2003 Scottish Parliament election

An election for the Scottish Parliament was held on 1 May 2003, and was the second election of members of the Scottish Parliament. It brought no change in terms of control of the Scottish Executive. Jack McConnell, the Labour Party MSP, remained in office as First Minister for a second term and the Executive continued as a Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition. As of 2025, it remains the last Scottish Parliament election victory for the Scottish Labour Party, and the last time the Scottish National Party lost a Holyrood election.

The results also showed rises in support for smaller parties, including the Scottish Green Party and the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) and declines in support for the Labour Party and the Scottish National Party (SNP). The Conservative and Unionist Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats each polled almost exactly the same percentage of the vote as they had in the 1999 election, with each holding the same number of seats as before.

Three independent MSPs were elected: Dennis Canavan, Margo MacDonald and Jean Turner. John Swinburne, leader of the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party, was also elected. This led to talk of a "rainbow" Parliament, but the arithmetic meant that the coalition of Labour and Scottish Liberal Democrats could continue in office, which they did until the 2007 election.

The decline in support for the SNP was viewed by some as a rejection of the case for Scottish independence. Others argued against this, pointing out that the number of MSPs in favour of independence actually rose because most of the minor parties such as the SSP share this position with the SNP.

Retiring MSPs At the dissolution of Parliament on 31 March 2003, ten MSPs were not seeking re-election.

Constituency/Region Departing MSPParty Glasgow Dorothy-Grace Elder Independent West of Scotland Colin Campbell SNP Highlands and Islands Duncan Hamilton SNP Highlands and Islands Winnie Ewing SNP West of Scotland Kay Ullrich SNP North East Scotland Ben Wallace Conservative West of Scotland John Young Conservative Central Fife Henry McLeish Labour Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Ian Jenkins Liberal Democrats Lothians David Steel Liberal Democrats

Campaign The parliament was dissolved on 31 March 2003 and the campaign began thereafter.

Party leaders in 2003 Labour – Jack McConnell SNP – John Swinney Conservative – David McLetchie Liberal Democrat – Jim Wallace Greens – Robin Harper & Eleanor Scott (co-chairs) SSP – Tommy Sheridan

Defeated MSPs

Labour Brian Fitzpatrick, Strathkelvin and Bearsden Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands Iain Gray, Edinburgh Pentlands Angus MacKay, Edinburgh South Richard Simpson, Ochil Elaine Thomson, Aberdeen North

SNP Kenneth Gibson, Glasgow Irene McGugan, North East Scotland Fiona McLeod, West of Scotland Gil Paterson, Central Scotland Lloyd Quinan, West of Scotland Michael Russell, South of Scotland Andrew Wilson, Central Scotland

The New Party Keith Harding, Mid Scotland and Fife (elected as a Conservative) Lyndsay McIntosh, Central Scotland (elected as a Conservative)

Results

|style="text-align:left"; colspan="2" | Valid votes || 1,916,574 || 99.4 || 0.3 || colspan="2"| || 1,915,851 || 99.4 || 0.3 || colspan="5"| |- |style="text-align:left"; colspan="2" | Spoilt votes || 12,303 || 0.6 || 0.3 || colspan="2"| || 11,938 || 0.6 || 0.3 || colspan="5"| |- !style="text-align:left"; colspan="2" | Total || 1,928,877 || 100 || || 73 || – || 1,927,789 || 100 || || 56 || – || 129 || – || 100 |- |style="text-align:left"; colspan="2" | Electorate/Turnout || 3,877,460 || 49.7 || 8.7 || colspan="2"| || 3,877,460 || 49.7 || 8.6 || colspan="5"|

Notes:

The Scottish Greens did not stand in any constituencies, instead concentrating their resources on winning the largest possible share of the "second" vote for 'list' seats.

Constituency and regional summary

Central Scotland