Edinburgh Central (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Edinburgh Central
Former Burgh constituency
for the House of Commons
EdinburghCentral1997Constituency.svg
Boundary of Edinburgh Central in Scotlandfor the 2001 general election
Subdivisions of Scotland City of Edinburgh
18852005
SeatsOne
Created from Edinburgh
Replaced by Edinburgh East
Edinburgh North & Leith
Edinburgh South West
Edinburgh West

Edinburgh Central was a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (at Westminster) from 1885 to 2005. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Contents

In 1999, a Scottish Parliament constituency was created with the same name and boundaries, and continues in use. See Edinburgh Central (Scottish Parliament constituency) .

From 1925 until 1999, the Member of Parliament for the Westminster constituency was an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees of the National Library of Scotland. Since 1999, that role has been taken by the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Scottish Parliament constituency.

Boundaries

1885–1918: The Municipal Wards of St. Giles, George Square, and St. Leonard, except so much as is comprised in the Edinburgh East Division (being the part to the north of a line drawn along the centres of East and West Richmond Streets).

1918–1950: The George Square, St. Giles' and St. Leonard's Municipal Wards of Edinburgh.

1950–1955: The George Square, Holyrood, and St Giles wards of the county of the city of Edinburgh.

1955–1974: The George Square, Holyrood, and St Giles wards of the county of the city of Edinburgh; and part of Gorgie-Dalry ward.

1974–1983: The George Square, Gorgie-Dalry, Holyrood, and St Giles wards of the county of the city of Edinburgh; and part of Merchiston ward.

1983–1997: The City of Edinburgh District electoral divisions of Dalry/Shandon, Haymarket/Tollcross, Murrayfield/Dean, New Town/Stockbridge, and St Giles/Holyrood.

1997–2005: The City of Edinburgh District electoral divisions of Dalry/Shandon, Fountainbridge/Tollcross, Moat/Stenhouse, Murrayfield/Dean, and St Giles/Holyrood.

The 1997–2005 boundaries covered a central portion of the City of Edinburgh council area, including Edinburgh Old Town, the West End, Holyrood and Murrayfield. The constituency was one of six covering the city council area.

At the 2005 general election, the constituency area was divided between Edinburgh East, Edinburgh North and Leith, Edinburgh South West and Edinburgh West. [1]

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember [2] Party
1885 John Wilson Independent Liberal
1886 William McEwan Liberal
1900 George Mackenzie Brown Liberal
1906 Charles Edward Price Liberal
1918 William Graham Labour
1931 James Guy Unionist
1941 by-election Frank Watt Unionist
1945 Andrew Gilzean Labour
1951 Thomas Oswald Labour
Feb. 1974 Robin Cook Labour
1983 Alex Fletcher Conservative
1987 Alistair Darling Labour

Elections

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1885: Edinburgh Central [3] [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Liberal John Wilson 2,930 41.9
Liberal James Hall Renton1,68324.1
Conservative John Scott Napier1,60623.0
Independent Liberal Adam William Black77011.0
Majority1,24717.8
Turnout 6,98984.5
Registered electors 8,269
Independent Liberal win (new seat)
McEwan William McEwan.jpg
McEwan
General election 1886: Edinburgh Central [3] [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal William McEwan 3,760 62.7 +38.6
Liberal Unionist John Wilson 2,23637.3-4.6
Majority1,52425.4N/A
Turnout 5,99672.5-12.0
Registered electors 8,269
Liberal gain from Independent Liberal Swing +21.6

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Edinburgh Central [5] [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal William McEwan 3,733 63.0 +0.3
Liberal Unionist Arthur Knatchbull Connell1,75829.7-7.6
Scottish Trades Councils (Scottish Socialist Federation)John Wilson4347.3New
Majority1,97533.3+7.9
Turnout 5,92576.7+4.2
Registered electors 7,725
Liberal hold Swing +4.0

Note:The John Wilson who stood as a candidate in 1892 is not the same John Wilson that stood in 1885 and 1886 [6] [7]

General election 1895: Edinburgh Central [8] [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal William McEwan Unopposed
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1900s

Brown George Mackenzie Brown.jpg
Brown
Conan Doyle Conan doyle.jpg
Conan Doyle
General election 1900: Edinburgh Central [8] [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal George Mackenzie Brown 3,028 55.2 N/A
Liberal Unionist Arthur Conan Doyle 2,45944.8New
Majority56910.4N/A
Turnout 5,48771.9N/A
Registered electors 7,630
Liberal hold Swing N/A
Price Charles Edward Price MP.jpg
Price
General election 1906: Edinburgh Central [9] [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Charles Price 3,935 67.9 +12.7
Liberal Unionist J. Douglas G. Walker1,85732.1-12.7
Majority2,07835.8+25.4
Turnout 5,79283.6+11.7
Registered electors 6,926
Liberal hold Swing +12.7

Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Edinburgh Central [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Charles Price 3,965 66.7 -1.2
Liberal Unionist David A. Scott1,98033.3+1.2
Majority1,98533.4-2.4
Turnout 5,94584.9+1.3
Liberal hold Swing -1.2
General election December 1910: Edinburgh Central [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Charles Price 3,771 65.9 -0.8
Conservative Geoffrey Reynolds Yonge Radcliffe1,94734.1+0.8
Majority1,82431.8-1.6
Turnout 5,71881.4-3.5
Liberal hold Swing -0.8

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 the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

General election 1918: Edinburgh Central [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour William Graham 7,161 51.3 New
C Liberal Joseph Dobbie 6,79748.717.2
Majority3642.6N/A
Turnout 13,95845.236.2
Registered electors 30,867
Labour gain from Liberal Swing N/A
Cindicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Edinburgh Central [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour William Graham 12,876 57.9 +6.6
National Liberal George McCrae 9,37142.16.6
Majority3,50515.8+13.2
Turnout 22,24771.8+26.6
Registered electors 30,970
Labour hold Swing +6.6
General election 1923: Edinburgh Central [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour William Graham 13,186 67.9 +10.0
Liberal Thomas Lamb6,22532.110.0
Majority6,96135.8+20.0
Turnout 19,41159.712.1
Registered electors 32,492
Labour hold Swing +10.0
General election 1924: Edinburgh Central [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour William Graham 13,628 60.5 7.4
Unionist Allan Beaton8,89739.5New
Majority4,73121.0-14.8
Turnout 22,52568.8+9.1
Registered electors 32,744
Labour hold Swing N/A
General election 1929: Edinburgh Central [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour William Graham 16,762 59.0 1.5
Liberal Harold Alexander6,74523.8New
Unionist John Mackie 4,88917.222.3
Majority10,01735.2+14.2
Turnout 28,39669.3+0.5
Registered electors 40,975
Labour hold Swing +10.4

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Edinburgh Central [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist James Guy 17,293 59.3 +42.1
Labour William Graham 10,56636.2-22.8
Communist Fred Douglas1,3194.5New
Majority6,72723.1New
Turnout 29,17874.2+4.9
Unionist gain from Labour Swing +29.1
General election 1935: Edinburgh Central [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist James Guy 12,612 54.0 -5.3
Labour Andrew Gilzean 9,65941.4+5.2
Liberal Richard Archibald Barlow1,0864.6New
Majority2,95312.6-11.5
Turnout 23,35764.5-9.7
Unionist hold Swing -5.2

General Election 1939–40:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;

Elections in the 1940s

1941 Edinburgh Central by-election [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Frank Watt 4,771 71.0 +17.0
Ind. Labour Party Thomas Taylor 1,95029.0New
Majority2,82142.0+29.4
Turnout 6,72120.0-44.5
Unionist hold Swing N/A
General election 1945: Edinburgh Central [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Andrew Gilzean 10,921 54.3 +12.9
Unionist Frank Watt 6,70133.320.7
Liberal Norman Archibald Donald2,26211.2+6.6
Independent Scottish NationalistHume Sleigh2321.2New
Majority4,22021.0N/A
Turnout 20,11659.7-4.8
Labour gain from Unionist Swing +16.8

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Andrew Gilzean 16,568 47.92 -6.4
Unionist Frank Watt 13,63139.43+6.1
Liberal Leonard Gellatly3,4469.97-1.2
Communist Donald Fraser Renton6461.87New
Independent Scottish NationalistHume Sleigh2830.82-0.4
Majority2,9378.49-12.5
Turnout 34,57474.33+14.6
Labour hold Swing -6.2
General election 1951: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Thomas Oswald 18,429 52.24 +4.32
Unionist William J M Kean16,84747.76+8.33
Majority1,5824.48-4.01
Turnout 35,27676.7+2.37
Labour hold Swing -2.01
General election 1955: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Thomas Oswald 16,735 51.44 -0.8
Unionist Ralph Harris 15,79648.56+0.8
Majority9392.88-1.6
Turnout 32,53168.85-7.85
Labour hold Swing -0.8
General election 1959: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Thomas Oswald 15,849 50.99 -0.45
Unionist Norman Wylie 15,23249.01+0.45
Majority6171.98-0.90
Turnout 31,08172.65+3.8
Labour hold Swing -0.45

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Thomas Oswald 14,124 53.9 +2.91
Unionist Nicholas Fairbairn 12,08246.1-2.91
Majority2,0427.8+5.82
Turnout 26,20671.62-1.03
Labour hold Swing +2.91
General election 1966: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Thomas Oswald 13,682 58.6 +4.7
Conservative Nicholas Fairbairn 9,66741.4-4.7
Majority4,01517.2+9.4
Turnout 23,34968.86-2.76
Labour hold Swing +4.7

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Thomas Oswald 9,561 46.16 -12.44
Conservative Malcolm Rifkind 8,00038.62+2.78
SNP Rena Moore1,6668.04New
Liberal Anthony Oliver1,4867.17New
Majority1,5617.54-9.66
Turnout 20,71366.002.86
Labour hold Swing -8.61
General election February 1974: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Robin Cook 11,354 37.85 -8.31
Conservative P Jones10,39334.64-3.98
Liberal Christopher Scott4,18013.93+6.76
SNP AW Stephen Rae4,07413.58+5.54
Majority9613.19-4.35
Turnout 30,00173.57+7.57
Labour hold Swing -2.17
General election October 1974: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Robin Cook 11,129 40.27 +2.42
Conservative P Jones7,17625.97-8.67
SNP AW Stephen Rae6,86624.85+11.27
Liberal Christopher Scott2,4638.91-5.02
Majority3,95314.3+11.11
Turnout 27,63467.47-6.1
Labour hold Swing +5.55
General election 1979: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Robin Cook 12,191 47.8 +7.5
Conservative David McLetchie 7,53029.5+3.5
Liberal Stewart Donaldson3,09612.1+3.2
SNP Gavin Kennedy2,4869.8-15.0
SLP Colin Boyd 1760.7New
Majority4,66118.3+4.0
Turnout 25,47967.50.0
Labour hold Swing +2.0

Elections in the 1980s

Although the Edinburgh Central seat had been won by the Labour Party in 1979, had that election been fought on the new boundaries it was estimated that the Conservatives would have won the seat by a majority of 1,971. [18]

General election 1983: Edinburgh Central [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Alexander Fletcher 14,095 38.0 -2.6
Labour Richard Kerley11,52931.1-4.7
SDP Dr Marion Macleod 9,49825.6+14.2
SNP Ronald Halliday1,8104.9-6.9
Communist D.W. Carson1190.3New
Majority2,5666.9-1.9
Turnout 37,05164.9
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1987: Edinburgh Central [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Alistair Darling 16,502 40.2 +9.1
Conservative Alexander Fletcher 14,24034.7-3.3
Liberal Andrew Myles7,33317.9-7.7
SNP Brian Shaw2,5596.2+1.3
Green Linda Hendry4381.1New
Majority2,2625.5N/A
Turnout 41,07269.0+4.1
Registered electors 59,529
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Edinburgh Central [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Alistair Darling 15,189 38.8 -1.4
Conservative Paul Martin13,06333.4-1.3
SNP Lynne J. Devine5,53914.2+8.0
Liberal Democrats Andrew B. Myles4,50011.5-6.4
Scottish Green Robin Harper 6301.6+0.5
Liberal Richard Wilson2350.6New
Majority2,1265.4-0.1
Turnout 39,15669.3+0.3
Registered electors 56,527
Labour hold Swing -0.1
Hyslop Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Culture and External Affairs (2).jpg
Hyslop
General election 1997: Edinburgh Central [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Alistair Darling 20,125 47.1 +8.3
Conservative Mike D.A. Scott-Hayward9,05521.2-12.2
SNP Fiona Hyslop 6,75015.8+1.6
Liberal Democrats Karen J. Utting5,60513.1+1.6
Scottish Green Linda Hendry6071.4-0.2
Referendum Austin G. Skinner4951.2New
Independent Mark E. Benson980.2New
Majority11,07025.9+20.5
Turnout 42,73566.8-2.5
Registered electors 63,969
Labour hold Swing +8.4

Elections in the 2000s

Darling AlistairDarlingABr cropped.jpg
Darling
General election 2001: Edinburgh Central [23] [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Alistair Darling 14,495 42.1 −5.0
Liberal Democrats Andrew B. Myles6,35318.5+5.4
Conservative Alastair Orr5,64316.4−4.8
SNP Ian McKee 4,83214.1−1.7
Scottish Green Graeme Farmer1,8095.3+3.9
Scottish Socialist Kevin Williamson1,2583.7New
Majority8,14223.6-2.3
Turnout 34,39052.0−14.8
Labour hold Swing −5.2

See also

Notes and references

  1. "Fifth Periodical Review". Boundary Commission for Scotland . Archived from the original on 9 October 2007.
  2. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "E" (part 1)
  3. 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons and Judicial Bench, 1889
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN   9781349022984.
  5. Whitaker's Almanack, 1893
  6. London Daily News, 1885-11-27
  7. The Late Mr John Wilson, Linlithgowshire Gazette, 1910-04-12
  8. 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1901
  9. Whitaker's Almanack, 1907
  10. 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916
  11. 1 2 3 Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN   0-900178-06-X.
  12. The Times, 8 December 1923
  13. Oliver and Boyd's Edinburgh Almanack, 1927
  14. Whitaker's Almanack, 1934
  15. Whitaker's Almanack, 1939
  16. Whitaker's Almanack, 1944
  17. Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN   0-900178-06-X.
  18. The Times Guide to the House of Commons June 1983. London: Times Newspapers Ltd. 1983. p. 279. ISBN   0-7230-0255-X.
  19. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. Vote 2001: Edinburgh Central, BBC News

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