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Government and Politics

A map showing the boundaries of the Falkirk Council area, one of the 32 Unitary authorities of Scotland. The town of Falkirk sits at the heart of the council area.

Like all towns in Scotland, Falkirk has a well-defined structure of governance from local government down to representation at European Union (EU) level.

Falkirk is located within the Scottish parliamentary constituency of Falkirk West. The current Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) is Dennis Canavan who sits as an Independent. Canavan, who announced in an open letter to his constituents in January 2007, that he was stepping down from representative politics at the Scottish Parliament election, 2007 has been an MSP or MP for the area for over 30 years

In the United Kingdom Parliament the town is entirely contained within the UK parliamentary constituency of Falkirk which also takes in surrounding towns and villages and is currently represented by the Labour MP Eric Joyce. Traditionally, Falkirk has been seen as a Labour stronghold.

At EU level, Falkirk is part of the pan-Scotland European Parliament constituency which elects 7 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation. Currently, Scotland returns 2 Labour MEPs, 2 Conservative and Unionist MEPs, 2 SNP MEPs and 1 Liberal Democrat MEP, to the European Parliament.

In terms of local government the town sits at the heart of Falkirk Council area, one of the 32 Unitary Authorities of Scotland. The headquarters of the council

Economy

Today, the economy of Falkirk is focussed around Retail and Services, in contrast to the heavy industries and manufacturing sectors which contributed to the growth of the town over the last 300 years. Falkirk is a large retail centre catering to the town itself and a wide surrounding area, stretching from Cumbernauld in the west to Bo'ness in the east. The flagship retailer Marks and Spencer opened a store in Falkirk in 1936. The High Street was pedestrianised in the late 1980s and the Howgate Shopping Centre opened in 1989.

The Public sector and public services also have a foothold in the Falkirk area. Falkirk Council is one of the largest employers in this sphere, with a workforce of over 7,000, many based One of the principal offices of the UK Child Support Agency, covering Scotland and the north east of England.

• Alexander Dennis one of the world's largest bus manufacturers headquartered in Falkirk, operations plant nearby
• Many residents work in the petrochemicals industry in Grangemouth agglomeration of related industries in the area around the BP refinery
• Traditional industries - business parks, electronics etc + examples
• Distribution - large ASDA distribution centre - good access to motorways and trunk roads - ease of access to most of Scotland and the north of England (nearby port needs mention)
• Public Sector. Falkirk Council employs 7,000 people many based at headquarters in the town. Work in NHS Falkirk Hospitals, Child Support Agency base in town.
• Developing tourism potential - Falkirk Wheel and Callendar House.

References

• Dowds, T (2003): "The Forth and Clyde Canal - A History". Tuckwell Press. ISBN 1-8623-2232-5
• Macleod, I (2004): "The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Scotland". Lomond Books, Edinburgh. ISBN 1-8420-4028-6
• Milne, D; Leitch, A; Duncan, A; Bairner, J & Johnston, J (1975): "The Falkirk and Grangemouth Area". Paper for the Scottish Association of Geography Teachers' (SAGT) conference, October 1975. Moray House College of Education, Edinburgh.
• Nimmo W (1880): "The History of Stirlingshire, Third Edition" Vol II. Hamilton, Adams and Company, Glasgow.
• Smith, R (2001): "The Making of Scotland". Canongate Books, Edinburgh. ISBN 1-8419-5170-6