South Ayrshire (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

South Ayrshire
Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
Subdivisions of Scotland Ayrshire
1868–1983
SeatsOne
Created from Ayrshire
Replaced by Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley [1]

South Ayrshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1868 until 1983, when it was abolished. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP), elected by the first past the post voting system.

Contents

Boundaries

The Representation of the People (Scotland) Act 1868 provided that the new South Ayrshire constituency was to consist of the District of Kyle and Carrick, consisting of the parishes of Auchinleck, Ayr, Ballantrae, Barr, Colmonell, Coylton, Craigie, Dailly, Dalmellington, Dalrymple, Dundonald, Galston, Girvan, Kirkmichael, Kirkoswald, Mauchline, Maybole, Monkton and Prestwick, Muirkirk, New Cumnock, Newton-on-Ayr, Ochiltree, Old Cumnock, Riccarton, St Quivox, Sorn, Stair, Straiton, Symington and Tarbolton, minus the burghs of Ayr, Prestwick and Troon, which formed a part of the Ayr Burghs constituency.

From 1918 the constituency consisted of "The county districts of Ayr and Carrick, inclusive of all burghs situated therein except insofar as included in the Ayr District of Burghs."

Members of Parliament

YearMember [2] Whip
1868 constituency created, see Ayrshire
1868 Sir David Wedderburn Liberal
1874 Claud Alexander Conservative
1885 Eugene Wason Liberal
1886 Greville Vernon Liberal Unionist
1892 Eugene Wason Liberal
1895 Sir William Arrol Liberal Unionist
1906 Sir William Beale Liberal
1918 James Brown Labour
1931 James MacAndrew Unionist
1935 James Brown Labour
1939 Alexander Sloan Labour
1946 Emrys Hughes Labour
1970 Jim Sillars Labour
1976 Scottish Labour
1979 George Foulkes Labour
1983 constituency abolished, see Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley

Election results

South Ayrshire electoral history South Ayrshire electoral history.png
South Ayrshire electoral history

Election in the 1860s

General election 1868: South Ayrshire [3] [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal David Wedderburn 1,416 50.4
Conservative Claud Alexander 1,39149.6
Majority250.8
Turnout 2,80783.3
Registered electors 3,370
Liberal win (new seat)

Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: South Ayrshire [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Claud Alexander Unopposed
Registered electors 3,547
Conservative gain from Liberal

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: South Ayrshire [5] [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Claud Alexander 1,830 53.6 N/A
Liberal North de Coigny Dalrymple-Hamilton1,58346.4New
Majority2477.2N/A
Turnout 3,41388.3N/A
Registered electors 3,865
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 1885: South Ayrshire [6] [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Eugene Wason 7,357 55.3 +8.9
Conservative Claud Alexander 5,44744.7−8.9
Majority1,41110.6N/A
Turnout 13,30388.0−0.3
Registered electors 15,109
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +8.9
General election 1886: South Ayrshire [6] [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Unionist Greville Vernon 6,123 50.0 +5.3
Liberal Eugene Wason 6,11850.0−5.3
Majority50.0N/A
Turnout 12,24181.0−7.0
Registered electors 15,109
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +5.3

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: South Ayrshire [8] [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Eugene Wason 6,535 50.8 +0.8
Liberal Unionist William Arrol 6,33849.2−0.8
Majority1971.6N/A
Turnout 12,87386.3+5.3
Registered electors 14,912
Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist Swing +0.8
Arrol William Arrol, Page 70.jpg
Arrol
General election 1895: South Ayrshire [9] [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Unionist William Arrol 6,875 52.1 +2.9
Liberal Eugene Wason 6,32547.9−2.9
Majority5504.2N/A
Turnout 13,20085.4−0.9
Registered electors 15,463
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +2.9

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: South Ayrshire [9] [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Unionist William Arrol 6,615 53.5 +1.4
Liberal Edward Alexander James Johnson-Ferguson5,75346.5−1.4
Majority8627.0+2.8
Turnout 12,36877.6−7.8
Registered electors 15,941
Liberal Unionist hold Swing +1.4
Beale William Phipson Beale.jpg
Beale
General election 1906: South Ayrshire [10] [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal William Beale 7,853 54.3 +7.8
Conservative James J. Bell6,61145.7−7.8
Majority1,2428.6N/A
Turnout 14,46482.7+5.1
Registered electors 17,497
Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist Swing +7.8

Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: South Ayrshire [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal William Beale 8,833 56.5 +2.2
Conservative Thomas Walker McIntyre6,79343.5−2.2
Majority2,04013.0+4.4
Turnout 15,62685.5+2.8
Registered electors 18,272
Liberal hold Swing +2.2
General election December 1910: South Ayrshire [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal William Beale 8,715 56.0 −0.5
Conservative Thomas Walker McIntyre6,83544.0+0.5
Majority1,88012.0−1.0
Turnout 15,55083.0−2.5
Registered electors 18,733
Liberal hold Swing -0.5

General Election 1914–15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

General election 1918: South Ayrshire [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James Brown 6,358 37.3 New
C Unionist John Buchanan Pollok-McCall5,49532.2−11.8
Liberal William Robertson4,55526.7−29.3
Ind. Unionist Hugh Robert Wallace6273.6New
Majority8635.1N/A
Turnout 17,035
Labour gain from Liberal Swing N/A
Cindicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: South Ayrshire [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James Brown 11,511 55.63
National Liberal William Reid (Scottish politician)9,18044.37
Majority2,33111.26
Turnout 20,691
Labour hold Swing
General election 1923: South Ayrshire [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James Brown 11,169 55.91 +0.28
Unionist Charles Fergusson 8,80744.09−0.28
Majority2,36211.82+0.56
Turnout 19,976
Labour hold Swing
General election 1924: South Ayrshire [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James Brown 11,313 50.39 −5.52
Unionist C.I.A. Dubs11,13649.61+5.52
Majority1770.78−11.04
Turnout 22,449
Labour hold Swing
General election 1929: South Ayrshire [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James Brown 16,981 58.1 +7.7
Unionist C.I.A. Dubs12,24041.9−7.7
Majority4,74116.2+15.4
Turnout 29,221
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: South Ayrshire [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist James MacAndrew 16,675 54.84
Labour James Brown 13,73345.16
Majority2,9429.68N/A
Turnout 30,40879.27
Unionist gain from Labour Swing
General election 1935: South Ayrshire [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James Brown 18,190 57.61
Unionist James MacAndrew 13,38642.39
Majority4,80415.22N/A
Turnout 31,57678.03
Labour gain from Unionist Swing
By-election 1939: South Ayrshire [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Alexander Sloan 17,908 57.97 +0.36
Unionist Catherine Gavin12,98642.03−0.36
Majority4,92215.94+0.72
Turnout 30,894
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: South Ayrshire
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Alexander Sloan 21,235 61.34
Unionist Robert Mathew 13,38238.66
Majority7,85322.68
Turnout 34,61775.17
Labour hold Swing
1946 South Ayrshire by-election [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Emrys Hughes 20,434 60.43 −0.91
Unionist Robert Mathew 13,38239.57+0.91
Majority7,05220.86−1.84
Turnout 33,816
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: South Ayrshire [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Emrys Hughes 22,284 60.23 −1.11
Unionist JC George14,71739.77+1.11
Majority7,56720.46−2.22
Turnout 37,00185.35+10.18
Registered electors 43,350
Labour hold Swing -1.1
General election 1951: South Ayrshire [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Emrys Hughes 22,576 60.50 +0.27
Unionist Derek MH Smith14,74039.50−0.27
Majority7,83621.00+0.54
Turnout 37,31682.93−2.42
Registered electors 44,999
Labour hold Swing +0.27
General election 1955: South Ayrshire [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Emrys Hughes 21,778 61.61 +1.11
Unionist Derek MH Smith13,56938.39−1.11
Majority8,20923.22+2.22
Turnout 35,34776.83−6.10
Registered electors 46,007
Labour hold Swing +1.11
General election 1959: South Ayrshire [26]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Emrys Hughes 24,774 63.72 +2.11
Unionist William Hill Hunter14,10536.28−2.11
Majority10,66927.44+4.22
Turnout 38,87980.89+4.06
Registered electors 48,063
Labour hold Swing +2.11

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: South Ayrshire [27]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Emrys Hughes 24,795 66.68 +2.96
Unionist William Hill Hunter12,40333.32−2.96
Majority12,40333.36+5.92
Turnout 37,18777.58−3.31
Labour hold Swing +3.0
General election 1966: South Ayrshire [28]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Emrys Hughes 23,495 67.25 +0.57
Conservative Christopher Graves11,44232.75−0.57
Majority12,05334.50+1.14
Turnout 34,93775.13−2.45
Labour hold Swing +0.5

Elections in the 1970s

1970 South Ayrshire by-election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jim Sillars 20,664 52.7 −14.6
Conservative Christopher Graves9,77824.9−7.8
SNP Samuel H. Purdie7,78519.8New
Majority10,88627.8−6.7
Turnout 38,227
Labour hold Swing
General election 1970: South Ayrshire [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jim Sillars 23,910 61.8 −5.4
Conservative Norman Simpson11,67530.2−2.5
SNP Samuel H. Purdie3,1028.0N/A
Majority12,23531.6−2.9
Turnout 38,68776.7+1.6
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: South Ayrshire [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jim Sillars 23,093 57.2 −4.6
Conservative Robert Colquhoun10,64326.4−3.8
SNP Roger Mullin 6,61216.4+8.4
Majority12,45030.8−0.8
Turnout 40,43879.5+2.8
Labour hold Swing −0.4
General election October 1974: South Ayrshire [31] [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jim Sillars 22,329 56.2 −1.0
SNP Roger Mullin 7,85119.8+3.4
Conservative J Armstrong7,40218.6−7.8
Liberal Richard Mabon2,1305.4New
Majority14,47836.4+5.6
Turnout 39,71277.4−2.1
Labour hold Swing −2.2
General election 1979: South Ayrshire [33]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op George Foulkes 14,271 35.2 −21.0
SLP Jim Sillars 12,75031.5New
Conservative G. Young10,28725.4+6.8
SNP Colin Cameron3,2338.0−11.8
Majority1,5213.7−32.7
Turnout 40,54179.9+2.5
Labour Co-op hold Swing −26.2

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Ayrshire (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 2005 onwards

Central Ayrshire is a constituency of the British House of Commons, located in the south-west of Scotland within the North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire council areas. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) at least once every five years using the first-past-the-post system of voting.

Banffshire was a constituency of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1708 to 1800, and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1983. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP), using the first-past-the-post voting system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayr (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1950–2005

Ayr was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1950 to 2005. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post system of election.

Ross and Cromarty was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 1832 to 1983. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) using the first-past-the-post voting system.

Glasgow Bridgeton was a parliamentary constituency in the city of Glasgow. From 1885 to 1974, it returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first-past-the-post voting system.

Glasgow Govan was a parliamentary constituency in the Govan district of Glasgow. It was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for 120 years; from 1885 until 2005, returning one Member of Parliament (MP) elected by the first-past-the-post system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glasgow Tradeston (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–1955

Glasgow Tradeston was a burgh constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 until 1955. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) using the first-past-the-post voting system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rutherglen (UK Parliament constituency)</span> United Kingdom parliamentary constituency

Rutherglen is a burgh constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 2024. It also existed between 1918 and 2005 and was largely replaced by Rutherglen and Hamilton West while a small portion became part of Glasgow Central and Glasgow South.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Renfrewshire (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1997–2005

West Renfrewshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 1983 and again from 1997 until 2005. In 2005 the constituency was abolished and the area is now represented by Inverclyde, Paisley and Renfrewshire North and Paisley and Renfrewshire South.

Kilmarnock Burghs was a district of burghs constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1918. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post voting system.

Buteshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918.

Bute and Northern Ayrshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1983. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post voting system.

WestAberdeenshire was a Scottish county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1868 to 1918 and from 1950 to 1983. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Elginshire and Nairnshire was a county constituency in Scotland. From 1832 to 1918, it returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first-past-the-post voting system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayr (Scottish Parliament constituency)</span> Constituency of the Scottish Parliament

Ayr is a burgh constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering the town of Ayr in the council area of South Ayrshire. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) via the plurality electoral system. It is also one of nine constituencies in the South Scotland electoral region which elects seven additional members to the Scottish Parliament via a proportional electoral system known as the Additional Members System which allows for greater accuracy in representation for the region as a whole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983–2005

Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1983 until 2005. Half of the constituency was incorporated into the new Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock constituency, with the remainder incorporated into the new Central Ayrshire constituency and the expanded Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency.

Ayr Burghs was a district of burghs constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1950. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP), using the first-past-the-post voting system.

Kilmarnock was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1983. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

North Ayrshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1868 until 1918. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP), using the first-past-the-post voting system.

Kirkcaldy Burghs was a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (Westminster) from 1832 to 1974. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post voting system. From 1832 to 1950 it was, officially, a district of burghs constituency.

References

  1. ↑ "'Ayrshire South', Feb 1974 – May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  2. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 3)
  3. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons, 1870
  4. 1 2 3 Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN   978-1-349-02349-3.
  5. ↑ The Times, 29 April 1880
  6. 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1889
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885–1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN   9781349022984.
  8. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1893
  9. 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1901
  10. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1907
  11. 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916
  12. ↑ Daily Record 14 Sep 1914
  13. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1920
  14. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1922
  15. ↑ The Times, 17 November 1922
  16. ↑ The Times, 8 December 1923
  17. ↑ Oliver & Boyd's Edinburgh Almanac, 1927
  18. ↑ The Times, 1 June 1929
  19. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1934
  20. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1939
  21. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1944
  22. ↑ Scottish Conservative and Unionist Central Office, The Yearbook for Scotland (1967), p.86
  23. ↑ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1950". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  24. ↑ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1951". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  25. ↑ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1955". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  26. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack 1963
  27. ↑ The Times House of Commons, 1964
  28. ↑ The Times House of Commons, 1966
  29. ↑ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1970". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  30. ↑ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results February 1974". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  31. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack 1977
  32. ↑ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results October 1974". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  33. ↑ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1979". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.