Midlothian
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Midlothian in Scotland
Subdivisions of ScotlandMidlothian
Major settlementsDalkeith, Gorebridge, Newtongrange, Penicuik, Bonnyrigg
Current constituency
Created1955
Member of ParliamentOwen Thompson (SNP)
Created fromMidlothian and Peeblesshire

Midlothian in Scotland is a county 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.

It replaced Midlothian and Peeblesshire at the 1955 general election. A similar constituency, also called Midlothian, was used by the Scottish Parliament until 2011.

Boundaries

Map
Map of current boundaries

1955–1974: The county of Midlothian, including all the burghs situated therein, except the county of the city of Edinburgh and the burgh of Musselburgh.

1974–1983: As above.

1983–1997: Midlothian District.

1997–2005: The Midlothian District electoral wards of Bonnyrigg/Newtongrange, Dalkeith, Loanhead, and Mayfield/Gorebridge.

2005–present: The area of the Midlothian Council.

When first formed, the constituency covered the whole of the traditional county of Midlothian, apart from Edinburgh, split into multiple separate constituencies, and Musselburgh, which was included in Edinburgh East (UK Parliament constituency).

In the 1983 reforms the constituency was significantly reduced from over 100,000 voters to 61,143, with large numbers of voters moved to the new seat of Livingston, and smaller numbers to Edinburgh Pentlands, East Lothian and Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale.[1]

The 1997 reforms moved Penicuik into Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale, with the rest of the council area remaining in the seat;[2] it returned in 2005, when the constituency was expanded again to cover the entire Midlothian Council area.[3]

Members of Parliament

Current MP: Owen Thompson, Scottish National Party

Elected Member[4] Party
2019 Owen Thompson SNP
2017 Danielle Rowley Labour
2015 Owen Thompson SNP
2001 David Hamilton Labour
1992 Eric Clarke Labour
1966 Alex Eadie Labour
1959 James Hill Labour
1955 David Pryde Labour

Election results

Elections in the 2020s

Next general election: Midlothian
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Kirsty McNeill[5][6]

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Midlothian[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Owen Thompson 20,033 41.5 +7.1
Labour Danielle Rowley 14,328 29.7 -6.7
Conservative Rebecca Fraser 10,467 21.7 -3.7
Liberal Democrats Steve Arrundale 3,393 7.0 +3.2
Majority 5,705 11.8 N/A
Turnout 48,221 68.4 +2.1
SNP gain from Labour Swing +6.9
General election 2017: Midlothian[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Danielle Rowley 16,458 36.4 +6.2
SNP Owen Thompson 15,573 34.4 -16.2
Conservative Chris Donnelly[9] 11,521 25.4 +13.5
Liberal Democrats Ross Laird 1,721 3.8 +1.5
Majority 885 2.0 N/A
Turnout 45,273 66.3 -4.9
Labour gain from SNP Swing +11.2
General election 2015: Midlothian[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Owen Thompson[12] 24,453 50.6 +30.0
Labour Kenny Young[13] 14,594 30.2 −16.8
Conservative Michelle Ballantyne[12] 5,760 11.9 0.0
Scottish Green Ian Baxter[14] 1,219 2.5 +1.0
UKIP Gordon Norrie[15] 1,173 2.4 +1.5
Liberal Democrats Aisha Mir 1,132 2.3 −14.8
Majority 9,859 20.4 N/A
Turnout 48,331 71.2 +7.3
SNP gain from Labour Swing +23.4
General election 2010: Midlothian[16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Hamilton 18,449 47.0 +1.5
SNP Colin Beattie 8,100 20.6 +3.6
Liberal Democrats Ross Laird 6,711 17.1 −9.1
Conservative James E. Callander 4,661 11.9 +2.5
Scottish Green Ian G. Baxter 595 1.5 New
UKIP Gordon Norrie 364 0.9 New
Independent George McCleery 196 0.5 New
TUSC Willie C. Duncan 166 0.4 New
Majority 10,349 26.4 +7.1
Turnout 39,242 63.9 +1.7
Labour hold Swing −1.1

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Midlothian[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Hamilton 17,153 45.5 −5.0
Liberal Democrats Fred Mackintosh 9,888 26.2 +8.9
SNP Colin Beattie 6,400 17.0 −2.2
Conservative Iain McGill 3,537 9.4 +0.2
Scottish Socialist Norman V. Gilfillan 726 1.9 −1.2
Majority 7,265 19.3 -11.9
Turnout 37,704 62.2 +1.0
Labour hold Swing −7.0
General election 2001: Midlothian[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Hamilton 15,145 52.7 −0.8
SNP Ian Goldie 6,131 21.3 −4.2
Liberal Democrats Jacqueline Bell 3,686 12.8 +3.6
Conservative Robin Traquair 2,748 9.6 −1.3
Scottish Socialist Robert Goupillot 837 2.9 New
ProLife Alliance Terence Holden 177 0.6 New
Majority 9,014 31.4 +3.4
Turnout 28,724 59.1 −15.0
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Midlothian[20][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Eric Clarke 18,861 53.5 +9.6
SNP Lawrence Millar 8,991 25.5 +3.6
Conservative Anne C. Harper 3,842 10.9 −9.2
Liberal Democrats Richard F. Pinnock 3,235 9.2 −3.9
Referendum Keith K. Docking 320 0.9 New
Majority 9,870 28.0 +6.0
Turnout 35,249 74.1 −3.8
Labour hold Swing
General election 1992: Midlothian[21][22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Eric Clarke 20,588 43.9 −4.4
SNP Andrew Lumsden 10,254 21.9 +11.3
Conservative Jeff Stoddart 9,443 20.1 +1.9
Liberal Democrats Paul L. Sewell 6,164 13.1 −8.9
Scottish Green Iain D. Morrice 476 1.0 +0.1
Majority 10,334 22.0 -4.3
Turnout 46,925 77.9 +1.0
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Midlothian[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Eadie 22,553 48.3 +5.6
SDP Alan Dewar 10,330 22.0 −7.2
Conservative Frank Riddell 8,527 18.2 −3.7
SNP Ian Chisholm 4,947 10.6 +4.4
Green Ian Smith 412 0.9 New
Majority 12,223 26.3 +12.8
Turnout 45,291 76.9 +1.9
Labour hold Swing
General election 1983: Midlothian[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Eadie 19,401 42.7 −9.7
SDP Alan Dewar 13,245 29.2 +21.1
Conservative Duncan Menzies 9,922 21.9 −3.6
SNP Marjory Hird 2,826 6.2 −5.5
Majority 6,156 13.5 -7.9
Turnout 45,394 75.0 −3.8
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Midlothian
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Eadie 37,773 47.8 +6.3
Conservative Hugh Wallace Mann 20,797 26.4 +10.4
SNP Glen Anthony Frederick Spiers 13,260 16.8 −18.8
Liberal Alexander Paton Brodie 7,129 9.0 +2.1
Majority 16,936 21.4 +15.5
Turnout 78,959 77.8 +0.4
Labour hold Swing
General election October 1974: Midlothian
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Eadie 28,652 41.5 −3.2
SNP John Gerard McKinlay 24,568 35.6 +8.6
Conservative Alistair Ballantyne 11,046 16.0 −12.4
Liberal Philip Wheeler 4,793 6.9 New
Majority 4,084 5.9 -10.4
Turnout 69,059 77.4 −4.2
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: Midlothian
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Eadie 32,220 44.7 −8.2
Conservative David Louis Mowat 20,478 28.4 −3.1
SNP John Gerard McKinlay 19,450 27.0 +11.5
Majority 11,742 16.3 -5.1
Turnout 72,148 81.6 +6.0
Labour hold Swing −2.6
General election 1970: Midlothian
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Eadie 30,802 52.9 −3.7
Conservative John L.G. Lamotte 18,328 31.5 +4.5
SNP George Park 9,047 15.5 −0.8
Majority 12,474 21.4 -8.2
Turnout 58,177 75.6 −1.9
Labour hold Swing −4.1

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Midlothian
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Eadie 27,608 56.6 −4.7
Conservative John L.G. Lamotte 13,192 27.0 −11.7
SNP Steven Rae 7,974 16.3 New
Majority 14,416 29.6 +7.2
Turnout 48,774 77.5 −1.4
Labour hold Swing +3.5
General election 1964: Midlothian
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Hill 29,820 61.3 +1.1
Unionist Daniel A.P. Buchanan 18,861 38.7 −1.1
Majority 10,959 22.4 +2.0
Turnout 48,681 78.9 −2.4
Labour hold Swing +1.1

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Midlothian
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Hill 28,457 60.2 0.0
Unionist William S. How 18,797 39.8 0.0
Majority 9,660 20.4 0.0
Turnout 47,254 81.3 +3.2
Labour hold Swing 0.0
General election 1955: Midlothian
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Pryde 25,994 60.2 N/A
Unionist Anthony Stodart 12,208 39.8 N/A
Majority 13,786 20.4 N/A
Turnout 38,202 78.1 N/A
Labour win (new seat)

References

  1. ^ "Constituency guide: Midlothian". The Scotsman. 3 June 1983.
  2. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) Order 1995". legislation.gov.uk. 11 April 1995. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  3. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) Order 2005", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2005/250
  4. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "M" (part 2)
  5. ^ "Former Gordon Brown adviser Kirsty McNeill to stand in Midlothian". The National. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  6. ^ https://vote.labour.org.uk/kirsty-mcneill
  7. ^ "General Election Results 2019". Electoral Reform Society Results. Electoral Reform Society. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  8. ^ "General Election: SNP reselects 54 MPs". www.scotsman.com.
  9. ^ "Lee Scott back for Ilford North. Vicky Ford in final Chelmsford three. Tatton finalists named. The latest candidate selections and shortlists". Conservative Home.
  10. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Midlothian parliamentary constituency - Election 2017" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  12. ^ a b "Midlothian". YourNextMP. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  13. ^ "Kenny Young selected as Labour's candidate for Midlothian - LabourList". 3 March 2015.
  14. ^ "Scottish Greens". Scottish Greens.
  15. ^ "UK Polling Report". ukpollingreport.co.uk.
  16. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  17. ^ "BBC News - Election 2010 - Constituency - Midlothian". news.bbc.co.uk.
  18. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ^ a b "Aristotle: Midlothian", Guardian Unlimited
  22. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

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