Current MSP: Colin Beattie (SNP) [MSP website]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | +/– | % | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNP | Colin Beattie | 14079 | +3902 | 47.2 | +11.9 | |
| Labour | Bernard Harkins | 11083 | -587 | 37.2 | -3.3 | |
| Conservative | Scott Douglas | 2571 | -40 | 8.5 | -0.5 | |
| Liberal Democrat | Iain Younger # | 1254 | -2715 | 4.2 | -9.6 | |
| Independent | Alan Hay # | 861 | +861 | 2.9 | +2.9 | |
| Majority | 2996 | Turnout | 29818 | Swing | +7.6% | SNP gain |
The Labour MSP since 1999, Rhona Brankin retired at this election and her replacement, Bernard Harkins could not hold the seat in the face of a national swing to the SNP. It was won with a clear margin by Colin Beattie, SNP Group leader on Midlothian council. The Liberal Democrat and independent candidates lost their deposits.
Notes: Given boundary changes since 2007, variations in votes and share between seats with different boundaries would be misleading. We use the Denver figures, essentially a calculation of the 2007 votes cast within 2011 boundaries. More information on this here.
Symbols used:
* – Incumbent
^ – Challenger holding a list seat in previous Parliament
# – Lost deposit
| National | Central Scotland | Glasgow | Highlands & Islands | Lothian | Mid-Scotland & Fife | North East Scotland | South Scotland | West Scotland |
| Almond Valley | Edinburgh Central | Edinburgh Eastern | Edinburgh Northern & Leith | Edinburgh Pentlands | Edinburgh Southern | Edinburgh Western | Linlithgow | Midlothian North & Musselburgh |