Edinburgh West (UK Parliament constituency)

Edinburgh West
Burgh constituency
for the House of Commons

Outline map

Boundary of Edinburgh West in .
Subdivisions of Scotland City of Edinburgh
Current constituency
Created 1885
Member of parliament Mike Crockart (Liberal Democrats)
Created from Edinburgh
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency Scotland

Edinburgh West is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (at Westminster), first used in the 1885 general election. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Prior to the 2005 general election the constituency had the same boundaries as the Scottish Parliament constituency with the same name, which had been created in 1999. See Edinburgh West (Scottish Parliament constituency).

This commuter belt constituency, distinctively in the city, was a safe Unionist/Conservative seat for over 65 years, from the 1931 general election until the 1997 general election; since then the seat has been held by the Liberal Democrats.

The previous MP, Liberal Democrat John Barrett, stood down at the 2010 general election.[1]

Boundaries

The constituency was created when the Edinburgh constituency was abolished, in 1885, in favour of four new constituencies: Edinburgh East, Edinburgh Central, Edinburgh South and Edinburgh West. The Central constituency was abolished in 2005. The East constituency was abolished in 1997, but a new Edinburgh East was created in 2005. The South and West constituencies have been in continuous use (with alterations to boundaries) since 1885.

The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 provided that the constituency was to consist of the Municipal Wards of St. Andrew, St. Stephen, St. Bernard, and St. Luke.[2]

In 1918 the constituency consisted of the "Dalry, Gorgie, Haymarket and St. Bernard's Municipal Wards of Edinburgh."

Prior to the 2005 general election, Edinburgh West was one of six constituencies covering the City of Edinburgh council area. Five were entirely within the city council area. One, Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, straddled the boundary with the East Lothian council area to take in Musselburgh.

Constituency boundaries were revised for the 2005 election. Edinburgh West was enlarged, to include an area formerly within Edinburgh Central, and became one of five constituencies covering the city area.[3]

The constituency now covers a north western portion of the city area. It is mostly suburban, but takes in rural areas within the city area, to the west of central Edinburgh. In terms of wards used in elections to the City of Edinburgh Council, 1999 to 2007, the constituency includes the wards of Cramond, Dalmeny and Kirkliston, Davidson's Mains, East Craigs, Gyle, Muirhouse and Drylaw, Murrayfield, North East Corstorphine, Queensferry, South East Corstorphine and Stenhouse. These wards are due to be replaced with new wards in 2007, as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004.

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember[4]Party
1885 Thomas Buchanan Liberal
1886 Liberal Unionist
1888 by-election Liberal
1892 Viscount Wolmer Liberal Unionist
1895 Lewis McIver Liberal Unionist
1909 by-election James Avon Clyde Liberal Unionist
1918 John Gordon Jameson Coalition Conservative
1922 Vivian Phillipps Liberal
1924 Ian MacIntyre Unionist
1929 George Mathers Labour
1931 Wilfrid Guild Normand Unionist
1935 Thomas Mackay Cooper Unionist
1941 by-election Ian Clark Hutchison Unionist
1959 Anthony Stodart Unionist/Conservative
Oct 1974 Lord James Douglas-Hamilton Conservative
1997 Donald Gorrie Liberal Democrat
2001 John Barrett Liberal Democrat
2010 Mike Crockart Liberal Democrat

Election results

Elections in the 2010s

General Election 2015: Edinburgh West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Scottish Green Pat Black[5]
Liberal Democrats Mike Crockart[6]
Labour Cameron Day[6]
UKIP Otto Inglis[7]
Conservative Lindsay Paterson[8]
SNP Michelle Thomson
General Election 2010: Edinburgh West[9][10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Mike Crockart 16,684 35.9 −13.6
Labour Cameron Day 12,881 27.7 +9.1
Conservative Stewart Geddes 10,767 23.2 +3.7
SNP Ms. Sheena M. Cleland 6,115 13.2 +4.1
Majority 3,803 8.2
Turnout 46,447 71.3 +3.0
Liberal Democrats hold Swing −11.4

Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: Edinburgh West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats John Barrett 22,417 49.5 +11.2
Conservative David A. Brogan 8,817 19.5 −2.2
Labour Navraj Singh Ghaleigh 8,433 18.6 −7.9
SNP Ms. Sheena M. Cleland 4,124 9.1 −1.6
Scottish Green Ms. Ailsa Spindler 964 2.1 +2.1
Scottish Socialist Gary P. Clark 510 1.1 −1.0
Majority 13,600 30.0
Turnout 45,265 68.9 +5.4
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +6.7
General Election 2001: Edinburgh West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats John Barrett 16,719 42.4 −0.9
Labour Mrs. Elspeth Alexandra 9,130 23.1 +4.3
Conservative Iain Whyte 8,894 22.5 −5.4
SNP Alyn Smith 4,047 10.3 +1.4
Scottish Socialist Bill Scott 688 1.7 N/A
Majority 7,589 +19.3
Turnout 39,478 63.2 −14.8
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +2.6

Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1997: Edinburgh West[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Donald Cameron Easterbrook Gorrie 20,578 43.2 +13.3
Conservative James Douglas-Hamilton 13,325 28.0 −10.2
Labour Lesley Hinds 8,948 18.8 +1.4
SNP Graham D. Sutherland 4,210 8.8 −3.7
Referendum Party Stephen C. Elphick 277 0.6 N/A
Liberal Paul N. Coombes 263 0.5 −0.1
Independent Antony C.O. Jack 30 0.1 N/A
Majority 7,253 15.2
Turnout 47,631 77.9
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +11.8
General Election 1992: Edinburgh West[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Douglas-Hamilton 18,071 37.0 −0.3
Liberal Democrats Donald Cameron Easterbrook Gorrie 17,192 35.2 +0.4
Labour Ms. Irene A. Kitson 8,759 18.0 −4.2
SNP Graham D. Sutherland 4,117 8.4 +2.8
Liberal Alan R. Fleming 272 0.6 N/A
Scottish Green Ms. Linda M. Hendry 234 0.5 N/A
BNP David J. Bruce 133 0.3 N/A
Majority 879 1.8 −0.7
Turnout 48,778 82.6 +3.2
Conservative hold Swing −0.3

Elections in the 1980s

General Election 1987: Edinburgh West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Douglas-Hamilton 18,450 37.35
Liberal DG King 17,216 34.85
Labour M McGregor 10,957 22.18
SNP N Irons 2,774 5.62
Majority 1,234 2.50
Turnout 79.40
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1983: Edinburgh West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Douglas-Hamilton 17,646 38.17
Liberal DG King 17,148 37.09
Labour A Wood 9,313 20.14
SNP J Nicoll 2,126 4.60
Majority 498 1.08
Turnout 75.73
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General Election 1979: Edinburgh West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Douglas-Hamilton 19,360 45.44
Labour MCB McGregor 12,009 28.19
Liberal R Callendar 7,330 17.21
SNP C Bell 3,904 9.16
Majority 7,351 17.25
Turnout 77.85
Conservative hold Swing
General Election October 1974: Edinburgh West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Douglas-Hamilton 15,354 38.15
Labour WJ Taylor 10,152 25.22
SNP CM Moore 8,135 20.21
Liberal Donald Cameron Easterbrook Gorrie 6,606 16.41
Majority 5,202 12.93
Turnout 76.56
Conservative hold Swing
General Election February 1974: Edinburgh West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Anthony Stodart 18,908 44.21
Labour WJ Taylor 10,431 24.39
Liberal Donald Cameron Easterbrook Gorrie 9,189 21.49
SNP R Moore 4,241 9.92
Majority 8,477 19.82
Turnout 82.18
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1970: Edinburgh West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Anthony Stodart 26,864 49.23
Labour George Foulkes 19,523 35.78
Liberal Donald Cameron Easterbrook Gorrie 4,467 8.19
SNP Muriel M Gibson 3,711 6.80
Majority 7,341 13.45
Turnout 74.95
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General Election 1966: Edinburgh West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Anthony Stodart 24,882 48.29
Labour Richard Giles Douglas 20,073 38.96
Liberal James R Telfer 6,571 12.75
Majority 4,809 9.33
Turnout 78.66
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1964: Edinburgh West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist James Anthony Stodart 26,298 50.56
Labour James K Stocks 18,359 35.30
Liberal James R Telfer 7,352 14.14
Majority 7,939 15.26
Turnout 80.91
Unionist hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General Election 1959: Edinburgh West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist James Anthony Stodart 25,976 56.49
Labour James K Stocks 14,044 30.54
Liberal Donald F Leach 5,962 12.97
Majority 11,932 25.95
Turnout 80.26
Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1955: Edinburgh West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Lt-Com. George Ian Clark Hutchison 26,000 67.04
Labour James Alexander Cuthburt Thomson 12,784 32.96
Majority 13,216 34.08
Turnout 75.67
Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1951: Edinburgh West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Lt-Com. George Ian Clark Hutchison 30,232 65.95
Labour Harry S Wilson 15,607 34.05
Majority 14,625 31.91
Turnout 83.12
Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1950: Edinburgh West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Lt-Com. George Ian Clark Hutchison 26,978 60.03
Labour C Morgan 14,377 31.99
Liberal Mrs. E. Walker 3,586 7.98
Majority 12,601 28.04
Turnout 82.79
Unionist hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

General Election 1945

Electorate 62,042

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Lt-Com. George Ian Clark Hutchison 19,894 47.38
Labour G Stott 18,840 44.87
Liberal JG Thomson 3,256 7.75
Majority 1,054 2.51
Turnout 67.68
Unionist hold Swing
By-election 1941: Edinburgh West[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Lt-Com. George Ian Clark Hutchison unopposed

Elections in the 1930s

General Election 1935: Edinburgh West[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Rt Hon Thomas Mackay Cooper OBE KC 28,023 67.01
Labour J. Welsh 13,794 32.99
Majority 14,229 34.03
Turnout 69.10
Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1931: Edinburgh West[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Wilfrid Guild Normand KC 31,407 71.20
Labour George Mathers 12,704 28.80
Majority 18,703 42.40
Turnout 79.18
Unionist gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General Election 1929: Edinburgh West[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Mathers 15,959 38.6
Unionist Wilfrid Guild Normand 12,966 31.7
Liberal Vivian Phillipps 12,126 29.7
General Election 1924: Edinburgh West[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Ian Macintyre 10,628
Labour George Mathers 9,603
Liberal Vivian Phillipps 8,790
General Election 1923: Edinburgh West[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Vivian Phillipps 11,010 41.3
Unionist Ian Macintyre 8,778 33.0
Labour George Mathers 6,836 25.7
General Election 1922

Electorate 34,899

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Vivian Phillipps 12,355
Unionist John Gordon Jameson 11,689
Majority
Turnout
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing

Elections in the 1910s

General Election 1918: Edinburgh West[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Major John Gordon Jameson 9,144
Liberal Sir Edward Parrott 6,166
Labour John Alexander Young 2,622
General Election Dec 1910: Edinburgh West[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist James Avon Clyde 4,952
Liberal Prof. John Hartman Morgan 4,252
General Election Jan 1910: Edinburgh West[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist James Avon Clyde 4,683
Liberal Charles Henry Lyell 4,233

Elections in the 1900s

General Election 1906: Edinburgh West[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Sir Lewis McIver Bt 3,949 52.0
Liberal Rt Hon Leonard Courtney 3,643 48.0
General Election 1900: Edinburgh West[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Sir Lewis McIver Bt 4,180
Liberal E. Adam 2,645

Elections in the 1890s

General Election 1895: Edinburgh West[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Sir Lewis McIver Bt unopposed
General Election 1892: Edinburgh West[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Viscount Wolmer 3,728
Liberal Thomas Ryburn Buchanan 3,216
Registered electors 8,236

Elections in the 1880s

By-election 1888: Edinburgh West[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Ryburn Buchanan 3,294
Liberal Unionist _____ Raleigh 3,248
General Election 1886: Edinburgh West[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Thomas Ryburn Buchanan 3,083
Liberal Robert Wallace 2,393
General Election 1885: Edinburgh West[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Thomas Ryburn Buchanan 3,083
Conservative George Audjo Jamieson 2,625

See also

References

  1. ↑ Swanson, Ian (2009-07-25). "'Good to go out at the top' – MP Barrett to stand down". The Scotsman (Edinburgh).
  2. ↑ Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, Sixth Schedule
  3. ↑ Fifth Periodical Review, Boundary Commission for Scotland
  4. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "E" (part 1)
  5. ↑ http://www.scottishgreens.org.uk/news/scottish-greens-confirm-32-candidates-for-biggest-mp-push/
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 http://electionresults.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/edinburgh-west-2015.html
  7. ↑ http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/election-essays-otto-inglis-ukip-1-3747040
  8. ↑ http://www.edinburghconservatives.org.uk/news/lindsay-paterson-selected-edinburgh-west
  9. ↑ Edinburgh West UKPolling
  10. ↑ "Lib Dems' Barrett to quit as MP". BBC News. 2009-07-25. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
  11. ↑ "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Edinburgh West". BBC News.
  12. ↑ University of Keele - Political Science Resources - Edinburgh West
  13. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 Dec 2010.
  14. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1944
  15. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1939
  16. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1934
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 British Parliamentary Elections 1918 1945 FWS Craig
  18. ↑ Oliver and Boyd's Edinburgh Almanack, 1927
  19. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1920
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Whitaker's Almanack, 1907
  22. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1893
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Debrett's House of Commons and Judicial Bench, 1889

Coordinates: 55°57′09″N 3°19′58″W / 55.95250°N 3.33278°W