South Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)


South Scotland is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament. Ten of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region. Under the additional-member electoral system used for elections to the Scottish Parliament, the region elects seven regional Members of the Scottish Parliament, in addition to the ten constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole, which thus elects a total of 17 MSPs.
The region was created as a result of the First Periodic Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries in 2011, and largely replaced the South of Scotland region. As defined at the 2011 review, the South Scotland region covered the Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire, Scottish Borders and South Ayrshire council areas in full and parts of the East Lothian, Midlothian and South Lanarkshire council areas, and covered nine constituencies. Following the second periodic review of Scottish Parliament boundaries in 2025, the boundaries of the region were altered, and it now covers ten constituencies. The region now covers the whole of the council areas of Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders, and South Ayrshire; and parts of the council areas of East Ayrshire, Midlothian, and South Lanarkshire. By population it is now the largest of Scotland's eight electoral regions.

Constituencies and local government areas

2026–present

As a result of the Second Periodic Review in 2025, the boundaries for the region and constituencies were redrawn for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. South Scotland underwent considerable changes, with East Lothian being transferred to the new Edinburgh and Lothians East region, and the region gaining the East Kilbride and Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse constituencies from the former Central Scotland. Additionally, the region lost a small portion of the East Ayrshire council area to the West Scotland region due to a boundary changes of the Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley constituency.

2011–2026

As a result of the First Periodic Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries the boundaries for the region and constituencies were redrawn for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election.

1999–2011

Prior to the First Periodic Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries, the area which previously encompassed much of the South Scotland electoral region was known as the 'South of Scotland' electoral region. The constituencies were created in 1999 with the names and boundaries of Westminster constituencies, as existing in at that time.
The First Past the Post constituencies can be found below:
The region covered the following local government areas:
In full:
  • Scottish Borders
  • South Ayrshire
  • Dumfries and Galloway
In part:
  • East Ayrshire
  • East Lothian
  • Midlothian
  • North Ayrshire
  • South Lanarkshire

    Members of the Scottish Parliament

Constituency MSPs

Regional List MSPs

N.B. This table is for presentation purposes only

Election results

2026 Scottish Parliament election

2021 Scottish Parliament election

In the 2021 Scottish Parliament election the region elected MSPs as follows:

Additional Member results

2016 Scottish Parliament election

In the 2016 Scottish Parliament election the region elected MSPs as follows:

Additional member results

2011 Scottish Parliament election

In the 2011 Scottish Parliament election the region elected MSPs as follows:

Additional member results