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Daniel Johnson
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Daniel Johnson

Scottish Labour MSP for Edinburgh Southern; only Labour member projected to win a constituency seat in 2026

Scottish Labour MSP for Edinburgh Southern since 2016, whose seat pre-election modelling projected as the party's sole constituency hold going into the 7 May 2026 Holyrood election.

Last refreshed: 3 August 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

How does one MSP hold a constituency when Scottish Labour cannot win any others?

Timeline for Daniel Johnson

#14 3 Aug

Ruled himself out of standing

UK Local Elections 2026: Scottish Labour opens a contest Sarwar left early
#2 7 Apr

Tories Projected to Hold Zero Scottish Constituency Seats

UK Local Elections 2026
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Background

Daniel Johnson has served as the Scottish Labour MSP for Edinburgh Southern since 2016, building one of the strongest personal votes in Scottish Labour's parliamentary group. His constituency, covering Morningside, Marchmont and the Southside, returned him with a majority of over 1,000 in 2021 against a national backdrop of SNP dominance.

Electoral Calculus's Holyrood MRP modelling, published ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, projected Johnson as the only Labour constituency MSP likely to hold his seat, with the rest of Scottish Labour's representation coming via the regional list. Scottish Labour's confirmed result on 7 May 2026 saw all 17 of its seats returned from the regional list rather than any constituency, meaning this pre-election projection did not hold in the way modelled; this evidence set does not carry a confirmed record of what became of Johnson's own seat on polling day.

Common Questions
Could Labour lose every constituency seat in Scotland?
Yes, and it did. Scottish Labour won all 17 of its Holyrood seats from the regional list in the 7 May 2026 election, none from constituencies, including Edinburgh Southern where Daniel Johnson's projected hold did not materialise.
Why is Edinburgh Southern significant in the 2026 Scottish election?
It was projected as Labour's one survivable constituency, but the projection did not hold. Scottish Labour won all 17 of its 7 May 2026 Holyrood seats from the regional list; Edinburgh Southern was not among them.
Who is Daniel Johnson MSP?
Scottish Labour MSP for Edinburgh Southern since 2016. The Electoral Calculus projection that he would be the only Labour MSP to hold a constituency in 2026 did not materialise: Scottish Labour won all 17 of its Holyrood seats from the regional list on 7 May 2026, none from constituencies.