Lothian 2021

Contents

Region Overview
Region Map
Overall Regional Result 2021
Almond Valley
Edinburgh Central
Edinburgh Eastern
Edinburgh Northern and Leith
Edinburgh Pentlands
Edinburgh Southern
Edinburgh Western
Linlithgow
Midlothian North and Musselburgh
List Seat Allocation Process
Lothian List Candidates 2021
Minor Party Results

Region Overview

Confusingly, the Lothian region doesn’t actually cover all of the historic area of the same name. Although it incorporates the entirety of both West Lothian and the city of Edinburgh, it’s missing large parts of the others. Most of Midlothian makes it in, with just the southern portion around Penicuik and Gorebridge absent. The vast majority of East Lothian lies outside the region, with only Musselburgh included. The original 1999 version included even less of East Lothian as Wallyford and the east of Musselburgh weren’t in it, but it did have more Midlothian thanks to Gorebridge.

That precise division gives the region an interesting split between the historic mining communities of West and Midlothian, versus the relatively but of course not universally more affluent capital in Edinburgh. Whereas the former followed the same trend as other central belt areas like Lanarkshire and south Fife by becoming heavily Labour through the 20th century, some Edinburgh seats maintained Conservative MPs right up until their famous wipeout in 1997. 

At that election, they were replaced by the Lib Dems as Labour’s main competition in the city, whilst the SNP were the leading opponents but didn’t break through in West Lothian. As ever with First Past the Post however, the substantial political diversity in the region wasn’t expressed in its MPs.

With the new Scottish Parliament elected by partly proportional representation, that diversity really came to the fore. Although Labour won eight of the nine constituencies, with just Edinburgh Western going Lib Dem, the region saw a trio of SNP MSPs elected via the list, two Conservatives, an additional Lib Dem, and most interestingly, a Green. As with the SSP winning in Glasgow, this was a surprise. PR was meant to make things fairer, sure, but letting new parties through wasn’t foreseen. Robin Harper therefore became the first elected Green Parliamentarian anywhere in the UK.


8 Labour (all Constituency)
3 SNP (all Regional)
2 Conservative (all Regional)
2 Liberal Democrat (1 Constituency, 1 Regional)
1 Green (Regional)

In an election where every part of Scotland really seized the chance to do new and different things with their regional vote, Edinburgh really, really lived up to the Rainbow Parliament moniker. In the Constituencies, the Conservatives won Edinburgh Pentlands and the Lib Dems Edinburgh South from Labour, which meant both parties dropped a corresponding list seat, as did a weakened SNP. In their place came a second Green, a Scottish Socialist Party MSP, and an Independent in Margo MacDonald, after the SNP made the same mistake Labour had in Falkirk West in 1999 by failing to select a very popular figure for a winnable position. Famously, Margo won so many votes she almost qualified for a second seat – not that it’d have been allocated!


6 Labour (all Constituency)
2 SNP (all Regional)
2 Conservative (1 Constituency, 1 Regional)
2 Green (all Regional)
2 Liberal Democrat (all Constituency)
1 Independent (Margo MacDonald, Regional)
1 SSP (Regional)

Unlike many other parts of Scotland, the Rainbow didn’t entirely dissipate in Lothian, with the Greens holding onto one of their MSPs and Margo likewise retaining her seat, though the SSP died a death here as everywhere else. Meanwhile, Labour’s haul of constituencies continued to be nibbled away at, as the SNP gained both Livingston and Edinburgh East and Musselburgh. Their support grew enough to also gain a third list seat, whilst Labour found themselves eligible for one for the first time.


5 SNP (3 Regional, 2 Constituency)
5 Labour (4 Constituency, 1 Regional)
2 Conservative (1 Constituency, 1 Regional)
2 Liberal Democrat (1 Constituency, 1 Regional)
1 Green (Regional)
1 Independent (Margo MacDonald, Regional)

For a region that had been one of Scotland’s most diverse at all of the previous elections, 2011 was a big shakeup. In the SNP’s surge to majority government, they won all but one seat in the redrawn region, with Labour only holding on to Edinburgh Northern and Leith. The complete collapse of the Lib Dems not only saw them lose both constituencies but also fail to hang on via the list. Labour were partly compensated for their lost constituencies by two further list seats, and the Conservatives simply saw a one-for-one trade off. The Greens again held their single seat, and Margo MacDonald was elected for a final time, before sadly passing away in early 2014.


8 SNP (all Constituency)
4 Labour (3 Regional, 1 Constituency)
2 Conservative (all Regional)
1 Green (Regional)
1 Independent (Margo MacDonald, Regional)

Traditional constituency diversity was partly restored at the last election, as though the SNP picked up that Edinburgh Northern and Leith seat Labour had held in 2011, they lost Edinburgh Southern to the party, whilst the Lib Dems regained Edinburgh Western and Conservative Leader Ruth Davidson picked up Edinburgh Central. The latter combined with an additional list seat meant the Conservatives doubled their representation in the region, as did the Greens who won a second seat, with Labour dropping one of theirs.


6 SNP (all Constituency)
4 Conservative (3 Regional, 1 Constituency)
3 Labour (2 Regional, 1 Constituency)
2 Green (all Regional)
1 Liberal Democrat (Constituency)

Of the constituencies they lost in 2016, Edinburgh Central rankled the most for the SNP. It was the site of their most contentious selection procedure, and substantial pressure on the Greens not to stand. Though the latter as to no avail, they did gain the seat from the Conservatives, who also suffered a substantial loss of votes across the region that cost them one of their list seats. In the other two non-SNP seats however, the incumbent parties consolidated their positions, whilst the Greens solidified their strength on the list.


7 SNP (all Constituency)
3 Conservative (all Regional)
3 Labour (2 Regional, 1 Constituency)
2 Green (all Regional)
1 Liberal Democrat (Constituency)

Region Map

Overall Regional Result 2021

Regional List Vote and MSPs Elected


#1: Conservative - Miles Briggs
#2: Green - Alison Johnstone
#3: Conservative - Susan Webber
#4: Labour - Sarah Boyack
#5: Conservative - Jeremy Balfour
#6: Labour - Foysol Choudhury
#7: Green - Lorna Slater

Constituency Vote

Total MSPs Elected


7 SNP (all Constituency)
3 Conservative (all Regional)
3 Labour (2 Regional, 1 Constituency)
2 Green (all Regional)
1 Liberal Democrat (Constituency)

Changes Since Election

Green Regional MSP Alison Johnstone was elected Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament immediately after the election. By convention, the Presiding Officer gives up their party affiliation in order to be an impartial chair .

SNP constituency MSP for Edinburgh Eastern Ash Regan defected to Alba on the 28th of October 2023.

Almond Valley

2021 Results

2021 MSP & Majority


SNP - Angela Constance
Majority: 12130 (29.0%)
Turnout: 61.0%

2021 Candidates

SNP: Angela Constance
Labour: Craig Smith
Conservative: Damien Doran-Timson
Liberal Democrat: Caron Lindsay

Edinburgh Central

2021 Results

2021 MSP & Majority


SNP - Angus Robertson
Majority: 4732 (11.3%)
Turnout: 62.6%

2021 Candidates

SNP: Angus Robertson
Conservative: Scott Douglas
Labour: Maddy Kirkman
Green: Alison Johnstone
Liberal Democrat: Bruce Wilson
UKIP: Donald Mackay
Libertarian Party: Tom Laird
Independent: Bonny Prince Bob

Edinburgh Eastern

2021 Results

2021 MSP & Majority


SNP - Ash Denham
Majority: 10117 (23.4%)
Turnout: 60.9%

2021 Candidates

SNP: Ash Denham
Labour: Bill Cook
Conservative: Graham Hutchison
Liberal Democrat: Jill Reilly

Edinburgh Northern and Leith

2021 Results

2021 MSP & Majority


SNP - Ben Macpherson
Majority: 11569 (24.7%)
Turnout: 62.9%

2021 Candidates

SNP: Ben Macpherson
Labour: Katrina Faccenda
Green: Lorna Slater
Conservative: Callum Laidlaw
Liberal Democrat: Rebecca Bell
Freedom Alliance: John Pullman

Edinburgh Pentlands

2021 Results

2021 MSP & Majority


SNP - Gordon MacDonald
Majority: 3897 (10.2%)
Turnout: 64.8%

2021 Candidates

Conservative: Gordon Lindhurst
SNP: Gordon Macdonald
Labour: Lezley Cameron
Liberal Democrat: Fraser Graham
Family Party: Richard Lucas

Edinburgh Southern

2021 Results

2021 MSP & Majority


Labour - Daniel Johnson
Majority: 4022 (8.9%)
Turnout: 71.0%

2021 Candidates

Labour: Daniel Johnson
SNP: Catriona Macdonald
Conservative: Miles Briggs
Liberal Democrat: Fred Mackintosh
Family Party: Philip Holden

Edinburgh Western

2021 Results

2021 MSP & Majority


Lib Dem - Alex Cole-Hamilton
Majority: 9885 (21.1%)
Turnout: 71.4%

2021 Candidates

Liberal Democrat: Alex Cole-Hamilton
SNP: Sarah Masson
Conservative: Susan Webber
Labour: Margaret Graham
Libertarian Party: Daniel Fraser

Linlithgow

2021 Results

2021 MSP & Majority


SNP - Fiona Hyslop
Majority: 10105 (21.6%)
Turnout: 62.1%

2021 Candidates

SNP: Fiona Hyslop
Labour: Kirsteen Sullivan
Conservative: Charles Kennedy
Liberal Democrat: Sally Pattle

Midlothian North and Musselburgh

2021 Results

2021 MSP & Majority


SNP - Colin Beattie
Majority: 7906 (18.6%)
Turnout: 61.7%

2021 Candidates

SNP: Colin Beattie
Labour: Stephen Curran
Conservative: Iain Whyte
Liberal Democrat: Charles Dundas

List Seat Allocation Process

To allocate list seats using the D’Hondt method, each party’s share of the vote is divided by one more than the number of seats they’ve won so far in the process. This is an important part of how the list seats then more fairly represent the diversity of views amongst voters. List votes cast for a party that has won lots of constituency seats are not “wasted”, they just aren’t needed to give their voters fair representation.

When allocating the first list seat, this starts with the number of constituencies won by each party:

  • The SNP won 7 constituencies, so their vote is divided by 8.
  • Labour won 1 constituency, so their vote is divided by 2.
  • The Lib Dems won 1 constituency, so their vote is divided by 2.
  • No one else won any constituencies, so their votes aren’t divided.

That then gives us this (removing the parties that clearly don’t have enough votes for clarity):

Since the Conservatives have the highest total here, they receive the first regional list seat. We add that to their total, giving them 1 seat overall so far, and therefore for the next round of allocation their share is divided by 2.

This time it’s the Greens that have the highest total, so they receive the second regional list seat. That gives them 1 seat overall so far, and therefore for the next round of allocation their share is divided by 2.

The Conservatives the highest total, so they receive the third regional list seat. That gives them 2 seats overall so far, and therefore for the next round of allocation their share is divided by 3.

This time Labour have the highest total, so they receive the fourth regional list seat. We add that to their total, giving them 2 seats overall so far, and therefore for the next round of allocation their share is divided by 3.

The Conservatives have the highest total, so they receive the fifth regional list seat. That gives them 3 seats overall so far, and therefore for the next round of allocation their share is divided by 4.

Labour have the highest total, so they receive the sixth regional list seat. We add that to their total, giving them 3 seats overall so far, and therefore for the next round of allocation their share is divided by 4.

The Greens have the highest total, so they receive the seventh and final regional list seat. We add that to their total, giving them 2 seats overall. Therefore, the final distribution of seats across the Lothian region is:

7 SNP (all Constituency)
3 Conservative (all Regional)
3 Labour (2 Regional, 1 Constituency)
2 Green (all Regional)
1 Liberal Democrat (Constituency)

Regional List Candidates 2021

  1. Graham Campbell
  2. Angus Robertson
  3. Fiona Hyslop
  4. Ben Macpherson
  5. Catriona MacDonald
  6. Sarah Masson
  7. Greg McCarra
  8. Alison Dickie
  9. Alex Orr
  10. Andrew Ewen
  11. Rob Connell
  1. Miles Briggs
  2. Susan Webber
  3. Jeremy Balfour
  4. Rebecca Fraser
  5. Malcolm Offord
  6. Scott Douglas
  7. Gordon Lindhurst
  8. Marie-Clair Munro
  9. Graham Hutchison
  10. Iain Whyte
  11. Callum Laidlaw
  12. Charles Kennedy
  1. Daniel Johnson
  2. Sarah Boyack
  3. Foysol Choudhury
  4. Maddy Kirkman
  5. Kirsteen Sullivan
  6. Nick Ward
  7. Frederick Hessler
  8. Stephen Curran
  1. Alison Johnstone
  2. Lorna Slater
  3. Kate Nevens
  4. Chas Booth
  5. Steve Burgess
  6. Alys Mumford
  7. Emily Frood
  8. Ben Parker
  9. Elaine Taylor
  10. Bill Wilson
  11. Evelyn Weston
  12. Alex Staniforth
  1. Alex Cole-Hamilton
  2. Fred Mackintosh
  3. Jill Reilly
  4. Rebecca Bell
  5. Sally Pattle
  6. Fraser Graham
  7. Caron Lindsay
  8. Bruce Wilson
  9. Charles Dundas
  1. Kenny MacAskill
  2. Alex Arthur
  3. Christina Hendry
  4. Irshad Ahmed
  1. Charlotte Morley
  2. Parvinder Singh
  3. Alan Hogg
  4. Andy Macaulay
  5. David Hamilton
  6. Mike Knox
  1. Derek Winton
  2. Mev Brown
  3. Iain Morse
  4. Lesley MacDonald
  1. Donald Mackay
  2. John Mumford
  3. Steve Hollis
  4. Kenneth Lowry
  1. John Leckie
  2. David Nichol
  1. Vivienne Moir
  2. Gavin Ridley
  1. Matthew Waddell
  1. Jon Pullman
  2. Cara Wase
  3. Patricia McCann
  1. Richard Lucas
  2. Philip Holden
  3. Norman Colville
  4. Gareth Kirk
  5. Amy Ireland
  1. Tam Laird
  2. Cameron Paterson
  1. Heather Astbury
  2. Anna Freemantle-Zee
  1. Alasdair Young
  2. Neil Manson
  3. Lawrence Edwards
  1. Emma Watt
  2. David Renton
  3. Lucy Hammond
  • Ashley Graczyk

Minor Party Results