Banff and Buchan (Scottish Parliament constituency)

Summary

Banff and Buchan was a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) between 1999 and 2011 when it was substantially succeeded by Banffshire and Buchan Coast. It elected one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post method of election. Also, however, it was one of nine constituencies in the North East Scotland 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.

Banff and Buchan
Former county constituency
for the Scottish Parliament
Banff and Buchan shown within the North East Scotland electoral region and the region shown within Scotland
Former constituency
Created1999
Abolished2011
Council areaAberdeenshire (part)
Replaced byAberdeenshire East,
Banffshire and Buchan Coast

Electoral region edit

Until the 2011 election, the other eight constituencies of the North East Scotland region were: Aberdeen Central, Aberdeen North, Aberdeen South, Angus, Dundee East, Dundee West, Gordon and West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

The region covers the Aberdeenshire council area, the Aberdeen City council area, the Dundee City council area, part of the Angus council area, a small part of the Moray council area and a small part of the Perth and Kinross council area.

Constituency boundaries edit

The Banff and Buchan 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, the boundaries of the Westminster (House of Commons) constituency were subject to some alteration.

Boundary review edit

Following the First Periodic review of constituencies for the Scottish Parliament, Banff and Buchan has become the newly drawn seat of Banffshire and Buchan Coast for the elections in 2011.

Council area edit

The Holyrood constituency covered a northern portion of the Aberdeenshire council area. The rest of the Aberdeenshire area is covered by two other constituencies, both also in the North East Scotland electoral region: Gordon was the constituency to the south of the Banff and Buchan constituency, and the former West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine was further south. Gordon also covered a small eastern portion of the Moray council area.

Members of the Scottish Parliament edit

Election Member Party
1999 Alex Salmond Scottish National Party
2001 Stewart Stevenson
2011 constituency abolished: replaced by Aberdeenshire East and
Banffshire and Buchan Coast

Election results edit

2007 Scottish Parliament election: Banff and Buchan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Stewart Stevenson 16,031 58.8 +5.9
Conservative Geordie Burnett Stuart 5,501 20.2 -0.7
Labour Kay Barnett 3,136 11.5 +0.5
Liberal Democrats Alison McInnes 2,617 9.6 +1.1
Majority 10,530 38.6 +6.6
Turnout 27,285 48.4 -0.7
SNP hold Swing
2003 Scottish Parliament election: Banff and Buchan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Stewart Stevenson 13,827 52.9 +0.3
Conservative Stewart Whyte 5,463 20.9 +3.9
Labour Iain Brotchie 2,885 11.0 -2.6
Liberal Democrats Debra Storr 2,227 8.5 -8.3
Independent Alan Buchan 907 3.5 New
Scottish Socialist Alice Rowan 840 3.2 New
Majority 8,364 31.99 -3.6
Turnout 26,149 49.15
SNP hold Swing
Scottish parliamentary by-election, 2001: Banff and Buchan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Stewart Stevenson 15,386 49.6 -3.0
Conservative Ted Brocklebank 6,819 22.0 +5.0
Labour Megan Harris 4,897 15.8 +2.2
Liberal Democrats Kenyon Wright 3,231 10.4 -6.3
Scottish Socialist Peter Anderson 682 2.2 New
Majority 8,567 27.6 -7.98
Turnout 31,015
SNP hold Swing
1999 Scottish Parliament election: Banff and Buchan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Alex Salmond 16,695 52.6 N/A
Conservative David Davidson 5,403 17.0 N/A
Liberal Democrats Maitland Mackie 5,315 16.8 N/A
Labour Megan Harris 4,321 13.6 N/A
Majority 11,292 35.6 N/A
Turnout 31,734 N/A
SNP win (new seat)