Paisley (Scottish Parliament constituency)

Not to be confused with Paisley (UK Parliament constituency).

Paisley
Burgh constituency for the Scottish Parliament
Paisley shown within the West Scotland electoral region and the region shown within Scotland (2011 boundaries)
Electorate	58,570 (2022) [1]
Current constituency
Created	2011
Party	Scottish National Party
MSP	George Adam
Council area	Renfrewshire

Paisley is a burgh constituency of the Scottish Parliament covering the town of Paisley in Renfrewshire council area. ^[2] Under the additional-member electoral system used for elections to the Scottish Parliament, 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. ^[3]

The constituency was created for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, and covers parts of the former constituencies of Paisley North and Paisley South. ^[4] It has been held by George Adam of the Scottish National Party (SNP) since its formation.

Electoral region

See also: West Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)

The other nine constituencies of the West Scotland region are: Cunninghame North, Cunninghame South, Clydebank and Milngavie, Dumbarton, Eastwood, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire North and Cardonald, Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley, and Strathkelvin and Bearsden. ^[3] The region covers the whole of the council areas of East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, and West Dunbartonshire; and parts of the council areas of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, and Glasgow. ^[5]

Constituency boundaries and council area

Map of boundaries (2011-2026)

Renfrewshire is represented in the Scottish Parliament by three constituencies: Paisley; Renfrewshire North and Cardonald; and Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley. ^[2] Renfrewshire North and Cardonald also covers part of the Glasgow council area, whilst Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley also includes part of East Renfrewshire. All three constituencies lie within the West Scotland electoral region.

When first formed by First Periodic Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries in 2011, the constituency covered most of the town of Paisley, however the Gallowhill area in the northeast of the town was placed in the neighbouring seat of Renfrewshire North and West. Gallowhill, and Glasgow Airport, were added to the constituency at the Second Periodic Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries in 2025. Following this review, the seat is comprised of the following electoral wards of Renfrewshire Council. ^[2]

• Renfrew South and Gallowhill (shared with Renfrewshire North and Cardonald)
• Paisley Northeast and Ralston (entire ward)
• Paisley Northwest (entire ward)
• Paisley East and Central (entire ward)
• Paisley Southeast (entire ward)
• Paisley Southwest (entire ward)

Constituency profile

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. ^[6]

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. ^[7] 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, ^[8] 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. ^[6]

Members

Election		Member	Party
	2011	George Adam	SNP

Elections

2020s

2021 Scottish Parliament election: Paisley ^[9]

Party		Candidate	Constituency			Regional
			Votes	%	±%	Votes	%	±%
	SNP	George Adam [a]	17,495	50.0	0.2	16,147	46.0	0.6
	Labour Co-op	Neil Bibby [b]	11,420	32.7	0.5	8,797	25.1	2.0
	Conservative	Russell Findlay [c]	3,342	9.6	2.4	4,934	14.1	0.1
	Green	Scott Bevan	1,584	4.5	New	2,570	7.3	1.5
	Liberal Democrats	Eileen McCartin	1,124	3.2	2.8	905	2.6	0.6
	Alba					611	1.7	New
	All for Unity					284	0.8	New
	Scottish Family					224	0.6	New
	Independent Green Voice					160	0.5	New
	Freedom Alliance (UK)					102	0.3	New
	Reform					77	0.5	New
	Abolish the Scottish Parliament					77	0.2	New
	TUSC					68	0.2	New
	UKIP					57	0.2	1.5
	Scottish Libertarian					56	0.2	0.0
	Renew					12	0.0	New
	Scotia Future					12	0.0	New
	Independent	James Morrison				9	0.0	New
	Independent	Maurice Campbell				7	0.0	New
Majority			6,075	17.3	0.3
Valid Votes			34,965			35,109
Invalid Votes			143			62
Turnout			35,108	62.6	5.3	35,171	62.7	5.4
	SNP hold		Swing		0.4
Notes Incumbent member for this constituency Incumbent member on the party list, or for another constituency Elected on the party list

2010s

2016 Scottish Parliament election: Paisley ^[10]

Party		Candidate	Constituency			Regional
			Votes	%	±%	Votes	%	±%
	SNP	George Adam [a]	14,682	49.8	7.2	13,423	45.4	4.4
	Labour Co-op	Neil Bibby [b]	9,483	32.2	9.5	8,005	27.1	10.0
	Conservative	Paul Masterton	3,533	12.0	3.3	4,188	14.2	6.3
	Green					1,722	5.8	2.7
	Liberal Democrats	Eileen McCartin	1,766	6.0	1.0	954	3.2	0.1
	UKIP					513	1.7	1.2
	Solidarity					319	1.1	0.9
	Scottish Christian					234	0.8	0.1
	RISE					159	0.5	New
	Scottish Libertarian					56	0.2	New
Majority			5,199	17.6	16.7
Valid Votes			29,464			29,573
Invalid Votes			128			43
Turnout			29,592	57.3	7.8	29,616	57.3	8.0
	SNP hold		Swing		8.4
Notes Incumbent member for this constituency Incumbent member on the party list, or for another constituency

2011 Scottish Parliament election: Paisley ^[11]

Party		Candidate	Constituency			Regional
			Votes	%	±%	Votes	%	±%
	SNP	George Adam	10,913	42.6	N/A	10,494	41.0	N/A
	Labour	Ewan Williams	10,665	41.7	N/A	9,479	37.1	N/A
	Conservative	Gordon McCaskill	2,229	8.7	N/A	2,022	7.9	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Eileen McCartin	1,783	7.0	N/A	837	3.3	N/A
	Green					799	3.1	N/A
	All-Scotland Pensioners Party					424	1.7	N/A
	Socialist Labour					349	1.4	N/A
	Scottish Christian					241	0.9	N/A
	Scottish Socialist					201	0.8	N/A
	BNP					190	0.7	N/A
	Independent	Richard Vassie				158	0.6	N/A
	UKIP					136	0.5	N/A
	Ban Bankers Bonuses					116	0.5	N/A
	Pirate					72	0.3	N/A
	Solidarity					53	0.2	N/A
Majority			248	0.9	N/A
Valid Votes			25,590			25,571
Invalid Votes			83			77
Turnout			25,673	49.1	N/A	25,648	49.3	N/A
	SNP win (new seat)
Notes

References

Citations

1. Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Report to Scottish Ministers, p 27.
2. Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Report to Scottish Ministers, p 142.
3. Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Report to Scottish Ministers, p 29.
4. "The New Scottish Parliament Constituencies 2011" (PDF). BBC News online. 8 September 2010. p. 25. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
5. Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Report to Scottish Ministers, p 143.
6. "Paisley - Scottish Parliament constituency - Election 2016 - BBC News" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
7. "Paisley".
8. "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.
9. "2021 - Scottish Parliamentary Election - Results". Renfrewshire Council. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
10. "2016 - Scottish Parliamentary Election - Results". Renfrewshire Council. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
11. "2011 - Scottish Parliamentary Election - Results". Renfrewshire Council. Retrieved 25 May 2021.

Bibliography

• "Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Report to Scottish Ministers" (PDF). Boundaries Scotland. April 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.

External links

• "Inverclyde constituency map (2025 review)" (PDF). Boundaries Scotland . Retrieved 26 November 2025.
• "Paisley constituency map (2011 review)" (PDF). Boundaries Scotland. Retrieved 7 July 2021.