous year in order to ensure gender balance of candidates meant that any incumbent constituency MSP who chose to retire would have their replacement selected from an all woman shortlist. The only ways for a new male candidate to receive a constituency nomination would be to stand in a constituency currently held by an opposition MSP or to run a de-selection campaign against a sitting MSP. For that reason there were far more challenges than normal within the SNP, but only two were successful:

Constituency	Selected Candidate	Deselected MSP	Party		Retained position on Regional list
Angus North and Mearns	Mairi Evans	Nigel Don^[37]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party	Yes (North East Scotland)
Edinburgh Western	Toni Giugliano	Colin Keir^[38]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party	No

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 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 7 additional MSPs using an additional member system. A modified D'Hondt method, using the constituency results, is used to elect these additional MSPs.^[39]^[40]

The Scottish Parliament constituencies have not been coterminous with Scottish Westminster constituencies since the 2005 general election, when the 72 former UK Parliament constituencies were replaced with a new set of 59, generally larger, constituencies (see Scottish Parliament (Constituencies) Act 2004). The boundaries used for the Scottish Parliament elections were then revised for the 2011 election. The Boundary Commission also recommended changes to the electoral regions used to elect "list" members of the Scottish Parliament,^[41] which were also implemented in 2011.

Campaign

On 29 February 2016, BBC Scotland's Scotland 2016 current affairs programme held a debate focusing on education featuring the Education Minister Angela Constance and three party leaders: Kezia Dugdale, Ruth Davidson and Willie Rennie.^[42]

On 24 March 2016, BBC Scotland held a debate in Glasgow which was televised that featured Dugdale, Davidson, Rennie, Nicola Sturgeon, Patrick Harvie and David Coburn.^[43]

On 29 March 2016, STV hosted a televised leaders’ debate, featuring the five leaders of the parties which held seats in the last Parliament.^[44]

From 5–26 April 2016, Scotland 2016 also held a series of weekly subject debates on Tuesday nights. The subjects were Tax, Health, Energy & Environment, and Housing.^[45] Of these, six parties (SNP, Labour, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, the Scottish Greens and UKIP) were invited to the Tax debate.^{[citation needed]}

Parties contesting the election

The official nomination period closed on 1 April 2016, lists of candidates were then published by local councils once the applications had been processed.^[46]

In March 2015, the Scottish Greens balloted their members to select candidates for their regional lists.^[47] The SNP released their regional candidate list in October 2015.^[48] The Conservative regional candidate list followed in December.^[49] In January 2016, RISE – Scotland's Left Alliance announced list candidates for all regions except the North East.^[50] Labour had announced a new selection process for regional candidates in November 2013,^[51] then revealed their full list of regional candidates in February 2016.^[52] UKIP's regional candidates were picked by their executive committee, prompting one prospective candidate to resign his party membership.^[53]

Contesting constituency and regional ballot

The Scottish National Party, the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Conservative Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats fielded candidates in all 73 constituencies.^[54]

Scottish National Party (SNP)
Scottish Labour Party
Scottish Conservative Party
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Green Party – contesting all regions and Coatbridge and Chryston, Edinburgh Central and Glasgow Kelvin constituencies.
Scottish Libertarian Party − contesting West of Scotland,^[55] Mid Scotland Fife, North East Scotland region only^[56] and Edinburgh Central constituency^[57]

Contesting regional ballot only

Clydesdale and South Scotland Independent – contesting South Scotland^[58]
Communist Party – contesting North East Scotland^[56]
National Front – contesting North East Scotland only^[56]
RISE – Respect, Independence, Socialism and Environmentalism – contesting all regions
Scottish Christian Party "Proclaiming Christ’s Lordship" – contesting Highlands and Islands^[59] and North East^[56]
Solidarity – Scotland's Socialist Movement – contesting all regions^[60]
UK Independence Party – contesting all regions^[61]
Women's Equality Party – contesting Lothian^[57] and Glasgow^[62]

Contesting constituency ballot only

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC): Glasgow Cathcart, Glasgow Pollok, Glasgow Shettleston, Renfrewshire North and West, Dundee City East and Dundee City West^[63]
Independent candidates

Opinion polling

The chart shows the relative state of the parties for the regional list ballot from the start of 2014, when regular polling began, until the date of the election.

Result

Template:Scottish Parliament election

|- ! style="background-color: #FDF38E;" | | style="text-align:left;" |SNP | style="text-align:right;" | 1,059,897 | style="text-align:right;" | 46.5 | style="text-align:right;" | 1.1 | style="text-align:right;" | 59 | style="text-align:right;" | 6 | style="text-align:right;" | 953,987 | style="text-align:right;" | 41.7 | style="text-align:right;" | 2.3 | style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;" | 12 | style="text-align:right;" | 63 | style="text-align:right;" | 6 | style="text-align:right;" | 48.8 |-

|- ! style="background-color: #0087DC;" | | style="text-align:left;" |Conservative | style="text-align:right;" | 501,844 | style="text-align:right;" | 22.0 | style="text-align:right;" | 8.1 | style="text-align:right;" | 7 | style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;" | 524,222 | style="text-align:right;" | 22.9 | style="text-align:right;" | 10.6 | style="text-align:right;" | 24 | style="text-align:right;" | 12 | style="text-align:right;" | 31 | style="text-align:right;" | 16 | style="text-align:right;" | 24.0 |-

|- ! style="background-color: #E4003B;" | | style="text-align:left;" |Labour | style="text-align:right;" | 514,261 | style="text-align:right;" | 22.6 | style="text-align:right;" | 9.2 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 12 | style="text-align:right;" | 435,919 | style="text-align:right;" | 19.1 | style="text-align:right;" | 7.2 | style="text-align:right;" | 21 | style="text-align:right;" | 1 | style="text-align:right;" | 24 | style="text-align:right;" | 13 | style="text-align:right;" | 18.6 |-

|- ! style="background-color: #00B140;" | | style="text-align:left;" |Scottish Green | style="text-align:right;" | 13,172 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.6 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.6 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 150,426 | style="text-align:right;" | 6.6 | style="text-align:right;" | 2.2 | style="text-align:right;" | 6 | style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;" | 6 | style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;" | 4.7 |-

|- ! style="background-color: #FAA61A;" | | style="text-align:left;" |Liberal Democrats | style="text-align:right;" | 178,238 | style="text-align:right;" | 7.8 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.1 | style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;" | 2 | style="text-align:right;" | 119,284 | style="text-align:right;" | 5.2 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 | style="text-align:right;" | 1 | style="text-align:right;" | 2 | style="text-align:right;" | 5 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 3.9 |-

|- ! style="background-color: #6D3177;" | | style="text-align:left;" |UKIP | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | 46,426 | style="text-align:right;" | 2.0 | style="text-align:right;" | 1.1 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 |-

|- ! style="background-color: #a22f32;" | | style="text-align:left;" |Solidarity | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | 14,333 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.6 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.5 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 |-

|- ! style="background-color: #9966CC;" | | style="text-align:left;" |Scottish Christian | style="text-align:right;" | 1,162 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.1 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 11,686 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.5 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.3 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 |-

|- ! style="background-color: #f15723;" | | style="text-align:left;" |RISE | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | 10,911 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.5 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.5 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 |-

|- ! style="background-color: #432360;" | | style="text-align:left;" |Women's Equality | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | 5,968 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.3 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.3 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 |-

|- ! style="background-color: #DCDCDC;" | | style="text-align:left;" |Independent | style="text-align:right;" | 6,011 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.3 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.3 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 4,420 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.2 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.9 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 1 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 1 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 |-

|- ! style="background-color: #000080;" | | style="text-align:left;" |BUP | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | 2,453 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.1 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.1 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 |-

|- ! style="background-color: #EE3263;" | | style="text-align:left;" |Animal Welfare | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | 1,819 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.1 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.1 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 |-

|- ! style="background-color: #F0DC83;" | | style="text-align:left;" |Scottish Libertarian | style="text-align:right;" | 119 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 1,686 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.1 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.1 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 |-

|- ! style="background-color: white;" | | style="text-align:left;" |Clydesdale and South Scotland Independent | style="text-align:right;" | 909 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 1,485 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.1 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.1 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 |-

|- ! style="background-color: MidnightBlue;" | | style="text-align:left;" |National Front | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | 617 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 |-

|- ! style="background-color: #F93822;" | | style="text-align:left;" |Communist | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 510 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 |-

|- ! style="background-color: #EC008C;" | | style="text-align:left;" |TUSC | style="text-align:right;" | 3,540 | style="text-align:right;" | 0,1 | style="text-align:right;" | 0,1 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 |- |- | || Total || 2,279,153 || 100.0 || || 73 || || 2,285,752 || 100.0 || || 56 || || 129 || || 100.0 |}

Votes summary

Popular Vote (Constituency)

SNP			46.5%
Labour			22.6%
Conservative			22.0%
Liberal Democrats			7.6%
Green			0.6%
Other			0.5%

Popular Vote (Regional)

SNP			41.7%
Conservative			22.9%
Labour			19.1%
Green			6.6%
Liberal Democrats			5.2%
UKIP			2.0%
Other			2.5%

Parliament seats

SNP			48.8%
Conservative			24.0%
Labour			18.6%
Green			4.7%
Liberal Democrats			3.9%

Constituency and regional summary

Central Scotland

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|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #FDF38E; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | SNP | style="text-align:left;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 0 | style="text-align:center;" | -3 | style="text-align:right;" | 129,082 | style="text-align:right;" | 47.7% | style="text-align:right;" | +1.3% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #E4003B; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Labour | style="text-align:left;" | Richard Leonard
Monica Lennon
Mark Griffin
Elaine Smith | style="text-align:center;" | 4 | style="text-align:center;" | +1 | style="text-align:right;" | 67,103 | style="text-align:right;" | 24.8 | style="text-align:right;" | -10.5% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #0087DC; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Conservative | style="text-align:left;" | Margaret Mitchell
Graham Simpson
Alison Harris | style="text-align:center;" | 3 | style="text-align:center;" | +2 | style="text-align:right;" | 43,602 | style="text-align:right;" | 16.1 | style="text-align:right;" | +9.7% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #00B140; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Scottish Green | style="text-align:left;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 0 | style="text-align:center;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 12,722 | style="text-align:right;" | 4.7% | style="text-align:right;" | +2.3% |-

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Glasgow

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|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #FDF38E; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | SNP | style="text-align:left;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 0 | style="text-align:center;" | -2 | style="text-align:right;" | 111,101 | style="text-align:right;" | 44.8% | style="text-align:right;" | +4.9% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #E4003B; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Labour | style="text-align:left;" | Anas Sarwar
Johann Lamont
James Kelly
Pauline McNeill | style="text-align:center;" | 4 | style="text-align:center;" | +1 | style="text-align:right;" | 59,151 | style="text-align:right;" | 23.8% | style="text-align:right;" | -11.1% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #0087DC; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Conservative | style="text-align:left;" | Adam Tomkins
Annie Wells | style="text-align:center;" | 2 | style="text-align:center;" | +1 | style="text-align:right;" | 29,533 | style="text-align:right;" | 11.9% | style="text-align:right;" | +5.8% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #00B140; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Scottish Green | style="text-align:left;" | Patrick Harvie | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | ±0 | style="text-align:right;" | 23,398 | style="text-align:right;" | 9.4% | style="text-align:right;" | +3.5% |-

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Highlands and Islands

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|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #FDF38E; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | SNP | style="text-align:left;" | Maree Todd | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | -2 | style="text-align:right;" | 81,600 | style="text-align:right;" | 39.7% | style="text-align:right;" | -7.8% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #0087DC; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Conservative | style="text-align:left;" | Douglas Ross
Edward Mountain
Donald Cameron | style="text-align:center;" | 3 | style="text-align:center;" | +1 | style="text-align:right;" | 44,693 | style="text-align:right;" | 21.8% | style="text-align:right;" | +10.1% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #FAA61A; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Liberal Democrats | style="text-align:left;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 0 | style="text-align:center;" | ±0 | style="text-align:right;" | 27,223 | style="text-align:right;" | 13.3% | style="text-align:right;" | +1.1% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #E4003B; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Labour | style="text-align:left;" | Rhoda Grant
David Stewart | style="text-align:center;" | 2 | style="text-align:center;" | ±0 | style="text-align:right;" | 22,894 | style="text-align:right;" | 11.2% | style="text-align:right;" | -3.3% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #00B140; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Scottish Green | style="text-align:left;" | John Finnie | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | +1 | style="text-align:right;" | 14,781 | style="text-align:right;" | 7.2% | style="text-align:right;" | +2.1% |-

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Lothian

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|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #FDF38E; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | SNP | style="text-align:left;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 0 | style="text-align:center;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 118,546 | style="text-align:right;" | 36.2% | style="text-align:right;" | -2.9% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #0087DC; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Conservative | style="text-align:left;" | Miles Briggs
Gordon Lindhurst
Jeremy Balfour | style="text-align:center;" | 3 | style="text-align:center;" | +1 | style="text-align:right;" | 74,972 | style="text-align:right;" | 22.9% | style="text-align:right;" | +11.3% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #E4003B; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Labour | style="text-align:left;" | Kezia Dugdale
Neil Findlay | style="text-align:center;" | 2 | style="text-align:center;" | -1 | style="text-align:right;" | 67,991 | style="text-align:right;" | 20.8% | style="text-align:right;" | -4.1% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #00B140; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Scottish Green | style="text-align:left;" | Alison Johnstone
Andy Wightman | style="text-align:center;" | 2 | style="text-align:center;" | +1 | style="text-align:right;" | 34,551 | style="text-align:right;" | 10.6% | style="text-align:right;" | +3.0% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #DCDCDC; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Independent | style="text-align:left;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 0 | style="text-align:center;" | -1 | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | — | style="text-align:right;" | -6.6% |-

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Margo MacDonald had been elected on the Lothian regional list in 2011, as an Independent; she died in 2014.

Mid Scotland and Fife

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|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #FDF38E; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | SNP | style="text-align:left;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 0 | style="text-align:center;" | -1 | style="text-align:right;" | 120,128 | style="text-align:right;" | 41.3% | style="text-align:right;" | -3.9% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #0087DC; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Conservative | style="text-align:left;" | Murdo Fraser
Elizabeth Smith
Alexander Stewart
Dean Lockhart | style="text-align:center;" | 4 | style="text-align:center;" | +2 | style="text-align:right;" | 73,293 | style="text-align:right;" | 25.2% | style="text-align:right;" | +11.0% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #E4003B; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Labour | style="text-align:left;" | Claire Brennan-Baker
Alex Rowley | style="text-align:center;" | 2 | style="text-align:center;" | -1 | style="text-align:right;" | 51,373 | style="text-align:right;" | 17.6% | style="text-align:right;" | -7.4% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #FAA61A; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Liberal Democrats | style="text-align:left;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 0 | style="text-align:center;" | -1 | style="text-align:right;" | 20,401 | style="text-align:right;" | 7.0% | style="text-align:right;" | +1.2% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #00B140; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Scottish Green | style="text-align:left;" | Mark Ruskell | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | +1 | style="text-align:right;" | 17,860 | style="text-align:right;" | 6.1% | style="text-align:right;" | +1.9% |-

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North East Scotland

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|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #FDF38E; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | SNP | style="text-align:left;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 0 | style="text-align:center;" | -1 | style="text-align:right;" | 137,086 | style="text-align:right;" | 44.7% | style="text-align:right;" | -8.1% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #0087DC; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Conservative | style="text-align:left;" | Alex Johnstone
Ross Thomson
Peter Chapman
Liam Kerr | style="text-align:center;" | 4 | style="text-align:center;" | +2 | style="text-align:right;" | 85,848 | style="text-align:right;" | 28.0% | style="text-align:right;" | +13.9% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #E4003B; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Labour | style="text-align:left;" | Jenny Marra
Lewis MacDonald | style="text-align:center;" | 2 | style="text-align:center;" | -1 | style="text-align:right;" | 38,791 | style="text-align:right;" | 12.6% | style="text-align:right;" | -3.8% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #FAA61A; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Liberal Democrats | style="text-align:left;" | Mike Rumbles | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | ±0 | style="text-align:right;" | 18,444 | style="text-align:right;" | 6.0% | style="text-align:right;" | -0.8% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #00B140; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Scottish Green | style="text-align:left;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 0 | style="text-align:center;" | ±0 | style="text-align:right;" | 15,123 | style="text-align:right;" | 4.9% | style="text-align:right;" | +1.0% |-

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South Scotland

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|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #FDF38E; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | SNP | style="text-align:left;" | Joan McAlpine
Emma Harper
Paul Wheelhouse | style="text-align:center;" | 3 | style="text-align:center;" | -1 | style="text-align:right;" | 120,217 | style="text-align:right;" | 38.3% | style="text-align:right;" | -2.7 |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #0087DC; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Conservative | style="text-align:left;" | Rachael Hamilton
Brian Whittle | style="text-align:center;" | 2 | style="text-align:center;" | +2 | style="text-align:right;" | 100,753 | style="text-align:right;" | 32.1% | style="text-align:right;" | +12.6 |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #E4003B; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Labour | style="text-align:left;" | Claudia Beamish
Colin Smyth | style="text-align:center;" | 2 | style="text-align:center;" | = | style="text-align:right;" | 56,072 | style="text-align:right;" | 17.8% | style="text-align:right;" | -7.5 |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #FAA61A; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Liberal Democrats | style="text-align:left;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 0 | style="text-align:center;" | -1 | style="text-align:right;" | 11,775 | style="text-align:right;" | 3.7% | style="text-align:right;" | -1.7 |-

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West Scotland

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|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #FDF38E; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | SNP | style="text-align:left;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 0 | style="text-align:center;" | -2 | style="text-align:right;" | 135,827 | style="text-align:right;" | 42.2% | style="text-align:right;" | +0.6% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #E4003B; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Labour | style="text-align:left;" | Mary Fee
Neil Bibby
Ken Macintosh | style="text-align:center;" | 3 | style="text-align:center;" | ±0 | style="text-align:right;" | 72,544 | style="text-align:right;" | 22.5% | style="text-align:right;" | -10.2% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #0087DC; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Conservative | style="text-align:left;" | Jamie Greene
Maurice Golden
Maurice Corry | style="text-align:center;" | 3 | style="text-align:center;" | +1 | style="text-align:right;" | 71,528 | style="text-align:right;" | 22.2% | style="text-align:right;" | +9.5% |-

|- | style="color:inherit;background-color: #00B140; width: 2px;" | | style="width: 130px; text-align:left;" | Scottish Green | style="text-align:left;" | Ross Greer | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | +1 | style="text-align:right;" | 17,218 | style="text-align:right;" | 5.3% | style="text-align:right;" | +2.4% |-

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Target seats

Below are listed all the constituencies which required a swing of less than 5% from the 2011 result to change hands.

SNP targets

Rank	Constituency	Winning party 2011		Swing to gain	SNP's place 2011	Result
1	East Lothian style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #E4003B;" data-sort-value="Scottish Labour Party" \|	Labour	0.24	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color"\|	Labour Hold
2	Greenock & Inverclyde style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #E4003B;" data-sort-value="Scottish Labour Party" \|	Labour	0.91	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Gain
3	Edinburgh Northern & Leith style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #E4003B;" data-sort-value="Scottish Labour Party" \|	Labour	0.97	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Gain
4	Motherwell & Wishaw style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #E4003B;" data-sort-value="Scottish Labour Party" \|	Labour	1.21	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Gain
5	Uddingston & Bellshill style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #E4003B;" data-sort-value="Scottish Labour Party" \|	Labour	1.43	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Gain
6	Galloway & West Dumfries style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #0087DC;" data-sort-value="Scottish Conservative Party" \|	Conservative	1.44	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Conservative Party/meta/color"\|	Conservative Hold
7	Ayr style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #0087DC;" data-sort-value="Scottish Conservative Party" \|	Conservative	1.67	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Conservative Party/meta/color"\|	Conservative Hold
8	Glasgow Pollok style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #E4003B;" data-sort-value="Scottish Labour Party" \|	Labour	1.36	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Gain
9	Cowdenbeath style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #E4003B;" data-sort-value="Scottish Labour Party" \|	Labour	2.43	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Gain
10	Dumbarton style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #E4003B;" data-sort-value="Scottish Labour Party" \|	Labour	2.87	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color"\|	Labour Hold
11	Glasgow Maryhill & Springburn style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #E4003B;" data-sort-value="Scottish Labour Party" \|	Labour	3.15	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Gain
12	Rutherglen style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #E4003B;" data-sort-value="Scottish Labour Party" \|	Labour	3.28	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Gain
13	Renfrewshire South style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #E4003B;" data-sort-value="Scottish Labour Party" \|	Labour	4.81	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Gain

Labour targets

Rank	Constituency	Winning party 2011		Swing to gain	Labour's place 2011	Result
1	Glasgow Anniesland style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	0.02	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Hold
2	Kirkcaldy style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	0.33	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Hold
3	Edinburgh Central style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	0.41	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Conservative Party/meta/color"\|	Conservative Gain
4	Paisley style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	0.49	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Hold
5	Edinburgh Southern style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	1.03	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color"\|	Labour Gain
6	Aberdeen Central style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	1.23	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Hold
7	Clydebank & Milngavie style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	1.26	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Hold
8	Glasgow Shettleston style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	1.39	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Hold
9	Glasgow Kelvin style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	1.80	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Hold
10	Strathkelvin & Bearsden style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	2.67	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Hold
11	Renfrewshire North & West style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	2.85	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Hold
12	Glasgow Cathcart style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	3.04	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Hold
13	East Kilbride style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	3.26	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Hold
14	Edinburgh Eastern style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	3.64	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Hold
15	Airdrie and Shotts style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	4.19	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Hold
16	Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	4.37	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Hold
17	Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	4.50	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Hold

Conservative targets

Rank	Constituency	Winning party 2011		Swing to gain	Con place 2011	Result
1	Edinburgh Pentlands style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	2.93	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color"\|	SNP Hold
2	Eastwood style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #E4003B;" data-sort-value="Scottish Labour Party" \|	Labour	3.16	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Conservative Party/meta/color"\|	Conservative Gain
3	Dumfriesshire style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #E4003B;" data-sort-value="Scottish Labour Party" \|	Labour	4.97	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Conservative Party/meta/color"\|	Conservative Gain

Liberal Democrat targets

Rank	Constituency	Winning party 2011		Swing to gain	LD's place 2011	Result
1	Edinburgh Southern style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	2.45	3rd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color"\|	Labour Gain
2	Edinburgh Western style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	4.02	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Liberal Democrats/meta/color"\|	Lib Dem Gain
3	North East Fife style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FDF38E;" data-sort-value="Scottish National Party" \|	SNP	4.37	2nd	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Liberal Democrats/meta/color"\|	Lib Dem Gain

Incumbents defeated

Constituency/Region	MSP	Party		MSP Since	Office previously held
Uddingston and Bellshill	Michael McMahon	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party	1999	Shadow Minister for Community
Central Scotland	Siobhan McMahon	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party	2011	Shadow Minister for Public Services and Wealth Creation
Central Scotland	Margaret McCulloch	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party	2011
Motherwell, Wishaw and Hamilton	John Pentland	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party	2011	Shadow Minister for Opportunity
Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn	Patricia Ferguson	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party	1999
Glasgow Provan	Paul Martin	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party	1999
Glasgow	Hanzala Malik	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party	2011
Glasgow	Anne McTaggart	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party	2011	Shadow Minister for Democracy
Lothian	Sarah Boyack	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party	1999	Spokesperson for Environmental Justice
Dunfermline	Cara Hilton	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party	2013	Shadow Minister for Opportunity
Mid Scotland and Fife	Jayne Baxter	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party	2012	Shadow Minister for Community
Dumfriesshire	Elaine Murray	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party	1999	Shadow Minister for Justice
North East Scotland	Lesley Brennan	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Labour Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Labour Party	2016
Highlands and Islands	Mike MacKenzie	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party	2011
North East Fife	Roderick Campbell	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party	2011
Edinburgh Southern	Jim Eadie	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party	2011
Aberdeenshire West	Dennis Robertson	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party	2011
Angus North and Mearns (stood for North East Scotland)	Nigel Don	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party	2007	Convener of the Scottish Parliament Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
North East Scotland	Christian Allard	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party	2013
South Scotland	Aileen McLeod^[64]	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party	2011	Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform
South Scotland	Chic Brodie	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party	2011
West Scotland	Stewart Maxwell	style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish National Party	2003	Convener of the Scottish Parliament Education and Culture Committee
North East Scotland	Alison McInnes	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Liberal Democrats/meta/color" \|	Scottish Liberal Democrats	2007
South Scotland	Jim Hume	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Liberal Democrats/meta/color" \|	Scottish Liberal Democrats	2007
Central Scotland	John Wilson	style="background-color: Template:Scottish Green Party/meta/color" \|	Scottish Green Party (formerly SNP)	2007
Highlands and Islands	Jean Urquhart	style="background-color: Template:RISE – Scotland's Left Alliance/meta/color" \|	RISE (formerly SNP)	2011

References

^ ^a ^b Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 section 4
^ "Cut in Scottish voting age passed unanimously". BBC News. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
^ "Voting age in Scotland lowered to 16". About my vote. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c "New MSPs to arrive at Holyrood for first day". BBC News. BBC. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Election 2016: Before-and-after and party strength maps". BBC News. BBC. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
^ ^a ^b "Scotland Act 1998 – Section 2 Ordinary General Elections". Office of Public Sector Information. Retrieved 8 May 2007.
^ Travis, Alan (13 May 2010). "Fixed five-year parliamentary term will tie both leaders' hands". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
^ "Coalition asked to respect Scottish elections". Scottish National Party. 31 May 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
^ "UK government offers Holyrood five-year terms". BBC News. 17 February 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
^ "Salmond back Scotland 2015 election delay". BBC News. 18 February 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
^ McNab, Scott (19 February 2011). "Holyrood set for a five-year term to avoid clash with general election". The Scotsman. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
^ "Scotland Act 1998 – Section 3 Extraordinary General Elections". Office of Public Sector Information. Retrieved 8 May 2007.
^ http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/01/1006/6
^ Swanson, Ian (23 May 2015). "MSP Marco Biagi announces plan to quit Scottish Parliament". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
^ http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/margaret-burgess-resign-scottish-parliament-5802383
^ "Rob Gibson to stand down next year". Northern Times. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
^ http://www.carricktoday.co.uk/news/local-headlines/carrick-msp-to-stand-down-at-next-elections-1-3786381
^ Nutt, Kathleen (6 June 2015). "Former Justice Secretary MacAskill to stand down as MSP at 2016 Holyrood election". The National. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
^ "MSP Fiona McLeod to retire". Milngavie and Bearsden Herald. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
^ "Alex Salmond won't stand again for Scottish Parliament". itv.com. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
^ "Badenoch MSP to stand down at next Holyrood election". Strathspey and Badenoch Herald. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
^ "Richard Baker to stand down as MSP at the next Holyrood election". BBC News. BBC. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
^ "Malcolm Chisholm to step down at next Holyrood election". BBC News. BBC. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
^ "Labour MSP Hugh Henry to stand down for 2016 election". BBC News. BBC. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
^ http://www.irvinetimes.com/news/kilwinning/articles/2015/08/05/540700-irvines-msp-to-stand-down-next-year/
^ http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/greenock/articles/2015/06/23/537014-inverclyde-msp-mcneil-to-stand-down-at-may-election/
^ http://www.graemepearsonmsp.com/?p=1821
^ http://www.stirlingnews.co.uk/app/news/roundup/articles/2015/07/05/537935-msp-to-stand-down/
^ Sanderson, Daniel (21 October 2015). "Labour MSP hailed as 'rising star' to quit Holyrood". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
^ Whitaker, Andrew (11 June 2015). "Scots Tory Gavin Brown to quit as MSP". The Scotsman. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
^ http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2015/07/01/cameron-buchanan-to-stand-down-as-msp-in-2016/
^ ^a ^b "Conservative MSPs Alex Fergusson and Nanette Milne to stand down". STV News. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
^ "'Inspirational' Goldie to step down". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
^ "Veteran Tory MSP Jamie McGrigor to stand down at election". The Courier. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
^ "Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon to stand down next May". BBC News. BBC. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
^ "Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick to step down as MSP". BBC News. BBC. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
^ "Nigel Don MSP de-selected as SNP candidate for Scottish Parliament election". Montrose Review. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
^ "SNP MSP Colin Keir deselected for 2016 vote". Edinburgh Evening News. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
^ "Electoral system: How it works, 02 April 2003". BBC News Online. 2 April 2003. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
^ D'Hondt system, BBC News Online, 28 September 2009. Accessed 4 May 2011
^ "Revised Recommendations" (PDF). Boundary Commission for Scotland. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
^ "Scotland 2016: Debate". BBC. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
^ "The Scottish Leaders' Debate". BBC. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
^ "STV confirms first TV leaders' debate of Holyrood election campaign". STV News. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
^ "BBC Scotland 2016: Be in the audience of the election debates". BBC News. BBC. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
^ "FAQs: Elections and dissolution". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
^ "Scottish Greens regional list candidates". Holyrood. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
^ "SNP releases candidate lists ahead of 2016 election". Holyrood. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
^ Freeman, Tom (13 December 2015). "Scottish Conservatives 2016 regional list candidates". Holyrood. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
^ "RISE list candidates for May's Holyrood election". Holyrood. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
^ Braiden, Gerry (16 November 2013). "Labour MSP poll plan may backfire". The Herald. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
^ "Scottish Labour unveils candidates list". BBC News. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
^ "UKIP in Scotland rejects claim of vote 'stitch-up'". BBC News. 30 March 2016.
^ "Nominations close for Holyrood vote". BBC News. 1 April 2016.
^ "Scottish Parliamentary election – regional contest. West Scotland Region. Statement of persons and parties nominated and Notice of poll" (PDF). Renfrewshire Council. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Close of nominations – candidates for Aberdeen seats". Aberdeen City Council. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
^ ^a ^b "Edinburgh's parliament election candidates named". Edinburgh Evening News. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
^ "Scottish Parliamentary Election. South Scotland Region. Statement of Persons and Parties Nominated and Notice of Poll". Scottish Borders Council. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
^ "Highland nominations for Scottish Parliamentary Election 2016" (Press release). Highland Council. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
^ "UKIP and Solidarity unveil Holyrood election candidates". The Herald. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
^ Kerr, Aiden (1 April 2016). "UKIP to stand 26 candidates at Holyrood election". STV News. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
^ Campaigns (6 April 2016). "Women's Equality Party's Scottish manifesto out". womensviewsonnews.org. Women's Views on News. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
^ "TUSC candidates in May's elections" (Press release). Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC). 8 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
^ "Holyrood 2016: Sturgeon seeks 'consensus' with opposition". BBC News. BBC. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016. Most of the SNP's big names were re-elected - with Aileen McLeod the only former government minister to lose her seat - and they will be joined by 16 new faces.

External links

Party manifestos

[fixed-1] Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 section 4

[2] "Cut in Scottish voting age passed unanimously". BBC News. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2016.

[3] "Voting age in Scotland lowered to 16". About my vote. Retrieved 27 April 2016.

[results-4] "New MSPs to arrive at Holyrood for first day". BBC News. BBC. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.

[map-5] "Election 2016: Before-and-after and party strength maps". BBC News. BBC. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.

[ScotlandAct1-6] "Scotland Act 1998 – Section 2 Ordinary General Elections". Office of Public Sector Information. Retrieved 8 May 2007.

[7] Travis, Alan (13 May 2010). "Fixed five-year parliamentary term will tie both leaders' hands". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 May 2011.

[8] "Coalition asked to respect Scottish elections". Scottish National Party. 31 May 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2011.

[9] "UK government offers Holyrood five-year terms". BBC News. 17 February 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.

[10] "Salmond back Scotland 2015 election delay". BBC News. 18 February 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.

[11] McNab, Scott (19 February 2011). "Holyrood set for a five-year term to avoid clash with general election". The Scotsman. Retrieved 7 May 2011.

[ScotlandAct3-12] "Scotland Act 1998 – Section 3 Extraordinary General Elections". Office of Public Sector Information. Retrieved 8 May 2007.

[13] ttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/01/1006/6

[14] Swanson, Ian (23 May 2015). "MSP Marco Biagi announces plan to quit Scottish Parliament". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 12 June 2015.

[15] ttp://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/margaret-burgess-resign-scottish-parliament-5802383

[16] "Rob Gibson to stand down next year". Northern Times. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.

[17] ttp://www.carricktoday.co.uk/news/local-headlines/carrick-msp-to-stand-down-at-next-elections-1-3786381

[18] Nutt, Kathleen (6 June 2015). "Former Justice Secretary MacAskill to stand down as MSP at 2016 Holyrood election". The National. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 6 June 2015.

[19] "MSP Fiona McLeod to retire". Milngavie and Bearsden Herald. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.

[20] "Alex Salmond won't stand again for Scottish Parliament". itv.com. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2015.

[21] "Badenoch MSP to stand down at next Holyrood election". Strathspey and Badenoch Herald. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.

[22] "Richard Baker to stand down as MSP at the next Holyrood election". BBC News. BBC. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.

[23] "Malcolm Chisholm to step down at next Holyrood election". BBC News. BBC. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2015.

[24] "Labour MSP Hugh Henry to stand down for 2016 election". BBC News. BBC. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.

[25] ttp://www.irvinetimes.com/news/kilwinning/articles/2015/08/05/540700-irvines-msp-to-stand-down-next-year/

[26] ttp://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/greenock/articles/2015/06/23/537014-inverclyde-msp-mcneil-to-stand-down-at-may-election/

[27] ttp://www.graemepearsonmsp.com/?p=1821

[28] ttp://www.stirlingnews.co.uk/app/news/roundup/articles/2015/07/05/537935-msp-to-stand-down/

[29] Sanderson, Daniel (21 October 2015). "Labour MSP hailed as 'rising star' to quit Holyrood". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 21 October 2015.

[30] Whitaker, Andrew (11 June 2015). "Scots Tory Gavin Brown to quit as MSP". The Scotsman. Retrieved 12 June 2015.

[31] ttp://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2015/07/01/cameron-buchanan-to-stand-down-as-msp-in-2016/

[milne-32] "Conservative MSPs Alex Fergusson and Nanette Milne to stand down". STV News. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.

[33] "'Inspirational' Goldie to step down". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.

[34] "Veteran Tory MSP Jamie McGrigor to stand down at election". The Courier. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.

[35] "Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon to stand down next May". BBC News. BBC. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.

[36] "Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick to step down as MSP". BBC News. BBC. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.

[37] "Nigel Don MSP de-selected as SNP candidate for Scottish Parliament election". Montrose Review. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.

[38] "SNP MSP Colin Keir deselected for 2016 vote". Edinburgh Evening News. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.

[39] "Electoral system: How it works, 02 April 2003". BBC News Online. 2 April 2003. Retrieved 6 May 2011.

[40] D'Hondt system, BBC News Online, 28 September 2009. Accessed 4 May 2011

[41] "Revised Recommendations" (PDF). Boundary Commission for Scotland. Retrieved 26 April 2011.

[42] "Scotland 2016: Debate". BBC. Retrieved 26 March 2016.

[43] "The Scottish Leaders' Debate". BBC. Retrieved 26 March 2016.

[44] "STV confirms first TV leaders' debate of Holyrood election campaign". STV News. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.

[45] "BBC Scotland 2016: Be in the audience of the election debates". BBC News. BBC. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.

[46] "FAQs: Elections and dissolution". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 1 April 2016.

[47] "Scottish Greens regional list candidates". Holyrood. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.

[48] "SNP releases candidate lists ahead of 2016 election". Holyrood. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2016.

[49] Freeman, Tom (13 December 2015). "Scottish Conservatives 2016 regional list candidates". Holyrood. Retrieved 26 March 2016.

[50] "RISE list candidates for May's Holyrood election". Holyrood. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.

[51] Braiden, Gerry (16 November 2013). "Labour MSP poll plan may backfire". The Herald. Retrieved 26 March 2016.

[52] "Scottish Labour unveils candidates list". BBC News. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.

[53] "UKIP in Scotland rejects claim of vote 'stitch-up'". BBC News. 30 March 2016.

[54] "Nominations close for Holyrood vote". BBC News. 1 April 2016.

[West_region_list-55] "Scottish Parliamentary election – regional contest. West Scotland Region. Statement of persons and parties nominated and Notice of poll" (PDF). Renfrewshire Council. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.

[NE_candidates-56] "Close of nominations – candidates for Aberdeen seats". Aberdeen City Council. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.

[EEN_1Apr2016-57] "Edinburgh's parliament election candidates named". Edinburgh Evening News. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.

[58] "Scottish Parliamentary Election. South Scotland Region. Statement of Persons and Parties Nominated and Notice of Poll". Scottish Borders Council. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.

[59] "Highland nominations for Scottish Parliamentary Election 2016" (Press release). Highland Council. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.

[60] "UKIP and Solidarity unveil Holyrood election candidates". The Herald. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.

[61] Kerr, Aiden (1 April 2016). "UKIP to stand 26 candidates at Holyrood election". STV News. Retrieved 2 April 2016.

[62] Campaigns (6 April 2016). "Women's Equality Party's Scottish manifesto out". womensviewsonnews.org. Women's Views on News. Retrieved 23 April 2016.

[TUSC-63] "TUSC candidates in May's elections" (Press release). Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC). 8 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.

[64] "Holyrood 2016: Sturgeon seeks 'consensus' with opposition". BBC News. BBC. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016. Most of the SNP's big names were re-elected - with Aileen McLeod the only former government minister to lose her seat - and they will be joined by 16 new faces.

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Scotland portal

2016 Scottish Parliament election

Date

Retiring MSPs

Deselected MSPs

Election system, seats, and regions

Campaign

Parties contesting the election

Contesting constituency and regional ballot

Contesting regional ballot only

Contesting constituency ballot only

Opinion polling

Result

Votes summary

Constituency and regional summary

Central Scotland

Glasgow

Highlands and Islands

Lothian

Mid Scotland and Fife

North East Scotland

South Scotland

West Scotland

Target seats

SNP targets

Labour targets

Conservative targets

Liberal Democrat targets

Incumbents defeated

See also

Other elections in the UK being held on the same day

UK parliamentary by-elections

References

External links

Party manifestos