List of by-elections to the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament is the devolved legislature of Scotland; it was founded in 1999. The 129 members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) are elected using the additional member system. 73 MSPs are elected through the first-past-the-post system in the Parliament's single-member constituencies, while voters have a second vote in their electoral region; there are 8 regions, electing 7 MSPs each. By-elections to the Parliament occur when a constituency seat becomes vacant, due to the death or resignation of a member.[1]

Scottish Parliament Building and adjacent water pool, 2017

There were no by-elections in the 3rd Scottish Parliament term (2007–11).

By-elections
Where seats changed political party at the by-election, the result is highlighted: red for a Labour gain, yellow for a Scottish National Party (SNP) gain, blue for a Conservative gain, orange for a Liberal Democrat gain, and grey for any other gain.
List of by-elections for constituency members
By-election Date Parliament Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause Ref
Shetland29 August 20195thTavish Scott  Liberal DemocratsBeatrice Wishart  Liberal DemocratsResignation (to take a new role at Scottish Rugby)[2]
Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire8 June 2017John Lamont  ConservativeRachael Hamilton  ConservativeResignation (to contest a seat in the 2017 UK general election)[3]
Cowdenbeath23 January 20144thHelen Eadie  LabourAlex Rowley  LabourDeath (cancer)[4]
Dunfermline24 October 2013Bill Walker  SNPCara Hilton  Labour[lower-alpha 1]Resignation (convicted of assault)[6]
Aberdeen Donside20 June 2013Brian Adam  SNPMark McDonald  SNPDeath (cancer)[7]
Moray27 April 20062ndMargaret Ewing  SNPRichard Lochhead  SNPDeath (breast cancer)[8]
Glasgow Cathcart29 September 2005Mike Watson  LabourCharlie Gordon  LabourResignation (convicted of fire-raising)[9]
Banff and Buchan7 June 20011stAlex Salmond  SNPStewart Stevenson  SNPResignation (to focus on the Parliament of the United Kingdom)[10]
Strathkelvin and Bearsden7 June 2001Sam Galbraith  LabourBrian Fitzpatrick  LabourResignation (health reasons)[10]
Glasgow Anniesland23 November 2000Donald Dewar  LabourBill Butler  LabourDeath (brain hemorrhage)[11]
Ayr16 March 2000Ian Welsh  LabourJohn Scott  Conservative[lower-alpha 2]Resignation (family reasons)[13]

See also

References

Notes
  1. Gain not retained at the 2016 Scottish Parliament election[5]
  2. Gain retained at the 2003 Scottish Parliament election[12]

Citations
  1. McGrath, Francesca (8 June 2011). "Scottish Parliament Electoral System" (PDF). Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe). Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  2. "Lib Dems hold off SNP to win Shetland by-election". BBC News. 30 August 2019. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  3. "Rachael Hamilton wins Scottish Parliament by-election". BBC News. 5 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  4. "Cowdenbeath by-election: Alex Rowley holds seat for Labour". BBC News. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  5. "Dunfermline – Scottish Parliament constituency". BBC News. 6 May 2016. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  6. "Dunfermline by-election: Labour's Cara Hilton wins seat from SNP". BBC News. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  7. "SNP's Mark McDonald wins Aberdeen Donside by-election". BBC News. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  8. "SNP's joy at by-election victory". BBC News. 28 April 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  9. Paterson, Stewart (12 April 2016). "Election 2016 focus: Cathcart". Glasgow Times. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  10. "Holyrood by-elections resolved". BBC News. 8 June 2001. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  11. "Labour holds Dewar seats". BBC News. 24 November 2000. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  12. "Scottish Parliament Election Results 2003". South Ayrshire Council. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  13. "Tories walking on Ayr". BBC News. 17 March 2000. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
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