The Highlands and Islands is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament, created in 1999. Eight of the parliament's first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region, and it elects seven of the 56 additional members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs).
The term "Highlands and Islands" is much older than the electoral region. The Highlands and Islands area has a large area of overlap with the Scottish Highlands, and the two names are often regarded as representing the same area.
The Highlands and Islands region is the largest of the eight electoral regions in terms of area, but the smallest in terms of population and electorate. In creating the region Boundaries Scotland considered that special geographical considerations applied due to the area's low population density, large physical size and poor transport links. It has boundaries with the North East Scotland, Mid Scotland and Fife and the West Scotland electoral regions.
Contents
Constituencies and council areas
2026–present
Following the Second Periodic Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries, boundaries for Scotland's electoral regions and constituencies were redrawn ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. The Highlands and Islands saw a very minor change in its boundary with North East Scotland, as result of changes to the boundary between the Moray and Banffshire and Buchan Coast constituencies, but was otherwise left unchanged.
2011–2026
As a result of the First Periodic Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries the boundaries of the region and constituencies were redrawn for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election.
1999–2011
The constituencies were created in 1999 with the names and boundaries of Westminster constituencies, as existing at that time. They covered all of four council areas, the Highland council area, Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles council area),
the Orkney Isles council area and the Shetland Isles council area, and most of two others, the Argyll and Bute council area and the Moray council area:
A south-eastern portion of the Argyll and Bute area is covered by the Dumbarton constituency, which is in the West of Scotland region. An eastern portion of the Moray area is covered by the Gordon constituency, in the North East Scotland region.
Boundary changes
The Boundary Commission also recommended changes to the electoral regions used to elect "list" members of the Scottish Parliament. Highlands and Islands was amended so as to contain the newly redrawn constituencies of Argyll and Bute; Caithness, Sutherland and Ross; Inverness and Nairn; Moray; Na h-Eileanan an Iar; Orkney Islands; Shetland Islands; and Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.
List of MSPs
Regional list MSPs
N.B. This table is for presentation purposes only
Election results
2016 election
In the 2016 Scottish Parliament election the region elected MSPs as follows:
7 Scottish National Party MSPs (six constituency members and one additional member)
3 Conservative MSPs (all additional members)
2 Liberal Democrat MSPs (both constituency members)
2 Labour MSPs (both additional members)
1 Green MSP (additional member)
Elected candidates are highlighted in bold.
2011 election
In the 2011 Scottish Parliament election the region elected MSPs as follows:
9 Scottish National Party MSPs (six constituency members and three additional members)
2 Liberal Democrat MSPs (both constituency members)
2 Labour MSPs (both additional members)
2 Conservative MSPs (both additional members)
2007 election
In the 2007 Scottish Parliament election the region elected MSPs as follows:
6 Scottish National Party MSPs (four constituency MSPs and two additional members)
4 Liberal Democrat MSPs (all constituency MSPs)
3 Labour MSPs (all additional members)
2 Conservative MSPs (both additional members)
2003 election
In the 2003 Scottish Parliament election the region elected MSPs as follows:
5 Liberal Democrat MSPs (all constituency MSPs)
4 Scottish National Party MSPs (two constituency MSPs and two additional members)
3 Labour MSPs (one constituency MSP and two additional members)
2 Conservative MSPs (both additional members)
1 Green MSP (additional member)
Changes:
Margaret Ewing, Scottish National Party MSP for Moray, died on 21 March 2006. The by-election was won by Richard Lochhead of the SNP.
Changes:
Dave Petrie replaced Mary Scanlon. Scanlon resigned as an MSP in April 2006 to contest the Moray by-election following the death of Margaret Ewing. Petrie was next on the Conservative list.
1999 election
In the 1999 Scottish Parliament election the region elected MSPs as follows:
5 Liberal Democrat MSPs (all constituency members)
4 Scottish National Party MSPs (two constituency and two additional members)
4 Labour MSPs (one constituency and three additional members)
2 Conservative MSP (both additional members)