MSP for a day?

'Labour did not just lose its most marginal Holyrood seat. It suffered a disaster. The party's share of the vote fell by 16 percentage points compared with its Holyrood vote in Ayr, and by no fewer than 26 points compared with its 1997 Westminster support.' Professor John Curtice in the Scotsman, 18 th March 2000.

Shortest Serving Members Of The Scottish Parliament

	Term	121 days
	MSP	Cllr Stefan Tymkewycz
	Party	Scottish National Party
	Constituency	Lothians
	Date	3/5/07 - 31/8/07
	Resigned Scottish parliament seat to concentate on Edinburgh City Council on the 31 st August 2007. He was replaced by Shirley-Anne Somerville, sixth on the SNP Lothians list.
	Term	230 days
	MSP	Ian Welsh
	Party	Labour
	Constituency	Ayr
	Date	6/5/99 - 21/12/99
	Resigned after less than 8 months as an MSP. A by-election was held on 16 th March 2000 which was won by Conservative John Scott with the Scottish National Party's Jim Mather beating Labour candidate Rita Miller into third place.
	Term	380 days
	MSP	Dave Petrie
	Party	Conservative & Unionist
	Constituency	Highlands & Islands
	Date	19/4/06 - 3/5/07
	Mary Scanlon resigned on the 7 th April 2006 to contest the Moray by-election, (in which she was defeated). She was second on the Tory list for the Highlands & Islands and was replaced by Dave Petrie, third on the Tory list, who was sworn in on the 19 th April 2006. In 2007 he was ranked fifth and failed to be re-elected.
	Term	525 days
	MSP	Rt Hon Donald Dewar MP
	Party	Labour
	Constituency	Glasgow Anniesland
	Date	6/5/99 - 11/10/00
	The Rt Hon Donald Campbell Dewar MP, MSP, First Minister of Scotland died on the 11 th October 2000. His Scottish seat was held by Bill Butler in a by-election on the 23 rd November 2000.
	Term	635 days
	MSP	Brian Fitzpatrick
	Party	Labour
	Constituency	Strathkelvin & Bearsden
	Date	7/6/01 - 1/5/03
	Held seat in by-election following resignation of Dr Sam Galbraith. Deafeated at 2003 general election by Independent Dr Jean Turner
	Term	738 days
	MSP	Dr Sam Galbraith MP
	Party	Labour
	Constituency	Strathkelvin & Bearsden
	Date	6/5/99 - 14/5/01
	Resigned Westminster and Scottish seats due to poor health on the 14 th May 2001. His Scottish seat was held by Brian Fitzpatrick in a by-election on the 7 th June 2001.
	Term	738 days 1
	MSP	Alex Salmond MP
	Party	Scottish National Party
	Constituency	Banff & Buchan
	Date	6/5/99 - 14/5/01
	Resigned Scottish seat to concentate on Westminster on the 14 th May 2001. His Scottish parliament seat was held by Stewart Stevenson in a by-election on the 7 th June 2001. 1 On 3 rd May 2007, Alex Salmond was re-elected to the Scottish Parliament after winning Gordon from the Liberal Democrats.
	Term	827 days
	MSP	Nick Johnston
	Party	Conservative & Unionist
	Constituency	Mid Scotland & Fife
	Date	6/5/99 - 10/8/01
	Nick Johnston resigned on the 10 th August 2001 due to poor health. He was second on the Tory list for Mid Scotland & Fife and was replaced by Murdo Fraser, fourth on the Tory list.
	Term	842 days
	MSP	Cllr Andrew Arbuckle
	Party	Liberal Democrat
	Constituency	Mid Scotland & Fife
	Date	12/1/05 - 3/5/07
	Dr Keith Raffan resigned on the 7 th January 2005 due to 'poor health'. He was first on the Lib Dem list for the Mid Scotland & Fife and was replaced by Cllr Andrew Arbuckle, who was sworn in on the 12 th January 2005. In 2007 he was ranked second on the list and failed to be re-elected.