Cunninghame North (Scottish Parliament constituency)

Last updated • 7 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Cunninghame North
County constituency
for the Scottish Parliament
Cunninghame North (Scottish Parliament constituency).svg
West Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region).svg
Cunninghame North shown within the West Scotland electoral region and the region shown within Scotland
Population69,233 (2019) [1]
Current constituency
Created 1999
Party Scottish National Party
MSP Kenneth Gibson
Council area North Ayrshire

Cunninghame North (Gaelic: Coineagan a Tuath) is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering part of the council area of North Ayrshire. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post method of election. It is also one of ten constituencies in the West Scotland electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to the ten constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.

Contents

First contested at the 1999 Scottish Parliament election, the seat was affected by minor boundary changes ahead of the 2011 Scottish Parliament election. [2] It has been held by Kenneth Gibson of the Scottish National Party (SNP) since the 2007 Scottish Parliament election.

Electoral region

The other nine constituencies of the West Scotland region are: Clydebank and Milngavie, Cunninghame South, Dumbarton, Eastwood, Greenock and Inverclyde, Paisley, Renfrewshire North and West, Renfrewshire South and Strathkelvin and Bearsden.

The region covers part of the Argyll and Bute council area, the East Dunbartonshire council area, the East Renfrewshire council area, the Inverclyde council area, North Ayrshire council area, the Renfrewshire council area and the West Dunbartonshire council area.

Constituency boundaries and council area

Cunninghame North (Scottish Parliament constituency)
Map of boundaries from 2011

The constituency is one of two in North Ayrshire, with the rest of the council area being covered by the Cunninghame South constituency.

Cunninghame North was created at the same time as the Scottish Parliament, in 1999, with the name and boundaries of the existing Westminster constituency. In 2005, however, the Westminster (House of Commons) constituency was abolished in favour of new constituencies, causing Westminster and Holyrood constituency to no longer correspond. [3]

Following their First Periodic review into constituencies to the Scottish Parliament in time for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, the Boundary Commission for Scotland altered the boundaries of the constituency. The electoral wards used in the current creation of Cunninghame North are: [4]

Constituency profile and voting patterns

Constituency profile

The Cunninghame North constituency covers a diverse mix of areas located towards the northern half of the North Ayrshire Council area, rising from the working class towns of Ardrossan and Saltcoats in the south-west up to the coastal towns of Fairlie, Skelmorlie, Largs and West Kilbride in the north-west. West of here, across the Firth of Clyde, sits the Island communities of Arran and Cumbrae, which are covered by the constituency. Along the east of the constituency is the more working-class Garnock Valley which comprises Kilbirnie, Beith and Dalry, towns which once specialised in the production of steel and textiles before the industries collapse across the 20th Century. The constituency is mostly working-class in nature, although this is contrasted by the affluence enjoyed in the more rural parts of the constituency and in areas such as Arran, Fairlie, Skelmorlie, West Kilbride and patches of Largs. [5] The constituency returned a high unemployment rate of 6.4% at the 2011 census compared to the Scottish average of 4.8%. [6]

Voting patterns

Throughout the early 20th Century Cunninghame North was a safe Unionist seat at the British Parliament, carried by the Scottish Unionists (and later the Scottish Conservatives) consistently as Bute and Northern Ayrshire from 1918 until the constituency's abolishment in 1983, where the newly established Cunninghame North seat was narrowly won by Conservative John Corrie with a majority of 4.1%. In 1987 the constituency went Labour with a majority of 10.4%, with the Conservatives gradually losing ground in the constituency, eventually falling behind the Scottish National Party in 2001. Since then the Westminster seat of Cunninghame North, later North Ayrshire and Arran, had consistently returned Labour MP's to the British Parliament until being won by the SNP in 2015 on a swing of 23.3%. At the Scottish Parliament the Cunninghame North constituency voted Labour in both 1999 and 2003 before being won by the SNP's Kenneth Gibson by 48 votes in 2007, with some stipulating that had a set of damaged and rejected ballots from the Isle of Arran been counted the result might have been a Labour hold. In 2011 and 2016 Kenneth Gibson managed to build upon his narrow majority, bringing him ahead by 27.3% in 2016 - where the Conservatives marginally overtook the Labour Party into second place in the constituency for the first time since 1983.

The Conservative Party derive most of their support from the affluent resort towns of West Kilbride, Fairlie, Skelmorlie and Largs along the north-west coast of the constituency, as well as from the Isle of Arran, and rural and suburban areas in Garnock Valley. The SNP are strongest in the more populated parts of the constituency, in the towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Kilbirnie, as well as parts of Largs, Dalry and the Isle of Cumbrae. Dalry, Kilbirnie, Ardrossan and Saltcoats are historically stronger areas for the Labour Party which have since voted SNP.

Members of the Scottish Parliament

Kenneth Gibson of the Scottish National Party presently holds this seat. With a majority of just 48 over Labour incumbent Allan Wilson at the 2007 election, this was the most marginal seat in Holyrood. However, at the 2011 election, Gibson increased his majority over the Labour candidate to a much healthier 6,117 [7] and this further increased in 2016 to 8,724, his biggest to date at that time. His majority fell in the 2021 election.

ElectionMemberParty
1999 Allan Wilson Labour
2007 Kenneth Gibson SNP

Election results

2020s

2021 Scottish Parliament election: Cunninghame North [8] [9]
PartyCandidateConstituencyRegional
Votes%±%Votes%±%
SNP Kenneth Gibson [lower-alpha 1] 18,22749.0Decrease2.svg2.915,51541.6Decrease2.svg4.3
Conservative Jamie Greene [lower-alpha 2] 10,45128.1Increase2.svg3.59,81426.3Increase2.svg1.5
Labour Katy Clark 7,53620.3Decrease2.svg0.86,41217.2Decrease2.svg1.1
Scottish Green 2,4776.6Increase2.svg2.0
Liberal Democrats Ruby Kirkwood9672.6Increase2.svg0.28282.2Increase2.svg0.2
Alba 8162.2New
All for Unity 4451.2New
Scottish Family 2540.7New
Independent Green Voice 1980.5New
Abolish the Scottish Parliament 1320.4New
Reform UK 830.2New
Freedom Alliance (UK)700.2New
UKIP 600.2Decrease2.svg1.8
Scottish Libertarian 470.1Steady2.svg0.0
TUSC 430.1New
Independent Maurice Campbell290.1New
Scotia Future 210.1New
Independent James Morrison180.0New
Renew 60.0New
Majority7,77620.9Decrease2.svg6.4
Valid Votes37,18137,268
Invalid Votes16280
Turnout 37,34364.7Increase2.svg7.037,34864.7Increase2.svg7.0
SNP hold Swing
Notes
  1. Incumbent member for this constituency
  2. Incumbent member on the party list, or for another constituency

2010s

2016 Scottish Parliament election: Cunninghame North [10] [11]
PartyCandidateConstituencyRegion
Votes%±%Votes%±%
SNP Kenneth Gibson [lower-alpha 1] 16,58751.9Decrease2.svg0.714,70345.9Decrease2.svg1.1
Conservative Jamie Greene 7,86324.6Increase2.svg10.97,95124.8Increase2.svg10.7
Labour Johanna Baxter 6,73521.1Decrease2.svg10.85,86118.3Decrease2.svg8.9
Scottish Green 1,4884.6Increase2.svg1.8
Liberal Democrats Charity Pierce7802.4Increase2.svg0.66412.0Steady2.svg0.0
UKIP 6562.0Increase2.svg1.2
Scottish Christian 2720.8Decrease2.svg0.1
RISE 2190.7New
Solidarity 2160.7Increase2.svg0.6
Scottish Libertarian 390.1New
Majority8,72427.3Increase2.svg6.6
Valid Votes31,96532,046
Invalid Votes15651
Turnout 32,12157.7Increase2.svg5.232,09757.7Increase2.svg5.2
SNP hold Swing
Notes
  1. Incumbent member for this constituency
2011 Scottish Parliament election: Cunninghame North [12] [13]
PartyCandidateConstituencyRegion
Votes%±%Votes%±%
SNP Kenneth Gibson [lower-alpha 1] 15,53952.6N/A13,91447.0N/A
Labour Allan Wilson 9,42231.9N/A8,05027.2N/A
Conservative Maurice Golden 4,03213.7N/A4,16014.1N/A
Liberal Democrats Malika Punukollu5431.8N/A5832.0N/A
Scottish Green 8332.8N/A
All-Scotland Pensioners Party 6792.3N/A
Scottish Christian 2780.9N/A
Socialist Labour 2680.9N/A
BNP 2360.8N/A
UKIP 2240.8N/A
Scottish Socialist 1230.6N/A
Ban Bankers Bonuses1170.4N/A
Pirate 870.3N/A
Solidarity 280.1N/A
Independent Richard Vassie230.1N/A
Majority6,11720.7N/A
Valid Votes29,53629,603
Invalid Votes126112
Turnout 29,66252.5N/A29,71552.5N/A
SNP win (new boundaries)
Notes
  1. Incumbent member for this constituency

2000s

In the 2007 election, the high number of rejected votes was particularly significant in Cunninghame North as the majority (48) was far smaller than the number of rejected papers (over 1,000). Additionally, ballot papers carried by boat from the Isle of Arran were damp when they arrived, raising suggestions they may not have been transported securely. There were also questions about a discrepancy in the number of ballot papers that left Arran and the number that arrived at the count, though the returning officer later announced that a manual recount found no discrepancy. [14] Allan Wilson, the former member for Cunninghame North, was said to be discussing with his solicitor a potential legal challenge to the Cunninghame North result [15] but no election petition was lodged. [16]

2007 Scottish Parliament election: Cunninghame North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
SNP Kenneth Gibson 9,295 30.7 +3.6
Labour Allan Wilson 9,24730.6−8.3
Conservative Philip Lardner5,46618.1−1.3
Independent Campbell Martin 4,42314.6N/A
Liberal Democrats Lewis Hutton1,8106.0−2.2
Majority480.1N/A
Turnout 30,241
SNP gain from Labour Swing
2003 Scottish Parliament election: Cunninghame North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Allan Wilson 11,142 38.9 −4.0
SNP Campbell Martin 7,75527.1−1.5
Conservative Peter Ramsay5,54219.4−0.6
Liberal Democrats John Boyd2,3338.2−0.5
Scottish Socialist Sean Scott1,8596.5New
Majority3,38711.8−2.5
Turnout 28,63151.8−8.2
Labour hold Swing

1990s

1999 Scottish Parliament election: Cunninghame North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Allan Wilson 14,369 42.90 N/A
SNP Kay Ullrich 9,57328.58N/A
Conservative Mike Johnston6,64919.85N/A
Liberal Democrats Calum Irving2,9008.66N/A
Majority4,79614.32N/A
Turnout 33,49160.0
Labour win (new seat)

Notes and references

  1. Scottish Parliamentary Constituency (SPC) Population Estimates (2011 Data Zone based), National Records of Scotland; retrieved 6 May 2021 (accompanying summary notes)
  2. Scottish Parliament Constituencies Order OPSI
  3. See The 5th Periodical Report of the Boundary Commission for Scotland Archived September 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "First Periodic Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries Final Report" (PDF). Boundaries Scotland. May 2010. p. 187. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  5. 'Cunninghame North'
  6. 'Area Profiles'
  7. "Scotland elections". BBC News.
  8. "Scottish Parliamentary Election - Cunninghame North" (pdf). North Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  9. "Scottish Parliamentary Election - Cunninghame North - West Scotland Region" (pdf). North Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  10. "Scottish Parliamentary Election - Cunninghame North/West Scotland Region". North Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  11. "2016 Scottish Parliamentary Elections Results". North Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  12. "Declaration of regional result Cunninghame North constituency" (PDF). North Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  13. "2011 Scottish Parliamentary Elections Results". North Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  14. Carrell, Severin (7 May 2007). "Blow to SNP coalition hopes as Lib Dems spurn independence deal". The Guardian . London. Retrieved 25 May 2007.
  15. "Holyrood vote may face challenges". BBC News. 6 May 2007. Retrieved 25 May 2007.
  16. No Labour challenge over election BBC Online, 25 May 2007

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayrshire</span> Historic county in Scotland

Ayrshire is a historic county and registration county, in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. The lieutenancy area of Ayrshire and Arran covers the entirety of the historic county as well as the island of Arran, formerly part of the historic county of Buteshire. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine and it borders the counties of Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire to the north-east, Dumfriesshire to the south-east, and Kirkcudbrightshire and Wigtownshire to the south. Like many other counties of Scotland, it currently has no administrative function, instead being sub-divided into the council areas of East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire. It has a population of approximately 366,800.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Ayrshire</span> Council area of Scotland

North Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland. The council area borders Inverclyde to the north, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire to the northeast, and East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire to the east and south respectively. The local authority is North Ayrshire Council, formed in 1996 with the same boundaries as the district of Cunninghame which existed from 1975 to 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County of Bute</span> Historic county in Scotland

The County of Bute, also known as Buteshire, is a historic county and registration county of Scotland. Now replaced by Argyll and Bute for the Isle of Bute, with the Argyll and Bute Council. The Isle of Arran and the The Cumbraes are now in North Ayrshire Council area. Since the implimentation of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, on the 1 April 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cunninghame</span> Area of Scotland, comprising the northern part of Ayrshire

Cunninghame is a former comital district of Scotland and also a district of the Strathclyde Region from 1975 to 1996.

Campbell Martin is a Scottish journalist and former politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Ayrshire and Arran (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 2005 onwards

North Ayrshire and Arran is a constituency of the British House of Commons, located in the south-west of Scotland within the North Ayrshire council area. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) at least once every five years using the first-past-the-post voting system of voting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Kilbride</span> Village in North Ayrshire, Scotland

West Kilbride is a village and historic parish in North Ayrshire, Scotland, on the west coast by the Firth of Clyde, looking across the Firth of Clyde to Goat Fell and the Isle of Arran. West Kilbride and adjoining districts of Seamill and Portencross are generally considered to be a small town, having a combined population of 4,393 at the 2001 census.

Bute and Northern Ayrshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1983. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post voting system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cunninghame North (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983–2005

Cunninghame North was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1983 until 2005. Thereafter, it was largely replaced by North Ayrshire and Arran. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) using the first-past-the-post voting system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cunninghame South (Scottish Parliament constituency)</span> Region or constituency of the Scottish Parliament

Cunninghame South is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering part of the council area of North Ayrshire. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post method of election, and is one of ten constituencies in the West Scotland electoral region. The regions elects seven additional members, in addition to the ten constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dumbarton (Scottish Parliament constituency)</span> Region or constituency of the Scottish Parliament

Dumbarton is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering parts of the council areas of Argyll and Bute and West Dunbartonshire. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post method of election. It is also one of ten constituencies in the West Scotland electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to the ten constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.

Elections to North Ayrshire Council were held on 3 May 2007, the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections and the Scottish Parliament elections. The election was the first one using eight new wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, each ward will elect three or four councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation. The new wards replaced the 30 single-member wards which used the plurality system of election.

The 2012 North Ayrshire Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of North Ayrshire Council. The election used the eight wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with each ward electing three or four councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation, with 30 Councillors being elected.

Elections to North Ayrshire Council took place on 4 May 2017 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections.

Elections to North Ayrshire Council took place on 5 May 2022 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. As with other Scottish council elections, it was held using single transferable vote (STV) – a form of proportional representation – in which multiple candidates are elected in each ward and voters rank candidates in order of preference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dalry and West Kilbride (ward)</span> Former electoral ward in North Ayrshire

Dalry and West Kilbride was one of the 10 wards used to elect members of North Ayrshire Council. Created in 2007 following the Fourth Statutory Reviews of Electoral Arrangements, the ward elected three councillors using the single transferable vote electoral system. As a result of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, the ward was abolished in 2022.

North Coast is one of the nine electoral wards of North Ayrshire Council. Created in 2022, the ward elects five councillors using the single transferable vote electoral system and covers an area with a population of 20,423 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Coast and Cumbraes (ward)</span> Former electoral ward in North Ayrshire

North Coast and Cumbraes was one of the nine wards used to elect members of North Ayrshire Council. Created in 2007 following the Fourth Statutory Reviews of Electoral Arrangements, the ward elected four councillors using the single transferable vote electoral system. As a result of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, the ward was abolished in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kilbirnie and Beith (ward)</span> Former electoral ward in North Ayrshire

Kilbirnie and Beith was one of the 10 wards used to elect members of North Ayrshire Council. Created in 2007 following the Fourth Statutory Reviews of Electoral Arrangements, the ward elected three councillors using the single transferable vote electoral system. As a result of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, the ward was abolished in 2022.