Glasgow Central (UK Parliament constituency)

Boundaries

1885–1918: The Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Municipal Wards.

1918–1950: "That portion of the city which is bounded by a line commencing at a point at the intersection of the centre lines of Parliamentary Road and Castle Street, thence southward along the centre line of Castle Street to the centre line of Alexandra Parade, thence eastward along the centre line of Alexandra Parade to the centre line of Firpark Street, thence southward along the centre line of Firpark Street and Ark Lane to the centre line of Duke Street, thence westward along the centre line of Duke Street to the centre line of Sydney Street, thence southward along the centre line of Sydney Street to the centre line of Gallowgate, thence westward along the centre line of Gallowgate to the centre line of Saltmarket, thence southward along the centre line of Saltmarket and Albert Bridge to the centre line of the River Clyde, thence westward along the centre line of the River Clyde to a point in line with the centre line of McAlpine Street, thence northward along the centre line of McAlpine Street, Pitt Street and Scott Street to the centre line of New City Road, thence south-eastward along the centre line of New City Road and Cowcaddens to the centre line of Buchanan Street, thence southward along the centre line of Buchanan Street to the centre line of Parliamentary Road, thence north-eastward along the centre line of Parliamentary Road to the point of commencement."

1950–1975: The Exchange and Townhead wards of the county of the city of Glasgow.

1955–1974: The Cowcaddens and Townhead wards of the county of the city of Glasgow, and part of Exchange ward.

1974–1983: The County of the City of Glasgow wards of Calton, Dalmarnock, Exchange, and Townhead.

1983–1997: The City of Glasgow District electoral divisions of Central/Calton, Kingston/Hutchesontown, and Queen's Park/Crosshill.

2005–2024: Under the Fifth Review of UK Parliament constituencies which came into effect for the 2005 general election, the boundaries were defined in accordance with the ward structure in place on 30 November 2004 as containing the Glasgow City Council wards of Anderston, Bridgeton/Dalmarnock, Calton, Govanhill, Hutchesontown, Kelvingrove, Kingston, Merchant City, Pollokshields East, Strathbungo, and Toryglen.

From 2005, Glasgow Central was one of seven constituencies covering the Glasgow City council area, all entirely within the council area. Prior to the 2005 general election, the city area was covered by ten constituencies, of which two straddled boundaries with other council areas.

The Central constituency, as defined in 2005, included parts of the former Glasgow Govan, Glasgow Kelvin, Glasgow Shettleston, Glasgow Pollok and Glasgow Rutherglen constituencies. Scottish Parliament constituencies for the area are predominantly Glasgow Southside on the South of the river and Glasgow Kelvin on the North of the river, with Calton, Bridgeton and Dalmarnock areas of Glasgow Shettleston as well as a single polling place each from Glasgow Cathcart and Glasgow Provan.

The Central constituency sat across the River Clyde, and included the areas of Kelvingrove, Anderston, Merchant City, Calton, Bridgeton, Kingston, Gorbals, Govanhill and part of Pollokshields .

Further to reviews of local government ward boundaries which came into effect in 2007 and 2017, but did not affect the parliamentary boundaries, the constituency comprised the City of Glasgow Council wards or part wards of: Govan (minority), Pollokshields (minority), Langside (small part), Southside Central (nearly all), Calton (majority), Anderston/City/Yorkhill (all), and Hillhead (very small part).

On abolition for the 2024 general election, the contents of the seat were distributed as follows:

• Glasgow East (44.6% of population) – districts of Merchant City, Calton, Bridgeton and Dalmarnock to the north of the River Clyde and Gorbals, Govanhill and Hutchesontown on the south side.
• Glasgow North (24.5%) – City centre, Anderston and Kelvingrove.
• Glasgow South West (17.8%) – Kingston, Tradeston, Kinning Park, Dumbreck and parts in Pollokshields.
• Glasgow South (9.3%) – Toryglen and small area to the north of Queen's Park.
• Glasgow North East (3.8%) - small area around Townhead.

Constituency profile

This former constituency took in Glasgow city centre to the north, including Kelvingrove Art Gallery, the main railway stations, Glasgow Cathedral and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. It was home to both Strathclyde and Caledonian Universities, as well as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and still often referred to locally as RSAMD) and the Glasgow School of Art. It was home to a significant number of students attending the University of Glasgow, which is just over the boundary in Glasgow North. The large student population was an important factor in elections, and the presence of four degree-awarding institutions as well as a significant portion of the student body of a fifth has led to claims that it was the best-educated constituency in the United Kingdom. The Merchant City was also here, yuppie housing built out of the disused cotton and tobacco warehouses. This area is a symbol of the rebirth of the city.

At the heart of this former constituency is the River Clyde, marking the boundaries of Glasgow Central from the Commonwealth Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and Oatlands in the east of the constituency, to Glasgow Science Centre and Glasgow's Riverside Museum to the west. There are some deprived areas within the former seat itself it is mostly an affluent area.

Glasgow Central was estimated to have voted to Remain in the European Union by 66.6% in the 2016 referendum on the UK's membership of the EU.

Members of Parliament

Election results

Elections in the 2010s

Flora Scarabello was suspended by the Scottish Conservatives after alleged Islamophobia. Because nominations had closed at the time of her suspension, she still appeared on the ballot paper as the Conservative candidate.

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1950s

Elections in the 1940s

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

|reg. electors = 49,983 |reg. electors = 44,010

|reg. electors = 43,292

|reg. electors = 43,351

Elections in the 1910s

|reg. electors = 42,329

|reg. electors = 17,610

|reg. electors = 14,768

Elections in the 1900s

|reg. electors = 15,081 |reg. electors = 15,616

Elections in the 1890s

|reg. electors = 15,107

|reg. electors = 14,542

Elections in the 1880s

|reg. electors = 13,208

|reg. electors = 13,208

References

References

1. "'Glasgow Central', June 1983 up to May 1997". Cognitive Computing Limited.
2. Boundary Commission for Scotland. (28 June 2023). "2023 Review of UK Parliament Constituency Boundaries in Scotland".
3. Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, Sixth Schedule
4. {{Cite legislation UK. (1948)
5. . (1956). ["Statutory Instruments 1955"](https://books.google.com/books?id=8TDyAAAAMAAJ). *[[Her Majesty's Stationery Office]]*.
6. "Fifth Periodical Review".
7. Baker, Carl. (2024-03-20). "Boundary review 2023: Which seats will change in the UK?". House of Commons Library.
8. "SIMD (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation) 2016".
9. (23 June 2016). "European Referendum 2016 Glasgow Results".
10. {{Rayment-hc. g. 1. (March 2012)
11. "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". Glasgow City Council.
12. "Glasgow Central parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News.
13. (28 January 2020). "Commons Briefing Paper 8749. General Election 2019: results and analysis". [[House of Commons Library]].
14. "Scottish Tories suspend second election candidate over alleged Islamophobia".
15. 20 Trongate Glasgow Young Scot. (11 May 2017). "General Election 2017 - Glasgow candidates announced". glasgow.gov.uk.
16. (29 January 2019). "Commons Briefing Paper 7979. General Election 2017: results and analysis". [[House of Commons Library]].
17. (27 November 2014). "Comment and letters". The National.
18. "Election Data 2015". [[Electoral Calculus]].
19. "Election Data 2010". [[Electoral Calculus]].
20. "Election Data 2005". [[Electoral Calculus]].
21. "Election Data 1992". [[Electoral Calculus]].
22. "Election Data 1987". [[Electoral Calculus]].
23. "Election Data 1983". [[Electoral Calculus]].
24. Whitaker's Almanack, 1939
25. Whitaker's Almanack, 1934
26. British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
27. Oliver & Boyd's Edinburgh Almanac, 1927
28. The Times, 8 December 1923
29. The Times, 16 November 1922
30. (1974). "British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918". Macmillan Press.
31. British parliamentary election results 1885-1918
32. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1901
33. Whitaker's Almanack, 1893
34. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1889