Boundaries Scotland consults on Further Proposals for constituencies and Provisional Proposals for regions for the Scottish Parliament

Date: Friday 27 September

Boundaries Scotland has today published its Further Proposals for constituency boundaries and Provisional Proposals for new region boundaries for the Scottish Parliament. It marks the start of a public consultation which runs from 26 September 2024 to 26 October 2024.

Constituencies

Boundaries Scotland has already consulted on Provisional Proposals and Revised Proposals for constituencies. After considering useful feedback and alternative suggestions made during the public consultation and at the Falkirk Local Inquiry, we have now produced our Further Proposals for consultation. All consultation responses, transcripts of Local Inquiries and Assistant Commissioners’ reports can be viewed on consult.boundaries.scot.

From the Revised Proposal

• Six constituencies have both new names and changes to their boundaries as consulted on at the Revised Proposals stage (Erskine, Renfrew and Cardonald; Glasgow Southside; Linlithgow; Rutherglen and Cambuslang). Falkirk East and Falkirk West have reverted to their existing constituencies names and boundarie
• 14 constituencies have some changes to their boundaries but retain their names as consulted on at the Revised Proposals stage (Airdrie; Cumbernauld and Kilsyth; Edinburgh Central; Edinburgh Southern; Edinburgh South Western; Edinburgh Northern; Edinburgh North Western; Glasgow Central; Inverness and Nairn; Paisley; Renfrewshire West; Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch; Uddingston and Bellshill). Eastwood has reverted to its existing constituency.
• Nine constituencies have changes to their names but the boundaries remain the same as consulted on at the Revised Proposals stage (Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine; Almond Valley; East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs; Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith; Glasgow Anniesland; Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston; Glasgow Cathcart and Pollock; Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn; Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhil)

For the constituencies that are unchanged from the Revised Proposals stage, Boundaries Scotland has agreed to adopt the Revised Proposals as its Final Recommendations, subject to satisfactory constituencies being designed in neighbouring areas. There will be no consultation on these constituencies at this stage.

There will also be no consultation on the Eastwood; Falkirk East; and Falkirk West constituencies as they have reverted to their existing constituency names and boundaries.

Professor Ailsa Henderson, Chair of Boundaries Scotland said: -

“We would like to thank everyone who made submissions to the consultation on Revised Proposals and thank those who participated in the Falkirk local inquiry. This engagement is a vital part of the review process. It helps to ensure that electoral representation is fair across Scotland, but also that the boundaries reflect natural communities as best as possible within the rules that govern our work.

In some areas these suggestions have helped us to identify additional improvements, which appear here as Further Proposals for constituencies. Suggestions have also helped us with our decision to revert to the existing constituencies in Eastwood; Falkirk East; and Falkirk West. We look forward to receiving submissions on the Further Proposals as we prepare for the final submission of our recommendations in May 2025.”

Regions

Boundaries Scotland has also published its Provisional Proposals for region boundaries for the Scottish Parliament. This is the first consultation on regions during this review and Boundaries Scotland is interested in hearing views from the public. The last time regions were reviewed was in the First Review of Scottish Parliament boundaries which reported in 2010.

There are eight Scottish Parliament regions, each returning seven regional MSPs. The rules governing the boundary setting process for regions state “a constituency must fall wholly within a region” and “the regional electorate of a region must be as near the regional electorate of each of the other regions as is practicable, having regard (where appropriate) to special geographical considerations.”

After recognising the special geographical considerations that apply to the Highlands and Islands the Provisional Proposals for regions are:

One region is unchanged from the existing region (Mid Scotland and Fife). • Four regions have some changes to their boundaries when compared to the existing regions (Highland and Islands, North East Scotland, Glasgow, West Scotland). • Three regions have more significant changes to their boundaries when compared to the existing regions (Lothian, Central Scotland and South Scotland) • All eight regions retain their existing names.

Professor Ailsa Henderson, Chair of Boundaries Scotland, said

“The consultation covers our Provisional Proposals for regions. These boundaries are drawn by their own rules and we have tried to minimise change as much as possible 3 while acknowledging the necessary rebalancing to reflect movements of the electorate across Scotland. Although some change is necessary to achieve regional electoral parity, we have recognised the special geographical considerations that apply in the Highlands and Islands.

We look forward to receiving submissions to the consultation and encourage the public to share their views. All responses will be considered and, as the constituency consultations demonstrate, they lead to important improvements. Submissions are particularly valuable when they offer alternatives that meet the rules as set out in the legislation.”

This review is of electoral boundaries (constituencies and regions) only and therefore does not affect any other boundaries (UK constituencies, local authorities, community councils, health boards etc). For individuals, this review does not affect the council area in which they live nor the way local services are accessed.

We welcome all comments on our Further Proposals for constituencies and Provisional Proposals for regions on our consultation site at https://consult.boundaries.scot/

After the consultation closes Boundaries Scotland will consider all responses received. If changes are made, to the Provisional Proposals for regions or the Further Proposals for constituencies, another one-month consultation will be held.

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