Scottish Politics
The almanac of Scottish elections and politics
Established 25 th March 1996

'One of my favourite images in the Scottish government's new point of entry campaign at Scottish airports is the photo of a young Asian lad draped in the Saltire, which was taken at the Scotland United Against Terror demonstration in the aftermath of the Glasgow Airport terrorist attack. It is an eloquent illustration of the truth that a strong image speaks a thousand words.'
First Minister, the Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP, MP, 15 th December 2007.

Ceud mìle fàilte agus slàinte mhór
(A hundred thousand welcomes and great health)

The new Scotland is a victory for the politics of aspiration over that of fear!

The Scottish Politics Research Unit has been covering politics and elections in Scotland since 1996. This site contains detailed results for all Scottish Westminster elections since 1983, Scottish parliamentary elections since 1999 and European elections since 1979, along with information on by-elections, local government elections, referendum results, and much more.

Please use the left hand menu to select the different sections on this site. If you don't see the menu click to make it appear.

Those interested in the pre-1707 Scottish Parliament are encouraged to consult St Andrews University's Records of the Parliament of Scotland to 1707.

Those interested in MPs in Scotland since the Union of 1707 are encouraged to consult Leigh Rayment's encyclopaedic Peerage Page which also includes lists of UK MPs, Peerages of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Representative Peers from Scotland and Ireland, Privy Councils, Scottish Lords of Session, Knights of the Thistle and much more.

Those interested in election results and analysis from England & Wales are encouraged to consult David Boothroyd's inspirational United Kingdom Election Results site. This continues the definitive work of Professor F. W. S. Craig, who compiled and analysed all British parliamentary election results from 1832 - 1979.

The East Lothian Question

It is true, as claimed by thousands of constituents, that Anne Moffat is Westminster's woman in East Lothian rather than East Lothian's woman at Westminster?

The MP

Moffat

East Lothian MP Anne Moffat claims she was beaten up by 'scum' and that 'those that have been nasty towards me politically could have said 'duff her up'. Police have made no arrests and appear to have dropped the case.

East Lothian MP Anne Moffat claims she is a hard working local MP, who has been beaten up and robbed by 'scum', received death threats, had her flat covered in grafitti, and had a case of whisky stolen from her constituency office. She also claims she is a victim of the 'nasty hard men' in her local Labour Party who can't stand a 'strong woman'.

Why do East Lothian Constituency Labour Party - the largest in Scotland - not want as their MP the person who had the poorest attendance record of any Scots MP at Westminster, who claimed the highest travel expenses of any MP in the UK, and who compared Alex Salmond to Adolf Hitler?

Scottish Labour general secretary Lesley Quinn found anomolies with Moffat's reselection against the wishes of local members relying on the casting votes of trades unions. She also ruled that Moffat had failed to respond to her own constituency officials. So, why was East Lothian Constituency Labour Party suspended by the National Executive in London for attempting to hold an open and democratic selection process? And why has London appointed the partner of one of Moffat's close friends to pass judgement on the affair?

Why do female members of the local Labour Party deny that Moffat has been victimised by men and say she is 'a bully, rude to constituents, and bad at her job. She thinks that if she flings enough dirt at the Party, people won't look too closely at her.'
Why do they add 'Feminism is let down by poor women who cry 'bullying' when their shortcomings are exposed.'

Is it true that Moffat's refusal to back extremely active local campaigns opposing post office closures in rural parts of East Lothian in August 2008 was rewarded with a government appointment as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnston in October?
It is true, as claimed by thousands of constituents, that Moffat is Westminster's woman in East Lothian rather than East Lothian's woman at Westminster?

And why did Moffat move out of the Tranent offices which she shared with Iain Gray MSP, leader of the Labour group in the Scottish Parliament, later stating that Gray 'made friends with some of the people that are not particularly friendly towards me.'? When Moffat claimed she was beaten up and robbed, why did she state 'I suppose those that have been nasty towards me politically could have said 'duff her up' or something like that.'?

And finally, why has a senior member of East Lothian Constituency Labour Party claimed that Iain Gray MSP, current leader of the Labour group in the Scottish Parliament, could be defeated for a second time, stating:
'At the next Scottish parliament election Iain could lose the seat because his base would be gone. He wouldn't have the backing of the main people within the constituency, because we would be out of the party. His credibility would also fall, because people would look at what was happening in his own party and start asking questions.'

The East Lothian Question

The MSP

In April 2008, Moffat moved out of the offices at Labour headquarters in Tranent, which she shared with East Lothian MSP Iain Gray. Moffat claimed he 'made friends with some of the people that are not particularly friendly towards me.'

SNP win Glasgow East

The SNP's John Mason overturns a 13,500 Labour majority in Glasgow East

The Glasgow East by-election

Absent Without Leave!

Labour's Newest Skiver Is Filmed Playing Truant On His Second Day

Lindsay Roy (aka 'The Skiver'), Labour MP for Glenrothes, in absentia
It is a truism that most Labour MPs disappear without trace after being elected. But surely few can rival Lindsay Roy, a former headmaster who played truant after less than a day at work.
The new Labour MP for Glenrothes was sworn in at the Westminster Parliament on the 13 th of November 2008. However, he failed to turn up at Westminster for his first full day of work on the 14 th and missed a number of events which the Sunday Herald described as 'of direct relevance to his new constituents and to his interest in education.'
Was he ill? Was he engaged on parliamentary business? No!
A shamed-faced Roy (pictured above) appeared to be in a furiously guilty sulk when he was caught on film relaxing in Edinburgh while he was being paid to represent the people of the Glenrothes constituency at Westminster!
Perhaps it is time to change the rules at Westminster so that skivers like Roy who abuse the system do not get paid and are not allowed to claim expenses unless they actually turn up at work? Is it any wonder that Westminster MPs have been fighting tooth and nail in the High Court to prevent having their expenses published in detail, as they are at Holyrood?
'Taxi for Roy?'

The Glenrothes by-election

A New Time!

The Scottish Cabinet are (l to r): Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Sustainable Growth John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs & the Environment Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill, First Minister Alex Salmond, Deputy First Minister & Cabinet Secretary for Health & Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon.

Current Projects

In May 2007 The Scottish Parliament: Scotland elected Presiding Officer in Alex Fergusson, while the Rt Hon Alex Salmond was elected as the new First Minister of Scotland. The Scottish National Party have formed a new, streamlined Scottish Government. Labour the principal party of Opposition have a new leader in Iain Gray, the successor of Wendy Alexander, who resigned following a number of financial scandals.
The Westminster Parliament: has a new Secretary of State for Scotland in Defence Secretary Des Browne. The new Prime Minister Gordon Brown appointed a new Cabinet and Scottish Office with a number of other Scottish MPs in the Government and opposition.
Local government by-elections
The gap in our coverage has been filled. Analysis concerning forthcoming by-elections is available as is total votes cast in local by-elections in 2008.
Scottish MPs, representative peers and constituencies since the Union of 1707
Lists of all Scottish constituencies including every Member of Parliament who has represented a Scottish constituency are being prepared. All Scottish representative peers since the Union of 1707 are listed.
Westminster Election results 1832 - 1979
Aggregate results for the whole of Scotland since 1832 will be added as will constituency results for each Westminster election since 1945.

Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining
Hammer of the Scots, Margaret Thatcher with her new acolyte, Gordon Brown
There may be a recession on, but Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining - especially if you are Margaret Thatcher.
The Prime Minister expressed his admiration for Baroness Thatcher of Kesleven with a costly gift of silverware when he invited his new mentor to 10 Downing Street in September 2007.
However, 'Maggie Broon' was too canny to waste a penny of his own money. He charged his expensive personal gift, for the hated politician who caused misery for innumerable Scots families, to the taxpayer!
Is it any wonder that nobody trusts politicians when even the Prime Minister has his snout firmly in the trough?

Continually Updated

Scottish Political Timeline
This major addition to the site is a chronology of significant events in Scottish politics from earliest times until the present day and includes a list of future events. Dates of sittings of pre-1707 Scottish Parliaments, Colloquia, Grand Councils and Councils are currently being added.
Recent Opinion Polls for Westminster and Holyrood
The first opinion poll since the Holyrood election was published in June 2007 and gave the Scottish National Party a lead of seven per cent over Labour in the constituencies and a lead of five per cent over Labour in the regions. A second poll was published in August and gave the SNP a lead of 16 % over Labour.
Average figures for the Scottish samples of 4 UK-wide YouGov and Populus opinion polls in September 2007 for a Westminster General Election puts Labour at 40 %, the Scottish National Party at 35 %, the Conservatives at 11 %, the Liberal Democrats at 9 % and others at 5 %.

Recently Completed Projects

The Glenrothes by-election. Following the death of John MacDougall, the Labour MP for Glenrothes, there was a by-election in the seat on the 6 th November 2008. Labour held on with their majority reduced from 10,664 to 6,737.
The Glasgow East by-election. Following the resignation of David Marshall, the Labour MP for Glasgow East, the SNP overturned a 13,500 majority in Labour's third safest Scottish seat.
The Scottish General election of 2007: including Results
As in 1999 and 2003 there is also full coverage including constituency analysis and candidate lists, information on the most marginal seats and party targets, biographies of retiring MSPs, recent opinion polls and much more.
Moray by-election 27 th April 2006
Following the death of Margaret Ewing MSP on the 21 st of March 2006, there was a by-election in the Scottish Parliamentary constituency of Moray on Thursday 27 th April 2006.
Result: Scottish National Party majority of 6,385 over Tory. Swing of 1.8 % from Tory to Scottish National Party
System Three opinion polls for the Herald
The Herald has discontinued its invaluable monthly System Three opinion polls. These provided a unique survey of Scottish voting intentions between October 1974 and December 2003. The full polling data from October 1974 until December 2003 is available. Commentary will be added, where available.
Dunfermline & West Fife by-election 9 th February 2006
Following the death of the Rachel Squire after a long illness on the 5 th of January, 2006, a by-election was held for the Westminster parliamentary seat of Dunfermline & West Fife on the 9 th of February 2006.
Westminster Election 5 th May 2005: Campaign and Full results
An election for the Westminister parliament took place on 5 th May 2005. Ward lists for all of the new constituencies, a comparison with previous seats, and notional results for the 2001 election on the new boundaries are included. Constituency assessments and candidate lists and opinion polls are also available.

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Compiled by Dr Iain G. Old
webmaster@alba.org.uk

Last updated:
2 nd December 2008

Jack McConnell presenting this website to the media.

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Disclaimer
Scottish Politics is independently managed but contains forthright opinions which may shock and distress crooked politicians who have managed to escape prosecution for their crimes.
If you are an ultra-Unionist, you are advised not to browse this site unless accompanied by an adult.
Press Conferences concerning those pages must be held at your own risk.