Midlothian North

Midlothian North
County constituency
for the Scottish Parliament
Midlothian North shown within the Edinburgh and Lothians East electoral region, and the region shown within Scotland
Electoral regionEdinburgh and Lothians East
Electorate56,748 (2026)
Major settlementsDalkeith
Current constituency
Created2026
Seats1
PartyScottish National Party
MSPColin Beattie
Council areaMidlothian
Created fromMidlothian North and Musselburgh

Midlothian North is a county constituency of the Scottish Parliament covering part of the council areas of Midlothian. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post method of election. Under the additional-member electoral system used for elections to the Scottish Parliament, it is also one of nine constituencies in the Edinburgh and Lothians East electoral region, which will elect seven additional members, in addition to the nine constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole. The seat was created by the second periodic review of Scottish Parliament boundaries ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, and covers areas that were previously in the former seat of Midlothian North and Musselburgh, alongside a small area gained from the seat of Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale.

The seat has been represented by Colin Beattie of the Scottish National Party since being first contested in 2026. Beattie was the incumbent member for the Midlothian North and Musselburgh prior to this election.

Electoral region

The other eight constituencies of the Edinburgh and Lothians East region are East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent, Edinburgh Central, Edinburgh Northern, Edinburgh North Western, Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith, Edinburgh South Western, and Edinburgh Southern. The region includes all of the City of Edinburgh and East Lothian council areas, and parts of the Midlothian council area.

Constituency boundaries and council area

Midlothian is represented in the Scottish Parliament by two constituencies. The Midlothian North seat is entirely within the Midlothian council area, whilst the Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale also includes parts of the Scottish Borders. Following the second periodic review of Scottish Parliament boundaries in 2025, the Midlothian North constituency covers the following electoral wards of Midlothian Council:

Member of the Scottish Parliament

ElectionMemberParty
2026 Colin Beattie SNP

Election results

2020s

2026 Scottish Parliament election: Midlothian North
Party Candidate Constituency Regional
Votes % ±% Votes % ±%
SNP Colin Beattie 11,250 38.9 Decrease 10.3 7,680 26.5
Labour Caitlin Stott 8,754 30.3 Increase 0.3 6,685 23.1
Reform Pal Chidambaram 4,506 15.6 New 4,596 15.9
Green 3,917 13.5
Liberal Democrats Jenny Butler 2,387 8.3 Increase 3.9 2,089 7.2
Conservative Phil Doggart 2,032 7.0 Decrease 9.0 2,345 8.1
Animal Welfare 278 1.0
Independent Green Voice 251 0.9
Independent Jeremy Balfour 165 0.6
AtLS 163 0.6
Scottish Family 160 0.6
Independent Ash Regan 135 0.5
ISP 122 0.4
Scottish Socialist 84 0.3
Workers Party 59 0.2
Independent Bonnie Prince Bob 52 0.2
Advance UK 48 0.2
Edinburgh & East Lothian People 45 0.2
Communist 25 0.1
Equality 23 0.1
Scottish Libertarian 22 0.1
Independent Morgwn Davies 2 0.0
Majority 2,496 8.6
Valid votes 28,929 28,946
Invalid votes 136 87
Turnout 29,065 51.2 29,044 51.2
SNP win (new seat)
Notes
  1. ↑ Note that changes in vote share are shown with respect to the notional result of the 2021 election, calculated to account for boundary changes
  2. ↑ Incumbent member for the Midlothian North and Musselburgh constituency
  3. ↑ Balfour was an incumbent member on the regional list, having initially been elected as a member of the Conservatives
  4. ↑ Regan was the incumbent member for the Edinburgh Eastern constituency, having initially been elected as a member of the SNP

References

  1. 1 2 "Midlothian North". BBC News. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Report to Scottish Ministers, p 142.
  3. 1 2 Second Review of Scottish Parliament: Report to Scottish Ministers, p 28.
  4. ↑ "Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries | Scottish Boundary Commission". boundaries.scot. Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  5. ↑ Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Report to Scottish Ministers, p 143.
  6. ↑ "2026 Scottish Parliament Elections: Lothians Regional Local Result". Midlothian Council. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.

Bibliography

See also