Scotland · 71,756Boundary · 2023

Argyll, Bute & South Lochaber

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Created in the 2023 boundary review, replacing Argyll and Bute.

Dispatch
Apr 2026

A new constituency created in the 2023 boundary review. Won by SNP in its first election in 2024.

One of O'Hara's most notable recent moments came when he broke SNP ranks in January 2025, voting against a motion on compensation for WASPI women -- one of only a handful of rebel votes in an otherwise tightly aligned parliamentary record. More recently, he has been visible in news coverage advocating for constituents held in Iran's Evin Prison, using his role as vice chair of the all-party parliamentary group on arbitrary detention to publicly condemn their imprisonment as "outrageous." He has also pressed for transparency over nuclear safety issues affecting Helensburgh and raised rural fuel costs in Westminster debates -- both issues with direct relevance to his sprawling west Highland constituency.

At 32% participation across 466 divisions, O'Hara votes in roughly one in three parliamentary divisions -- significantly below the Commons average -- though when he does vote, he backs the SNP line 99% of the time. His voting profile shows consistent opposition to Labour's employer National Insurance increases (0% aligned with pro-employer-taxation votes, backing Lords amendments against the rises), alongside strong support for employment protections and welfare expansion. Speeches have clustered around defence, the economy, and cost-of-living -- all themes that map closely onto Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber's particular mix of military installations, rural poverty, and remote geography.

147
Commons votes
This parliament
£29k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
71.8k
Electorate
2024 GE

Votes less often than 95% of MPs.

Current Member of Parliament

Brendan O'Hara

Brendan O'Hara

Scottish National Party

Brendan O'Hara is the Scottish National Party MP for Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber, and has been an MP continually since 7 May 2015. He currently undertakes the roles of Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Cabinet Office), Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Culture, Media and Sport), and Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Middle East).

Notable Votes

MPs voted on whether to allow a Bill to be introduced that would require the government to respond to the Ombudsman's findings on injustice caused to women born in the 1950s by changes to the state pension age, and to create a compensation scheme for those affected. This matters because hundreds of thousands of women received inadequate notice of pension age rises and suffered financial hardship as a result.

MP voted NoAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

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Voting at a Glance

A new constituency created in the 2023 boundary review. Won by SNP in its first election in 2024.

2024 General Election

§ 06This week in Westminster.Live · today’s sittingOrder Paper · refreshed daily

O'Hara’s scheduled Commons activity this week — whipped divisions, oral questions, debates — drawn from the House of Commons Order Paper.

§ 07The record, at a glance.156 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where O'Hara has cast the most ballots — a proxy for engagement, not direction. Notable votes are the moments where the whip was free or where they broke ranks.

Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted · cumulative this Parliament
Taxation
53
Economy
47
Employment
38
Welfare and Benefits
25
Pensions
19
Universal Credit
12
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip
Women’s State Pension age (Ombudsman report and compensation scheme): Ten Minute Rule Motion28 Jan 2025
No
§ 08The local picture.11 wards

Constituencies are not uniform. Below — the local council make-up, key facts worth knowing, and the neighbouring seats on either side.

WardCouncillorVotesParty
CowalWilliam Gordon Blair1,090Scottish
CowalWilliam Sinclair551Liberal
CowalYvonne McNeilly855Conserva
DunoonAudrey E Forrest1,126Scottish
DunoonDaniel Hampsey493Conserva
DunoonRoss Moreland464Liberal
Helensburgh CentralFiona Howard841Labour P
Helensburgh CentralGary Mulvaney1,205Conserva
Helensburgh CentralGraham Archibald Hardie440Liberal
Helensburgh CentralIan James MacQuire843Scottish
Helensburgh Lomond SouthGemma Penfold854Conserva
Helensburgh Lomond SouthMath Campbell-Sturgess749Scottish
Median income
£28,900
HMRC SPI 2024
Next · dig deeperEvery division, question, speech and committee record

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More constituency data is being added, including local issue analysis and historical trends. Learn about our methodology. View data sources & attribution.