Scotland has elections to several bodies: the Scottish Parliament , the United Kingdom Parliament , local councils and community councils . Before the United Kingdom left the European Union , Scotland elected members to the European Parliament .
Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliamentary elections use the Additional Member System (AMS). Under this system, voters are given two votes : one for their constituency, which elects a single MSP by first-past-the-post ; and one for their region, which elects seven MSPs by closed list . Five Scottish Parliamentary elections have been held since the reconvention of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. Elections are held every five years, on the first Thursday in May.
Scottish Parliament election results
2021
Party
Seats
Seats change
Constituency votes
Constituency votes, of total (%)
Constituency vote change (%)
Regional votes
Regional votes, of total (%)
Regional vote change (%)
Total votes
Total votes, (%)
Total votes change (%)
Seats won, of total (%)
SNP
64
1
1,291,204
47.7
1.2
1,094,374
40.3
1.4
2,385,578
43.89
0.21
49.6
Conservative
31
592,518
21.9
0.1
637,131
23.5
0.6
1,229,649
22.62
0.15
24.0
Labour
22
2
584,392
21.6
1.0
488,819
18.0
1.0
1,073,211
19.74
1.07
17.05
Scottish Green
8
2
34,990
1.3
0.7
220,324
8.1
1.5
255,314
4.69
1.11
6.2
Liberal Democrats
4
1
187,746
6.9
0.9
137,152
5.1
0.1
324,898
5.97
0.54
3.1
Other
0
15,833
0.58
0.08
137,984
5.1
0.6
153,817
2.83
0.34
0.0
2,706,761
100
2,712,784
100
5,434,851
100
Registered voters/Turnout
4,280,785
63.46
7.66
4,280,785
63.49
7.69
8,561,570
63.47
7.67
2016
A map showing the constituency winners of the Election by their party colours.
Party
Seats
Seats change
Constituency votes
Constituency votes, of total (%)
Constituency vote change (%)
Regional votes
Regional votes, of total (%)
Regional vote change (%)
Total votes
Total votes, (%)
Total votes change (%)
Seats won, of total (%)
SNP
63
6
1,059,897
46.5
1.1
953,587
41.7
2.3
2,013,484
44.10
0.60
48.8
Conservative
31
16
501,844
22.0
8.1
524,222
22.9
10.6
1,026,066
22.47
9.34
24.03
Labour
24
13
514,261
22.6
9.2
435,919
19.1
7.2
950,180
20.81
8.18
18.60
Scottish Green
6
4
13,172
0.6
0.6
150,426
6.6
2.2
163,598
3.58
1.40
4.65
Liberal Democrats
5
178,238
7.8
1.0
119,284
5.2
297,522
6.51
0.04
3.87
Other
0
1
11,741
0.5
0.58
102,314
4.5
3.02
114,055
2.49
1.89
0
2,279,154
100
2,285,752
100
4,564,906
100
Registered voters/Turnout
4,099,907
55.90
5.24
4,099,907
55.75
5.36
5,434,851
55.67
5.30
2011
Party
Seats
Seats change
Constituency votes
Constituency votes, of total (%)
Constituency vote change (%)
Regional votes
Regional votes, of total (%)
Regional vote change (%)
Total votes
Total votes, (%)
Total votes change (%)
Seats won, of total (%)
SNP
69
23
902,915
45.5
12.5
876,421
44.0
13.0
1,779,336
44.70
12.74
53.48
Labour
37
7
630,461
31.7
0.5
523,469
26.3
2.9
1,153,930
28.99
1.64
28.68
Conservative
15
5
276,652
13.9
2.7
245,967
12.4
1.5
522,619
13.13
2.01
11.6
Liberal Democrats
5
12
157,714
7.9
8.2
103,472
5.2
6.1
261,186
6.56
7.18
3.87
Scottish Green
2
1
0
0.0
0.1
86,939
4.4
0.3
86,939
2.18
0.08
1.55
Other
1
21,534
1.08
0.92
149,809
7.52
3.08
171,343
4.30
2.03
0.77
1,989,276
100
1,990,836
100
3,980,112
100
Registered voters/Turnout
3,950,626
50.35
0.70
3,950,626
50.39
1.31
7,901,252
50.37
1.01
2007
Party
Seats
Seats change
Constituency votes
Constituency votes, of total (%)
Constituency vote change (%)
Regional votes
Regional votes, of total (%)
Regional vote change (%)
Total votes
Total votes, (%)
Total votes change (%)
Seats won, of total (%)
SNP
47
20
664,227
32.9
9.1
633,611
31.0
10.1
1,297,838
31.96
9.65
36.43
Labour
46
4
648,374
32.1
2.5
595,415
29.1
0.2
1,243,789
30.63
1.36
35.65
Conservative
17
1
334,743
16.6
284,035
13.9
1.6
614,778
15.14
0.91
13.17
Liberal Democrats
16
1
326,232
16.2
0.8
230,651
11.3
0.5
556,883
13.74
0.17
12.40
Scottish Green
2
5
2,971
0.1
8.5
82,577
4.0
2.9
85,584
2.10
1.34
1.55
Other
1
9
40,431
2.0
7.6
216,577
10.6
4.0
257,008
6.33
6.31
0.77
2,016,978
100
2,042,866
100
4,059,844
100
Registered voters/Turnout
3,950,626
51.05
1.63
3,950,626
51.70
2.30
7,901,252
51.38
1.89
2003
Party
Seats
Seats change
Constituency votes
Constituency votes, of total (%)
Constituency vote change (%)
Regional votes
Regional votes, of total (%)
Regional vote change (%)
Total votes
Total votes, (%)
Total votes change (%)
Seats won, of total (%)
Labour
50
6
663,585
34.6
4.2
561,375
29.3
4.3
1,224,960
31.96
4.25
38.8
SNP
27
8
455,722
23.8
5.1
399,659
20.9
6.4
855,381
22.31
5.70
20.9
Conservative
18
318,279
16.6
1.0
296,929
15.5
0.1
615,208
16.05
0.60
14.0
Liberal Democrats
17
294,347
15.4
1.2
225,774
11.8
0.6
520,121
13.57
0.25
13.2
Scottish Green
7
6
-
-
-
132,138
6.9
3.3
132,138
3.44
1.65
5.4
Other
10
8
184,641
9.6
6.9
299,946
14.6
7.1
484,587
12.64
7.45
7.9
1,916,574
100
1,915,821
100
3,832,395
100
Registered voters/Turnout
3,877,460
49.42
8.74
3,877,460
49.40
8.57
7,754,920
49.49
8.62
1999
Party
Seats
Constituency votes
Constituency votes, of total (%)
Regional votes
Regional votes, of total (%)
Total votes
Total votes, (%)
Seats won, of total (%)
Labour
56
908,346
38.8
786,818
33.6
1,695,164
36.21
43.41
SNP
35
672,768
28.7
638,644
27.3
1,311,412
28.01
27.13
Conservative
18
364,425
15.6
359,109
15.4
723,534
15.45
13.95
Liberal Democrats
17
333,179
14.2
290,760
12.4
623,939
13.32
13.17
Scottish Green
1
-
-
84,023
3.6
84,023
1.79
0.77
Other
2
63,770
2.7
179,481
7.5
243,251
5.19
1.55
2,342,488
100
2,338,835
100
4,681,323
100
Registered voters/Turnout
4,027,433
58.16
4,027,433
57.97
8,054,866
58.11
By-elections
2019 Shetland by-election , Lib Dem hold
2017 Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire by-election , Con hold
2014 Cowdenbeath by-election , Lab hold
2013 Dunfermline by-election , Lab gain from SNP
2013 Aberdeen Donside by-election , SNP hold
2006 Moray by-election , SNP hold
2005 Glasgow Cathcart by-election , Lab hold
2001 Banff and Buchan by-election ,SNP hold
2001 Strathkelvin and Bearsden by-election , Lab hold
2000 Glasgow Anniesland by-election , Lab hold
2000 Ayr by-election , Con gain from Lab
UK Parliament
Scotland election results by percentage of popular vote, 1900–2019. Conservative total includes Liberal Unionists 1900–1910 and Liberal Nationals 1931–1964. Liberal total incorporates Liberal Party (1900–1979), Alliance (1983–1987) and Liberal Democrats (since 1992).
2024
2024 Map
[ 1]
Party
Seats
Seats change
Seats contested
Votes
Votes, of total (%)
Change (%)
Labour
37
36
57
851,897
35.3
16.7
SNP
9
39
57
724,758
30.0
15.0
Conservative
5
1
57
307,344
12.7
12.4
Liberal Democrats
6
4
57
234,228
9.7
0.2
Reform UK
0
New
57
167,979
7.0
6.5
Scottish Green
0
44
92,685
3.8
2.8
Other
0
35,919
1.5
1.4
Turnout
2,414,810
59.2
8.4
2019
2019 Map
[ 2]
Party
Seats
Seats change
Seats contested
Votes
Votes, of total (%)
Change (%)
SNP
48
13
59[ note 1]
1,242,380
45.0
8.1
Conservative
6
7
59[ note 2]
692,939
25.1
3.5
Liberal Democrats
4
59
263,417
9.5
2.8
Labour
1
6
59[ note 3]
511,838
18.6
8.5
Scottish Green
0
22[ 3]
28,122
1.0
0.8
Brexit Party
0
15
13,243
0.5
New
UKIP
0
6
3,303
0.1
0.1
Other
0
3,819
0.1
0.2
Turnout
2,759,061
68.1
1.7
^ Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath candidate Neale Hanvey was suspended before the election but appeared on ballot papers as an SNP candidate.
^ Aberdeen North candidate Ryan Houghton and Glasgow Central candidate Flora Scarabello were both suspended before the election but appeared on the ballot paper as Conservative candidates.
^ Falkirk candidate Safia Ali was suspended before the election but appeared on ballot papers as a Labour candidate.
2017
2017 Map
[ 4]
Party
Seats
Seats change
Seats contested
Votes
Votes, of total (%)
Change (%)
SNP
35
21
59
977,569
36.9
13.1
Conservative
13
12
59
757,949
28.6
13.7
Labour
7
6
59*
717,007
27.1
2.8
Liberal Democrats
4
3
59
179,061
6.8
0.7
Scottish Green
0
3
5,886
0.2
1.1
UKIP
0
10
5,302
0.2
1.4
Other
0
6,921
0.3
Turnout
2,649,695
66.4
4.7
2015
2015 Map
At the 2015 election the SNP won a majority of Scottish seats for the first time.
[ 5]
Party
Seats
Seats change
Seats, of total (%)
Seats contested
Votes
Votes, of total (%)
Change (%)
SNP
56
50
94.6
59
1,454,436
50.0
30.1
Labour
1
40
1.7
59*
707,147
24.3
17.7
Conservative
1
0
1.7
59
434,097
14.9
1.8
Liberal Democrats
1
10
1.7
59
219,675
7.5
11.3
UKIP
0
0
41
47,078
1.6
0.9
Scottish Green
0
0
32
39,205
1.3
0.7
Other
0
0
37
8,827
0.3
0.5
Turnout
2,910,465
71.1
6.3
2010
2010 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Seats, of total (%)
Candidates
Votes
%
% change
Labour
41
69.4
59
1,035,528
42.0
2.5
Liberal Democrats
11
18.6
59
465,471
18.9
3.7
SNP
6
10.16
59
491,386
19.9
2.3
Conservative
1
1.69
59*
412,855
16.7
0.9
UKIP
0
0
34
17,223
0.7
0.3
Scottish Green
0
0
20
16,827
0.7
0.4
Other
0
0
45
19,555
0.8
0.14
Turnout:
2,465,722
63.8
3.2
* Philip Lardner, the Conservative candidate for North Ayrshire and Arran was disowned by the Conservative Party for comments he posted on his website, calling homosexuality 'abnormal'. It was too late for him to be replaced and he still read as the Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party candidate on the ballot paper.
2005
2005 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Seats, of total (%)
Votes
%
% change
Labour
41
15
69.4
922,402
39.5
4.5
Liberal Democrats
11
1
18.6
528,076
22.6
6.3
SNP
6
1
10.16
412,267
17.7
2.4
Conservative
1
1.7
369,388
15.8
0.2
Scottish Socialist
0
0
43,514
1.9
1.2
Scottish Green
0
0
25,760
1.1
1.1
UKIP
0
0
8,859
0.4
0.3
Other
0
0
15,490
0.66
Turnout:
2,333,887
60.6
2.4
2001
2001 Map
1997
1997 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% change
Labour
56
7
1,283,350
45.6
6.6
Liberal Democrats
10
1
365,362
13.0
0.1
SNP
6
3
621,550
22.1
0.6
Conservative
0
11
493,059
17.5
8.2
Other
0
53,427
2.0
1.2
Turnout:
2,816,748
71.3
4.2
1992
1992 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% change
Labour
49
1
1,142,911
39.0
3.4
Conservative
11
1
751,950
25.6
1.6
Liberal Democrats
9
383,856
13.1
6.1
SNP
3
629,564
21.5
7.4
Other
0
23,417
0.8
0.5
Turnout:
2,931,698
75.5
0.4
1987
1987 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% change
Labour
50
9
1,258,132
42.4
7.3
Conservative
10
11
713,081
24.0
4.4
Alliance
9
1
570,053
19.2
5.3
SNP
3
1
416,473
14.1
2.3
Other
0
10,069
0.3
Turnout:
2,967,808
75.1
2.4
1983
1983 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% change
Labour
41
3
990,654
35.1
6.5
Conservative
21
1
801,487
28.4
3.0
Alliance
8
5[ 6]
692,634
24.5
15.5
SNP
2
331,975
11.8
5.5
Other
0
7,830
0.3
0.2
Turnout:
2,824,580
72.7
1979
1979 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% change
Labour
44
3
1,211,455
41.5
5.2
Conservative
22
6
916,155
31.4
6.7
SNP
2
9
504,259
17.3
13.1
Liberal
3
262,224
9.0
0.7
SLP
0
13,737
0.5
New
Other
0
2,881
0.1
0.1
Turnout:
2,916,637
76.84
October 1974
October 1974 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% change
Labour
41
1
1,000,581
36.3
0.3
Conservative
16
5
681,327
24.7
8.2
SNP
11
4
839,617
30.4
8.5
Liberal
3
228,855
8.3
0.4
Communist
0
7,453
0.3
0.2
National Front
0
86
0.0
New
Other
0
182
0.0
0.1
Turnout:
2,758,101
74.81
February 1974
February 1974 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% change
Labour
40
4
1,057,601
36.6
7.9
Conservative
21
2
950,668
32.9
5.1
SNP
7
6
633,180
21.9
10.5
Liberal
3
229,162
7.9
2.4
Communist
0
15,071
0.5
0.1
Other
0
1,393
0.1
0.1
Turnout:
2,887,075
78.86
1970
1970 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% change
Labour
44
2
1,197,068
44.5
5.4
Conservative
23
3
1,020,674
38.0
0.4
SNP
1
1
306,802
11.4
6.4
Liberal
3
2
147,667
5.5
1.3
Communist
0
11,408
0.4
0.2
Other
0
4,616
0.2
0.2
Turnout:
2,688,235
73.91
1966
1966 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% change
Labour
46
3
1,273,916
49.9
1.2
Conservative
20
4
960,675
37.6
3.0
Liberal
5
1
172,447
6.8
0.8
SNP
0
128,474
5.0
2.6
Communist
0
16,230
0.6
0.1
Other
0
638
0.0
0.2
Turnout:
2,552,380
1964
1964 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Labour Party
43
5
1,283,667
48.7
2.0
Unionist
24
1
981,641
37.3
2.5
National Liberal & Conservative
0
6
88,054
3.3
4.2
Liberal
4
3
200,063
7.6
3.5
SNP
0
64,044
2.4
1.6
Communist
0
12,241
0.5
0.0
Other
0
4,829
0.2
0.1
Total
71
2,634,539
100
1959
1959 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Labour Party
38
4
1,245,255
46.7
0.0
Unionist
25
5
1,060,609
39.8
1.7
National Liberal & Conservative
6
199,678
7.5
1.1
Liberal
1
108,963
4.1
2.1
Independent Unionist
1
1
12,163
0.5
New
SNP
0
21,738
0.8
0.3
Communist
0
12,150
0.5
New
Fife Socialist League
0
4,886
0.2
New
Other
0
2,071
0.1
0.2
Total
71
2,667,513
100
1955
1955 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Unionist
30
1
1,056,209
41.5
1.6
National Liberal & Conservative
6
217,733
8.6
0.1
Labour Party
34
1
1,188,058
46.7
1.2
Liberal
1
47,273
1.9
0.8
Communist
0
13,195
0.5
0.1
SNP
0
12,112
0.5
0.2
Other
0
8,674
0.3
0.2
Total
71
2,543,254
100
1951
1951 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Unionist
29
3
1,108,321
39.9
2.7
National Liberal & Conservative
6
1
240,977
8.7
1.1
Labour Party
35
2
1,330,244
47.9
1.7
Liberal
1
1
76,291
2.7
3.9
Communist
0
10,947
0.4
0.6
SNP
0
7,299
0.3
0.1
Other
0
1
3,758
0.1
0.9
Total
71
2,777,837
100
1950
1950 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Labour Party
37
1,259,410
46.2
1.7
Unionist
26
2
1,013,909
37.2
0.5
National Liberal & Conservative
5
2
208,101
7.6
4.0
Liberal
2
2
180,270
6.6
1.0
SNP
0
9,708
0.4
0.9
Communist
0
1
27,559
1.0
0.4
Other
1
2
27,727
1.0
0.7
Total
71
2,726,684
100
1945
1945 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Labour Party
37
17
1,144,310
47.9
11.1
Unionist
24
11
878,206
36.7
5.3
National Liberal & Conservative
3
4
85,937
3.6
3.1
Independent Labour Party
3
1
40,725
1.7
3.3
Independent Liberal
2
2
26,127
1.1
1.1
Communist
1
-
33,265
1.4
0.8
Independent Unionist
1
1
13,647
0.6
0.6
Liberal
0
3
132,849
5.6
1.1
SNP
0
-
30,595
1.3
0.2
Common Wealth Party
0
-
4,231
0.2
0.2
Total
71
2,389,892
100
1935
1935 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
National Government (Total)
43
21
1,135,403
49.8
15.2
Unionist
35
13
962,595
42.0
7.5
National Liberal
7
149,072
6.7
National Labour
1
0
19,115
0.9
0.1
National
0
4,621
0.2
Labour Party
20
13
863,789
36.8
4.2
Liberal
3
4
174,235
6.7
1.9
Independent Labour Party
4
111,256
5.0
SNP
0
25,652
1.1
Communist
1
1
13,462
0.6
0.8
Total
71
2,323,797
100
1931
1931 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
National Government (Total)
64
1,385,385
64.0
Unionist
48
28
1,056,768
49.5
13.6
National Liberal & Conservative
8
New
101,430
4.9
New
Liberal
7
6
205,384
8.6
9.5
National Labour
1
New
21,803
1.0
New
Labour Party
7
29
696,248
32.6
9.7
Communist
0
35,618
1.4
0.3
National Party of Scotland
0
20,954
1.0
0.8
New Party
0
New
3,895
0.2
New
Other
0
32,229
0.8
Total
71
2,174,329
100
1929
1929 Map
1924
1924 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Unionist
36
22
688,299
40.7
9.1
Labour
26
8
697,146
41.1
5.2
Liberal
8
14
286,540
16.6
11.8
Communist
0
-
15,930
0.7
1.7
Other
1
-
29,193
0.9
0.8
Total
71
1,717,108
100
1923
1923 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Labour
34
5
532,450
35.9
3.7
Liberal (Reunited)
22
5
422,995
28.4
10.8
Unionist
14
1
468,526
31.6
6.5
Communist
0
1
39,448
2.4
1.0
Other
1
-
37,908
1.7
0.4
Total
71
1,501,327
100
1922
1922 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Labour
29
23
501,254
32.2
9.3
Liberal
15
7
328,649
21.5
6.1
Unionist
13
379,396
25.1
National Liberal
12
13
288,529
17.7
1.4
Communist
1
23,944
1.4
Other
1
47,589
2.1
Total
71
1,569,361
100
1918
1918 Map
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Coalition (Total)
54
584,259
52.3
Coalition Unionist
28
336,530
30.8
Coalition Liberal
25
221,145
19.1
Coalition Labour
1
14,247
1.3
Coalition NDP
0
12,337
1.1
Labour
6
265,744
22.9
+19.3
Liberal
8
163,960
15.0
-36.6
Unionist
2
21,939
2.0
Co-operative Party
0
19,841
1.8
Highland Land League
0
8,710
0.8
Scottish Prohibition Party
0
5,212
0.5
NDP
0
4,297
0.4
Other
1
52,749
4.7
Total
71
1,126,711
100
1910 December
1910 January
1906
1900
1895
1892
1886
1885
1885 Map
1880
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Liberal
52
12
195,517
70.1
1.7
Conservative
6
12
75,145
29.9
1.7
Total
58
269,662
100
1874
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Liberal
40
11
148,345
68.4
14.1
Conservative
18
11
63,193
31.6
14.1
Total
58
211,538
100
1868
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Liberal
51
9
125,356
82.5
2.9
Conservative
7
4
23,985
17.5
2.9
Total
58
5
149,341
100
1865
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Liberal
42
2
43,480
85.4
21.0
Conservative
11
2
4,305
14.6
19.0
Total
53
47,785
100
1859
1857
1852
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Whig
33
-
21,015
72.6
9.1
Conservative & Liberal Conservative
20
-
6,955
27.4
9.1
Total
53
27,970
100
1847
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Whig
33
-
20,092
81.7
19.9
Conservative & Liberal Conservative
20
-
3,509
18.3
20.0
Total
53
23,601
100
1841
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Whig
31
2
16,356
60.8
6.8
Conservative
22
2
9,793
38.3
8.3
Chartist
0
385
0.9
Total
53
26,354
100
1837
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Whig
33
5
22,082
54.0
8.8
Conservative
20
5
18,569
46.0
8.8
Total
53
-
40,651
100
1835
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Whig
38
5
28,307
62.8
16.2
Conservative
15
5
15,733
37.2
16.2
Total
53
44,040
100
1832
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Whig
43
22
44,003
79.0
Tory
10
13
9,752
21.0
Total
53
53,755
100
1831
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Tory
23
10
Whig
21
9
Doubtful
1
1
Total
45
100
1830
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% Change
Tory
33
Whig
12
Total
45
100
Local councils
Since 1995, local elections in Scotland have been generally held every four years for all the 32 unitary authorities created under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 . Between 1975 and 1992, elections were held every two years for either district or regional council, which sat for four-year terms. Those arrangements were set up by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 .
As one consequence of the Gould Report ,[ 7] which was a response to the fiasco of the 2007 elections, the next council elections were scheduled for 2012 (one year after the Parliamentary elections in 2011).
2022
2017
The elections were held again using the STV system of proportional representation, and as with the 2012 Scottish local elections , they were delayed for one year to ensure they were not held on the same day as the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections (which was delayed for a year, owing to the 2015 general election ). For full analysis see 2017 Scottish local elections .
2012
The election was contested for the second time under the STV system of proportional representation. It was the first time in 13 years that the elections had not been held on the same day as the Scottish Parliament elections.
Past elections
By-elections
2008
date to be announced : Abbey (4-member ward), Dumfries and Galloway , 1 member elected by single transferable vote : result pending (result May 2007: 2 Con, 1 SNP, 1 Lab)
1 May: Troup (3-member ward), Aberdeenshire , 1 member elected by single transferable vote: result pending (result May 2007: 1 SNP, 1 Con, 1 Ind)
6 March: Cambuslang East (3-member ward), South Lanarkshire , 1 member elected by single transferable vote: Lab gain from SNP (result May 2007: 2 Lab, 1 SNP; after by election: 3 Lab)
28 Feb: Lerwick South (4-member ward), Shetland , 1 member elected by single transferable vote: Ind hold (result May 2007: 4 Ind; after by election: 4 Ind)
21 Feb: Highland (3-member ward), Perth and Kinross , 1 member elected by single transferable vote: SNP hold (result May 2007: 2 SNP, 1 Con; after by election: 2 SNP, 1 Con)
14 Feb: Elgin City South (3-member ward), Moray , 1 member elected by single transferable vote: SNP gain from Ind (result May 2007: 1 SNP, 1 Lab, 1 Ind; after by election: 2 SNP, 1 Lab)
31 January: Kilsyth (3-member ward), North Lanarkshire , 1 member elected by single transferable vote: Lab hold (result May 2007: 2 Lab, 1 SNP; after by election: 2 Lab, 1 SNP)
2007
22 November: Lochee (4-member ward), Dundee , 1 member elected by single transferable vote: SNP hold (result May 2007: 2 SNP, 2 Lab; after by election: 2 SNP, 2 Lab)
4 October: Helensburgh and Lomond South (3-member ward), Argyll and Bute , 1 member elected by single transferable vote: Lib Dem gain from Ind (result May 2007: 1 Con, 1 Ind, 1 Lib Dem; after by election: 2 Lib Dem, 1 Con)
16 August: Midstocket/Rosemount (3-member ward), Aberdeen , 1 member elected by single transferable vote: SNP gain from Con (result May 2007: 1 Con, 1 SNP, 1 Lab; after by election: 2 SNP, 1 Lab)
2006
8 December: Elderslie, Renfrewshire , Lab hold (16% swing Lab to SNP)
28 September: Markinch and Woodside East, Fife , SNP gain from Lab
10 August: Lochardil, Highland , Lib Dem gain from Ind
15 June: Dumbarton West, West Dunbartonshire , SNP gain from Lab
18 May: Altonhill Hillhead and Longpark, East Ayrshire , SNP hold
11 May: Biggar, Symington and Black Mount, South Lanarkshire , Con gain from SNP
30 March: Avondale South, South Lanarkshire , Con hold
30 March: Borestone, Stirling , SNP gain from Lab
30 March: King's Park, Glasgow , Lib Dem gain from Lab
16 February: Milton, Glasgow , SNP gain from Lab
2 February: North Carrick and Maybole East, South Ayrshire , Ind gain from Lab
2005
8 December: Kirkshaws, North Lanarkshire , Lab hold
10 November: Knightswood Park, Glasgow , Lab hold
10 November: Loanhead, Midlothian , SNP gain from Ind
10 November: Murrayfield, Edinburgh , Con hold
13 October: Lochside, Dumfries and Galloway , Lab gain from Ind
29 September: Auchtertool and Burntisland East , Fife , SNP gain from Ind
11 August: Herbertshire, Falkirk , SNP gain from Lab
16 June: Kildrum and Park, North Lanarkshire , SNP gain from Ind
9 June: Huntly East, Aberdeenshire , Con hold
9 June: Kilnknowe and Clovenfords, Borders , SNP gain from Ind
17 March: Dalkeith/Woodburn, Midlothian , Lib Dem gain from Lab
17 March: Dumbarton West, West Dunbartonshire , Lab hold
European Parliament
In 1999 , a Scotland-wide constituency replaced eight first-past-the-post constituencies used in the elections between 1979 and 1994. This returned eight MEPs under the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation system. Since then the number of MEPs returned by Scotland has been reduced twice, to seven in 2004, and then to six in 2009.
Following the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union on 31 January 2020, Scotland no longer elects representatives to the European Parliament.
Elected candidates are shown in bold . Brackets indicate the number of votes per seat won.
2019
European Election 2019 : Scotland[ 8] [ 9] [ 10] [ 11]
List
Candidates
Votes
Of total (%)
SNP
Alyn Smith , Christian Allard , Aileen McLeod Margaret Ferrier , Heather Anderson, Alex Kerr[ 12]
594,553 (198,184.3)
37.8%
+8.8
Brexit Party
Louis Stedman-Bryce Karina Walker, James Ferguson-Hannah, Stuart Waiton , Paul Aitken, Calum Walker
233,006
14.8%
New
Liberal Democrats
Sheila Ritchie Fred Mackintosh, Catriona Bhatia, Vita Zaporozcenko, John Edward , Clive Sneddon [ 13]
218,285
13.8%
+6.8
Conservative
Nosheena Mobarik Ian McGill, Shona Haslam, Iain Whyte, Andrea Gee, Michael Kusznir [ 14]
182,476
11.6%
−5.6
Labour
David Martin , Jayne Baxter , Craig Miller, Amy Lee Fraioli, Callum O’Dwyer, Angela Bretherton[ 15]
146,724
9.3%
−16.6
Scottish Green
Maggie Chapman , Lorna Slater , Gillian Mackay , Chas Booth, Mags Hall, Allan Faulds
129,603
8.2%
+0.1
Change UK – The Independent Group
David Macdonald,1 Kate Forman, Peter Griffiths, Heather Astbury, Colin McFadyen, Cathy Edgeworth
30,004
1.9%
New
UKIP
Donald MacKay, Janice MacKay, Otto Inglis, Mark Meechan , Roy Hill [ 16]
28,418
1.8%
−8.7
Independent
Gordon Edgar[ 17]
6,128
0.4%
N/A
Independent
Ken Parke[ 17]
2,049
0.1%
N/A
Turnout
1,561,226
39.9%
+ 6.4
2014
European Parliament election 2014 : Scotland[ 18] [ 19] [ 20] [ 21]
List
Candidates
Votes
Of total (%)
SNP
Ian Hudghton , Alyn Smith , Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh , Stephen Gethins , Toni Giugliano, Chris Stephens
389,503(194,751.5)
29.0
–0.1
Labour
David Martin , Catherine Stihler , Derek Munn, Katrina Murray, Asim Khan, Kirsty O'Brien
348,219(174,109.5)
25.9
+5.1
Conservative
Ian Duncan , Belinda Don, Nosheena Mobarik, Jamie Gardiner, Iain McGill, Stuart McIntyre
231,330
16.8
+0.4
UKIP
David Coburn , Kevin Newton, Otto Inglis, Denise Baykal, Hugh Hatrick, Malcolm Mackay
140,534
10.5
+5.3
Scottish Green
Maggie Chapman, Chas Booth, Grace Murray, Alastair Whitelaw, Anne Thomas, Steen Parish
108,305
8.1
+0.8
Liberal Democrats
George Lyon, Christine Jardine, Richard Brodie, Jade Holden, Siobhan Mathers, Euan Davidson
95,319
7.1
–4.4
Britain First
James Dowson, John Arthur Randall, Jayda Fransen, Geoffrey Clynch, Margaret Clynch, Jane Shepherd
13,551
2.0
[new]
BNP
Kenneth McDonald, David Orr, Victoria McKenzie, Angus Matthys, Paul Stafford, Stacey Fleming
10,150
0.8
–1.7
NO2EU
John Foster. Andrew Elliott, Murdo Maclean, Gail Morrow, Brian Smith, Richard Veitch
6,388
0.5
–0.4
Turnout
1,343,299
33.5%
+5.0%
2009
European Parliament election 2009 : Scotland[ 22] [ 23]
List
Candidates
Votes
Of total (%)
SNP
Ian Hudghton , Alyn Smith Aileen McLeod , Drew Hendry , Duncan Ross, Gordon Archer
321,007 (160,503.5)
29.1
+9.4
Labour
David Martin , Catherine Stihler Mary Lockhart, Paul McAleavely, Kirsty Connell, Nasim Khan[ 24]
229,853 (114,926.5)
20.8
−5.6
Conservative
Struan Stevenson Belinda Don, Helen Gardiner, Donald G. MacDonald, Gerald Michaluk, PJ Lewis[ 25]
185,794
16.8
−0.9
Liberal Democrats
George Lyon Euan Robson , Robert Aldridge, Patsy Kenton, Douglas Herbison, Clive Sneddon[ 26]
127,038
11.5
−1.6
Scottish Green
Elaine Morrison, Chas Booth, Kirsten Robb, Alastair Whitelaw, Ruth Dawkins, Peter McColl
80,442
7.3
+0.5
UKIP
Peter Adams, Paul Hencke, Phillip Anderson, Matthew Desmond, Donald Mackay, Paul Wiffen, Kathleen Desmond[ 27]
57,788
5.2
−1.5
BNP
Gary Raikes , Charlie Baillie, Deborah McKnight, Roy Jones, Max Dunbar, Elise Jones[ 28]
27,174
2.5
+0.8
Socialist Labour
Louise McDaid, David Jacobsen, Katherine McGavigan, James Berrington, Claire Watt, James McDaid
22,135
2.0
+2.0
Scottish Christian
Sheila McLaughlan, John Smart, Brian Ross, Archie Linnegan, Christine Cormack, Isobel Anne Macleod
16,738
1.5
+1.5
Scottish Socialist
Colin Fox , Angela Gorrie, Johanna Dind, Nick McKerrell, Raphie de Santos, Felicity Garvie
10,404
0.9
−4.3
Independent
Duncan Robertson
10,189
0.9
+0.9
NO2EU
John Foster, Tommy Sheridan , Leah Ganley, Stuart Hyslop, Ajit Singh Uppal, Tom Morrison
9,693
0.9
+0.9
Jury Team
Alan Wallace, John O'Callaghan, Stuart Brown, Kenneth Lees, Mev Brown, Austin Compson-Bradford[ 29]
6,257
0.6
+0.6
Turnout
1,104,512
28.5
−2.4
2004
European Parliament election 2004 : Scotland[ 30]
List
Candidates
Votes
Of total (%)
Labour
David Martin , Catherine Stihler Bill Miller , Kirsty O'Brien, Colin Smyth, Catriona Renton, Gemma Doyle
310,865 (155,432.5)
26.4
−2.3
SNP
Ian Hudghton , Alyn Smith Kenneth Gibson , Douglas Henderson , Alexander Nicholson, Alex Orr, Janet Law, Duncan Ross
231,505 (115,752.5)
19.7
−7.5
Conservative
Struan Stevenson , John Purvis Cameron Buchanan, Sebastian Leslie, Anne Harper, Paul Nelson, Douglas Taylor
209,028 (104,514)
17.8
−2.0
Liberal Democrats
Elspeth Attwooll Robert Aldridge, Alex Bruce, Karen Freel, Douglas Herbison, Clive Sneddon, Christine James, Jermaine Allison
154,178
13.1
+3.3
Scottish Green
Chas Booth, Tara O'Leary, Martin Bartos, Moira Dunworth, Alastair Whitelaw, Katherine Joester, James Park
79,695
6.8
+1.0
UKIP
Peter Troy, Philip Anderson, George Cormack, Michael Phillips, Janice Murdock, Donald Mackay, Peter Nielson
78,828
6.7
+5.4
Scottish Socialist
Felicity Garvie, Nick McKerrel, Hugh Kerr , Catriona Grant , Lynn Sheridan, John Sangster, Andrew Rossiter
61,356
5.2
+1.2
Christian Vote
George Hargreaves , William Thompson, Richard Russell, David Braid, Marion McNeill, Mary Hay, Rose Irtwange
21,056
1.8
N/A
BNP
Steven Blake, Scott McLean, David Kerr, Stephen Burns, Bryan Dickson, Craig McComb, John Bean [ 31]
19,427
1.7
+1.3
Scottish Wind Watch
Brendan Hamill, Sylvia Thorne, Charles Bennie, Jennifer Scobie, Bennie Palmer, Helen Pass, Richard Hammock
7,255
0.6
N/A
Independent
Fergus Tait
3,624
0.3
N/A
Turnout
1,176,817
30.9
+6.2
1999
European Parliament election 1999 : Scotland[ 32]
List
Candidates
Votes
Of total (%)
Labour
David Martin , Bill Miller , Catherine Taylor Christine May, Hugh McMahon , James Paton, John Clifford, Jeanette Bradley
283,490 (94,496.67)
28.7
N/A
SNP
Ian Hudghton , Neil MacCormick Anne Gillies , Gordon Wilson , Janet Law, Kris Browne, Ian Goldie, Josephine Docherty
268,528 (134,264)
27.2
N/A
Conservative
Struan Stevenson , John Purvis Anne Harper, Cameron Buchanan, Sebastian Leslie, Iain Mitchell, Peter Ramsay, Anthony Gilbey
195,296 (97,648)
19.8
N/A
Liberal Democrats
Elspeth Attwooll Robert Aldridge, Neil Mitchison, Heather Lyall, Clive Sneddon, Danus Skene , Karen Freel, Jayne Struthers
96,971
9.8
N/A
Scottish Green
Marion Coyne, Eleanor Scott , Phil O'Brien, Graeme Farmer, Linda Hendry, Chris Ballance , Kay Allan, Alastair Whitelaw
57,142
5.8
N/A
Scottish Socialist
Hugh Kerr , Rosie Kane , Harvey Duke, Catherine Stewart, Colin Fox , Shareen Blackall, Steve Arnott, Frances Curran
39,720
4.0
N/A
Pro-Euro Conservative
Paul Dwyer, Joanna Lavender, Douglas McConchie, Richard Ashurst, Neasa MacEarlean, Oliver Grant, Alexander Skinner, James Waters
17,781
1.8
N/A
UKIP
Alistair McConnachie, Donald Mackay, James McKenna, Stuart Brown, Matthew Henderson, Joseph Smith, Peter Nielson, John Mumford
12,459
1.3
N/A
Socialist Labour
Louise McDaid, Christopher Herriot, Katharine McGavigan, Stephen Mayes, Patricia Graham, Colin Turbett, Margaret Stead, James Galloway
9,385
1.0
N/A
BNP
Kenneth Smith, Scott McLean,[ 33] Russell Bradley, Mark Allen, Paul Wilkinson, Robert Currie, David Kerr,[ 34] James Mills
3,729
0.4
N/A
Natural Law
James McKissock, George Stidolph, Diana Kras, Kenneth Blair, David Pettigrew, Iain Petrie, Anna Rawlinson, Thomas Pringle
2,087
0.2
N/A
Accountant for Lower Scottish Taxes
Charles Lawson
1,632
0.2
N/A
Turnout
988,310
24.7
N/A
Pre-1999 elections
For full details of results please referee to related articles;
1994
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% change
Labour
6
-1
635,955
42.51
+0.65
SNP
2
+1
487,239
32.57
+6.94
Conservative
0
216,669
14.48
–6.41
Liberal Democrats
0
107,811
7.21
+2.92
Scottish Green
0
23,304
1.56
–5.69
Scottish Militant Labour
0
–
12,113
0.81
–
Natural Law
0
–
5,037
0.34
–
Liberal
0
–
3,249
0.22
–
Socialist (GB)
0
–
1,832
0.12
–
UKIP
0
–
1,096
0.07
–
Communist
0
689
0.05
–0.02
Independent
0
–
584
0.04
–
International Communist
0
381
0.03
+0.02
Turnout:
1,495,959
1989
1984
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% change
Labour
5
+3
526,066
40.99
+8.00
Conservative
2
–3
332,771
25.72
–7.96
SNP
1
230,594
17.82
–1.56
Alliance
0
201,782
15.60
–1.65
Ecology
0
–
2,560
0.20
–
Turnout:
1,293,773
1979
Party
Seats
Seats change
Votes
%
% change
Conservative
5
–
430,772
33.68
–
Labour
2
–
421,968
32.99
–
SNP
1
–
247,836
19.38
–
Liberal
0
–
178,433
13.95
–
Turnout:
1,279,009
Referendums
To date eight referendums have been held in Scotland, covering a wide range of issues.
See also
References
^ "Scotland Election 2024 Results" . BBC News . Retrieved 9 July 2024 .
^ "Results of the 2019 General Election in Scotland" . BBC. Retrieved 28 December 2019 .
^ "Scottish Greens release list of 2019 general election candidates" . Holyrood . 14 November 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019 .
^ "Scotland Results" . BBC News.
^ "Scotland Results" . BBC News.
^ Compared to the Liberals in 1979
^ "Probe says May poll failed voters" . BBC News. 23 October 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2010 .
^ "Who are the MEP candidates in Scotland?" . BBC. 25 April 2019.
^ European elections: List of candidates for Scotland [permanent dead link ] BBC News Scotland, 28 April 2019
^ The UK’s European elections 2019 | Gains for The Brexit Party and Lib Dems BBC News
^ EU Elections 2019 – The Results Ballot Box Scotland; N.B.: This also gives the number of votes for each party in each council area.
^ "SNP reveal list for Euro elections as party go for three MEPs" . The National . 20 April 2019.
^ "Scottish Lib Dems unveil Euro election candidates" . BBC News. Retrieved 19 April 2019 .
^ "The list of Conservative MEP candidates for Scotland" . Conservative Home.
^ "Scotland's main parties reveal candidates for European Parliament elections" . The Scotsman . 19 April 2019.
^ "EU candidates" . UK Independence Party. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2019 .
^ a b "Who are the MEP candidates in Scotland?" . BBC News. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019 .
^ The Scotsman , 25/26 May 2014 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scottish-european-election-2014-results-1-3422454 N.B.: This also gives the number of votes for each party in each council area.
^ European Parliament Information Office in Edinburgh, Newsletter Issue 2, October 2014 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/unitedkingdom/resource/static/files/epio-in-edinburgh---october-newsletter.pdf
^ "Vote 2014: European election candidates for Scotland" . BBC News. 28 April 2014.
^ Scotl, Ballot Box (28 May 2019). "EU Elections 2019 – The Results" . Ballot Box Scotland .
^ "City of Edinburgh Council" (PDF) .[permanent dead link ]
^ "European Election 2009 | UK Results | Scotland" . BBC News.
^ "Labour's 2009 EP candidates" . Jon Worth Euroblog . 4 April 2008.
^ "Conservative Party website, accessed 17 July 2008" . Archived from the original on 25 February 2006. Retrieved 2 October 2010 .
^ "CIX ONLINE, accessed 17 July 2008" . Archived from the original on 8 May 2009.
^ "UK Independence Party" . Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2008 .
^ British National Party Scotland accessed 6 March 2009
^ "Scotland » Candidates » Politics Without Parties » JURY TEAM" . Archived from the original on 19 April 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2010 .
^ "2004 Election candidates" . UK Office of the European Parliament . Archived from the original on 4 October 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2009 .
^ "Scotcand" . Archived from the original on 3 June 2004.
^ "1999 Election candidates" . UK Office of the European Parliament . Archived from the original on 28 August 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2009 .
^ "BBC News | Programmes | Under the skin of the BNP" . BBC News.
^ "BBC News | Programmes | Under the skin of the BNP" . BBC News.
^ Black, Andrew (21 March 2013). "Scottish independence: Referendum to be held on 18 September, 2014" . BBC News. Retrieved 8 October 2016 .
^ Carrell, Severin (21 March 2013). "Alex Salmond announces Scottish independence referendum date" . The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077 . Retrieved 8 October 2016 .
^ "Scotland decides on 18 September 2014" . 21 March 2013.
External links
Elections in Europe
Sovereign states States with limited recognition Dependencies and other entities Other entities