May 2016 elections

More female candidates in 2016 is positive, but not the full story

More female candidates in 2016 is positive, but not the full story

On Tuesday, Democratic Dashboard launched its data briefing on Gender and the 2016 Elections, looking at the prospects for gender balance in the Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish and London elections in May. Here, Carl Cullinane summarises the report’s key findings. You can download the briefing here, or get the data here. Similar PostsWhat turnout can […]

Scottish Parliament Election preview: The end of Labour’s fortress in Glasgow?

Scottish Parliament Election preview: The end of Labour’s fortress in Glasgow?

Glasgow, sitting within ‘Red Clydeside’, has long been a Labour citadel, with the party historically weighing rather than counting the vote, such was their dominance. But elections in 2007 and 2010 showed that the City is nowadays willing to look elsewhere politically, with the independence referendum of 2014 accelerating the shift in support from Labour to SNP. […]

Scottish Parliament Election preview: Whatever happens in Lothians, we’re bound to see new faces

Scottish Parliament Election preview: Whatever happens in Lothians, we’re bound to see new faces

The Scottish Parliamentary region of Lothians contains Edinburgh, as well as some surrounding areas. It was in this region that Labour saw their only MP elected at the 2015 General Election, however the SNP dominated the other seats. Will we see a rerun this May? Here, Juliet Swann runs the contests in the region, and […]

Scottish Parliament election preview: the last beats of a Labour ‘heartland’ in Central Scotland?

Scottish Parliament election preview: the last beats of a Labour ‘heartland’ in Central Scotland?

The Scottish Parliament elections take place early next month, with the SNP expected to solidify their dominance in the post-referendum Scotland. The Central Scotland region has long been a Labour stronghold with the party’s legendary and revered first leader Keir Hardie from the area. Here, Judith Sijstermans previews the contests, and suggests that this election may represent the […]

Scottish Parliament election preview: From four party politics to further consolidation in the South of Scotland?

Scottish Parliament election preview: From four party politics to further consolidation in the South of Scotland?

The Scottish Parliament elections are upon us, with the SNP expected to consolidate their current dominance over Labour and the Conservatives. Here, Alistair Clark looks at the contest in the South Scotland region, an area which has had a recent history of four party politics but may be seeing its political profile shift. Similar PostsEuropean […]

Scottish Parliament election preview: Continued SNP dominance in the North East, but who will pick up the scraps?

Scottish Parliament election preview: Continued SNP dominance in the North East, but who will pick up the scraps?

The North East of Scotland contains Scotland’s third and fourth largest cities in Aberdeen and Dundee, with these cities representing ‘No’ and ‘Yes’ strongholds during 2014’s independence referendum. In the 2011 election, the SNP swept the board in this region, even managing to win a list MSP – something which the voting system in use […]

Aberystwyth et son amour: talking to locals in the UK’s most Europhile town

Aberystwyth et son amour: talking to locals in the UK’s most Europhile town

Is Aberystwyth, a small town in West Wales, really as Europhile as the recent YouGov polling suggests? Sarah Trotter and Nick Morgan, two PhD researchers who grew up there, returned to the town to ask locals about the prospect of a Brexit. Similar Posts

What do the latest polls tell us about the elections in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales?

What do the latest polls tell us about the elections in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales?

Dr Kenneth Bunker considers the polls that have been fielded in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and what they tell us about the upcoming elections. He writes that while it is difficult to predict what will happen in Northern Ireland, it looks like the SNP and Labour respectively are heading for convincing wins in Scotland and […]

In the Scottish Parliamentary elections, How many unsuccessful constituency candidates will be elected by regional list?

In the Scottish Parliamentary elections, How many unsuccessful constituency candidates will be elected by regional list?

The electoral system for the Scottish Parliament means that candidates rejected by voters in the constituency section may still find themselves in Holyrood, courtesy of the regional lists. Malcolm Harvey suggests that those very parliamentarians may be called on to address this quirk in the system in the next session. Similar PostsAudit 2017: How democratic […]

Scotland will continue to be a psephologist’s delight for the foreseeable future

Scotland will continue to be a psephologist’s delight for the foreseeable future

The Scottish Parliament election is next month, with the SNP looking set to increase their majority in the Holyrood Parliament, with Labour and the Liberal Democrats looking likely to suffer further losses following 2014’s independence referendum. Here, Sean Swan looks over the forthcoming contest, reflecting that Scotland will continue to delight psephologists owing to its […]