Comments on: Glasgow Central

By: Barnaby Marder

Barnaby Marder — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:09:43 +0000

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).

By: A Cairns

A Cairns — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:33:35 +0000

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 .

By: Dalek

Dalek — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:51:12 +0000

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)

By: Dalek

Dalek — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 08:49:08 +0000

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).

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:21:10 +0000

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)

By: A Brown

A Brown — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:15:39 +0000

’92 actually’ – he represented Govan before.

By: A Brown

A Brown — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:14:29 +0000

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.

By: Joseph Brayson

Joseph Brayson — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:50:41 +0000

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?

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:41:23 +0000

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

By: Aidan Thomson

Aidan Thomson — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:12:42 +0000

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.