Official names of United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies

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The official names of United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies (some of which originate from the names used for constituencies in predecessor Parliaments) are those given in the legal instrument creating the constituency or re-defining it at a re-distribution of seats.

The purpose of this article is to set out official names, taken from official sources wherever possible, to provide a definitive list which can then be used as a resource by those constructing constituency articles and other lists involving constituencies. It is requested that no amendments be made to the list, without a citation from the legal instrument creating a constituency, which has a greater validity than the source currently being used.

Contents

[edit] Sources of official names

The instruments creating or redistributing constituencies can be classified as:-

  1. Writs from the monarch requiring the election of members. This was the method used originally, from the thirteenth century, to summon the representatives of new communities to contribute to the Parliament of England. It is now obsolete as a method of creating new constituencies, but a writ is still sent as official notice of an election to the returning officer for each constituency.
  2. A Royal Charter creating a Parliamentary borough. This was a method often used up to the mid seventeenth century. It is now obsolete as a means of creating new constituencies.
  3. An Act of Parliament. This method was used from the sixteenth century creation of constituencies in Wales and Monmouthshire until the Representation of the People Act 1948 implemented the first general review of constituencies by the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions.
  4. An Order in Council, made under the authority given by an Act of Parliament. This is the modern method of giving legal effect to redistributions, as a result of the activities of the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions. The current fifth general review has already been implemented for Scotland (before the United Kingdom general election, 2005) and for Wales (for the next general election); the reviews for England and Northern Ireland have legal effect as of June 27, 2007.[1]

The concept of a single definitive name for a constituency developed gradually. There are discrepancies in the way constituencies are referred to in statutes before the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, which for the first time included a list of all the then constituencies in one piece of legislation. There are also instances of more than one constituency with the same name, but no consistent official method to disambiguate them.

The method of referring to constituencies in the 1885 Act and subsequent statutes redistributing seats was not completely unambiguous, until the Representation of the People Act 1948 gave each individual constituency an absolutely clear and distinctive name. This practice has been followed in the Orders in Council used for redistributions from 1955.

The method adopted in this article is to include the name most commonly used, for constituencies created before 1832. In a few instances a similar choice is made between different versions of the name of a new constituency, used in the Representation of the People Act 1832 (enfranchising the new constituencies) and the Parliamentary Boundaries Act 1832 (defining the limits of the new constituencies).

Where there was a risk of confusion between different constituencies with the same or very similar names an unofficial prefix or suffix is added. In a few cases, such as Richmond (Surrey) and Richmond (Yorks) there was an official suffix. In a few other cases, such as City of London and the county constituency of City of Chester an official prefix was used even though it was not essential for disambiguation. When the prefix or suffix is unofficial it is given in the list below in italics.

[edit] General redistributions

Although local changes between general redistributions are not unknown, major changes amounting to a general redistribution of constituencies happen at intervals. Before 1832 such general changes only happened when new parts of the British Isles entered a Union with others.

The 'From' date is when the constituencies from a country became constituencies in the Parliament and the 'Until' date is when that distribution of seats ceases to apply. In this table, Great Britain means England, Wales and Scotland and United Kingdom (UK) means Great Britain and Northern Ireland (all of Ireland before 1921).

Country From Until Statute/Statutory Instrument
England and Wales 1707 1832 Act of Union 1707
Scotland 1708 1832 Act of the Parliament of Scotland passed 5 February 1707
Ireland 1801 1832 Act of Union 1800
UK 1832 1868 Reform Act 1832
UK 1868 1885 Reform Act 1867
UK 1885 1918 Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
Great Britain 1918 1950 Representation of the People Act 1918
Ireland 1918 1922 Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918
Northern Ireland 1922 1950 Government of Ireland Act 1920
UK 1950 1955 Representation of the People Act 1948
England 1955 1974 various statutory instruments in 1955
Wales 1955 1974 various statutory instruments in 1955
Scotland 1955 1974 various statutory instruments in 1955
Northern Ireland 1974 1983 The Parliamentary Constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order 1970
England 1974 1983 The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970
Wales 1974 1983 The Parliamentary Constituencies (Wales) Order 1970
Scotland 1974 1983 The Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) Order 1970
Northern Ireland 1983 1997 The Parliamentary Constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order 1982
England 1983 1997 The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983
Wales 1983 1997 The Parliamentary Constituencies (Wales) Order 1983
Scotland 1983 1997 The Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) Order 1983
England 1997 Next The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995
Wales 1997 Next The Parliamentary Constituencies (Wales) Order 1995
Scotland 1997 2005 The Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) Order 1995
Northern Ireland 1997 Next The Parliamentary Constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order 1995
Scotland 2005 * The Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) Order 2005
Wales Next * The Parliamentary Constituencies and Assembly Electoral Regions (Wales) Order 2006

[edit] List of official constituency names

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

The number given for each redistribution, in which the constituency name was in use, was the number of members it returned. When the constituency name was not in use an * is used.

Even minor differences in a constituency name will produce an individual entry in the table.

Changes in a constituency name in use between redistributions are indicated by footnotes.

[edit] England

For the list of English constituencies see Official names of United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies in England.

The names for the 1707 constituencies are, in general, taken from Namier and Brookes. The alternative forms for names, used in legislation abolishing some of thee pre-1832 constituencies or in the case of Mitchell in common use as an alternative name, are included in the note column.

[edit] Wales

This section includes Monmouthshire, which before the twentieth century was usually officially considered to be in England.

A number of Welsh borough constituencies were composed of more than one borough. These are designated with the name of the principal town followed by 'Boroughs', before 1918. The one remaining such district after 1918 was officially designated as 'District of Boroughs'. A constituency based on one borough is considered to be distinct from a Boroughs constituency with the same principal town.

The 1955 redistribution altered some boundaries, but did not affect the number or names of constituencies, so there is no column for it in this table.

Constituency 1707 1832 1868 1885 1918 1950 1974 1983 1997 Next Note
Aberavon * * * * 1 1 1 1 1 1
Aberconwy * * * * * * * * * 1
Aberdare * * * * * 1 1 * * *
Abertillery * * * * 1 1 1 * * *
Alyn and Deeside * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Anglesey 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 * * * See Ynys Môn
Arfon * * * * * * * * * 1
Barry * * * * * 1 1 * * *
Beaumaris 1 * * * * * * * * *
Beaumaris Boroughs * 1 * * * * * * * *
Bedwellty * * * * 1 1 1 * * *
Blaenau Gwent * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Brecon 1 * * * * * * * * *
Brecon and Radnor * * * * 1 1 1 1 * *
Brecon and Radnorshire * * * * * * * * 1 1
Breconshire 1 * * * * * * * * *
Bridgend * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Caermarthen Boroughs * 1 * * * * * * * *
Caernarfon * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Caernarvon * * * * * 1 1 * * *
Caernarvon Boroughs 1 1 * * * * * * * *
Caernarvonshire 1 * * * * * * * * *
Caerphilly * * * * 1 1 1 1 1 1
Cardiff Boroughs 1 1 * * * * * * * *
Cardiff Central * * * * 1 * * 1 1 1
Cardiff East * * * * 1 * * * * *
Cardiff North * * * * * 1 1 1 1 1
Cardiff North West * * * * * 1 * * * *
Cardiff South * * * * 1 * * * * *
Cardiff South and Penarth * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Cardiff South East * * * * 1 1 * * * *
Cardiff West * * * * * 1 1 1 1 1
Cardigan * * * * 1 1 1 * * *
Cardigan Boroughs 1 1 * * * * * * * *
Cardiganshire 1 * * * * * * * * *
Carmarthen 1 * * * 1 1 1 1 * *
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr * * * * * * * * 1 1
Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire * * * * * * * * 1 1
Carmarthenshire 1 * * * * * * * * *
Carnarvon * * * * 1 * * * * *
Carnarvon District of Boroughs * * * * 1 * * * * *
Ceredigion * * * * * * * * 1 1
Ceredigion and Pembroke North * * * * * * * 1 * *
Clwyd North West * * * * * * * 1 * *
Clwyd South * * * * * * * * 1 1
Clwyd South West * * * * * * * 1 * *
Clwyd West * * * * * * * * 1 1
Vale of Clwyd * * * * * * * * 1 1
Conway * * * * * 1 1 * * *
Conwy * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Cynon Valley * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Delyn * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Denbigh * * * * 1 1 1 * * *
Denbigh Boroughs 1 1 * * * * * * * *
Denbighshire 1 * * * * * * * * *
Dwyfor Meirionnydd * * * * * * * * * 1
Ebbw Vale * * * * 1 1 1 * * *
East Flint * * * * * 1 1 * * *
Flint * * * * 1 * * * * *
Flint Boroughs 1 1 * * * * * * * *
West Flint * * * * * 1 1 * * *
Flintshire 1 * * * * * * * * *
Vale of Glamorgan * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Glamorganshire 1 * * * * * * * * *
Gower * * * * 1 1 1 1 1 1
Haverfordwest 1 * * * * * * * * *
Haverfordwest Boroughs * 1 * * * * * * * *
Islwyn * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Llandaff and Barry * * * * 1 * * * * *
Llanelli * * * * * * 1 1 1 1 Llanelly before 1966.
Llanelly * * * * 1 1 * * * * Llanelli from 1966.
Meirionnydd Nant Conwy * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Merioneth * * * * 1 1 1 * * *
Merionethshire 1 * * * * * * * * *
Merthyr Tydfil * * * * * 1 1 * * *
Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare * * * * 1 * * * * *
Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Merthyr Tydfil, Merthyr * * * * 1 * * * * *
Monmouth * * * * 1 1 1 1 1 1
Monmouth Boroughs 1 * * * * * * * * *
Monmouthshire 2 * * * * * * * * *
Montgomery 1 * * * 1 1 1 1 * *
Montgomery Boroughs * 1 * * * * * * * *
Montgomeryshire 1 * * * * * * * 1 1
Neath * * * * 1 1 1 1 1 1
Newport (Monmouthshire) * * * * 1 1 1 * * * Unofficial disambiguation.
Newport East * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Newport West * * * * * * * 1 1 1
New Radnor Boroughs 1 * * * * * * * * *
Ogmore * * * * 1 1 1 1 1 1
Pembroke (Pembrokeshire) * * * * 1 1 1 1 * * Unofficial disambiguation.
Pembroke Boroughs 1 1 * * * * * * * *
Pembrokeshire 1 * * * * * * * * *
Pontypool * * * * 1 1 1 * * *
Pontypridd * * * * 1 1 1 1 1 1
Preseli Pembrokeshire * * * * * * * * 1 1
Radnor Boroughs * 1 * * * * * * * *
Radnorshire 1 * * * * * * * * *
Rhondda * * * * * * 1 1 1 1
Rhondda East * * * * 1 1 * * * *
Rhondda West * * * * 1 1 * * * *
Swansea East * * * * 1 1 1 1 1 1
Swansea West * * * * 1 1 1 1 1 1
Torfaen * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Wrexham * * * * 1 1 1 1 1 1
Ynys Môn * * * * * * * 1 1 1 See Anglesey
Constituency 1707 1832 1868 1885 1918 1950 1974 1983 1997 Next Note

[edit] Scotland

Names for district of burghs constituencies from 1708 to 1832 are based upon the returning burgh in the district at the British general election, 1708. A former district constituency is considered to be distinct from a constituency based solely on the burgh in the former district name.

The Parliament of Scotland passed an Act Settling the Manner of Electing the Sixteen Peers and Forty Five Commoners to Represent Scotland in the Parliament of Great Britain in 1707. This defined the constituencies. The county constituencies are referred to as the "Shires or Stewartries" and the pairs of constituencies, electing a representative in alternate Parliaments, are referred to as (for example) "the shires of Clackmannan and Kinross".

The Representation of the People (Scotland) Act 1832 has a list of county constituencies, the main group of which are each referred to in a list headed "Counties to return one member each". The counties in the list are referred to in the form 'Aberdeen' rather than 'Aberdeenshire'. In other places the act refers to shires and counties. There is a definition clause (section XLVI) which confirms that the words "shire" or "county" should be held to include the word "stewartry".

County constituencies created in 1708, which have a name (minus the suffix shire) which is the same as a burgh constituency which exists at the same time are prefixed as the Shire of. Those created in 1832 in similar circumstances are prefixed as the County of. Individual burghs with the same name, which overlap, are prefixed by Burgh of. The suffixes 'Burghs', 'District of Burghs' and 'burghs' are not in italics, as they are a more official part of the constituency name.

Constituency 1708 1832 1868 1885 1918 1950 1955 1974 1983 1997 2005 Note
Aberdeen Burghs 1 * * * * * * * * * *
Aberdeen Central * * * * * * * * * 1 * Burgh constituency
Aberdeen North * * * * 1 1 * * 1 1 1
Aberdeen South * * * * 1 1 * * 1 1 1
Burgh of Aberdeen * 1 * * * * * * * * *
Central Aberdeen * * * * 1 * * * * * * County constituency
Eastern Aberdeen * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Shire of Aberdeen 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
East Aberdeenshire * * * * * 1 * * * * *
West Aberdeenshire * * * * * 1 * * * * *
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine * * * * * * * * * 1 1
Airdrie and Shotts * * * * * * * * * 1 1
Angus * * * * * * * * * 1 1
Angus East * * * * * * * * 1 * *
North Angus and Mearns * * * * * 1 * * * * *
South Angus * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Anstruther Easter Burghs 1 * * * * * * * * * *
Argyle * 1 * * * * * * * * *
Argyll 1 * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Argyll and Bute * * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Ayr * * * * * 1 * * 1 1 *
Ayr Burghs 1 * * * * * * * * * *
Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock * * * * * * * * * * 1
Ayr District of Burghs * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Shire of Ayr 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
Central Ayrshire * * * * * 1 * * * * 1
North Ayrshire and Arran * * * * * * * * * * 1
South Ayrshire * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Banff 1 1 * * 1 1 * * * * *
Banff and Buchan * * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Berwick 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
Berwick and Haddington * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Berwick and East Lothian * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk * * * * * * * * * * 1
Bothwell * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Bute 1 1 * * * * * * * * * Alternate A
Bute and North Ayrshire * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Bute and Northern Ayr * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Caithness 1 1 * * * * * * * * * Alternate A
Caithness and Sutherland * * * * 1 1 * * 1 * *
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross * * * * * * * * * 1 1
Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Clackmannan 1 * * * * * * * * * * Alternate B
Clackmannan * * * * * * * * 1 * * 1983-1997
Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Clackmannan and Eastern Stirling * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Clackmannan and Kinross * 1 * * * * * * * * *
Clydebank and Milngavie * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Clydesdale * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Coatbridge * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Coatbridge and Airdrie * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Coatbridge and Chryston * * * * * * * * * 1 *
Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill * * * * * * * * * * 1
Cromarty 1 * * * * * * * * * * Alternate C
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East * * * * * * * * * * 1
Cunninghame North * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Cunninghame South * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Dumbarton * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Dumbarton District of Burghs * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Dumfries * * * * 1 1 * * 1 1 *
Dumfries and Galloway * * * * * * * * * * 1
Dumfries Burghs 1 * * * * * * * * * *
Shire of Dumfries 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale * * * * * * * * * * 1
Dunbarton 1 1 * * 1 * * * * * *
East Dunbartonshire * * * * * 1 * * * * 1
West Dunbartonshire * * * * * 1 * * * * 1
Dundee * 1 * * 2 * * * * * *
Dundee East * * * * * 1 * * 1 1 1
Dundee West * * * * * 1 * * 1 1 1
Dunfermline and West Fife * * * * * * * * * * 1
Dunfermline burghs * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Dunfermline District of Burghs * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Dunfermline East * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Dunfermline West * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Dysart Burghs 1 * * * * * * * * * *
East Kilbride * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow * * * * * * * * * * 1
East Lothian * * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Eastwood * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Burgh of Edinburgh 1 2 * * * * * * * * *
Edinburgh Central * * * * 1 1 * * 1 1 *
Edinburgh East * * * * 1 1 * * 1 * 1
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh * * * * * * * * * 1 *
Edinburgh Leith * * * * * * * * 1 * *
Edinburgh, Leith * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Edinburgh North * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Edinburgh North and Leith * * * * * * * * * 1 1
Edinburgh Pentlands * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Edinburgh, Pentlands * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Shire of Edinburgh 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
Edinburgh South * * * * 1 1 * * 1 1 1
Edinburgh South West * * * * * * * * * * 1
Edinburgh West * * * * 1 1 * * 1 1 1
Elgin and Nairn * 1 * * * * * * * * *
Elgin Burghs 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
Shire of Elgin 1 * * * * * * * * * *
Falkirk * * * * * * * * * * 1
Falkirk East * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Falkirk West * * * * * * * * * 1 *
Central Fife * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
East Fife * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Eastern Fife * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Fife 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
North East Fife * * * * * * * * 1 1 1
West Fife * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Western Fife * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Forfar 1 1 * * 1 * * * * * *
Galloway * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Galloway and Upper Nithsdale * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Glasgow * 2 * * * * * * * * *
Glasgow Baillieston * * * * * * * * * 1 *
Glasgow, Bridgeton * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Glasgow Burghs 1 * * * * * * * * * *
Glasgow, Camlachie * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Glasgow Cathcart * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Glasgow, Cathcart * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Glasgow Central * * * * 1 1 * * * * 1
Glasgow East * * * * * * * * * * 1
Glasgow Garscadden * * * * * * * * 1 * *
Glasgow, Gorbals * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Glasgow Govan * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Glasgow, Govan * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Glasgow Hillhead * * * * * * * * 1 * *
Glasgow, Hillhead * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Glasgow Kelvin * * * * * * * * * 1 *
Glasgow, Kelvingrove * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Glasgow Maryhill * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Glasgow, Maryhill * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Glasgow North * * * * * * * * * * 1
Glasgow North East * * * * * * * * * * 1
Glasgow North West * * * * * * * * * * 1
Glasgow, Partick * * * * 1 * * * * *
Glasgow Pollok * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Glasgow, Pollok * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Glasgow Provan * * * * * * * * 1 * *
Glasgow Rutherglen * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Glasgow, St. Rollox * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Glasgow, Scotstoun * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Glasgow Shettleston * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Glasgow, Shettleston * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Glasgow South * * * * * * * * * * 1
Glasgow South West * * * * * * * * * * 1
Glasgow Springburn * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Glasgow, Springburn * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Glasgow, Tradeston * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Glasgow, Woodside * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Glenrothes * * * * * * * * * * 1
Gordon * * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Greenock * 1 * * 1 1 * * * * *
Greenock and Inverclyde * * * * * * * * * 1 *
Greenock and Port Glasgow * * * * * * * * 1 * *
Haddington Burghs 1 * * * * * * * * * *
Shire of Haddington 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
Hamilton * * * * 1 1 * * 1 * *
Hamilton North and Bellshill * * * * * * * * * 1 *
Hamilton South * * * * * * * * * 1 *
Inverclyde * * * * * * * * * * 1
Inverness * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Inverness Burghs 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber * * * * * * * * * 1 *
Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber * * * * * * * * 1 * *
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey * * * * * * * * * * 1
Shire of Inverness 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
Kilmarnock Burghs * 1 * * * * * * * * *
Kilmarnock * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Kilmarnock and Loudoun * * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Kincardine 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
Kincardine and Deeside * * * * * * * * 1 * *
Kincardine and Western Aberdeen * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Kinross 1 * * * * * * * * * * Alternate B
Kinross and West Perthshire * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Kinross and Western Perth * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Kirkcaldy * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath * * * * * * * * * * 1
Kirkcaldy burghs * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Kirkcaldy District of Burghs * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Kirkcudbright 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
Lanark 1 1 * * 1 1 * * * * *
Lanark and Hamilton East * * * * * * * * * * 1
Northern Lanark * * * * 1 * * * * * *
North Lanarkshire * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Leith * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Leith Burghs * 1 * * * * * * * * *
Linlithgow * * * * 1 * * * 1 1 *
Linlithgow and East Falkirk * * * * * * * * * * 1
Linlithgow Burghs 1 * * * * * * * * * *
Shire of Linlithgow 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
Livingston * * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Midlothian * * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Midlothian and Peebles * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Northern Midlothian * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Monklands East * * * * * * * * 1 * *
Monklands West * * * * * * * * 1 * *
Montrose District of Burghs * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Moray * * * * * * * * 1 1 1
Moray and Nairn * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Motherwell * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Motherwell and Wishaw * * * * * * * * * 1 1
Motherwell North * * * * * * * * 1 * *
Motherwell South * * * * * * * * 1 * *
Na h-Eileanan an Iar * * * * * * * * * * 1 See Western Isles
Nairn 1 * * * * * * * * * * Alternate C
Ochil * * * * * * * * * 1 *
Ochil and South Perthshire * * * * * * * * * * 1
Orkney and Shetland 1 1 * * * * * * 1 1 1
Orkney and Zetland * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Paisley * 1 * * 1 1 * * * * *
Paisley and Renfrewshire North * * * * * * * * * * 1
Paisley and Renfrewshire South * * * * * * * * * * 1
Paisley North * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Paisley South * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Peebles 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
Peebles and Southern Midlothian * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Burgh of Perth * 1 * * * * * * * * *
Perth * * * * 1 * * * * 1 *
Perth and East Perthshire * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Perth and Kinross * * * * * * * * 1 * *
Perth and North Perthshire * * * * * * * * * * 1
Perth Burghs 1 * * * * * * * * * *
Shire of Perth 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
Eastern Renfrew * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Renfrew 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
Renfrew West and Inverclyde * * * * * * * * 1 * *
Western Renfrew * * * * 1 * * * * * *
East Renfrewshire * * * * * 1 * * * * 1
West Renfrewshire * * * * * 1 * * * 1 *
Ross and Cromarty * 1 * * 1 1 * * * * *
Ross, Cromarty and Skye * * * * * * * * 1 * *
Ross, Skye and Inverness West * * * * * * * * * 1 *
Ross, Skye and Lochaber * * * * * * * * * * 1
Shire of Ross 1 * * * * * * * * * *
Roxburgh 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
Roxburgh and Berwickshire * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Roxburgh and Selkirk * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Rutherglen * * * * 1 1 * * * * *
Rutherglen and Hamilton West * * * * * * * * * * 1
Selkirk 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
Shire of Stirling 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
Stirling * * * * * * * * * 1 1
Stirling and Falkirk burghs * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Stirling and Falkirk District of Burghs * * * * 1 * * * * * *
Stirling Burghs 1 * * * * * * * * * *
Stirling West * * * * * * * * 1 * *
Western Stirling * * * * 1 * * * * * *
West Stirlingshire * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Strathkelvin and Bearsden * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Sutherland 1 1 * * * * * * * * *
Tain Burghs 1 * * * * * * * * * *
North Tayside * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale * * * * * * * * 1 1 *
West Lothian * * * * * 1 * * * * *
Western Isles * * * * 1 1 * * 1 1 * See Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Wick Burghs * 1 * * * * * * * * *
County of Wigton * 1 * * * * * * * * *
Wigtown Burghs 1 * * * * * * * * * *
Shire of Wigtown 1 * * * * * * * * * *
Constituency 1708 1832 1868 1885 1918 1950 1955 1974 1983 1997 2005 Note

[edit] Ireland

General Notes:-

(a) This section includes the whole of Ireland 1801-1922 and Northern Ireland from 1922.

(b) The names used for the constituencies are based on B.M. Walker (subject to a few minor modifications when they were checked against the statutes).

The problem in compiling a list is how to disambiguate borough and county constituencies, with the same name, whose existence overlapped. No consistent method is applied in the nineteenth century statutes. The list below includes an appropriate prefix (Borough of, City of or County) to supplement the name. This prefix is not necessarily part of the official name of the constituency. In later periods when there ceased to be two constituencies of the same name, only the name without any prefix is used.

(c) No columns are included for 1868, 1955, 1974 or the Next general election. Those potential redistributions did not alter the number of seats or names of constituencies, although some altered boundaries.

Constituency 1801 1832 1885 1918 1922 1950 1983 1997 Note
Antrim 2 2 * * 2 * * *
East Antrim * * 1 1 * * 1 1
Mid Antrim * * 1 1 * * * *
North Antrim * * 1 1 * 1 1 1
South Antrim * * 1 1 * 1 1 1
ARMAGH * * * * 1 1 * *
City of Armagh 1 1 * * * * * *
County Armagh 2 2 * * * * * *
Mid Armagh * * 1 1 * * * *
North Armagh * * 1 1 * * * *
South Armagh * * 1 1 * * * *
ATHLONE 1 1 * * * * * *
BANDON 1 1 * * * * * *
BELFAST 1 2 * * * * * *
Belfast Cromac * * * 1 * * * *
Belfast Duncairn * * * 1 * * * *
Belfast East * * * * * 1 1 1
East Belfast * * 1 * 1 * * *
Belfast Falls * * * 1 * * * *
Belfast North * * * * * 1 1 1
North Belfast * * 1 * 1 * * *
Belfast Ormeau * * * 1 * * * *
Belfast Pottinger * * * 1 * * * *
Belfast St. Anne's * * * 1 * * * *
Belfast Shankill * * * 1 * * * *
Belfast South * * * * * 1 1 1
South Belfast * * 1 * 1 * * *
Belfast Victoria * * * 1 * * * *
Belfast West * * * * * 1 1 1
West Belfast * * 1 * 1 * * *
Belfast Woodvale * * * 1 * * * *
BIRR * * 1 * * * * *
CARLOW * * 1 1 * * * *
Borough of Carlow 1 1 * * * * * *
County Carlow 2 2 * * * * * *
CARRICKFERGUS 1 1 * * * * * *
CASHEL 1 1 * * * * * * Disenfranchised for corruption 1870
CAVAN 2 2 * * * * * *
East Cavan * * 1 1 * * * *
West Cavan * * 1 1 * * * *
CLARE 2 2 * * * * * *
East Clare * * 1 1 * * * *
West Clare * * 1 1 * * * *
CLONMEL 1 1 * * * * * *
COLERAINE 1 1 * * * * * *
CONNEMARA * * 1 1 * * * *
City of CORK 2 2 2 2 * * * *
County Cork 2 2 * * * * * *
East Cork * * 1 1 * * * *
Mid Cork * * 1 1 * * * *
North Cork * * 1 1 * * * *
North-East Cork * * 1 1 * * * *
South Cork * * 1 1 * * * *
South-East Cork * * 1 1 * * * *
West Cork * * 1 1 * * * *
DONEGAL 2 2 * * * * * *
East Donegal * * 1 1 * * * *
North Donegal * * 1 1 * * * *
South Donegal * * 1 1 * * * *
West Donegal * * 1 1 * * * *
DOWN 2 2 * * 2 * * *
East Down * * 1 1 * * * *
Mid Down * * * 1 * * * *
North Down * * 1 1 * 1 1 1
South Down * * 1 1 * 1 1 1
West Down * * 1 1 * * * *
DOWNPATRICK 1 1 * * * * * *
DROGHEDA 1 1 * * * * * *
City of DUBLIN 2 2 * * * * * *
Dublin Clontarf * * * 1 * * * *
Dublin College Green * * 1 1 * * * *
County Dublin 2 2 * * * * * *
Dublin Harbour * * 1 1 * * * *
North Dublin * * 1 1 * * * *
Dublin St. James's * * * 1 * * * *
Dublin St. Michan's * * * 1 * * * *
Dublin St. Patrick's * * 1 1 * * * *
Dublin St. Stephen's Green * * 1 1 * * * *
South Dublin * * 1 1 * * * *
Dublin University 1 2 2 2 * * * *
DUNDALK 1 1 * * * * * *
DUNGANNON 1 1 * * * * * *
DUNGARVAN 1 1 * * * * * *
ENNIS 1 1 * * * * * *
ENNISKILLEN 1 1 * * * * * *
FERMANAGH 2 2 * * * * * *
Fermanagh and South Tyrone * * * * * 1 1 1
Fermanagh and Tyrone * * * * 2 * * *
North Fermanagh * * 1 1 * * * *
South Fermanagh * * 1 1 * * * *
FOYLE * * * * * * 1 1
Borough of GALWAY 1 2 1 * * * * *
County Galway 2 2 * * * * * *
East Galway * * 1 1 * * * *
North Galway * * 1 1 * * * *
South Galway * * 1 1 * * * *
KERRY 2 2 * * * * * *
East Kerry * * 1 1 * * * *
North Kerry * * 1 1 * * * *
South Kerry * * 1 1 * * * *
West Kerry * * 1 1 * * * *
KILDARE 2 2 * * * * * *
North Kildare * * 1 1 * * * *
South Kildare * * 1 1 * * * *
City of KILKENNY 1 1 1 * * * * *
County Kilkenny 2 2 * * * * * *
North Kilkenny * * 1 1 * * * *
South Kilkenny * * 1 1 * * * *
KING'S County 2 2 * 1 * * * *
KINSALE 1 1 * * * * * *
LAGAN Valley * * * * * * 1 1
LEITRIM 2 2 * 1 * * * *
North Leitrim * * 1 * * * * *
South Leitrim * * 1 * * * * *
LEIX * * 1 * * * * *
City of LIMERICK 1 2 1 1 * * * *
County Limerick 2 2 * * * * * *
East Limerick * * 1 1 * * * *
West Limerick * * 1 1 * * * *
LISBURN 1 1 * * * * * *
LONDONDERRY * * * * 1 1 * *
City of Londonderry 1 1 1 1 * * * *
County Londonderry 2 2 * * * * * *
East Londonderry * * * * * * 1 1
North Londonderry * * 1 1 * * * * 1885 Act - North Derry
South Londonderry * * 1 1 * * * * 1885 Act - South Derry
LONGFORD 2 2 * 1 * * * *
North Longford * * 1 * * * * *
South Longford * * 1 * * * * *
County LOUTH 2 2 * 1 * * * * Distinguished from Louth (Lincolnshire).
North Louth * * 1 * * * * *
South Louth * * 1 * * * * *
MALLOW 1 1 * * * * * *
MAYO 2 2 * * * * * *
East Mayo * * 1 1 * * * *
North Mayo * * 1 1 * * * *
South Mayo * * 1 1 * * * *
West Mayo * * 1 1 * * * *
MEATH 2 2 * * * * * *
North Meath * * 1 1 * * * *
South Meath * * 1 1 * * * *
MONAGHAN 2 2 * * * * * *
North Monaghan * * 1 1 * * * *
South Monaghan * * 1 1 * * * *
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY of Ireland * * * 1 * * * *
NEW ROSS 1 1 * * * * * *
NEWRY 1 1 * * * * * *
Newry and Armagh * * * * * * 1 1
OSSORY * * 1 * * * * *
PEMBROKE (County Dublin) * * * 1 * * * * Distinguished from Pembroke (Pembrokeshire).
PORTARLINGTON 1 1 * * * * * *
QUEEN'S COUNTY 2 2 * 1 * * * *
QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY of Belfast * * * 1 1 * * *
RATHMINES * * * 1 * * * *
ROSCOMMON 2 2 * * * * * *
North Roscommon * * 1 1 * * * *
South Roscommon * * 1 1 * * * *
Borough of SLIGO 1 1 * * * * * * Disenfranchised for corruption 1870
County Sligo 2 2 * * * * * *
North Sligo * * 1 1 * * * *
South Sligo * * 1 1 * * * *
STRANGFORD * * * * * * 1 1
TIPPERARY 2 2 * * * * * *
East Tipperary * * 1 1 * * * *
Mid Tipperary * * 1 1 * * * *
North Tipperary * * 1 1 * * * *
South Tipperary * * 1 1 * * * *
TRALEE 1 1 * * * * * *
TULLAMORE * * 1 * * * * *
TYRONE 2 2 * * * * * *
East Tyrone * * 1 * * * * *
Mid Tyrone * * 1 * * * * *
North Tyrone * * 1 * * * * *
North-East Tyrone * * * 1 * * * *
North-West Tyrone * * * 1 * * * *
South Tyrone * * 1 1 * * * *
West Tyrone * * * * * * * 1
Mid ULSTER * * * * * * * 1
Mid-Ulster * * * * * 1 1 *
UPPER BANN * * * * * * 1 1
City of WATERFORD 1 2 1 1 * * * *
County Waterford 2 2 * 1 * * * *
East Waterford * * 1 * * * * *
West Waterford * * 1 * * * * *
WESTMEATH 2 2 * 1 * * * *
North Westmeath * * 1 * * * * *
South Westmeath * * 1 * * * * *
Borough of WEXFORD 1 1 * * * * * *
County Wexford 2 2 * * * * * *
North Wexford * * 1 1 * * * *
South Wexford * * 1 1 * * * *
WICKLOW 2 2 * * * * * *
East Wicklow * * 1 1 * * * *
West Wicklow * * 1 1 * * * *
YOUGHAL 1 1 * * * * * *
Constituency 1801 1832 1885 1918 1922 1950 1983 1997 Note

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "UK General Election political map: Results explanation & methodology", Daily Telegraph / Telegraph.co.uk, Telegraph Media Group Limited, January 13, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-01-25. 

[edit] References

  • The House of Commons 1754-1790, by Sir Lewis Namier and John Brooke (HMSO 1964)
  • Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland 1801-1922, edited by B.M. Walker (Royal Irish Academy 1978)