General election in Scotland 2003
(Share of votes in%)
%
30th
20th
10
0
29.3
20.9
15.5
11.8
6.9
6.7
1.5
7.4
Gains and losses
The general election in Scotland in 2003 was the second election to the newly established Parliament in Edinburgh and took place on May 1, 2003 . Elections to the National Assembly of Wales were held on the same day . In Scotland, 129 MPs were elected, 73 of them in constituencies by relative majority voting and 56 through party lists in 8 regions.
Top candidates
- Scottish Labor Party - Jack McConnell
- Scottish National Party - John Swinney
- Scottish Conservative Party - David McLetchie
- Scottish Liberal Democrats - Jim Wallace
- Scottish Green Party - Eleanor Scott and Robin Harper
- Scottish Socialist Party - Tommy Sheridan
- Scottish Senior Citizen Unity Party - John Swinburne
Election result
Distribution of seats
- Labor - 50 seats (−6)
- SNP - 27 seats (−8)
- Conservative - 18 seats
- Liberal Democrats - 17 seats
- Green - 7 seats (+6)
- Socialist - 6 seats (+5)
- Scottish Senior Citizen Unity Party 1 seat (+1)
- Independent candidates - 3 seats (+2)
2003 result
Turnout 49.4% (−9.7)
| Political party | Constituency votes |
In % | Constituency mandates |
List votes |
In % | List mandates |
Overall mandates |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | 659.879 | 34.9% | 46 | 561.379 | 29.3% | 4th | 50 | |
| SNP | 449.476 | 23.8% | 9 | 399,659 | 20.9% | 18th | 27 | |
| Conservative | 312,598 | 16.6% | 3 | 296.929 | 15.5% | 15th | 18th | |
| Liberal Democrats | 286.150 | 15.3% | 13 | 225,774 | 11.8% | 4th | 17th | |
| Greens | - | - | - | 132,138 | 6.9% | 7th | 7th | |
| Scottish Socialist Party | 117,709 | 6.2% | 0 | 128.026 | 6.7% | 6th | 6th | |
| SSCUP | 1,597 | 0.1% | 0 | 28,996 | 1.5% | 1 | 1 | |
| Dennis Canavan | 14,703 | 0.8% | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | |
| Jean Turner | 10,988 | 0.6% | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | |
| Margo Macdonald | - | - | - | 27,144 | 1.4% | 1 | 1 | |
| Other | 38,135 | 2.0% | 0 | 115,811 | 6.0% | 0 | 0 | |
For a full list of MPs in this term , see List of Members of the Scottish Parliament (2nd Term) .
Comparison 2003/1999
| Political party | Constituency votes |
+/- | In % | +/- | Constituency mandates |
+/- | List votes |
+/- | In % | +/- | List mandates |
+/- | Overall mandates |
+/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | 659.879 | -248,513 | 34.9% | −3.9 | 46 | −7 | 561.379 | -225,439 | 29.3% | -4.3 | 4th | +1 | 50 | −6 |
| SNP | 449.476 | -223.281 | 23.8% | −5.0 | 9 | +2 | 399,659 | -238,985 | 20.9% | −6.4 | 18th | −10 | 27 | −8 |
| Conservative | 312,598 | −51,627 | 16.6% | +1.0 | 3 | +3 | 296.929 | −62.180 | 15.5% | +0.2 | 15th | −3 | 18th | 0 |
| Liberal Democrats | 286.150 | −45.129 | 15.3% | +1.0 | 13 | +1 | 225,774 | −64,986 | 11.8% | −0.7 | 4th | −1 | 17th | 0 |
| Green | - | - | - | - | - | - | 132,138 | +48,114 | 6.9% | +3.3 | 7th | +6 | 7th | +6 |
| Socialist | 117,709 | +94.055 | 6.2% | +5.2 | 0 | 0 | 128.026 | +81,391 | 6.7% | +4.7 | 6th | +5 | 6th | +5 |
| SSCUP | 1,597 | +1,597 | 0.1% | +0.1 | 0 | 0 | 28,996 | +28,996 | 1.5% | +1.5 | 1 | +1 | 1 | +1 |
| Canavan | 14,703 | −3,808 | 0.8% | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | - | −27,700 | - | −1.2 | - | - | 1 | 0 |
| Gymnast | 10.988 | +10.988 | 0.8% | +0.8 | 1 | +1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | +1 |
| MacDonald | - | - | - | - | - | - | 27,144 | +27,144 | 1.4% | +1.4 | 1 | +1 | 1 | +1 |
| Other | 38.135 | +16.473 | 2.2% | +1.1 | 0 | 0 | 115.811 | +10,590 | 6.0% | +1.5% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| total | 1,891,235 | ‑449,245 | - | - | 73 | 0 | 1,915,856 | ‑423.055 | - | - | 56 | 0 | 129 | 0 |
After coalition negotiations, a Labor-Liberal Democratic government under Jack McConnell was formed again .
