Politics of Dundee
Encyclopedia
Politics in the Dundee City
(Mòr-bhaile Dhùn Dèagh in Gaelic) council area are evident in the deliberations and decisions of Dundee City Council, in elections to the council, and in elections to the Scottish Parliament
(Holyrood
) and the House of Commons
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
(Westminster
).
In the European Parliament
, the city
area is within the Scotland constituency
, which covers all of the 32 council areas of Scotland
.
Dundee City became a unitary council area in 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994
, with the boundaries of the City of Dundee district
of the Tayside
region
, minus a Monifieth
area and part of a Sidlaw area, which were transferred from the city area to the new unitary council area of Angus
. The city district was also the administrative centre for the region.
The new unitary city council area was named The City of Dundee in the legislation of 1994, but this was changed to Dundee City by a council resolution on 29 June 1995, under section 23 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
(c. 65). In terms of area, it is the smallest of Scotland's unitary council areas.
The district had been created in 1975, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to include: the former county of city
of Dundee; a Monifieth area, including the burgh
of Monifieth (but not Newtyle and Kettins areas), previously within the county of Angus; and a Longforgan area previously within the county of Perth.
The county of city was created in 1894, and the city area has included the burgh
of Broughty Ferry
since 1913. Dundee has been a royal burgh
since 1191.
The council executive is based in Tayside House on the banks of the River Tay
, but the council intends to demolish it in favour of new premises (Dundee House) on North Lindsay Street.
s:
Although the Scottish National Party has the largest number of seats, the council was initially controlled by a Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition, with the support of the Conservatives. This changed after the March 2009 By Election result which tipped the balance further in the SNPs direction.
The council has a history of Labour Party domination. George Galloway
was leader for a time, and was responsible for organising Dundee's twinning
with the Palestinian
city of Nablus
.
. The incumbent Lord Provost of Dundee is John Letford
, a former Labour councillor who currently sits as an independent. The Deputy Lord Provost is Cllr Ian Borthwick (Independent). A number of councillors are appointed as ceremonial bailies.
The Leader of the Council, as head of the largest political grouping, is Cllr Ken Guild (SNP).
General election
s to the council are held on a four year cycle, with the last on Thursday 3 May 2007.
Councillors are elected from subdivisions of the city area called wards. At present they are elected form 29 single-member wards. by the plurality
(first past the post) system of election. As a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004
, eight new wards are to be introduced for the 2007 election, each electing three or four members by the single transferable vote
system of election, to produce a form of proportional representation
. The total number of councillors will remain the same.
A By-Election was held on the 12th of March 2009 due to the resignation of Councillor Joe Morrow who was a councillor for Labour. The SNP’s Craig Melville took the seat.
Existing wards, listed below, were first used for elections in 1999. The names and parties of current councillors are also listed:
The first elections using the new boundaries and using the STV system to vote were held on May 3rd 2007. The results were
(Holyrood
) the city area is divided between three constituencies. The Dundee East (Holyrood) constituency
and the Dundee West (Holyrood) constituency
are entirely within the city area. The Angus (Holyrood) constituency
includes north-eastern and north-western portions of the city area, part of the Angus
council area, and part of the Perth and Kinross
council area.
All three constituencies are within the North East Scotland electoral region. The region elects a total of nine first past the post constituency Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) and seven additional members
, to produce a form of proportional representation
for the region as a whole.
Boundaries date from 1999, when the parliament itself was created.
Currently, Shona Robison
(SNP) is MSP for the Dundee East constituency, Joe Fitzpatrick
(SNP) is MSP for the Dundee West constituency, and Andrew Welsh
(SNP) is MSP for the Angus constituency.
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
(Westminster
), the city area is divided between the Dundee East (Westminster) constituency
and the Dundee West (Westminster) constituency
. These constituencies also include portions of the Angus
council area.
Current boundaries date from 2005. Prior to the 2005 general election
, the constituencies had the boundaries of now existing Scottish Parliament constituencies, with north-eastern and north-western portions of the city area being covered by the Angus (Westminster) constituency.
Currently, Stewart Hosie
(Scottish National Party
) is Member of Parliament
(MP) for the Dundee East constituency, and James McGovern
(Labour
) is MP for the Dundee West constituency.
, Dundee was represented as a component of the Perth Burghs constituency
from 1708 to 1832, when the Dundee burgh constituency
was created. In 1868 the burgh constituency became a two-member constituency.
East and West single-member constituencies have existed, with varying boundaries, since 1950.
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
(Mòr-bhaile Dhùn Dèagh in Gaelic) council area are evident in the deliberations and decisions of Dundee City Council, in elections to the council, and in elections to 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...
(Holyrood
Scottish Parliament Building
The Scottish Parliament Building is the home of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, within the UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Edinburgh. Construction of the building commenced in June 1999 and the Members of the Scottish Parliament held their first debate in the new building on 7...
) and the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
(Westminster
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
).
In the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, the city
City status in the United Kingdom
City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a "city". Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige and, consequently, competitions...
area is within the Scotland constituency
Scotland (European Parliament constituency)
Scotland constitutes a single constituency of the European Parliament. For 2009 it elects 6 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
, which covers all of the 32 council areas of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Dundee City became a unitary council area in 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994
Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994
The Local Government etc. Act 1994 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which created the current local government structure of 32 unitary authorities covering the whole of Scotland....
, with the boundaries of the City of Dundee district
Regions and districts of Scotland
The local government areas of Scotland were redefined by the Local Government Act 1973 and redefined again by the Local Government etc Act 1994....
of the Tayside
Tayside
Tayside Region was a local government region of Scotland from 15 May 1975 to 31 March 1996. It was created by the 1973 Act following recommendations made by the 1969 Wheatley Report which attempted to replace the mishmash of counties, cities, burghs and districts, with a uniform two-tier system...
region
Regions and districts of Scotland
The local government areas of Scotland were redefined by the Local Government Act 1973 and redefined again by the Local Government etc Act 1994....
, minus a Monifieth
Monifieth
Monifieth is a town and former police burgh in the council area of Angus, Scotland. It is situated on the North bank of the Firth of Tay on the East Coast...
area and part of a Sidlaw area, which were transferred from the city area to the new unitary council area of Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
. The city district was also the administrative centre for the region.
The new unitary city council area was named The City of Dundee in the legislation of 1994, but this was changed to Dundee City by a council resolution on 29 June 1995, under section 23 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
The Local Government Act 1973 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, that reformed local government in Scotland, on May 16, 1975....
(c. 65). In terms of area, it is the smallest of Scotland's unitary council areas.
The district had been created in 1975, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to include: the former county of city
Counties of Scotland
The counties of Scotland were the principal local government divisions of Scotland until 1975. Scotland's current lieutenancy areas and registration counties are largely based on them. They are often referred to as historic counties....
of Dundee; a Monifieth area, including the burgh
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
of Monifieth (but not Newtyle and Kettins areas), previously within the county of Angus; and a Longforgan area previously within the county of Perth.
The county of city was created in 1894, and the city area has included the burgh
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
of Broughty Ferry
Broughty Ferry
Broughty Ferry is a suburb on the eastern side of the City of Dundee, on the shore of the Firth of Tay in eastern Scotland...
since 1913. Dundee has been a royal burgh
Royal burgh
A royal burgh was a type of Scottish burgh which had been founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter. Although abolished in 1975, the term is still used in many of the former burghs....
since 1191.
City council
Council meetings take place in the City Chambers, located in City Square. They were opened in 1933.The council executive is based in Tayside House on the banks of the River Tay
River Tay
The River Tay is the longest river in Scotland and the seventh-longest in the United Kingdom. The Tay originates in western Scotland on the slopes of Ben Lui , then flows easterly across the Highlands, through Loch Dochhart, Loch Lubhair and Loch Tay, then continues east through Strathtay , in...
, but the council intends to demolish it in favour of new premises (Dundee House) on North Lindsay Street.
Composition and control
The council consists of 29 councillorCouncillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
s:
- Scottish National PartyScottish National PartyThe Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
- 14 councillors - LabourScottish Labour PartyThe Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland....
- 7 councillors - Conservative - 3 councillors
- Liberal DemocratScottish Liberal DemocratsThe Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England...
- 2 councillors - IndependentIndependent (politician)In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
- 3 councillors
Although the Scottish National Party has the largest number of seats, the council was initially controlled by a Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition, with the support of the Conservatives. This changed after the March 2009 By Election result which tipped the balance further in the SNPs direction.
The council has a history of Labour Party domination. George Galloway
George Galloway
George Galloway is a British politician, author, journalist and broadcaster who was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010. He was formerly an MP for the Labour Party, first for Glasgow Hillhead and later for Glasgow Kelvin, before his expulsion from the party in October 2003, the same year...
was leader for a time, and was responsible for organising Dundee's twinning
Town twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with the Palestinian
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
city of Nablus
Nablus
Nablus is a Palestinian city in the northern West Bank, approximately north of Jerusalem, with a population of 126,132. Located in a strategic position between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, it is the capital of the Nablus Governorate and a Palestinian commercial and cultural center.Founded by the...
.
Positions
The civic head and chair of the council is known as the Lord ProvostLord Provost
A Lord Provost is the figurative and ceremonial head of one of the principal cities of Scotland. Four cities, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, have the right to appoint a Lord Provost instead of a provost...
. The incumbent Lord Provost of Dundee is John Letford
John Letford
John Letford is a Scottish politician. He currently serves as the Lord Provost of Dundee, as well as a councillor in his local ward of Lochee....
, a former Labour councillor who currently sits as an independent. The Deputy Lord Provost is Cllr Ian Borthwick (Independent). A number of councillors are appointed as ceremonial bailies.
The Leader of the Council, as head of the largest political grouping, is Cllr Ken Guild (SNP).
Elections
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
s to the council are held on a four year cycle, with the last on Thursday 3 May 2007.
Councillors are elected from subdivisions of the city area called wards. At present they are elected form 29 single-member wards. by the plurality
Plurality voting system
The plurality voting system is a single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member constituencies...
(first past the post) system of election. As a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004
Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004
The Local Governance Act 2004 is an Act of the Scottish Parliament which provided, inter alia, for the election of Councillors to the local authorities in Scotland by the Single Transferable Vote system....
, eight new wards are to be introduced for the 2007 election, each electing three or four members by the single transferable vote
Single transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
system of election, to produce a form of 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...
. The total number of councillors will remain the same.
A By-Election was held on the 12th of March 2009 due to the resignation of Councillor Joe Morrow who was a councillor for Labour. The SNP’s Craig Melville took the seat.
1999 to 2007
Existing wards, listed below, were first used for elections in 1999. The names and parties of current councillors are also listed:
| Ward | Councillor | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Ninewells Ninewells Ninewells is an area of Dundee, Scotland, known for its hospital.-Transport:Many bus routes in Dundee terminate or call at Ninewells Hospital... |
Nigel Don | Scottish National Party |
| Camperdown Camperdown, Dundee Camperdown is an area of Dundee, Scotland, best known for Camperdown Park, which is the largest park in the city.The name is Dutch in origin, being the English version of Kamperduin, a village of the North Holland province on the North Sea coast of the Netherlands... |
John Letford | Independent |
| Balgay Balgay Balgay is a suburb in the west end of Dundee, Scotland. The name, derived from Gaelic, seems to mean 'stead of the marsh/wind' . During the 17th century, Balgay House was built and now this has become incorporated into Royal Victoria Hospital. Balgay Hill and Victoria Park were acquired by Dundee... |
Bob Duncan | Scottish National Party |
| Lochee West Lochee Lochee is an area in the west of Dundee, Scotland. Until the 19th century, it was a separate town, but was eventually surrounded by the expanding Dundee... |
Jill Shimi | Labour |
| Riverside West End, Dundee The West End is an area of the city of Dundee, Scotland. Bordered to the south by the River Tay, to the north by Blackness and to the east by the city centre, the West End is primarily an affluent residential area surrounding its main commercial thoroughfare, Perth Road, and the main campus of the... |
Neil Powrie | Conservative |
| Brackens St Marys, Dundee St Mary's is a resendential area of Dundee located in the extreme northwest of the city, to the north of Ardler and west of Kirkton. It is also bounded on the east by Downfield Golf Club, to the northwest by Clatto Country Park and to the north by Craigowl View.The scheme was built on farmland... |
Ian Borthwick | Independent |
| Ardler Ardler Ardler is an area in the north-west of Dundee, Scotland, built on land previously owned by Downfield Golf Club. The housing scheme was completed in the late 1960s and was synonymous with the six 17-storey multi-story blocks that formed the northern part of the scheme, and which were demolished... |
Kevin Keenan | Labour |
| Balgowan Balgowan, Dundee Balgowan is an area of Dundee, Scotland. The name derives from the Scottish Gaelic Baile Ghobhainn, meaning "blacksmith's stead" .... |
Rikki Beattie | Scottish Nationalist |
| Claverhouse Claverhouse Claverhouse is an area of Dundee, Scotland. John Graham of Claverhouse , known to history as "Bonnie Dundee" or "Bluidy Clavers" by his supporters and detractors respectively, was the laird of Claverhouse, although he was born at Glen Ogilvie, near Glamis.... |
Andrew Dawson | Scottish National Party |
| Whitfield Whitfield, Dundee Whitfield is a residential area in the north of Dundee, Scotland to the east of Fintry and north of Douglas. The area was built in the 1960s to accommodate Dundee's expanding population... |
Willie Sawers | Scottish National Party |
| Longhaugh | Joe Fitzpatrick | Scottish National Party |
| Pitkerro Pitkerro Pitkerro is an area in the eastern part of Dundee, Scotland, immediately west of Douglas and south of Fintry and Whitfield. Areas of Pitkerro include Kingsway East, Linlathen, Mid Craigie, Milton of Craigie and Drumgieth. Pitkerro is home to a large gas reserve tank.Pitkerro once had four schools,... |
Christina Roberts | Scottish National Party |
| Douglas Douglas, Dundee Douglas and Angus is an area of Eastern Dundee, Scotland. It is located between Whitfield to the North and Broughty Ferry to the East, bordering the neighbouring council area of Angus... |
George Regan | Labour |
| Barnhill Barnhill, Dundee Barnhill is an area of Broughty Ferry, which is a suburb of the city of Dundee, Scotland. It is approximately 4½ miles east of Dundee City Centre. Until the late 19th century, Barnhill was a separate village.-Description:... |
Bruce Mackie | Conservative |
| Balgillo Balgillo Balgillo is a housing development in the Dundee suburb of Broughty Ferry. It is bounded by Balgillo Road to the south, the A92 Dundee to Arbroath dual carriageway to the north, Balgillo Road East to the west, and Panmurefield Village to the east. The current city councillor for the area is the... |
Roderick Wallace | Conservative |
| Broughty Ferry Broughty Ferry Broughty Ferry is a suburb on the eastern side of the City of Dundee, on the shore of the Firth of Tay in eastern Scotland... |
Charles Webster | Conservative |
| West Ferry Broughty Ferry Broughty Ferry is a suburb on the eastern side of the City of Dundee, on the shore of the Firth of Tay in eastern Scotland... |
Derek Scott | Conservative |
| Craigiebank | John Corrigan | Scottish National Party |
| Strathmartine Strathmartine Strathmartine is an area of Angus, Scotland . It is to the north of Dundee and the surrounding district is often referred to as "the Howe o Strathmartine". William Lorimer, the classicist, known for producing a translation of the New Testament in Lowland Scots was born in Strathmartine... |
Helen Dick | Liberal Democrat |
| Lochee East Lochee Lochee is an area in the west of Dundee, Scotland. Until the 19th century, it was a separate town, but was eventually surrounded by the expanding Dundee... |
Charles Farquhar | Labour |
| Tay Bridges West End, Dundee The West End is an area of the city of Dundee, Scotland. Bordered to the south by the River Tay, to the north by Blackness and to the east by the city centre, the West End is primarily an affluent residential area surrounding its main commercial thoroughfare, Perth Road, and the main campus of the... |
Fraser Macpherson | Liberal Democrat |
| Logie Logie, Dundee Logie is a residential area of the City of Dundee, Scotland. It is located north of Blackness Road, bounded by Blackness Road, Balgay Road, Scott Street and Glenagnes Road... |
James Barrie | Scottish National Party |
| Law Law, Dundee Law, Dundee is an area located in the centre of Dundee, Scotland. Its predominant feature is an extinct volcano which gives it its name.-Geology:... |
Julia Sturrock | Labour |
| East Port | William Dawson | Scottish National Party |
| Baxter Park Stobswell Stobswell is an area of Dundee, Scotland with a population of approximately 10,000. It was originally a small hamlet outside the city until the industrial revolution caused the growth of Dundee. The area is by and large a residential area. Schools in the area are Morgan Academy Secondary School,... |
Elizabeth Fordyce | Scottish National Party |
| Hilltown Hilltown, Dundee Hilltown in Dundee is a mainly residential area to the north of the City Centre and lying to the south of the main circular road, The Kingsway.-Demographics:In the 2001 census the population was 9,337... |
Fiona Grant | Labour |
| Bowbridge Bowbridge Bowbridge is a village in Gloucestershire, England.... |
Christopher Hind | Labour |
| Stobswell Stobswell Stobswell is an area of Dundee, Scotland with a population of approximately 10,000. It was originally a small hamlet outside the city until the industrial revolution caused the growth of Dundee. The area is by and large a residential area. Schools in the area are Morgan Academy Secondary School,... |
Craig Meville | Scottish National Party |
| Fairmuir | Helen Wright | Labour |
Created in 2007
The first elections using the new boundaries and using the STV system to vote were held on May 3rd 2007. The results were
| Ward | Seats | Councillor's | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strathmartine | 4 | Stewart Hunter Ian Borthwick Kevin Keenan Helen Dick |
Scottish National Party(SNP) Independent Labour Liberal Democrat |
| Lochee | 4 | Bob Duncan Alan Ross John Letford Tom Ferguson |
Scottish National Party(SNP) Scottish National Party(SNP) Labour Labour |
| West End | 4 | Jim Barrie Donald Hay Richard McCready Fraser McPherson |
Scottish National Party(SNP) Conservative Labour Liberal Democrat |
| Coldside | 4 | Jimmy Black Dave Bowes Mohammed Asif Helen Wright |
Scottish National Party(SNP) Scottish National Party(SNP) Labour Labour |
| Maryfield | 3 | Liz Fordyce Ken Lynn Craig Melvillehttp://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2009/03/13/story12769982t0.shtm |
Scottish National Party(SNP) Scottish National Party(SNP) Scottish National Party(SNP) |
| North East | 3 | Andy Dawson Willie Sawers Brian Gordon |
Scottish National Party(SNP) Scottish National Party(SNP) Labour |
| East End | 3 | Will Dawson Christina Roberts George Regan |
Scottish National Party(SNP) Scottish National Party(SNP) Labour |
| The Ferry | 4 | Ken Guild Laurie Bidwell Derek Scott Rod Wallace |
Scottish National Party(SNP) Labour Conservative Conservative |
Scottish Parliament
For elections to the Scottish ParliamentScottish 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...
(Holyrood
Scottish Parliament Building
The Scottish Parliament Building is the home of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, within the UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Edinburgh. Construction of the building commenced in June 1999 and the Members of the Scottish Parliament held their first debate in the new building on 7...
) the city area is divided between three constituencies. The Dundee East (Holyrood) constituency
Dundee East (Scottish Parliament constituency)
Dundee City East is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election...
and the Dundee West (Holyrood) constituency
Dundee West (Scottish Parliament constituency)
Dundee West is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election...
are entirely within the city area. The Angus (Holyrood) constituency
Angus (Scottish Parliament constituency)
Angus is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election...
includes north-eastern and north-western portions of the city area, part of the Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
council area, and part of the Perth and Kinross
Perth and Kinross
Perth and Kinross is one of 32 council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy Area. It borders onto the Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee City, Fife, Clackmannanshire, Stirling, Argyll and Bute and Highland council areas. Perth is the administrative centre...
council area.
All three constituencies are within the North East Scotland electoral region. The region elects a total of nine first past the post constituency Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) and seven additional members
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....
, to produce a form of 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...
for the region as a whole.
Boundaries date from 1999, when the parliament itself was created.
Currently, Shona Robison
Shona Robison
Shona Robison is a Member of the Scottish Parliament for Dundee East. She was elected as a Scottish National Party candidate in the 2003 election...
(SNP) is MSP for the Dundee East constituency, Joe Fitzpatrick
Joe FitzPatrick
Joe FitzPatrick is a Scottish politician, and member for the Scottish National Party for Dundee West in the Scottish Parliament since May 2007, succeeding retiring Labour MSP Kate Maclean.-Life and career:...
(SNP) is MSP for the Dundee West constituency, and Andrew Welsh
Andrew Welsh (politician)
Andrew Paton Welsh is a Scottish politician. He was educated at Govan High School and Glasgow University.Andrew Welsh was the Scottish National Party Member of Parliament for the House of Commons constituencies of South Angus from 1974 to 1979, East Angus from 1987 to 1997 and Angus from 1997 to...
(SNP) is MSP for the Angus constituency.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
For elections to the House of CommonsBritish House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
(Westminster
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
), the city area is divided between the Dundee East (Westminster) constituency
Dundee East (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-Elections in the 1980s:-Elections in the 1970s:-Elections in the 1950s:...
and the Dundee West (Westminster) constituency
Dundee West (UK Parliament constituency)
Dundee West is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post voting system....
. These constituencies also include portions of the Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
council area.
Current boundaries date from 2005. Prior to the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
, the constituencies had the boundaries of now existing Scottish Parliament constituencies, with north-eastern and north-western portions of the city area being covered by the Angus (Westminster) constituency.
Currently, Stewart Hosie
Stewart Hosie
Stewart Hosie is the Scottish National Party Member of Parliament for Dundee East. He is Deputy Leader and Chief Whip of the SNP Westminster Group and House of Commons party spokesperson on the Treasury and Economic matters...
(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....
) is Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for the Dundee East constituency, and James McGovern
James McGovern (politician)
James McGovern is a Scottish Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Dundee West since 2005.-Early life:...
(Labour
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...
) is MP for the Dundee West constituency.
Historic constituencies
As a royal burghRoyal burgh
A royal burgh was a type of Scottish burgh which had been founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter. Although abolished in 1975, the term is still used in many of the former burghs....
, Dundee was represented as a component of the Perth Burghs constituency
Perth Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)
Perth Burghs was a district of burghs constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 1832, representing a seat for one Member of Parliament - Boundaries :The constituency covered five burghs:...
from 1708 to 1832, when the Dundee burgh constituency
Dundee (UK Parliament constituency)
Dundee was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1950, when it was split into Dundee East and Dundee West....
was created. In 1868 the burgh constituency became a two-member constituency.
East and West single-member constituencies have existed, with varying boundaries, since 1950.
See also
- List of places in Dundee
- List of places in Angus
- List of places in Fife
- List of places in Perth and Kinross