West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine in Scotland
Major settlementsLaurencekirk, Portlethen, Stonehaven, Banchory, Braemar
Current constituency
Created1997
Member of ParliamentAndrew Bowie (Conservative)
Created fromKincardine and Deeside
1918–1950
Created fromAberdeenshire Western and Kincardineshire
Replaced byWest Aberdeenshire and North Angus and Mearns

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine is a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Westminster), which elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. It was first used in the 1997 general election, but has undergone boundary changes since that date. West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine was re-created as a parliamentary constituency in 1997, having previously existed as Kincardine and Western Aberdeenshire from 1918 to 1950.

There was also a Holyrood constituency of West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, a constituency of the Scottish Parliament,[1] created in 1999 with the same boundaries as the Westminster constituency at that time.

Boundaries

Map
Map of current boundaries

1918–1950

In 1868, the constituency of Aberdeenshire was divided into Aberdeenshire Eastern and Aberdeenshire Western divisions. These continued as constituencies until 1918, when the county of Aberdeenshire and the county of Kincardineshire were treated as if a single county for parliamentary representation purposes, with the area of the former Kincardineshire and Aberdeenshire constituencies being divided into three new constituencies, Aberdeen and Kincardine East, Aberdeen and Kincardine Central and Kincardine and Aberdeenshire West. In 1950 the Kincardineshire and Aberdeenshire counties were separated again, and a new boundary divided the Aberdeenshire area into East Aberdeenshire and West Aberdeenshire.

1997–2005

Kincardine and Deeside District, and the Gordon District electoral divisions of Donside and South Gordon.

2005–present

The area of the Aberdeenshire Council other than those parts in the Banff and Buchan County Constituency and the Gordon County Constituency.

The constituency covers a southern portion of the Aberdeenshire council area.

As redefined by the Fifth Periodical Review of the Boundary Commission for Scotland.[2] and subsequently first used in the 2005 general election, it is one of five constituencies covering the Aberdeenshire council area and the Aberdeen City council area. To the northeast of West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine there are the constituencies of Aberdeen North and Aberdeen South, which are both entirely within the Aberdeen City area. To the north of West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, there is the Gordon constituency, which covers part of the Aberdeenshire area and part of the Aberdeen City area, and further north there is the Banff and Buchan constituency which, like West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, is entirely within the Aberdeenshire area.

The West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine constituency includes the towns of Stonehaven, Portlethen and Banchory, and stretches along the Dee river valley from Westhill to Braemar, and north to Kemnay in the Don river valley, which were with the Gordon constituency until 2005, but are now within this constituency.

Members of Parliament

1918–1950

Election Member[3] Party
1918 Arthur Murray Coalition Liberal
1922 Liberal
1923 Malcolm Barclay-Harvey Unionist
1929 James Scott Liberal
1931 Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey Unionist
1939 by-election Colin Thornton-Kemsley Unionist
1950 constituency abolished

1997–present

Election Member[4] Party
1997 Sir Robert Smith Liberal Democrats
2015 Stuart Donaldson SNP
2017 Andrew Bowie Conservative

Election results

Elections in the 2020s

Next general election: West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Bowie[5]
SNP Glen Reynolds [6]
Liberal Democrats Michael Turvey [7]
Majority
Turnout
Swing

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine[8][9][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Bowie 22,752 42.7 −5.2
SNP Fergus Mutch 21,909 41.1 +8.6
Liberal Democrats John Waddell 6,253 11.7 +3.1
Labour Patrick Coffield 2,431 4.6 −6.5
Majority 843 1.6 −13.8
Turnout 53,345 73.4 +2.2
Conservative hold Swing −6.9
General election 2017: West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine [11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Bowie 24,704 47.9 +19.1
SNP Stuart Donaldson 16,754 32.5 −9.1
Labour Barry Black 5,706 11.1 +6.6
Liberal Democrats John Waddell 4,461 8.6 −12.8
Majority 7,950 15.4 N/A
Turnout 51,625 71.2 −4.0
Conservative gain from SNP Swing +14.1

See also: Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15 § West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
General election 2015: West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Stuart Donaldson 22,949 41.6 +25.9
Conservative Alexander Burnett 15,916 28.8 −1.5
Liberal Democrats Robert Smith 11,812 21.4 −17.0
Labour Barry Black 2,487 4.5 −9.1
UKIP David Lansdell 1,006 1.8 +0.9
Scottish Green Richard Openshaw 885 1.6 New
Independent Graham Reid 141 0.3 New
Majority 7,033 12.8 N/A
Turnout 55,196 75.2 +6.8
SNP gain from Liberal Democrats Swing +21.5
General election 2010: West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine[15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Robert Smith 17,362 38.4 −7.9
Conservative Alex Johnstone 13,678 30.3 +1.9
SNP Dennis Robertson 7,086 15.7 +4.4
Labour Greg Williams 6,159 13.6 +0.5
BNP Gary Raikes 513 1.1 New
UKIP Anthony Atkinson 397 0.9 New
Majority 3,684 8.1 −9.8
Turnout 45,195 68.4 +4.9
Liberal Democrats hold Swing −4.9

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Robert Smith 19,285 46.3 +2.3
Conservative Alex Johnstone 11,814 28.4 −2.1
Labour James Barrowman 5,470 13.1 +0.8
SNP Caroline Little 4,700 11.3 −0.8
Scottish Socialist Lorna Grant 379 0.9 −0.2
Majority 7,471 17.9 +5.2
Turnout 41,648 63.5 +1.5
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +2.2
General election 2001: West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Robert Smith 16,507 43.5 +2.4
Conservative Thomas Kerr 11,686 30.8 −4.1
Labour Kevin Hutchens 4,669 12.3 +3.2
SNP John Green 4,634 12.2 −0.9
Scottish Socialist Alan Manley 418 1.1 New
Majority 4,821 12.7 +6.5
Turnout 37,914 62.0 −11.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +3.3

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine[19][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Robert Smith 17,742 41.1 +6.4
Conservative George Kynoch 15,080 34.9 −10.2
SNP Joy Mowatt 5,649 13.1 +0.6
Labour Qaisra Khan 3,923 9.1 +2.3
Referendum Steve Ball 808 1.9 New
Majority 2,662 6.2 N/A
Turnout 43,202 73.1 N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Kincardine & Western Aberdeenshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Colin Thornton-Kemsley 10,932 51.5 -4.4
Liberal John Junor 10,290 48.5 +4.4
Majority 642 3.0 -8.8
Turnout 21,222 68.7 -6.9
Unionist hold Swing -4.4

Elections in the 1930s

1939 Kincardineshire and Western Aberdeenshire by-election[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Colin Thornton-Kemsley 11,111 52.7 -3.2
Liberal Arthur Irvine 9,990 47.3 +3.2
Majority 1,121 5.4 -6.4
Turnout 21,101 71.4 -4.2
Unionist hold Swing -3.2
Barclay-Harvey
General election 1935: Kincardine & Western Aberdeenshire [22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Malcolm Barclay-Harvey 12,477 55.9 -5.7
Liberal Arthur Irvine 9,841 44.1 +5.7
Majority 2,636 11.8 -11.4
Turnout 22,318 75.6 -5.0
Unionist hold Swing
General election 1931: Kincardine & Western Aberdeenshire[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Malcolm Barclay-Harvey 14,266 61.6 +13.4
Liberal James Scott 8,890 38.4 -13.4
Majority 5,376 23.2 N/A
Turnout 23,156 80.6 +14.3
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Kincardine & Western Aberdeenshire [24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Scott 9,839 51.8 +6.3
Unionist Malcolm Barclay-Harvey 9,171 48.2 -6.3
Majority 668 3.6 N/A
Turnout 19,010 66.3 -1.0
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +6.3
General election 1924: Kincardine & Western Aberdeenshire [25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Malcolm Barclay-Harvey 8,260 54.5 +3.5
Liberal James Scott 6,889 45.5 -3.5
Majority 1,371 9.0 +7.0
Turnout 15,149 67.3 +5.5
Unionist hold Swing
General election 1923: Aberdeenshire West & Kincardine [26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Malcolm Barclay-Harvey 6,639 51.0 New
Liberal Hon. Arthur Murray 6,369 49.0 -12.3
Majority 270 2.0 N/A
Turnout 13,008 57.8 +13.2
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing N/A
Arthur Murray
General election 1922: Kincardine & Western Aberdeenshire [27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Hon. Arthur Murray 6,224 62.3 N/A
National Liberal William Mitchell 3,767 37.7 New
Majority 2,457 24.6 N/A
Turnout 9,991 44.6 N/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1910s

Arthur Murray
General election 1918: Kincardine & Western Aberdeenshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Liberal Arthur Murray Unopposed
Liberal win (new seat)
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

References

  1. ^ The boundaries of Holyrood constituencies remain as when the constituencies were created in 1999
    Holyrood refers to the location of the Scottish Parliament Building near Holyroodhouse Palace in Edinburgh
    See also Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions
  2. ^ "Fifth Periodical Review". Boundary Commission for Scotland. Archived from the original on 9 October 2007.
  3. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "K" (part 2)
  4. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 1)
  5. ^ https://twitter.com/AndrewBowie_MP/status/1641906533779886082
  6. ^ "SNP candidate for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Westminster constituency selected". 17 October 2023.
  7. ^ https://www.facebook.com/MichaelLibDem/posts/pfbid0msJBhZYfui1icZ8B5ENkXDmgu3vXqQwFqNQHhtC5Cyvzfju1btsHGrnuVcfBAepl
  8. ^ "General Election 2019". Aberdeenshire Council. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  9. ^ "Aberdeenshire West & Kincardine parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "Results" (PDF). www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  14. ^ [1][dead link]
  15. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  16. ^ "BBC Election Results: West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  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. ^ "Aristotle: Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine", Guardian Unlimited
  21. ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1944
  22. ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1939
  23. ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1934
  24. ^ The Times, 1 June 1929
  25. ^ Oliver & Boyd's Edinburgh Almanack, 1927
  26. ^ The Times, 8 December 1923
  27. ^ The Times, 17 November 1922

57°15′00″N 3°17′24″W / 57.250°N 3.290°W / 57.250; -3.290

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