GLASGOW Pollok has always been a Labour stronghold, with Johann Lamont the sole holder of the seat since the formation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.

But the SNP’s rising star Humza Yousaf, who is running for the first time as a named candidate on the ballot paper, is hoping to take the constituency on May 5, changing its party allegiance for the first time.

Stretching from Nitshill through Pollok, Priesthill and Cardonald, the constituency stops at the River Clyde, splitting Govan in two.

It includes a number of historically significant sites and green spaces including the Burrell Collection and Crookston Castle, Pollok and Bellahouston Parks.

Also included are a large number of purely residential areas and a lack of amenities to accommodate this, according to residents.

Whoever takes the seat in May has a various challenges ahead of them with community groups and residents focusing on housing as one of their main concerns.

Around half of the 78,356 people in the area own their own homes according to the latest census figures, which is lower than the national average of 62%. In Scotland as a whole, 11% of people live in socially rented housing while in Pollok, 39% of people rely on the social housing sector for accommodation.

Despite this, constituents think there should be more social housing to help those who need it.

The number of people renting their homes from the private sector is lower than the national average in Pollok – 8% compared to the Scotland-wide figure of 12%.

Donna Foote, a community activist who lives in Pollok, said: “One of the main issues is the private rented sector and how there is no enforcement to ensure landlords are stepping up to their responsibilities.

“Benefits aren’t working for the majority of families in my area that I can see.

“There are too many people being sanctioned and there are too many people having to use foodbanks.”

There are more people in Pollok with long term health problems or disabilities that severely limit their abilities than the average across Scotland.

More than 10,000 in the area (around 14% of the population) are limited a lot by their health problems, compared to only 10% across the country.

On top if this, 35% of people who are carers in the constituency provide at least 50 hours of care a week, compared to 27% across the rest of the country.

The majority of people living in the area are descibrwed as White Scottish in the nlatest cdnsus, while 6% are Asian (including Scottish and British Asian), higher than Scotland’s average of 3%.

Only 1% of those living in the area are African.

In recent years, there has been a growing population of asylum seekers and refugees being housed in the constituency, along with neighbouring Glasgow South Side.

Owen Fenn, a project worker at the Govan and Craigton Integration network, said more needs to be done to help these vulnerable people integrate into the community and improve their quality of life.

He said there has been a rise in racial tension across the country as a whole and has urged politicians to take action and help “enable more cohesive communities”.

Candidates' view: 

Humza Yousaf, SNP Candidate for Glasgow Pollok, said there was a lot of work to be done to address the problems with housing in Pollok.
He said: “Glasgow Pollok needs an MSP who will tirelessly campaign on their behalf. While there are undoubtedly challenges in the area, I have been overwhelmed by the positive work being done by community organisations, churches and other faith groups, youth organisations and many others across the constituency.
“From knocking thousands of doors and speaking to local residents there is no doubt housing is a major issue in Glasgow Pollok. In the last term of government we exceeded our target of building 30,000 new homes, the vast majority of which are for social rent.
“We also brought forward the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Bill which will help curb excessive rents by private landlords and provide security to private tenants. However, I recognise that there is still work to do. If re-elected, the SNP will build 50,000 new homes, and if I am elected as MSP for Glasgow Pollok I will look to hold a housing summit to address the housing issues across the constituency within the first 100 days of being elected.”


Johann Lamont, Labour candidate for Pollok said the amount of good quality social housing provided by housing associations needed to increase.
She said: “That’s about investing properly, allowing houses to be built which are sustained and maintained. The SNP cut the housing association grant; we need to fund that again properly.
“We need to look further at standards in the private rented sector.
“Housing benefit, I think, will be devolved and we need to look at how to connect private landlords in receipt of housing benefit to the standards they apply."
“There are issues around the way in which a tenant is treated and the community is blighted when landlords don’t take responsibility. It’s something I am very passionate about.”
She added that there needed to be a further examination of the private landlord registration scheme to ensure it was working as it should.

2011 results:


Johann Lamont, Labour - 10,875 47.5%
Chris Stephens, SNP - 10,252 44.7%
Andrew Morrison, Conservative - 1,298 5.7%
Isabel Nelson, LibDem - 490 2.1%


2016 candidates:


Johann Lamont - Labour
Humza Yousaf - SNP
Thomas Haddow - Conservatives
Ian Leech - TUSC
Isobel Nelson - LibDems