Paisley
Countyconstituency for theScottish Parliament
Paisley shown within theWest Scotland electoral region and the region shown withinScotland
Population	72,752 (2019)[1]
Current constituency
Created	2011
Party	Scottish National Party
MSP	George Adam
Council area	Renfrewshire

Paisley is aconstituency of theScottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering the town ofPaisley inRenfrewshirecouncil area. It elects oneMember of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by thefirst past the post method of election. It is also one of ten constituencies in theWest Scotlandelectoral region, which elects sevenadditional members, in addition to ten constituency MSPs, to produce a form ofproportional representation for the region as a whole.

The constituency was created for the2011 Scottish Parliament election, and covers parts of the former constituencies ofPaisley North andPaisley South.^[2] It has been held byGeorge Adam of theScottish National Party (SNP) since its formation.

The other nine constituencies of the West Scotland region are:Clydebank and Milngavie,Cunninghame North,Cunninghame South,Dumbarton,Eastwood,Greenock and Inverclyde,Renfrewshire North and West,Renfrewshire South andStrathkelvin and Bearsden.

The region covers part of theArgyll and Bute council area, theEast Dunbartonshire council area, theEast Renfrewshire council area, theInverclyde council area,North Ayrshire council area, theRenfrewshire council area and theWest Dunbartonshire council area.

Map of boundaries from 2011

Renfrewshire is represented in theScottish Parliament by three constituencies: Paisley,Renfrewshire North and West andRenfrewshire South.

The electoral wards of the Paisley constituency are:

• In full:
  • Paisley Northeast and Ralston
  • Paisley East and Central
  • Paisley Southeast
  • Paisley Southwest
• In part:Paisley Northwest (shared withRenfrewshire North and West)

The constituency covers most of the town of Paisley, theGallowhill area in the northeast of the town lying in the neighbouring seat of Renfrewshire North and West. Paisley is often considered thebiggest town in Scotland, and gave its name to the distinctive kidney-shaped"paisley pattern" and thePaisley shawl. Textile and thread manufacture were long the mainstay of Paisley's industry, due to the damp climate and plentiful water, and by the 19th century, the town was a major centre for theweaving industry.^[3]

Paisley has a long association with politicalRadicalism, highlighted by its involvement in theRadical War of 1820, with striking weavers being instrumental in the protests. By 1993, all of Paisley's mills had closed, although they are memorialised in the town's museums and civic history.^[4] The decline of industry in the town has led to urban recession, and in 2006, the district ofFerguslie Park was named one of Scotland's most deprived areas by what was then the Scottish Executive. In 2015, the town launched its bid to become UK City of Culture in 2021, becoming one of the five shortlisted candidates,^[5] before eventually losing out toCoventry.

The constituency features four railway stations,a major hospital and several notable churches. Most noticeable among the buildings of Paisley isPaisley Abbey in the centre of the town, which dates from the 12th century. Nearby liesSt Mirin's Cathedral which is the seat of the CatholicBishop of Paisley.^[3]

2021 Scottish Parliament election: Paisley^[6]

Party		Candidate	Constituency			Regional
			Votes	%	±%	Votes	%	±%
	SNP	George Adam[a]	17,495	50.0	0.2	16,147	46.0	0.6
	Labour Co-op	Neil Bibby[b]	11,420	32.7	0.5	8,797	25.1	2.0
	Conservative	Russell Findlay[c]	3,342	9.6	2.4	4,934	14.1	0.1
	Green	Scott Bevan	1,584	4.5	New	2,570	7.3	1.5
	Liberal Democrats	Eileen McCartin	1,124	3.2	2.8	905	2.6	0.6
	Alba					611	1.7	New
	All for Unity					284	0.8	New
	Scottish Family					224	0.6	New
	Independent Green Voice					160	0.5	New
	Freedom Alliance (UK)					102	0.3	New
	Reform					77	0.5	New
	Abolish the Scottish Parliament					77	0.2	New
	TUSC					68	0.2	New
	UKIP					57	0.2	1.5
	Scottish Libertarian					56	0.2	0.0
	Renew					12	0.0	New
	Scotia Future					12	0.0	New
	Independent	James Morrison				9	0.0	New
	Independent	Maurice Campbell				7	0.0	New
Majority			6,075	17.3	0.3
Valid Votes			34,965			35,109
Invalid Votes			143			62
Turnout			35,108	62.6	5.3	35,171	62.7	5.4
	SNPhold		Swing		0.4
Notes ^Incumbent member for this constituency ^Incumbent member on theparty list, or for another constituency ^Elected on theparty list

2016 Scottish Parliament election: Paisley^[7]

Party		Candidate	Constituency			Regional
			Votes	%	±%	Votes	%	±%
	SNP	George Adam[a]	14,682	49.8	7.2	13,423	45.4	4.4
	Labour Co-op	Neil Bibby[b]	9,483	32.2	9.5	8,005	27.1	10.0
	Conservative	Paul Masterton	3,533	12.0	3.3	4,188	14.2	6.3
	Green					1,722	5.8	2.7
	Liberal Democrats	Eileen McCartin	1,766	6.0	1.0	954	3.2	0.1
	UKIP					513	1.7	1.2
	Solidarity					319	1.1	0.9
	Scottish Christian					234	0.8	0.1
	RISE					159	0.5	New
	Scottish Libertarian					56	0.2	New
Majority			5,199	17.6	16.7
Valid Votes			29,464			29,573
Invalid Votes			128			43
Turnout			29,592	57.3	7.8	29,616	57.3	8.0
	SNPhold		Swing		8.4
Notes ^Incumbent member for this constituency ^Incumbent member on theparty list, or for another constituency

• "Paisley constituency map"(PDF).Boundaries Scotland. Retrieved7 July 2021.

• Politics of Paisley, Renfrewshire
• Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions from 2011
• Constituencies of the Scottish Parliament
• Constituencies established in 2011
• 2011 establishments in Scotland

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