Ayr by-election, 2000
Encyclopedia
The Ayr by-election on March 16, 2000 was the first by-election
for the Scottish Parliament
that had been established the year previously. It was caused by the resignation of Ian Welsh
who had been elected at the Scottish Parliamentary Election, 1999. Welsh resigned to spend more time with his family.
The result was a poor one for the Labour Party
, which had won the seat in the previous year, albeit with a majority of just 25. Labour fell into third place behind the Scottish National Party
(SNP) and the Conservative Party
.
This by-election showed a strange effect in the Scottish AMS
electoral system. The Labour Party in the South of Scotland
region had won 7 seats, all as first past the post constituencies and none on the list system through proportional representation
, whilst the Conservative and Unionists had won 4 seats in South of Scotland through the proportional representation system. By winning the Ayr seat at the by-election the Conservatives had technically greater representation than their 1999 results would have proportionally given them. This is an anomaly that the Scotland Act 1998
does not cater for.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
for the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
that had been established the year previously. It was caused by the resignation of Ian Welsh
Ian Welsh
Ian McWilliam Welsh is a Scottish politician who currently works as Chief Executive of Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland. After a brief career as a professional footballer, he was an English teacher and became a local councillor – serving twice as a council Leader...
who had been elected at the Scottish Parliamentary Election, 1999. Welsh resigned to spend more time with his family.
The result was a poor one for the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, which had won the seat in the previous year, albeit with a majority of just 25. Labour fell into third place behind the Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
(SNP) and the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
.
This by-election showed a strange effect in the Scottish AMS
Additional Member System
The Additional Member System is the term used in the United Kingdom for the mixed member proportional representation voting system used in Scotland, Wales and the London Assembly....
electoral system. The Labour Party in the South of Scotland
South of Scotland
South of Scotland can refer to:* South of Scotland * South of Scotland rugby union team* An area comprising the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway...
region had won 7 seats, all as first past the post constituencies and none on the list system through proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
, whilst the Conservative and Unionists had won 4 seats in South of Scotland through the proportional representation system. By winning the Ayr seat at the by-election the Conservatives had technically greater representation than their 1999 results would have proportionally given them. This is an anomaly that the Scotland Act 1998
Scotland Act 1998
The Scotland Act 1998 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is the Act which established the devolved Scottish Parliament.The Act will be amended by the Scotland Bill 2011, if and when it receives royal assent.-History:...
does not cater for.
Result
Scottish Parliament Election result, 1999
See also
- Ayr (Scottish Parliament constituency)Ayr (Scottish Parliament constituency)Ayr is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election...
- Ayr (UK Parliament constituency)Ayr (UK Parliament constituency)Ayr was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1950 to 2005. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election.- History :...
- Elections in ScotlandElections in ScotlandScotland has elections to several bodies: the Scottish Parliament, the United Kingdom Parliament, the European Parliament, local councils and community councils.-Scottish Parliament:...
- List of Scottish Parliamentary by-elections