Ross and Cromarty was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 1832 to 1983. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) using the first-past-the-post voting system.
Ross and Cromarty | |
---|---|
Former county constituency for the House of Commons | |
Subdivisions of Scotland | 1890–1975: Ross and Cromarty 1975–1983: Highland |
1832–1983 | |
Seats | One |
Created from | Inverness Burghs, Ross-shire and Cromartyshire |
Replaced by | Ross, Cromarty & Skye |
During its existence contributed to new seat(s) of: | Na h-Eileanan an Iar or the Western Isles |
When created in 1832 by the Scottish Reform Act 1832 it combined in one seat the former seats Ross-shire and Cromartyshire.
In 1918 Lewis (a large island several miles offshore) was taken from the seat and merged into the then new Western Isles constituency, and the Fortrose component of the former Inverness Burghs constituency and the Dingwall and Cromarty components of the former Northern Burghs constituency were merged into the Ross and Cromarty constituency.
In 1983 the remaining area of the seat was merged with the Isle of Skye and Isle of Raasay areas of the then-Inverness seat to form Ross, Cromarty and Skye.
Local government areas
edit1890 to 1918
County councils were created in Scotland in 1890, and so the constituency area became also the county council area of Ross and Cromarty, minus the Fortrose, Dingwall and Cromarty parliamentary burghs.
1918 to 1975
When reformed in 1918 the constituency covered the county of Ross and Cromarty (including the former parliamentary burghs) minus Lewis.
1975 to 1983
County councils were abolished in 1975 and replaced with regions and districts and island council areas. The constituency area was then that of the district of Ross and Cromarty plus the Lochalsh area of Skye and Lochalsh. Both districts were within the Highland region.
See also
Members of Parliament
editElection | Member [1] | Party | |
---|---|---|---|
1832 | James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie | Whig[2] | |
1837 | Thomas Mackenzie | Conservative[2] | |
1847 | Sir James Matheson | Whig[3][4][5] | |
1859 | Liberal | ||
1868 | Alexander Matheson | ||
1884 | Ronald Munro-Ferguson Later Viscount Novar | ||
1885 | Roderick Macdonald | Crofters' Party | |
1892 | James Galloway Weir | Liberal | |
1911 | Ian Macpherson (Later made Baron Strathcarron) | ||
1931 | Liberal National | ||
1936 | Malcolm MacDonald | National Labour | |
1945 | John MacLeod | Independent Liberal | |
1947 | National Liberal | ||
1964 | Alasdair Mackenzie | Liberal | |
1970 | Hamish Gray | Conservative | |
1983 | constituency abolished |
Election results
editElections in the 1830s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie | 272 | 64.8 | ||
Tory | Hugh Alexander Johnstone Munro | 148 | 35.2 | ||
Majority | 124 | 29.6 | |||
Turnout | 420 | 81.4 | |||
Registered electors | 516 | ||||
Whig win (new seat) |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie | 241 | 54.6 | −10.2 | |
Conservative | Thomas Mackenzie | 200 | 45.4 | +10.2 | |
Majority | 41 | 9.2 | −20.4 | ||
Turnout | 441 | 74.2 | −7.2 | ||
Registered electors | 594 | ||||
Whig hold | Swing | −10.2 |
Stewart-Mackenzie resigned after being appointed as Governor Ceylon, causing a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Thomas Mackenzie | 307 | 61.0 | +15.6 | |
Whig | William Mackenzie | 196 | 39.0 | −15.6 | |
Majority | 111 | 22.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 503 | 66.7 | −7.5 | ||
Registered electors | 754 | ||||
Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +15.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Thomas Mackenzie | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 754 | ||||
Conservative gain from Whig |
Elections in the 1840s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Thomas Mackenzie | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 713 | ||||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | James Matheson | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 827 | ||||
Whig gain from Conservative |
Elections in the 1850s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | James Matheson | 288 | 56.9 | N/A | |
Conservative | George William Holmes Ross[7] | 218 | 43.1 | New | |
Majority | 70 | 13.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 506 | 60.8 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 832 | ||||
Whig hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | James Matheson | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 825 | ||||
Whig hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | James Matheson | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 851 | ||||
Liberal hold |
Elections in the 1860s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | James Matheson | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 933 | ||||
Liberal hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Alexander Matheson | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 1,564 | ||||
Liberal hold |
Elections in the 1870s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Alexander Matheson | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 1,559 | ||||
Liberal hold |
Elections in the 1880s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Alexander Matheson | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 1,664 | ||||
Liberal hold |
Matheson's resignation caused a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Ronald Munro-Ferguson | 717 | 55.2 | N/A | |
Conservative | Alasdair Mackenzie | 334 | 25.7 | New | |
Crofters | Roderick Macdonald | 248 | 19.1 | New | |
Majority | 383 | 29.5 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,299 | 75.5 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 1,721 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent Liberal (Crofters) | Roderick Macdonald | 4,942 | 62.8 | N/A | |
Liberal | Ronald Munro-Ferguson | 2,925 | 37.2 | N/A | |
Majority | 2,017 | 25.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 7,867 | 76.6 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 10,265 | ||||
Independent Liberal gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal (Crofters) | Roderick Macdonald | 4,263 | 78.1 | +40.9 | |
Liberal Unionist | John Peter Grant | 1,197 | 21.9 | New | |
Majority | 3,066 | 56.2 | +30.6 | ||
Turnout | 5,460 | 53.2 | −23.4 | ||
Registered electors | 10,265 | ||||
Liberal gain from Independent Liberal | Swing | N/A |
Elections in the 1890s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal (Crofters) | Galloway Weir | 3,171 | 56.8 | −21.3 | |
Liberal Unionist | Neil Maclean | 2,413 | 43.2 | +21.3 | |
Majority | 758 | 13.6 | −42.6 | ||
Turnout | 5,584 | 62.3 | +9.1 | ||
Registered electors | 8,966 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | −21.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Galloway Weir | 3,272 | 57.6 | +0.8 | |
Liberal Unionist | Randle Jackson | 2,409 | 42.4 | −0.8 | |
Majority | 863 | 15.2 | +1.6 | ||
Turnout | 5,681 | 68.8 | +6.5 | ||
Registered electors | 8,256 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | +0.8 |
Elections in the 1900s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Galloway Weir | 3,554 | 68.3 | +10.7 | |
Conservative | J.D. Fletcher | 1,651 | 31.7 | −10.7 | |
Majority | 1,903 | 36.6 | +21.4 | ||
Turnout | 5,205 | 65.8 | −3.0 | ||
Registered electors | 7,909 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | +10.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Galloway Weir | 3,883 | 68.7 | +0.4 | |
Conservative | James Crabb Watt | 1,771 | 31.3 | −0.4 | |
Majority | 2,112 | 37.4 | +0.8 | ||
Turnout | 5,654 | 69.8 | +4.0 | ||
Registered electors | 8,101 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | +0.4 |
Elections in the 1910s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Galloway Weir | 4,430 | 75.8 | +7.1 | |
Liberal Unionist | Neil Maclean | 1,418 | 24.2 | −7.1 | |
Majority | 3,012 | 51.6 | +14.2 | ||
Turnout | 5,848 | 71.2 | +1.4 | ||
Registered electors | 8,211 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | +7.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Galloway Weir | Unopposed | |||
Liberal hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Ian Macpherson | 3,717 | 74.8 | N/A | |
Liberal Unionist | William Templeton | 1,253 | 25.2 | New | |
Majority | 2,464 | 49.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 4,970 | 60.2 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 8,259 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |
General Election 1914–15:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
- Liberal: Ian Macpherson
- Unionist: MacLeod
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | Liberal | Ian Macpherson | 8,358 | 78.9 | N/A |
Highland Land League | Hector Munro | 2,238 | 21.1 | New | |
Majority | 6,120 | 57.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 10,636 | 51.2 | N/A | ||
Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |||
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. |
Elections in the 1920s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
National Liberal | Ian Macpherson | 5,923 | 56.7 | New | |
Liberal | John Macdonald | 4,521 | 43.3 | N/A | |
Majority | 1,402 | 13.4 | −44.4 | ||
Turnout | 10,444 | 42.4 | −8.8 | ||
National Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Ian Macpherson | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Ian Macpherson | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Ian Macpherson | 9,564 | 58.8 | N/A | |
Labour | Hugh Donald MacIntosh | 6,710 | 41.2 | New | |
Majority | 2,854 | 17.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 16,274 | 55.6 | N/A | ||
Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |
Elections in the 1930s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
National Liberal | Ian Macpherson | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
National Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
National Liberal | Ian Macpherson | 10,810 | 76.7 | N/A | |
Labour | John MacKinnon MacDiarmid | 3,284 | 23.3 | New | |
Majority | 7,526 | 53.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 14,094 | 50.8 | N/A | ||
National Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
National Labour | Malcolm MacDonald | 8,949 | 49.5 | New | |
Labour | Hector McNeil | 5,967 | 33.0 | +9.7 | |
Unionist | Randolph Churchill | 2,427 | 13.4 | −63.3 | |
Liberal | Russell Thomas | 738 | 4.1 | New | |
Majority | 2,982 | 16.5 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 18,081 | 62.4 | +11.6 | ||
National Labour gain from National Liberal | Swing | N/A |
Elections in the 1940s
editGeneral 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 and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;
- National Labour: Malcolm MacDonald
- Labour: Malcolm MacEwen
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent Liberal | John MacLeod | 10,061 | 62.8 | New | |
Labour | Angus Mackay Mackintosh | 5,959 | 37.2 | +13.9 | |
Majority | 4,102 | 25.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 16,020 | 62.4 | +11.6 | ||
Independent Liberal gain from National Labour | Swing |
Elections in the 1950s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
National Liberal | John MacLeod | 10,912 | 62.6 | New | |
Labour | Alastair C Reid | 6,521 | 37.4 | +0.2 | |
Majority | 4,391 | 25.2 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 17,433 | 63.1 | +0.7 | ||
National Liberal gain from Independent Liberal | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
National Liberal | John MacLeod | 10,969 | 64.25 | +1.6 | |
Labour | Alastair C Reid | 6,104 | 35.75 | −1.7 | |
Majority | 4,865 | 28.5 | +3.3 | ||
Turnout | 17,073 | 57.5 | −5.6 | ||
National Liberal hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
National Liberal | John MacLeod | 9,929 | 62.3 | −1.9 | |
Labour | Jane B Saggar | 6,003 | 37.7 | +2.0 | |
Majority | 3,926 | 24.6 | −3.9 | ||
Turnout | 15,932 | 61.9 | +4.4 | ||
National Liberal hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
National Liberal | John MacLeod | 7,813 | 47.2 | −15.1 | |
Labour | Jane B Saggar | 4,815 | 29.1 | −8.6 | |
Liberal | Colin Murchison | 3,918 | 23.7 | New | |
Majority | 2,998 | 18.1 | −6.5 | ||
Turnout | 21,902 | 75.2 | +13.3 | ||
National Liberal hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1960s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Alasdair Mackenzie | 6,923 | 40.2 | +16.5 | |
National Liberal | John MacLeod | 5,516 | 32.1 | −15.1 | |
Labour | William Alexander Ross | 4,767 | 27.7 | −1.4 | |
Majority | 1,407 | 8.2 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 17,306 | 69.4 | −6.1 | ||
Liberal gain from National Liberal | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Alasdair Mackenzie | 7,348 | 42.1 | +1.8 | |
Labour | William Alexander Ross | 5,304 | 30.4 | +2.7 | |
Conservative | Allan John Cameron | 4,820 | 27.6 | −4.5 | |
Majority | 2,044 | 11.7 | +3.5 | ||
Turnout | 17,472 | 71.2 | +1.8 | ||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1970s
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Hamish Gray | 6,418 | 33.2 | +5.6 | |
Liberal | Alasdair Mackenzie | 5,617 | 29.1 | −13.0 | |
Labour | Ronald D. Maclean | 5,023 | 26.0 | −4.4 | |
SNP | George Nicholson | 2,268 | 11.7 | New | |
Majority | 801 | 4.1 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 19,326 | 71.7 | +0.5 | ||
Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Hamish Gray | 7,908 | 36.1 | +2.9 | |
SNP | Willie McRae | 5,037 | 23.0 | +11.3 | |
Liberal | John C. Robertson | 4,621 | 21.1 | −8.0 | |
Labour | Ronald D. Maclean | 4,336 | 19.8 | −6.2 | |
Majority | 2,871 | 13.1 | +9.0 | ||
Turnout | 21,902 | 75.2 | +3.5 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Hamish Gray | 7,954 | 38.9 | +2.8 | |
SNP | Willie McRae | 7,291 | 35.7 | +12.7 | |
Labour | Brian Wilson | 3,440 | 16.8 | −3.0 | |
Liberal | Tam Glen | 1,747 | 8.6 | −12.5 | |
Majority | 663 | 3.2 | −9.9 | ||
Turnout | 20,432 | 69.5 | −5.7 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Hamish Gray | 10,650 | 42.4 | +3.5 | |
SNP | Willie McRae | 5,915 | 23.6 | −12.1 | |
Labour | Keir Bloomer | 5,055 | 20.1 | +3.3 | |
Liberal | Hamish Morrison | 3,496 | 13.9 | +5.3 | |
Majority | 4,735 | 18.8 | +15.6 | ||
Turnout | 25,116 | 76.4 | +6.9 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
References
edit- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 2)
- ^ a b c d e f Stooks Smith, Henry (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections: Containing the Uncontested Elections Since 1830. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. p. 210.
- ^ Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844–1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 63. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
- ^ "Ashburton Election". London Evening Standard. 10 March 1843. p. 4. Retrieved 14 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Ashburton Election". Freeman's Journal. 11 March 1843. p. 2. Retrieved 14 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
- ^ "Elgin Courier". 2 July 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 14 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons and Judicial Bench, 1889
- ^ a b c d e f g Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885–1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
- ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1893
- ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1901
- ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1907
- ^ a b c Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916
- ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1920
- ^ The Times, 17 November 1922
- ^ The Times, 8 December 1923
- ^ Oliver & Boyd's Edinburgh Almanac, 1927
- ^ The Times, 1 June 1929
- ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1934
- ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1939
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1950.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1955.