Paisley (Scottish Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Paisley
County constituency
for the Scottish Parliament
Paisley (Scottish Parliament constituency).svg
West Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region).svg
Paisley shown within the West Scotland electoral region and the region shown within Scotland
Population72,752 (2019) [1]
Current constituency
Created 2011
Party Scottish National Party
MSP George Adam
Council area Renfrewshire

Paisley is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering the town of Paisley in Renfrewshire council area. 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 ten constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.

Contents

The constituency was created for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, and covers parts of the former constituencies of Paisley North and Paisley South. [2] It has been held by George Adam of the Scottish National Party (SNP) since its formation.

Electoral region

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

Paisley (Scottish Parliament constituency)
Map of boundaries from 2011

Renfrewshire is represented in the Scottish Parliament by three constituencies: Paisley, Renfrewshire North and West and Renfrewshire South.

The electoral wards of the Paisley constituency are:

Constituency profile

The constituency covers most of the town of Paisley, the Gallowhill area in the northeast of the town lying in the neighbouring seat of Renfrewshire North and West. Paisley is often considered the biggest town in Scotland, and gave its name to the distinctive kidney-shaped "paisley pattern" and the Paisley shawl. Textile and thread manufacture were long the mainstay of Paisley's industry, due to the damp climate and plentiful water, and by the 19th century, the town was a major centre for the weaving industry. [3]

Paisley has a long association with political Radicalism, highlighted by its involvement in the Radical War of 1820, with striking weavers being instrumental in the protests. By 1993, all of Paisley's mills had closed, although they are memorialised in the town's museums and civic history. [4] The decline of industry in the town has led to urban recession, and in 2006, the district of Ferguslie Park was named one of Scotland's most deprived areas by what was then the Scottish Executive. In 2015, the town launched its bid to become UK City of Culture in 2021, becoming one of the five shortlisted candidates, [5] before eventually losing out to Coventry.

The constituency features four railway stations, a major hospital and several notable churches. Most noticeable among the buildings of Paisley is Paisley Abbey in the centre of the town, which dates from the 12th century. Nearby lies St Mirin's Cathedral which is the seat of the Catholic Bishop of Paisley. [3]

Members

ElectionMemberParty
2011 George Adam SNP

Elections

2020s

2021 Scottish Parliament election: Paisley [6]
PartyCandidateConstituencyRegional
Votes%±%Votes%±%
SNP George Adam [a] 17,49550.0Increase2.svg0.216,14746.0Increase2.svg0.6
Labour Co-op Neil Bibby [b] 11,42032.7Increase2.svg0.58,79725.1Decrease2.svg2.0
Conservative Russell Findlay [c] 3,3429.6Decrease2.svg2.44,93414.1Decrease2.svg0.1
Scottish Green Scott Bevan1,5844.5New2,5707.3Increase2.svg1.5
Liberal Democrats Eileen McCartin1,1243.2Decrease2.svg2.89052.6Decrease2.svg0.6
Alba 6111.7New
All for Unity 2840.8New
Scottish Family 2240.6New
Independent Green Voice 1600.5New
Freedom Alliance (UK)1020.3New
Reform UK 770.5New
Abolish the Scottish Parliament 770.2New
TUSC 680.2New
UKIP 570.2Decrease2.svg1.5
Scottish Libertarian 560.2Steady2.svg0.0
Renew 120.0New
Scotia Future 120.0New
Independent James Morrison90.0New
Independent Maurice Campbell70.0New
Majority6,07517.3Decrease2.svg0.3
Valid Votes34,96535,109
Invalid Votes14362
Turnout 35,10862.6Increase2.svg5.335,17162.7Increase2.svg5.4
SNP hold Swing Decrease2.svg0.4
Notes
  1. Incumbent member for this constituency
  2. Incumbent member on the party list, or for another constituency
  3. Elected on the party list

2010s

2016 Scottish Parliament election: Paisley [7]
PartyCandidateConstituencyRegional
Votes%±%Votes%±%
SNP George Adam [a] 14,68249.8Increase2.svg7.213,42345.4Increase2.svg4.4
Labour Co-op Neil Bibby [b] 9,48332.2Decrease2.svg9.58,00527.1Decrease2.svg10.0
Conservative Paul Masterton 3,53312.0Increase2.svg3.34,18814.2Increase2.svg6.3
Scottish Green 1,7225.8Increase2.svg2.7
Liberal Democrats Eileen McCartin1,7666.0Decrease2.svg1.09543.2Decrease2.svg0.1
UKIP 5131.7Increase2.svg1.2
Solidarity 3191.1Increase2.svg0.9
Scottish Christian 2340.8Decrease2.svg0.1
RISE 1590.5New
Scottish Libertarian 560.2New
Majority5,19917.6Increase2.svg16.7
Valid Votes29,46429,573
Invalid Votes12843
Turnout 29,59257.3Increase2.svg7.829,61657.3Increase2.svg8.0
SNP hold Swing Increase2.svg8.4
Notes
  1. Incumbent member for this constituency
  2. Incumbent member on the party list, or for another constituency
2011 Scottish Parliament election: Paisley [8]
PartyCandidateConstituencyRegional
Votes%±%Votes%±%
SNP George Adam 10,91342.6N/A10,49441.0N/A
Labour Ewan Williams10,66541.7N/A9,47937.1N/A
Conservative Gordon McCaskill2,2298.7N/A2,0227.9N/A
Liberal Democrats Eileen McCartin1,7837.0N/A8373.3N/A
Scottish Green 7993.1N/A
All-Scotland Pensioners Party 4241.7N/A
Socialist Labour 3491.4N/A
Scottish Christian 2410.9N/A
Scottish Socialist 2010.8N/A
BNP 1900.7N/A
Independent Richard Vassie1580.6N/A
UKIP 1360.5N/A
Ban Bankers Bonuses1160.5N/A
Pirate 720.3N/A
Solidarity 530.2N/A
Majority2480.9N/A
Valid Votes25,59025,571
Invalid Votes8377
Turnout 25,67349.1N/A25,64849.3N/A
SNP win (new seat)
Notes

    References

    1. Scottish Parliamentary Constituency (SPC) Population Estimates (2011 Data Zone based) Archived 6 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine , National Records of Scotland; retrieved 6 May 2021 (accompanying summary notes Archived 15 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine )
    2. "The New Scottish Parliament Constituencies 2011" (PDF). BBC News online. 8 September 2010. p. 25. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
    3. 1 2 "Paisley - Scottish Parliament constituency - Election 2016 - BBC News" via www.bbc.co.uk.
    4. "Paisley".
    5. "Support pours in as Paisley becomes only Scottish place on UK City of Culture 2021 shortlist". Paisley 2021 Website. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
    6. "2021 - Scottish Parliamentary Election - Results". Renfrewshire Council. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
    7. "2016 - Scottish Parliamentary Election - Results". Renfrewshire Council. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
    8. "2011 - Scottish Parliamentary Election - Results". Renfrewshire Council. Retrieved 25 May 2021.