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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

Last refreshed: 10 April 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

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Common Questions
Who is Daniel Johnson MSP?
Scottish Labour MSP for Edinburgh Southern and the only Labour MSP projected to hold a constituency seat in the 2026 Holyrood election.
Why is Edinburgh Southern significant in the 2026 Scottish election?
It is the only Scottish constituency where Labour is projected to win, making Daniel Johnson the sole survivor of a potential Labour constituency wipeout.
Could Labour lose every constituency seat in Scotland?
The Electoral Calculus MRP projects Labour holding just one constituency seat (Edinburgh Southern). All other Labour MSPs would rely on the regional list system.

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 Edinburgh Southern constituency, which covers Morningside, Marchmont, and the Southside, returned him with a majority of over 1,000 in 2021 against a national backdrop of SNP dominance.

In the Electoral Calculus Holyrood MRP modelling published ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, Johnson stands out as the only Labour constituency MSP projected to hold their seat. The MRP shows Scottish Labour winning just one of 73 constituency seats outright, with all other Labour representation coming via the regional list. This makes his personal vote an extraordinary outlier in a party otherwise dependent on proportional representation.

Johnson's profile within Scottish Labour has grown significantly as a result. He is one of very few figures who can claim a direct constituency mandate rather than list appointment, lending him unusual authority in internal party discussions about leadership and direction ahead of what could be a transformative election for Labour in Scotland.