# 2003 Scottish Parliament election

The 2003 Scottish Parliament election was the second election of members to the Scottish Parliament. It was held on 1 May 2003 and it brought no change in terms of control of the Scottish Executive. Jack McConnell, the Labour Party MSP, remained in office as First Minister for a second term and the Executive continued as a Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition. As of 2023, it remains the last Scottish Parliament election victory for the Scottish Labour Party, and the last time the Scottish National Party lost a Holyrood election.
The results also showed rises in support for smaller parties, including the Scottish Green Party and the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) and declines in support for the Labour Party and the Scottish National Party (SNP). The Conservative and Unionist Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats each polled almost exactly the same percentage of the vote as they had in the 1999 election, with each holding the same number of seats as before.
Three independent MSPs were elected: Dennis Canavan, Margo MacDonald and Jean Turner. John Swinburne, leader of the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party, was also elected. This led to talk of a "rainbow" Parliament, but the arithmetic meant that the coalition of Labour and Scottish Liberal Democrats could continue in office, which they did until the 2007 election.
The decline in support for the SNP was viewed by some as a rejection of the case for Scottish independence. Others argued against this, pointing out that the number of MSPs in favour of independence actually rose because most of the minor parties such as the SSP share this position with the SNP.

## Retiring MSPs

At the dissolution of Parliament on 31 March 2003, ten MSPs were not seeking re-election.
| Constituency/Region | Departing MSP | Party |
| Glasgow | Dorothy-Grace Elder | Independent |
| West of Scotland | Colin Campbell | SNP |
| Highlands and Islands | Duncan Hamilton | SNP |
| Highlands and Islands | Winnie Ewing | SNP |
| West of Scotland | Kay Ullrich | SNP |
| North East Scotland | Ben Wallace | Conservative |
| West of Scotland | John Young | Conservative |
| Central Fife | Henry McLeish | Labour |
| Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale | Ian Jenkins | Liberal Democrats |
| Lothians | David Steel | Liberal Democrats |

## Campaign

The parliament was dissolved on 31 March 2003 and the campaign began thereafter.

## Party leaders in 2003

* Labour – Jack McConnell
* SNP – John Swinney
* Conservative – David McLetchie
* Liberal Democrat – Jim Wallace
* Greens – Robin Harper & Eleanor Scott (co-chairs)
* SSP – Tommy Sheridan

### Defeated MSPs
#### Labour

* Brian Fitzpatrick, Strathkelvin and Bearsden
* Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands
* Iain Gray, Edinburgh Pentlands
* Angus MacKay, Edinburgh South
* Richard Simpson, Ochil
* Elaine Thomson, Aberdeen North

#### SNP

* Kenneth Gibson, Glasgow
* Irene McGugan, North East Scotland
* Fiona McLeod, West of Scotland
* Gil Paterson, Central Scotland
* Lloyd Quinan, West of Scotland
* Michael Russell, South of Scotland
* Andrew Wilson, Central Scotland

#### The New Party

* Keith Harding, Mid Scotland and Fife (elected as a Conservative)
* Lyndsay McIntosh, Central Scotland (elected as a Conservative)

## Results

← 2003 Scottish Parliament election → :
| Party | Party | Constituencies | Constituencies | Constituencies | Constituencies | Constituencies | Regional additional members | Regional additional members | Regional additional members | Regional additional members | Regional additional members | Total seats | Total seats | Total seats |
| Party | Party | Votes | % | ± | Seats | ± | Votes | % | ± | Seats | ± | Total | ± | % |
| | Labour | 663,585 | 34.6 | 4.2 | 46 | 7 | 561,375 | 29.3 | 4.3 | 4 | 1 | 50 | 6 | 38.8 |
| | SNP | 455,722 | 23.8 | 4.9 | 9 | 2 | 399,659 | 20.9 | 6.4 | 18 | 10 | 27 | 8 | 20.9 |
| | Conservative | 318,279 | 16.6 | 1.2 | 3 | 3 | 296,929 | 15.5 | 0.1 | 15 | 3 | 18 | | 14.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 294,347 | 15.4 | 1.2 | 13 | 1 | 225,774 | 11.8 | 0.6 | 4 | 1 | 17 | | 13.2 |
| | Scottish Green | – | – | – | – | – | 132,138 | 6.9 | 3.3 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5.4 |
| | Scottish Socialist | 118,764 | 6.2 | 5.2 | 0 | | 128,026 | 6.7 | 4.7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4.7 |
| | Scottish Senior Citizens | 1,597 | 0.1 | new | 0 | new | 28,966 | 1.5 | new | 1 | new | 1 | new | 0.8 |
| | Margo MacDonald | – | – | – | – | – | 27,143 | 1.4 | new | 1 | new | 1 | new | 0.8 |
| | MSP for Falkirk West | 14,703 | 0.8 | | 1 | | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | | 0.8 |
| | Save Stobhill Hospital | 10,988 | 0.6 | new | 1 | new | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | new | 0.8 |
| | Pensioners Party | – | – | – | – | – | 28,655 | 1.5 | new | 0 | new | 0 | new | 0.0 |
| | Socialist Labour | – | – | – | – | – | 21,657 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0 | | 0 | | 0.0 |
| | New Party | 5,598 | 0.3 | new | 0 | new | 7,718 | 0.4 | new | 0 | new | 0 | new | 0.0 |
| | UKIP | – | – | – | – | – | 11,969 | 0.6 | new | 0 | new | 0 | new | 0.0 |
| | Scottish Unionist | – | – | – | – | – | 6,113 | 0.3 | | 0 | | 0 | | 0.0 |
| | Local Health Concern | 5,582 | 0.3 | new | 0 | new | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | new | 0.0 |
| | Fishing Party | – | – | – | – | – | 5,566 | 0.3 | new | 0 | new | 0 | new | 0.0 |
| | BNP | – | – | – | – | – | 2,344 | 0.1 | new | 0 | new | 0 | new | 0.0 |
| | Protect Rural Scotland | – | – | – | – | – | 1,438 | 0.1 | new | 0 | new | 0 | new | 0.0 |
| | Independent Green Voice | 1,300 | 0.1 | new | 0 | new | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | new | 0.0 |
| | Christian Independent Alliance | – | – | – | – | – | 1,064 | 0.1 | new | 0 | new | 0 | new | 0.0 |
| | Adam Lyal's Witchery Tour | – | – | – | – | – | 964 | 0.1 | new | 0 | new | 0 | new | 0.0 |
| | Parents Excluded | 141 | 0.0 | new | 0 | new | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | new | 0.0 |
| | Others | 25,968 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0 | | 28,323 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0 | | 0 | | 0.0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 1,916,574 | 99.4 | 0.3 | | | 1,915,851 | 99.4 | 0.3 | | | | | |
| Spoilt votes | Spoilt votes | 12,303 | 0.6 | 0.3 | | | 11,938 | 0.6 | 0.3 | | | | | |
| Total | Total | 1,928,877 | 100 | | 73 | – | 1,927,789 | 100 | | 56 | – | 129 | – | 100 |
| Electorate/Turnout | Electorate/Turnout | 3,877,460 | 49.7 | 8.7 | | | 3,877,460 | 49.7 | 8.6 | | | | | |
Notes:
* The Scottish Greens did not stand in any constituencies, instead concentrating their resources on winning the largest possible share of the "second" vote for 'list' seats.
Popular Vote (Constituency)
Labour
34.62%
SNP
23.78%
Conservative
16.61%
Liberal Democrats
15.36%
Scottish Socialist
6.20%
Other
3.43% :
Popular Vote (Regional)
Labour
29.44%
SNP
20.94%
Conservative
15.56%
Liberal Democrats
11.83%
Green
6.92%
Scottish Socialist
6.71%
Independents
1.67%
SSCUP
1.52%
Pensioners
1.50%
Socialist Labour
1.13%
Other
2.74% :
Parliament seats
Labour
38.76%
SNP
20.93%
Conservative
13.95%
Liberal Democrats
13.18%
Green
5.43%
Scottish Socialist
4.65%
Independents
2.33%
SSCUP
0.78% :

## Constituency and regional summary
### Central Scotland

2003 Scottish Parliament election: Central Scotland :
| Constituency | Elected member | Result |
| Airdrie and Shotts | Karen Whitefield | Labour hold |
| Coatbridge and Chryston | Elaine Smith | Labour hold |
| Cumbernauld and Kilsyth | Cathie Craigie | Labour hold |
| East Kilbride | Andy Kerr | Labour hold |
| Falkirk East | Cathy Peattie | Labour hold |
| Falkirk West | Dennis Canavan | Independent hold |
| Hamilton North and Bellshill | Michael McMahon | Labour hold |
| Hamilton South | Tom McCabe | Labour hold |
| Kilmarnock and Loudoun | Margaret Jamieson | Labour hold |
| Motherwell and Wishaw | Jack McConnell | Labour hold |
2003 Scottish Parliament election: Central Scotland :
| Party | Elected candidates | Seats | +/− | Votes | % | +/−% |
| SNP | Alex Neil Michael Matheson Linda Fabiani | 3 | −2 | 59,274 | 22.53% | -5.25% |
| Conservative | Margaret Mitchell | 1 | ±0 | 24,121 | 9.17% | +0.02% |
| Scottish Socialist | Carolyn Leckie | 1 | +1 | 19,016 | 7.23% | +5.49% |
| Scottish Senior Citizens | John Swinburne | 1 | +1 | 17,146 | 6.52% | N/A |
| Liberal Democrats | Donald Gorrie | 1 | ±0 | 15,494 | 5.89% | -0.31% |

### Glasgow

2003 Scottish Parliament election: Glasgow :
| Constituency | Elected member | Result |
| Glasgow Anniesland | Bill Butler | Labour hold |
| Glasgow Baillieston | Margaret Curran | Labour hold |
| Glasgow Cathcart | Mike Watson | Labour hold |
| Glasgow Govan | Gordon Jackson | Labour hold |
| Glasgow Kelvin | Pauline McNeill | Labour hold |
| Glasgow Maryhill | Patricia Ferguson | Labour hold |
| Glasgow Pollok | Johann Lamont | Labour hold |
| Glasgow Rutherglen | Janis Hughes | Labour hold |
| Glasgow Shettleston | Frank McAveety | Labour hold |
| Glasgow Springburn | Paul Martin | Labour hold |
2003 Scottish Parliament election: Glasgow :
| Party | Elected candidates | Seats | +/− | Votes | % | +/−% |
| SNP | Nicola Sturgeon Sandra White | 2 | −2 | 34,894 | 17.1% | -8.4% |
| Scottish Socialist | Tommy Sheridan Rosie Kane | 2 | +1 | 31,216 | 15.2% | +8.0% |
| Conservative | Bill Aitken | 1 | ±0 | 15,299 | 7.5% | -0.4% |
| Liberal Democrats | Robert Brown | 1 | ±0 | 14,839 | 7.5% | -0.4% |
| Scottish Green | Patrick Harvie | 1 | +1 | 14,570 | 7.1% | +3.1% |

### Highlands and Islands

2003 Scottish Parliament election: Highlands and Islands :
| Constituency | Elected member | Result |
| Argyll and Bute | George Lyon | Liberal Democrats |
| Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross | Jamie Stone | Liberal Democrats |
| Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber | Fergus Ewing | SNP |
| Moray | Margaret Ewing | SNP |
| Orkney | Jim Wallace | Liberal Democrats |
| Ross, Skye and Inverness West | John Farquhar Munro | Liberal Democrats |
| Shetland | Tavish Scott | Liberal Democrats |
| Western Isles | Alasdair Morrison | Labour |
2003 Scottish Parliament election: Highlands and Islands :
| Party | Elected candidates | Seats | +/− | Votes | % | +/−% |
| SNP | Jim Mather Rob Gibson | 2 | ±0 | 39,497 | 23.43% | -4.3% |
| Labour | Peter Peacock Maureen Macmillan | 2 | −1 | 37,605 | 22.31% | -3.16% |
| Conservative | Jamie McGrigor Mary Scanlon | 2 | ±0 | 26,989 | 16.01% | +1.07% |
| Scottish Green | Eleanor Scott | 1 | +1 | 13,935 | 8.27% | +4.52% |

### Lothians

2003 Scottish Parliament election: Lothians :
| Constituency | Elected member | Result |
| Edinburgh Central | Sarah Boyack | Labour hold |
| Edinburgh East and Musselburgh | Susan Deacon | Labour hold |
| Edinburgh North and Leith | Malcolm Chisholm | Labour hold |
| Edinburgh Pentlands | David McLetchie | Conservative gain from Labour |
| Edinburgh South | Mike Pringle | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour |
| Edinburgh West | Margaret Smith | Liberal Democrats hold |
| Linlithgow | Mary Mulligan | Labour hold |
| Livingston | Bristow Muldoon | Labour hold |
| Midlothian | Rhona Brankin | Labour hold |
2003 Scottish Parliament election: Lothians :
| Party | Elected candidates | Seats | +/− | Votes | % | +/−% |
| SNP | Kenny MacAskill Fiona Hyslop | 2 | −1 | 43,142 | 16.2% | -9.5% |
| Conservative | James Douglas-Hamilton | 1 | −1 | 40,173 | 15.1% | -0.6% |
| Scottish Green | Robin Harper Mark Ballard | 2 | +1 | 31,908 | 12.0% | +5.1% |
| Independent | Margo MacDonald | 1 | +1 | 27,143 | 10.2% | N/A |
| Scottish Socialist | Colin Fox | 1 | +1 | 14,448 | 5.4% | +3.8% |

### Mid Scotland and Fife

2003 Scottish Parliament election: Mid Scotland and Fife :
| Constituency | Elected member | Result |
| Dunfermline East | Helen Eadie | Labour |
| Dunfermline West | Scott Barrie | Labour |
| Fife Central | Christine May | Labour |
| Fife North East | Iain Smith | Liberal Democrats |
| Kirkcaldy | Marilyn Livingstone | Labour |
| North Tayside | John Swinney | SNP |
| Ochil | George Reid | SNP |
| Perth | Roseanna Cunningham | SNP |
| Stirling | Sylvia Jackson | Labour |
2003 Scottish Parliament election: Mid Scotland and Fife :
| Party | Elected candidates | Seats | +/− | Votes | % | +/−% |
| SNP | Bruce Crawford Tricia Marwick | 2 | −1 | 57,631 | 23.0% | -5.7% |
| Conservative | Murdo Fraser Brian Monteith Ted Brocklebank | 3 | ±0 | 43,941 | 17.6% | -1.0% |
| Liberal Democrats | Keith Raffan | 1 | ±0 | 30,112 | 12.0% | -0.7% |
| Scottish Green | Mark Ruskell | 1 | +1 | 17,147 | 6.9% | +3.0% |

### North East Scotland

2003 Scottish Parliament election: North East Scotland :
| Constituency | Elected member | Result |
| Aberdeen Central | Lewis Macdonald | Labour hold |
| Aberdeen North | Brian Adam | SNP gain from Labour |
| Aberdeen South | Nicol Stephen | Liberal Democrats hold |
| Angus | Andrew Welsh | SNP hold |
| Banff and Buchan | Stewart Stevenson | SNP hold |
| Dundee East | Shona Robison | SNP gain from Labour |
| Dundee West | Kate Maclean | Labour hold |
| Gordon | Nora Radcliffe | Liberal Democrats hold |
| West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine | Mike Rumbles | Liberal Democrats hold |
2003 Scottish Parliament election: North East Scotland :
| Party | Elected candidates | Seats | +/− | Votes | % | +/−% |
| SNP | Richard Lochhead | 1 | −3 | 66,463 | 27.3% | -5.0% |
| Labour | Marlyn Glen Richard Baker | 2 | +2 | 49,189 | 20.2% | -5.3% |
| Conservative | David Davidson Nanette Milne Alex Johnstone | 3 | ±0 | 42,318 | 17.4% | -0.9% |
| Scottish Green | Shiona Baird | 1 | +1 | 12,724 | 5.2% | +2.4% |

### South of Scotland

2003 Scottish Parliament election: South of Scotland :
| Constituency | Elected member | Result |
| Ayr | John Scott | Conservative |
| Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley | Cathy Jamieson | Labour |
| Clydesdale | Karen Gillon | Labour |
| Cunninghame South | Irene Oldfather | Labour |
| Dumfries | Elaine Murray | Labour |
| East Lothian | John Home Robertson | Labour |
| Galloway and Upper Nithsdale | Alex Fergusson | Conservative |
| Roxburgh and Berwickshire | Euan Robson | Liberal Democrats |
| Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale | Jeremy Purvis | Liberal Democrats |
2003 Scottish Parliament election: South of Scotland :
| Party | Elected candidates | Seats | +/− | Votes | % | +/−% |
| Conservative | Phil Gallie David Mundell | 2 | −1 | 63,827 | 24.2% | +2.6% |
| SNP | Christine Grahame Adam Ingram Alasdair Morgan | 3 | ±0 | 48,371 | 18.4% | -6.7% |
| Scottish Green | Chris Ballance | 1 | +1 | 15,062 | 5.7% | +2.7% |
| Scottish Socialist | Rosemary Byrne | 1 | +1 | 14,228 | 5.4% | +4.4% |

### West of Scotland

2003 Scottish Parliament election: West of Scotland :
| Constituency | Elected member | Result |
| Clydebank and Milngavie | Des McNulty | Labour |
| Cunninghame North | Allan Wilson | Labour |
| Dumbarton | Jackie Baillie | Labour |
| Eastwood | Kenneth Macintosh | Labour |
| Greenock and Inverclyde | Duncan McNeil | Labour |
| Paisley North | Wendy Alexander | Labour |
| Paisley South | Hugh Henry | Labour |
| Strathkelvin and Bearsden | Jean Turner | Independent |
| West Renfrewshire | Patricia Godman | Labour |
2003 Scottish Parliament election: West of Scotland :
| Party | Elected candidates | Seats | +/− | Votes | % | +/−% |
| SNP | Campbell Martin Bruce McFee Stewart Maxwell | 3 | −1 | 50,387 | 19.6% | -6.3% |
| Conservative | Annabel Goldie Murray Tosh | 2 | ±0 | 40,261 | 15.7% | – |
| Liberal Democrats | Ross Finnie | 1 | ±0 | 31,580 | 12.3% | +1.3% |
| Scottish Socialist | Frances Curran | 1 | +1 | 18,591 | 7.2% | +5.3 |

## Coalition

As part of the coalition deal between Labour and the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Labour allowed proportional representation (a long-standing Lib Dem policy) to be used in Scottish local government elections. This system was first used in 2007.

## Campaign spending

| Party | Expenses |
| Scottish People's | £188,889 |
| Liberal Democrats | £130,358 |
| Scottish Socialist | £74,361 |
| Scottish Green | £65,852 |
| UKIP | £39,504 |
| Scottish Senior Citizens | £3,558 |