Aberdeen North (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 57°10′34″N 2°08′06″W / 57.176°N 2.135°W

Aberdeen North
Burgh constituency
for the House of Commons

Outline map

Boundary of Aberdeen North in Scotland for the 2005 general election.
Subdivisions of Scotland City of Aberdeen
Electorate 69,622
Current constituency
Created 1885
Member of parliament Frank Doran (Labour)
Number of members One
Overlaps
Scottish Parliament North East Scotland
European Parliament constituency Scotland

Aberdeen North is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and it elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. It was first used in the 1885 general election, but has undergone various boundary changes since that date.

There is also an Aberdeen North Holyrood constituency, a constituency of the Scottish Parliament,[1] created in 1999 with the boundaries of the Westminster constituency of at that time.

Boundaries

Council areas
grouped by the Fifth Review
Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire

Current

As redefined by the Fifth Review of the Boundary Commission for Scotland, and subsequently first used in the 2005 general election,[2] Aberdeen North is entirely within the Aberdeen City council area and one of five constituencies covering that council area and the Aberdeenshire council area. To the south of Aberdeen North there is Aberdeen South, which is also entirely within the Aberdeen City area. To the west there is West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, which is entirely within the Aberdeenshire area, and to the north there is Gordon, which covers part of the Aberdeen City area and part of the Aberdeenshire area. Further north there is Banff and Buchan which, like West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, is entirely within the Aberdeenshire area.

Fifth Review changes include the transfer of Bridge of Don, Dyce and Danestone areas from Aberdeen North to Gordon, and the new Aberdeen North has boundaries which are very different from those of the earlier constituency. The northern boundary of the earlier constituency coincided with the northern boundary of the Aberdeen City area. At that time, Aberdeen Central and Aberdeen South covered the rest of the Aberdeen City area, and all three Aberdeen constituencies were entirely within the council area.

Historic

1885 to 1918

From 1832 to 1885 there was a single Aberdeen constituency. Prior to 1832, the burgh of Aberdeen had been represented as a component of the Aberdeen Burghs constituency.

When Aberdeen North was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 and first used in the 1885 general election, so was Aberdeen South. Aberdeen North then consisted of the municipal wards of St Clement, St Andrew, St Machar and Greyfriars, and the 10th and 11th Parliamentary Polling Districts.[3] The rest of the county of Aberdeen was covered by the county constituencies of Eastern Aberdeenshire and Western Aberdeenshire.[4]

The same boundaries were used in the 1886 general election, the 1892 general election, the 1895 general election, the 1900 general election, the 1906 general election, the January 1910 general election and the December 1910 general election.

1918 to 1950

In 1918 constituency boundaries were redefined by the Representation of the People Act 1918. By then the City of Aberdeen had been created and, together with Aberdeen North, Aberdeen South became one of two constituencies covering the city (which was one of four counties of cities in Scotland) and entirely within the city. The new boundaries were first used in the 1918 general election, and Aberdeen North then consisted of the wards of Greyfriars, St Andrew, St Clement, St Machar, Torry and Woodside.[4] The county of Aberdeen was covered by Aberdeen and Kincardine East, Central Aberdeenshire and Kincardine and West Aberdeenshire. Aberdeen and Kincardine East and Central Aberdeenshire were entirely within the county of Aberdeen. Kincardine and West Aberdeenshire covered the county of Kincardine minus the burgh of Inverbervie, which was covered by Montrose Burghs, and part of the county of Aberdeen.

The same boundaries were used in the 1922 general election, the 1923 general election, the 1924 general election, the 1929 general election, the 1931 general election, the 1935 general election and the 1945 general election.

1950 to 1955

For the 1950 general election boundaries were redefined again, by the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949. A new list of wards defined Aberdeen North - Glimonston, Greyfriars, St Clement, St Machar, St Nicholas and Woodside[4] - but the City of Aberdeen remained a two-constituency city, divided between Aberdeen South and Aberdeen North, with both constituencies entirely within the city.

The county of Aberdeen was now again divided between East Aberdeenshire and West Aberdeenshire, with both of these constituencies entirely within the county.

The same boundaries were used for the 1951 general election.

1955 to 1983

By the time of the 1955 general election, a boundary review had taken account of a small enlargement of the city area, and Aberdeen North was defined as consisting of the wards of Cairncry, St Andrews, St Clement's, St Machar, St Nicholas and Woodside.[4] The same boundaries were used for the 1959 general election, the 1964 general election, the 1966 general election and the 1970 general election.

For the February 1974 general election there was, again, no change to the boundaries of Aberdeen North, but a review had defined the constituency in terms of a new list of wards. The new wards were Mastrick, Northfield, St Clement's, St Machar, St Nicholas, and Woodside.[4] February 1974 boundaries were used also for the October 1974 general election.

In 1975, throughout Scotland, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, counties were abolished, and the City of Aberdeen was enlarged to included areas formerly within the county of Aberdeen and the county of Kincardine. Also, the city became a district within the Grampian region. The enlarged city included areas covered by the constituencies of West Aberdeenshire and North Angus and Mearns. North Angus and Mearns had been created in 1950 to cover the county of Kincardine and part of the county of Angus.

The 1979 general election was held before a review of constituency boundaries took account of new local government boundaries.

1983 to 1997

The 1983 general election, the 1987 general election and the 1992 general election took place during this period.

In 1996, under the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994, local government regions and districts were abolished and the city became one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. Also, the name of the city became, officially, Aberdeen City.

1997 to 2005

As redefined for the 1997 general election Aberdeen North was one of three constituencies covering and entirely within the Aberdeen City area, the other two being Aberdeen South and Aberdeen Central. Aberdeen South shared boundaries with both of the other two constituencies.

The same boundaries were used for the 2010 general election.

Members of Parliament

ElectionMemberParty
1885 William Alexander Hunter Liberal
1896 by-election Duncan Vernon Pirie Liberal
1918 Frank Herbert Rose Labour
1928 by-election William Wedgwood Benn Labour
1931 John George Burnett Unionist
1935 George Morgan Garro-Jones Labour
1945 Hector Hughes Labour
1970 Robert Hughes Labour
1997 Malcolm Savidge Labour
2005 Frank Doran Labour

Election results

Elections in the 2010s

General Election 2015: Aberdeen North[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard Baker
SNP Kirsty Blackman
Liberal Democrat Euan Davidson
TUSC Tyrinne Rutherford
Conservative Sanjoy Sen
National Front Christopher Sean Willett
General Election 2010: Aberdeen North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Doran 16,746 44.4 +2.0
SNP Joanna Strathdee 8,385 22.2 –0.1
Liberal Democrat Kristian Chapman 7,001 18.6 –5.3
Conservative Stewart Whyte 4,666 12.4 +2.9
BNP Roy Jones 635 1.7 N/A
Scottish Socialist Ewan Robertson 268 0.7 –1.2
Majority 8,361 22.2
Turnout 37,701 58.2 +2.4
Labour hold Swing +1.0

Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: Aberdeen North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Doran 15,557 42.5 −0.8
Liberal Democrat Steve Delaney 8,762 23.9 +7.5
SNP Kevin Stewart 8,168 22.3 −6.4
Conservative David Anderson 3,456 9.4 −0.6
Scottish Socialist John Connon 691 1.9 +0.4
Majority 6,795 18.5
Turnout 36,634 55.7 −0.7
Labour hold Swing −9.3
General Election 2001: Aberdeen North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Malcolm Savidge 13,157 43.3 −4.5
SNP Alasdair Allan 8,708 28.7 +6.9
Liberal Democrat Jim Donaldson 4,991 16.4 +2.3
Conservative Richard Cowling 3,047 10.0 −5.0
Scottish Socialist Shona Foreman 454 1.5 N/A
Majority 4,449 14.6
Turnout 30,357 57.4 −13.3
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1997: Aberdeen North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Malcolm Savidge 18,839 47.9
SNP Brian Adam 8,379 21.8
Conservative James Gifford 5,763 15.0
Liberal Democrat Mike Rumbles 5,421 14.1
Referendum Party Alasdair McKenzie 463 1.2
Majority 10,010 26.1
Turnout 38,865
Labour hold Swing +1.0
General Election 1992: Aberdeen North[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Hughes 18,845 47.0 −7.6
SNP James A. McGugan 9,608 24.0 +10.8
Conservative Paul S. Cook 6,836 17.1 +2.7
Liberal Democrat Dr. Martin A. Ford 4,772 11.9 −5.9
Majority 9,237 23.1 -13.8
Turnout 40,061 66.9 −3.0
Labour hold Swing −9.2

Elections in the 1980s

General Election 1987: Aberdeen North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Hughes 24,145 54.7
Social Democratic Sir Robert Smith 7,867 17.8
Conservative Mrs. G.E.C. Scanlan 6,330 14.3
SNP P.B. Greenhorn 5,827 13.2
Majority 16,278 36.9
Turnout 69.9
Labour hold Swing +1.0
General Election 1983: Aberdeen North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Hughes 19,262 47.0
Social Democratic C.S. Deans 10,118 24.7
Conservative Mrs. G.E.C. Scanlan 7,426 18.1
SNP James A. McGugan 3,790 9.3
Ecology Ms. M.E. Harty 67 0.9
Majority 9,144 22.3
Turnout 65.0
Labour hold Swing +1.0

Elections in the 1970s

General Election 1979: Aberdeen North[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Hughes 26,771 59.34
Conservative G. Adams 7,657 16.97
SNP M. Watt 5,796 12.85
Liberal L. McMillan 4,887 10.83
Majority 19,114 42.37
Turnout 69.67
Labour hold Swing +1.0
General Election October 1974: Aberdeen North[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Hughes 23,130 50.88
SNP James A. McGugan 13,509 29.71
Conservative Peter Fraser 5,125 11.27
Liberal F. McCallum 3,700 8.14
Majority 9,621 21.16
Turnout 69.70
Labour hold Swing
General Election February 1974: Aberdeen North[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Hughes 23,193 47.68
SNP J.A. McGugan 11,337 23.31
Conservative G. Dunnett 8,115 16.68
Liberal F. McCallum 6,001 12.34
Majority 11,856 24.37
Turnout 75.60
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1970: Aberdeen North[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Hughes 27,707 62.09
Conservative D.J. Williams 9,807 21.98
SNP J. McKenna 3,756 8.42
Liberal F. McCallum 2,835 6.35
Communist A. Ingram 521 1.17
Majority 17,900 40.11
Turnout 69.75
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General Election 1966: Aberdeen North

Electorate 59,157

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Hector Samuel Hughes 28,799 67.55%
Conservative M Humphrey 8,768 20.56%
Liberal Mrs. D W McPherson 4,350 10.2%
Communist Mrs. M Rose 719 1.69%
Majority 20,031 46.98%
Turnout 72.07
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1964: Aberdeen North

Electorate 61,776

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Hector Samuel Hughes 31,844 68.91%
Unionist J McInnes 14,366 31.09%
Majority 17,478 37.82%
Turnout 74.80
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General Election 1959: Aberdeen North[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Hector Samuel Hughes 32,793 64.43
Unionist J Stewart-Clark 15,137 29.74
SNP W.A. Milne 2,964 5.82
Majority 17,656 34.69
Turnout 76.70
Labour hold Swing
General Election 26 May 1955: Aberdeen North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Hector Samuel Hughes 33,153 66.96
Unionist C A Malden 16,357 33.04
Majority 16,796 33.92
Turnout 74.58
Labour hold Swing
General Election 25 October 1951: Aberdeen North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Hector Samuel Hughes 33,711 64.73
Unionist F Magee 18,365 35.27
Majority 15,346 29.47
Turnout 82.90
Labour hold Swing
General Election 23 February 1950: Aberdeen North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Hector Samuel Hughes 31,594 60.45
Unionist A Tennant 15,705 30.05
Liberal John Gray Wilson 3,574 6.84
Communist R Cooney 1,391 2.66
Majority 15,889 30.40
Turnout 82.90
Labour hold Swing

Election in the 1940s

General Election 1945: Aberdeen North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Hector Samuel Hughes 26,753 69.67%
Unionist Lady Grant of Monymusk 9,623 25.06
SNP A. Walker 2,021 5.26%
Majority 17,130 44.61
Turnout 67.48
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s

General Election 1935: Aberdeen North[12]

Electorate

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Garro-Jones 16,952 48.69
Unionist John George Burnett 13,990 40.19
Ind. Labour Party A. F. Macintosh 3,871 11.12
Majority 2,962 8.51
Turnout 65.86
Labour gain from Unionist Swing
General Election 1931: Aberdeen North[13]

Electorate

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist John George Burnett 22,931 64.30
Labour Rt Hon. William Wedgwood Benn 8,753 24.54
Communist Mrs H. Crawford 3,980 11.16
Majority 14,178 39.75
Turnout 73.36
Unionist gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General Election 1929: Aberdeen North[14]

Electorate 46,597

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Wedgwood Benn 17,826
Liberal Reginald Cheyne Berkeley 9,799
Communist Aitken Ferguson 1,686
Majority 8,027
Turnout
Labour hold Swing
By-election, Aug 1928: Aberdeen North[15]

Electorate

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Wedgwood Benn 10,646 52.5
Unionist Dr Laura Sandeman 4,696 23.1
Communist Aitken Ferguson 2,618 12.9 n/a
Liberal James Rankin Rutherford 2,337 11.5 n/a
Majority 5,950
Turnout 56.8 -7.6
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1924: Aberdeen North[16]

Electorate 33,826

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Herbert Rose 13,249 60.8
Unionist Dr Laura Sandeman 8,545 39.2
Majority 4,704
Turnout 64.4
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1923: Aberdeen North[17]

Electorate 34,098

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Herbert Rose 9,138
Unionist W.F. Lumsden 4,820
Liberal W Mackenzie Cameron 4,099
Majority 4,318
Turnout
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1922: Aberdeen North[18]

Electorate 34,603

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Herbert Rose 10,958
National Liberal W Mackenzie Cameron 6,615
Liberal J Johnstone 2,113
Majority 4,343
Turnout
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1910s

General Election 1918: Aberdeen North[19]

Electorate

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Herbert Rose 6,128
Liberal Lt-Col. Duncan Vernon Pirie 5,918
Majority
Turnout
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Pirie was endorsed by the Coalition Government but refused to give it his support.[20]

General Election Dec 1910: Aberdeen North[21]

Electorate

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Duncan Vernon Pirie 4,282
Liberal Unionist Robert Scott-Brown 2,546
Majority
Turnout
Liberal hold Swing
General Election Jan 1910: Aberdeen North[21]

Electorate

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Duncan Vernon Pirie 4,297
Liberal Unionist Robert Scott-Brown 2,314
Social Democratic Federation Thomas Kennedy 1,344
Majority
Turnout
Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1900s

General Election 1906: Aberdeen North[22]

Electorate 10,531

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Duncan Vernon Pirie 4,852
Social Democratic Federation Thomas Kennedy 1,935
Conservative Michael Maltman Barry 931
Majority 2,917
Turnout
Liberal hold Swing
General Election 1900: Aberdeen North[23]

Electorate 10,047

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Duncan Vernon Pirie 4,238
Conservative Robert Williams 2,251
Majority 1,987
Turnout
Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1890s

By-election 1896: Aberdeen North[24]

Electorate 9,434

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Duncan Vernon Pirie 2,909
Ind. Labour Party Tom Mann 2,479
Majority 430
Turnout
Liberal hold Swing
William Alexander Hunter
General election 1895: Aberdeen North[24]

Electorate 9,318

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Alexander Hunter 4,156
Ind. Labour Party John Lincoln Mahon 608
Majority 3,548
Turnout
Liberal hold Swing
General election 1892: Aberdeen North[25]

Electorate 8,832

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Alexander Hunter 4,462
Liberal Unionist Bremner Patrick Lee 870
Majority 3,592
Turnout
Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: William Hunter returned unopposed.[26]

General election 1885: Aberdeen North[26]

Electorate 8,256

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Alexander Hunter 4,794 n/a
Conservative Benjamin Scott Foster McGeagh 894 n/a
Independent Liberal J Wallace Thom 177 n/a
Majority 3,900 n/a
Turnout n/a
Liberal win

References

  1. ↑ The boundaries of Holyrood constituencies remain as when the constituencies were created in 1999
    Holyrood refers to the fact that the Scottish Parliament Building is in the Holyrood area of Edinburgh
    See also Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions
  2. ↑ Boundary Commission for Scotland website
    See also List of UK Parliamentary constituencies in Scotland
  3. ↑ Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, Sixth Schedule
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972 (ISBN 0-900178-09-4), F. W. S. Craig 1972
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1977
  9. ↑
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1963
  12. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1939
  13. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1934
  14. ↑ "General Election 1929 - Results in Detail". The Times. 10 June 1929. p. iv.
  15. ↑ The Times, 18 August 1928
  16. ↑ Oliver & Boyd's Edinburgh Almanack, 1927
  17. ↑ The Times, 8 December 1923
  18. ↑ The Times, 8 December 1923
  19. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1920
  20. ↑ The Downfall of the Liberal Party by Trevor Wilson
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916
  22. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1907
  23. ↑ Liberal Yearbook, 1907
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1901
  25. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack 1893
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Debrett's House of Commons and Judicial Bench, 1889