Midlothian (Scottish Parliament constituency)

Midlothian is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering the entirety of the Midlothian council area. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post method of election. It is also one of nine constituencies within the South Scotland electoral region, which elects seven additional MSPs, in addition to the nine constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.

Creation:

The Midlothian constituency was created for the 1999 Scottish Parliament election, with the name and boundaries largely mirroring those of the former Midlothian Westminster constituency, which existed from 1983 to 1997. Minor boundary adjustments have been made over the years to reflect changes in local authority ward boundaries.

Boundaries:

The constituency's boundaries are coterminous with the Midlothian council area. This area includes towns and villages such as Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg, Penicuik, Gorebridge, and Newtongrange. The constituency lies to the south-east of Edinburgh.

Voting System:

As with all Scottish Parliament constituencies, Midlothian operates under the Additional Member System (AMS). Voters cast two votes: one for a constituency MSP and one for a regional list MSP. The constituency vote determines the MSP for Midlothian, while the regional vote contributes to the overall proportionality of representation within the South Scotland region.

Electoral History:

The Midlothian constituency has seen varied political representation since its creation. The seat has been held by different parties including Labour, the Scottish National Party (SNP), and others over the years. The specific results of each election can be found on official election result websites.

Member of the Scottish Parliament:

The current MSP for Midlothian can be readily determined via a quick search of the Scottish Parliament's official website or reputable news sources. This information is subject to change after each election.

South Scotland Region:

The Midlothian constituency is part of the South Scotland electoral region along with the constituencies of Ayr, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Clydesdale, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lothian, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, and Galloway and West Dumfries.