Glasgow Central
2010 Results:
Conservative: 2158 (7.06%)
Labour: 15908 (52.02%)
Liberal Democrat: 5010 (16.38%)
SNP: 5357 (17.52%)
BNP: 616 (2.01%)
UKIP: 246 (0.8%)
Green: 800 (2.62%)
Scottish Socialist: 357 (1.17%)
Others: 128 (0.42%)
Majority: 10551 (34.5%)
2005 Results:
Labour: 13518 (48.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 4987 (17.8%)
SNP: 4148 (14.8%)
Conservative: 1757 (6.3%)
Other: 3627 (12.9%)
Majority: 8531 (30.4%)
Boundary changes prior to 2005 election: Name of seat changed from Glasgow Shettleston.
2001 Result
Conservative: 1082 (5.3%)
Labour: 13235 (64.7%)
Liberal Democrat: 1105 (5.4%)
SNP: 3417 (16.7%)
Other: 1626 (7.9%)
Majority: 9818 (48%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 1484 (5.5%)
Labour: 19616 (73.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 1061 (4%)
SNP: 3748 (14%)
Referendum: 151 (0.6%)
Other: 753 (2.8%)
Majority: 15868 (59.2%)
No Boundary Changes:
Profile: Covers the city centre itself and the main commercial and shopping areas of Glasgow, plus the two city centre university campuses, Glasgow Caledonian and the University of Strathclyde. The economic renewal of Glasgow since the 1990s has led to rapidly rising property prices and some gentrification, especially in the areas closest to the city centre and Glasgow Green, however, most of the seat remains severely deprived.
North of the Clyde the Calton area suffers severe deprivation with major problems of unemployment, crime, drug abuse and prostitution. Life expectancy here in the low 50s, below that in much of the third world. It has been troubled with sectarian and gang violence. Across the river the Gorbals have as bad a reputation, though of some of the most decayed tower blocks and worst slums were cleared in the 1990s. Further south the Pollokshields, once a Victorian garden city development, is the heart of the city`s muslim community, home to a large Pakistani population that, since 1997, has provided the constituency with its MP, Mohammed Sarwar.
Current MP: Anas Sarwar (Labour) born 1983, son of Mohammed Sarwar, current MP for Glasgow Central. Educated at Hutchesons Grammar. Dentist. Contested Glasgow region in the 2007 Scottish elections.
John Bradley (Conservative) Educated at Oxford, London and Edinburgh University. Phd student.Anas Sarwar (Labour) born 1983, son of Mohammed Sarwar, current MP for Glasgow Central. Educated at Hutchesons Grammar. Dentist. Contested Glasgow region in the 2007 Scottish elections.
Chris Young (Liberal Democrat) Educated at St Andrews University. Actor, poet and non-practising solicitor. Contested Glasgow Govan 2007 Scottish elections.
Osama Saeed (SNP) Tax consultant and investment advisor, Scottish representative of the Muslim Association of Britain. Contested East Renfrewshire in 2005
Alastair Whitelaw (Green)Ramsay Urquhart (UKIP) Ian Holt (BNP)James Nesbitt (SSP) 
Finlay Archibald (Pirate) Student at Strathclyde University.2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 78383
Male: 49.6%
Female: 50.4%
Under 18: 18.6%
Over 60: 18.2%
Born outside UK: 12.6%
White: 85.7%
Black: 0.5%
Asian: 11.3%
Mixed: 0.6%
Other: 2%
Christian: 55%
Muslim: 9.3%
Sikh: 1%
Graduates 16-74: 22.2%
No Qualifications 16-74: 36.7%
Owner-Occupied: 41.4%
Social Housing: 38.2% (Council: 22.5%, Housing Ass.: 15.8%)
Privately Rented: 15.4%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 20.1%
As I was saying typical journalism !
Every party represented with logo’s and drop down category except……………..you guessed it !
The British National Party
Even the biased BBC have the British National Party policies and logo’s
British National Party Policies
You are not only a Fascist, you are wilfully misusing this site. This site is NOT for peddling your own party’s policies.
A 2nd HEPWORTH…
Whats it for then Barny ?
Calm down Barnaby….everyone knows that Labour will easily hold on to this constituency.
My own view is that people in this area plus other seats like this one (Salford, Manchester, Liverpool, Middlesborough etc should ask a simple question…’why are things not better after 13 years of Labour’. The tories won’t do much either, but who can.
One thing that I dislike about UK politics is that there are too many ‘safe’ seats
Mr Holt – this site is intended as a discussion of election results, opinion polls and election predictions. It is a non-partisan site and supporters of Labour, Conservative, Green, BNP, Lib Dem, and other parties are not supposed to propound their policies however wonderful they may seem to be to themselves.
I wonder why BNP contributors here abbreviate my name, and supporters of all other parties don’t?
Dear Barny
Check out the Comments policy it is not to criticise rival candidates. Is calling someone a fascist not knowing their past or person critical. I’d go further and say its slander and an insult to democracy !
Dear Barny
I was merely illustrating the fact that all other parties had a category drop down and party logo except, as usual, the British National Party
Ian…in my view, there’s no point in a BNP supporter getting too heated about Glasgow Central….Labour will win easily.
If I were a BNP supporter I would rather discuss policy issues on the sites where the party is likeliest to make the biggest impact…..Burnley for example.
Or Barking
Is calling someone a fascist not knowing their past or person critical. I’d go further and say its slander and an insult to democracy !
Does this mean you are opposed to the fundamentals which the BNP appears to be based upon? I base my comment on the experience of having been represented by a BNP Councillor in Keighley West and being canvessed by a Mr N Griffin in 2005. Their stance left me in no doubt, since both individuals used words and phrases to descibe whole communities of whom neither had knowledge of background or past history.
Further since you offer yourself for election you must expect to be put under scrutiny and accept that your views are unacceptable or even abhorrant to many people and accept with grace that criticism, which in my humble opinon is lacking in some of your colleagues!
Good point Neil and valid ! However, Proportional Representation offers the British National Party a real chance of elected representatives. The targeted campaigns in the European elections proved that this is possible. Glasgow has serious issues of class divide. As the working class tried to readjust after the heavy industry declined they were left moreover abandoned by Labour policy. If you read my article @ Glasgows rebirth blighted you may acknowledge that the way Labour has abandoned those that they consider second class citizens is manifesting itself in support for the British National Party. Glasgow NE was a whisker away from retaining its deposit. For a first outing that is not a bad first showing. We can only build on this and unless we are in the thick of it we go nowhere !
So here we are !
Again Gary
You neither know me nor have you any knowledge of my background.
I am here and will accept any criticism put before me but I will not insult any of you. Put me under scrutiny if you wish and ask my views instead of assuming the stereotype.
In grace
Ian…retaining deposits is one thing, winning seats is something completely different. If your target is to retain a deposit then fine.
The proportional representation argument is valid ,as one only has to look at the success of Monsieur Le Pen in recent years. My own view is that in Britain, people will soon get fed up with coalitions and eventually either the tories or labour will end up winning with 57% of the vote.
I accept I don’t know you and I was not making assumptions, my comment was based on experience and fact as presented to me by your colleagues, one of whom is your parties leader..
Since you are contesting a Scottish seat, where do you stand on the question of the union?
Thank you Gary
The Union is a contentious issue. However, I will not shirk from answering or beat about the bush.
My party is one of British Nationalists that includes the Scottish, Welsh, Irish and English. We believe that strength and power is in the Union.
When we withdraw from the EU we will all need that strength and power to work together and rebuild our Country to be able to compete in a global arena.
I realise that times have changed and all of us have moved on. Devolved governments are a new and an interesting development. I feel that for far too long everything and anything was dictated by Westminster and I am pleased that Scotland has been able to experience freedom from the shackles of that oppressive and suffocating regime.
However, I still feel that strength lies in the Union. That does not mean that all things should be dictated by Westminster.
The Scottish are a proud Nation that was repressed many centuries by the English and they have finally found their voice and freedom through a Democratic process. That will never be taken away again and I dont blame them !
This does not mean that all concerned cannot work together within a Union. We, all of us, have much in common and a shared if somewhat checkered history.
As a Democracy, and observers of it, we abide by whatever the people decide.
I hope that this has answered in some way my stance on the Union ?
In Grace
Why did Labour not select from an AWS?
Labour 14000
SNP 7500
LD 2700
SCUP 2500
Oth 1500
Labour
SNP
Libdem
Conservative
Majority – 7500
Lab Hold
Maj 11 000
Full List
Finlay ARCHIBALD (Pirate)
John BRADLEY (Conservative)
Ian HOLT (BNP)
James NESBITT (Scottish Socialist)
Osama SAEED (SNP)
Anas SARWAR (Labour)
Ramsey URQUHART (UKIP)
Alastair WHITELAW (Green)
Chris YOUNG (Lib Dem)
Lab maj 6,000
Labour hold:
Labour 12,000
LibDem 4,000
SNP 4,000
Cons 1,500
All others 3,000
It will be very close for second place between the SNP and LibDems.
Does anyone know where’s the polling station for Glasgow central?
LAB HOLD
There will be loads of polling stations Sam. Best call Glasgow Council
My home is in East Ayrshire but my term time address is in Glasgow City Centre, can I vote here?
Just following up on location of polling stations – I’ve just recently registered and so haven’t been sent a list in preparation for tomorrow. So if anyone knows around the Woodlands Road / Charing Cross area that would be great.
wishing all d best to anas UR DADS ALWAYS DONE A GREAT JOB HOPE U FOLLOW
GOOD LUCK
I PREDICT
LABOUR 12500
SNP 7500
LIB DEM 4500
CONS 2500
GREEN 20
UKIP 30
SSP 12
BNP 10 IF LUCKY
With 585 seats the number of constituencies in Glasgow would be reduced from 7 to 5.
Total electorate of the current 7 Glasgow seats = 417,032.
Electoral quota with 585 seats = 77,964.
There are 13 wards North of the Clyde and 8 wards South of the Clyde so I assume that would mean 3 seats North of the Clyde (2 x 4 wards and 1 x 5 wards unless a ward is split) and 2 seats South of the Clyde (2 x 4 wards).
NORTH GLASGOW
Glasgow Kelvingrove (Anderston/ City, Canal, Hillhead and Springburn)
Glasgow Scotstoun (Drumchaple/ Anniesland, Garscadden/ Scotstounhill, Maryhill/ Kelvin and Partick West)
Glasgow Shettleston (Ballieston, Calton, East Centre, North East and Shettleston)
SOUTH GLASGOW
Glasgow Cathcart (Langside, Linn, Newlands/ Auldburn and Southside Central).
Glasgow Pollok (Craigton, Govan, Greater Pollok and Pollokshields)
Glasgow Central had over 3000 business voters in 1945. Much larger than any other constituency.
The business voters could chose whether to cast their votes at home (Glasgow Hillhead, Glasgow Cathcart, East Renfrewshire – all then safe Conservative seats) or here.
Given that the Conservative majority was 1000, then the 3000 + business vote may have been just significant.
In 1950 the business vote was abolished and the seat fell to Labour. In 1955, much of the commercial Exchange Ward was lost to Glasgow Kelvingrove while the whole of the safe Labour Cowcaddens Ward was gained from Glasgow Woodside.
Interesting figures published yesterday from the General Register Office for Scotland regarding the electorates of individual constituencies as of 1 December 2010. Most seats have remained roughly the same as a year before. But notable exceptions were the seven Glasgow seats. The electorates of six of the seven Glasgow seats increased by around 4000 electors *each* between 2009 and 2010. In the seventh seat, Glasgow Central, the electorate increased by almost 9500! Thus a city-wide electorate of 414,146 in 2009 becomes 448,816 in 2010, an increase of 8.4% in one year. In Glasgow Central, the area with the biggest increase in electorate was the Anderston/City ward, where the electorate rose from 17,849 to 22,658, an increase of almost 27%.
This is something of an anomaly, to say the least. Glasgow’s electorate has declined every year but one since 2004; the exception was 2007 which, like 2010, was also an election year (for Holyrood and for local government). The increase in the electorate that year was a mere 0.2% of the previous year’s figure.
I’d be interested to know quite why there was this sudden rise, though I’m sure the fact that it was an election year had something to do with it. I’d also be interested to see whether these new electors remain on the roll this year (another election year in Scotland), and, more to the point, again in 2012 (which isn’t an election year). Finally, how far might the volatility of these electorate figures distort the work of the Boundary Commission as they are about to embark on the business of creating boundaries based on a new electoral quota?
It struck me Aidan, presumably simply a greater electoral reg. drive on the part of Glasgow council.
I assumed Glasgow would only need 5 seats but now it looks like 6 might be required.
That was my thought too. Anderston/City, incidentally, has a relatively high student population, and I suspect that’s an age-group where a registration drive would have had a particularly marked effect. But my point remains about whether these new electors would necessarily remain on the electorate, and thus which year’s figures the BCS would use when calculating the new seats. If they used 2009′s, Glasgow would end up with 5 seats (or possibly 5 1/2: I’d consider conjoining Linn ward with Rutherglen just to even up the numbers); if they used this year’s, Glasgow would get 6 seats.
Which area is likely to suffer because of Glasgow probably getting a 6th seat?
Andrea, do you mean which area in Glasgow is likely to suffer by the fact that Glasgow will lose a seat (from seven to six), or which area in Scotland is likely to suffer by the fact that Glasgow’s electorate is higher than previously thought?
The answer to first question is Glasgow North (the smallest seat in the city, and likely to be split up between Glasgow NE and Glasgow NW, with knock-on effects to neighbouring seats).
The answer to the second question: no idea. I’ll get back to you on that one.
Thanks Aidan. I meant the second question.
I tried to pair local authorities to fit the numbers but I got lost in West Scotland
However, the first question is also interesting because there can be some hard fought internal selections within Glasgow Labour if no-one stands aside
It will be interesting if Davena Rankin is selected as a Labour candidate for one of the Glasgow seats. Just out of interest, imagine if by the end of the year the coalition happens to fall and an election is called for early 2012, would it be legally possible for the new boundary changes to be rushed through or as I presume the current boundaries will be used?
Probably isn’t room for Rankin in Glasgow, she’d have to fight E Dunbartonshire if she wanted a seat.
I suppose Ian Davidson is the most likely MP to stand down because he’s served since 97 unlike the other MPs in the city.
’92 actually’ – he represented Govan before.
Assuming next GE will be in 2015…
MP(seat): age/year of election
Margharet Curran (East): 57/2010
Anas Sarwar (Central): 32/2010
Willie Bain (North East): 43/2009
Ann McKenchin (North): 53/2001
Tom Harris (South): 51/2001
John Robertson (North West): 63/2000
Ian Davidson (South West): 65/1992
I suppose that the first 5 are not likely to want to retire (even if there are always other factors effecting this kind of decision like personal/family matters, disaffection with your party or the political system)
The outgoing Glasgow Govan included all of the original Westminster constituency gained by Margo MacDonald in November 1973.
The new Glasgow Southside is similar to Glasgow Gorbals 1918 – 1974 and very similar to Glasgow Queens Park 1974 – 1983 (with Cessnock, Kinning Park, Ibrox, East Pollokshields thrown in).
I think that the Glasgow Westminster constituencies should have names instead of compass points.
Also, they should not be the same as the name of any Holyrood constituency. It is possible to resurrect a number of old Glasgow constituency names that are central to the new boundaries.
Glasgow Bridgeton (East)
Glasgow Craigton (SW)
Glasgow Govan (Central)
Glasgow Queens Park (SE)
Glasgow Scotstoun (NW)
Glasgow Springburn (NE)
I also believe that the Edinburgh seats would also suit names as opposed to compass points.
Edinburgh Cramond (W)
Edinburgh Craiglockhart (SW)
Edinburgh Holyrood (E)
Edinburgh Leith (Central & Leith)
Largely agree about Glasgow.
Edinburgh East could be called Edinburgh Cameron Toll and Edinburgh West named Edinburgh Corstorphine.
Edinburgh Holyrood doesn’t quite work as the Scottish Parliament is just inside the Edinburgh Central and Leith boundaries.
Edinburgh Craiglockhart is fine but
it’s difficult to improve on Edinburgh Leith apart from ‘Edinburgh Easter Road’ maybe .
Lovely though it is I’d have thought Cramond is a bit small to give its name to a seat. Murrayfield & Corstorphine are more populous & Murrayfield has the added advantage of being famous (though, as a Conservative ward, it’s not typical of the constituency these days).