Now Humza faces battle to hold on to his seat at Holyrood
Boundary changes planned
HUMZA Yousaf faces a growing battle to hold his seat after his constituency was named as one of 25 to be scrapped after a boundary review.
The Glasgow Pollok seat is among the constituencies which will be abolished and replaced by an alternative with a new name and different boundary.
Mr Yousaf, who has a majority of 7,105, has secured success locally by appealing to working-class voters.
But the new Glasgow Cardonald and Pollok seat will take in a series of areas with large numbers of middle-class voters, including Pollokshields, Pollokshaws and Strathbungo.
His desire to impose further tax increases could be among the issues which will deter middle-class voters. The Mail yesterday told of a middle-class tax backlash against the SNP.
Labour has already been targeting Mr Yousaf’s seat ahead of the 2026 Holyrood elections, with campaigners highlighting the fact he lives in Dundee rather than his own constituency. They now believe the changes could be a further blow to his hopes of holding it.
A Scottish Labour source said: ‘It might hasten his move to Dundee because it is not a good seat for him now.’
In the overhaul proposed by Boundaries Scotland, more than two-thirds of the 73 constituencies will be altered. Under its proposals just 21 of the existing seats remain unchanged – including the Western Isles, the Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands.
These are protected by law and cannot be changed. But changes to the boundaries of 26 constituencies are proposed, while 25 would have new names and boundaries. Among the other constituencies that would have their name and boundary changed is Nicola Sturgeon’s Glasgow Southside. It would be merged with parts of her colleague James Dornan’s to become Glasgow Southside and Cathcart. All of the other constituencies in Glasgow face being overhauled. Among the 21 unchanged are the three in Aberdeen, two in Dundee and two in Falkirk.
Boundaries Scotland chairman Ronnie Hinds said the proposals were a ‘necessary rebalancing to reflect the movements of the electorate in Scotland’ since the last review in 2010.
The independent body said ‘there has been significant change to the electorate’ with this in part coming from 16 and 17-year-olds being able to vote in Scottish elections.
It added: ‘Even areas which have not experienced population growth or reduction may find that the constituency boundaries alter as a result of change required elsewhere to ensure that all constituencies and regions are of a similar electoral size.’
Boundaries Scotland must report to ministers by May 2025 and is now carrying out consulttions with the public.
A Scottish Conservative spokesman said: ‘These proposals are at an early stage and we will scrutinise them in full before responding.’
Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton whose Edinburgh West seat would become Edinburgh Forth and Linlithgow, said: ‘These reviews are an important opportunity to ensure residents in a changing Scotland can have their voices heard on an equal footing.’
The SNP was asked for comment on the proposals.
‘Not a good seat for him now’