Shetland (Scottish Parliament constituency) in the context of "Shetland"

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⭐ Core Definition: Shetland (Scottish Parliament constituency)

Shetland is a county constituency of the Scottish Parliament covering the council area of Shetland. 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 eight constituencies in the Highlands and Islands electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to the eight constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.

Shetland has been held by the Liberal Democrats at all elections since the formation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, with the current MSP being Beatrice Wishart, who won the seat at a 2019 by-election held following the resignation of former party leader Tavish Scott.

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👉 Shetland (Scottish Parliament constituency) in the context of Shetland

Shetland, also called the Shetland Islands, is an archipelago in Scotland lying between Orkney, the Faroe Islands, and Norway, marking the northernmost region of the United Kingdom. The islands lie about 50 miles (80 kilometres) to the northeast of Orkney, 110 mi (170 km) from mainland Scotland, and 140 mi (220 km) west of Norway.

They form part of the border between the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the North Sea to the east. The islands' area is 1,467 km (566 sq mi) and the population totalled 23,190 in 2024. The islands comprise the Shetland constituency of the Scottish Parliament. The islands' administrative centre, largest settlement and only burgh is Lerwick, which has been the capital of Shetland since 1708, before which time the capital was Scalloway. Due to its location, it is accessible only by ferry or flight with an airport located in Sumburgh as well as a port and emergency airstrip in Lerwick.

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Shetland (Scottish Parliament constituency) in the context of List of Scottish Parliament constituencies and electoral regions (2011–2026)

As a result of the first periodical review of Scottish Parliament constituencies, new constituencies and additional member regions of the Scottish Parliament were introduced for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election. The D'Hondt method is used, as previously, in the allocation of additional member seats. These boundaries were also used for the 2016 Scottish Parliament election and 2021 Scottish Parliament election; following the Second periodic review of Scottish Parliament boundaries which published its report in 2025, new boundaries will be used for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.

The Scottish Parliament (Constituencies) Act 2004 required the Boundary Commission for Scotland to review boundaries of all constituencies except Orkney and Shetland (which cover, respectively, the Orkney Islands council area and the Shetland Islands council area) so that the area covered by the reviewed constituencies continues to be covered by a total of 71 constituencies. The Orkney and Shetland constituencies were taken into account, however, in review of boundaries of the additional member regions. The Commission began the review as announced on 3 July 2007, and provisional proposals were published on Thursday 14 February 2008. Final recommendations followed public consultations and a series of local inquiries, and the terms of the 2004 act required final recommendations to be submitted in a report to the Secretary of State for Scotland not later than 30 June 2010.

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Shetland (Scottish Parliament constituency) in the context of First periodic review of Scottish Parliament boundaries

The First periodic review of Scottish Parliament boundaries was carried out by the Boundary Commission for Scotland. It was announced on 3 July 2007 that the review was taking place. Provisional proposals were published on 14 February 2008 and the final proposals were published on 26 May 2010. The new constituencies and regions were used for the first time at the 2011 Scottish Parliament election.

The Scottish Parliament (Constituencies) Act 2004 requires the commission to review boundaries of all constituencies except Orkney and Shetland (which cover, respectively, the Orkney Islands council area and the Shetland Islands council area) so that the area covered by the reviewed constituencies will continue to be covered by a total of 71 constituencies.

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Shetland (Scottish Parliament constituency) in the context of Second periodic review of Scottish Parliament boundaries

The Second periodic review of Scottish Parliament boundaries is being carried out by Boundaries Scotland. It was announced on 1 September 2022 that the review was taking place. Provisional proposals were published on 15 April 2023, the revised proposals were published on 26 May 2010. Further proposals for constituencies and provisional proposals for. The new constituencies and regions will used for the first time at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.

The Scotland Act 1998 as amended by the Scottish Elections (Reform) Act 2020 requires the commission to review boundaries of all constituencies except Orkney, Shetland and Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (which cover, respectively, the Orkney Islands council area, the Shetland Islands council area and the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) so that the area covered by the reviewed constituencies will continue to be covered by a total of 73 constituencies.

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