Rutherglen South (ward) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rutherglen South
South Lanarkshire
Boundary of Rutherglen South in South Lanarkshire from 2007–2017.
Population	15,322 (2021)
Electorate	11,697 (2022)
Major settlements	Rutherglen (part of)
Scottish Parliament constituency	Rutherglen
Scottish Parliament region	Glasgow
UK Parliament constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
Current ward
Created	2007 (2007)
Number of councillors	3
Councillor	Carol Nugent (SNP)
Councillor	Robert Brown (Liberal Democrats)
Councillor	Margaret Cowie (Labour)
Created from	Bankhead Cathkin/Springhall Fernhill Spittal/Blairbeth Stonelaw

Rutherglen South is an area in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is one of the 20 "electoral wards" in the area. An electoral ward is like a local voting district. People living here vote for their local representatives.

This ward was created in 2007. It allows people to choose three local councillors. These councillors help make decisions for the community. The ward uses a special voting system called single transferable vote. This system helps make sure different groups are represented.

Rutherglen South is home to about 15,322 people. Over the years, voters have chosen councillors from different political parties. These include the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, and the Scottish National Party (SNP). Each of these parties has usually had one councillor elected.

What is Rutherglen South?

Rutherglen South is a suburban area. This means it has many homes and is close to a city. It is located in the southern part of Rutherglen. The ward includes several neighbourhoods. These are Burnside, Blairbeth, Cathkin, Fernhill, High Burnside, Springhall, and Spittal.

The western edge of Rutherglen South borders Glasgow City Council. This border has been in place for a long time.

How the Ward Was Formed

The Rutherglen South ward was created in 2007. This happened after a review of voting areas in Scotland. Before 2007, local elections used a "first-past-the-post" system. This is where the person with the most votes wins.

When the voting system changed, new wards were needed. Rutherglen South was made by combining parts of several older wards. These included most of the former Stonelaw ward. It also took about half of the old Cathkin/Springhall ward. All of the former Fernhill and Spittal/Blairbeth wards were also included. A small piece of the old Bankhead ward was added too.

Changes Over Time

Before the 1990s, Rutherglen was part of Glasgow District. One of its old wards was Fernhill. This old ward covered much of the same area as today's Rutherglen South. However, it did not include parts of Burnside north of the Cathcart Circle Line railway tracks.

More recently, in 2017, the ward boundaries changed again. Some streets near Overtoun Park moved to Rutherglen Central and North. At the same time, some streets to the east, like those near East Kilbride Road, joined Rutherglen South from Cambuslang West.

Who Are the Councillors?

Aerial view of the ward from the west

Councillors are local politicians. They are elected by people in their ward. Their job is to represent the community. They help make decisions about local services. These services can include schools, parks, and roads.

Rutherglen South elects three councillors. The table below shows who has been elected in recent years. You can see which political party they belong to.

Election Results

Here you can find links to the results of past elections in Rutherglen South. These links show how people voted in different years.

2022 Election

2017 Election

2013 By-election

2012 South Lanarkshire Council election

2012 Election

2007 Election