Aberdeen Donside (Gaelic: Obar Dheathain Oir Dheathain) is a burgh constituency of the Scottish Parliament covering part of the Aberdeen City council area. Under the additional-member electoral system used for elections to the Scottish Parliament, it elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post method of election. It is one of ten constituencies in the North East Scotland electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to the ten constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Report to Scottish Ministers, p 28.
The seat has been held by Jackie Dunbar of the Scottish National Party since the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.
Electoral region
The other nine constituencies of the North East Scotland region are: Aberdeen Central, Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine, Aberdeenshire East, Aberdeenshire West, Angus North and Mearns, Angus South, Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Dundee City East and Dundee City West. The region covers all of the Aberdeen City council area, the Aberdeenshire council area, the Angus council area, the Dundee City council area and part of the Moray council area.Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Report to Scottish Ministers, p 143.
Constituency boundaries and council area
Following the first periodic review of Scottish Parliament boundaries, the Boundary Commission for Scotland created three new seats for the Aberdeen City council area. The council area is now divided between three constituencies: Aberdeen Central, Aberdeen Donside and Aberdeen South and North Kincardine. Central and Donside are entirely within the Aberdeen City council area, while South and North Kincardine also takes in North Kincardine in the Aberdeenshire council area. For the 2026 Scottish Parliament election Aberdeen South and North Kincardine will be renamed as Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine, whilst retaining its current boundaries; the change of name was implemented at the second periodic review of Scottish Parliament boundaries to maintain consistency with the naming of the Aberdeen Donside seat.Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Report to Scottish Ministers, p 51.
Aberdeen Donside covers the northern part of the city council area, and comprises the following wards of Aberdeen City Council:Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Report to Scottish Ministers, p 140.
In full: Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone Bridge of Don Kingswells/Sheddocksley/Summerhill Northfield/Mastrick North In part: Hilton/Woodside/Stockethill (shared with Aberdeen Central)
At the second periodic review of Scottish Parliament boundaries in 2025 the seat boundaries were left unchanged,Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Report to Scottish Ministers, p 108-111.Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Report to Scottish Ministers, p 48-52. and the seat continues to be formed of the same wards as at the first periodic review.
Member of the Scottish Parliament Election Member Party2011Brian AdamScottish National Party2013 by-electionMark McDonald 2017 Independent 2021Jackie DunbarScottish National Party
Election results
2020s 2026
2021
2010s
2000s The following is the notional result for the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, as calculated by the BBC.
Politics and history of the constituency The area contains Aberdeen Airport (run by BAA),Passengers’ flight tax rise may cost country £80m, Press & Journal, 18 February 2011
Prior to the 2011 election, the Liberal Democrat candidate (Cllr Gordon Leslie), stood down amid allegations related to prostitution.Lib Dem candidate stands down over prostitute charges, BBC News, 22 February 2011
See also 2013 Aberdeen Donside by-election Aberdeen City Youth Council
References Citations
Bibliography
See also List of Scottish Parliament constituencies and electoral regions (2026–)
External links