Coatbridge and Bellshill (UK Parliament constituency)

Under the Fifth Review of UK Parliament constituencies, which came into effect for the 2005 general election, the constituency was created as Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill. It was the successor to the Coatbridge and Chryston constituency, with the addition of the town of Bellshill from the abolished constituency of Hamilton North and Bellshill.

Further to the completion of the 2023 review, the seat was subject to boundary changes which resulted in the loss of Chryston to Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch. As a consequence, it was renamed Coatbridge and Bellshill, first contested at the 2024 general election.^[2]

Traditionally, the area served by the seat and its predecessors was the safest Labour area in Scotland. The area consistently returned Labour MPs from 1935^[3] until 2015 when the Scottish National Party gained the seat from Scottish Labour on an unprecedented 36% swing, unseating the incumbent Tom Clarke MP who had represented the area since the 1982 Coatbridge and Airdrie by-election. Since 2015, the seat has changed hands several times. Once back to Labour in 2017, with Hugh Gaffney unseating the Scottish National Party incumbent Phil Boswell. The seat then swung back to the SNP in 2019, with Steven Bonnar gaining the seat. In 2024, the seat again swung back to Labour with Frank McNally gaining the seat from the SNP incumbent Steven Bonnar.

Under the Fifth Review of UK Parliament constituencies, the boundaries were defined in accordance with the ward structure in place on 30 November 2004. Further to reviews of local government ward boundaries which came into effect in 2007 and 2017, but did not affect the parliamentary boundaries, the constituency comprised the following wards or part wards of North Lanarkshire Council:

• In full: Gartcosh, Glenboig and Moodiesburn, Coatbridge South, Coatbridge West, Thorniewood.
• Most: Stepps, Chryston and Muirhead, Coatbridge North, Bellshill.
• Small part: Cumbernauld North, Mossend and Holytown.

As a result of the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, the seat lost Chryston to Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch. The newly named constituency comprises the following wards of North Lanarkshire Council:

• In full: Gartcosh, Glenboig and Moodiesburn, Coatbridge North, Coatbridge South, Coatbridge West, Thorniewood, Bellshill.
• In part: Airdrie Central (very small area), Mossend and Holytown (Mossend area).

The constituency covers the west of the North Lanarkshire council area, and is predominantly urban. Coatbridge lies relatively central within the constituency, with the urban/rural mix to the north encompassing the villages of Glenboig, Moodiesburn and Gartcosh. Bellshill lies within the southern most part of the constituency.

Electoral Calculus characterises the seat as 'Traditionalist', with left-wing economic views but less liberal social attitudes. The average age in the constituency is 47.6, which puts it just below the UK and Scottish averages. Employment in the constituency is at 64%, putting it broadly in line with the rest of Scotland and above the overall UK average of 58%. Home ownership in the constituency is below both the Scottish and UK averages, at 59%. Additionally, Electoral Calculus puts the ethnic demography of the constituency as 98% white, above both Scottish and UK averages.^[4]

Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill

Coatbridge and Bellshill

Coatbridge and Chryston – 1997–2005

Monklands West – 1983–1997

Coatbridge and Airdrie – 1950–1983

Coatbridge – 1918–1950