A 'burgh constituency' is a type of
parliamentary
constituency in
Scotland. It is a constituency which is predominantly
urban, and on this basis has been designated as a
burgh constituency. They are the successors of the historic
parliamentary burghs of the
Parliament of Scotland.
In 1708 parliamentary burghs were allocated to
districts of burghs, each district serving as a constituency of the
Parliament of Great Britain. In the
Parliament of the United Kingdom, from 1801 onwards, this district system continued until it was gradually abolished during the first half of the 20th century.
Modern burgh constituencies are much like
county constituencies in the way that their boundaries are drawn, but election candidates are allowed lower expenses, as they do not need to travel as much. For
British House of Commons elections, the allowance is £7,150 and 5p per elector. For
by-elections, the allowance is always £100,000.
House of Commons constituencies were formerly used for elections to the
Scottish Parliament, created in 1999, but they have been de-linked since 2005, by reducing the number of Commons constituencies in Scotland without a corresponding change in the Scottish Parliament. The historic distinction between county and burgh constituencies is maintained in both sets of constituencies.
For Scottish Parliament elections, the allowance is £5,761 and 4.8p per elector.
See also
★
Scottish Parliament constituencies
★
United Kingdom constituencies
★
Borough constituency (England and Wales)