The 2011 Scottish Parliament election was held on Thursday, 5 May 2011 to
elect 129 members to the
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament ( ; ) is the Devolution in the United Kingdom, devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. It is located in the Holyrood, Edinburgh, Holyrood area of Edinburgh, and is frequently referred to by the metonym 'Holyrood'. ...
.
The election delivered the first
majority government
A majority government is a government by one or more governing parties that hold an absolute majority of seats in a legislature. Such a government can consist of one party that holds a majority on its own, or be a coalition government of multi ...
since the opening of Holyrood, a remarkable feat as the
Additional Member System
The additional-member system (AMS) is a two-vote seat-linkage-based mixed electoral system used in the United Kingdom in which most legislator, representatives are elected in single-member districts (SMDs), and a fixed number of other "addition ...
used to elect
MSPs was allegedly originally implemented to prevent any party achieving an overall parliamentary majority. The
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party (SNP; ) is a Scottish nationalist and social democratic party. The party holds 61 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, and holds 9 out of the 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, ...
(SNP) won a
landslide
Landslides, also known as landslips, rockslips or rockslides, are several forms of mass wasting that may include a wide range of ground movements, such as rockfalls, mudflows, shallow or deep-seated slope failures and debris flows. Landslides ...
of 69 seats, the most the party has ever held at either a Holyrood or Westminster election, allowing leader
Alex Salmond
Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond ( ; 31 December 1954 – 12 October 2024) was a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014. A prominent figure in the Scottish nationalist movement, he was Leader of the Sc ...
to remain as
First Minister of Scotland
The first minister of Scotland () is the head of government of Scotland. The first minister leads the Scottish Government, the Executive (government), executive branch of the devolved government and is th ...
for a second term. The SNP gained 32 constituencies, twenty two from
Scottish Labour
Scottish Labour (), is the part of the UK Labour Party (UK), Labour Party active in Scotland. Ideologically social democratic and Unionism in the United Kingdom, unionist, it holds 23 of 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament and 37 of 57 Sco ...
, nine from the
Scottish Liberal Democrats
The Scottish Liberal Democrats () is a liberal, federalist political party in Scotland, part of UK Liberal Democrats. The party holds 5 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, 6 of the 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons and 86 of 1 ...
and one from the
Scottish Conservatives
The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (), known as Scottish Tories, is part of the UK Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party active in Scotland. It currently holds 5 of the 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons of the United Ki ...
. Such was the scale of their gains that, of the 73 constituencies in Scotland, only 20 came to be represented by
MSPs of other political parties. Scottish Labour lost seven seats and suffered their worst election defeat in Scotland since
1931
Events
January
* January 2 – South Dakota native Ernest Lawrence invents the cyclotron, used to accelerate particles to study nuclear physics.
* January 4 – German pilot Elly Beinhorn begins her flight to Africa.
* January 22 – Sir I ...
, with huge losses in their traditional
Central Belt
The Central Belt of Scotland is the Demographics of Scotland, area of highest population density within Scotland. Depending on the definition used, it has a population of between 2.4 and 4.2 million (the country's total was around 5.4 million in ...
constituencies and for the first time having to rely on the
regional lists to elect members within these areas. They did, however, remain the largest opposition party. Party leader
Iain Gray
Iain Cumming Gray (born 7 June 1957) is a Scottish politician who served as Leader of the Scottish Labour Party from 2008 to 2011. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the East Lothian constituency from 2007 to 2021, having p ...
announced his resignation following his party's disappointing result. The
Scottish Liberal Democrats
The Scottish Liberal Democrats () is a liberal, federalist political party in Scotland, part of UK Liberal Democrats. The party holds 5 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, 6 of the 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons and 86 of 1 ...
were soundly defeated; their popular vote share was cut in half and their seat total reduced from 16 to 5.
Tavish Scott
Tavish Hamilton Scott (born 6 May 1966) is a former Scottish politician. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Shetland from 1999 to 2019, and Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 2008 to 2011. He stepped down as Lea ...
announced his resignation as party leader shortly after the election. For
Scottish Conservatives
The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (), known as Scottish Tories, is part of the UK Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party active in Scotland. It currently holds 5 of the 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons of the United Ki ...
, the election proved disappointing as their popular vote dropped slightly and their number of seats fell by 2, with party leader
Annabel Goldie
Annabel MacNicoll Goldie, Baroness Goldie (born 27 February 1950) is a Scottish politician and life peer who served as Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party from 2005 to 2011 and Minister of State for Defence from 2019 to 2023. She was a ...
also announcing her resignation.
During the campaign, the four main party leaders engaged in a series of televised debates, as they had in every previous general election. These key debates were held on 29 March (
STV), 1 May (
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
), and 3 May (STV). The results of the election were broadcast live on BBC Scotland and STV, on the night of the election.
It was the fourth
general election
A general election is an electoral process to choose most or all members of a governing body at the same time. They are distinct from By-election, by-elections, which fill individual seats that have become vacant between general elections. Gener ...
since the devolved parliament was established in 1999 and was held on the same day as elections to the
National Assembly for Wales
The Senedd ( ; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, Its role is to scrutinise the Welsh Government and legislate on devolve ...
and the
Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly (; ), often referred to by the metonym ''Stormont'', is the devolved unicameral legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliam ...
, as well as
English local elections and the UK-wide
referendum on the alternative vote.
Date
Under the
Scotland Act 1998
The Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which legislated for the establishment of the devolved Scottish Parliament with tax varying powers and the Scottish Government (then Scottish Executive). It was o ...
, an ordinary general election to the Scottish Parliament was held on the first Thursday in May four years after the
2007 election.
Because of the problems of voter confusion and a
high number of spoilt ballots in 2007 due to holding Scottish parliamentary and local elections simultaneously and under different voting systems, the next Scottish local elections were held in
2012
2012 was designated as:
*International Year of Cooperatives
*International Year of Sustainable Energy for All
Events January
*January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins.
* January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...
instead of 2011. This policy decision was contradicted, however, by the staging of the
Alternative Vote referendum on 5 May 2011 as well.
Labour MP
Ian Davidson expressed opposition to the referendum being staged on the same date as other elections.
Scottish Secretary Michael Moore
Michael Francis Moore is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and author. Moore's work frequently addresses various Social issue, social, political, and economic topics. He first became publicly known for his award-winning debut ...
stated that having the referendum on another date would cost an additional £17 million.
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.
* British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
,
Irish,
Commonwealth
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...
and
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...
citizens living in Scotland who were aged 18 or over on election day were entitled to vote. The deadline to
register to vote
In electoral systems, voter registration (or enrollment) is the requirement that a person otherwise eligible to vote must register (or enroll) on an electoral roll, which is usually a prerequisite for being entitled or permitted to vote.
The ru ...
in the election was midnight on Friday 15 April 2011, though anyone who qualified as an
anonymous elector
An anonymous elector is generally a registered voter whose safety would be at risk if their details were available on a public electoral register.
Australia
In Australia, a voter anonymously registered is known as a silent elector. To be a silent ...
had until midnight on Tuesday 26 April 2011 to register.
It was held on the same day as elections for Northern Ireland's 26
local councils, the
Northern Irish Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly (; ), often referred to by the metonym ''Stormont'', is the devolved unicameral legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliamen ...
and
Welsh Assembly
The Senedd ( ; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, Its role is to scrutinise the Welsh Government and legislate on devolve ...
elections, a number of local elections in England and the
United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum.
Boundary Review

The table below shows the notional figures for seats won by each party at the last election. The Conservatives have been the biggest gainers as a result of the boundary changes, winning an extra three seats, while Labour has lost the most seats, losing two overall.
Election system, seats, and regions
The total number of
Members of the Scottish Parliament
Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP; ; ) is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament.
Electoral system
The additional member system produces a form of proportional representation, where ...
(MSPs) elected to the Parliament is 129.
The First Periodical Review of the
Scottish Parliament constituencies and electoral regions
The Scottish Parliament ( Holyrood), created by the Scotland Act 1998, has used a system of constituencies and electoral regions since the first general election in 1999.
The parliament has 73 constituencies, each electing one Member of the ...
by the
Boundary Commission for Scotland
In the United Kingdom, the boundary commissions are non-departmental public bodies responsible for determining the boundaries of Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, parliamentary constituencies for elections to the House of Co ...
was announced on 3 July 2007. The Commission published its provisional proposals for the regional boundaries in 2009.
The Scottish Parliament uses an
Additional Members System
The additional-member system (AMS) is a two-vote seat-linkage-based mixed electoral system used in the United Kingdom in which most representatives are elected in single-member districts (SMDs), and a fixed number of other "additional members" ...
, designed to produce approximate
proportional representation
Proportional representation (PR) refers to any electoral system under which subgroups of an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body. The concept applies mainly to political divisions (Political party, political parties) amon ...
for each region.
There are 8 regions each sub-divided into smaller constituencies.
There are a total of 73
constituencies
An electoral (congressional, legislative, etc.) district, sometimes called a constituency, riding, or ward, is a geographical portion of a political unit, such as a country, state or province, city, or administrative region, created to provi ...
.
Each constituency elects one (MSP) by the
plurality
Plurality may refer to:
Law and politics
* Plurality decision, in a decision by a multi-member court, an opinion held by more judges than any other but not by an overall majority
* Plurality (voting), when a candidate or proposition polls more ...
(
first past the post
First-past-the-post (FPTP)—also called choose-one, first-preference plurality (FPP), or simply plurality—is a single-winner voting rule. Voters mark one candidate as their favorite, or First-preference votes, first-preference, and the cand ...
) system of election.
Each region elects seven additional member MSPs using an
additional member system.
A modified
D'Hondt method
The D'Hondt method, also called the Jefferson method or the greatest divisors method, is an apportionment method for allocating seats in parliaments among federal states, or in proportional representation among political parties. It belongs to ...
, using the constituency results, is used to calculate which additional member MSPs the regions elect.
The Scottish Parliament constituencies have not been coterminous with
Scottish Westminster constituencies
Scottish Westminster constituencies were Scotland, Scottish Electoral district, constituencies of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain, normally at the Palace of Westminster, from 1708 ...
since the
2005 general election, when the 72 former Westminster constituencies were replaced with a new set of 59, generally larger, constituencies (see
Scottish Parliament (Constituencies) Act 2004
The Scottish Parliament (Constituencies) Act 2004 (c. 13) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that amends the Scotland Act 1998 which established the Scottish Parliament.
Before it was amended by this Act, the Scotland Act 1998 p ...
).
For details of the Revised proposals for constituencies at the Next Scottish Parliament election -
Scottish Parliament constituencies and electoral regions from 2011
The Boundary Commission have also recommended changes to the electoral regions used to elect "list" members of the Scottish Parliament. The recommendations can be summarised below;
*
Glasgow
Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...
was reduced from 10 constituency seats to 9.
Glasgow Govan was largely replaced by
Glasgow Southside
Glasgow Southside is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament ( Holyrood), being one of eight constituencies within the Glasgow City council area. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the plurality (first past the post) ...
. The seats of
Glasgow Maryhill,
Glasgow Springburn and
Glasgow Baillieston were abolished and their territory was divided between the newly created
Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn and
Glasgow Provan, as well as the existing
Glasgow Shettleston seat which was moved eastwards.
*
Highlands and Islands
The Highlands and Islands is an area of Scotland broadly covering the Scottish Highlands, plus Orkney, Shetland, and the Outer Hebrides (Western Isles).
The Highlands and Islands are sometimes defined as the area to which the Crofters' Act o ...
retained 8 constituency seats.
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross was replaced with the larger
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross seat.
Ross, Skye and Inverness West and
Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber were abolished with most of their area being divided between
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament ( Holyrood) covering part of the Highland council area. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post method of election. It is also one ...
and
Inverness and Nairn.
*
West of Scotland was renamed
West Scotland. It was increased from 9 constituency seats to 10, as
Cunninghame South was transferred from the South Scotland region. The seats of
Paisley North,
Paisley South and
West Renfrewshire were abolished and their area was divided between the new seats of
Paisley,
Renfrewshire North and West
Renfrewshire North and West is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament ( Holyrood). It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post method of election. It is one of ten constituencies in the West Scotland e ...
and
Renfrewshire South
*
Central Scotland was reduced from 10 constituency seats to 9, as the territory of
Kilmarnock and Loudoun was transferred to South Scotland. Some territory to the south was also transferred to South Scotland, reducing the land area of
East Kilbride
East Kilbride (; ), sometimes referred to as EK, is the largest town in South Lanarkshire in Scotland, and the country's sixth-largest locality by population. Historically a small village, it was designated Scotland's first "new town" on 6 Ma ...
.
Hamilton North and Bellshill was largely replaced by
Uddingston and Bellshill.
Hamilton South was largely replaced by
Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse.
*
Lothians
Lothian (; ; ) is a region of the Scottish Lowlands, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills and the Moorfoot Hills. The principal settlement is the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, while other signific ...
was renamed
Lothian
Lothian (; ; ) is a region of the Scottish Lowlands, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills and the Moorfoot Hills. The principal settlement is the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, while other signific ...
and retained 9 constituency seats. The seat of
Midlothian
Midlothian (; ) is registration county, lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area and one of 32 council areas of Scotland used for local government. Midlothian lies in the east-central Lowlands, bordering the City of Edinburgh council ar ...
was split, with its southern areas transferred to South Scotland. Its northern parts merged with Musselburgh to form
Midlothian North and Musselburgh.
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, thus with Musselburgh removed, was replaced by
Edinburgh Eastern
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh had a population of in ...
. The seats of
Edinburgh North and Leith,
Edinburgh South and
Edinburgh West were respectively renamed
Edinburgh Northern and Leith
Edinburgh Northern and Leith (Gaelic: ''Dùn Èideann a Tuath agus Lite'') is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament ( Holyrood) covering part of the council area of Edinburgh. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the ...
,
Edinburgh Southern and
Edinburgh Western while redrawn. In West Lothian,
Livingston was replaced by
Almond Valley, which traded territory with the retained
Linlithgow
Linlithgow ( ; ; ) is a town in West Lothian, Scotland. It was historically West Lothian's county town, reflected in the county's historical name of Linlithgowshire. An ancient town, it lies in the Central Belt on a historic route between Edi ...
seat.
*
Mid Scotland and Fife retained 9 constituencies.
North Tayside was mostly replaced by
Perthshire North
Perthshire North is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament ( Holyrood) covering part of the council area of Perth and Kinross. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the plurality (first past the post) method of election. ...
, with some of the former's territory being transferred to North East Scotland.
Ochil was split, with its eastern parts merging with the former seat of
Perth
Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...
to form Perthshire South and Kinross-shire (Scottish Parliament constituency), Perthshire South and Kinross-shire. Clackmannanshire and Dunblane (Scottish Parliament constituency), Clackmannanshire and Dunblane was created, consisting mostly of the more populous western part of Ochil. In Fife, Dunfermline West (Scottish Parliament constituency), Dunfermline West, Dunfermline East (Scottish Parliament constituency), Dunfermline East and Fife Central (Scottish Parliament constituency), Fife Central were respectively largely replaced by Dunfermline (Scottish Parliament constituency), Dunfermline, Cowdenbeath (Scottish Parliament constituency), Cowdenbeath and Mid Fife and Glenrothes (Scottish Parliament constituency), Mid Fife and Glenrothes.
*North East Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region), North East Scotland was increased from 9 to 10 constituency seats. The seat of Angus (Scottish Parliament constituency), Angus was split between two new seats: Angus South (Scottish Parliament constituency), Angus South, which included territory transferred from Mid Scotland and Fife, and Angus North and Mearns (Scottish Parliament constituency), Angus North and Mearns. Both West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (Scottish Parliament constituency), West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine and Gordon (Scottish Parliament constituency), Gordon were split. The former was divided between the new seat of Aberdeenshire West (Scottish Parliament constituency), Aberdeenshire West, Angus North and Mearns and an enlarged Aberdeen South (Scottish Parliament constituency), Aberdeen South, which under new boundaries was named Aberdeen South and North Kincardine (Scottish Parliament constituency), Aberdeen South and North Kincardine. A redrawn Aberdeen North (Scottish Parliament constituency), Aberdeen North was renamed Aberdeen Donside (Scottish Parliament constituency), Aberdeen Donside. Gordon was split between Aberdeenshire West and another new seat: Aberdeenshire East (Scottish Parliament constituency), Aberdeenshire East. Some territory was also traded with Banff and Buchan (Scottish Parliament constituency), Banff and Buchan, which was largely replaced by Banffshire and Buchan Coast (Scottish Parliament constituency), Banffshire and Buchan Coast. The two Dundee seats were redrawn and renamed from Dundee West (Scottish Parliament constituency), Dundee West and Dundee East (Scottish Parliament constituency), Dundee East to Dundee City West (Scottish Parliament constituency), Dundee City West and Dundee City East (Scottish Parliament constituency), Dundee City East.
*South of Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region), South of Scotland was renamed South Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region), South Scotland. It retained 9 constituencies, losing
Cunninghame South to West Scotland but gaining the new Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley (Scottish Parliament constituency), Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley constituency, which replaced the previous constituency of
Kilmarnock and Loudoun. Some territory was transferred from Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (Scottish Parliament constituency), Galloway and Upper Nithsdale to Dumfries (Scottish Parliament constituency), Dumfries; the redrawn seats were then renamed Galloway and West Dumfries (Scottish Parliament constituency), Galloway and West Dumfries and Dumfriesshire (Scottish Parliament constituency), Dumfriesshire. Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Scottish Parliament constituency), Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale lost territory to Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Scottish Parliament constituency), Roxburgh and Berwickshire but gained some from the Lothian area to the north. These seats were redrawn and renamed Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale (Scottish Parliament constituency), Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale and Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Scottish Parliament constituency), Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire.
Retiring MSPs
At the dissolution of Parliament on 22 March 2011, twenty MSPs were not seeking re-election.
Campaign
The parliament was dissolved on 22 March 2011 and the campaign began thereafter. The Scottish Conservatives, Conservatives saw 3 of their candidates drop out of the election during the period 25–28 March: Malcolm McAskill from the Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region), Glasgow regional ballot, Iain Whyte from the Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn (Scottish Parliament constituency), Glasgow Maryhill & Springburn constituency ballot and David Meikle from the Glasgow regional ballot.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats, Liberal Democrat regional candidate for the
Central Scotland region Hugh O'Donnell (politician), Hugh O'Donnell also withdrew on 27 March, citing discontent with the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition at Westminster. Another Liberal Democrat, John Farquhar Munro, came out in support of Alex Salmond for First Minister, even though he also claimed not to support the SNP. In the Clydesdale (Scottish Parliament constituency), Clydesdale constituency, the Liberal Democrat candidate John Paton-Day failed to lodge his papers in time for the nomination deadline, leaving the constituency as the only one in Scotland with no Liberal Democrat candidate. On 17 April, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader
Tavish Scott
Tavish Hamilton Scott (born 6 May 1966) is a former Scottish politician. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Shetland from 1999 to 2019, and Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 2008 to 2011. He stepped down as Lea ...
described himself as 'uncomfortable' with his Scottish party being 'related' to the Conservatives due to the coalition at Westminster.
A televised debate between the four main party leaders was shown on STV on 29 March, with SNP leader
Alex Salmond
Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond ( ; 31 December 1954 – 12 October 2024) was a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014. A prominent figure in the Scottish nationalist movement, he was Leader of the Sc ...
and Conservative leader
Annabel Goldie
Annabel MacNicoll Goldie, Baroness Goldie (born 27 February 1950) is a Scottish politician and life peer who served as Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party from 2005 to 2011 and Minister of State for Defence from 2019 to 2023. She was a ...
identified as the strongest performers. The ''Scottish Sun'' newspaper came out in support of the SNP's campaign to win a second term, even though the newspaper does not back Scottish independence, independence.
Whilst campaigning in Glasgow Central railway station, Glasgow Central station, the Scottish Labour leader
Iain Gray
Iain Cumming Gray (born 7 June 1957) is a Scottish politician who served as Leader of the Scottish Labour Party from 2008 to 2011. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the East Lothian constituency from 2007 to 2021, having p ...
was ambushed by a group of anti-cuts protestors who chased him into a nearby Subway (restaurant), fast-food outlet. The same protesters had already targeted Conservative leader
Annabel Goldie
Annabel MacNicoll Goldie, Baroness Goldie (born 27 February 1950) is a Scottish politician and life peer who served as Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party from 2005 to 2011 and Minister of State for Defence from 2019 to 2023. She was a ...
a month earlier. On 27 April,
Iain Gray
Iain Cumming Gray (born 7 June 1957) is a Scottish politician who served as Leader of the Scottish Labour Party from 2008 to 2011. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the East Lothian constituency from 2007 to 2021, having p ...
and SNP leader
Alex Salmond
Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond ( ; 31 December 1954 – 12 October 2024) was a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014. A prominent figure in the Scottish nationalist movement, he was Leader of the Sc ...
were both present simultaneously in an Ardrossan branch of the Asda supermarket chain; both parties alleged that the other party's leader 'ran away' from the possibility of an encounter with the other.
Policy platforms
The main parties contesting the election all outlined the following main aims:
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party (SNP; ) is a Scottish nationalist and social democratic party. The party holds 61 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, and holds 9 out of the 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, ...
* Legislate to give Scotland a referendum on Scottish independence, independence.
* Maintain the council tax freeze throughout the next parliament.
* Attempt to generate 100% of Scotland's electricity from Renewable energy, renewable sources by 2020.
* Continue offering free university tuition to Scottish students.
* Maintain high police numbers.
Scottish Labour, Labour
* Introduce Scottish Living Wage of £7.15 an hour, starting in the public sector.
* Abolish youth unemployment and aim to create 250,000 jobs by 2020.
* Compulsory six-month jail sentences for people convicted of knife-carrying.
* Initiate two-year council tax freeze.
* Re-instate the proposed Glasgow Airport Rail Link, rail link between Glasgow Central station and Glasgow International Airport, which was cancelled in 2009.
*Continue free University tuition fees for all Scottish students.
Scottish Conservatives, Conservatives
* A council tax freeze during the period 2012–2013.
* Re-introduce prescription charges at 2009 standards (£5 for a single item).
* Consider building new nuclear power stations, but not on new sites.
* Bring in Variable University Graduate Fee, with no more than £4,000 being paid annually per student.
* Replace community service with short prison sentences.
* Centralising the Scottish police forces into a single police force.
Scottish Liberal Democrats, Liberal Democrats
* Maintain free university tuition for Scottish students.
* Aim to create 100,000 new jobs through selling off Scottish Water which would free £1.5 billion for investment purposes.
* Oppose moves to create a centralised Scottish police force.
* Maintain the Scottish bus pass, but progressively bring the qualifying age up to 65.
* Reform the council tax.
Scottish Greens, Greens
* Bring in large-scale ecosystem restoration projects.
* Replace council tax with land value tax.
* Maintain free university tuition for Scottish students.
* Focus on bringing restorative justice within Scotland's justice system.
* Abolish the Queensferry Crossing, Forth Replacement Crossing.
Parties contesting the election
Contesting constituency and regional ballot
Only the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Labour Party and the Scottish Conservative Party contested all constituencies.
*
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party (SNP; ) is a Scottish nationalist and social democratic party. The party holds 61 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, and holds 9 out of the 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, ...
(SNP)
*
Scottish Labour
Scottish Labour (), is the part of the UK Labour Party (UK), Labour Party active in Scotland. Ideologically social democratic and Unionism in the United Kingdom, unionist, it holds 23 of 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament and 37 of 57 Sco ...
*
Scottish Conservatives
The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (), known as Scottish Tories, is part of the UK Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party active in Scotland. It currently holds 5 of the 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons of the United Ki ...
*
Scottish Liberal Democrats
The Scottish Liberal Democrats () is a liberal, federalist political party in Scotland, part of UK Liberal Democrats. The party holds 5 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, 6 of the 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons and 86 of 1 ...
– Contesting all constituencies except Clydesdale (Scottish Parliament constituency), Clydesdale
* All Scotland Pensioner's Party/Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party – Contesting Mid Fife and Glenrothes (Scottish Parliament constituency), Mid Fife & Glenrothes and Motherwell and Wishaw (Scottish Parliament constituency), Motherwell & Wishaw
* Christian Party (UK), Scottish Christian Party – Contesting Inverness and Nairn (Scottish Parliament constituency), Inverness & Nairn and Motherwell and Wishaw (Scottish Parliament constituency), Motherwell & Wishaw
* Liberal Party (UK, 1989), Liberal Party – Contesting Argyll and Bute (Scottish Parliament constituency), Argyll & Bute
* National Front (United Kingdom), National Front – Contesting Aberdeen Central (Scottish Parliament constituency), Aberdeen Central, Aberdeen Donside (Scottish Parliament constituency), Aberdeen Donside, Aberdeen South and North Kincardine (Scottish Parliament constituency), Aberdeen South & North Kincardine,
Almond Valley,
Linlithgow
Linlithgow ( ; ; ) is a town in West Lothian, Scotland. It was historically West Lothian's county town, reflected in the county's historical name of Linlithgowshire. An ancient town, it lies in the Central Belt on a historic route between Edi ...
and only the North East Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region), North East Scotland region
* UK Independence Party (UKIP) – Contesting Inverness and Nairn (Scottish Parliament constituency), Inverness & Nairn, Moray (Scottish Parliament constituency), Moray and North East Fife (Scottish Parliament constituency), North East Fife
Contesting regional ballot only
* Scottish Greens
* Solidarity (Scotland), Solidarity – all regions except
Glasgow
Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...
* Respect Party 'Coalition Against Cuts' –
Glasgow
Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...
only
* Scottish Socialist Party
* British National Party (BNP)
* Socialist Labour Party (UK), Socialist Labour Party
* Scottish Homeland Party – contesting
Glasgow
Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...
and Central Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region), Central regions
* Pirate Party UK, Pirate Party
* Scottish Unionist Party (1986), Scottish Unionist Party
* Christian Peoples Alliance
* Ban Bankers Bonuses – contesting the Highlands and Islands and West of Scotland regional lists.
Contesting constituency ballot only
* Communist Party of Britain – Contesting Glasgow Anniesland (Scottish Parliament constituency), Glasgow Anniesland
* Land Party – Contesting Cowdenbeath (Scottish Parliament constituency), Cowdenbeath
Opinion polls
In March 2011, two months before the election, Labour held a double-digit lead over the SNP in the opinion polls,
44% to 29%. The SNP's support subsequently rallied, with the two parties level in April polling. In the final poll on the eve of the election, the SNP were eleven points clear of Labour.
The chart shows the relative state of the parties since polling began from 2009, until the date of the election. The constituency vote is shown as semi-transparent lines, while the regional vote is shown in full lines.
Result

The election produced a majority SNP government, making this the first time in the Scottish Parliament where a party had commanded a parliamentary majority. The SNP took 16 seats from Labour, many of whose key figures failed to be returned to parliament, although Labour leader
Iain Gray
Iain Cumming Gray (born 7 June 1957) is a Scottish politician who served as Leader of the Scottish Labour Party from 2008 to 2011. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the East Lothian constituency from 2007 to 2021, having p ...
retained East Lothian (Scottish Parliament constituency), East Lothian by 151 votes. The SNP took a further eight seats from the Liberal Democrats and one seat from the Conservatives. The SNP overall majority meant that there was sufficient support in the
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament ( ; ) is the Devolution in the United Kingdom, devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. It is located in the Holyrood, Edinburgh, Holyrood area of Edinburgh, and is frequently referred to by the metonym 'Holyrood'. ...
to hold a referendum on Scottish independence.
Labour's defeat was attributed to several factors: the party focused too heavily on criticising the Conservative-led coalition at Westminster, and assumed that former Lib Dem voters would automatically switch their vote to Labour, when in fact they appeared to have haemorrhaged support to the SNP. Jackie Baillie compared the result to Labour's performance in the 1983 United Kingdom general election, 1983 UK general election.
Iain Gray Concession (politics), conceded defeat to Alex Salmond and announced his intention to resign as leader of the Labour group of MSPs that autumn.
The election saw a rout of the Liberal Democrats, with no victories in mainland constituencies
and 25 lost deposits (candidates gaining less than five per cent of the vote).
Leader
Tavish Scott
Tavish Hamilton Scott (born 6 May 1966) is a former Scottish politician. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Shetland from 1999 to 2019, and Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 2008 to 2011. He stepped down as Lea ...
said their performance was due to the Liberal Democrats' involvement in the Cameron–Clegg coalition, Westminster Government, which had been unpopular with many former LibDem supporters.
Scott resigned as leader two days after the election.
For the Conservatives, the main disappointment was the loss of Edinburgh Pentlands (Scottish Parliament constituency), Edinburgh Pentlands, the seat of former party leader David McLetchie, to the SNP. McLetchie was elected on the Lothian regional list and the Conservatives only made a net loss of five seats, with leader
Annabel Goldie
Annabel MacNicoll Goldie, Baroness Goldie (born 27 February 1950) is a Scottish politician and life peer who served as Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party from 2005 to 2011 and Minister of State for Defence from 2019 to 2023. She was a ...
claiming that their support had held firm.
Prime Minister David Cameron congratulated the SNP on the result, but vowed to campaign for the Union in any independence referendum.
The Scottish Green Party, Scottish Greens won two seats, including their co-convenor Patrick Harvie.
Margo MacDonald again won election as an independent on the Lothian regional list.
George Galloway, under a Unionist anti-cuts banner, failed to receive enough votes to be elected to the Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region), Glasgow regional list.
The SNP's overall majority assured Salmond of another term as First Minister, and he was reelected unopposed on 18 May.
, -
, style="background-color:white" colspan=15 ,
, -
! rowspan=2 colspan=2 , Party
! colspan=5 , Constituencies
! colspan=5 , Regional additional member system, additional members
! colspan=5 , Total seats
, -
! Votes !! % !! ± !! Seats !! ± !! Votes !! % !! ± !! Seats !! ± !! Total !! ± !! %
, -
, -
, style="text-align:left"; colspan="2" , Valid votes , , 1,989,276 , , 99.7 , , 3.8 , , colspan="2", , , 1,990,836 , , 99.7 , , 2.0 , , colspan="5",
, -
, style="text-align:left"; colspan="2" , Spoilt votes , , 6,363 , , 0.3 , , 3.8 , , colspan="2", , , 5,987 , , 0.3 , , 2.0 , , colspan="5",
, -
!style="text-align:left"; colspan="2" , Total , , 1,995,639 , , 100 , , , , 73 , , – , , 1,996,823 , , 100 , , , , 56 , , – , , 129 , , – , , 100
, -
, style="text-align:left"; colspan="2" , Electorate/Turnout , , 3,950,626 , , 50.5 , , 3.4 , , colspan="2", , , 3,950,626 , , 50.5 , , 3.5 , , colspan="5",
Votes summary
Constituency and regional summary
Central Scotland
, -
! colspan=2 style="width: 200px", Constituency
! style="width: 150px", Elected member
! style="width: 300px", Result
, -
! 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", +/−%
, -
Glasgow
, -
! colspan=2 style="width: 200px", Constituency
! style="width: 150px", Elected member
! style="width: 300px", Result
, -
! 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", +/−%
, -
Highlands and Islands
, -
! colspan=2 style="width: 200px", Constituency
! style="width: 150px", Elected member
! style="width: 300px", Result
, -
! 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", +/−%
, -
Lothian
, -
! colspan=2 style="width: 200px", Constituency
! style="width: 150px", Elected member
! style="width: 300px", Result
, -
! 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", +/−%
, -
Mid Scotland and Fife
, -
! colspan=2 style="width: 200px", Constituency
! style="width: 150px", Elected member
! style="width: 300px", Result
, -
! 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", +/−%
, -
North East Scotland
, -
! colspan=2 style="width: 200px", Constituency
! style="width: 150px", Elected member
! style="width: 300px", Result
, -
! 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", +/−%
, -
South Scotland
, -
! colspan=2 style="width: 200px", Constituency
! style="width: 150px", Elected member
! style="width: 300px", Result
, -
! 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", +/−%
, -
West Scotland
, -
! colspan=2 style="width: 200px", Constituency
! style="width: 150px", Elected member
! style="width: 300px", Result
, -
! 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", +/−%
, -
Top target seats of the main parties
Below are listed all the constituencies which required a Swing (United Kingdom), swing of less than 5% from the 2007 result to change hands. Because the election was fought under new boundaries, the figures are based on notional results from 2007.
SNP targets
Conservative targets
Labour targets
Liberal Democrat targets
Incumbents defeated
See also
*Arbuthnott Commission
*2011 National Assembly for Wales election
*2011 Northern Ireland Assembly election
*Review of the Labour Party in Scotland, Murphy and Boyack review of the Labour Party in Scotland
*2011 Scottish Labour leadership election
*2011 Scottish Conservatives leadership election
*2011 Scottish Liberal Democrats leadership election
References
External links
Election 2011, a Briefing by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre
Scottish Election Study
Party manifestos
British National Party ManifestoCommunist Party of Britain ManifestoPirate Party UK Scottish Manifesto
Scottish Christian Party ManifestoScottish Conservative Party ManifestoScottish Green Party ManifestoScottish Labour Party ManifestoScottish Liberal Democrats ManifestoScottish National Party ManifestoScottish Socialist Party ManifestoUK Independence Party Manifesto
Party election broadcasts
Scottish National PartyScottish Labour PartyScottish Conservative PartyScottish Liberal DemocratsScottish Green PartyBritish National PartyUK Independence PartyScottish Christian PartyScottish Socialist PartyAll Scotland Pensioner's PartySocialist Labour Party
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scottish Parliament General Election, 2011
General elections to the Scottish Parliament, 2011
2011 elections in the United Kingdom, Scottish Parliament election, 2011
2011 in Scotland, Scottish Parliament election, 2011
2010s elections in Scotland
May 2011 in the United Kingdom