Orkney and Shetland (UK Parliament constituency)

For the archipelago, see Northern Isles.
Orkney and Shetland
County constituency
for the House of Commons

Boundary of Orkney and Shetland in Scotland.
Subdivisions of Scotland Orkney and Shetland
Electorate 32,181
Current constituency
Created 1708 (1708)
Member of Parliament Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat)
Number of members One
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency Scotland

Orkney and Shetland is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. In the Scottish Parliament, Orkney and Shetland are separate constituencies.

The constituency was historically known as Orkney and Zetland - an alternative name for Shetland.

Contents

Boundaries

The constituency is made up of the two island groups Orkney, and Shetland. A constituency of this name has existed continuously since 1708. However before 1918 the town of Kirkwall (the capital of Orkney) formed part of the Northern Burghs constituency.

Uniquely, the constituencies boundaries are protected by legislation, as rule 3A of the Boundary Commission rules states: "A constituency which includes the Orkney Islands or the Shetland Islands shall not include the whole or any part of a local government area other than the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands." [1] This rule was added in 1999 as part of the Scotland Act 1998, which established the Scottish parliament[2]

Member of Parliament

The constituency has elected only Liberal and Liberal Democrat MPs since 1950, the longest run of any British Parliamentary Constituency.[3][4] In each general election from 1955 until 1979, in 1987, and again in 2010 it was the safest Liberal seat in Britain.

Year Member Party
1707 Sir Alexander Douglas
1713 George Douglas
1715 James Moodie
1722 George Douglas
1730 Robert Douglas
1747 John Halyburton
1754 James Douglas
1768 Thomas Dundas
1771 Thomas Dundas
1780 Robert Baikie
1781 Thomas Dundas
1790 John Balfour
1796 Robert Honyman
1806 Robert Honyman
1807 Malcolm Laing
1812 Richard Bempde Johnstone Honyman
1818 George Heneage Lawrence Dundas
1820 John Balfour
1826 George Heneage Lawrence Dundas
1830 George Traill Whig
1835 Thomas Balfour Tory
1837 Frederick Dundas Liberal
1847 Arthur Anderson Liberal
1852 Frederick Dundas Liberal
1873 Samuel Laing Liberal
1885 Leonard Lyell Liberal
1900 Cathcart Wason Liberal Unionist
1902 Independent Liberal
1906 Liberal
1918 Coalition Liberal
1921 Malcolm Smith Coalition Liberal
1922 Robert Hamilton Liberal
1935 Basil Neven-Spence Conservative
1950 Jo Grimond Liberal
1983 Jim Wallace Liberal
1988 Liberal Democrat
2001 Alistair Carmichael Liberal Democrat

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General Election 2010: Orkney and Shetland[5][6][7][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Alistair Carmichael 11,989 62.0 +10.5
Labour Mark Cooper 2,061 10.7 -3.5
SNP John Mowat 2,042 10.6 +0.2
Conservative Frank Nairn 2,032 10.5 -2.8
UKIP Robert Smith 1,222 6.3 +3.9
Majority 9,928 51.3
Turnout 19,346 58.5 +4.1
Liberal Democrat hold Swing +7.0

Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Alistair Carmichael 9,138 51.5 +10.1
Labour Richard Meade 2,511 14.2 −6.4
Conservative Frank Nairn 2,357 13.3 −5.4
SNP John Mowat 1,833 10.3 −4.5
Scottish Socialist John Aberdein 992 5.6 +1.0
UKIP Scott Dyble 424 2.4 N/A
Legalise Cannabis Paul Cruickshank 311 1.8 N/A
Free Scotland Brian Nugent 176 1.0 N/A
Majority 6,627 37.4
Turnout 17,742 53.7 +1.7
Liberal Democrat hold Swing +8.3
General Election 2001: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Alistair Carmichael 6,919 41.3 −10.6
Labour Robert Mochrie 3,444 20.6 +2.3
Conservative John Firth 3,121 18.7 +6.4
SNP John Mowat 2,473 14.8 +2.1
Scottish Socialist Peter Andrews 776 4.6 N/A
Majority 3,475 20.7
Turnout 16,733 52.4 −11.5
Liberal Democrat hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1997: Orkney and Shetland[9][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Jim Wallace 10,743 52.0 +5.6
Labour James Paton 3,775 18.3 −1.5
SNP Willie Ross 2,624 12.7 +1.5
Conservative Hope Vere Anderson 2,527 12.2 −9.8
Referendum Party Francis Adamson 820 4.0 N/A
Natural Law Christian Wharton 116 0.6 N/A
Independent Arthur Robertson 60 0.3 N/A
Majority 6,968 +33.7 +10.3
Turnout 64.0 −1.5
Liberal Democrat hold Swing +3.6
General Election 1992: Orkney and Shetland[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Jim Wallace 9,575 46.4 +4.7
Conservative Paul McCormick 4,542 22.0 −1.3
Labour John Aberdein 4,093 19.8 +1.1
SNP Frances McKie 2,301 11.2 N/A
Natural Law C. Wharton 115 0.6 N/A
Majority 5,033 24.4 +6.0
Turnout 20,626 65.5 −3.2
Liberal Democrat hold Swing +3.0

Elections in the 1980s

General Election 1987: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jim Wallace 8,881 41.7
Conservative R. W. A. Jenkins 4,959 23.3
Labour John Aberdein 3,995 18.7
Orkney and Shetland Movement John Goodlad 3,095 14.5
Green G. K. Collister 389 1.8
Majority 3,922 18.4
Turnout 68.7
Liberal hold Swing
General Election 1983: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jim Wallace 9,374 45.9
Conservative David Myles 5,224 25.6
SNP Winifred Ewing 3,147 15.4
Labour Robina Goodlad 2,665 13.1
Majority 4,150 20.3
Turnout 67.8
Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General Election 1979: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jo Grimond 10,950 56.4
Conservative C. Donaldson 4,140 21.3
Labour Robina Goodlad 3,385 17.4
SNP M. Spens 935 4.8
Majority 6,810 35.1
Turnout 67.2
Liberal hold Swing
General Election October 1974: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jo Grimond 9,877 56.2
SNP H. Firth 3,025 17.2
Conservative R M Fraser 2,495 14.2
Labour J. W. G. Wills 2,175 12.4
Majority 6,852 39.0
Turnout 66.8
Liberal hold Swing
General Election February 1974: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jo Grimond 11,491 62.0
Conservative J. L. Firth 4,186 22.6
Labour J. W. G. Wills 2,865 15.5
Majority 7,305 39.4
Turnout 71.1
Liberal hold Swing
General Election 1970: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jo Grimond 7,896 47.0
Conservative J. L. Firth 5,364 31.9
Labour W. McP. Reid 3,552 21.1
Majority 2,532 15.1
Turnout 65.6
Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General Election 1966: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jo Grimond 9,605 59.1
Conservative J L Firth 3,630 22.3
Labour H Lynch 3,021 18.6
Majority 5,975 36.8
Turnout 16,256 65.2
Liberal hold Swing
General Election 1964: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jo Grimond 11,604 62.6
Conservative J L Firth 3,704 20.0
Labour I MacInnes 3,232 17.4
Majority 7,900 42.6
Turnout 18,540 72.7
Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General Election 1959: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jo Grimond 12,099 64.1 0.3
Conservative G H W Bruce 3,487 18.5 -1.9
Labour R S McGowan 3,275 17.4 1.6
Majority 8,612 45.7
Turnout 18,861 71.3
Liberal hold Swing
General Election 1955: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jo Grimond 11,753 63.8 6.3
Conservative J Eunson 3,760 20.4 -6.2
Labour E Ramsay 2,914 15.8 -0.4
Majority 7,993 43.4
Turnout 18,427 66.1
Liberal hold Swing
General Election 1951: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jo Grimond 11,745 57.5 11.3
Conservative A Tennant 5,354 26.2 -5.7
Labour M A Fairnie 3,335 16.2 -3.1
Majority 6,391 31.3
Turnout 20,434 69.0
Liberal hold Swing
General Election 1950: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jo Grimond 9,237 46.8 12.6
Conservative Basil Neven-Spence 6,281 31.9 -4.1
Labour H R Leslie 3,335 21.3 -8.5
Majority 2,956 15.0
Turnout 19,716 67.7
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing

Elections in the 1940s

General Election 1945: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Basil Neven-Spence 6,304 36.0 -21.6
Liberal Jo Grimond 5,975 34.2 -8.2
Labour P J L Smith 5,208 29.8
Majority 329 1.8 -13.4
Turnout 17,487 55.5 +9.2
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s

General Election 1935: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Basil Neven-Spence 8,406 57.6
Liberal Robert William Hamilton 6,180 42.4
Majority 2,226 15.2
Turnout 1,586 46.3
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing
General Election 1931: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert William Hamilton Unopposed N/A N/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1920s

General Election 1929: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert William Hamilton 8,256 60.4
Conservative Basil Neven-Spence 5,404 39.6
Majority 2,852 20.6
Turnout 13,660 43.1
Liberal hold Swing
General Election 1924: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert William Hamilton Unopposed N/A N/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A
General Election 1923: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert William Hamilton 5,129 54.3 +0.8
Conservative Robert Boothby 4,318 45.7
Majority 811 8.6 +1.6
Turnout 9,447 39.1 +1.7
Liberal hold Swing
General Election 1922: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert William Hamilton 4,814 53.5
National Liberal Malcolm Smith 4,189 46.5
Majority 625 7.0
Turnout 9,003 37.4
Liberal gain from National Liberal Swing
Orkney and Shetland by-election, 1921
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Coalition Liberal Malcolm Smith Unopposed N/A N/A
Coalition Liberal hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1910s

General Election 1918: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Cathcart Wason Unopposed N/A N/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A
General Election December 1910: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Cathcart Wason Unopposed N/A N/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A
General Election January 1910: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Cathcart Wason 4,117 80.6 +1.6
Liberal Unionist Thomas William Hemsley 994 19.4 -1.6
Majority 3,123 61.2 +3.2
Turnout 5,111 71.8 +8.5
Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1900s

General Election 1906: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Cathcart Wason 3,837 79.0 +29.5
Conservative C J Dunlop 1,021 21.0 -29.5
Majority 2,816 58.0
Turnout 4,858 63.3 +8.4
Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist Swing
Orkney and Shetland by-election, 1902
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Liberal Cathcart Wason 2,412 46.8 +46.8
Liberal T M Wood 2,001 38.8 -10.7
Liberal Unionist T V S Angier 740 14.4 -36.1
Majority 411 8.0
Turnout 5,153 68.1 +13.2
Independent gain from Liberal Unionist Swing
General Election 1900: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Cathcart Wason 2,057 50.5 +10.4
Liberal Leonard Lyell 2,017 49.5 -10.4
Majority 40 1.0
Turnout 4,074 54.9 -1.0
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal Swing

Elections in the 1890s

General Election 1895: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Leonard Lyell 2,361 59.9 -2.0
Liberal Unionist Ralph Wardlaw MacLeod Fullarton 1,580 40.1 +2.0
Majority 781 19.8 -4.0
Turnout 3,941 55.9 -4.0
Liberal hold Swing
General Election 1892: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Leonard Lyell 2,624 61.9 -1.1
Liberal Unionist W Younger 1,617 38.1 +1.1
Majority 1,007 23.8 -2.2
Turnout 4,241 59.9 +8.4
Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1880s

General Election 1886: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Leonard Lyell 2,353 63.0 -0.3
Liberal Unionist H Hoare 1,382 37.0 +0.3
Majority 971 26.0 -0.6
Turnout 3,735 50.5 -21.1
Liberal hold Swing
General Election 1885: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Leonard Lyell 3,352 63.3
Conservative C T Dundas 1,940 36.7
Majority 1,412 26.6
Turnout 5,292 71.6
Liberal hold Swing
General Election 1880: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Samuel Laing 896
Conservative G R Badenoch 578
Majority 318
Turnout 1,474
Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1870s

Orkney and Shetland by-election, 1873
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Samuel Laing 646
Liberal Sir P Tait 621
Majority 25
Turnout 1,267
Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1860s

General Election 1868: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Frederick Dundas 715
Conservative H B Riddell 446
Majority 269
Turnout 1,161
Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1850s

General Election 1852: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Frederick Dundas 227
Conservative J Inglis 194
Majority 33
Turnout 421
Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1840s

General Election 1847: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Arthur Anderson 209
Liberal Frederick Dundas 183
Majority 26
Turnout 392
Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1830s

General Election 1835: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Thomas Balfour 114
Whig George Traill 84
Majority 30
Turnout 198
Tory gain from Whig Swing
General Election 1832: Orkney and Shetland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig George Traill 107
Tory S Laing 96
Whig R Hunter 9
Majority 11
Turnout 212
Whig hold Swing

Sources

Notes

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ Scotland Act 1998, section 86(3)
  3. ^ "Candidates and Constituency Assessments". alba.org.uk - "The almanac of Scottish elections and politics". Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  4. ^ "The Untouchable Orkney & Shetland Isles " (1 October 2009) www.snptacticalvoting.com Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  5. ^ http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/orkneyandshetland
  6. ^ People: Westminster Candidates, SNP
  7. ^ http://election.pressassociation.com/Nominations/general.php
  8. ^ BBC election website
  9. ^ "Politcs Resources". Election 1997. Politics Resources. 1 May 1997. http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/constit/648.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-25. 
  10. ^ C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.130 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
  11. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/ge92index.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-06. 
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