# Glasgow Kelvin (Scottish Parliament constituency)

Glasgow Kelvin (Gaelic: Glaschu Ceilbhinn) is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood), being one of eight constituencies within the Glasgow City council area. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the plurality (first past the post) method of election. It is also one of nine constituencies in the Glasgow electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to nine constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.
The seat has been held by Kaukab Stewart of the Scottish National Party since the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.

## Electoral region

The other eight constituencies of the Glasgow region are: Glasgow Anniesland, Glasgow Cathcart, Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Glasgow Pollok, Glasgow Provan, Glasgow Shettleston, Glasgow Southside and Rutherglen.
The region covers the Glasgow City council area and a north-western portion of the South Lanarkshire council area.

## Constituency boundaries

The original Glasgow Kelvin constituency was created at the same time as the Scottish Parliament, in 1999, with the name and boundaries of an existing Westminster constituency. In 2005, however, Scottish Westminster (House of Commons) constituencies were mostly replaced with new constituencies.

### Boundary review

Following its First Periodic review into Scottish Parliament constituencies, a newly shaped Kelvin was formed in time for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election. The Glasgow City Council electoral wards used in the creation of the new Glasgow Kelvin seat are:
* In full: Anderston/City, Hillhead
* In part: Canal, Partick West

## Constituency profile

Glasgow city centre is in this constituency, including Kelvingrove Art Gallery, the cathedral, and the SEC Centre. All three of Glasgow's universities are here as well, making it reputedly the most educated constituency in Scotland; the large student population is an important factor in elections. It is also home to the Merchant City: described as 'yuppie housing', it was built out of the disused cotton and tobacco warehouses. This area is a symbol of the rebirth of the city, and Kelvin is arguably the most affluent constituency in Glasgow, although it also includes more deprived areas.

## History

The predecessor to the Westminster constituency seat, Glasgow Hillhead, was the last Conservative seat in the city until Roy Jenkins won it for the Social Democratic Party at a by-election in 1982. He held it in 1983 general election but it was taken by Labour's George Galloway in 1987.

## Member of the Scottish Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1999 | Pauline McNeill | Labour |
| 2011 | Sandra White | SNP |
| 2021 | Kaukab Stewart | SNP |

## Election results
### Elections in the 2020s

2021 Scottish Parliament election: Glasgow Kelvin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Constituency | Constituency | Constituency | Regional | Regional | Regional |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | Kaukab Stewart | 14,535 | 40.3 | 1.8 | 14,227 | 39.4 | 2.8 |
| | Scottish Green | Patrick Harvie | 9,077 | 25.2 | 0.9 | 7,568 | 21.0 | 0.8 |
| | Labour | Pam Duncan-Glancy | 8,605 | 23.9 | 2.9 | 7,279 | 20.2 | 1.3 |
| | Conservative | Grahame Cannell | 2,850 | 7.9 | 3.9 | 3,910 | 10.8 | 2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David McKenzie | 977 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 1,049 | 2.9 | 0.4 |
| | Alba | Alba | Alba | Alba | Alba | 613 | 1.7 | New |
| | Independent Green Voice | Independent Green Voice | Independent Green Voice | Independent Green Voice | Independent Green Voice | 256 | 0.7 | New |
| | All for Unity | All for Unity | All for Unity | All for Unity | All for Unity | 254 | 0.7 | New |
| | Scottish Family | Scottish Family | Scottish Family | Scottish Family | Scottish Family | 179 | 0.5 | New |
| | Women's Equality | Women's Equality | Women's Equality | Women's Equality | Women's Equality | 145 | 0.4 | 1.6 |
| | Freedom Alliance (UK) | Freedom Alliance (UK) | Freedom Alliance (UK) | Freedom Alliance (UK) | Freedom Alliance (UK) | 136 | 0.4 | New |
| | Communist | Communist | Communist | Communist | Communist | 103 | 0.3 | New |
| | Reform UK | Reform UK | Reform UK | Reform UK | Reform UK | 78 | 0.2 | New |
| | TUSC | TUSC | TUSC | TUSC | TUSC | 77 | 0.2 | New |
| | Scottish Libertarian | Scottish Libertarian | Scottish Libertarian | Scottish Libertarian | Scottish Libertarian | 57 | 0.2 | New |
| | Abolish the Scottish Parliament | Abolish the Scottish Parliament | Abolish the Scottish Parliament | Abolish the Scottish Parliament | Abolish the Scottish Parliament | 56 | 0.2 | New |
| | Independent | Craig Ross | Craig Ross | Craig Ross | Craig Ross | 26 | 0.1 | New |
| | Reclaim | Reclaim | Reclaim | Reclaim | Reclaim | 25 | 0.1 | New |
| | UKIP | UKIP | UKIP | UKIP | UKIP | 25 | 0.1 | 1.2 |
| | SDP | SDP | SDP | SDP | SDP | 21 | 0.1 | New |
| | Independent | Daniel Donaldson | Daniel Donaldson | Daniel Donaldson | Daniel Donaldson | 12 | 0.03 | New |
| | Renew | Renew | Renew | Renew | Renew | 8 | 0.02 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,458 | 15.1 | 0.9 | | | |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 36,044 | | | 36,104 | | |
| Invalid Votes | Invalid Votes | Invalid Votes | 185 | | | 96 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,229 | 54.54 | 8.6 | 36,200 | 54.50 | 8.6 |
| | SNP hold | SNP hold | Swing | Swing | 0.5 | | | |
| Notes ↑ Incumbent member on the party list, or for another constituency ↑ Elected on the party list |||||||||

### Elections in the 2010s

In 2016 the Scottish Greens overtook Scottish Labour to take second place in the Glasgow Kelvin constituency on the constituency element of the vote. This was their best ever first past the post election result, with party co-convenor Patrick Harvie finishing behind the SNP's Sandra White by 14.2% of the vote.
2016 Scottish Parliament election: Glasgow Kelvin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Constituency | Constituency | Constituency | Regional | Regional | Regional |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | Sandra White | 10,964 | 38.5 | 4.8 | 10,416 | 36.6 | 0.6 |
| | Scottish Green | Patrick Harvie | 6,916 | 24.3 | New | 5,760 | 20.2 | 4.8 |
| | Labour | Michael Shanks | 5,968 | 21.0 | 18.8 | 5,373 | 18.9 | 8.1 |
| | Conservative | Sheila Mechan | 3,346 | 11.8 | 4.2 | 3,701 | 13.0 | 6.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Carole Ford | 1,050 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 945 | 3.3 | 1.6 |
| | Independent | Tom Muirhead | 198 | 0.7 | 1.0 | | | |
| | Women's Equality | Women's Equality | Women's Equality | Women's Equality | Women's Equality | 573 | 2.0 | New |
| | RISE | RISE | RISE | RISE | RISE | 506 | 1.8 | New |
| | UKIP | UKIP | UKIP | UKIP | UKIP | 367 | 1.3 | 0.6 |
| | Solidarity | Solidarity | Solidarity | Solidarity | Solidarity | 234 | 0.8 | New |
| | Animal Welfare | Animal Welfare | Animal Welfare | Animal Welfare | Animal Welfare | 231 | 0.8 | New |
| | BUP | BUP | BUP | BUP | BUP | 160 | 0.6 | New |
| | Scottish Christian | Scottish Christian | Scottish Christian | Scottish Christian | Scottish Christian | 158 | 0.6 | 0.1 |
| | Independent | Andrew McCullagh | Andrew McCullagh | Andrew McCullagh | Andrew McCullagh | 40 | 0.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,048 | 14.2 | 10.7 | | | |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 28,442 | | | 28,464 | | |
| Invalid Votes | Invalid Votes | Invalid Votes | 113 | | | 87 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,555 | 45.9 | 5.8 | 28,551 | 45.9 | 5.8 |
| | SNP hold | SNP hold | Swing | Swing | 14.6 | | | |
| Notes ↑ Incumbent member for this constituency ↑ Incumbent member on the party list, or for another constituency |||||||||
2011 Scottish Parliament election: Glasgow Kelvin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Constituency | Constituency | Constituency | Regional | Regional | Regional |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | Sandra White | 10,640 | 43.3 | N/A | 8,867 | 35.9 | N/A |
| | Labour | Pauline McNeill | 9,758 | 39.8 | N/A | 6,662 | 27.0 | N/A |
| | Scottish Green | Scottish Green | Scottish Green | Scottish Green | Scottish Green | 3,820 | 15.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Ruth Davidson | 1,845 | 7.5 | N/A | 1,732 | 7.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Natalie McKee | 1,900 | 7.7 | N/A | 1,225 | 5.0 | N/A |
| | Respect | Respect | Respect | Respect | Respect | 985 | 4.0 | N/A |
| | Independent | Tom Muirhead | 405 | 1.6 | N/A | | | |
| | Scottish Socialist | Scottish Socialist | Scottish Socialist | Scottish Socialist | Scottish Socialist | 247 | 1.0 | N/A |
| | All-Scotland Pensioners Party | All-Scotland Pensioners Party | All-Scotland Pensioners Party | All-Scotland Pensioners Party | All-Scotland Pensioners Party | 204 | 0.8 | N/A |
| | Socialist Labour | Socialist Labour | Socialist Labour | Socialist Labour | Socialist Labour | 187 | 0.8 | N/A |
| | Scottish Christian | Scottish Christian | Scottish Christian | Scottish Christian | Scottish Christian | 160 | 0.6 | N/A |
| | UKIP | UKIP | UKIP | UKIP | UKIP | 160 | 0.6 | N/A |
| | BNP | BNP | BNP | BNP | BNP | 157 | 0.6 | N/A |
| | Pirate | Pirate | Pirate | Pirate | Pirate | 136 | 0.6 | N/A |
| | Scottish Unionist | Scottish Unionist | Scottish Unionist | Scottish Unionist | Scottish Unionist | 74 | 0.3 | N/A |
| | Independent | Caroline Johnstone | Caroline Johnstone | Caroline Johnstone | Caroline Johnstone | 34 | 0.1 | N/A |
| | Scottish Homeland Party | Scottish Homeland Party | Scottish Homeland Party | Scottish Homeland Party | Scottish Homeland Party | 19 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 882 | 3.5 | N/A | | | |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 24,548 | | | 24,669 | | |
| Invalid Votes | Invalid Votes | Invalid Votes | 246 | | | 135 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,794 | 40.1 | N/A | 24,804 | 40.1 | N/A |
| | SNP win (new boundaries) | SNP win (new boundaries) | SNP win (new boundaries) | SNP win (new boundaries) | SNP win (new boundaries) | SNP win (new boundaries) | SNP win (new boundaries) | SNP win (new boundaries) |
| Notes ↑ Incumbent member on the party list, or for another constituency ↑ Incumbent member for this constituency ↑ Elected on the party list |||||||||

### Elections in the 2000s

2007 Scottish Parliament election: Glasgow Kelvin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Pauline McNeill | 7,875 | 33.5 | −2.2 |
| | SNP | Sandra White | 6,668 | 28.4 | +7.6 |
| | Scottish Green | Martin Bartos | 2,971 | 12.6 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | Katy Gordon | 2,843 | 12.1 | −3.0 |
| | Conservative | Brian Cooklin | 1,943 | 8.3 | +0.1 |
| | Independent | Niall Walker | 744 | 3.2 | New |
| | Scottish Christian | Isobel Macleod | 456 | 1.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,207 | 5.1 | −9.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,500 | 42.7 | +3.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2003 Scottish Parliament election: Glasgow Kelvin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Pauline McNeill | 7,880 | 35.7 | −9.1 |
| | SNP | Sandra White | 4,591 | 20.8 | −8.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Douglas Herbison | 3,334 | 15.1 | +2.0 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Andy Harvey | 3,159 | 14.3 | +9.5 |
| | Conservative | Gawaine Towler | 1,816 | 8.2 | +0.3 |
| | Independent Green Voice | Alistair McConnachie | 1,300 | 5.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,289 | 14.9 | −0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,080 | 39.4 | −6.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

1999 Scottish Parliament election: Glasgow Kelvin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Pauline McNeill | 12,711 | 44.8 |
| | SNP | Sandra White | 8,303 | 29.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Moira Craig | 3,720 | 13.1 |
| | Conservative | Assad Rasul | 2,253 | 7.9 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Heather Ritchie | 1,375 | 4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,408 | 15.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,362 | 46.1 |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |