Rutherglen (Scottish Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Rutherglen
Former burgh constituency
for the Scottish Parliament
Rutherglen (Scottish Parliament constituency).svg
Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region).svg
Rutherglen shown within the Glasgow electoral region and the region shown within Scotland
Population77,568 (2019) [1]
Former constituency
Created 2011
Abolished 2026
Party Scottish National Party
MSP Clare Haughey
Council area South Lanarkshire
Created from Glasgow Rutherglen
Replaced by Rutherglen and Cambuslang

Rutherglen is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering part of the council area of South Lanarkshire. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the plurality (first past the post) method of election. Also, it is one of nine constituencies in the Glasgow electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to the nine constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole. Originally called Glasgow Rutherglen, the boundaries were redrawn and the new constituency renamed simply Rutherglen for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election.

Contents

The seat has been held by Clare Haughey of the Scottish National Party since the 2016 Scottish Parliament election.

As a result of the second periodic review of Scottish Parliament boundaries in 2025, Rutherglen will be replaced by a new Rutherglen and Cambuslang constituency from the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. The new constituency covers the entire area of the Rutherglen constituency, along with a very small portion of Uddingston and Bellshill. [2] [3]

Electoral region

The other eight constituencies of the Glasgow region are: Glasgow Anniesland, Glasgow Cathcart, Glasgow Kelvin, Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Glasgow Pollok, Glasgow Provan, Glasgow Shettleston and Glasgow Southside.

The region covers the Glasgow City council area and a north-western portion of the South Lanarkshire council area. [4]

Constituency boundaries and council areas

Rutherglen (Scottish Parliament constituency)
Map of boundaries from 2011

The redrawn seat of Rutherglen consists of the following electoral wards:

Constituency profile

BBC profile for 2016 election: [5]

Rutherglen was once a burgh - the oldest in Scotland - until local government reorganisation in 1975, and lies to the south east of Glasgow city centre. The name Rutherglen is said to come from Gaelic for "reddish glen" after the red clay found here.

At its northern border it blends into Glasgow's suburbs, though the town has always striven to maintain a distinct identity from Glasgow, which it predates by 500 years. The seat includes not only Rutherglen itself but also the town of Cambuslang, Burnside and the housing scheme at Fernhill, as well as Blantyre, all of which lie within the local government control of South Lanarkshire. Steel and pottery have been major industries in the past, but both have been in decline.

Janis Hughes won the seat for the Labour Party in the 1999 and 2003 elections. James Kelly then held the seat in 2007 and 2011.

Member of the Scottish Parliament

ElectionMemberParty
2011 James Kelly Labour
2016 Clare Haughey SNP

Election results

2020s

2021 Scottish Parliament election: Rutherglen [6] [7]
PartyCandidateConstituencyRegional
Votes%±%Votes%±%
SNP Clare Haughey [a] 20,24950.5Increase2.svg 4.316,97042.3Decrease2.svg0.8
Labour Co-op James Kelly [b] [c] 15,08337.6Increase2.svg 2.811,00527.4Decrease2.svg1.0
Conservative Lynne Nailon3,6639.1Decrease2.svg 2.25,90314.7Increase2.svg1.8
Green 2,8837.2Increase2.svg2.5
Liberal Democrats Sheila Thomson1,1122.8Decrease2.svg 4.91,0112.5Decrease2.svg1.6
Alba 7101.8New
All for Unity 3560.9New
Independent Green Voice 2730.7New
Scottish Libertarian 2220.6New
Scottish Family 2040.5New
Reform 1040.3New
Abolish the Scottish Parliament 950.2New
Freedom Alliance (UK)880.2New
Women's Equality 740.2Decrease2.svg0.4
Communist 610.2New
TUSC 590.1New
UKIP 520.1Decrease2.svg2.1
Independent Craig Ross350.1New
SDP 170.0New
Reclaim 140.0New
Independent Daniel Donaldson100.0New
Renew 80.0New
Majority5,16612.9Increase2.svg1.5
Valid Votes40,10740,154
Invalid Votes16282
Turnout 40,26963.5Increase2.svg9.040,23663.3Increase2.svg8.8
SNP hold Swing Increase2.svg3.6
Notes
  1. ↑ Incumbent member for this constituency
  2. ↑ Kelly stood on a joint ticket on behalf of Scottish Labour and the Scottish Co-operative Party. The regional list vote was for Scottish Labour only.
  3. ↑ Incumbent member on the party list, or for another constituency

2010s

2016 Scottish Parliament election: Rutherglen [8] [9]
PartyCandidateConstituencyRegional
Votes%±%Votes%±%
SNP Clare Haughey 15,22246.2Increase2.svg6.714,25643.1Increase2.svg4.1
Labour Co-op James Kelly [a] [b] 11,47934.8Decrease2.svg11.39,37228.4Decrease2.svg10.0
Conservative Taylor Muir3,71811.3Increase2.svg3.64,26912.9Increase2.svg6.2
Green 1,5554.7Increase2.svg2.1
Liberal Democrats Robert Brown 2,5337.7Increase2.svg3.31,3514.1Increase2.svg1.1
UKIP 7192.2Increase2.svg1.7
Solidarity 4051.2New
BUP 3361.0New
Animal Welfare 2130.6New
RISE 2020.6New
Women's Equality 1880.6New
Scottish Christian 1610.5Decrease2.svg0.3
Independent Andrew McCullagh290.1New
Majority3,74311.4N/A
Valid Votes32,95233,056
Invalid Votes13556
Turnout 33,08754.5Increase2.svg7.433,11254.5Increase2.svg7.4
SNP gain from Labour Co-op Swing Increase2.svg9.0
Notes
  1. ↑ Kelly stood on a joint ticket on behalf of Scottish Labour and the Scottish Co-operative Party. The regional list vote was for Scottish Labour only.
  2. ↑ Incumbent member for this constituency
2011 Scottish Parliament election: Rutherglen [10] [11]
PartyCandidateConstituencyRegional
Votes%±%Votes%±%
Labour Co-op James Kelly [a] [b] 12,48946.1N/A10,41138.4N/A
SNP James McGuigan10,71039.5N/A10,58739.0N/A
Conservative Martyn McIntyre2,0967.7N/A1,8076.7N/A
Liberal Democrats Lisa Strachan1,1744.4N/A8153.0N/A
Green 7102.6N/A
Respect 6372.3N/A
All-Scotland Pensioners Party 5131.9N/A
BNP 3631.3N/A
Scottish Unionist 2941.1N/A
Socialist Labour 2741.0N/A
Scottish Christian 2060.8N/A
Scottish Socialist 1430.5N/A
UKIP 1420.5N/A
Independent Caroline Johnstone6332.3N/A1270.5N/A
Pirate 540.2N/A
Scottish Homeland Party300.1N/A
Majority1,7796.6N/A
Valid Votes27,10227,113
Invalid Votes9482
Turnout 27,19647.1N/A27,19547.1N/A
Labour Co-op win (new seat)
Notes
  1. ↑ Kelly stood on a joint ticket on behalf of Scottish Labour and the Scottish Co-operative Party. The regional list vote is for Scottish Labour only.
  2. ↑ Incumbent member for the Glasgow Rutherglen constituency

References

  1. ↑ Scottish Parliamentary Constituency (SPC) Population Estimates (2011 Data Zone based), National Records of Scotland; retrieved 6 May 2021 (accompanying summary notes)
  2. ↑ "Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Report to Scottish Ministers" (PDF). Boundaries Scotland. April 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  3. ↑ "Boundary Maps". Boundaries Scotland. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  4. ↑ Boundary changes create new Rutherglen seat, but area remains in Glasgow region, Daily Record, 2 June 2010
  5. ↑ "Rutherglen - Scottish Parliament constituency". BBC News. 2016.
  6. ↑ "Constituency Declaration of Results 2021 - Rutherglen". www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk. South Lanarkshire Council. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  7. ↑ "Regional Results 2021 - Rutherglenn". www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk. South Lanarkshire Council. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  8. ↑ "Elections". www.glasgow.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  9. ↑ "Rutherglen Constituency Election Region Results". www.glasgow.gov.uk. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "Return of constituency members 2011" (PDF). South Lanarkshire Council. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  11. ↑ "Return of regional members 2011" (PDF). South Lanarkshire Council. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
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