Paisley South — UK General Election Results
Paisley South was won by Labour at the 2001 general election, with a majority of 11,910 votes over SNP. This page covers every general election in Paisley South from 1983 to 2001.
Full Election History, 1983–2001
| Election | Elected | Votes | Vote Share | Runner-up | Majority | Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Norman Buchan (Labour) | 15,633 | 41.4% | Elspeth Buchanan (Liberal) | 6,529 (17.3 pts) | 72.5% |
| 1987 | Norman Buchan (Labour) | 21,611 | 56.2% | Alistair Carmichael (Liberal) | 15,785 (41.0 pts) | 75.3% |
| 1992 | Gordon McCaster (Labour) | 18,202 | 50.7% | Iain Lawson (SNP) | 9,549 (26.6 pts) | 75.0% |
| 1997 | Gordon McMaster (Labour) | 21,482 | 57.5% | William Martin (SNP) | 12,750 (34.1 pts) | 69.1% |
| 2001 | Douglas Alexander (Labour) | 17,830 | 58.4% | Brian Lawson (SNP) | 11,910 (39.0 pts) | 57.2% |
Full Result Breakdown by Election
1983
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norman Buchan | Labour | 15,633 | 41.4% | Yes |
| Elspeth Buchanan | Liberal | 9,104 | 24.1% | No |
| Joseph Knox | Conservative | 7,819 | 20.7% | No |
| James Mitchell | SNP | 4,918 | 13.0% | No |
| David Mellor | Green | 271 | 0.7% | No |
1987
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norman Buchan | Labour | 21,611 | 56.2% | Yes |
| Alistair Carmichael | Liberal | 5,826 | 15.1% | No |
| Dorothy Williamson | Conservative | 5,644 | 14.7% | No |
| James Mitchell | SNP | 5,398 | 14.0% | No |
1992
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon McCaster | Labour | 18,202 | 50.7% | Yes |
| Iain Lawson | SNP | 8,653 | 24.1% | No |
| Sheila Laidlaw | Conservative | 5,703 | 15.9% | No |
| Alan Reid | Liberal Democrat | 3,271 | 9.1% | No |
| Stephen Porter | Natural Law | 93 | 0.3% | No |
1997
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon McMaster | Labour | 21,482 | 57.5% | Yes |
| William Martin | SNP | 8,732 | 23.4% | No |
| Eileen McCartin | Liberal Democrat | 3,500 | 9.4% | No |
| Robin Reid | Conservative | 3,237 | 8.7% | No |
| James Lardner | Referendum Party | 254 | 0.7% | No |
| Sean Clerkin | Scottish Socialist Alliance | 146 | 0.4% | No |
2001
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas Alexander | Labour | 17,830 | 58.4% | Yes |
| Brian Lawson | SNP | 5,920 | 19.4% | No |
| Brian O'Malley | Liberal Democrat | 3,178 | 10.4% | No |
| Andrew Cossar | Conservative | 2,301 | 7.5% | No |
| Frances Curran | Scottish Socialist | 835 | 2.7% | No |
| Patricia Graham | ProLife Alliance | 346 | 1.1% | No |
| Terence O'Donnell | Independent | 126 | 0.4% | No |
Margin Over Time
Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.
Trend
Paisley South has been contested at 5 general elections on record since 1983. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Labour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Paisley South in the 2001 general election?
Labour won Paisley South in 2001 with 17,830 votes (58.4%), a majority of 11,910 votes over SNP in second place.
Which parties have won Paisley South since 1983?
Since 1983, Paisley South has been won by: Labour.
What was the closest result in Paisley South?
The closest result on record for Paisley South was 1983, when Labour beat Liberal by just 6,529 votes (17.3 percentage points).