2003 Scottish Parliament election

The 2003 Scottish Parliament election was the second election of members to the Scottish Parliament. It was held on 1 May 2003 and it brought no change in terms of control of the Scottish Executive. Jack McConnell, the Labour Party MSP, remained in office as First Minister for a second term and the Executive continued as a Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition. As of 2022, it remains the last Scottish Parliament election victory for the Scottish Labour Party, and the last time the Scottish National Party lost a Holyrood election.

2003 Scottish Parliament election
1 May 2003 (2003-05-01)
All 129 seats to the Scottish Parliament
65 seats were needed for a majority
TurnoutConstituency - 49.7% Decrease 8.7pp
Regional - 49.7% Decrease 8.6pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Jack McConnell John Swinney David McLetchie
Party Labour SNP Conservative
Leader's seat Motherwell and Wishaw North Tayside Edinburgh Pentlands
Last election 56 seats 35 seats 18 seats
Seats won 50 27 18
Seat change Decrease6 Decrease8 Steady
Constituency vote 663,585 455,722 318,279
 % and swing 34.6% Decrease4.2% 23.8% Decrease4.9% 16.6% Increase1.2%
Regional vote 561,375 399,659 296,929
 % and swing 29.3% Decrease4.3% 20.9% Decrease6.4% 15.6% Increase0.1%
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Leader Jim Wallace Robin Harper Tommy Sheridan
Party Liberal Democrats Scottish Green Scottish Socialist
Leader's seat Orkney Lothians Glasgow
Last election 17 seats 1 seat 1 seat
Seats won 17 7 6
Seat change Steady Increase6 Increase5
Constituency vote 294,347 Did not stand 118,764
 % and swing 15.4% Increase1.2% Did not stand 6.2% Increase5.2%
Regional vote 225,774 132,138 128,026
 % and swing 11.8% Decrease0.6% 6.9% Increase3.3% 6.7% Increase4.7%
The left side shows constituency winners of the election by their party colours. The right side shows regional winners of the election for the additional members by their party colours. Constituency names are listed at the bottom.
First Minister before election

Jack McConnell
Labour

 First Minister after election

Jack McConnell
Labour

The results also showed rises in support for smaller parties, including the Scottish Green Party and the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) and declines in support for the Labour Party and the Scottish National Party (SNP). The Conservative and Unionist Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats each polled almost exactly the same percentage of the vote as they had in the 1999 election, with each holding the same number of seats as before.

Three independent MSPs were elected: Dennis Canavan, Margo MacDonald and Jean Turner. John Swinburne, leader of the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party, was also elected. This led to talk of a "rainbow" Parliament, but the arithmetic meant that the coalition of Labour and Scottish Liberal Democrats could continue in office, which they did until the 2007 election.

The decline in support for the SNP was viewed by some as a rejection of the case for Scottish independence. Others argued against this, pointing out that the number of MSPs in favour of independence actually rose because most of the minor parties such as the SSP share this position with the SNP.

This article is part of a series within the
Politics of the United Kingdom on the
Politics of Scotland
The Crown

Charles III

William, Duke of Rothesay
Executive

Yousaf government

The Rt Hon Humza Yousaf MSP

Shona Robison MSP
Legislature

Sixth session

Alison Johnstone MSP
Law and justice

Keith Brown MSP

Dorothy Bain KC

The Rt Hon Lord Carloway KC PC
Elections and referendums
Scottish Parliament elections

United Kingdom Parliament elections

European Parliament elections

Local elections

Referendums
Scotland and the United Kingdom

Sunak ministry

The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP

The Rt Hon Alister Jack MP
Administration

Retiring MSPs

At the dissolution of Parliament on 31 March 2003, ten MSPs were not seeking re-election.[1]

Constituency/Region Departing MSP Party
Glasgow Dorothy-Grace Elder Independent
West of Scotland Colin Campbell SNP
Highlands and Islands Duncan Hamilton SNP
Highlands and Islands Winnie Ewing SNP
West of Scotland Kay Ullrich SNP
North East Scotland Ben Wallace Conservative
West of Scotland John Young Conservative
Central Fife Henry McLeish Labour
Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Ian Jenkins Liberal Democrats
Lothians David Steel Liberal Democrats

Campaign

The parliament was dissolved on 31 March 2003 and the campaign began thereafter.

Party leaders in 2003

Labour

SNP

The New Party

Results
← 2003 Scottish Parliament election[2] →
Party Constituencies Regional additional members Total seats
Votes %±Seats±Votes %±Seats±Total± %
Labour 663,585 34.6 Decrease 4.2 46 Decrease 7 561,375 29.3 Decrease 4.3 4 Increase 1 50 Decrease 6 38.8
SNP 455,722 23.8 Decrease 4.9 9 Increase 2 399,659 20.9 Decrease 6.4 18 Decrease 10 27 Decrease 8 20.9
Conservative 318,279 16.6 Increase 1.2 3 Increase 3 296,929 15.5 Increase 0.1 15 Decrease 3 18 Steady 14.0
Liberal Democrats 294,347 15.4 Increase 1.2 13 Increase 1 225,774 11.8 Decrease 0.6 4 Decrease 1 17 Steady 13.2
Scottish Green – – – – – 132,138 6.9 Increase 3.3 7 Increase 6 7 Increase 6 5.4
Scottish Socialist 118,764 6.2 Increase 5.2 0 Steady 128,026 6.7 Increase 4.7 6 Increase 5 6 Increase 5 4.7
Scottish Senior Citizens 1,597 0.1 new 0 new 28,966 1.5 new 1 new 1 new 0.8
Margo MacDonald – – – – – 27,143 1.4 new 1 new 1 new 0.8
MSP for Falkirk West 14,703 0.8 Steady 1 Steady – – – – – 1 Steady 0.8
Save Stobhill Hospital 10,988 0.6 new 1 new – – – – – 1 new 0.8
Pensioners Party – – – – – 28,655 1.5 new 0 new 0 new 0.0
Socialist Labour – – – – – 21,657 1.1 Decrease 1.3 0 Steady 0 Steady 0.0
New Party 5,598 0.3 new 0 new 7,718 0.4 new 0 new 0 new 0.0
UKIP – – – – – 11,969 0.6 new 0 new 0 new 0.0
Scottish Unionist – – – – – 6,113 0.3 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0.0
Local Health Concern 5,582 0.3 new 0 new – – – – – 0 new 0.0
Fishing Party – – – – – 5,566 0.3 new 0 new 0 new 0.0
BNP – – – – – 2,344 0.1 new 0 new 0 new 0.0
Protect Rural Scotland – – – – – 1,438 0.1 new 0 new 0 new 0.0
Independent Green Voice 1,300 0.1 new 0 new – – – – – 0 new 0.0
Christian Independent Alliance – – – – – 1,064 0.1 new 0 new 0 new 0.0
Adam Lyal's Witchery Tour – – – – – 964 0.1 new 0 new 0 new 0.0
Parents Excluded 141 0.0 new 0 new – – – – – 0 new 0.0
Others 25,968 1.4 Increase 0.8 0 Steady 28,323 1.5 Increase 0.8 0 Steady 0 Steady 0.0
Valid votes1,916,57499.4Decrease0.3 1,915,85199.4Decrease0.3 
Spoilt votes12,3030.6Increase0.3 11,9380.6Increase0.3 
Total1,928,877100 73–1,927,789100 56–129–100
Electorate/Turnout3,877,46049.7Decrease8.7 3,877,46049.7Decrease8.6 

Notes:

  • The Scottish Greens did not stand in any constituencies, instead concentrating their resources on winning the largest possible share of the "second" vote for 'list' seats.
Popular Vote (Constituency)
Labour
 
 34.62%
SNP
 
 23.78%
Conservative
 
 16.61%
Liberal Democrats
 
 15.36%
Scottish Socialist
 
 6.20%
Other
 
 3.43%
Popular Vote (Regional)
Labour
 
 29.44%
SNP
 
 20.94%
Conservative
 
 15.56%
Liberal Democrats
 
 11.83%
Green
 
 6.92%
Scottish Socialist
 
 6.71%
Independents
 
 1.67%
SSCUP
 
 1.52%
Pensioners
 
 1.50%
Socialist Labour
 
 1.13%
Other
 
 2.74%
Parliament seats
Labour
 
 38.76%
SNP
 
 20.93%
Conservative
 
 13.95%
Liberal Democrats
 
 13.18%
Green
 
 5.43%
Scottish Socialist
 
 4.65%
Independents
 
 2.33%
SSCUP
 
 0.78%

Constituency and regional summary

Central Scotland
2003 Scottish Parliament election: Central Scotland
Constituency Elected member Result
Airdrie and Shotts Karen Whitefield Labour hold
Coatbridge and Chryston Elaine Smith Labour hold
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Cathie Craigie Labour hold
East Kilbride Andy Kerr Labour hold
Falkirk East Cathy Peattie Labour hold
Falkirk West Dennis Canavan Independent hold
Hamilton North and Bellshill Michael McMahon Labour hold
Hamilton South Tom McCabe Labour hold
Kilmarnock and Loudoun Margaret Jamieson Labour hold
Motherwell and Wishaw Jack McConnell Labour hold
2003 Scottish Parliament election: Central Scotland
Party Elected candidates Seats +/− Votes % +/−%
SNP Alex Neil
Michael Matheson
Linda Fabiani		 3 −2 59,274 22.53% -5.25%
Conservative Margaret Mitchell 1 ±0 24,121 9.17% +0.02%
Scottish Socialist Carolyn Leckie 1 +1 19,016 7.23% +5.49%
Scottish Senior Citizens John Swinburne 1 +1 17,146 6.52% N/A
Liberal Democrats Donald Gorrie 1 ±0 15,494 5.89% -0.31%

Glasgow
2003 Scottish Parliament election: Glasgow
Constituency Elected member Result
Glasgow Anniesland Bill Butler Labour hold
Glasgow Baillieston Margaret Curran Labour hold
Glasgow Cathcart Mike Watson Labour hold
Glasgow Govan Gordon Jackson Labour hold
Glasgow Kelvin Pauline McNeill Labour hold
Glasgow Maryhill Patricia Ferguson Labour hold
Glasgow Pollok Johann Lamont Labour hold
Glasgow Rutherglen Janis Hughes Labour hold
Glasgow Shettleston Frank McAveety Labour hold
Glasgow Springburn Paul Martin Labour hold
2003 Scottish Parliament election: Glasgow
Party Elected candidates Seats +/− Votes % +/−%
SNP Nicola Sturgeon
Sandra White		 2 −2 34,894 17.1% -8.4%
Scottish Socialist Tommy Sheridan
Rosie Kane		 2 +1 31,216 15.2% +8.0%
Conservative Bill Aitken 1 ±0 15,299 7.5% -0.4%
Liberal Democrats Robert Brown 1 ±0 14,839 7.5% -0.4%
Scottish Green Patrick Harvie 1 +1 14,570 7.1% +3.1%

Highlands and Islands
2003 Scottish Parliament election: Highlands and Islands
Constituency Elected member Result
Argyll and Bute George Lyon Liberal Democrats
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Jamie Stone Liberal Democrats
Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber Fergus Ewing SNP
Moray Margaret Ewing SNP
Orkney Jim Wallace Liberal Democrats
Ross, Skye and Inverness West John Farquhar Munro Liberal Democrats
Shetland Tavish Scott Liberal Democrats
Western Isles Alasdair Morrison Labour
2003 Scottish Parliament election: Highlands and Islands
Party Elected candidates Seats +/− Votes % +/−%
SNP Jim Mather
Rob Gibson		 2 ±0 39,497 23.43% -4.3%
Labour Peter Peacock
Maureen Macmillan		 2 −1 37,605 22.31% -3.16
Conservative Jamie McGrigor
Mary Scanlon		 2 ±0 26,989 16.01% +1.07%
Scottish Green Eleanor Scott 1 +1 13,935 8.27% +4.52%

Lothians
2003 Scottish Parliament election: Lothians
Constituency Elected member Result
Edinburgh Central Sarah Boyack Labour hold
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh Susan Deacon Labour hold
Edinburgh North and Leith Malcolm Chisholm Labour hold
Edinburgh Pentlands David McLetchie Conservative gain from Labour
Edinburgh South Mike Pringle Liberal Democrats gain from Labour
Edinburgh West Margaret Smith Liberal Democrats hold
Linlithgow Mary Mulligan Labour hold
Livingston Bristow Muldoon Labour hold
Midlothian Rhona Brankin Labour hold
2003 Scottish Parliament election: Lothians
Party Elected candidates Seats +/− Votes % +/−%
SNP Kenny MacAskill
Fiona Hyslop		 2 −1 43,142 16.2% -9.5%
Conservative James Douglas-Hamilton 1 −1 40,173 15.1% -0.6%
Scottish Green Robin Harper
Mark Ballard		 2 +1 31,908 12.0% +5.1%
Independent Margo MacDonald 1 +1 27,143 10.2% N/A
Scottish Socialist Colin Fox 1 +1 14,448 5.4% +3.8%

Mid Scotland and Fife
2003 Scottish Parliament election: Mid Scotland and Fife
Constituency Elected member Result
Dunfermline East Helen Eadie Labour
Dunfermline West Scott Barrie Labour
Fife Central Christine May Labour
Fife North East Iain Smith Liberal Democrats
Kirkcaldy Marilyn Livingstone Labour
North Tayside John Swinney SNP
Ochil George Reid SNP
Perth Roseanna Cunningham SNP
Stirling Sylvia Jackson Labour
2003 Scottish Parliament election: Mid Scotland and Fife
Party Elected candidates Seats +/− Votes % +/−%
SNP Bruce Crawford
Tricia Marwick		 2 −1 57,631 23.0% -5.7%
Conservative Murdo Fraser
Brian Monteith
Ted Brocklebank		 3 ±0 43,941 17.6% -1.0%
Liberal Democrats Keith Raffan 1 ±0 30,112 12.0% -0.7%
Scottish Green Mark Ruskell 1 +1 17,147 6.9% +3.0%

North East Scotland
2003 Scottish Parliament election: North East Scotland
Constituency Elected member Result
Aberdeen Central Lewis Macdonald Labour hold
Aberdeen North Brian Adam SNP gain from Labour
Aberdeen South Nicol Stephen Liberal Democrats hold
Angus Andrew Welsh SNP hold
Banff and Buchan Stewart Stevenson SNP hold
Dundee East Shona Robison SNP gain from Labour
Dundee West Kate Maclean Labour hold
Gordon Nora Radcliffe Liberal Democrats hold
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Mike Rumbles Liberal Democrats hold
2003 Scottish Parliament election: North East Scotland
Party Elected candidates Seats +/− Votes % +/−%
SNP Richard Lochhead 1 −3 66,463 27.3% -5.0%
Labour Marlyn Glen
Richard Baker		 2 +2 49,189 20.2% -5.3%
Conservative David Davidson
Nanette Milne
Alex Johnstone		 3 ±0 42,318 17.4% -0.9%
Scottish Green Shiona Baird 1 +1 12,724 5.2% +2.4%

South of Scotland
2003 Scottish Parliament election: South of Scotland
Constituency Elected member Result
Ayr John Scott Conservative
Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley Cathy Jamieson Labour
Clydesdale Karen Gillon Labour
Cunninghame South Irene Oldfather Labour
Dumfries Elaine Murray Labour
East Lothian John Home Robertson Labour
Galloway and Upper Nithsdale Alex Fergusson Conservative
Roxburgh and Berwickshire Euan Robson Liberal Democrats
Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Jeremy Purvis Liberal Democrats
2003 Scottish Parliament election: South of Scotland
Party Elected candidates Seats +/− Votes % +/−%
Conservative Phil Gallie
David Mundell		 2 −1 63,827 24.2% +2.6%
SNP Christine Grahame
Adam Ingram
Alasdair Morgan		 3 ±0 48,371 18.4% -6.7%
Scottish Green Chris Ballance 1 +1 15,062 5.7% +2.7%
Scottish Socialist Rosemary Byrne 1 +1 14,228 5.4% +4.4%

West of Scotland
2003 Scottish Parliament election: West of Scotland
Constituency Elected member Result
Clydebank and Milngavie Des McNulty Labour
Cunninghame North Allan Wilson Labour
Dumbarton Jackie Baillie Labour
Eastwood Kenneth Macintosh Labour
Greenock and Inverclyde Duncan McNeil Labour
Paisley North Wendy Alexander Labour
Paisley South Hugh Henry Labour
Strathkelvin and Bearsden Jean Turner Independent
West Renfrewshire Patricia Godman Labour
2003 Scottish Parliament election: West of Scotland
Party Elected candidates Seats +/− Votes % +/−%
SNP Campbell Martin
Bruce McFee
Stewart Maxwell		 3 −1 50,387 19.6% -6.3%
Conservative Annabel Goldie
Murray Tosh		 2 ±0 40,261 15.7% –
Liberal Democrats Ross Finnie 1 ±0 31,580 12.3% +1.3%
Scottish Socialist Frances Curran 1 +1 18,591 7.2% +5.3

Coalition

As part of the coalition deal between Labour and the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Labour allowed proportional representation (a long-standing Lib Dem policy)[3] to be used in Scottish local government elections.[4][5] This system was first used in 2007.[6]

Campaign spending
Party Expenses[7]
Scottish People's £188,889
Liberal Democrats £130,358
Scottish Socialist £74,361
Scottish Green £65,852
UKIP £39,504
Scottish Senior Citizens £3,558

See also

References
  1. "Farewell to the parliament". BBC News. 2 April 2003. Archived from the original on 25 June 2004. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  2. "Analysis of Results". www.parliament.scot. 10 July 2011. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  3. Seenan, Gerard (22 November 2001). "Scots Lib Dems push for local PR". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  4. Parker, Simon (19 May 2003). "Councils next for PR in Scotland". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  5. "PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS - Early Day Motions - UK Parliament".
  6. "2007 Scottish Local Elections". Electoral Reform Society. 3 May 2007. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  7. "Figures reveal election spending". BBC News. 27 August 2003. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2018.

Party manifestos
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