Eastwood MSP, Jackson Carlaw has written to Boundaries Scotland calling for a rejection of plans to dismantle the constituency at the next scheduled election to the Scottish Parliament in May 2026.
If the proposals are implemented, Eastwood would be abolished with Newton Mearns, Waterfoot and Eaglesham amalgamated into the Renfrewshire South parliamentary seat and Giffnock, Thornliebank, Clarkston, Busby and Netherlee joining a new Glasgow Priesthill and Giffnock constituency.
In his representation to Boundaries Scotland, Mr Carlaw has highlighted that Eastwood's voting population better meets electoral quota criteria than the proposed new Glasgow seat and all of Eastwood's communities are part of the same council in East Renfrewshire meaning it makes little sense to separate them at Holyrood Elections and to be grouped with areas belonging to different councils.
He has also highlighted the long-standing identity and integrity of Eastwood, that community groups have constituted themselves based on the geographical boundaries of the area and practical considerations relating to transport and shared use of facilities by the constituency's communities.
Mr Carlaw's representation has been submitted to Boundaries Scotland as part of the consultation process on constituency proposals for future Scottish Parliament Elections.
The consultation closes in just a few short days on Saturday 17th June and Mr Carlaw is encouraging local people to object before the deadline.
Scottish Conservative MSP for Eastwood, Jackson Carlaw said:
"I am both dismayed and astonished at the proposals from Boundaries Scotland to abolish the parliamentary constituency.
"To dismantle the Eastwood identity that intrinsically links the communities in favour of some new imagined geographical boundaries that do not reflect the history and interconnectedness of the local areas would be completely unacceptable.
"Giffnock is Eastwood. Newton Mearns is Eastwood. Busby is Eastwood. Clarkston is Eastwood. And so on.
"It is also important to note that the population of the proposed Glasgow Priesthill and Giffnock constituency is further away from meeting the stated electoral quota benchmark than Eastwood and this represents strong evidence for maintaining the existing constituency.
"Boundaries Scotland must revisit these unacceptable plans and I urge constituents to support the retention of Eastwood with it's existing boundaries by formally participating in the consultation."
How to participate in the consultation:
Constituents can object to the proposals to abolish Eastwood by:
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E-Mail - [email protected]
- Letter - Boundaries Scotland, Thistle House, 91 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5HD
- Completing the survey on the following link - https://consult.boundaries.scot/reviews/2nd_review_scottish_parliament_boundaries/consultation/intro/