Midlothian (UK Parliament constituency)

Midlothian
Midlothian
County constituency; for the House of Commons
	Boundaries since 2005
	Location of Midlothian within Scotland
Subdivisions of Scotland	Midlothian
Major settlements	Dalkeith, Gorebridge, Newtongrange, Penicuik, Bonnyrigg
Current constituency
Created	1955
Member of Parliament	Kirsty McNeill (Labour)
Created from	Midlothian 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

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

	Member^[4]	Party
1955	David Pryde	Labour
1959	James Hill	Labour
1966	Alex Eadie	Labour
1992	Eric Clarke	Labour
2001	David Hamilton	Labour
2015	Owen Thompson	SNP
2017	Danielle Rowley	Labour
2019	Owen Thompson	SNP
2024	Kirsty McNeill	Labour

Election results

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Midlothian ^[5] ^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour Co-op	Kirsty McNeill	21,480	48.6	+18.9
	SNP	Owen Thompson	13,313	30.1	−11.4
	Reform UK	Stefan Garbowski	3,276	7.4	N/A
	Conservative	Keith Cockburn	3,248	7.4	−14.3
	Liberal Democrats	Ross Laird	2,589	5.9	−1.1
	Scottish Libertarian	Daniel Fraser	259	0.6	N/A
Majority			8,167	18.5	N/A
Turnout			44,165	59.8	−7.9
Registered electors			73,916
	Labour Co-op gain from SNP		Swing	+15.2

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

^ "Constituency guide: Midlothian". The Scotsman. 3 June 1983.
^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) Order 1995". legislation.gov.uk. 11 April 1995. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) Order 2005", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2005/250
^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "M" (part 2)
^ "Midlothian results". BBC News. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
^ "The summary of Midlothian results". Midlothian Council. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
^ "General Election Results 2019". Electoral Reform Society Results. Electoral Reform Society. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
^ "General Election: SNP reselects 54 MPs". www.scotsman.com.
^ "Lee Scott back for Ilford North. Vicky Ford in final Chelmsford three. Tatton finalists named. The latest candidate selections and shortlists". Conservative Home. 24 April 2017.
^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^ "Midlothian parliamentary constituency - Election 2017" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
^ ^a ^b "Midlothian". YourNextMP. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
^ "Kenny Young selected as Labour's candidate for Midlothian - LabourList". 3 March 2015.
^ "Scottish Greens". Scottish Greens.
^ "UK Polling Report". ukpollingreport.co.uk.
^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^ "BBC News - Election 2010 - Constituency - Midlothian". news.bbc.co.uk.
^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Aristotle: Midlothian", Guardian Unlimited
^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

External links

Midlothian UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2005 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
Midlothian UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK

55°49′18″N 3°06′28″W / 55.82167°N 3.10778°W / 55.82167; -3.10778

[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

[rayment-4] Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "M" (part 2)

[5] "Midlothian results". BBC News. Retrieved 16 July 2024.

[6] "The summary of Midlothian results". Midlothian Council. Retrieved 16 July 2024.

[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. 24 April 2017.

[electoralcalculus2015-10] "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.

[ynmp2015-12] "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.

[electoralcalculus2010-16] "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.

[electoralcalculus2005-18] "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

[electoralcalculus2001-19] "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

[electoralcalculus1997-20] "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

[aristotle-21] "Aristotle: Midlothian", Guardian Unlimited

[electoralcalculus1992-22] "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

[electoralcalculus1987-23] "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

[electoralcalculus1983-24] "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

v t e UK Parliament constituencies in Scotland by holding party (57)
Labour (37)	Airdrie and Shotts Alloa and Grangemouth Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Bathgate and Linlithgow Central Ayrshire Coatbridge and Bellshill Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch Dunfermline and Dollar East Kilbride and Strathaven East Renfrewshire Edinburgh East and Musselburgh Edinburgh North and Leith Edinburgh South Edinburgh South West Falkirk Glasgow East Glasgow North Glasgow North East Glasgow South Glasgow South West Glasgow West Glenrothes and Mid Fife Hamilton and Clyde Valley Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West Kilmarnock and Loudoun Livingston Lothian East Midlothian Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke Na h-Eileanan an Iar North Ayrshire and Arran Paisley and Renfrewshire North Paisley and Renfrewshire South Rutherglen Stirling and Strathallan West Dunbartonshire
Scottish National Party (9)	Aberdeen North Aberdeen South Aberdeenshire North and Moray East Angus and Perthshire Glens Arbroath and Broughty Ferry Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber Dundee Central Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey Perth and Kinross-shire
Liberal Democrat (6)	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Edinburgh West Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire Mid Dunbartonshire North East Fife Orkney and Shetland
Conservative (5)	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk Dumfries and Galloway Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale Gordon and Buchan West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

v t e Scottish Westminster constituencies
1708 to 1832 1832 to 1868 1868 to 1885 1885 to 1918 1918 to 1950 1950 to 1955 1955 to 1974 1974 to 1983 1983 to 1997 1997 to 2005 2005 to 2024
Current constituencies (2024)
Aberdeen North Aberdeen South Aberdeenshire North and Moray East Airdrie & Shotts Alloa & Grangemouth Angus & Perthshire Glens Arbroath & Broughty Ferry Argyll, Bute & South Lochaber Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock Bathgate & Linlithgow Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross Central Ayrshire Coatbridge & Bellshill Cowdenbeath & Kirkcaldy Cumbernauld & Kirkintilloch Dumfries & Galloway Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale Dundee Central Dunfermline & Dollar East Kilbride & Strathaven East Renfrewshire Edinburgh East & Musselburgh Edinburgh North & Leith Edinburgh South Edinburgh South West Edinburgh West Falkirk Glasgow East Glasgow North Glasgow North East Glasgow South Glasgow South West Glasgow West Glenrothes & Mid Fife Gordon & Buchan Hamilton & Clyde Valley Inverclyde & Renfrewshire West Inverness, Skye & West Ross-shire Kilmarnock & Loudoun Livingston Lothian East Mid Dunbartonshire Midlothian Moray West, Nairn & Strathspey Motherwell, Wishaw & Carluke Na h-Eileanan an Iar North Ayrshire & Arran North East Fife Orkney & Shetland Paisley & Renfrewshire North Paisley & Renfrewshire South Perth & Kinross-shire Rutherglen Stirling & Strathallan West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine West Dunbartonshire

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	United States
People	UK Parliament

Midlothian
County constituency for the House of Commons
Boundaries since 2005
Location of Midlothian within Scotland
Subdivisions of Scotland	Midlothian
Major settlements	Dalkeith, Gorebridge, Newtongrange, Penicuik, Bonnyrigg
Current constituency
Created	1955
Member of Parliament	Kirsty McNeill (Labour)
Created from	Midlothian and Peeblesshire