Falkirk

The Result

Electorate: 110,544
Area (Hectares): 29,924

Falkirk is in the Central region, roughly equidistant from Glasgow and Edinburgh. Despite containing large tracts of countryside, the region is largely industrial in character. Traditional industries such as iron founding, paper-making and coach-building have been joined by new light industries and distilling. The town of Grangemouth on the River Forth, holds both a modern container port and a vast petrochemical plant.

Typically, for an industrial area in the central belt, the Labour Party dominates local politics. The parliamentary constituencies of Falkirk East and Falkirk West are both safe Labour seats, and the party holds almost two thirds of the seats on the council. The SNP is the second party in the area, but they remain some way behind Labour.

Results of 1979 referendum:

ICM/Scotsman poll published on 22 August 1997:

		Yes		No		Don't know
All Scotland		68%		21%		11%
Lothian, Fife and Central		68%		25%		7%

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

		Yes		No		Don't know
All Scotland		56%		36%		8%
Lothian, Fife and Central		57%		40%		3%

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