Shetland (Scottish Parliament constituency)

Constituency of the Scottish Parliament

Shetland

County constituency
for the Scottish Parliament

Shetland shown within the Highlands and Islands electoral region and the region shown within Scotland

Population| 22,990 (2019)[1]
Current constituency
Created| 1999
Party| Liberal Democrat
MSP| Beatrice Wishart
Local council| Shetland Islands

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

Shetland has been held by the Liberal Democrats at all elections since the formation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, with the current MSP being Beatrice Wishart, who won the seat at a 2019 by-election held following the resignation of former party leader Tavish Scott.

## Electoral region

[edit]

See also: Highlands and Islands (Scottish Parliament electoral region)

Shetland is part of the Highlands and Islands electoral region; the other seven constituencies are: Argyll and Bute, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Inverness and Nairn, Moray, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Orkney and Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.

The region covers most of Argyll and Bute council area, all of the Highland council area, most of the Moray council area, all of the Orkney Islands council area, all of the Shetland Islands council area and all of Na h-Eileanan Siar.

## Constituency boundaries and council area

[edit]

The Shetland constituency was created at the same time as the Scottish Parliament, in 1999, to cover the Shetland Isles council area. The constituency is protected in law due to its geographical separation from other parts of Scotland, and therefore its boundaries are not subject to review.[2] In the House of Commons of the British Parliament at (Westminster), the council area is covered by the Orkney and Shetland constituency, which also covers the Orkney Islands council area.[3]

It contains all seven of the Shetland Council wards: North Isles; Shetland North; Shetland West; Shetland Central; Shetland South; Lerwick North; Lerwick South.

## Member of the Scottish Parliament

[edit]

The seat was represented by Tavish Scott, former Scottish Liberal Democrats leader, from the 1999 election until he stood down in June 2019.[4] The subsequent by-election was won by Beatrice Wishart, who held the seat for the Liberal Democrats.[5]

Election | Member | Party

|
|

| 1999 | Tavish Scott | Liberal Democrats
2019 by-election | Beatrice Wishart

## Election results

[edit]

Shetland election results 1999-2021

### 2020s

[edit]

2021 Scottish Parliament election: Shetland[6][a] Party  | Candidate  | Constituency  | Regional

|
|
|

Votes  | %  | ±% | Votes  | %  | ±%
| Liberal Democrats | Beatrice Wishart[b] | 5,803 | 48.6 | 18.8 | 3,157  | 26.5  | 9.1
| SNP | Tom Wills  | 4,997  | 41.9  | 18.8  | 4,108 | 34.5 | 7.9
| Conservative | Nick Tulloch  | 503  | 4.2  | 0.5  | 1,865  | 15.7  | 4.8
| Scottish Green | 1,154  | 9.7  | 3.0
| Labour | Martin Kerr  | 424  | 3.6  | 2.3  | 1,003  | 8.4  | 0.7
| Independent | Peter Tait  | 116  | 1.0  | New |
| Alba | 104  | 0.9  | New
| Scottish Family | 93  | 0.8  | New
| Independent | Andy Wightman[c] | 70  | 0.6  | New
| All for Unity | 60  | 0.5  | New
| Reform UK | 57  | 0.5  | New
| Restore Scotland | Brian Nugent  | 90  | 0.8  | New | 53  | 0.4  | New
| Abolish the Scottish Parliament | 49  | 0.4  | New
| Scottish Libertarian | 48  | 0.4  | New
| UKIP | 38  | 0.3  | 2.4
| TUSC | 25  | 0.2  | New
| Freedom Alliance (UK)  | 13  | 0.1  | New
| Independent | Hazel Mansfield  | 9  | 0.1  | New
Majority  | 806  | 6.7  | 37.6  |
Valid Votes  | 11,933  |  | 11,906  |
Invalid Votes  | 35  |  | 30  |
Turnout | 11,968  | 66.0  | 3.7  | 11,936  | 65.8  | 3.5
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 18.8  |

Notes

1. ^ Showing changes from 2016 general election.
2. ^ Incumbent member for this constituency
3. ^ Incumbent member on the list for Lothian region, having been elected as a member of the Scottish Greens in 2016

### 2010s

[edit]

2019 Shetland by-election[7] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Democrats | Beatrice Wishart | 5,659  | 47.9  | 19.5
| SNP | Tom Wills  | 3,822  | 32.3  | 9.2
| Independent | Ryan Thomson  | 1,286  | 10.9  | New
| Conservative | Brydon Goodlad  | 425  | 3.6  | 0.1
| Scottish Green | Debra Nicolson  | 189  | 1.6  | New
| Labour | Johan Adamson  | 152  | 1.3  | 4.6
| Independent | Michael Stout  | 134  | 1.1  | New
| Independent | Ian Scott  | 66  | 0.6  | New
| UKIP | Stuart Martin  | 60  | 0.5  | New
| Independent | Peter Tait  | 31  | 0.3  | New
Majority  | 1,837  | 15.6  | 28.7
Total valid votes  | 11,824  |  |
Rejected ballots  | 11  |  |
Turnout | 11,835  | 66.5  | 4.2
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 14.4  |
2016 Scottish Parliament election: Shetland[8][9] Party  | Candidate  | Constituency  | Regional

|
|
|

Votes  | %  | ±% | Votes  | %  | ±%
| Liberal Democrats | Tavish Scott[a] | 7,440 | 67.4 | 19.9 | 3,937 | 35.7 | 3.8
| SNP | Danus Skene | 2,545  | 23.1  | 11.0  | 2,932  | 26.6  | 2.2
| Labour | Robina Barton  | 651  | 5.9  | 0.7  | 1,003  | 9.1  | 1.4
| Conservative | Cameron Smith  | 405  | 3.7  | 0.2  | 1,197  | 10.8  | 4.5
| Scottish Green | 736  | 6.7  | 0.8
| Independent | James Stockan  | 701  | 6.3  | New
| UKIP | 301  | 2.7  | 1.2
| Scottish Christian | 116  | 1.1  | 1.0
| RISE | 85  | 0.8  | New
| Solidarity | 33  | 0.3  | 0.1
Majority  | 4,895  | 44.3  | 27.1  |
Valid Votes  | 11,041  |  | 11,041  |
Invalid Votes  | 46  |  | 46  |
Turnout | 11,087  | 62.3  | 8.5  | 11,087  | 62.3  | 8.5
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 15.5  |

Notes

1. ^ Incumbent member for this constituency

2011 Scottish Parliament election: Shetland[10] Party  | Candidate  | Constituency  | Regional

|
|
|

Votes  | %  | ±% | Votes  | %  | ±%
| Liberal Democrats | Tavish Scott[a] | 4,462 | 47.5 | 19.2 | 2,975 | 31.9 |
| Independent | Billy Fox  | 2,845  | 30.3  | New |
| SNP | Jean Urquhart | 1,134  | 12.1  | 4.5  | 2,688  | 28.8  |
| Labour | Jamie Kerr  | 620  | 6.6  | 0.2  | 974  | 10.4  |
| Conservative | Sandy Cross  | 330  | 3.5  | 6.4  | 595  | 6.4  |
| Scottish Green | 699  | 7.5  |
| UKIP | 362  | 3.9  |
| Liberal | 319  | 3.4  |
| Scottish Christian | 196  | 2.1  |
| All Scotland Pensioners Party | 170  | 1.8  |
| Ban Bankers Bonuses  | 153  | 1.6  |
| BNP | 66  | 0.7  |
| Socialist Labour | 65  | 0.7  |
| Scottish Socialist | 57  | 0.6  |
| Solidarity | 15  | 0.2  |
Majority  | 1,617  | 17.2  | 32.9  |
Valid Votes  | 9,391  |  | 9,334  |
Invalid Votes  | 37  |  | 83  |
Turnout | 9,428  | 53.9  | 3.4  | 9,417  | 53.9  |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 7.4  |

Notes

1. ^ Incumbent member for this constituency

### 2000s

[edit]

2007 Scottish Parliament election: Shetland  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Democrats | Tavish Scott | 6,531  | 66.7  | +20.6
| SNP | Val Simpson  | 1,622  | 16.6  | −3.4
| Conservative | Mark Jones  | 972  | 9.9  | −4.9
| Labour | Scott Burnett  | 670  | 6.8  | −3.4
Majority  | 4,409  | 50.1  | +24.0
Turnout | 9,795  | 57.3  | +5.5
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +12.1  |
Scottish Parliament Election 2003: Shetland  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Democrats | Tavish Scott | 3,989  | 46.1  | −8.4
| SNP | Willie Ross  | 1,729  | 20.0  | +5.7
| Conservative | John Firth  | 1,281  | 14.8  | +6.1
| Labour | Peter Hamilton  | 880  | 10.2  | −12.3
| Scottish Socialist | Peter Andrews  | 766  | 8.9  | New
Majority  | 2,260  | 26.1  | −6.0
Turnout | 8,645  | 51.8  | −6.5
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -7.0  |

### 1990s

[edit]

Scottish Parliament Election 1999: Shetland  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Democrats | Tavish Scott | 5,455  | 54.5  | N/A
| Labour | Jonathan Wills  | 2,241  | 22.4  | N/A
| SNP | Willie Ross  | 1,430  | 14.3  | N/A
| Conservative | Gary Robinson  | 872  | 8.7  | N/A
Majority  | 3,214  | 32.1  | N/A
Turnout | 9,998  | 58.3  | N/A
| Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

## Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ Scottish Parliamentary Constituency (SPC) Population Estimates (2011 Data Zone based), National Records of Scotland; retrieved 6 May 2021 (accompanying summary notes)
2. ^ "First Periodical Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries - Descriptive Booklet" (PDF). Boundary Commission for Scotland. January 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
3. ^ See The 5th Periodical Report of the Boundary Commission for Scotland Archived 21 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
4. ^ "Former Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott to quit Holyrood". BBC News. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
5. ^ Brooks, Libby (30 August 2019). "Shetland byelection: Liberal Democrats retain Scottish parliament seat". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
6. ^ Kerr, Bob. "Scottish Parliamentary Election 2021". Shetland Islands Council.
7. ^ "Radio Shetland hosts by-election hustings". BBC News. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
8. ^ Sawkins, James. "Scottish Parliamentary Election 2016". Shetland Islands Council.
9. ^ "Results and turnout at the 2016 Scottish Parliament election". The Electoral Commission. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
10. ^ "Results and turnout at the 2011 Scottish Parliament election". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 3 June 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* "Shetland Islands constituency map" (PDF). Boundaries Scotland. Retrieved 7 July 2021.

* v
* t
* e

« 1999-2011 « Electoral regions and constituencies of the Scottish Parliament (2011-)

Central Scotland|

* Airdrie and Shotts
* Coatbridge and Chryston
* Cumbernauld and Kilsyth
* East Kilbride
* Falkirk East
* Falkirk West
* Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse
* Motherwell and Wishaw
* Uddingston and Bellshill

Glasgow|

* Glasgow Anniesland
* Glasgow Cathcart
* Glasgow Kelvin
* Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn
* Glasgow Pollok
* Glasgow Provan
* Glasgow Shettleston
* Glasgow Southside
* Rutherglen

Highlands and Islands|

* Argyll and Bute
* Caithness, Sutherland and Ross
* Inverness and Nairn
* Moray
* Na h-Eileanan an Iar
* Orkney
* Shetland
* Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch

Lothian|

* Almond Valley
* Edinburgh Central
* Edinburgh Eastern
* Edinburgh Northern and Leith
* Edinburgh Pentlands
* Edinburgh Southern
* Edinburgh Western
* Linlithgow
* Midlothian North and Musselburgh

Mid Scotland and Fife|

* Clackmannanshire and Dunblane
* Cowdenbeath
* Dunfermline
* Kirkcaldy
* Mid Fife and Glenrothes
* North East Fife
* Perthshire North
* Perthshire South and Kinross-shire
* Stirling

North East Scotland|

* Aberdeen Central
* Aberdeen Donside
* Aberdeen South and North Kincardine
* Aberdeenshire East
* Aberdeenshire West
* Angus North and Mearns
* Angus South
* Banffshire and Buchan Coast
* Dundee City East
* Dundee City West

South Scotland|

* Ayr
* Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley
* Clydesdale
* Dumfriesshire
* East Lothian
* Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire
* Galloway and West Dumfries
* Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley
* Midlothian South, Tweeddale, and Lauderdale

West Scotland|

* Clydebank and Milngavie
* Cunninghame North
* Cunninghame South
* Dumbarton
* Eastwood
* Greenock and Inverclyde
* Paisley
* Renfrewshire North and West
* Renfrewshire South
* Strathkelvin and Bearsden

* v
* t
* e

Electoral regions and constituencies of the Scottish Parliament (1999-2011) » 2011- »

Central Scotland|

* Airdrie and Shotts
* Coatbridge and Chryston
* Cumbernauld and Kilsyth
* East Kilbride
* Falkirk East
* Falkirk West
* Hamilton North and Bellshill
* Hamilton South
* Kilmarnock and Loudoun
* Motherwell and Wishaw

Glasgow|

* Glasgow Anniesland
* Glasgow Baillieston
* Glasgow Cathcart
* Glasgow Govan
* Glasgow Kelvin
* Glasgow Maryhill
* Glasgow Pollok
* Glasgow Rutherglen
* Glasgow Shettleston
* Glasgow Springburn

Highlands and Islands|

* Argyll and Bute
* Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
* Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber
* Moray
* Na h-Eileanan an Iar
* Orkney
* Ross, Skye and Inverness West
* Shetland

Lothians|

* Edinburgh Central
* Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
* Edinburgh North and Leith
* Edinburgh Pentlands
* Edinburgh South
* Edinburgh West
* Linlithgow
* Livingston
* Midlothian

Mid Scotland and Fife|

* Central Fife
* Dunfermline East
* Dunfermline West
* Kirkcaldy
* North East Fife
* North Tayside
* Ochil
* Perth
* Stirling

North East Scotland|

* Aberdeen Central
* Aberdeen North
* Aberdeen South
* Angus
* Banff and Buchan
* Dundee East
* Dundee West
* Gordon
* West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

South of Scotland|

* Ayr
* Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley
* Clydesdale
* Cunninghame South
* Dumfries
* East Lothian
* Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
* Roxburgh and Berwickshire
* Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale

West of Scotland|

* Clydebank and Milngavie
* Cunninghame North
* Dumbarton
* Eastwood
* Greenock and Inverclyde
* Paisley North
* Paisley South
* Strathkelvin and Bearsden
* West Renfrewshire

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template