West of Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)

West of Scotland
Former electoral region for the Scottish Parliament
West of Scotland shown within Scotland
Former electoral region
Created	1999
Abolished	2011
Council areas	Argyll and Bute (part) East Dunbartonshire (part) East Renfrewshire Inverclyde North Ayrshire (part) Renfrewshire (part) West Dunbartonshire
Constituencies	Clydebank and Milngavie Cunninghame North Dumbarton Eastwood Greenock and Inverclyde Paisley North Paisley South Strathkelvin and Bearsden West Renfrewshire

West of Scotland was one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament that were created in 1999. Nine of the Parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies were sub-divisions of the region and it elected seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Thus it elected a total of 16 MSPs.

The West of Scotland region shared boundaries with the Central Scotland, Glasgow, Highlands and Islands, and Mid Scotland and Fife regions.

Following the First Periodic Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries it was eventually replaced by the West Scotland region.

In terms of first past the post constituencies the region covered:

Map

Constituency

Clydebank and Milngavie covers the eastern portion of the West Dunbartonshire council area and a western portion of the East Dunbartonshire council area. Cunninghame North covers a north-western portion of the North Ayrshire council area. Dumbarton covers a western portion of the West Dunbartonshire council area and a south-eastern portion of the Argyll and Bute council area. Eastwood covers the East Renfrewshire council area. Greenock and Inverclyde covers a western portion of the Inverclyde council area. Paisley North covers an eastern portion of the Renfrewshire council area. Paisley South covers a south eastern portion of the Renfrewshire council area. Strathkelvin and Bearsden covers the majority of the East Dunbartonshire council area. West Renfrewshire covers a western portion of the Renfrewshire council area and an eastern portion of the Inverclyde council area.

The constituencies were created in 1999 with the names and boundaries of Westminster constituencies, as existing at that time. Scottish Westminster constituencies were mostly replaced with new constituencies in 2005.^[1]

In terms of local government areas the region covered:

• West Dunbartonshire
• East Renfrewshire
• Inverclyde
• Most of Renfrewshire (otherwise within the Glasgow region)
• Most of East Dunbartonshire (otherwise within the Central Scotland region)
• Part of Argyll and Bute (otherwise within the Highlands and Islands region)
• Part of North Ayrshire (otherwise within the South of Scotland region)

The Boundary Commission recommended changes to the electoral regions used to elect "list" members of the Scottish Parliament. The "West Scotland" region consists of the constituencies of Clydebank and Milngavie; Cunninghame North; Cunninghame South; Dumbarton; Eastwood; Greenock and Inverclyde; Paisley; Renfrewshire North and West; Renfrewshire South; and Starthkelvin and Bearsden. These were newly formed constituencies.

N.B. This table is for presentation purposes only

In the 2007 Scottish Parliament election the region elected MSPs as follows:

• 8 Labour MSPs (all constituency members)
• 5 Scottish National Party MSPs (one constituency member, 4 additional members)
• 2 Conservative MSPs (both additional members)
• 1 Liberal Democrat MSP (additional member)

In the 2003 Scottish Parliament election the region elected MSPs as follows:^[2]

• 8 Labour MSPs (all constituency members)
• 3 Scottish National Party MSPs (all additional members)
• 2 Conservative MSPs (both additional members)
• 1 Independent MSP (constituency member)
• 1 Liberal Democrat MSPs (additional member)
• 1 Scottish Socialist Party MSP (additional member)

In the 1999 Scottish Parliament election the region elected MSPs as follows:

• 9 Labour MSPs (all constituency members)
• 4 Scottish National Party MSPs (all additional members)
• 2 Conservative MSPs (both additional members)
• 1 Liberal Democrat MSP (additional member)

Changes:

• On 20 March 2001 Sam Galbraith resigned, citing health reasons. At the subsequent Strathkelvin and Bearsden by-election held 7 June 2001, Brian Fitzpatrick held the seat for Labour.