West Aberdeenshire (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

West Aberdeenshire
Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
Subdivisions of Scotland Aberdeenshire
19501983
SeatsOne
Created from West Aberdeenshire & Kincardineshire
Central Aberdeenshire & Kincardineshire
Replaced by Gordon, Kincardine & Deeside and Aberdeen North [1]
18681918
SeatsOne
Type of constituency County constituency
Created from Aberdeenshire
Aberdeen
Replaced by West Aberdeenshire & Kincardineshire
Central Aberdeenshire & Kincardineshire

West (or Western) Aberdeenshire 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.

Contents

During the period 1918 to 1950, the area of the constituency was divided between West Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire and Central Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire.

In 1983, the West Aberdeenshire constituency was replaced by Kincardine and Deeside.

Boundaries

Western Aberdeenshire, 1885 to 1918

1868 to 1885

When created by the Representation of the People (Scotland) Act 1868, and first used in the 1868 general election, the Western Aberdeenshire constituency was nominally one of three covering the county of Aberdeen. The other two were the county constituency of Eastern Aberdeenshire and the burgh constituency of Aberdeen. The county had been covered previously by the Aberdeenshire constituency and the Aberdeen constituency.

Western Aberdeenshire was defined by the 1868 legislation as consisting of the parishes of Aboyne and Glentanner, Alford, Auchindoir and Kearn, Auchterless, Birse, Chapel of Garioch, Clatt, Cluny, Coull, Crathie and Braemar, Culsalmond, Drumblade, Dyce, Echt, Forgue, Glenbucket, Glenmuick, Tullich and Glengairn, Huntly, Insch, Inverurie, Keig, Kemnay, Kildrummy, Kincardine O'Neil, Kinnellar, Kennethmont, Kintore, Leochel-Cushnie, Leslie, Logie-Coldstone, Lumphanan, Midmar, Monymusk, Newhills, Oyne, Peterculter, Premnay, Rayne, Rhynie, Skene, Strathdon, Tarland and Migvie, Tough, Towie, Tullynesle and Forbes, together with the part of the parish of Old Machar lying west of the River Don, and the parts of the parishes of Banchory-Devenick, Cabrach, Cairnie, Drumoak and Glass within the County of Aberdeen, and the parish of Gartly in Banffshire.

1868 boundaries were also used in the 1874 general election and the 1880 general election.

1885 to 1918

For the 1885 general election the burgh constituencies of Aberdeen North and Aberdeen South were created. Both of these new constituencies included areas beyond the boundaries of the burgh of Aberdeen.

1885 boundaries were also 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.

County boundaries were redefined under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889, and the county of city of Aberdeen was created in 1900, but these developments did not affect constituency boundaries.

In 1918, the Representation of the People Act 1918 created new constituency boundaries, taking account of new local government boundaries, and grouped the county of Aberdeen, the county of city of Aberdeen and the county of Kincardine in the creation of new constituencies for the 1918 general election. Thus the Western Aberdeenshire area was divided between West Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire and Central Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire.

West Aberdeenshire, 1950 to 1983

1950 to 1955

The House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949 created new boundaries for the 1950 general election, and West Aberdeenshire was created as one of four constituencies covering the county of Aberdeen and the county of city of Aberdeen. West Aberdeenshire and East Aberdeenshire were entirely within the county of Aberdeen, and Aberdeen North and Aberdeen South were entirely within the county of city of Aberdeen. West Aberdeenshire consisted of the burghs of Ballater, Inverurie, Kintore, and Oldmeldrum, and the districts of Aberdeen, Alford, Deeside, and Garioch. [2]

The same boundaries were used for the 1951 general election.

1955 to 1983

For the 1955 general election, West Aberdeenshire was enlarged to include the burgh of Huntly and the district of Huntly, which were previously within East Aberdeenshire. [2]

West Aberdeenshire retained the same boundaries for the 1959 general election, the 1964 general election, the 1966 general election, the 1970 general election, the February 1974 general election and the October 1974 general election.

In 1975, throughout Scotland, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, counties and burghs were abolished as local government areas, and West Aberdeenshire became a constituency within the Grampian region.

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

For the 1983 general election, the West Aberdeenshire constituency was replaced by Kincardine and Deeside.

Members of Parliament

Western Aberdeenshire, 1868 to 1918

ElectionMember [3] Party
1868 William McCombie Liberal
1876 Lord Douglas Gordon Liberal
1880 Robert Farquharson Liberal
1906 John Henderson Liberal
1918 constituency abolished

West Aberdeenshire, 1950 to 1983

ElectionMember [3] Party
1950 Henry Spence Unionist
1959 Forbes Hendry Conservative
1966 James Davidson Liberal
1970 Colin Mitchell Conservative
Feb 1974 Sir Russell Fairgrieve Conservative
1983 constituency abolished

Election results 1868-1918

Elections in the 1860s

1868 general election: Aberdeenshire Western [4] [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal William McCombie Unopposed
Registered electors 4,081
Liberal win (new seat)

Elections in the 1870s

1874 general election: West Aberdeenshire [6] [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal William McCombie 2,401 88.0 N/A
Conservative Edward Ross [7] 32612.0New
Majority2,07576.0N/A
Turnout 2,72769.0N/A
Registered electors 3,954
Liberal hold Swing

McCombie resigned, causing a by-election.

By-election 1876: West Aberdeenshire [6] [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Douglas Gordon 2,343 74.2 −13.8
Conservative Col. Thomas Innes of Learney81325.8+13.8
Majority1,53048.4−27.6
Turnout 3,15680.9+11.9
Registered electors 3,899
Liberal hold Swing -13.8

Elections in the 1880s

1880 general election: Aberdeenshire Western [8] [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Robert Farquharson 2,390 69.6 −18.4
Conservative William Forbes 1,04230.4+18.4
Majority1,34839.2−36.8
Turnout 3,43282.6+13.6
Registered electors 4,155
Liberal hold Swing -18.4
1885 general election: Aberdeenshire Western [9] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Robert Farquharson 4,248 54.6 15.0
Conservative Francis Hugh Irvine, jun.2,01025.84.6
Scottish Farmers' AllianceQuintin Kerr1,53019.6New
Majority2,23828.810.4
Turnout 7,78876.85.8
Registered electors 10,144
Liberal hold Swing 5.3
1886 general election: Aberdeenshire Western [9] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Robert Farquharson 3,854 69.9 +15.3
Conservative Francis Hugh Irvine, jun.1,65730.1+4.3
Majority2,19739.8+11.0
Turnout 5,51154.3−22.5
Registered electors 10,144
Liberal hold Swing +5.5

Elections in the 1890s

1892 general election: Aberdeenshire Western [11] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Robert Farquharson 3,720 50.5 −19.4
Conservative Arthur Henry Grant3,64049.5+19.4
Majority801.0−38.8
Turnout 7,36073.4+19.1
Registered electors 10,027
Liberal hold Swing -19.4
1895 general election: Aberdeenshire Western [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Robert Farquharson 4,187 51.3 +0.8
Conservative Arthur Henry Grant3,96748.7−0.8
Majority2202.6+1.6
Turnout 8,15479.9+6.5
Registered electors 10,208
Liberal hold Swing +0.8

Elections in the 1900s

1900 general election: Aberdeenshire Western [12] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Robert Farquharson 4,352 57.5 +6.2
Conservative Arthur Henry Grant3,21342.56.2
Majority1,13915.0+12.4
Turnout 7,56571.08.9
Registered electors 10,656
Liberal hold Swing +6.2
Henderson John M. Henderson.jpg
Henderson
1906 general election: Aberdeenshire Western [11] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal John Henderson 5,949 68.1 +10.6
Conservative Ronald McNeill 2,79131.910.6
Majority3,15836.2+21.2
Turnout 8,74081.7+10.7
Registered electors 10,704
Liberal hold Swing +10.6

Elections in the 1910s

January 1910 general election: Aberdeenshire Western [13] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal John Henderson 5,901 64.9 3.2
Unionist George Smith3,19435.1+3.2
Majority2,70729.8−6.4
Turnout 9,09583.8+2.1
Registered electors 10,848
Liberal hold Swing 3.2
December 1910 general election: Aberdeenshire Western [13] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal John Henderson 5,415 62.6 −2.3
Unionist George Smith3,23237.4+2.3
Majority2,18325.24.6
Turnout 8,64779.2−4.6
Registered electors 10,914
Liberal hold Swing -2.3

Election results 1950-79

Elections in the 1950s

1950 general election: West Aberdeenshire [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Henry Spence 17,550 55.6
Labour Tom Oswald 7,29823.1
Liberal Ivor Davies 6,74021.3
Majority10,25232.5
Turnout 31,58880.8
Unionist win (new seat)
1951 general election: West Aberdeenshire
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Henry Spence 17,761 55.2 −0.4
Labour Norman Hogg 7,27822.6−0.5
Liberal Maitland Mackie 7,12822.2+0.9
Majority10,48332.6+0.1
Turnout 32,16778.3−2.5
Unionist hold Swing
1955 general election: West Aberdeenshire
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Henry Spence 20,216 59.1 +3.9
Labour Mary MacNeil9,28827.1+4.5
Liberal Ronnie Fraser 4,70513.8−8.4
Majority10,92831.9−0.7
Turnout 34,20972.6−5.7
Unionist hold Swing
1959 general election: West Aberdeenshire
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Forbes Hendry 22,937 68.5 +9.4
Labour William Kemp10,54231.5+4.4
Majority12,39537.0+5.1
Turnout 33,47972.1−0.5
Unionist hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

1964 general election: West Aberdeenshire
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Forbes Hendry 16,429 46.4 −21.9
Liberal James Davidson 11,75433.2New
Labour Kenneth A Munro7,20320.4−11.1
Majority4,67513.2−23.8
Turnout 35,386
Unionist hold Swing
1966 general election: West Aberdeenshire
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal James Davidson 15,151 43.2 +10.0
Conservative Forbes Hendry 13,95639.7−6.7
Labour John Henderson6,00817.1−3.3
Majority1,1953.5N/A
Turnout 35,11576.3
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +1.7

Elections in the 1970s

1970 general election: West Aberdeenshire
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Colin Mitchell 18,396 46.6 +6.9
Liberal Laura Grimond 12,84732.5−10.7
Labour Walter William Hay6,14115.5−1.6
SNP John Gerard McKinlay2,1125.3New
Majority5,54914.1N/A
Turnout 39,49675.0−1.3
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +4.5
February 1974 general election: Aberdeenshire West [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Russell Fairgrieve 17,256 38.9 −7.7
Liberal David C.P. Gracie15,61635.2+2.7
SNP Nicol Suttar6,82715.4+10.1
Labour C. William Ellis4,66110.5−5.0
Majority1,6403.7−10.4
Turnout 51,57381.1+6.1
Conservative hold Swing
October 1974 general election: Aberdeenshire West [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Russell Fairgrieve 15,111 35.7 −3.2
Liberal David C.P. Gracie12,64329.9−5.3
SNP Nicol Suttar9,40922.2+6.8
Labour C. William Ellis5,18512.2+1.7
Majority2,4685.8+2.1
Turnout 51,57376.5−4.6
Conservative hold Swing
1979 general election: Aberdeenshire West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Russell Fairgrieve 21,086 40.9 +5.2
Liberal Malcolm Bruce 18,32035.5+5.6
Labour George Grant7,90715.3+3.1
SNP John Hulbert4,2608.3−13.9
Majority2,7665.4−0.4
Turnout 51,57375.9−0.6
Conservative hold Swing

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberdeenshire</span> Council area of Scotland

Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kincardineshire</span> Historic county in Scotland

Kincardineshire or the County of Kincardine, also known as the Mearns, is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area on the coast of northeast Scotland. It is bounded by Aberdeenshire on the north and west, and by Angus on the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grampian</span> Former local government region of Scotland

Grampian was one of nine former local government regions of Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and abolished in 1996 by the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994. The region took its name from the Grampian Mountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon (district)</span>

Gordon was formerly one of five local government districts in the Grampian region of Scotland between 1975 and 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberdeenshire (historic)</span> Historic county in Scotland

Aberdeenshire or the County of Aberdeen is a historic county and registration county of Scotland. The area of the county, excluding the Aberdeen City council area itself, is also a lieutenancy area. The county borders Kincardineshire, Angus and Perthshire to the south, Inverness-shire and Banffshire to the west, and the North Sea to the north and east. It has a coast-line of 65 miles (105 km). The county gives its name to the modern Aberdeenshire council area, which covers a larger area than the historic county.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberdeen South (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885 onwards

Aberdeen South is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post system of election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberdeen North (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885 onwards

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. The seat has been held by Kirsty Blackman of the Scottish National Party since 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1997 onwards

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine is a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Westminster), which elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. It was first used in the 1997 general election, but has undergone boundary changes since that date. West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine was re-created as a parliamentary constituency in 1997, having previously existed as Kincardine and Western Aberdeenshire from 1918 to 1950.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983 onwards

Gordon was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (Westminster), which elected one member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. The constituency was first contested at the 1983 UK general election; and underwent boundary throughout its existence.

Elgin Burghs was a district of burghs constituency of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918. Until 1832, when Peterhead was added, the constituency comprised the parliamentary burghs of Elgin, Cullen, Banff, Inverurie and Kintore, lying in Elginshire, Banffshire and Aberdeenshire.

Aberdeenshire was a Scottish county 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 until 1868.

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

Perth was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1918, 1918 to 1950, and 1997 to 2005. From 1832 to 1918 it was a burgh constituency. From 1918 to 1950, and 1997 to 2005, it was a county constituency. During each of the three periods it elected one Member of Parliament (MP).

Aberdeen and Kincardine Central, also known as Central Aberdeenshire, was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until 1950. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

EastAberdeenshire 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.

Kincardineshire was a 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. It was represented by one Member of Parliament (MP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garioch</span>

Garioch is one of six committee areas in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It has a population of 46,254, which gives it the largest population of Aberdeenshire's six committee areas. The Garioch consists primarily of the district drained by the River Ury and its tributaries the Shevock and the Gadie Burn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scottish Westminster constituencies</span> Scottish constituencies of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain

Scottish Westminster constituencies were Scottish constituencies of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain, normally at the Palace of Westminster, from 1708 to 1801, and have been constituencies of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, also at Westminster, since 1801. Constituency boundaries have changed on various occasions, and are now subject to both periodical and ad hoc reviews of the Boundary Commission for Scotland.

WestPerthshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 1918. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post voting system.

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

Aberdeenshire West is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering part of the council area of Aberdeenshire. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post method of election. Also, however, it is one of ten constituencies in the North East Scotland electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to ten constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.

Aberdeen and Kincardine East was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1950. The constituency elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

References

  1. "'Aberdeenshire West', Feb 1974 – May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  2. 1 2 Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972 ( ISBN   0-900178-09-4), F. W. S. Craig 1972
  3. 1 2 Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 1)
  4. Debrett's House of Commons, 1870
  5. 1 2 3 4 Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN   978-1-349-02349-3.
  6. 1 2 The Times, 11 May 1876
  7. "West Aberdeenshire Election Result" . Royal Cornwall Gazette . 13 May 1876. p. 5. Retrieved 27 December 2017 via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. The Times, 29 April 1880
  9. 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1889
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN   9781349022984.
  11. 1 2 Whitaker's Almanack, 1893
  12. 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1901
  13. 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916
  14. "UK General Election results February 1950". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018.
  15. 1 2 Whitaker's Almanack, 1977