Dundee West
Burgh constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Dundee West in Scotland
Subdivisions of ScotlandAngus/Dundee City
Major settlementsDundee
Current constituency
Created1950
Member of ParliamentChris Law (SNP)
Created fromDundee

Dundee West is a 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 voting system.

The constituency was created for the 1950 general election, when the two-seat Dundee constituency was split into two single seat constituencies: Dundee East and Dundee West.

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat will be subject to boundary changes, gaining further parts of the Dundee City council area. As a consequence, it will be renamed Dundee Central, to be first contested at the next general election.[1]

Boundaries

Map
Map of current boundaries

1950–1974: The County of the City of Dundee wards numbers 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

1974–1983: The County of the City of Dundee wards of Balgay, Camperdown, Downfield, Law, Lochee, and Riverside. The constituency boundaries remained unchanged.

1983–1997: The City of Dundee District electoral divisions of Ardler/Blackside, Central/Riverside, Downfield/St Mary's, Dudhope/Logie, Gourdie/Pitalpin, Law/Ancrum, Lochee, Menziehill/Ninewells, Rockwell/Fairmuir, and Trottick/Gillburn.

1997–2005: The City of Dundee District electoral divisions of Central, Charleston, Kingsway West, Kirkton, Law, Lochee, Ninewells, Riverside, and St Mary's.

2005–present: The part of the Dundee City council area other than the Dundee East Burgh Constituency and the Angus Council ward of Sidlaw West.

The constituency is one of two covering the Dundee City council area, the other being Dundee East. Current boundaries were first used in the 2005 general election.

As well as covering a western portion of the city area, the West constituency also includes, to the north and west, part of the Angus council area. Similarly, the east constituency includes, to the north and east, another part of the Angus council area.

Prior to the 2005 election, both constituencies were entirely within the city area, and the north-eastern and north-western areas of the city were within the Angus constituency. Scottish Parliament constituencies retain the older boundaries.

Politics and history of the constituency

Dundee West was held by the Labour Party from the first time it was contested in 1950 until the 2015 general election. Initially it was more marginal than its neighbour Dundee East. Additionally the Labour candidate always polled more than 50% of the votes cast in these contests. However, in 1959 Labour's majority over Conservative candidate was only 714 votes. This majority greatly increased at the 1963 by-election and by 1970, Labour's majority and share of the vote in Dundee West was better than the same figures in Dundee East.[2]

Labour's majority was reduced in 2005 by the SNP candidate Joe Fitzpatrick despite changes to the boundaries which should have favoured Labour; suggesting that the constituency might be becoming more marginal, although the gap widened again in 2010. The current MP is Chris Law, who was the first-ever MP from the Scottish National Party elected for Dundee West; as part of the party's near-clean sweep of the majority of Scottish seats at that year's general election.

Members of Parliament

Election Member[3] Party
1950 John Strachey Labour
1963 by-election Peter Doig
1979 Ernie Ross
2005 Jim McGovern
2015 Chris Law SNP

Election results

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Dundee West[4][5][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Chris Law 22,355 53.8 +7.1
Labour Jim Malone 10,096 24.3 -8.8
Conservative Tess White 5,149 12.4 -3.8
Liberal Democrats Daniel Coleman 2,468 5.9 +2.8
Brexit Party Stuart Waiton 1,271 3.1 New
CPA Quinta Arrey 240 0.6 New
Majority 12,259 29.5 +15.9
Turnout 41,579 64.5 +2.8
SNP hold Swing +7.1
General election 2017: Dundee West[7][8][9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Chris Law[10] 18,045 46.7 -15.2
Labour Alan Cowan 12,783 33.1 +9.4
Conservative Darren Cormack 6,257 16.2 +7.6
Liberal Democrats Jenny Blain 1,189 3.1 +0.7
Independent Sean Dobson 403 1.0 New
Majority 5,262 13.6 -24.6
Turnout 38,677 61.7 -6.1
SNP hold Swing -12.3

See also: Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15 § Dundee West
General election 2015: Dundee West[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Chris Law 27,684 61.9 +33.0
Labour Michael Marra 10,592 23.7 −24.8
Conservative Nicola Ross 3,852 8.6 −0.7
Scottish Green Pauline Hinchion[13] 1,225 2.7 New
Liberal Democrats Daniel Coleman[14] 1,057 2.4 −9.0
TUSC Jim McFarlane[15] 304 0.7 −0.3
Majority 17,092 38.2 N/A
Turnout 44,714 67.8 +8.9
SNP gain from Labour Swing +28.9
General election 2010: Dundee West[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jim McGovern 17,994 48.5 +3.9
SNP Jim Barrie 10,716 28.9 −1.1
Liberal Democrats John Barnett 4,233 11.4 −3.0
Conservative Colin Stewart 3,461 9.3 +1.0
Independent Andy McBride 365 1.0 New
TUSC Jim McFarlane 357 1.0 New
Majority 7,278 19.6 +5.0
Turnout 37,126 58.9 +2.8
Labour hold Swing +2.5

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Dundee West (new boundaries)[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jim McGovern 16,468 44.6 -5.7
SNP Joe Fitzpatrick 11,089 30.0 +2.2
Liberal Democrats Nykoma Garry 5,323 14.4 +5.2
Conservative Christopher McKinlay 3,062 8.3 -0.6
Scottish Socialist Jim McFarlane 994 2.7 -1.2
Majority 5,379 14.6 -7.9
Turnout 36,936 56.1 N/A
Labour hold Swing
General election 2001: Dundee West[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ernie Ross 14,787 50.6 −3.2
SNP Gordon Archer 7,987 27.3 +4.1
Conservative Ian Hail 2,656 9.1 −4.1
Liberal Democrats Elizabeth Dick 2,620 9.0 +1.3
Scottish Socialist Jim McFarlane 1,192 4.1 New
Majority 6,800 23.3 -7.3
Turnout 29,242 54.4 −13.3
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Dundee West[19][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ernie Ross 20,875 53.8 +4.8
SNP John Dorward 9,016 23.2 −0.4
Conservative Neil Powrie 5,015 13.2 −5.3
Liberal Democrats Elizabeth Dick 2,972 7.7 +0.2
Scottish Socialist Mary Ward 428 1.1 New
Referendum John MacMillan 411 1.1 New
Majority 11,859 30.6 +5.2
Turnout 38,717 67.7 −2.1
Labour hold Swing
General election 1992: Dundee West[21][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ernie Ross 20,498 49.0 −4.4
SNP Keith Brown 9,894 23.6 +8.3
Conservative Andrew Spearman 7,746 18.5 +0.5
Liberal Democrats Elizabeth Dick 3,132 7.5 −5.2
Scottish Green Elly Hood 432 1.0 New
Natural Law Donald Arnold 159 0.4 New
Majority 10,604 25.4 -10.0
Turnout 41,861 69.8 -5.6
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Dundee West[22][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ernie Ross 24,916 53.4 +7.9
Conservative John Donnelly 8,390 18.0 -3.7
SNP Alasdair Morgan 7,164 15.3 -1.8
SDP Rosemary Lonie 5,922 12.7 -4.4
Communist Stephen Matthewson 308 0.7 New
Majority 16,526 35.4 +13.6
Turnout 46,700 75.4 +1.0
Labour hold Swing
General election 1983: Dundee West[24][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ernie Ross 20,288 43.5 -12.8
Conservative David Senior 10,138 21.7 -8.9
SDP Elizabeth Dick 7,976 17.1 New
SNP James Lynch 7,973 17.1 +4.7
Ecology Patrick Marks 302 0.6 New
Majority 10,150 21.8 +1.0
Turnout 46,677 74.4 -4.0
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Dundee West[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ernie Ross 23,654 47.25 +6.24
SNP Jim Fairlie 13,197 26.36 -8.75
Conservative I. Stevenson 12,892 25.75 +7.29
Communist Raymond Mennie 316 0.63 -0.17
Majority 10,457 20.79 +14.89
Turnout 50,059 78.41 +4.09
Labour hold Swing
General election October 1974: Dundee West[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Doig 19,480 41.01 -2.02
SNP Jim Fairlie 16,678 35.11 +9.98
Conservative C.G. Findlay 8,769 18.46 -12.07
Liberal R. Hewett 2,195 4.62 New
Communist H. McLevy 381 0.80 -0.51
Majority 2,802 5.90 -7.40
Turnout 47,503 74.32 -6.94
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: Dundee West[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Doig 22,193 43.03 -8.51
Conservative M. Tomison 15,745 30.53 -7.43
SNP Jim Fairlie 12,959 25.13 +16.42
Communist H. McLevy 673 1.31 -0.28
Majority 6,448 12.50 -0.88
Turnout 51,570 81.26 +5.00
Labour hold Swing
General election 1970: Dundee West[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Doig 26,271 51.54
Conservative J.A. Payne 19,449 38.16
SNP J.A. Shepherd 4,441 8.71 New
Communist H. McLevy 809 1.59
Majority 6,822 13.38
Turnout 50,940 76.26
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Dundee West[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Doig 26,705 53.71 +0.37
Conservative C. A. MacNab 18,345 36.90 -7.65
Liberal J. W. Cruddas 3,454 6.95 New
Communist David Bowman 1,217 2.45 +0.03
Majority 8,360 16.81 +7.72
Turnout 49,721 79.90 -1.60
Labour hold Swing
General election 1964: Dundee West[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Doig 27,090 53.3 +3.7
National Liberal Henry Campbell Scarlett 22,473 44.2 -3.9
Communist David Bowman 1,228 2.4 +0.3
Majority 4,617 9.1 +7.8
Turnout 50,791 81.5 -1.4
Labour hold Swing
1963 by-election: Dundee West[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Doig 22,449 50.6 +1.0
National Liberal Robert Taylor 17,494 39.4 -8.9
SNP James C. Lees 3,285 7.4 New
Communist David P. Bowman 1,170 2.6 +0.5
Majority 4,955 11.2 +9.9
Turnout 44,398 71.6 -11.3
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Dundee West[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Strachey 25,857 49.6 -0.9
Unionist Robert R. Taylor 25,143 48.3 +1.4
Communist David P. Bowman 1,087 2.1 -0.5
Majority 714 1.3 -2.3
Turnout 52,087 82.9 +0.2
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Dundee West[31][32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Strachey 26,082 50.52 -1.08
National Liberal Gordon HM Pirie 24,208 46.89 New
Communist David P. Bowman 1,335 2.59 -0.09
Majority 1,874 3.63 -3.25
Turnout 51,625 82.70 -4.10
Labour hold Swing
General election 1951: Dundee West[33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Strachey 29,020 51.60 -1.90
Liberal John Junor 25,714 45.72 +43.87
Communist David P. Bowman 1,508 2.68 New
Majority 3,306 5.88 -2.98
Turnout 56,242 86.80 -1.28
Labour hold Swing
General election 1950: Dundee West[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Strachey 28,386 53.50 N/A
National Liberal Henry Scrymgeour-Wedderburn 23,685 44.64 N/A
Liberal Colin James Canning 986 1.86 N/A
Majority 4,701 8.86 N/A
Turnout 53,057 88.08 N/A
Labour win (new seat)

References

  1. ^ Boundary Commission Scotland 2023 Review Report
  2. ^ Craig, F. W. S. (1971). British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1970. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. pp. 596–597. ISBN 0-900178-02-7.
  3. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "D" (part 4)
  4. ^ "Election Notices" (PDF). Dundee City Council. Dundee City Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Dundee West parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  6. ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 8749. General Election 2019: results and analysis" (PDF). London: House of Commons Library. 28 January 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll" (PDF). Dundee City Council. 11 May 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Dundee West parliamentary constituency - Election 2017". Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  9. ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 7979. General Election 2017: results and analysis" (PDF) (Second ed.). House of Commons Library. 29 January 2019 [7 April 2018]. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2019.
  10. ^ "General Election: SNP reselects 54 MPs". www.scotsman.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  11. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Dundee West Election Results". Dundee City Council. 7 May 2015. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  13. ^ "Dundee and Angus". Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  14. ^ "Daniel Coleman selected to fight Dundee West for the Liberal Democrats". Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  15. ^ "More Tusc Candidates in place as election challenge grows". Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  16. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ^ a b "Aristotle: Dundee West", Guardian Unlimited
  21. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ^ a b "UK General Election results 193, part 7". politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  24. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ^ "UK General Election results May 1955: part 7". politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  26. ^ Whitaker's Almanack 1977
  27. ^ a b "UK General Election results February 1974, part 7". politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  28. ^ a b "UK General Election results 1964". politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  29. ^ The Times, 22 Nov 1963
  30. ^ Whitaker's Almanack 1963
  31. ^ "UK General Election results 1955, part 7". politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  32. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1955.
  33. ^ "Politics Science Resources". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  34. ^ "Politics Science Resources". Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2010.

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