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However, changes to constituency areas will only take place if they receive ministerial approval.
Here’s everything you need to know about the potential changes.
What is happening?
The Second Scottish Parliament Boundary Review began in September 2022. In early 2023 and again in April/May 2024, Boundaries Scotland consulted on proposals for constituency boundaries and names.
If the Review recommends changes in your area, your constituency may become larger or smaller. You may even find yourself voting in a new or different constituency, even though you haven’t moved house.
What will change?
The consultation only proposes changes to seven of Scotland’s eight parliamentary regions.
The review of constituencies will cover the 70 constituencies on the mainland. The constituencies of Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Orkney and Shetland Islands are protected by legislation and therefore excluded from this review.
The Mid Scotland and Fife region is unchanged.
Under the new proposals, Mid Scotland will now take in the constituencies of Almond Valley and Linlithgow, as well as Whitburn, which is now part of the seat of Airdrie. Central Scotland would lose the constituency of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse.
Instead the seat of Hamilton will move to the South of Scotland region, which loses Stewarton in Ayrshire and a newly formed constituency for the East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs.
Stewarton, which is part of the seat of South Cunninghame, will move to the West of Scotland region under the plans, which will lose Renfrew, Erskine and Bishopton to the Glasgow region.
Meanwhile, the Lothian region would expand to include the East Coast seat of Lothian and Lammermuirs.
There will be minor changes to the Highlands and Islands and North East Scotland regions following a new constituency boundary in Arradoul, Moray.
Why is this happening?
The population of different areas changes over time, but it is important that each MSP is elected by approximately the same number of people.
Boundaries Scotland conducts Scottish Parliament boundary reviews every 8-12 years to ensure that each region or constituency has an equal number of electors.
When does the consultation run?
The consultation on the changes will run between September 26 and October 26.
Which seats would change names?
Under the proposals, nine areas are set to change names. They are:
- Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine;
- Almond Valley;
- East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs;
- North East Edinburgh and Leith;
- Glasgow Anniesland;
- Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston;
- Glasgow Cathcart and Pollock;
- Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn;
- Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill.
Which seats are seeing boundary changes?
14 seats will change small boundaries. They are:
- Airdrie;
- Cumbernauld and Kilsyth;
- Edinburgh Central;
- Edinburgh South;
- South West Edinburgh;
- North Edinburgh;
- North West Edinburgh;
- Glasgow Central;
- Inverness and Nairn;
- Paisley;
- West Renfrewshire;
- Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch;
- Uddingston and Bellshill;
- Eastwood
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
source link https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24611799.voting-areas-will-change-scottish-election/?ref=rss
