Paisley (Scottish Parliament constituency)

Paisley
County constituency for the Scottish Parliament
Paisley shown within the West Scotland electoral region and the region shown within Scotland
Population	72,752 (2019)[1]
Current constituency
Created	2011
Party	Scottish National Party
MSP	George Adam
Council area	Renfrewshire

Paisley is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering the town of Paisley in Renfrewshire council area. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post method of election. It is also one of ten constituencies in the West Scotland electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to ten constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.

The constituency was created for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, and covers parts of the former constituencies of Paisley North and Paisley South.^[2] It has been held by George Adam of the Scottish National Party (SNP) since its formation.

The other nine constituencies of the West Scotland region are: Clydebank and Milngavie, Cunninghame North, Cunninghame South, Dumbarton, Eastwood, Greenock and Inverclyde, Renfrewshire North and West, Renfrewshire South and Strathkelvin and Bearsden.

The region covers part of the Argyll and Bute council area, the East Dunbartonshire council area, the East Renfrewshire council area, the Inverclyde council area, North Ayrshire council area, the Renfrewshire council area and the West Dunbartonshire council area.

Map of boundaries from 2011

Renfrewshire is represented in the Scottish Parliament by three constituencies: Paisley, Renfrewshire North and West and Renfrewshire South.

The electoral wards of the Paisley constituency are:

• In full:
  • Paisley Northeast and Ralston
  • Paisley East and Central
  • Paisley Southeast
  • Paisley Southwest
• In part: Paisley Northwest (shared with Renfrewshire North and West)

The constituency covers most of the town of Paisley, the Gallowhill area in the northeast of the town lying in the neighbouring seat of Renfrewshire North and West. Paisley is often considered the biggest town in Scotland, and gave its name to the distinctive kidney-shaped "paisley pattern" and the Paisley shawl. Textile and thread manufacture were long the mainstay of Paisley's industry, due to the damp climate and plentiful water, and by the 19th century, the town was a major centre for the weaving industry.^[3]

Paisley has a long association with political Radicalism, highlighted by its involvement in the Radical War of 1820, with striking weavers being instrumental in the protests. By 1993, all of Paisley's mills had closed, although they are memorialised in the town's museums and civic history.^[4] The decline of industry in the town has led to urban recession, and in 2006, the district of Ferguslie Park was named one of Scotland's most deprived areas by what was then the Scottish Executive. In 2015, the town launched its bid to become UK City of Culture in 2021, becoming one of the five shortlisted candidates,^[5] before eventually losing out to Coventry.

The constituency features four railway stations, a major hospital and several notable churches. Most noticeable among the buildings of Paisley is Paisley Abbey in the centre of the town, which dates from the 12th century. Nearby lies St Mirin's Cathedral which is the seat of the Catholic Bishop of Paisley.^[3]

2021 Scottish Parliament election: Paisley^[6]

Party		Candidate	Constituency			Regional
			Votes	%	±%	Votes	%	±%
	SNP	George Adam[a]	17,495	50.0	0.2	16,147	46.0	0.6
	Labour Co-op	Neil Bibby[b]	11,420	32.7	0.5	8,797	25.1	2.0
	Conservative	Russell Findlay[c]	3,342	9.6	2.4	4,934	14.1	0.1
	Scottish Green	Scott Bevan	1,584	4.5	New	2,570	7.3	1.5
	Liberal Democrats	Eileen McCartin	1,124	3.2	2.8	905	2.6	0.6
	Alba					611	1.7	New
	All for Unity					284	0.8	New
	Scottish Family					224	0.6	New
	Independent Green Voice					160	0.5	New
	Freedom Alliance (UK)					102	0.3	New
	Reform UK					77	0.5	New
	Abolish the Scottish Parliament					77	0.2	New
	TUSC					68	0.2	New
	UKIP					57	0.2	1.5
	Scottish Libertarian					56	0.2	0.0
	Renew					12	0.0	New
	Scotia Future					12	0.0	New
	Independent	James Morrison				9	0.0	New
	Independent	Maurice Campbell				7	0.0	New
Majority			6,075	17.3	0.3
Valid Votes			34,965			35,109
Invalid Votes			143			62
Turnout			35,108	62.6	5.3	35,171	62.7	5.4
	SNP hold		Swing		0.4
Notes ^ Incumbent member for this constituency ^ Incumbent member on the party list, or for another constituency ^ Elected on the party list

2016 Scottish Parliament election: Paisley^[7]

Party		Candidate	Constituency			Regional
			Votes	%	±%	Votes	%	±%
	SNP	George Adam[a]	14,682	49.8	7.2	13,423	45.4	4.4
	Labour Co-op	Neil Bibby[b]	9,483	32.2	9.5	8,005	27.1	10.0
	Conservative	Paul Masterton	3,533	12.0	3.3	4,188	14.2	6.3
	Scottish Green					1,722	5.8	2.7
	Liberal Democrats	Eileen McCartin	1,766	6.0	1.0	954	3.2	0.1
	UKIP					513	1.7	1.2
	Solidarity					319	1.1	0.9
	Scottish Christian					234	0.8	0.1
	RISE					159	0.5	New
	Scottish Libertarian					56	0.2	New
Majority			5,199	17.6	16.7
Valid Votes			29,464			29,573
Invalid Votes			128			43
Turnout			29,592	57.3	7.8	29,616	57.3	8.0
	SNP hold		Swing		8.4
Notes ^ Incumbent member for this constituency ^ Incumbent member on the party list, or for another constituency

• "Paisley constituency map" (PDF). Boundaries Scotland. Retrieved 7 July 2021.