Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) (Ball Pàrlamaid na h-Alba (BPA) in Gaelic) is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament.

MSPs are elected in one of two ways: (1) as first past the post constituency MSPs or; (2) as regional additional-member MSPs.

73 are elected as constituency MSPs and 56 are elected as additional members, seven from each of eight regional groups of constituencies. This additional member system produces a form of proportional representation for each region.

All MSP positions become simultaneously vacant for elections held on a four year cycle. If a vacancy arises at another time, due to death or resignation, then it may be filled in one of two ways, depending of whether the vacancy is for a first-past-the-post constituency MSP or for an additional-member MSP.

A constituency vacancy may be filled by a by-election. An additional-member vacancy may be filled by the next available candidate on the relevant party list.

See also

• Members of the Scottish Parliament, 1999-2003
• Members of the Scottish Parliament, 2003-2007
• Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions

Scottish Parliament | Members of the Scottish Parliament

MSP (polityka)