Paisley
County constituency
for the Scottish Parliament
Paisley shown within the West Scotland electoral region and the region shown within Scotland
Population72,752 (2019)[1]
Current constituency
Created2011
PartyScottish National Party
MSPGeorge Adam
Council areaRenfrewshire

Paisley is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering the town of Paisley in Renfrewshire council area. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post method of election. It is also one of ten constituencies in the West Scotland electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to ten constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.

The constituency was created for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, and covers parts of the former constituencies of Paisley North and Paisley South.[2] It has been held by George Adam of the Scottish National Party (SNP) since its formation.

Electoral region

The other nine constituencies of the West Scotland region are: Clydebank and Milngavie, Cunninghame North, Cunninghame South, Dumbarton, Eastwood, Greenock and Inverclyde, Renfrewshire North and West, Renfrewshire South and Strathkelvin and Bearsden.

The region covers part of the Argyll and Bute council area, the East Dunbartonshire council area, the East Renfrewshire council area, the Inverclyde council area, North Ayrshire council area, the Renfrewshire council area and the West Dunbartonshire council area.

Constituency boundaries and council area

Renfrewshire is represented in the Scottish Parliament by three constituencies: Paisley, Renfrewshire North and West and Renfrewshire South.

The electoral wards of the Paisley constituency are:

Constituency profile

The constituency covers most of the town of Paisley, the Gallowhill area in the northeast of the town lying in the neighbouring seat of Renfrewshire North and West. Paisley is often considered the biggest town in Scotland, and gave its name to the distinctive kidney-shaped "paisley pattern" and the Paisley shawl. Textile and thread manufacture were long the mainstay of Paisley's industry, due to the damp climate and plentiful water, and by the 19th century, the town was a major centre for the weaving industry.[3]

Paisley has a long association with political Radicalism, highlighted by its involvement in the Radical War of 1820, with striking weavers being instrumental in the protests. By 1993, all of Paisley's mills had closed, although they are memorialised in the town's museums and civic history.[4] The decline of industry in the town has led to urban recession, and in 2006, the district of Ferguslie Park was named one of Scotland's most deprived areas by what was then the Scottish Executive. In 2015, the town launched its bid to become UK City of Culture in 2021, becoming one of the five shortlisted candidates,[5] before eventually losing out to Coventry.

The constituency features four railway stations, a major hospital and several notable churches. Most noticeable among the buildings of Paisley is Paisley Abbey in the centre of the town, which dates from the 12th century. Nearby lies St Mirin's Cathedral which is the seat of the Catholic Bishop of Paisley.[3]

Members

ElectionMemberParty
2011 George Adam SNP

Elections

2020s

2021 Scottish Parliament election: Paisley[6]
Party Candidate Constituency Regional
Votes % ±% Votes % ±%
SNP George Adam[lower-alpha 1] 17,495 50.0 Increase0.2 16,147 46.0 Increase0.6
Labour Co-op Neil Bibby[lower-alpha 2] 11,420 32.7 Increase0.5 8,797 25.1 Decrease2.0
Conservative Russell Findlay[lower-alpha 3] 3,342 9.6 Decrease2.4 4,934 14.1 Decrease0.1
Scottish Green Scott Bevan 1,584 4.5 New 2,570 7.3 Increase1.5
Liberal Democrats Eileen McCartin 1,124 3.2 Decrease2.8 905 2.6 Decrease0.6
Alba 611 1.7 New
All for Unity 284 0.8 New
Scottish Family 224 0.6 New
Independent Green Voice 160 0.5 New
Freedom Alliance (UK) 102 0.3 New
Reform UK 77 0.5 New
Abolish the Scottish Parliament 77 0.2 New
TUSC 68 0.2 New
UKIP 57 0.2 Decrease1.5
Libertarian 56 0.2 Steady0.0
Renew 12 0.0 New
Scotia Future 12 0.0 New
Independent James Morrison 9 0.0 New
Independent Maurice Campbell 7 0.0 New
Majority 6,075 17.3 Decrease0.3
Valid Votes 34,965 35,109
Invalid Votes 143 62
Turnout 35,108 62.6 Increase5.3 35,171 62.7 Increase5.4
SNP hold Swing Decrease0.4
Notes
  1. ↑ Incumbent member for this constituency
  2. ↑ Incumbent member on the party list, or for another constituency
  3. ↑ Elected on the party list

2010s

2016 Scottish Parliament election: Paisley[7]
Party Candidate Constituency Regional
Votes % ±% Votes % ±%
SNP George Adam[lower-alpha 1] 14,682 49.8 Increase7.2 13,423 45.4 Increase4.4
Labour Co-op Neil Bibby[lower-alpha 2] 9,483 32.2 Decrease9.5 8,005 27.1 Decrease10.0
Conservative Paul Masterton 3,533 12.0 Increase3.3 4,188 14.2 Increase6.3
Scottish Green 1,722 5.8 Increase2.7
Liberal Democrats Eileen McCartin 1,766 6.0 Decrease1.0 954 3.2 Decrease0.1
UKIP 513 1.7 Increase1.2
Solidarity 319 1.1 Increase0.9
Scottish Christian 234 0.8 Decrease0.1
RISE 159 0.5 New
Libertarian 56 0.2 New
Majority 5,199 17.6 Increase16.7
Valid Votes 29,464 29,573
Invalid Votes 128 43
Turnout 29,592 57.3 Increase7.8 29,616 57.3 Increase8.0
SNP hold Swing Increase8.4
Notes
  1. ↑ Incumbent member for this constituency
  2. ↑ Incumbent member on the party list, or for another constituency
2011 Scottish Parliament election: Paisley[8]
Party Candidate Constituency Regional
Votes % ±% Votes % ±%
SNP George Adam 10,913 42.6 N/A 10,494 41.0 N/A
Labour Ewan Williams 10,665 41.7 N/A 9,479 37.1 N/A
Conservative Gordon McCaskill 2,229 8.7 N/A 2,022 7.9 N/A
Liberal Democrats Eileen McCartin 1,783 7.0 N/A 837 3.3 N/A
Scottish Green 799 3.1 N/A
All-Scotland Pensioners Party 424 1.7 N/A
Socialist Labour 349 1.4 N/A
Scottish Christian 241 0.9 N/A
Scottish Socialist 201 0.8 N/A
BNP 190 0.7 N/A
Independent Richard Vassie 158 0.6 N/A
UKIP 136 0.5 N/A
Ban Bankers Bonuses 116 0.5 N/A
Pirate 72 0.3 N/A
Solidarity 53 0.2 N/A
Majority 248 0.9 N/A
Valid Votes 25,590 25,571
Invalid Votes 83 77
Turnout 25,673 49.1 N/A 25,648 49.3 N/A
SNP win (new seat)
Notes

    References

    1. ↑ Scottish Parliamentary Constituency (SPC) Population Estimates (2011 Data Zone based), National Records of Scotland; retrieved 6 May 2021 (accompanying summary notes)
    2. ↑ "The New Scottish Parliament Constituencies 2011" (PDF). BBC News online. 8 September 2010. p. 25. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
    3. 1 2 "Paisley - Scottish Parliament constituency - Election 2016 - BBC News" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
    4. ↑ "Paisley".
    5. ↑ "Support pours in as Paisley becomes only Scottish place on UK City of Culture 2021 shortlist". Paisley 2021 Website. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
    6. ↑ "2021 - Scottish Parliamentary Election - Results". Renfrewshire Council. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
    7. ↑ "2016 - Scottish Parliamentary Election - Results". Renfrewshire Council. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
    8. ↑ "2011 - Scottish Parliamentary Election - Results". Renfrewshire Council. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
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