Edinburgh East (UK Parliament constituency)

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Edinburgh East
Burgh constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Edinburgh East in Scotland
Subdivisions of ScotlandCity of Edinburgh
Major settlementsBrunstane, Newcraighall, Duddingston, Portobello, Joppa, Craigmillar
Current constituency
Created2005
Member of ParliamentTommy Sheppard (SNP)
Number of membersOne
Created fromEdinburgh East & Musselburgh
Edinburgh Central
Edinburgh South
1885–1997
Number of membersOne
Type of constituencyBurgh constituency
Created fromEdinburgh

Edinburgh East is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

In present form, the constituency was first used at the 2005 general election, but there was also an Edinburgh East constituency in existence from 1885 to 1997.

Boundaries[]

Edinburgh East is now one of five constituencies covering the City of Edinburgh council area. All are entirely within the city council area. Prior to the 2005 general election, the city area was covered by six constituencies, with one straddling a boundary with another council area.

The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 provided that the constituency was to consist of the Municipal Wards of Broughton, Calton, and Canongate, and so much of St. Leonard's Ward as lies to the north of a line drawn along the centres of East and West Richmond Streets.[1]

In 1918 the constituency consisted of the "Burgh of Musselburgh and the Canongate and Portobello Municipal Wards of Edinburgh."

The Edinburgh East constituency, as defined in 2005, consists of areas formerly within the constituencies of Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, Edinburgh Central and Edinburgh South.[2] It is largely a replacement for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh. Scottish Parliament constituencies retain the names and boundaries of the older Westminster constituencies.

As implied by the name, Edinburgh East covers an eastern portion of the City of Edinburgh, although it extends well into the city centre. It includes the areas of Craigmillar, Duddingston, Holyrood, Leith Links, Meadowbank, , Mountcastle, Portobello, Prestonfield, Restalrig, Southside and Tollcross.

The constituency is predominantly urban.

The constituency of the 1885 to 1997 period was created when the Edinburgh constituency was abolished, in favour of four new constituencies: Edinburgh East, Edinburgh Central, Edinburgh South and Edinburgh West. Edinburgh Central was abolished in 2005. The South and West constituencies continue in use, with altered boundaries.

Constituency profile[]

The constituency is home to some of the Scottish capital's most notable tourist attractions, including Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, the Royal Mile, St Giles' Cathedral and the Scottish Parliament building. The constituency also houses the University of Edinburgh and has a significant student population. Towards the south and east it also includes some of Edinburgh's more deprived areas such as the Craigmillar housing estate.

Members of Parliament[]

1885 to 1997[]

Election Member[3] Party
1885 George Goschen Independent Liberal
1886 Liberal Unionist
1886 Robert Wallace Liberal
1899 by-election Sir George McCrae Liberal
1909 by-election Sir James Gibson, Bt Liberal
1912 by-election James Myles Hogge Liberal
1924 Thomas Drummond Shiels Labour
1931 David Marshall Mason Liberal
1935 Frederick Pethick-Lawrence Labour
1945 by-election George Reid Thomson Labour
1947 by-election John Wheatley Labour
1954 by-election George Willis Labour
1970 Gavin Strang Labour
1997 constituency abolished: see Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

2005 to present[]

Election Member[3] Party
2005 Gavin Strang Labour
2010 Sheila Gilmore Labour
2015 Tommy Sheppard SNP

Election results[]

Elections in the 2010s[]

General election 2019: Edinburgh East[4][5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Tommy Sheppard 23,165 48.4 Increase 5.9
Labour Sheila Gilmore 12,748 26.7 Decrease 8.0
Conservative Eleanor Price 6,549 13.7 Decrease 4.9
Liberal Democrats Jill Reilly 3,289 6.9 Increase 2.7
Green Claire Miller 2,064 4.3 New
Majority 10,417 21.7 Increase 13.9
Turnout 47,815 68.9 Increase 2.7
SNP hold Swing Increase7.0
General election 2017: Edinburgh East[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Tommy Sheppard 18,509 42.5 Decrease 6.7
Labour Patsy King 15,084 34.7 Increase 4.8
Conservative Katie Mackie 8,081 18.6 Increase 8.7
Liberal Democrats Tristan Gray 1,849 4.2 Increase 1.4
Majority 3,425 7.8 Decrease 11.5
Turnout 43,622 66.2 Decrease 3.9
SNP hold Swing Decrease 5.7
General election 2015: Edinburgh East[7][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Tommy Sheppard 23,188 49.2 Increase 28.8
Labour Sheila Gilmore 14,082 29.9 Decrease 13.5
Conservative James McMordie 4,670 9.9 Decrease 1.0
Green Peter McColl 2,809 6.0 Increase 0.9
Liberal Democrats Karen Utting 1,325 2.8 Decrease 16.6
UKIP Oliver Corbishley[9] 898 1.9 New
TUSC Ayesha Saleem [10] 117 0.2 Decrease 0.5
Majority 9,106 19.3 N/A
Turnout 47,089 70.1 Increase 4.7
SNP gain from Labour Swing Increase 21.1
General election 2010: Edinburgh East[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Sheila Gilmore 17,314 43.4 Increase 3.4
SNP George Kerevan 8,133 20.4 Increase 3.4
Liberal Democrats Beverley Hope 7,751 19.4 Decrease 5.0
Conservative Martin Donald 4,358 10.9 Increase 0.6
Green Robin Harper 2,035 5.1 Decrease 0.6
TUSC Gary Clark 274 0.7 New
Majority 9,181 23.0 Increase7.4
Turnout 39,865 65.4 Increase 4.1
Labour hold Swing 0.0

Elections in the 2000s[]

General election 2005: Edinburgh East[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gavin Strang 15,899 40.0 −9.7
Liberal Democrats Gordon Mackenzie 9,697 24.4 +7.2
SNP Stefan Tymkewycz 6,760 17.0 +0.6
Conservative Mev Brown 4,093 10.3 −0.8
Green Cara Gillespie 2,266 5.7 N/A
Scottish Socialist Catriona Grant 868 2.2 −1.8
Death, Dungeons and Taxes Party Brett Harris 89 0.2 N/A
Communist League Peter Clifford 37 0.1 N/A
Majority 6,202 15.6
Turnout 39,709 61.3 +8.5
Labour hold Swing −8.4

Election in the 1990s[]

General election 1992: Edinburgh East[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gavin Strang 15,446 45.7 −4.7
Conservative Kenneth F. Ward 8,235 24.4 −0.3
SNP Debin McKinney 6,225 18.4 +8.9
Liberal Democrats Devin S. Scobie 3,432 10.2 −5.2
Green Graeme W. Farmer 424 1.3 New
Majority 7,211 21.3 -4.7
Turnout 33,762 73.9 -0.2
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1980s[]

General election 1987: Edinburgh East[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gavin Strang 18,257 50.4 +5.5
Conservative John Renz 8,962 24.7 -3.9
Liberal Judith Aitken 5,592 15.4 -5.6
SNP Mungo Bovey 3,434 9.5 +4.0
Majority 9,295 25.7 +9.4
Turnout 36,245 74.1 +3.7
Labour hold Swing
General election 1983: Edinburgh East[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gavin Strang 16,169 44.9 -7.6
Conservative Paul Martin 10,303 28.6 -6.3
Liberal Roderick Macleod 7,570 21.0 New
SNP Paul Henderson Scott 1,976 5.5 -6.5
Majority 5,866 16.3 -3.9
Turnout 36,018 70.4 -5.7
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s[]

General election 1979: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gavin Strang 23,477 53.7 +8.8
Conservative G Campbell 14,660 33.5 +10.4
SNP George C MacDougall 5,296 12.1 -14.5
Communist Carol Downes 173 0.4 -0.1
Workers Revolutionary Terry Brotherstone 124 0.3 New
Majority 8,817 20.2 +0.9
Turnout 43,730 76.1 -0.1
Labour hold Swing
General election October 1974: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gavin Strang 19,669 44.92
SNP George C MacDougall 11,213 25.61
Conservative M Hogg 10,111 23.09
Liberal GN Dalzell 2,578 5.89
Communist Irene Swan 213 0.49
Majority 8,456 19.31
Turnout 43,784 76.20
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gavin Strang 20,163 43.66
Conservative DJ May 14,614 31.65
SNP George C MacDougall 7,128 15.44
Liberal John Melling 3,998 8.66 New
Communist Irene Swan 274 0.59
Majority 5,549 12.01
Turnout 46,077 81.08
Labour hold Swing
General election 1970: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gavin Strang 22,171 51.87
Conservative Neil Gow 16,657 38.97
SNP Helen B Davidson 3,502 8.19 New
Communist Irene Swan 413 0.97 New
Majority 5,514 12.90
Turnout 42,743 74.42
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s[]

General election 1966: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Willis 25,423 60.48
Conservative Barry Henderson 16,614 39.52
Majority 8,809 20.96 +8.66
Turnout 42,037 77.40 -3.55
Labour hold Swing
General election 1964: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Willis 24,808 56.15
Conservative Robert L McEwen 19,376 43.85
Majority 5,432 12.30
Turnout 44,184 80.95
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s[]

General election 1959: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Willis 22,244 50.35
Unionist Earl of Dalkeith 21,932 49.65
Majority 312 0.70 -4.34
Turnout 44,176 80.68 +5.31
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Willis 21,240 52.52
Unionist W Ian R Fraser 19,198 47.48
Majority 2,042 5.04
Turnout 40,438 75.37
Labour hold Swing
1954 by-election: Edinburgh East[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Willis 18,950 57.7 -3.6
Unionist William Grant 13,922 42.4 +3.6
Majority 5,028 15.4 -7.3
Turnout 32,872 61.8 -22.0
Labour hold Swing -3.6
General election 1951: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Wheatley 25,201 54.08
Unionist William Grant 21,400 45.92
Majority 3,801 8.16
Turnout 46,601 83.82 +0.64
Labour hold Swing
General election 1950: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Wheatley 24,072 53.22
Unionist Charles Donaldson 17,531 38.76
Liberal John Hope 3,632 8.03
Majority 6,541 14.46
Turnout 45,235 83.18
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s[]

1947 by-election: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Wheatley 16,906 50.5
Liberal National (Conservative) Duncan M. Matthews 11,490 34.4
Liberal John Junor 3,379 10.1 New
SNP Mary Fraser Dott 1,682 5.0
Majority 5,416 16.2
1945 by-election: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Thomson 15,482 61.6
Unionist Tam Galbraith 9,665 38.4
Majority 5,817 23.1
General election 1945: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frederick Pethick-Lawrence 19,300 56.4 +13.2
Unionist William Angus Sinclair 12,771 37.3 -2.3
SNP Frederick C Yeaman 2,149 6.3 New
Majority 6,529 19.1 +15.5
Turnout 34,220 69.6 +1.0
Labour hold Swing +7.7

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;

  • Labour: Frederick Pethick-Lawrence
  • Liberal:
  • Unionist:

Elections in the 1930s[]

General election 1935: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frederick Pethick-Lawrence 13,341 43.20
Unionist Minna Cowan 12,229 39.60
Liberal David Marshall Mason 5,313 17.20
Majority 1,112 3.60
Turnout 30,883 68.63 -8.21
Labour gain from Liberal Swing
General election 1931: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Marshall Mason 17,372 56.98
Labour Drummond Shiels 10,244 33.60
National (Scotland) Rev Thomas Thomson Alexander 2,872 9.42 New
Majority 7,128 23.38
Turnout 30,488 76.84
Liberal gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 1920s[]

General election 1929: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Drummond Shiels 13,933 47.2 +5.3
Liberal Thomas Pringle McDonald 8,687 29.4 +1.5
Unionist Richard Cobden Thyne 6,889 23.3 -4.6
Majority 5,246 17.8 +6.1
Turnout 29,509 76.5 -0.2
Labour hold Swing +1.9
General election 1924: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Drummond Shiels 8,460 41.9 New
Unionist Charles Milne 6,105 30.2 -1.5
Liberal James Myles Hogge 5,625 27.9 -40.4
Majority 2,355 11.7 N/A
Turnout 20,190 74.2 +15.7
Labour gain from Liberal Swing N/A
General election 1923: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Myles Hogge 10,876 68.3 +8.5
Unionist Charles John Morris Mancor 5,045 31.7 N/A
Majority 5,831 36.6 +17.0
Turnout 15,921 58.5 -7.5
Liberal hold Swing N/A
General election 1922: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Myles Hogge 10,551 59.8 -2.4
National Liberal Sam McDonald 7,088 40.2 +2.4
Majority 3,463 19.6 -4.8
Turnout 17,639 66.0 +13.5
Liberal hold Swing -2.4

Elections in the 1910s[]

General election 1918: Edinburgh East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Myles Hogge 8,460 62.2 +7.2
C National Democratic Alexander E Balfour 5,136 37.8 New
Majority 3,324 24.4 +14.4
Turnout 13,596 52.5
Liberal hold Swing n/a
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
James Hogge
1912 by-election: Edinburgh East[18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Myles Hogge 5,064 55.0 -8.0
Liberal Unionist John Gordon Jameson 4,139 45.0 +8.0
Majority 925 10.0 -16.0
Turnout 9,203 73.7 −7.3
Registered electors 12,491
Liberal hold Swing -8.0
General election December 1910: Edinburgh East[18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Gibson 6,436 63.0 +1.7
Conservative R.M. Cameron 3,782 37.0 −1.7
Majority 2,654 26.0 +3.4
Turnout 10,218 81.0 -7.0
Registered electors 12,620
Liberal hold Swing +1.7
General election January 1910: Edinburgh East[18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Gibson 6,760 61.3 −11.8
Liberal Unionist Patrick Ford 4,273 38.7 +11.8
Majority 2,487 22.6 −23.6
Turnout 11,033 88.0 +9.9
Registered electors 12,544
Liberal hold Swing −11.8

Elections in the 1900s[]

James Gibson
1909 by-election: Edinburgh East[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Gibson 4,527 52.7 −20.4
Liberal Unionist Patrick Ford 4,069 47.3 +20.4
Majority 458 5.4 −40.8
Turnout 8,596 73.4 −4.7
Registered electors 11,710
Liberal hold Swing −20.4
General election 1906: Edinburgh East[20][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George McCrae 6,606 73.1 +14.6
Liberal Unionist Rankin Dawson 2,432 26.9 −14.6
Majority 4,174 46.2 +29.2
Turnout 9,038 78.1 +8.9
Registered electors 11,572
Liberal hold Swing +14.6
General election 1900: Edinburgh East[21][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George McCrae 4,461 58.5 +5.1
Liberal Unionist R. Scott-Brown 3,170 41.5 −5.1
Majority 1,291 17.0 +10.2
Turnout 7,631 69.2 −0.2
Registered electors 11,025
Liberal hold Swing +5.1

Elections in the 1890s[]

1899 by-election: Edinburgh East[21][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George McCrae 4,891 62.3 +8.9
Liberal Unionist Harry G. Younger 2,961 37.7 −8.9
Majority 1,930 24.6 +17.8
Turnout 7,852 73.2 +3.8
Registered electors 10,730
Liberal hold Swing +8.9
Robert Wallace
General election 1895: Edinburgh East[21][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Wallace 3,499 53.4 −5.2
Liberal Unionist Harry G. Younger 3,050 46.6 +5.2
Majority 449 6.8 −10.4
Turnout 6,549 69.4 −7.3
Registered electors 9,437
Liberal hold Swing −5.2
General election 1892: Edinburgh East[22][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Wallace 3,969 58.6 −3.5
Liberal Unionist Ralph Wardlaw McLeod Fullarton 2,809 41.4 +3.5
Majority 1,160 17.2 −7.0
Turnout 6,778 76.7 −1.2
Registered electors 8,840
Liberal hold Swing −3.5

Elections in the 1880s[]

General election 1886: Edinburgh East[23][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Wallace 3,694 62.1 +31.3
Liberal Unionist George Goschen 2,253 37.9 −31.3
Majority 1,441 24.2 N/A
Turnout 5,947 77.9 −4.1
Registered electors 7,639
Liberal gain from Independent Liberal Swing +31.3
General election 1885: Edinburgh East[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Liberal George Goschen 4,337 69.2 N/A
Liberal Benjamin Francis Conn Costelloe 1,929 30.8 N/A
Majority 2,408 38.4 N/A
Turnout 6,266 82.0 N/A
Registered electors 7,639
Independent Liberal win (new seat)

See also[]

Notes and references[]

Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.

  1. ^ Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, Sixth Schedule
  2. ^ Fifth Periodical Review, Boundary Commission for Scotland Archived 21 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "E" (part 1)
  4. ^ "UK Parliamentary General Election - 12 December 2019". The City of Edinburgh Council. The City of Edinburgh Council. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Edinburgh East parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  6. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  8. ^ Council, The City of Edinburgh. "UK Parliamentary election results 2015 | The City of Edinburgh Council". www.edinburgh.gov.uk.
  9. ^ "UK Polling Report".
  10. ^ http://www.tusc.org.uk/txt/320.pdf
  11. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  12. ^ "BBC News | Election 2010 | Constituency | Edinburgh East". news.bbc.co.uk.
  13. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. ^ By-election in British Politics by Cook & Ramsden
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b c Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
  20. ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1907
  21. ^ Jump up to: a b c Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1901
  22. ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1893
  23. ^ Jump up to: a b Debrett's House of Commons and Judicial Bench, 1889

Coordinates: 55°56′39″N 3°08′29″W / 55.94415°N 3.1414°W / 55.94415; -3.1414

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