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Scotland may believe it is more leftwing than the rest of the United Kingdom, but researchers at Strathclyde University have found that Scotland's new parliamentarians are more middle class than their Westminster counterparts.

Politics lecturers Michael Cavanagh, Neil McGarvey and Mark Shephard found Scots in Westminster and Holyrood differed little in terms of education, but while almost 20 per cent of Scottish MPs have had blue-collar or industrial work experience, only two MSPs, or 1.6 per cent, can claim working-class careers.

There is a much higher proportion of female MSPs, more than 37 per cent, than female Scottish MPs - less than 17 per cent.