Central Scotland and Lothians West Region
Please comment on the proposed Central Scotland and Lothians West Region below.
Please use this text box to comment on the proposed Central Scotland and Lothians West Region
The electoral disparity across the proposed regions is too great. This impacts the electoral system. Central Scotland and Lothian West has an electorate of 610k with Highlands and Islands with 359k; this gives Central Scotland and Lothian West an electorate of 170% higher than Highlands and Islands yet both will elect the same number of regional MSPs.
Even given special geographic considerations, outside Highlands and Islands there is significant disparity in the proposed regions, with South Scotland having an electorate 128% that of Central Scotland and Lothians West which it borders.
This is in part caused by the proposed Glasgow Region with the effects of hermetically sealing off Eastwood from Glasgow which has already affected constituency design now affecting regional design and more importantly, representation under the proportional system.
East Kilbride is not Glasgow. It is not attached to Glasgow, it is not part of the urban area of Glasgow. Eastwood, is. If Eastwood is added and East Kilbride removed, Glasgow has a similar electorate of 556714. Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley can be added to West Scotland keeping all of 'northern Ayrshire' in one region with an electorate of 592871 (Kilmarnock previously being in Central Scotland, a more urban focused region prior to 2011) South of Scotland, with the aforementioned seat removed can take in East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs which is broadly currently in South of Scotland region and Midlothian North, bringing the whole region closer to the quota at 528558.
In compensation Edinburgh and Lothians East can take in Almond Valley and Bathgate to create an Edinburgh and Lothians West region with an electorate of 567168 and an area broadly similar to the current region and maintaining community ties. The remainder of Central Scotland and Lothians West, can include East Kilbride to give a Central Scotland region closer to the electoral quota at 535404 and again, create a region with nearly identical boundaries to the current region again maintaining community ties.
This arrangement is less disruptive to existing regions (and many of the established patterns prior to the First Review) and creates a more balanced electorate.
Even given special geographic considerations, outside Highlands and Islands there is significant disparity in the proposed regions, with South Scotland having an electorate 128% that of Central Scotland and Lothians West which it borders.
This is in part caused by the proposed Glasgow Region with the effects of hermetically sealing off Eastwood from Glasgow which has already affected constituency design now affecting regional design and more importantly, representation under the proportional system.
East Kilbride is not Glasgow. It is not attached to Glasgow, it is not part of the urban area of Glasgow. Eastwood, is. If Eastwood is added and East Kilbride removed, Glasgow has a similar electorate of 556714. Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley can be added to West Scotland keeping all of 'northern Ayrshire' in one region with an electorate of 592871 (Kilmarnock previously being in Central Scotland, a more urban focused region prior to 2011) South of Scotland, with the aforementioned seat removed can take in East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs which is broadly currently in South of Scotland region and Midlothian North, bringing the whole region closer to the quota at 528558.
In compensation Edinburgh and Lothians East can take in Almond Valley and Bathgate to create an Edinburgh and Lothians West region with an electorate of 567168 and an area broadly similar to the current region and maintaining community ties. The remainder of Central Scotland and Lothians West, can include East Kilbride to give a Central Scotland region closer to the electoral quota at 535404 and again, create a region with nearly identical boundaries to the current region again maintaining community ties.
This arrangement is less disruptive to existing regions (and many of the established patterns prior to the First Review) and creates a more balanced electorate.