Ochil (Scottish Parliament constituency)

Ochil (Scottish Parliament constituency) is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament and is located in the Central Scotland region. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first-past-the-post system of election, and is also one of nine constituencies in the Mid Scotland and Fife electoral region. The constituency was created in 2011, as a result of the Commission on Scottish Parliamentary Constituencies review, and was first contested in the 2011 Scottish Parliament election with Richard Simpson of the Scottish Labour Party as the first Member of the Scottish Parliament for the constituency, who had previously represented the Mid Scotland and Fife region and the Ochil constituency at Westminster. The constituency is the successor to the Ochil (Scottish Parliament constituency) which was represented by Richard Simpson and Keith Brown of the Scottish National Party.

● Constituency profile

The constituency is located in the Central Scotland region and covers the Clackmannanshire council area, as well as parts of the Perth and Kinross and Stirling council areas. The constituency is home to the University of Stirling, the Forth Valley College, and the Stirling Castle, which are major employers in the area. The constituency is also close to the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, which attracts tourists and supports the local economy. The constituency has a diverse economy, with major industries including agriculture, fishing, and tourism, as well as a growing renewable energy sector, with companies such as ScottishPower and SSE plc operating in the area. The constituency is represented by Keith Brown of the Scottish National Party, who has been the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work in the Scottish Government and has also served as the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities and the Minister for Transport and Veterans.

● Electoral history

The constituency has been contested in two Scottish Parliament elections, with the Scottish Labour Party winning the seat in 2011 and the Scottish National Party winning the seat in 2016. The constituency has also been represented by Liz Smith of the Scottish Conservative Party, who has been the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills and the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Young People. The constituency has a diverse range of voters, with supporters of the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Conservative Party, and the Scottish Liberal Democrats all present in the area. The constituency is also close to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, and is represented by MSPs such as Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, and Ruth Davidson, the Leader of the Opposition in the Scottish Parliament.

● Boundaries and council areas

The constituency covers the Clackmannanshire council area, as well as parts of the Perth and Kinross and Stirling council areas. The constituency is bounded by the River Forth to the south, and the Ochil Hills to the east. The constituency is also close to the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, which is a popular tourist destination and supports the local economy. The constituency is represented by COSLA, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, which represents the interests of local government in Scotland. The constituency is also close to the University of Stirling, which is a major employer in the area and has a strong focus on research and innovation, with partnerships with companies such as IBM and Microsoft.

● Members of

the Scottish Parliament The constituency has been represented by two Members of the Scottish Parliament since its creation in 2011. The first MSP for the constituency was Richard Simpson of the Scottish Labour Party, who represented the constituency from 2011 to 2016. The current MSP for the constituency is Keith Brown of the Scottish National Party, who has represented the constituency since 2016 and has also served as the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work in the Scottish Government. The constituency is also represented by other MSPs such as Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, and John Swinney, the Deputy First Minister of Scotland, who have both represented the Mid Scotland and Fife region in the Scottish Parliament. The constituency has a strong connection to the Scottish Parliament and is represented by a range of MSPs from different parties, including the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Conservative Party, and the Scottish Liberal Democrats.