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Edinburgh Central (UK Parliament constituency)

Not to be confused with Edinburgh Central (Scottish Parliament constituency).

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.

Edinburgh Central
Former Burgh constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Edinburgh Central in Scotland for the 2001 general election
Subdivisions of ScotlandCity of Edinburgh
1885–2005
SeatsOne
Created fromEdinburgh
Replaced byEdinburgh East
Edinburgh North & Leith
Edinburgh South West
Edinburgh West

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 edit

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 edit

ElectionMember[2]Party
1885John WilsonIndependent Liberal
1886William McEwanLiberal
1900George Mackenzie BrownLiberal
1906Charles Edward PriceLiberal
1918William GrahamLabour
1931James GuyUnionist
1941 by-electionFrank WattUnionist
1945Andrew GilzeanLabour
1951Thomas OswaldLabour
Feb. 1974Robin CookLabour
1983Alex FletcherConservative
1987Alistair DarlingLabour

Elections edit

Elections in the 1880s edit

General election 1885: Edinburgh Central[3][4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent LiberalJohn Wilson 2,930 41.9
LiberalJames Hall Renton1,68324.1
ConservativeJohn Scott Napier1,60623.0
Independent LiberalAdam William Black77011.0
Majority1,24717.8
Turnout6,98984.5
Registered electors8,269
Independent Liberal win (new seat)
McEwan
General election 1886: Edinburgh Central[3][4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalWilliam McEwan 3,760 62.7 +38.6
Liberal UnionistJohn Wilson2,23637.3-4.6
Majority1,52425.4N/A
Turnout5,99672.5-12.0
Registered electors8,269
Liberal gain from Independent LiberalSwing+21.6

Elections in the 1890s edit

General election 1892: Edinburgh Central[5][4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalWilliam McEwan 3,733 63.0 +0.3
Liberal UnionistArthur Knatchbull Connell1,75829.7-7.6
Scottish Trades Councils (Scottish Socialist Federation)John Wilson4347.3New
Majority1,97533.3+7.9
Turnout5,92576.7+4.2
Registered electors7,725
Liberal holdSwing+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%±%
LiberalWilliam McEwanUnopposed
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1900s edit

Brown
Conan Doyle
General election 1900: Edinburgh Central[8][4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalGeorge Mackenzie Brown 3,028 55.2 N/A
Liberal UnionistArthur Conan Doyle2,45944.8New
Majority56910.4N/A
Turnout5,48771.9N/A
Registered electors7,630
Liberal holdSwingN/A
Price
General election 1906: Edinburgh Central[9][4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalCharles Price 3,935 67.9 +12.7
Liberal UnionistJ. Douglas G. Walker1,85732.1-12.7
Majority2,07835.8+25.4
Turnout5,79283.6+11.7
Registered electors6,926
Liberal holdSwing+12.7

Elections in the 1910s edit

General election January 1910: Edinburgh Central[10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalCharles Price 3,965 66.7 -1.2
Liberal UnionistDavid A. Scott1,98033.3+1.2
Majority1,98533.4-2.4
Turnout5,94584.9+1.3
Liberal holdSwing-1.2
General election December 1910: Edinburgh Central[10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalCharles Price 3,771 65.9 -0.8
ConservativeGeoffrey Reynolds Yonge Radcliffe1,94734.1+0.8
Majority1,82431.8-1.6
Turnout5,71881.4-3.5
Liberal holdSwing-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%±%
LabourWilliam Graham 7,161 51.3 New
CLiberalJoseph Dobbie6,79748.7−17.2
Majority3642.6N/A
Turnout13,95845.2−36.2
Registered electors30,867
Labour gain from LiberalSwingN/A
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1920s edit

General election 1922: Edinburgh Central[11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourWilliam Graham 12,876 57.9 +6.6
National LiberalGeorge McCrae9,37142.1−6.6
Majority3,50515.8+13.2
Turnout22,24771.8+26.6
Registered electors30,970
Labour holdSwing+6.6
General election 1923: Edinburgh Central[12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourWilliam Graham 13,186 67.9 +10.0
LiberalThomas Lamb6,22532.1−10.0
Majority6,96135.8+20.0
Turnout19,41159.7−12.1
Registered electors32,492
Labour holdSwing+10.0
General election 1924: Edinburgh Central[13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourWilliam Graham 13,628 60.5 −7.4
UnionistAllan Beaton8,89739.5New
Majority4,73121.0-14.8
Turnout22,52568.8+9.1
Registered electors32,744
Labour holdSwingN/A
General election 1929: Edinburgh Central[11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourWilliam Graham 16,762 59.0 −1.5
LiberalHarold Alexander6,74523.8New
UnionistJohn Mackie4,88917.2−22.3
Majority10,01735.2+14.2
Turnout28,39669.3+0.5
Registered electors40,975
Labour holdSwing+10.4

Elections in the 1930s edit

General election 1931: Edinburgh Central[14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
UnionistJames Guy 17,293 59.3 +42.1
LabourWilliam Graham10,56636.2-22.8
CommunistFred Douglas1,3194.5New
Majority6,72723.1New
Turnout29,17874.2+4.9
Unionist gain from LabourSwing+29.1
General election 1935: Edinburgh Central[15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
UnionistJames Guy 12,612 54.0 -5.3
LabourAndrew Gilzean9,65941.4+5.2
LiberalRichard Archibald Barlow1,0864.6New
Majority2,95312.6-11.5
Turnout23,35764.5-9.7
Unionist holdSwing-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 edit

1941 Edinburgh Central by-election[16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
UnionistFrank Watt 4,771 71.0 +17.0
Ind. Labour PartyThomas Taylor1,95029.0New
Majority2,82142.0+29.4
Turnout6,72120.0-44.5
Unionist holdSwingN/A
General election 1945: Edinburgh Central[17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourAndrew Gilzean 10,921 54.3 +12.9
UnionistFrank Watt6,70133.3−20.7
LiberalNorman Archibald Donald2,26211.2+6.6
Independent Scottish NationalistHume Sleigh2321.2New
Majority4,22021.0N/A
Turnout20,11659.7-4.8
Labour gain from UnionistSwing+16.8

Elections in the 1950s edit

General election 1950: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourAndrew Gilzean 16,568 47.92 -6.4
UnionistFrank Watt13,63139.43+6.1
LiberalLeonard Gellatly3,4469.97-1.2
CommunistDonald Fraser Renton6461.87New
Independent Scottish NationalistHume Sleigh2830.82-0.4
Majority2,9378.49-12.5
Turnout34,57474.33+14.6
Labour holdSwing-6.2
General election 1951: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourThomas Oswald 18,429 52.24 +4.32
UnionistWilliam J M Kean16,84747.76+8.33
Majority1,5824.48-4.01
Turnout35,27676.7+2.37
Labour holdSwing-2.01
General election 1955: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourThomas Oswald 16,735 51.44 -0.8
UnionistRalph Harris15,79648.56+0.8
Majority9392.88-1.6
Turnout32,53168.85-7.85
Labour holdSwing-0.8
General election 1959: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourThomas Oswald 15,849 50.99 -0.45
UnionistNorman Wylie15,23249.01+0.45
Majority6171.98-0.90
Turnout31,08172.65+3.8
Labour holdSwing-0.45

Elections in the 1960s edit

General election 1964: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourThomas Oswald 14,124 53.9 +2.91
UnionistNicholas Fairbairn12,08246.1-2.91
Majority2,0427.8+5.82
Turnout26,20671.62-1.03
Labour holdSwing+2.91
General election 1966: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourThomas Oswald 13,682 58.6 +4.7
ConservativeNicholas Fairbairn9,66741.4-4.7
Majority4,01517.2+9.4
Turnout23,34968.86-2.76
Labour holdSwing+4.7

Elections in the 1970s edit

General election 1970: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourThomas Oswald 9,561 46.16 -12.44
ConservativeMalcolm Rifkind8,00038.62+2.78
SNPRena Moore1,6668.04New
LiberalAnthony Oliver1,4867.17New
Majority1,5617.54-9.66
Turnout20,71366.002.86
Labour holdSwing-8.61
General election February 1974: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourRobin Cook 11,354 37.85 -8.31
ConservativeP Jones10,39334.64-3.98
LiberalChristopher Scott4,18013.93+6.76
SNPAW Stephen Rae4,07413.58+5.54
Majority9613.19-4.35
Turnout30,00173.57+7.57
Labour holdSwing-2.17
General election October 1974: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourRobin Cook 11,129 40.27 +2.42
ConservativeP Jones7,17625.97-8.67
SNPAW Stephen Rae6,86624.85+11.27
LiberalChristopher Scott2,4638.91-5.02
Majority3,95314.3+11.11
Turnout27,63467.47-6.1
Labour holdSwing+5.55
General election 1979: Edinburgh Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourRobin Cook 12,191 47.8 +7.5
ConservativeDavid McLetchie7,53029.5+3.5
LiberalStewart Donaldson3,09612.1+3.2
SNPGavin Kennedy2,4869.8-15.0
SLPColin Boyd1760.7New
Majority4,66118.3+4.0
Turnout25,47967.50.0
Labour holdSwing+2.0

Elections in the 1980s edit

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%±%
ConservativeAlexander Fletcher 14,095 38.0 -2.6
LabourRichard Kerley11,52931.1-4.7
SDPDr Marion Macleod9,49825.6+14.2
SNPRonald Halliday1,8104.9-6.9
CommunistD.W. Carson1190.3New
Majority2,5666.9-1.9
Turnout37,05164.9
Conservative holdSwing
General election 1987: Edinburgh Central[20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourAlistair Darling 16,502 40.2 +9.1
ConservativeAlexander Fletcher14,24034.7-3.3
LiberalAndrew Myles7,33317.9-7.7
SNPBrian Shaw2,5596.2+1.3
GreenLinda Hendry4381.1New
Majority2,2625.5N/A
Turnout41,07269.0+4.1
Registered electors59,529
Labour gain from ConservativeSwing

Elections in the 1990s edit

General election 1992: Edinburgh Central[21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourAlistair Darling 15,189 38.8 -1.4
ConservativePaul Martin13,06333.4-1.3
SNPLynne J. Devine5,53914.2+8.0
Liberal DemocratsAndrew B. Myles4,50011.5-6.4
Scottish GreenRobin Harper6301.6+0.5
LiberalRichard Wilson2350.6New
Majority2,1265.4-0.1
Turnout39,15669.3+0.3
Registered electors56,527
Labour holdSwing-0.1
Hyslop
General election 1997: Edinburgh Central[22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourAlistair Darling 20,125 47.1 +8.3
ConservativeMike D.A. Scott-Hayward9,05521.2-12.2
SNPFiona Hyslop6,75015.8+1.6
Liberal DemocratsKaren J. Utting5,60513.1+1.6
Scottish GreenLinda Hendry6071.4-0.2
ReferendumAustin G. Skinner4951.2New
IndependentMark E. Benson980.2New
Majority11,07025.9+20.5
Turnout42,73566.8-2.5
Registered electors63,969
Labour holdSwing+8.4

Elections in the 2000s edit

Darling
General election 2001: Edinburgh Central[23][24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourAlistair Darling 14,495 42.1 −5.0
Liberal DemocratsAndrew B. Myles6,35318.5+5.4
ConservativeAlastair Orr5,64316.4−4.8
SNPIan McKee4,83214.1−1.7
Scottish GreenGraeme Farmer1,8095.3+3.9
Scottish SocialistKevin Williamson1,2583.7New
Majority8,14223.6-2.3
Turnout34,39052.0−14.8
Labour holdSwing−5.2

See also edit

Notes and references edit

  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. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons and Judicial Bench, 1889
  4. ^ a b c d e f 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. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1901
  9. ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1907
  10. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916
  11. ^ a b c 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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