West Aberdeenshire (UK Parliament constituency)

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.

West Aberdeenshire
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
Subdivisions of ScotlandAberdeenshire
1950–1983
Number of membersOne
Replaced byGordon, Kincardine & Deeside and Aberdeen North[1]
Created fromWest Aberdeenshire & Kincardineshire
Central Aberdeenshire & Kincardineshire
1868–1918
Number of membersOne
Type of constituencyCounty constituency
Replaced byWest Aberdeenshire & Kincardineshire
Central Aberdeenshire & Kincardineshire
Created fromAberdeenshire
Aberdeen

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

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 city of Aberdeen (a county of city) 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 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.

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 city of Aberdeen. West Aberdeenshire and East Aberdeenshire were entirely within the county, and Aberdeen North and Aberdeen South were entirely within the city. 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
Election Member[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
Election Member[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]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William McCombie Unopposed
Registered electors 4,081
Liberal win (new seat)

Elections in the 1870s
1874 general election: West Aberdeenshire[6][5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William McCombie 2,401 88.0 N/A
Conservative Edward Ross[7] 326 12.0 New
Majority 2,075 76.0 N/A
Turnout 2,727 69.0 N/A
Registered electors 3,954
Liberal hold Swing

McCombie resigned, causing a by-election.

By-election 1876: West Aberdeenshire[6][5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Douglas Gordon 2,343 74.2 -13.8
Conservative Col. Thomas Innes of Learney 813 25.8 +13.8
Majority 1,530 48.4 -27.6
Turnout 3,156 80.9 +11.9
Registered electors 3,899
Liberal hold Swing -13.8

Elections in the 1880s
1880 general election: Aberdeenshire Western [8][5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Farquharson 2,390 69.6 -18.4
Conservative William Forbes 1,042 30.4 +18.4
Majority 1,348 39.2 -36.8
Turnout 3,432 82.6 +13.6
Registered electors 4,155
Liberal hold Swing -18.4
1885 general election: Aberdeenshire Western [9][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Farquharson 4,248 54.6 −15.0
Conservative Francis Hugh Irvine, jun. 2,010 25.8 −4.6
Scottish Farmers' Alliance Quintin Kerr 1,530 19.6 New
Majority 2,238 28.8 −10.4
Turnout 7,788 76.8 −5.8
Registered electors 10,144
Liberal hold Swing −5.3
1886 general election: Aberdeenshire Western[9][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Farquharson 3,854 69.9 +15.3
Conservative Francis Hugh Irvine, jun. 1,657 30.1 +4.3
Majority 2,197 39.8 +11.0
Turnout 5,511 54.3 -22.5
Registered electors 10,144
Liberal hold Swing +5.5

Elections in the 1890s
1892 general election: Aberdeenshire Western [11][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Farquharson 3,720 50.5 -19.4
Conservative Arthur Henry Grant 3,640 49.5 +19.4
Majority 80 1.0 -38.8
Turnout 7,360 73.4 +19.1
Registered electors 10,027
Liberal hold Swing -19.4
1895 general election: Aberdeenshire Western [12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Farquharson 4,187 51.3 +0.8
Conservative Arthur Henry Grant 3,967 48.7 -0.8
Majority 220 2.6 +1.6
Turnout 8,154 79.9 +6.5
Registered electors 10,208
Liberal hold Swing +0.8

Elections in the 1900s
1900 general election: Aberdeenshire Western [12][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Farquharson 4,352 57.5 +6.2
Conservative Arthur Henry Grant 3,213 42.5 −6.2
Majority 1,139 15.0 +12.4
Turnout 7,565 71.0 −8.9
Registered electors 10,656
Liberal hold Swing +6.2
Henderson
1906 general election: Aberdeenshire Western [11][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Henderson 5,949 68.1 +10.6
Conservative Ronald McNeill 2,791 31.9 −10.6
Majority 3,158 36.2 +21.2
Turnout 8,740 81.7 +10.7
Registered electors 10,704
Liberal hold Swing +10.6

Elections in the 1910s
January 1910 general election: Aberdeenshire Western [13][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Henderson 5,901 64.9 −3.2
Unionist George Smith 3,194 35.1 +3.2
Majority 2,707 29.8 -6.4
Turnout 9,095 83.8 +2.1
Registered electors 10,848
Liberal hold Swing −3.2
December 1910 general election: Aberdeenshire Western [13][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Henderson 5,415 62.6 -2.3
Unionist George Smith 3,232 37.4 +2.3
Majority 2,183 25.2 −4.6
Turnout 8,647 79.2 -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]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Henry Spence 17,550 55.6
Labour Tom Oswald 7,298 23.1
Liberal Ivor Davies 6,740 21.3
Majority 10,252 32.5
Turnout 31,588 80.8
Unionist win (new seat)
1951 general election: West Aberdeenshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Henry Spence 17,761 55.2 -0.4
Labour Norman Hogg 7,278 22.6 -0.5
Liberal Maitland Mackie 7,128 22.2 +0.9
Majority 10,483 32.6 +0.1
Turnout 32,167 78.3 -2.5
Unionist hold Swing
1955 general election: West Aberdeenshire[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Henry Spence 20,216 59.1 +3.9
Labour Mary MacNeil 9,288 27.1 +4.5
Liberal Ronnie Fraser 4,705 13.8 -8.4
Majority 10,928 31.9 -0.7
Turnout 34,209 72.6 -5.7
Unionist hold Swing
1959 general election: West Aberdeenshire[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Forbes Hendry 22,937 68.5 +9.4
Labour William Kemp 10,542 31.5 +4.4
Majority 12,395 37.0 +5.1
Turnout 33,479 72.1 -0.5
Unionist hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s
1964 general election: West Aberdeenshire[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Forbes Hendry 16,429 46.4 -21.9
Liberal James Davidson 11,754 33.2 New
Labour Kenneth A Munro 7,203 20.4 -11.1
Majority 4,675 13.2 -23.8
Turnout 35,386
Unionist hold Swing
1966 general election: West Aberdeenshire[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Davidson 15,151 43.2 +10.0
Conservative Forbes Hendry 13,956 39.7 -6.7
Labour John Henderson 6,008 17.1 -3.3
Majority 1,195 3.5 N/A
Turnout 35,115 76.3
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +1.7

Elections in the 1970s
1970 general election: West Aberdeenshire[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Colin Mitchell 18,396 46.6 +6.9
Liberal Laura Grimond 12,847 32.5 −10.7
Labour Walter William Hay 6,141 15.5 −1.6
SNP John Gerard McKinlay 2,112 5.3 New
Majority 5,549 14.1 N/A
Turnout 39,496 75.0 -1.3
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +4.5
February 1974 general election: Aberdeenshire West [21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Russell Fairgrieve 17,256 38.9 −7.7
Liberal David C.P. Gracie 15,616 35.2 +2.7
SNP Nicol Suttar 6,827 15.4 +10.1
Labour C. William Ellis 4,661 10.5 −5.0
Majority 1,640 3.7 -10.4
Turnout 51,573 81.1 +6.1
Conservative hold Swing
October 1974 general election: Aberdeenshire West [21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Russell Fairgrieve 15,111 35.7 −3.2
Liberal David C.P. Gracie 12,643 29.9 −5.3
SNP Nicol Suttar 9,409 22.2 +6.8
Labour C. William Ellis 5,185 12.2 +1.7
Majority 2,468 5.8 +2.1
Turnout 51,573 76.5 -4.6
Conservative hold Swing
1979 general election: Aberdeenshire West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Russell Fairgrieve 21,086 40.9 +5.2
Liberal Malcolm Bruce 18,320 35.5 +5.6
Labour George Grant 7,907 15.3 +3.1
SNP John Hulbert 4,260 8.3 −13.9
Majority 2,766 5.4 −0.4
Turnout 51,573 75.9 −0.6
Conservative hold Swing

See also
  • Former United Kingdom Parliament constituencies

References
  1. "'Aberdeenshire West', Feb 1974 - May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  2. Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972 (ISBN 0-900178-09-4), F. W. S. Craig 1972
  3. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 1)
  4. Debrett's House of Commons, 1870
  5. Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) |format= requires |url= (help) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  6. 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. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1889
  10. Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
  11. Whitaker's Almanack, 1893
  12. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1901
  13. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916
  14. http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge50/i01.htm
  15. http://tools.assembla.com/svn/grodt/uk/thc/files/003062410_1951/edited/1951_preformated_bios.txt
  16. http://tools.assembla.com/svn/grodt/uk/thc/files/003062410_1955/edited/1955_preformated_bios.txt
  17. http://tools.assembla.com/svn/grodt/uk/thc/files/003062410_1959/edited/1959_preformated_bios.txt
  18. http://tools.assembla.com/svn/grodt/uk/thc/files/003062410_1964/edited/1964_preformated_bios.txt
  19. http://tools.assembla.com/svn/grodt/uk/thc/files/003062410_1966/edited/1966_preformated_bios.txt
  20. http://tools.assembla.com/svn/grodt/uk/thc/files/all_1970.txt
  21. Whitaker's Almanack, 1977
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