Central Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)

For other uses, see Central Scotland (disambiguation).

Central Scotland (Meadhan-Alba in Gaelic) is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Thus it elects a total of 16 MSPs.

Map of boundaries from 2011

Central Scotland
electoral region for the Scottish Parliament
Central Scotland shown within Scotland
Population	669,424 (2019)[1]
Current electoral region
Created	1999
MSPs	Scottish National Party 9 Conservative 3 Labour 3 Green 1
Council areas	Falkirk North Lanarkshire South Lanarkshire (part)
Constituencies	Airdrie and Shotts Coatbridge and Chryston Cumbernauld and Kilsyth East Kilbride Falkirk East Falkirk West Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse Motherwell and Wishaw Uddingston and Bellshill

As a result of the Second Periodic Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries the region will be replaced by Central Scotland and Lothians West for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.^[2]

Constituencies and council areas 2011–2026

Map of boundaries from 2011

As a result of the First Periodic Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries the boundaries for the region and constituencies were redrawn for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election.

Region	Constituencies
		Airdrie and Shotts Coatbridge and Chryston Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse Falkirk East Falkirk West East Kilbride Motherwell and Wishaw Uddingston and Bellshill

Constituencies and council areas 1999–2011

The constituencies were created in 1999 with the names and boundaries of Westminster constituencies, as existing in at that time.^[3] They cover all of two council areas,^[4] the Falkirk council area and the North Lanarkshire council area, and parts of three others, the East Ayrshire council area, the East Dumbartonshire council area and the South Lanarkshire council area.

The rest of the East Ayrshire council area is within the South of Scotland region, the rest of the East Dunbartonshire council area is within the West of Scotland region, and the rest of the South Lanarkshire council area is within the Glasgow and South of Scotland regions.

Region	Constituencies
		Airdrie and Shotts Coatbridge and Chryston Cumbernauld and Kilsyth East Kilbride Falkirk East Falkirk West Hamilton North and Bellshill Hamilton South Kilmarnock and Loudoun Motherwell and Wishaw

Boundary changes

The Boundary Commission recommended changes to the electoral regions used to elect "list" members of the Scottish Parliament. The new "Central Scotland" region was formed from the constituencies of Airdrie and Shotts; Coatbridge and Chryston; Cumbernauld and Kilsyth; East Kilbride; Falkirk East; Falkirk West; Hamilton, Lanark and Stonehouse; Motherwell and Wishaw; and Uddingston and Bellshill.

Members of the Scottish Parliament

Constituency MSPs

Term	Election	Airdrie and Shotts		Coatbridge and Chryston		Cumbernauld and Kilsyth		East Kilbride		Falkirk East		Falkirk West		Hamilton North and Bellshill		Hamilton South		Motherwell and Wishaw		Kilmarnock and Loudoun
1st	1999		Karen Whitefield (Labour)		Elaine Smith (Labour)		Cathy Craigie (Labour)		Andy Kerr (Labour)		Cathy Peattie (Labour)		Dennis Canavan (Independent)		Michael McMahon (Labour)		Tom McCabe (Labour)		Jack McConnell (Labour)		Margaret Jamieson (Labour)
2nd	2003
3rd	2007												Michael Matheson (SNP)								Willie Coffey (SNP)
Term	Election	Airdrie and Shotts		Coatbridge and Chryston		Cumbernauld and Kilsyth		East Kilbride		Falkirk East		Falkirk West		Uddingston and Bellshill		Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse		Motherwell and Wishaw		9 MSPs, 2011– (area covered by former constituency moved to the South Scotland region)
4th	2011		Alex Neil (SNP)		Elaine Smith (Labour)		Jamie Hepburn (SNP)		Linda Fabiani (SNP)		Angus MacDonald (SNP)		Michael Matheson (SNP)		Michael McMahon (Labour)		Christina McKelvie (SNP)		John Pentland (Labour)
5th	2016				Fulton MacGregor (SNP)										Richard Lyle (SNP)				Clare Adamson (SNP)
6th	2021		Neil Gray (SNP)						Collette Stevenson (SNP)		Michelle Thomson (SNP)				Stephanie Callaghan (SNP)

Regional list MSPs

N.B. This table is for presentation purposes only

Parliament	Year	MSP		MSP		MSP		MSP		MSP		MSP		MSP
1st	1999		Donald Gorrie (Liberal Democrat)		Andrew Wilson (SNP)		Alex Neil (SNP)		Linda Fabiani (SNP)		Michael Matheson (SNP)		Gil Paterson (SNP)		Lyndsay McIntosh (Conservative)
2nd	2003				Carolyn Leckie (SSP)								John Swinburne (SSCUP)		Margaret Mitchell (Conservative)
3rd	2007		Hugh O'Donnell (Liberal Democrat) (later Independent)		Jamie Hepburn (SNP)						Christina McKelvie (SNP)		John Wilson (SNP) (later Independent)
4th	2011		Mark Griffin (Labour)		Siobhan McMahon (Labour)		Margaret McCulloch (Labour)		Richard Lyle (SNP)		Clare Adamson (SNP)
	2014
5th	2016				Richard Leonard (Labour)		Monica Lennon (Labour)		Elaine Smith (Labour)		Graham Simpson (Conservative)		Alison Harris (Conservative)
6th	2021								Gillian Mackay (Green)				Stephen Kerr (Conservative)		Meghan Gallacher (Conservative)

Election results

2021 Scottish Parliament election

In the 2021 Scottish Parliament election the region elected MSPs as follows:

• 9 SNP MSPs (constituency members)
• 3 Labour MSPs (additional members)
• 3 Conservative MSPs (additional members)
• 1 Green MSP (additional member)

Constituency results

2021 Scottish Parliament election: Central Scotland
Constituency		Elected member	Result
	Airdrie and Shotts	Neil Gray	SNP hold
	Coatbridge and Chryston	Fulton MacGregor	SNP hold
	Cumbernauld and Kilsyth	Jamie Hepburn	SNP hold
	East Kilbride	Collette Stevenson	SNP hold
	Falkirk East	Michelle Thomson	SNP hold
	Falkirk West	Michael Matheson	SNP hold
	Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse	Christina McKelvie	SNP hold
	Motherwell and Wishaw	Clare Adamson	SNP hold
	Uddingston and Bellshill	Stephanie Callaghan	SNP hold

Additional Member results

2021 Scottish Parliament election: Central Scotland[5][6][7]
List		Candidates	Votes	Of total (%)	± from prev.
	SNP	Danish Ashraf, Christina McKelvie, Neil Gray, Michelle Thomson, Fulton MacGregor, Stephanie Callaghan, Grant Ferguson, Iain Sinclair, Paul Welsh, Josh Wilson, Cameron McManus	148,399	45.3	2.4
	Labour	Richard Leonard, Monica Lennon, Mark Griffin, Monique McAdams, Chris Costello, Michael McPake, Allyson Black	77,623	23.7	1.1
	Conservative	Stephen Kerr, Graham Simpson, Meghan Gallacher, Haroun Malik, Neil Benny, Ross Lambie, Nathan Wilson, Gordon Macdonald, Bryan Flannagan	59,896	18.3	2.2
	Scottish Green	Gillian Mackay, Rosemary McGowan, Claire Williams, Tom McLaughlin, Patrick McAleer, Kyle Davidson, James Stuart Duffin	19,512	6.0	1.3
	Liberal Democrats	Paul McGarry, Mark McGeever, Dawn Allan, Graham Watson, Ewan McRobert, Karen Utting, Austin Reid	6,337	1.9	0.0
	Alba	Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, Lynne Anderson, Jim Walker, Margaret Lynch	5,345	1.6	1.6
	All for Unity	Mary Devlin, Jonathan Stanley, Matt Alexander, Sandra Hill, Billy Ross, Sandy Smart, Lachlan Macneil	2,712	0.8	0.8
	Scottish Family	Leo Lanahan, Josh McGrory, Helen MacEachen, Christine MacIver, Christopher Hendry	2,105	0.6	0.6
	Independent Green Voice	John Robertson	1,854	0.6	0.6
	Abolish the Scottish Parliament	John Mortimer, Lee McLauchlan	841	0.3	0.3
	Reform UK	Alan Melville, Hugh Skinner, Alexander MacGregor, Ann Murray	650	0.2	0.2
	Scottish Libertarian	Mark Meechan, Katrina Angus	626	0.2	0.2
	Freedom Alliance	Dave Frankland, Claire McClaren, John Irvine, Louise Bannigan, Di Meechan, Colin McMillan	619	0.2	0.2
	Independent	Paddy Hogg	488	0.2	0.1
	UKIP	Neil Wilson, Yvonne Mackay, Steven Unwin, George Cowan	485	0.2	2.0

2016 Scottish Parliament election

In the 2016 Scottish Parliament election the region elected MSPs as follows:

• 9 SNP MSPs (constituency members)
• 4 Labour MSPs (additional members)
• 3 Conservative MSPs (additional members)

Constituency results

2016 Scottish Parliament general election: Central Scotland
Constituency		Elected member	Result
	Airdrie and Shotts	Alex Neil	SNP hold
	Coatbridge and Chryston	Fulton MacGregor	SNP gain from Labour
	Cumbernauld and Kilsyth	Jamie Hepburn	SNP hold
	East Kilbride	Linda Fabiani	SNP hold
	Falkirk East	Angus MacDonald	SNP hold
	Falkirk West	Michael Matheson	SNP hold
	Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse	Christina McKelvie	SNP hold
	Motherwell and Wishaw	Clare Adamson	SNP gain from Labour
	Uddingston and Bellshill	Richard Lyle	SNP gain from Labour

Additional Member results

2016 Scottish Parliament election: Central Scotland
Party		Elected candidates	Seats	+/−	Votes	%	+/−%
	SNP		0	-3	129,082	47.7	+1.3
	Labour	Richard Leonard Monica Lennon Mark Griffin Elaine Smith	4	+1	67,103	24.8	-10.5
	Conservative	Margaret Mitchell Graham Simpson Alison Harris	3	+2	43,602	16.1	+9.7
	Scottish Green		0	0	12,722	4.7	+2.3
	UKIP		0	0	6,088	2.2	+1.7
	Liberal Democrats		0	0	5,015	1.9	+0.4
	Solidarity		0	0	2,684	1.0	+0.8
	Scottish Christian		0	0	2,314	0.9	-0.5
	RISE		0	0	1,636	0.6	N/A
	Independent		0	0	460	0.2	+0.2

2011 Scottish Parliament election

In the 2011 Scottish Parliament election the region elected MSPs as follows:

• 9 Scottish National Party MSPs (six constituency members and three additional members)
• 6 Labour MSPs (three constituency members and three additional members)
• 1 Conservative MSP (additional member)

Constituency results

Scottish Parliament general election, 2011: Central Scotland
Constituency		Elected member	Result
	Airdrie and Shotts	Alex Neil	SNP gain from Labour
	Coatbridge and Chryston	Elaine Smith	Labour hold
	Cumbernauld and Kilsyth	Jamie Hepburn	SNP gain from Labour
	East Kilbride	Linda Fabiani	SNP gain from Labour
	Falkirk East	Angus MacDonald	SNP gain from Labour
	Falkirk West	Michael Matheson	SNP hold
	Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse	Christina McKelvie	SNP gain from Labour
	Motherwell and Wishaw	John Pentland	Labour hold
	Uddingston and Bellshill	Michael McMahon	Labour hold

Additional Member results

2011 Scottish Parliament election: Central Scotland
Party		Elected candidates	Seats	+/−	Votes	%	+/−%
	SNP	Richard Lyle John Wilson Clare Adamson	3	-2	108,261	46.4	+15.5
	Labour	Siobhan McMahon Mark Griffin Margaret McCulloch	3	+3	82,459	35.3	-4.6
	Conservative	Margaret Mitchell	1	±0	14,870	6.4	-1.0
	All Scotland Pensioners Party		0	0	5,793	2.5	-0.1
	Scottish Green		0	0	5,634	2.4	-0.1
	Liberal Democrats		0	-1	3,318	1.4	-3.8
	Scottish Christian		0	0	3,173	1.4	-0.7
	Socialist Labour		0	0	2,483	1.1	+0.3
	BNP		0	0	2,214	0.9	-0.5
	Scottish Unionist		0	0	1,545	0.7	+0.1
	UKIP		0	0	1,263	0.5	+0.3
	Independent		0	0	821	0.4	N/A
	Scottish Socialist		0	0	820	0.4	-0.6
	Solidarity		0	0	559	0.2	-1.5
	Scottish Homeland Party		0	0	337	0.1	N/A

2007 Scottish Parliament election

Party		Member of the Scottish Parliament				Total Members	+/–
		Constituency	+/–	Regional	+/–
	Labour	8	−1	0	±0	8	−1
	SNP	2	+2	5	+2	7	+4
	Conservative	0	±0	1	±0	1	±0
	Liberal Democrats	0	±0	1	±0	1	±0

Constituency results

2007 Scottish Parliament election: Central Scotland
Constituency		Elected member	Result
	Airdrie and Shotts	Karen Whitefield	Labour hold
	Coatbridge and Chryston	Elaine Smith	Labour hold
	Cumbernauld and Kilsyth	Cathie Craigie	Labour hold
	East Kilbride	Andy Kerr	Labour hold
	Falkirk East	Cathy Peattie	Labour hold
	Falkirk West	Michael Matheson	SNP gain from Independent
	Hamilton North and Bellshill	Michael McMahon	Labour hold
	Hamilton South	Tom McCabe	Labour hold
	Kilmarnock and Loudoun	Willie Coffey	SNP gain from Labour
	Motherwell and Wishaw	Jack McConnell	Labour hold

Additional member results

2007 Scottish Parliament election: Central Scotland
Party		Elected candidates	Seats	+/−	Votes	%	+/−%
	Labour		0	0	112,596	39.6	-0.8
	SNP	Alex Neil Linda Fabiani Jamie Hepburn Christina McKelvie John Wilson	5	+2	89,210	31.4	+8.8
	Conservative	Margaret Mitchell	1	±0	24,253	8.5	-0.6
	Liberal Democrats	Hugh O'Donnell	1	±0	14,648	5.2	-0.7
	Scottish Green		0	0	7,204	2.5	-2.1
	Scottish Senior Citizens		0	-1	7,060	2.5	-4.0
	Scottish Christian		0	0	5,575	2.0	N/A
	Solidarity		0	0	5,012	1.8	N/A
	CPA		0	0	4,617	1.6	N/A
	BNP		0	0	4,125	1.4	N/A
	Socialist Labour		0	0	2,303	0.8	-0.7
	Scottish Socialist		0	-1	2,188	0.8	-6.5
	Scottish Voice		0	0	1,955	0.7	N/A
	Scottish Unionist		0	0	1,544	0.5	-0.3
	Publican Party		0	0	1,500	0.5	N/A
	UKIP		0	0	722	0.2	-0.1

2003 Scottish Parliament election

In the 2003 Scottish Parliament election the region elected MSPs as follows:

• 9 Labour MSPs (nine constituency members)
• 3 Scottish National Party MSPs (three additional members)
• 1 Independent MSP (one constituency member)
• 1 Conservative MSP (one additional member)
• 1 Liberal Democrat MSP (one additional member)
• 1 Scottish Senior Citizens MSP (one additional member)
• 1 Scottish Socialist Party MSP (one additional member)

Constituency results

2003 Scottish Parliament election: Central Scotland
Constituency		Elected member	Result
	Airdrie and Shotts	Karen Whitefield	Labour hold
	Coatbridge and Chryston	Elaine Smith	Labour hold
	Cumbernauld and Kilsyth	Cathie Craigie	Labour hold
	East Kilbride	Andy Kerr	Labour hold
	Falkirk East	Cathy Peattie	Labour hold
	Falkirk West	Dennis Canavan	Independent hold
	Hamilton North and Bellshill	Michael McMahon	Labour hold
	Hamilton South	Tom McCabe	Labour hold
	Kilmarnock and Loudoun	Margaret Jamieson	Labour hold
	Motherwell and Wishaw	Jack McConnell	Labour hold

Additional member results

2003 Scottish Parliament election: Central Scotland
Party		Elected candidates	Seats	+/−	Votes	%	+/−%
	Labour		0	0	106,318	40.41	+1.13
	SNP	Alex Neil Michael Matheson Linda Fabiani	3	−2	59,274	22.53	-5.25
	Conservative	Margaret Mitchell	1	±0	24,121	9.17	+0.02
	Scottish Socialist	Carolyn Leckie	1	+1	19,016	7.23	+5.49
	Scottish Senior Citizens	John Swinburne	1	+1	17,146	6.52	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Donald Gorrie	1	±0	15,494	5.89	-0.31
	Scottish Green		0	0	12,248	4.66	+2.87
	Socialist Labour		0	0	3,855	1.47	-1.85
	Scottish Unionist		0	0	2,147	0.82	-0.05
	Independent		0	0	1,265	0.48	N/A
	Scottish People's		0	0	1,192	0.45	N/A
	UKIP		0	0	1,009	0.38	N/A

1999 Scottish Parliament election

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

• 9 Labour MSPs (nine constituency members)
• 5 Scottish National Party MSPs (five additional members)
• 1 Independent (one constituency member)
• 1 Conservative MSP (one additional member)
• 1 Liberal Democrat MSPs (one additional member)

Constituency results

1999 Scottish Parliament election: Central Scotland
Constituency		Elected member	Result
	Airdrie and Shotts	Karen Whitefield	Scottish Labour Party win (new seat)
	Coatbridge and Chryston	Elaine Smith	Scottish Labour Party win (new seat)
	Cumbernauld and Kilsyth	Cathie Craigie	Scottish Labour Party win (new seat)
	East Kilbride	Andy Kerr	Scottish Labour Party win (new seat)
	Falkirk East	Cathy Peattie	Scottish Labour Party win (new seat)
	Falkirk West	Dennis Canavan	Independent (politician) win (new seat)
	Hamilton North and Bellshill	Michael McMahon	Scottish Labour Party win (new seat)
	Hamilton South	Tom McCabe	Scottish Labour Party win (new seat)
	Kilmarnock and Loudoun	Margaret Jamieson	Scottish Labour Party win (new seat)
	Motherwell and Wishaw	Jack McConnell	Scottish Labour Party win (new seat)

Additional member results

1999 Scottish Parliament election: Central Scotland
Party		Elected candidates	Seats	+/−	Votes	%	+/−%
	Labour		0	N/A	129,822	39.28	N/A
	SNP	Alex Neil Andrew Wilson Michael Matheson Gil Paterson Linda Fabiani	5	N/A	91,802	27.78	N/A
	Conservative	Lyndsay McIntosh	1	N/A	30,243	9.15	N/A
	Independent		0	N/A	27,700	8.38	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Donald Gorrie	1	N/A	20,505	6.20	N/A
	Socialist Labour		0	N/A	10,956	3.32	N/A
	Scottish Green		0	N/A	5,926	3.32	N/A
	Scottish Socialist		0	N/A	5,739	1.74	N/A
	Scottish Unionist		0	N/A	2,888	0.87	N/A
	ProLife Alliance		0	N/A	2,567	0.78	N/A
	Scottish Families and Pensioners Party		0	N/A	1,373	0.42	N/A
	Natural Law		0	N/A	1,373	0.42	N/A
	Independent Progressive		0	N/A	248	0.08	N/A