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Rutherglen (Scottish Parliament constituency) facts for kids

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Not to be confused with Rutherglen (Parliament of Scotland constituency), Glasgow Rutherglen (Scottish Parliament constituency), or Glasgow Rutherglen (UK Parliament constituency).
Quick facts for kids
Rutherglen
burgh constituency
for the Scottish Parliament
Rutherglen (Scottish Parliament constituency).svg
Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region).svg
Rutherglen shown within the Glasgow electoral region and the region shown within Scotland
Population 77,568 (2019)
Current constituency
Created 2011
Party Scottish National Party
MSP Clare Haughey
Council area South Lanarkshire

Rutherglen is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering part of the council area of South Lanarkshire. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the plurality (first past the post) method of election. Also, it is one of nine constituencies in the Glasgow 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.

Originally called Glasgow Rutherglen, the boundaries were redrawn and the new constituency renamed simply Rutherglen for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election. The seat has been held by Clare Haughey of the Scottish National Party since the 2016 Scottish Parliament election.

Electoral region

See also: Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)

The other eight constituencies of the Glasgow region are Glasgow Anniesland, Glasgow Cathcart, Glasgow Kelvin, Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Glasgow Pollok, Glasgow Provan, Glasgow Shettleston and Glasgow Southside.

The region covers the Glasgow City council area and a north-western portion of the South Lanarkshire council area.

Constituency boundaries and council areas

The redrawn seat of Rutherglen consists of the following electoral wards:

Constituency profile

BBC profile for 2016 election:

Rutherglen was once a burgh - the oldest in Scotland - until local government reorganisation in 1975, and lies to the south east of Glasgow city centre. The name Rutherglen is said to come from Gaelic for "reddish glen" after the red clay found here.

At its northern border it blends into Glasgow's suburbs, though the town has always striven to maintain a distinct identity from Glasgow, which it predates by 500 years. The seat includes not only Rutherglen itself but also the town of Cambuslang, Burnside and the housing scheme at Fernhill, as well as Blantyre, all of which lie within the local government control of South Lanarkshire. Steel and pottery have been major industries in the past, but both have been in decline.

Janis Hughes won the seat for the Labour Party in the 1999 and 2003 elections. James Kelly then held the seat in 2007 and 2011.

Member of the Scottish Parliament

Election Member Party
2011 James Kelly Labour
2016 Clare Haughey SNP

Election results

2020s

2021 Scottish Parliament election: Rutherglen
Party Candidate Constituency Regional
Votes % ±% Votes % ±%
SNP Clare Haughey 20,249 50.5 Increase 4.3 16,970 42.3 Decrease0.8
Labour James Kelly 15,083 37.6 Increase 2.8 11,005 27.4 Decrease1.0
Scottish Conservatives Lynne Nailon 3,663 9.1 Decrease 2.2 5,903 14.7 Increase1.8
Green 2,883 7.2 Increase2.5
Liberal Democrats Sheila Thomson 1,112 2.8 Decrease 4.9 1,011 2.5 Decrease1.6
Alba Party 710 1.8 New
All for Unity 356 0.9 New
Independent Green Voice 273 0.7 New
Scottish Libertarian Party 222 0.6 New
Scottish Family Party 204 0.5 New
Reform UK 104 0.3 New
Abolish the Scottish Parliament Party 95 0.2 New
Freedom Alliance (UK) 88 0.2 New
Women's Equality Party 74 0.2 Decrease0.4
Communist Party of Britain 61 0.2 New
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition 59 0.1 New
UKIP 52 0.1 Decrease2.1
Independent Craig Ross 35 0.1 New
Social Democratic Party (UK, 1990–present) 17 0.0 New
Reclaim Party 14 0.0 New
Independent Daniel Donaldson 10 0.0 New
Renew Party 8 0.0 New
Majority 5,166 12.9 Increase1.5
Valid Votes 40,107 40,154
Invalid Votes 162 82
Turnout 40,269 63.5 Increase9.0 40,236 63.3 Increase8.8
SNP hold Swing Increase3.6
Notes

2010s

2016 Scottish Parliament election: Rutherglen
Party Candidate Constituency Regional
Votes % ±% Votes % ±%
SNP Clare Haughey 15,222 46.2 Increase6.7 14,256 43.1 Increase4.1
Labour James Kelly 11,479 34.8 Decrease11.3 9,372 28.4 Decrease10.0
Scottish Conservatives Taylor Muir 3,718 11.3 Increase3.6 4,269 12.9 Increase6.2
Green 1,555 4.7 Increase2.1
Liberal Democrats Robert Brown 2,533 7.7 Increase3.3 1,351 4.1 Increase1.1
UKIP 719 2.2 Increase1.7
Solidarity (Scotland) 405 1.2 New
A Better Britain – Unionist Party 336 1.0 New
Animal Welfare Party 213 0.6 New
RISE - Scotland's Left Alliance 202 0.6 New
Women's Equality Party 188 0.6 New
Scottish Christian Party 161 0.5 Decrease0.3
Independent Andrew McCullagh 29 0.1 New
Majority 3,743 11.4 N/A
Valid Votes 32,952 33,056
Invalid Votes 135 56
Turnout 33,087 54.5 Increase7.4 33,112 54.5 Increase7.4
SNP gain from Labour Swing Increase9.0
Notes
2011 Scottish Parliament election: Rutherglen
Party Candidate Constituency Regional
Votes % ±% Votes % ±%
Labour James Kelly 12,489 46.1 N/A 10,411 38.4 N/A
SNP James McGuigan 10,710 39.5 N/A 10,587 39.0 N/A
Conservative Martyn McIntyre 2,096 7.7 N/A 1,807 6.7 N/A
Liberal Democrats Lisa Strachan 1,174 4.4 N/A 815 3.0 N/A
Green 710 2.6 N/A
Respect 637 2.3 N/A
All-Scotland Pensioners Party 513 1.9 N/A
BNP 363 1.3 N/A
Scottish Unionist Party (1986) 294 1.1 N/A
Socialist Labour Party (UK) 274 1.0 N/A
Scottish Christian Party 206 0.8 N/A
Scottish Socialist 143 0.5 N/A
UKIP 142 0.5 N/A
Independent Caroline Johnstone 633 2.3 N/A 127 0.5 N/A
Pirate 54 0.2 N/A
Scottish Homeland Party 30 0.1 N/A
Majority 1,779 6.6 N/A
Valid Votes 27,102 27,113
Invalid Votes 94 82
Turnout 27,196 47.1 N/A 27,195 47.1 N/A
Labour win (new seat)
Notes
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