Local MSP, Jackson Carlaw has voiced his “shock” and “dismay” at proposals that would break-up the Eastwood constituency at future elections to the Scottish Parliament.
Boundaries Scotland have published proposals that would remove the Eastwood area from the map of constituencies for Holyrood, commencing with the next scheduled Scottish Parliament Election in May 2026.
The plans that are now publicly available propose placing Newton Mearns, Waterfoot and Eaglesham into a revised Renfrewshire South constituency with Kilbarchan, Lochwinnoch and Howwood. Barrhead and Neilston are also within the boundaries of the proposed seat.
Giffnock, Thornliebank, Clarkston and Busby would be part of a new “Glasgow, Priesthill and Giffnock” constituency with areas such as Carnwadric, Kennishead and Priesthill.
A one-month consultation on the Boundaries Scotland proposals is open for public comments until Saturday 17th June and people can register their views via – https://consult.boundaries.scot/reviews/2nd_review_scottish_parliament_boundaries/.
The maps of the proposed new constituencies and detailed consultation documents can be accessed here - https://boundaries.scot/reviews/second-review-scottish-parliament-boundaries.
Mr Carlaw has hit out at the proposals to dismantle the integrity of the Eastwood area and he is calling on local people to make their voices heard by participating in the consultation and opposing the break-up of the constituency in this manner.
Scottish Conservative MSP for Eastwood, Jackson Carlaw said:
“I am both shocked and dismayed to learn of these proposals to take Eastwood off the map as a parliamentary constituency at Holyrood.
“The integrity of Eastwood is totally dismissed in the plans and it’s existence as a distinct local area seems to have been given scant regard in formulating such unacceptable proposals.
“Separating the communities of Eastwood into two different parliamentary constituencies would dismantle essential local relationships that have been built up over decades and by the residents who call the constituency home.
“Eastwood is also home to Scotland’s largest Jewish Community with the Giffnock and Newton Mearns synagogues recently merging into the one place of worship.
“It is a serious concern that the plans would divide the Jewish Community in Eastwood into different geographical constituencies including the removal of Giffnock and Newton Mearns as belonging to the same parliamentary seat.
“In previous decades, unwanted attempts to merge the former Eastwood District Council with Glasgow were rightly defeated following a hard-fought local campaign.
“It is certainly a cause of major concern that the constituency proposals to dismantle Eastwood may serve as a forerunner for plans of this nature being put back on the table in future.
“I am clear that under no circumstances must Eastwood and East Renfrewshire lose their distinctions by becoming dragged into a much larger local authority and the best way to stop such a threat emerging is by forcing a retreat of the new constituency proposals.
“I urge local residents, community councils and voluntary groups to protest loudly by responding to the consultation and demanding that these proposals are revisited and ultimately abandoned.”