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)
Electorate58,570 (2022)[1]
Current constituency
Created2011
PartyScottish National Party
MSPGeorge Adam
Council areaRenfrewshire

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

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 comprises the following electoral wards of Renfrewshire Council.[2]

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 UK 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
  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[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
  1. ^ Incumbent member for this constituency
  2. ^ 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. ^ a b c Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Report to Scottish Ministers, p 142.
  3. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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

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