2003 Scottish Parliament election

none December 2020 September 2017 September 2017 2003 Scottish Parliament election Scotland parliamentary no 1999 Scottish Parliament election 1999 1st Scottish Parliament 2007 Scottish Parliament election 2007 All 129 seats to the Scottish Parliament 65 seats were needed for a majority 2003 05 01 y 2nd Scottish Parliament Constituency vote % and swing Regional vote % and swing 3,877,460 Constituency - 49.7% 8.7pp Regional - 49.7% 8.6pp Jack McConnell Official Portrait 2001.jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Jack McConnell Scottish Labour Motherwell and Wishaw 22 November 2001 56Includes 9 MSPs sponsored by the Co-operative Party, who are designated Labour and Co-operative. seats 55Includes 10 MSPs sponsored by the Co-operative Party, who are designated Labour and Co-operative. 50Includes 10 MSPs sponsored by the Co-operative Party, who are designated Labour and Co-operative. 6 561,375 29.3% 4.3% 663,585 34.6% 4.2% John Swinney in 1999.jpg 120 120 160 0 0 John Swinney Scottish National Party North Tayside 23 September 2000 35 seats 33 27 8 399,659 20.9% 6.4% 455,722 23.8% 4.9% DavidMcLetchieMSP20110509 (3x4 cropped).JPG 120 120 160 0 0 David McLetchie Scottish Conservatives Edinburgh PentlandsPreviously MSP for Lothians region from 1999-2003, before being elected to Edinburgh Pentlands at this election. 6 September 1998 18 seats 19 18 296,929 15.6% 0.1% 318,279 16.6% 1.2% Jim Wallace.jpg 140 120 160 0 10 Jim Wallace Scottish Liberal Democrats Orkney 18 April 1992 17 seats 16 17 225,774 11.8% 0.6% 294,347 15.4% 1.2% Eleanor scott (13338173734).jpg 150 120 160 15 15 Eleanor ScottEleanor Scott served as the Scottish Green Convenor during the 2003 election, while Robin Harper MSP served as the public campaign leader and principal speaker. Scottish Greens Ran in Highlands and Islands (won) 27 October 2002 1 seat 1 7 6 132,138 6.9% 3.3% Did not contest Did not contest TommySheridan2007 (cropped).jpg 170 120 160 0 20 Tommy Sheridan Scottish Socialist Party Glasgow 1998 1 seat 1 6 5 128,026 6.7% 4.7% 118,764 6.2% 5.2% Scottish Parliament election, 2003.svg 450px The map shows the election results in single-member constituencies. The additional member MSPs in the 8 regions are shown around the map. First Minister First Minister after election Jack McConnell Scottish Labour Jack McConnell Scottish Labour An election for the Scottish Parliament was held on 1 May 2003, and was the second election of members of the Scottish Parliament. 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 2025, 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. 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. Retiring MSPs At the dissolution of Parliament on 31 March 2003, ten MSPs were not seeking re-election.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/2847147.stm Farewell to the parliament BBC News 2 April 2003 4 February 2018 25 June 2004 https://web.archive.org/web/20040625043801/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2847147.stm live Constituency/Region Departing MSPParty 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 – Jack McConnell SNP – John Swinney Conservative – David McLetchie Liberal Democrat – Jim Wallace Greens – Robin Harper & Eleanor Scott (co-chairs) SSP – Tommy Sheridan Defeated MSPs Labour Brian Fitzpatrick, Strathkelvin and Bearsden Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands Iain Gray, Edinburgh Pentlands Angus MacKay, Edinburgh South Richard Simpson, Ochil Elaine Thomson, Aberdeen North SNP Kenneth Gibson, Glasgow Irene McGugan, North East Scotland Fiona McLeod, West of Scotland Gil Paterson, Central Scotland Lloyd Quinan, West of Scotland Michael Russell, South of Scotland Andrew Wilson, Central Scotland The New Party Keith Harding, Mid Scotland and Fife (elected as a Conservative) Lyndsay McIntosh, Central Scotland (elected as a Conservative) Results thumb|Election result with constituency names labeled|500px ← 2003 Scottish Parliament electionhttps://www.parliament.scot/msps/25397.aspx Analysis of Results 10 July 2011 www.parliament.scot 16 April 2020 17 July 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200717042657/https://www.parliament.scot/msps/25397.aspx dead → |- | style="background-color:white" colspan=15 | center|360px |- ! rowspan=2 colspan=2 | Party ! colspan=5 | Constituencies ! colspan=5 | Regional additional members ! colspan=5 | Total seats |- ! Votes !! % !! ± !! Seats !! ± !! Votes !! % !! ± !! Seats !! ± !! Total !! ± !! % |- Scottish Labour 663,585 34.6 4.2 46 7 561,375 29.3 4.3 4 1 50Includes 10 MSPs sponsored by the Co-operative Party, who are designated Labour and Co-operative. 6 38.8 Scottish National Party 455,722 23.8 4.9 9 2 399,659 20.9 6.4 18 10 27 8 20.9 Scottish Conservatives 318,279 16.6 1.2 3 3 296,929 15.5 0.1 15 3 18 14.0 Scottish Liberal Democrats 294,347 15.4 1.2 13 1 225,774 11.8 0.6 4 1 17 13.2 Scottish Greens – – – – – 132,138 6.9 3.3 7 6 7 6 5.4 Scottish Socialist Party 118,764 6.2 5.2 0 128,026 6.7 4.7 6 5 6 5 4.7 Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party 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 1 – – – – – 1 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 Party (UK) – – – – – 21,657 1.1 1.3 0 0 0.0 The New Party (UK, 2003) 5,598 0.3 new 0 new 7,718 0.4 new 0 new 0 new 0.0 United Kingdom Independence Party – – – – – 11,969 0.6 new 0 new 0 new 0.0 Scottish Unionist Party (1986) – – – – – 6,113 0.3 0 0 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 British National Party – – – – – 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 0.8 0 28,323 1.5 0.8 0 0 0.0 |- |style="text-align:left"; colspan="2" | Valid votes || 1,916,574 || 99.4 || 0.3 || colspan="2"|   || 1,915,851 || 99.4 || 0.3 || colspan="5"|   |- |style="text-align:left"; colspan="2" | Spoilt votes || 12,303 || 0.6 || 0.3 || colspan="2"|   || 11,938 || 0.6 || 0.3 || colspan="5"|   |- !style="text-align:left"; colspan="2" | Total || 1,928,877 || 100 ||   || 73 || – || 1,927,789 || 100 ||   || 56 || – || 129 || – || 100 |- |style="text-align:left"; colspan="2" | Electorate/Turnout || 3,877,460 || 49.7 || 8.7 || colspan="2"|   || 3,877,460 || 49.7 || 8.6 || colspan="5"|   |} 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) #ddd 600px 410px Labour Scottish Labour Party 34.62 SNP Scottish National Party darkgray 23.78 Conservative Scottish Conservative Party 16.61 Liberal Democrats Scottish Liberal Democrats 15.36 Scottish Socialist Scottish Socialist Party 6.20 Other #777777 3.43 Popular Vote (Regional) #ddd 600px 410px Labour Scottish Labour Party 29.44 SNP Scottish National Party darkgray 20.94 Conservative Scottish Conservative Party 15.56 Liberal Democrats Scottish Liberal Democrats 11.83 Green Scottish Green Party 6.92 Scottish Socialist Scottish Socialist Party 6.71 Independents Independent (politician) 1.67 SSCUP Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party 1.52 Pensioners #ddd 1.50 Socialist Labour Socialist Labour Party (UK) 1.13 Other #777777 2.74 Parliament seats #ddd 600px 410px Labour Scottish Labour Party 38.76 SNP Scottish National Party darkgray 20.93 Conservative Scottish Conservative Party 13.95 Liberal Democrats Scottish Liberal Democrats 13.18 Green Scottish Green Party 5.43 Scottish Socialist Scottish Socialist Party 4.65 Independents Independent (politician) 2.33 SSCUP Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party 0.78 Constituency and regional summary Central Scotland 2003 Scottish Parliament election: Central Scotland |- ! colspan=2 style="width: 200px"|Constituency ! style="width: 150px"|Elected member ! style="width: 300px"|Result Airdrie and Shotts Karen Whitefield Scottish Labour Coatbridge and Chryston Elaine Smith Scottish Labour Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Cathie Craigie Scottish Labour East Kilbride Andy Kerr Scottish Labour Falkirk East Cathy Peattie Scottish Labour Falkirk West Dennis Canavan Independent politician Hamilton North and Bellshill Michael McMahon Scottish Labour Hamilton South Tom McCabe Scottish Labour Kilmarnock and Loudoun Margaret Jamieson Scottish Labour Motherwell and Wishaw Jack McConnell Scottish Labour 2003 Scottish Parliament election: Central Scotland |- ! colspan="2" style="width: 150px"|Party ! Elected candidates ! style="width: 40px"|Seats ! style="width: 40px"|+/− ! style="width: 50px"|Votes ! style="width: 40px"|% ! style="width: 40px"|+/−% |- Scottish National Party 59,274 22.53 -5.25 3 −2 Alex Neil Michael Matheson Linda Fabiani Scottish Conservatives 24,121 9.17 +0.02 1 ±0 Margaret Mitchell Scottish Socialist Party 19,016 7.23 +5.49 1 +1 Carolyn Leckie Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party 17,146 6.52 N/A 1 +1 John Swinburne Scottish Liberal Democrats 15,494 5.89 -0.31 1 ±0 Donald Gorrie Glasgow 2003 Scottish Parliament election: Glasgow |- ! colspan=2 style="width: 200px"|Constituency ! style="width: 150px"|Elected member ! style="width: 300px"|Result Glasgow Anniesland Bill Butler Scottish Labour Glasgow Baillieston Margaret Curran Scottish Labour Glasgow Cathcart Mike Watson Scottish Labour Glasgow Govan Gordon Jackson Scottish Labour Glasgow Kelvin Pauline McNeill Scottish Labour Glasgow Maryhill Patricia Ferguson Scottish Labour Party Glasgow Pollok Johann Lamont Scottish Labour Glasgow Rutherglen Janis Hughes Scottish Labour Glasgow Shettleston Frank McAveety Scottish Labour Glasgow Springburn Paul Martin Scottish Labour Party 2003 Scottish Parliament election: Glasgow |- ! colspan="2" style="width: 150px"|Party ! Elected candidates ! style="width: 40px"|Seats ! style="width: 40px"|+/− ! style="width: 50px"|Votes ! style="width: 40px"|% ! style="width: 40px"|+/−% |- Scottish National Party 34,894 17.1 -8.4 2 −2 Nicola Sturgeon Sandra White Scottish Socialist Party 31,216 15.2 +8.0 2 +1 Tommy Sheridan Rosie Kane Scottish Conservatives 15,299 7.5 -0.4 1 ±0 Bill Aitken Scottish Liberal Democrats 14,839 7.5 -0.4 1 ±0 Robert Brown Scottish Greens 14,570 7.1 +3.1 1 +1 Patrick Harvie Highlands and Islands 2003 Scottish Parliament election: Highlands and Islands |- ! colspan=2 style="width: 200px"|Constituency ! style="width: 150px"|Elected member ! style="width: 300px"|Result Argyll and Bute George Lyon Scottish Liberal Democrats Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Jamie Stone Scottish Liberal Democrats Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber Fergus Ewing Scottish National Party Moray Margaret Ewing Scottish National Party Orkney Jim Wallace Scottish Liberal Democrats Ross, Skye and Inverness West John Farquhar Munro Scottish Liberal Democrats Shetland Tavish Scott Scottish Liberal Democrats Western Isles Alasdair Morrison Scottish Labour 2003 Scottish Parliament election: Highlands and Islands |- ! colspan="2" style="width: 150px"|Party ! Elected candidates ! style="width: 40px"|Seats ! style="width: 40px"|+/− ! style="width: 50px"|Votes ! style="width: 40px"|% ! style="width: 40px"|+/−% |- Scottish National Party 39,497 23.43 -4.3 2 ±0 Jim Mather Rob Gibson Scottish Labour 37,605 22.31 -3.16 2 −1 Peter Peacock Maureen Macmillan Scottish Conservatives 26,989 16.01 +1.07 2 ±0 Jamie McGrigor Mary Scanlon Scottish Greens 13,935 8.27 +4.52 1 +1 Eleanor Scott Lothians 2003 Scottish Parliament election: Lothians |- ! colspan=2 style="width: 200px"|Constituency ! style="width: 150px"|Elected member ! style="width: 300px"|Result Edinburgh Central Sarah Boyack Scottish Labour Edinburgh East and Musselburgh Susan Deacon Scottish Labour Edinburgh North and Leith Malcolm Chisholm Scottish Labour Edinburgh Pentlands David McLetchie Scottish Conservatives Scottish Labour Edinburgh South Mike Pringle Scottish Liberal Democrats Scottish Labour Edinburgh West Margaret Smith Scottish Liberal Democrats Linlithgow Mary Mulligan Scottish Labour Party Livingston Bristow Muldoon Scottish Labour Midlothian Rhona Brankin Scottish Labour 2003 Scottish Parliament election: Lothians |- ! colspan="2" style="width: 150px"|Party ! Elected candidates ! style="width: 40px"|Seats ! style="width: 40px"|+/− ! style="width: 50px"|Votes ! style="width: 40px"|% ! style="width: 40px"|+/−% |- Scottish National Party 43,142 16.2 -9.5 2 −1 Kenny MacAskillFiona Hyslop Scottish Conservatives 40,173 15.1 -0.6 1 −1 James Douglas-Hamilton Scottish Greens 31,908 12.0 +5.1 2 +1 Robin HarperMark Ballard Independent politician 27,143 10.2 N/A 1 +1 Margo MacDonald Scottish Socialist Party 14,448 5.4 +3.8 1 +1 Colin Fox Mid Scotland and Fife 2003 Scottish Parliament election: Mid Scotland and Fife |- ! colspan=2 style="width: 200px"|Constituency ! style="width: 150px"|Elected member ! style="width: 300px"|Result Dunfermline East Helen Eadie Scottish Labour Dunfermline West Scott Barrie Scottish Labour Fife Central Christine May Scottish Labour Fife North East Iain Smith Scottish Liberal Democrats Kirkcaldy Marilyn Livingstone Scottish Labour North Tayside John Swinney Scottish National Party Ochil George Reid Scottish National Party Scottish Labour Perth Roseanna Cunningham Scottish National Party Stirling Sylvia Jackson Scottish Labour 2003 Scottish Parliament election: Mid Scotland and Fife |- ! colspan="2" style="width: 150px"|Party ! Elected candidates ! style="width: 40px"|Seats ! style="width: 40px"|+/− ! style="width: 50px"|Votes ! style="width: 40px"|% ! style="width: 40px"|+/−% |- Scottish National Party 57,631 23.0 -5.7 2 −1 Bruce Crawford Tricia Marwick Scottish Conservatives 43,941 17.6 -1.0 3 ±0 Murdo Fraser Brian Monteith Ted Brocklebank Scottish Liberal Democrats 30,112 12.0 -0.7 1 ±0 Keith Raffan Scottish Greens 17,147 6.9 +3.0 1 +1 Mark Ruskell North East Scotland 2003 Scottish Parliament election: North East Scotland |- ! colspan=2 style="width: 200px"|Constituency ! style="width: 150px"|Elected member ! style="width: 300px"|Result Aberdeen Central Lewis Macdonald Scottish Labour Aberdeen North Brian Adam Scottish National Party Scottish Labour Aberdeen South Nicol Stephen Scottish Liberal Democrats Angus Andrew Welsh Scottish National Party Banff and Buchan Stewart Stevenson Scottish National Party Dundee East Shona Robison Scottish National Party Scottish Labour Dundee West Kate Maclean Scottish Labour Gordon Nora Radcliffe Scottish Liberal Democrats West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Mike Rumbles Scottish Liberal Democrats 2003 Scottish Parliament election: North East Scotland |- ! colspan="2" style="width: 150px"|Party ! Elected candidates ! style="width: 40px"|Seats ! style="width: 40px"|+/− ! style="width: 50px"|Votes ! style="width: 40px"|% ! style="width: 40px"|+/−% |- Scottish National Party 66,463 27.3 -5.0 1 −3 Richard Lochhead Scottish Labour 49,189 20.2 -5.3 2 +2 Marlyn Glen Richard Baker Scottish Conservatives 42,318 17.4 -0.9 3 ±0 David DavidsonNanette Milne Alex Johnstone Scottish Greens 12,724 5.2 +2.4 1 +1 Shiona Baird South of Scotland 2003 Scottish Parliament election: South of Scotland |- ! colspan=2 style="width: 200px"|Constituency ! style="width: 150px"|Elected member ! style="width: 300px"|Result Ayr John Scott Scottish Conservatives Scottish Labour Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley Cathy Jamieson Scottish Labour Clydesdale Karen Gillon Scottish Labour Cunninghame South Irene Oldfather Scottish Labour Dumfries Elaine Murray Scottish Labour East Lothian John Home Robertson Scottish Labour Galloway and Upper Nithsdale Alex Fergusson Scottish Conservatives Scottish National Party Roxburgh and Berwickshire Euan Robson Scottish Liberal Democrats Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Jeremy Purvis Scottish Liberal Democrats 2003 Scottish Parliament election: South of Scotland |- ! colspan="2" style="width: 150px"|Party ! Elected candidates ! style="width: 40px"|Seats ! style="width: 40px"|+/− ! style="width: 50px"|Votes ! style="width: 40px"|% ! style="width: 40px"|+/−% |- Scottish Conservatives 63,827 24.2 +2.6 2 −2 Phil Gallie David Mundell Scottish National Party 48,371 18.4 -6.7 3 ±0 Christine Grahame Adam Ingram Alasdair Morgan Scottish Greens 15,062 5.7 +2.7 1 +1 Chris Ballance Scottish Socialist Party 14,228 5.4 +4.4 1 +1 Rosemary Byrne West of Scotland 2003 Scottish Parliament election: West of Scotland |- ! colspan=2 style="width: 200px"|Constituency ! style="width: 150px"|Elected member ! style="width: 300px"|Result Clydebank and Milngavie Des McNulty Scottish Labour Cunninghame North Allan Wilson Scottish Labour Dumbarton Jackie Baillie Scottish Labour Eastwood Kenneth Macintosh Scottish Labour Greenock and Inverclyde Duncan McNeil Scottish Labour Paisley North Wendy Alexander Scottish Labour Paisley South Hugh Henry Scottish Labour Strathkelvin and Bearsden Jean Turner Independent politician Scottish Labour West Renfrewshire Patricia Godman Scottish Labour 2003 Scottish Parliament election: West of Scotland |- ! colspan="2" style="width: 150px"|Party ! Elected candidates ! style="width: 40px"|Seats ! style="width: 40px"|+/− ! style="width: 50px"|Votes ! style="width: 40px"|% ! style="width: 40px"|+/−% |- Scottish National Party 50,387 19.6 -6.3 3 −1 Campbell Martin Bruce McFee Stewart Maxwell Scottish Conservatives 40,261 15.7 – 2 ±0 Annabel GoldieMurray Tosh Scottish Liberal Democrats 31,580 12.3 +1.3 1 ±0 Ross Finnie Scottish Socialist Party 18,591 7.2 +5.3 1 +1 Frances Curran Coalition As part of the coalition deal between Labour and the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Labour allowed proportional representation (a long-standing Lib Dem policy)Seenan Gerard 2001-11-22 Scots Lib Dems push for local PR en-GB The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/nov/22/uk.scotland 2023-03-06 0261-3077 to be used in Scottish local government elections.Parker Simon 2003-05-19 Councils next for PR in Scotland en-GB The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/society/2003/may/19/localgovernment.modlocalgov 2023-03-06 0261-3077https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/22847 Proportional Representation and Local Government Elections - Early Day Motions UK Parliament live https://web.archive.org/web/20230306103556/https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/22847 Mar 6, 2023 This system was first used in 2007.2007 Scottish Local Elections https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/latest-news-and-research/publications/2007-scottish-local-elections/ 3 May 2007 6 March 2023 Electoral Reform Society en-US Campaign spending Party Expenseshttps://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/3186211.stm Figures reveal election spending BBC News 27 August 2003 4 February 2018 13 February 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220213152330/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/3186211.stm live Scottish People's Alliance £188,889 Scottish Liberal Democrats £130,358 Scottish Socialist Party £74,361 Scottish Greens £65,852 UK Independence Party £39,504 Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party £3,558 See also 2nd Scottish Parliament 2003 National Assembly for Wales election 2003 United Kingdom local elections Notes References Party manifestos British National Party – Freedom Pro-Life Alliance Scottish Liberal Democrats – Make the difference Scottish National Party – Release our potential Scottish Socialist Party – another Scotland is possible External links BBC: Vote Scotland 2003 Scottish Election Results 1997 – present collapsed 2003 Category:2003 elections in the United Kingdom Category:2003 in Scotland Category:2000s elections in Scotland Category:May 2003 in the United Kingdom