Development in 'controversial' bid to break up constituency

In May 2023, Boundaries Scotland published provisional constituency proposals for future Scottish Parliament Elections and the long-standing seat was missing from the map of first-past-the-post seats.

Following a one-month public consultation last year and subsequent local inquiry hearings in December, the advisory non-departmental public body has now published revised proposals and the amended constituency plans include the retention of Eastwood.

Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, strongly opposed the Eastwood break-up plans through a formal written representation as part of the previous public consultation and by speaking at a local inquiry hearing in Newton Mearns.

The Scottish Conservative politician said: “I am both relieved and delighted that Boundaries Scotland have revisited the initial plans to abolish Eastwood.

“The amended constituency proposals accept Eastwood’s legitimacy as a distinct geographical boundary and that our communities belong together as part of the same parliamentary seat.

“I want to thank all local residents who made this outcome possible by taking part in the previous public consultation and voicing robust opposition to the plans to dismantle Eastwood.

“It is also important to recognise the major contribution of East Renfrewshire Council in securing a reversal of the initial proposals and local authority officials delivered a truly superb presentation at the Newton Mearns inquiry hearing.”

Previously Boundaries Scotland had proposed adding Clarkston, Busby, Giffnock and Thornliebank to a new Glasgow Priesthill and Giffnock constituency including Carnwadric, Kennishead and Priesthill.

It was also proposed that Newton Mearns, Waterfoot and Eaglesham would be amalgamated into a revised Renfrewshire South constituency with communities such as Howwood, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch.

Under the freshly published proposals, the Eastwood constituency has been retained but its geographical boundary has been slightly altered, with Neilston added to the seat.

The Newton Mearns North and Neilston council ward is currently split for Holyrood Elections, but the entirety of the ward would be part of Eastwood under the plans.

There will now be a further one-month public consultation on the revised constituency boundaries.

“There is a clear logic to Neilston’s inclusion within the constituency and it moves Eastwood’s voting population closer to the key electoral quota benchmark for devising first past the post parliamentary seats,” added Mr Carlaw.

“It is absolutely vital that the initial plans to discard Eastwood remain firmly in the dustbin and the previous proposals to dismantle the constituency must not be allowed to resurface.”