Editing Dumfries (section)

==Governance and politics==
===Royal Burgh status (1186)===
[[File:Municipal Buildings, Dumfries.jpg|thumb|[[Municipal Buildings, Dumfries|The Municipal Buildings]]]]

Scottish communities granted [[Royal Burgh]] status by the monarch guarded the honour jealously and with vigour. Riding the Marches maintains the tradition of an occasion that was, in its day, of great importance. Dumfries has been a Royal Burgh since 1186, its charter being granted by King William the Lion in a move that ensured the loyalty of its citizens to the Monarch. Although far from the centre of power in Scotland, Dumfries had obvious strategic significance sitting as it does on the edge of Galloway and being the centre of control for the south west of Scotland. With the River Nith on two sides and the Lochar Moss on another, Dumfries was a town with good natural defences. Consequently, it was never completely walled. A careful eye still had to be kept on the clearly defined boundaries of the burgh, a task that had to be taken each year by the Provost, Baillies, Burgesses and others within the town. Neighbouring landowners might try to encroach on the town boundaries, or the Marches as they were known, moving them back 100&nbsp;yards or so to their own benefit. It had to be made clear to anyone thinking of or trying to encroach that they dare not do so.

In return for the Royal status of the town and the favour of the King, the Provost and his council, along with other worthies of the town had to be diligent in ensuring the boundaries were strictly observed. Although steeped in history, Scotland's burghs remained the foundation of the country's system of local government for centuries. Burgh status conferred on its citizens the right to elect their own town councils, run their own affairs and raise their own local taxes or rates. Dumfries also became the administrative centre for the [[shires of Scotland|shire]] of Dumfries, or [[Dumfriesshire]], which was probably created in the twelfth century and certainly existed by 1305.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Chalmers |first1=George |title=Caledonia |date=1824 |location=London |pages=68–70 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jcU_AAAAcAAJ&dq=history+of+county+of+dumfries&pg=PA46 |access-date=6 December 2022 |chapter=Of its establishment as a Shire}}</ref> When elected county councils were created in 1890 under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889]], the burgh of Dumfries was deemed capable of running its own affairs and so was excluded from the jurisdiction of the county council.<ref>[[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889]], sections 8 and 105</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Local Government Act in Dumfriesshire |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |access-date=23 December 2021 |work=Annandale Observer |date=27 September 1889 |location=Annan |page=3}}</ref>

===Political expansion===

The burgh of Dumfries was enlarged in 1929 to take in [[Maxwelltown]] on the west bank of the Nith, which had previously been a separate burgh in [[Kirkcudbrightshire]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Maxwelltown Burgh |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10360973 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=3 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Dumfries-Maxwelltown Amalgamation |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=The Scotsman |date=4 October 1929 |location=Edinburgh |page=14}}</ref> Further local government reform in 1930 brought the burgh of Dumfries within the area controlled by Dumfriesshire County Council, but classed as a [[large burgh]] which allowed the town to continue to run many local services itself.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929|year=1929|chapter=25|access-date=23 December 2022}}</ref> The town council was based at [[Municipal Buildings, Dumfries|Municipal Buildings]] in Buccleuch Street, built in 1932 on the site of an earlier council building.<ref name=hes>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB26099|desc= Nithsdale District Council Offices, Dumfries |cat=C|access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref>

In 1975 local government across Scotland was reformed under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973]]. The burghs and counties were abolished as administrative areas, replaced with a two-tier system of upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973|year=1973|chapter=65|access-date=23 December 2022}}</ref> Dumfries therefore became part of the [[Nithsdale]] district in the region of [[Dumfries and Galloway]]. Nithsdale District Council took over the Municipal Buildings.<ref name=hes/> Ancient titles associated with Dumfries' history as a royal burgh like [[Provost (civil)|provost]] and [[bailie]] were discarded or retained only for ceremonial purposes. Robes and chains often found their way into museums as a reminder of the past. Further local government reform in 1996 abolished Nithsdale district, since when Dumfries has been governed by Dumfries and Galloway Council, which has its headquarters in the town at [[County Buildings, Dumfries|County Buildings]], which had been built in 1914 as the headquarters of Dumfriesshire County Council.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB26174|desc= Dumfries County Buildings, 113 English Street, Dumfries |access-date=23 December 2022}}</ref>

Dumfries remains a centre of local government for a much bigger area than just the town itself. But its people, the Doonhamers still retain a pride in their town and distinctive identity. This is never more so than during the week-long Guid Nychburris Festival and its highlight the Riding of the Marches which takes place on the third Saturday in June each year.

===Political representation===
[[File:Dumfries & Galloway Council Headquarters (geograph 4699595).jpg|thumb|[[County Buildings, Dumfries|Dumfries & Galloway Council Headquarters]]]]
Dumfries is located in the [[Subdivisions of Scotland|council area]] of [[Dumfries and Galloway]]. It is the seat of the local council, whose headquarters are located on the edge of the town centre. Until 1995 Dumfries was also home to the council for the local district of [[Nithsdale]]. Dumfries also lends its name to the [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|lieutenancy area]] of Dumfries, which is similar in boundaries to the former [[Dumfriesshire]] county.

On the Dumfries and Galloway Council, Dumfries is covered by four 4-seat wards: Abbey, Lochar, Nith and North West Dumfries. North West Dumfries is the only ward that solely covers areas within the town itself, with the others incorporating outlying areas. In the [[2017 Dumfries and Galloway Council election|2017 council election]], these wards elected 6 [[Scottish Labour Party|Labour]], 5 [[Scottish Conservatives|Conservative]] and 4 [[Scottish National Party|SNP]] councillors.

Dumfries is split into two UK Parliament constituencies: [[Dumfries and Galloway (UK Parliament constituency)|Dumfries and Galloway]] which is represented by [[John Cooper (British politician)|John Cooper]] and [[Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale]] which is represented by [[David Mundell]], both of the [[Scottish Conservative Party]]. For Scottish Parliament elections, Dumfries is in the [[South Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|South Scotland electoral region]] and split between two constituencies. The western wards of Abbey and North West Dumfries are in the constituency of [[Galloway and West Dumfries]], while the eastern wards of Nith and Lochar are in the constituency of [[Dumfriesshire (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Dumfriesshire]]. The respective MSPs are [[Finlay Carson]] and [[Oliver Mundell]], both of the [[Scottish Conservative Party]].

In the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum]], Dumfries and Galloway had the country's [[2014 Scottish independence referendum#By area|third heaviest 'No' vote]] at more than 65% of the ballots cast. That was more than 10 points higher than the national average pro-union vote.