Galloway and West Dumfries (Scottish Parliament constituency)
{{Short description|Region or constituency of the Scottish Parliament}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox constituency
| name = Galloway and West Dumfries
| type = county
| constituency_link = Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions
| parl_name = Scottish Parliament
| image = 150px
| image2 = 150px
| caption2 = Galloway and West Dumfries shown within the South Scotland electoral region and the region shown within Scotland
| year = 2011
| abolished =
| next =
| previous = Dumfries,
Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
| party_label = Party
| party = Conservative
| member_label = MSP
| member = Finlay Carson
| local_council_label = Council area
| local_council = Dumfries and Galloway
| population = 72,941 (2019)[https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files//statistics/population-estimates/special-area-2011-dz/spc/spc-19-tabs.xlsx Scottish Parliamentary Constituency (SPC) Population Estimates (2011 Data Zone based)], National Records of Scotland; retrieved 6 May 2021 ([https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/population/population-estimates/2011-based-special-area-population-estimates/spc-population-estimates accompanying summary notes])
}}
Galloway and West Dumfries (Gaelic: Gall-Ghaidhealaibh agus Dùn Phrìs an Iar) is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering part of the council area of Dumfries and Galloway. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the plurality (first past the post) method of election. It is also one of nine constituencies in the South Scotland electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to the nine constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.
Created for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, it comprises areas that were previously part of the old Dumfries and Galloway and Upper Nithsdale constituencies, which were abolished.
The seat has been held by Finlay Carson of the Conservatives since the 2016 Scottish Parliament election.
Electoral region
{{See also|South Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)}}
The other eight constituencies of the South Scotland region are: Ayr, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Clydesdale, Dumfriesshire, East Lothian, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley and Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale.
The region covers the Dumfries and Galloway council area, part of the East Ayrshire council area, part of the East Lothian council area, part of the Midlothian council area, the Scottish Borders council area, the South Ayrshire council area and part of the South Lanarkshire council area.
Constituency boundaries and council area
File:Galloway and West Dumfries C Ward Map 2011.svg
Dumfries and Galloway is represented in the Scottish Parliament by two constituencies: Dumfriesshire and Galloway and West Dumfries. Galloway and West Dumfries covers the western part of the council area. The town of Dumfries is divided between the two constituencies.
The electoral wards forming the Galloway and West Dumfries constituency are listed below. All of these wards are part of Dumfries and Galloway:{{cite web|url=https://boundaries.scot/sites/default/files/1st_SP_Review_Report.pdf|title=First Periodic Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries Final Report|page=99|publisher=Boundaries Scotland|access-date=7 August 2021|date=May 2010}}
Constituency profile and voting patterns
= Constituency profile =
The Galloway and West Dumfries constituency covers a large, diverse stretch of land between the Rhins of Galloway in the extreme south-west of Scotland and the River Nith and Cluden Water in eastern Dumfries and Galloway. It covers a set of rugged pastoral plains and forests across the region of Galloway, taking in rural towns such as Castle Douglas, Newton Stewart, Kirkcudbright and St John's Town of Dalry. To the west of the constituency is the portly town of Stranraer, situated at the base of Loch Ryan, whilst in the east the constituency takes in patches of Dumfries, administrative centre of the Dumfries and Galloway Council area.
= Voting patterns =
Galloway and West Dumfries has a dynamic mix of political traditions. It covers most of the former Galloway and Upper Nithsdale constituency, a seat which has a long-standing tradition of being marginally contested between the Conservatives and the Scottish National Party, in addition to patches of the former safe Labour constituency of Dumfries. This dynamic was represented within local council politics with Wigtownshire traditionally voting SNP, Kirkcudbrightshire voting Conservative and Dumfries voting Labour.
At Westminster the Galloway and Upper Nithsdale constituency was represented by Conservative Ian Lang from its creation at the 1983 UK general election until 1997. It became the only Conservative constituency in the UK Parliament in Scotland in 2001. The Conservatives have represented the area in the Scottish Parliament since 2003.
In the 2022 council election, 5 out of 6 wards in Galloway and West Dumfries voted Conservative - with Galloway wards voting Conservative and North West Dumfries voting SNP.
Member of the Scottish Parliament
| class="wikitable"
!colspan="2"| Election !! Member !! Party |
| rowspan="2" style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}" |
| 2011 | rowspan="2"| Conservative |
| 2016 |
Election results
=2020s=
{{AMS election box begin
|title = 2021 Scottish Parliament election: Galloway and West Dumfries{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2021/scotland/constituencies/S16000114|title= Constituencies A-Z: Galloway & West Dumfries|publisher=BBC News|access-date=9 August 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/article/22311/Scottish-Parliamentary-Election-results-2021|title=Scottish Parliamentary Election results 2021|publisher=Dumfries and Galloway Council|access-date=9 August 2021}}
|constituency_type = Constituency
|list_type = Regional
}}
{{AMS election box with party link
|party = Scottish Conservatives
|candidate = Finlay Carson
|votes = 17,486
|percentage = 47.0
|change = {{increase}}3.5
|list_votes = 15,610
|list_percentage = 42.01
|list_change = {{up}}2.63
|winner = yes
|list_winner = yes
|status = incumbent
}}
{{AMS election box with party link
|party = Scottish National Party
|candidate = Emma Harper
|votes = 14,851
|percentage = 39.9
|change = {{increase}}0.9
|list_votes = 13,683
|list_percentage = 36.82
|list_change = {{up}}0.82
|status = list incumbent
}}
{{AMS election box with party link
|party = Scottish Labour
|candidate = Archie Dryburgh
|votes = 2,932
|percentage = 7.9
|change = {{decrease}}6.7
|list_votes = 3,483
|list_percentage = 9.37
|list_change = {{decrease}}4.95
}}
{{AMS election box with party link
|party = Scottish Greens
|candidate = Laura Moodie
|votes = 970
|percentage = 2.6
|change = New
|list_votes = 1,583
|list_percentage = 4.26
|list_change = {{decrease}}0.02
}}
{{AMS election box with party link
|party = Scottish Liberal Democrats
|candidate = Iain McDonald
|votes = 948
|percentage = 2.5
|change = {{decrease}}0.3
|list_votes = 985
|list_percentage = 2.65
|list_change = {{up}}0.19
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = All for Unity
|list_votes = 725
|list_percentage = 1.95
|list_change = New
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = Alba Party
|list_votes = 259
|list_percentage = 0.70
|list_change = New
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = Scottish Family Party
|list_votes = 202
|list_percentage = 0.54
|list_change = New
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = Abolish the Scottish Parliament Party
|list_votes = 165
|list_percentage = 0.44
|list_change = New
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = Independent Green Voice
|list_votes = 138
|list_percentage = 0.37
|list_change = New
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = UKIP
|list_votes = 91
|list_percentage = 0.24
|list_change = {{down}}2.30
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = Reform UK
|list_votes = 83
|list_percentage = 0.22
|list_change = New
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = Freedom Alliance (UK)
|list_votes = 73
|list_percentage = 0.20
|list_change = New
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = Scottish Libertarian Party
|list_votes = 51
|list_percentage = 0.14
|list_change = New
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = Scotia Future
|list_votes = 21
|list_percentage = 0.06
|list_change = New
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = Vanguard
|list_votes = 9
|list_percentage = 0.02
|list_change = New
}}
{{AMS election box majority
|votes = 2,635
|percentage = 7.1
|change = {{increase}}2.6
}}
{{AMS election box valid votes
|votes = 37,187
|list_votes = 37,161
}}
{{AMS election box invalid votes
|votes =81
|list_votes =
}}
{{AMS election box turnout
|votes = 37,268
|percentage = 64.9
|change = {{increase}}5.5
|list_votes =
|list_percentage =
|list_change =
}}
{{AMS election box hold|
|winner = Scottish Conservatives
|swing = {{up}}2.3
}}
{{AMS election box end|notes=yes}}
=2010s=
{{AMS election box begin
| title=2016 Scottish Parliament election: Galloway and West Dumfries{{cite web|url=https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-04/Electoral-Data-Results-May-2016-Scottish-Parliament-elections_2.xls|title=Results and turnout at the 2016 Scottish Parliament election|accessdate=1 June 2021|publisher=The Electoral Commission}}
|constituency_type = Constituency
|list_type = Regional
}}
{{AMS election box with party link
|party = Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
|candidate = Finlay Carson
|votes = 14,527
|percentage = 43.5
|change = {{up}}6.6
|list_votes = 13,162
|list_percentage =39.4
|list_change = {{up}}12.5
|winner=yes
|list_winner=yes
}}
{{AMS election box with party link
|party = Scottish National Party
|candidate = Aileen McLeod
|votes = 13,013
|percentage = 39.0
|change = {{up}}5.0
|list_votes = 12,033
|list_percentage =36.0
|list_change = {{down}}2.3
|status=list_incumbent
}}
{{AMS election box with party link
|party = Scottish Labour Party
|candidate = Fiona O'Donnell
|votes = 4,876
|percentage = 14.6
|change = {{down}}11.9
|list_votes = 4,789
|list_percentage =14.3
|list_change = {{down}}8.1
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = Scottish Greens
|list_votes = 1,431
|list_percentage =4.3
|list_change ={{up}}1.3
}}
{{AMS election box with party link
|party = Scottish Liberal Democrats
|candidate = Andrew Metcalf
|votes = 947
|percentage = 2.8
|change = {{up}}0.3
|list_votes = 824
|list_percentage =2.4
|list_change = {{down}}0.4
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = UK Independence Party
|list_votes = 852
|list_percentage =2.5
|list_change ={{up}}0.7
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = RISE - Scotland's Left Alliance
|list_votes = 91
|list_percentage =0.3
|list_change =New
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = Clydesdale and South Scotland Independent
|list_votes = 133
|list_percentage = 0.4
|list_change = New
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = Solidarity (Scotland)
|list_votes = 112
|list_percentage = 0.3
|list_change ={{up}}0.3
}}
{{AMS election box majority|
|votes = 1,514
|percentage = 4.5
|change = {{up}}1.7
}}
{{AMS election box valid votes
|votes = 33,363
|list_votes = 33,427
}}
{{AMS election box invalid votes
|votes =95
|list_votes = 57
}}
{{AMS election box turnout
|votes = 33,458
|percentage = 59.4
|change = {{up}}6.2
|list_votes = 33,484
|list_percentage =59.5
|list_change = {{up}}6.4
}}
{{AMS election box hold|
|winner = Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
|swing = {{up}}0.8
}}
{{AMS election box end|notes=yes}}
{{AMS election box begin
| title=2011 Scottish Parliament election: Galloway and West Dumfries{{cite web|url=https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/elections-and-referendums/past-elections-and-referendums/scottish-parliamentary-elections/results-and-turnout-2011-scottish-parliament-election|title=Results and turnout at the 2011 Scottish Parliament election|access-date=3 June 2021|publisher=Electoral Commission}}
|constituency_type = Constituency
|list_type = Regional
}}
{{AMS election box with party link
|party = Scottish Conservative Party
|candidate = Alex Fergusson{{efn|Incumbent member for the Galloway and Upper Nithsdale constituency}}
|votes = 11,071
|percentage = 36.9
|change = N/A
|list_votes = 8,049
|list_percentage =26.9
|list_change = N/A
|winner=yes
}}
{{AMS election box with party link
|party = Scottish National Party
|candidate = Aileen McLeod
|votes = 10,209
|percentage = 34.0
|change = N/A
|list_votes = 11,470
|list_percentage =38.3
|list_change = N/A
|list_winner=yes
|status=list_candidate
}}
{{AMS election box with party link
|party = Scottish Labour Party
|candidate = Willie Scobie
|votes = 7,954
|percentage = 26.5
|change = N/A
|list_votes = 6,711
|list_percentage =22.4
|list_change = N/A
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = Scottish Greens
|list_votes = 897
|list_percentage =3.0
|list_change =N/A
}}
{{AMS election box with party link
|party = Scottish Liberal Democrats
|candidate = Joe Rosiejak
|votes = 763
|percentage = 2.5
|change = N/A
|list_votes = 844
|list_percentage =2.8
|list_change = N/A
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = UKIP
|list_votes = 550
|list_percentage =1.8
|list_change =N/A
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = All-Scotland Pensioners Party
|list_votes = 509
|list_percentage =1.7
|list_change =N/A
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = Socialist Labour Party (UK)
|list_votes = 402
|list_percentage =1.3
|list_change =N/A
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = British National Party
|list_votes = 241
|list_percentage =0.8
|list_change =N/A
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = Scottish Christian Party
|list_votes = 218
|list_percentage =0.7
|list_change =N/A
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = Scottish Socialist Party
|list_votes = 57
|list_percentage =0.2
|list_change =N/A
}}
{{AMS election box with list party link
|party = Solidarity (Scotland)
|list_votes = 25
|list_percentage =0.1
|list_change =N/A
}}
{{AMS election box majority|
|votes = 862
|percentage = 2.9
|change = N/A
}}
{{AMS election box valid votes
|votes = 29,997
|list_votes = 29,973
}}
{{AMS election box invalid votes
|votes =123
|list_votes =88
}}
{{AMS election box turnout|
|votes = 30,120
|percentage = 53.2
|change = N/A
|list_votes = 30,061
|list_percentage = 53.1
|list_change = N/A
}}
{{AMS election box win|
|winner =Scottish Conservative Party
|reason = seat
}}
{{AMS election box end|notes=yes}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web|url=https://boundaries.scot/sites/default/files/Galloway_and_West_Dumfries.pdf|title=Galloway and West Dumfries constituency map|publisher=Boundaries Scotland|access-date=9 August 2021}}
{{Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions 2011-}}
Category:Politics of Dumfries and Galloway
Category:Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions from 2011
Category:Constituencies of the Scottish Parliament
Category:Constituencies established in 2011