Subdivisions of Scotland City of Glasgow Type of constituency Burgh constituency European Parliament constituency Scotland Number of members 1 | Created 2005 Created from Glasgow Member of parliament Alison Thewliss | |
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Created from Glasgow Govan
Glasgow Kelvin
Glasgow Shettleston
Glasgow Pollok
Glasgow Rutherglen Replaced by Glasgow Govan, Glasgow Kelvin | ||
Glasgow Central is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (at Westminster). In its current form, the constituency was first used in the general election of 2005, but there was also a Glasgow Central constituency from 1885 to 1997. The incumbent member is Alison Thewliss of the Scottish National Party.
Contents
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."
1950-1974: The County of the City of Glasgow wards of Cowcaddens and Townhead, 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–present: The Glasgow City wards of Anderston, Bridgeton/Dalmarnock, Calton, Govanhill, Hutchesontown, Kelvingrove, Kingston, Merchant City, Pollokshields East, Strathbungo, and Toryglen.
Glasgow Central is now one of seven constituencies covering the Glasgow City council area. All are 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, includes 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 new Central constituency sits across the River Clyde, and includes the areas of Kelvingrove, Anderston, Merchant City, Calton, Pollokshields, Gorbals and Govanhill.
Constituency profile
The constituency takes in Glasgow city centre, including Kelvingrove Art Gallery, the main rail stations, Glasgow Cathedral and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. It is 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 also houses a significant number of students attending Glasgow University, which is just over the boundary in Glasgow North. The large student population is an important factor in elections, and the presence of 4 degree awarding institutions as well as a significant portion of the student body of a fifth has led to claims that it is the best educated constituency in the United Kingdom. The Merchant City is also here, yuppie housing built out of the disused cotton and tobacco warehouses. This area is a symbol of the rebirth of the city.