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List of by-elections to the Scottish Parliament

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Scottish Parliament Building and adjacent water pool, 2017

The Scottish Parliament is the devolved legislature of Scotland. It was founded in 1999. The 129 members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) are elected using the additional member system. 73 MSPs are elected through the first-past-the-post system in the Parliament's single-member constituencies, while 56 are elected in the regions to ensure results are proportional. There are 8 regions, electing 7 MSPs each. By-elections to the Parliament occur when a constituency seat becomes vacant, due to the death or resignation of a member.[1]

There were no by-elections in the 3rd Scottish Parliament term (2007–11).

By-elections

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Where seats changed political party at the by-election, the result is highlighted: red for a Labour gain, and blue for a Conservative gain
List of by-elections for constituency members
By-election Date Parliament Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause Ref
Shetland 29 August 2019 5th Tavish Scott   Liberal Democrats Beatrice Wishart   Liberal Democrats Resignation (to take a new role at Scottish Rugby) [2]
Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire 8 June 2017 John Lamont   Conservative Rachael Hamilton   Conservative Resignation (to contest a seat in the 2017 UK general election) [3]
Cowdenbeath 23 January 2014 4th Helen Eadie   Labour Alex Rowley   Labour Death (cancer) [4]
Dunfermline 24 October 2013 Bill Walker   SNP Cara Hilton   Labour[a] Resignation (convicted of assault) [6]
Aberdeen Donside 20 June 2013 Brian Adam   SNP Mark McDonald   SNP Death (cancer) [7]
Moray 27 April 2006 2nd Margaret Ewing   SNP Richard Lochhead   SNP Death (breast cancer) [8]
Glasgow Cathcart 29 September 2005 Mike Watson   Labour Charlie Gordon   Labour Resignation (convicted of fire-raising) [9]
Banff and Buchan 7 June 2001 1st Alex Salmond   SNP Stewart Stevenson   SNP Resignation (to focus on the Parliament of the United Kingdom) [10]
Strathkelvin and Bearsden 7 June 2001 Sam Galbraith   Labour Brian Fitzpatrick   Labour Resignation (health reasons) [10]
Glasgow Anniesland 23 November 2000 Donald Dewar   Labour Bill Butler   Labour Death (brain hemorrhage) [11]
Ayr 16 March 2000 Ian Welsh   Labour John Scott   Conservative[b] Resignation (family reasons) [13]

See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Gain not retained at the 2016 Scottish Parliament election[5]
  2. ^ Gain retained at the 2003 Scottish Parliament election[12]

Citations

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  1. ^ McGrath, Francesca (8 June 2011). "Scottish Parliament Electoral System" (PDF). Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe). Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Lib Dems hold off SNP to win Shetland by-election". BBC News. 30 August 2019. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Rachael Hamilton wins Scottish Parliament by-election". BBC News. 5 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Cowdenbeath by-election: Alex Rowley holds seat for Labour". BBC News. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Dunfermline – Scottish Parliament constituency". BBC News. 6 May 2016. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Dunfermline by-election: Labour's Cara Hilton wins seat from SNP". BBC News. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  7. ^ "SNP's Mark McDonald wins Aberdeen Donside by-election". BBC News. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  8. ^ "SNP's joy at by-election victory". BBC News. 28 April 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  9. ^ Paterson, Stewart (12 April 2016). "Election 2016 focus: Cathcart". Glasgow Times. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Holyrood by-elections resolved". BBC News. 8 June 2001. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Labour holds Dewar seats". BBC News. 24 November 2000. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Scottish Parliament Election Results 2003". South Ayrshire Council. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Tories walking on Ayr". BBC News. 17 March 2000. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
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