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

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Ayrshire South [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: Ayrshire South [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: Ayrshire South [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: Ayrshire South [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: Ayrshire South [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: Ayrshire South [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: Ayrshire South [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: Ayrshire South [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: Ayrshire South [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: Ayrshire South [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: Ayrshire South [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James Brown 11,51155.63
National Liberal William Reid (Scottish politician)9,18044.37
Majority2,33111.26
Turnout 20,691
Labour hold Swing
General election 1923: Ayrshire South [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James Brown 11,16955.91+0.28
Unionist Charles Fergusson 8,80744.09-0.28
Majority2,36211.82+0.56
Turnout 19,976
Labour hold Swing
General election 1924: Ayrshire South [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James Brown 11,31350.39-5.52
Unionist C.I.A. Dubs11,13649.61+5.52
Majority1770.78-11.04
Turnout 22,449
Labour hold Swing
General election 1929: Ayrshire South [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: Ayrshire South [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist James MacAndrew 16,67554.84
Labour James Brown 13,73345.16
Majority2,9429.68
Turnout 30,40879.27
Unionist gain from Labour Swing
General election 1935: Ayrshire South [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James Brown 18,19057.61
Unionist James MacAndrew 13,38642.39
Majority4,80415.22
Turnout 31,57678.03
Labour gain from Unionist Swing
By-election 1939: Ayrshire South [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Alexander Sloan 17,90857.97+0.36
Unionist Catherine Gavin12,98642.03-0.36
Majority4,92215.94
Turnout 30,894
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Ayrshire South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Alexander Sloan 21,23561.34
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 20,43460.43-0.91
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: Ayrshire South [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Emrys Hughes 22,28460.23-1.11
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: Ayrshire South [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Emrys Hughes 22,57660.50+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: Ayrshire South [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Emrys Hughes 21,77861.61+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: Ayrshire South [26]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Emrys Hughes 24,77463.72+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: Ayrshire South [27]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Emrys Hughes 24,79566.68+2.96
Unionist William Hill Hunter12,40333.32-2.96
Majority12,40333.35+5.91
Turnout 37,18777.58
Labour hold Swing +3.0
General election 1966: Ayrshire South [28]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Emrys Hughes 23,49567.25+0.57
Conservative Christopher Graves11,44232.75-0.57
Majority12,05334.50+1.15
Turnout 34,93775.13
Labour hold Swing +0.5

Elections in the 1970s

1970 South Ayrshire by-election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jim Sillars 20,664 52.7 −14.5
Conservative Christopher Graves9,77824.9−7.8
SNP Samuel H. Purdie7,78519.9New
Majority10,88627.8−6.7
Turnout 39,227
Labour hold Swing
General election 1970: Ayrshire South [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: Ayrshire South [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: Ayrshire South [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: Ayrshire South [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

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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.
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