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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.

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

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

2024

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

Party		Seats	Seats change	Seats contested	Votes	Votes, of total (%)	Change (%)
	SNP	48	13	59	1,242,380	45.0	8.1
	Conservative	6	7	59	692,939	25.1	3.5
	Liberal Democrats	4		59	263,417	9.5	2.8
	Labour	1	6	59	511,838	18.6	8.5
	Scottish Green	0		22	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

1. Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath candidate Neale Hanvey was suspended before the election but appeared on ballot papers as an SNP candidate.
2. 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.
3. Falkirk candidate Safia Ali was suspended before the election but appeared on ballot papers as a Labour candidate.

2017

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

At the 2015 election the SNP won a majority of Scottish seats for the first time.

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

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

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

Party		Seats	Seats change	Votes	%	% change
	Labour	56		1,001,173	43.3	2.3
	Liberal Democrats	10		378,034	16.3	3.3
	SNP	5	1	464,314	20.1	2.1
	Conservative	1	1	360,658	15.6	1.9
	Scottish Socialist	0		72,516	3.1	2.8
Turnout:				2,315,703	58.2	13.1

1997

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

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

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

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	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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Party		Seats	Seats change	Votes	%	% Change
	Labour	36	10	937,300	42.3	1.2
	Unionist	20	16	792,063	35.9	4.8
	Liberal	13	5	407,081	18.1	1.5
	Communist	0	-	27,114	1.1	0.4
	Scottish Prohibition	1	-	25,037	1.1
	National Party of Scotland	0	-	3,313	0.2	New
	Other	1		51,033	1.3
Total		71		2,242,941	100

1924

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

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

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

1910 December

Party			Seats	Seats change	Votes	%	% Change
	Liberal		57	1	306,378	53.6	0.6
	Conservative and Liberal Unionist		10	1	244,785	42.6	3.0
	Labour Party		3	1	24,633	3.6	1.5
	Other		0	1	1,947	0.2	0.9
Total			70		577,743	100

1910 January

Party			Seats	Seats change	Votes	%	% Change
	Liberal		58		354,847	54.2	2.2
	Conservative and Liberal Unionist		9	1	260,033	39.6	1.4
	Labour Party		2		37,852	5.1	2.8
	Other		1	1	7,710	1.1
Total			70		660,442	100

1906

Party			Seats	Seats change	Votes	%	% Change
	Liberal		58	24	336,400	56.4	6.2
	Conservative and Liberal Unionist		10	26	225,802	38.2	10.8
	Labour		2	2	16,897	2.3
	Other		0		17,815	3.1
Total			70		596,914	100

1900

Party			Seats	Seats change	Votes	%	% Change
	Conservative and Liberal Unionist		36	5	237,217	49.0	1.6
	Liberal		34	5	245,092	50.2	1.5
	Scottish Workers'		0		3,107	0.6
	Other		0		814	0.2
Total			70		486,230	100

1895

Party		Seats	Seats change	Votes	%	% Change
	Liberal	39	12	236,446	51.7	2.2
	Conservative & Liberal Unionist	31	12	214,403	47.4	3
	Independent Labour Party	0		4,269	0.8	0.8
Total		70			100

1892

Party		Seats	Seats change	Votes	%	% Change
	Liberal	51	8	256,944	53.9	0.3
	Conservative & Liberal Unionist	19	8	209,944	44.4	2.0
	Scottish Trades Councils Labour	0		2,313	0.5	0.5
	Scottish Parliamentary Labour	0		2,043	0.4	0.4
	Other	0		3,886	0.8	0.8
Total		70		475,130	100

1886

Party		Seats	Seats change	Votes	%	% Change
	Liberal	43	8	193,801	53.6	0.3
	Conservative & Liberal Unionist	27	19	164,314	46.4	12.1
Total		70		358,115	100

1885

Party		Seats	Seats change	Votes	%	% Change
	Liberal	51	1	238,627	53.3	16.8
	Conservative	8	2	151,137	34.3	4.4
	Independent Liberal & Crofters Party	4	4	16,551	3.7	3.7
	Independent Liberal	7	7	38,214	8.6	8.6
	Others	0
	Scottish Land Restoration League	0		2,359	0.5	0.5
Total		70	12	446,888	100

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

Party		Seats	Seats change	Votes	%	% Change
	Liberal	40	1	5,174	66.4	18.4
	Conservative & Liberal Unionist	13	1	2,616	33.6	18.4
Total		53		7,790	100

1857

Party		Seats	Seats change	Votes	%	% Change
	Liberal	39	6	31,999	84.8	12.2
	Conservative & Liberal Unionist	14	6	4,060	15.2	12.2
Total		53		36,059	100

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

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, 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

• 1977 Scottish local elections
• 1980 Scottish local elections
• 1982 Scottish regional elections
• 1984 Scottish local elections
• 1986 Scottish regional elections
• 1988 Scottish local elections
• 1990 Scottish regional elections
• 1992 Scottish local elections
• 1994 Scottish regional elections
• 1995 Scottish local elections
• 1999 Scottish local elections
• 2003 Scottish local elections
• 2007 Scottish local 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

2014

2009

2004

1999

Pre-1999 elections

For full details of results please referee to related articles;

• Glasgow
• Highlands and Islands
• Lothians
• Mid Scotland and Fife
• North East Scotland
• South of Scotland
• Strathclyde East
• Strathclyde West

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

Party		Seats	Seats change	Votes	%	% change
	Labour	7	+2	664,263	41.86	+0.87
	SNP	1		406,686	25.63	+7.81
	Conservative	0	–2	331,495	20.89	–4.83
	Green	0		115,028	7.25	+7.05
	SLD	0		68,056	4.29	–11.31
	Communist	0	–	1,164	0.07	–
	International Communist	0	–	193	0.01	–
Turnout:				1,586,885

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

Referendums

To date eight referendums have been held in Scotland, covering a wide range of issues.

• 1975 United Kingdom European Communities membership referendum
• 1979 Scottish devolution referendum
• 1994 Strathclyde water referendum
• 1997 Scottish devolution referendum
• 2005 Edinburgh congestion charge referendum
• 2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum
• 2014 Scottish independence referendum
• 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum

See also

• Politics of Scotland
• Electoral systems in Scotland
• Political parties in Scotland

References

1. "Scotland Election 2024 Results". BBC News. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
2. "Results of the 2019 General Election in Scotland". BBC. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
3. "Scottish Greens release list of 2019 general election candidates". Holyrood. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
4. "Scotland Results". BBC News.
5. "Scotland Results". BBC News.
6. Compared to the Liberals in 1979
7. "Probe says May poll failed voters". BBC News. 23 October 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
8. "Who are the MEP candidates in Scotland?". BBC. 25 April 2019.
9. European elections: List of candidates for Scotland BBC News Scotland, 28 April 2019
10. The UK’s European elections 2019 | Gains for The Brexit Party and Lib Dems BBC News
11. EU Elections 2019 – The Results Ballot Box Scotland; N.B.: This also gives the number of votes for each party in each council area.
12. "SNP reveal list for Euro elections as party go for three MEPs". The National. 20 April 2019.
13. "Scottish Lib Dems unveil Euro election candidates". BBC News. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
14. "The list of Conservative MEP candidates for Scotland". Conservative Home.
15. "Scotland's main parties reveal candidates for European Parliament elections". The Scotsman. 19 April 2019.
16. "EU candidates". UK Independence Party. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
17. ^ "Who are the MEP candidates in Scotland?". BBC News. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
18. 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.
19. 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
20. "Vote 2014: European election candidates for Scotland". BBC News. 28 April 2014.
21. Scotl, Ballot Box (28 May 2019). "EU Elections 2019 – The Results". Ballot Box Scotland.
22. "City of Edinburgh Council" (PDF).
23. "European Election 2009 | UK Results | Scotland". BBC News.
24. "Labour's 2009 EP candidates". Jon Worth Euroblog. 4 April 2008.
25. "Conservative Party website, accessed 17 July 2008". Archived from the original on 25 February 2006. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
26. "CIX ONLINE, accessed 17 July 2008". Archived from the original on 8 May 2009.
27. "UK Independence Party". Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
28. British National Party Scotland accessed 6 March 2009
29. "Scotland » Candidates » Politics Without Parties » JURY TEAM". Archived from the original on 19 April 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
30. "2004 Election candidates". UK Office of the European Parliament. Archived from the original on 4 October 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
31. "Scotcand". Archived from the original on 3 June 2004.
32. "1999 Election candidates". UK Office of the European Parliament. Archived from the original on 28 August 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
33. "BBC News | Programmes | Under the skin of the BNP". BBC News.
34. "BBC News | Programmes | Under the skin of the BNP". BBC News.
35. Black, Andrew (21 March 2013). "Scottish independence: Referendum to be held on 18 September, 2014". BBC News. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
36. Carrell, Severin (21 March 2013). "Alex Salmond announces Scottish independence referendum date". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
37. "Scotland decides on 18 September 2014". 21 March 2013.

External links

• Scotland – Electoral Commission
• Boundary Commission for Scotland

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