South Lanarkshire

The Result

Electorate: 236,039
Area (Hectares): 117,116

South Lanarkshire stretches from the southern edges of Glasgow to the Southern Uplands. It includes several large towns on the outskirts of the Glasgow conurbation such as Rutherglen, East Kilbride, Hamilton, and Cambuslang. The southern part of the region is sparsely populated and largely rural, coal mining used to take place here but the pits have now closed. The main industries are now light engineering, service industries, and the manufacture of woollens and other textiles.

This is a Labour stronghold, they have over 80 per cent of the seats on the council and they hold all four parliamentary seats in the region. The SNP are the main challengers in the area but they do not yet pose a serious threat to Labour's continuing political dominance.

Results of 1979 referendum:

ICM/Scotsman poll published on 22 August 1997:

		Yes		No		Don't know
All Scotland		68%		21%		11%
Strathclyde		71%		16%		13%

Question:Should a Scottish Parliament have tax-varying powers?

		Yes		No		Don't know
All Scotland		56%		36%		8%
Strathclyde		56%		36%		9%

(Total Sample Size: 1,001, Fieldwork: 19-20 August 1997)