Review of Scottish Parliamentary Boundaries

Review of Scottish Parliamentary Boundaries

Boundaries Scotland is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations for:

  • constituencies and regions for the Scottish Parliament;
  • the number of councillors on each council in a local government area;
  • the number of wards for local government elections and their boundaries; and
  • the extent of council areas.

The Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries commenced in September 2022. The Review is required by the Scotland Act 1998 and the report containing the recommendations by Boundaries Scotland must be submitted to Scottish Ministers by 1 May 2025. If subsequently approved by the Scottish Parliament, the new boundaries will be effective at the next Scottish Parliament election, expected in May 2026. 

The rules state Boundaries Scotland must review and make recommendations for the boundaries of 73 constituencies and eight regions, with each region represented by seven MSP’s. The overall number of MSPs will remain at 129.

A further consultation has now started on the Provisional results for the Regions and further proposals for constituencies.

Summary Highland Council area - Constituencies

The boundary between the proposed: Inverness and Nairn; and Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituencies has been amended south of Inverness at Strathdearn to align with the ward boundary, as suggested during the consultation. 

The constituency boundary for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross was retained and there were no changes to any of the 3 constituency names.

Further Proposals Constituencies – Maps

All Scotland |  Inverness and Nairn |  Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch | 

Provisional Proposals for Regions

Summary Highland Council area – Region Highlands and Islands

There is no change in the name of the region and when compared to the existing boundaries there is a minor alignment of the ward boundary within the Moray Constituency.

Provisional Proposals for Regions – Map

Highlands and Islands

The consultation period lasts for one month until 26 October 2024, during which comments concerning the proposals are invited. 

Comments on the proposals can be made on the consultation site, where you can view the boundaries of our proposals and compare them with the existing boundaries, see consult.boundaries.scot. Comments can also be made by email to boundaries.scot@scottishboundaries.gov.uk, or by writing to Boundaries Scotland, Thistle House, 91 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5HD.  All comments should be submitted no later than 26 October 2024 which is the end of the statutory consultation period. 

Further information regarding the review is available on the Boundaries Scotland website https://boundaries.scot/

1 Oct 2024