Glasgow Southside Voter Guide: 2026 Election Questions

Key Points

• Greater Govanhill community magazine launched a “Citizens Agenda project” to prioritise reader concerns over party lines in the 2026 Scottish parliamentary elections.
• Over 200 comments gathered via online surveys, social media, public stalls, and community group visits shaped 11 key questions sent to all Glasgow Southside candidates.
• Questions address local issues including high rents and overcrowding in Govanhill, fly-tipping and rubbish problems, high transport costs, energy bills, GP access, rising racism and anti-migrant rhetoric, hostility towards LGBTQ+ people, poor politician communication, tax powers for local services, Palestine-related commitments, and top constituency changes within 12 months.
• Responses from candidates will be published as received; the initiative aims to hold politicians accountable to Southside residents’ priorities.
• Linked resources include a full voting guide and details on the Citizens Agenda project.

Glasgow (Glasgow Express) May 5, 2026 – In a proactive effort to refocus the 2026 Scottish parliamentary election conversation on voter priorities rather than party narratives, Greater Govanhill community magazine has compiled a voter guide featuring 11 targeted questions derived directly from local residents.

The magazine’s initiative stands out by bypassing traditional campaign rhetoric. Over the past couple of months, editors at Greater Govanhill have canvassed opinions from more than 200 individuals through online surveys, social media interactions, public stalls, and visits to community groups in Glasgow Southside, particularly the Govanhill area.

These questions, which capture the most resonant issues for the locality, have been dispatched to every candidate standing in the Glasgow Southside constituency. The publication commits to releasing all responses as they arrive, ensuring transparency and accountability.

This approach forms part of Greater Govanhill’s broader Citizens Agenda project, designed to make candidates answer to the concerns of everyday residents. For context on the elections, the magazine also provides a comprehensive article titled

“Everything you need to know about voting in the 2026 Scottish parliamentary elections,”

accessible via their website.

What Specific Actions Will Candidates Take on High Rents and Overcrowding in Govanhill?

Govanhill residents highlighted high rents and overcrowding as a pressing crisis. The first question posed is:

“In Govanhill, high rents and overcrowding are a major issue. What specific action would you take, using Holyrood’s powers, to increase affordable housing and make renting more secure?”

This query leverages the Scottish Parliament’s devolved responsibilities over housing policy, prompting candidates to outline concrete steps within Holyrood’s remit.

As detailed in the original article by the Greater Govanhill editorial team, without attributing specific candidate responses yet received, the question underscores the urgency of the issue in a densely populated area known for its multicultural community.

How Will MSPs Push for Solutions to Fly-Tipping and Rubbish Problems?

Fly-tipping, overflowing bins, and rubbish accumulation—particularly in backcourts—emerged as a top grievance. The related question reads:

“Fly-tipping, overflowing bins and rubbish – especially in backcourts – are a major issue in Govanhill. This may be a council responsibility, but what would you do as an MSP to push for better standards, whether through increased funding, national policy or holding services to account?”

Though waste management falls primarily under local council duties, the question challenges aspiring MSPs to advocate at the national level, potentially via budget allocations or legislative pressure.

Greater Govanhill’s coverage, as reported in their voter guide article, positions this as a quality-of-life issue resonating strongly across surveys and community feedback.

Do Candidates Support Public Control of Buses and Integrated Ticketing?

Transport costs in Glasgow drew significant complaints, with calls for a unified system. The question states:

“The cost of transport in Glasgow is a major issue, and people want a more joined-up system, including publicly-owned buses and integrated ticketing. Do you support greater public control of buses and a single payment system, and what would you do to help make that happen?”

This probes support for renationalising bus services and streamlining fares, areas where Holyrood holds influence over transport policy.

The Greater Govanhill initiative, per their published guide, reflects widespread frustration with fragmented public transport in the Southside.

What Measures Will Candidates Back to Cut Energy Bills Through Retrofitting?

Energy bills and the need for home retrofitting featured prominently. The query is:

“Energy bills are a major issue, and many tenement homes need retrofitting. What would you support to improve energy efficiency in housing, and how would you make sure it actually brings down bills?”

With Scotland’s tenement-heavy housing stock in mind, candidates must address both efficiency upgrades and tangible bill reductions.

As outlined by Greater Govanhill staff in their article, this issue ties into broader cost-of-living pressures amplified by reader input.

How Can Access to GP Services Be Improved and Waiting Times Reduced?

Healthcare access, especially GP appointments, proved a major concern. The question asks:

“People can’t get GP appointments, many struggle with online booking, and some say they just go to hospital instead. What would you do to improve access to GP services and reduce waiting times?”

Although health is devolved, MSPs can influence funding and policy. Greater Govanhill’s survey data captured instances of residents bypassing GPs for A&E due to barriers like digital booking.

What Steps Will Candidates Take to Tackle Rising Racism and Anti-Migrant Rhetoric?

Residents expressed fears over racism and anti-migrant sentiment. The question is:

“Rising racism and anti-migrant rhetoric are a concern, and some people say they feel unsafe leaving their local area because of it. What would you do to tackle racism and discrimination in this area?”

Govanhill’s diverse population makes this particularly acute, as noted in the magazine’s compilation of over 200 comments.

How Will MSPs Protect Trans Rights and LGBTQ+ Safety?

Hostility towards LGBTQ+ individuals, especially the trans community, raised alarms. The query reads:

“People raised concerns about rising hostility towards LGBTQ+ people, particularly the trans community. What will you do as an MSP to protect trans rights and ensure people feel safe?”

This demands national-level commitments to safety and rights protection.

How Will Candidates Ensure Accessibility and Accountability to Voters?

Many feel ignored by politicians. The question states:

“Many residents feel ignored by politicians and report poor communication from elected representatives. How will you ensure you are accessible and accountable to people in Glasgow Southside?”

Greater Govanhill emphasised this as a recurring theme in feedback.

Should Scotland Use Tax Powers Differently to Fund Local Services?

Funding for services prompted debate:

“People asked whether more funding should be raised to support local services. Do you think Scotland should use its tax powers differently, and if so, where should that money go?”

With Holyrood’s tax-varying powers, candidates must specify priorities.

How Will Candidates Enforce Palestine-Related Commitments Like BDS?

Govanhill residents voiced concerns over Palestine:

“Many in Govanhill are concerned about what’s happening to the people of Palestine. Last year the Scottish Parliament voted to impose a boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel. How would you ensure any commitments such as divestment, use of Scottish airports – are actually implemented?”

This references the prior parliamentary vote, seeking enforcement plans.

What Top Two Changes Will Candidates Deliver in 12 Months?

Finally:

“What are the top two changes you would deliver for this constituency within 12 months, and how should voters judge whether you have succeeded?”

This holds candidates to measurable short-term goals.

Background of the Development

The Citizens Agenda project by Greater Govanhill community magazine stems from a deliberate shift away from party-dominated election coverage. Launched in early 2026, it involved direct engagement with Glasgow Southside residents, amassing over 200 inputs across multiple channels. This mirrors similar grassroots efforts in previous Scottish elections but is tailored to hyper-local issues in Govanhill and surrounding areas.

The magazine, a longstanding voice for the community, has previously covered housing and integration challenges. By formalising reader questions and committing to publish all candidate replies unedited, it builds on Scotland’s tradition of voter-driven accountability initiatives, such as those seen in the 2021 Holyrood elections.

Prediction: Impact on Glasgow Southside Residents

This voter guide development can shape how Glasgow Southside residents engage with the 2026 elections by providing a standardised framework to compare candidates on hyper-local priorities like housing, waste, and healthcare. Residents gain tools to scrutinise responses against community-submitted concerns, potentially increasing turnout among underrepresented groups in Govanhill who feel overlooked.

If candidates fully engage, it may lead to more targeted campaign promises, influencing post-election policy advocacy at Holyrood. For multicultural and low-income households, addressed issues like racism and energy costs could see heightened parliamentary attention, though actual outcomes depend on election results and government formation. Voters can track implementation via the magazine’s follow-up coverage, fostering longer-term accountability.