Glasgow Southside

Electoral region

The other seven constituencies of the Glasgow region are Glasgow Anniesland, Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston, Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok, Glasgow Central, Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn, Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill, and Rutherglen and Cambuslang.

Prior to the second periodic review of Scottish Parliament boundaries in 2025, the other eight constituencies of the Glasgow region were Glasgow Anniesland, Glasgow Cathcart, Glasgow Kelvin, Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Glasgow Pollok, Glasgow Provan, Glasgow Shettleston, and Rutherglen. The region covered the Glasgow City council area and a north-western portion of the South Lanarkshire council area.

Constituency boundaries and council areas

The constituency was created following the first periodic review of Scottish Parliament boundaries, and was first contested at the 2011 Scottish Parliament election. The electoral wards used to define the seat were:

• In full: Southside Central, Pollokshields
• In part: Govan (shared with Pollok)

At the second periodic review of Scottish Parliament boundaries changes were recommended by Boundaries Scotland, with the new boundaries set to be used for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. The electoral wards used to define the Glasgow Southside at this review were:

• Pollokshields (entire ward)
• Langside (entire ward)
• Southside Central (shared with Glasgow Central)

Member of the Scottish Parliament

The former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has represented the constituency since its creation in 2011 election. She was previously an MSP for the Glasgow regional list from 1999 to 2007, and Glasgow Govan between 2007 and 2011 until the abolition of that constituency.

Constituency profile

The constituency has attracted a high amount of media interest over the years due to its status as the constituency of the First Minister. A profile in The Scotsman described it as, "one of Scotland’s most diverse constituencies. It takes in the gated mansions of Pollokshields as well as Ibrox and Govan, which once teemed with shipyard workers. It takes in Strathbungo, with its Greek Thomson terraces as well as the Gorbals, a former melting pot of Irish, Italian and Jewish immigration."

Problems with slum landlords, vermin and refuse collections have been highlighted as particular issues in the area. During the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, Glasgow City Council were accused of dispatching cleaners to the constituency to spruce it up prior to press events in the area.

Elections

2020s

2010s

title=2011 Scottish Parliament election: Glasgow Southside

References

Footnotes

Bibliography

References

1. Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Report to Scottish Ministers, p 26.
2. It elects one [[Member of the Scottish Parliament. Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)]] by the [[First past the post. plurality (first past the post)]] method of election. Under the [[Additional-member system. additional-member electoral system]] used for elections to the Scottish Parliament, it is also one of eight constituencies in the [[Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)
3. The region covers most of the [[Glasgow City Council. Glasgow City council area]], and a north-western portion of the [[South Lanarkshire. South Lanarkshire council area]].Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Report to Scottish Ministers, p 143.
4. (May 2010). "First Periodic Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries Final Report". [[Boundaries Scotland]].
5. Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Report to Scottish Ministers, p 141.
6. Garavelli, Dani. (25 April 2021). "Insight: Why the Govanhill community has trust in Nicola Sturgeon to deliver". The Scotsman.
7. Horne, Marc. (3 May 2018). "Landlords ordered to tackle filth and rats in Sturgeon's constituency". [[The Times]].
8. Hayes, Georgina. (15 April 2021). "SNP-run council accused of ordering cleaners to tidy streets in Sturgeon's constituency ahead of Anas Sarwar visit". The Telegraph.
9. "Scottish Results". Glasgow City Council.
10. "Constituencies A-Z: Glasgow Southside". BBC News.
11. (7 May 2021). "Region Results for Glasgow Southside (2021)". Glasgow City Council.
12. (5 May 2016). "Region Results for Glasgow Southside (2016)". Glasgow City Council.
13. (5 May 2011). "Region Results for Glasgow Southside (2011)". Glasgow City Council.