1 May 2003 2007 → 56 seats 35 seats 50 27 Start date May 1, 2003 | Turnout 49.4% 9.7% 35 seats 18 seats 27 18 End date 2003 | |
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Winner Jack McConnell | ||
Scottish parliament election 2003
The Scottish Parliament election, 2003, 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 Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), remained in office as First Minister and the Executive continued as a Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition.
Contents
- Scottish parliament election 2003
- Party leaders in 2003
- Labour
- SNP
- The New Party
- Results
- Coalition
- Party Manifestos
- References
The results also showed rises in support for "minor 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.
For a full list of MSPs elected or re-elected see Members of the Scottish Parliament, 2003-2007.
Party leaders in 2003
Labour
SNP
The New Party
Results
Notes:
1. 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.
2. Two "others" were elected in constituencies: Dennis Canavan and Jean Turner, who both stood as independents.
3. Two "others" were elected as Additional Members: Margo MacDonald (an independent) and John Swinburne, who represented the SSCUP.
4. Overall turnout was 49.4%, down on the 1999 election.
Coalition
As part of the coalition deal between Labour and the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Labour allowed proportional representation to be used in Scottish local government elections. This system was first used in 2007.