Airdrie and Shotts (UK Parliament constituency)

Boundaries

1997–2005: The Monklands District electoral divisions of Airdrie North and Airdrie South, and the Motherwell District electoral division of Fortissat.

2005–2024: The North Lanarkshire Council wards of Academy, Airdrie Central, Airdrie North, Airdrie South, Benhar, Calderbank, Chapelhall, Clarkston, Craigneuk and Petersburn, Dykehead, Holytown, New Monkland West, Newarthill, Newmains, North Cairnhill and Coatdyke, Plains and Caldercruix, Salsburgh, South East Cairnhill and Gartlea, Stane, and Whinhall.

The 2005 changes saw the seat lose some territory to Motherwell and Wishaw whilst gaining part of Hamilton North and Bellshill.

In 2007 the North Lanarkshire wards were converted into multi-member wards, with the following falling within the constituency: Airdrie Central, Airdrie North, Airdrie South, Fortissat, Mossend and Holytown (part), Motherwell North (part), Murdostoun (part).

2024–present: Following the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency boundaries were redrawn with minor changes and the seat now consists of the following:

• In full: the North Lanarkshire Council wards of Airdrie North, Airdrie South, Fortissat;
• In part: the North Lanarkshire Council wards of Airdrie Central (nearly all), Mossend and Holytown (eastern parts including Holytown), Motherwell North (northern parts including Newarthill), Murdostoun (northern and eastern parts including Cleland and Newmains).

History

The constituency has existed since 1997; however, it underwent significant boundary changes in 2005. Before 2015, it could have been described as a safe seat for the Labour Party, who held it with a majority of over 12,000 votes until Neil Gray of the Scottish National Party (SNP) was elected at that year's general election, winning the seat from Pamela Nash by 8,779 votes. Gray's majority dipped to just 195 in the 2017 election. However, in the 2019 election he won by 5,201 votes. Gray resigned on 24 March 2021 to contest the 2021 Scottish Parliament election seat of the same name, triggering a by-election, which was won by Anum Qaisar. The seat was re-gained by Labour at the 2024 general election and is currently represented by Kenneth Stevenson.

Former MPs for the constituency include: Pamela Nash, former Baby of the House, John Reid, former Labour Home Secretary and Defence Secretary, and Helen Liddell, former Labour Scottish Secretary.

Constituency profile

It is a generally working-class, urban seat, and contains the towns of Airdrie, Calderbank, Chapelhall, Glenmavis and Shotts.

The majority of this constituency maintains the boundaries of its predecessor. From the North Lanarkshire constituency come Holytown and Newarthill. This seat is positioned on either side of the M8 motorway to Glasgow. Small semi-urban towns such as Shotts (including Stane and Dykehead) were added to Airdrie in the 1997 redistribution to form this seat, the predecessor of which was Monklands East. An area in the eastern part of Coatbridge is also part of the constituency.

Electoral Calculus describes the seat as "Traditional", characterised by working class people with lower levels of income and formal education.

Members of Parliament

Election results

Elections in the 2020s

2024 compared with the notion results of the 2019 general election rather than the 2021 byelection. |reg. electors = 63,705

Elections in the 2010s

|reg. electors = 64,011

|reg. electors = 64,146

|reg. electors = 66,792

|reg. electors = 62,364

Elections in the 2000s

|reg. electors = 58,349

Elections in the 1990s

Notes

References

References

1. "2023 review final recs news release". Boundary Commission for Scotland.
2. Baxter, Martin. (14 September 2018). "Seat Details". Electoral Calculus.
3. Sim, Philip. "This is now confirmed: Neil Gray has gone from being MP for Airdrie and Shotts to the Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead (...which is one way of quitting Westminster) - and as of tomorrow will be the SNP candidate to be MSP for Airdrie and Shotts. By-election incoming".
4. "Airdrie and Shotts: Seat Details". Electoral Calculus.
5. {{Rayment-hc. a. 1. (March 2012)
6. "Airdrie and Shotts constituency".
7. "Airdrie and Shotts - General election results 2024". BBC News.
8. "Airdrie and Shotts notional election - December 2019". [[UK Parliament]].
9. (October 2023). "UK Parliamentary Elections 2019". North Lanarkshire Council.
10. "Airdrie & Shotts parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News.
11. "Election Data 2017". Politics Resources.
12. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus.
13. (5 May 2015). "Election results". North Lanarkshire Council.
14. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus.
15. (7 May 2010). "Election 2010 - Constituency - Airdrie & Shotts". BBC News.
16. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus.
17. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus.
18. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus.