Na h-Eileanan an Iar (UK Parliament constituency)

History and boundaries

The constituency area is that of the Outer Hebrides, known also as Na h-Eileanan Siar, and has remained unchanged since its creation under the Representation of the People Act 1918 for the general election of that year. It is currently defined as being coterminous with the area of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, previously known as the Western Isles Islands Area before 1996. Prior to the creation of the unitary authority, the constituency was divided between the two historic counties of Ross and Cromarty and Inverness-shire and was defined as comprising:

• the burgh of Stornoway;
• the district of Lewis in Ross and Cromarty; and
• the districts of Barra, Harris, North Uist and South Uist in Inverness-shire.

Status

The constituency has the smallest electorate in the United Kingdom, just over one quarter of the size of the electoral quota under the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies. It has been suggested that Na h-Eileanan an Iar could be combined with the Orkney and Shetland constituency; the resulting combined electorate would still be well below the average constituency quota.

The Scottish Boundary Commission in 1980 proposed that the seat should be extended to include the Skye and Lochalsh areas; this was overturned at a public enquiry. Generally, considerations of geographical size, a disparate population and convenience for the MPs concerned, as well as tradition and identity, have tended to override the arguments about numerical imbalance. Furthermore, a change in the Boundary Commission's rules in 2000 added a rule which forbade Orkney or Shetland being combined with another council area.

The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011, as amended by the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 2020, prevented Na h-Eileanan an Iar being combined with any other constituency by designating it as a protected constituency, alongside Isle of Wight (two seats), Orkney and Shetland, and Ynys Môn.

Electoral history

From its creation in 1918 until the 1935 general election, the seat was held by Liberal MPs of varying descriptions. In 1935, the seat was captured by Malcolm Macmillan of the Labour Party, who would go on to retain the seat for the following 35 years. Macmillan was defeated at the 1970 general election by the Scottish National Party candidate Donald Stewart – who thus became the first SNP member to be represented at Westminster. Since 1970, the seat has alternated between SNP and Labour. Stewart held the seat until he stood down for the 1987 general election, when the seat was regained for Labour by Calum MacDonald.

In 2005 it became a safe seat for the Scottish National Party, with the election of Angus MacNeil. This trend was reversed in the 2017 general election, when the SNP suffered a swing against them for the first time since 1997, but at the 2019 general election the constituency became a safe seat for the SNP again. In August 2023, MacNeil was expelled from the SNP, having earlier lost the parliamentary whip. At the 2024 general election he stood as an independent gaining 10% of the vote, helping to swing the seat heavily to Labour, represented by Torcuil Crichton.

For the Conservatives, their vote had increased in recent years, since losing their deposit in the 2005 and 2010 elections, but they lost their deposit once again at the 2024 election.

During the 2014 Scottish independence referendum the constituency voted against independence by a margin of 53.42% (10,544) to 46.58% (9,195) in favour on a turnout of 86.2%

The constituency is notable for having the highest percentage of Scottish Gaelic speakers of any constituency in the world.

Members of Parliament

Election results

Elections in the 2020s

Elections in the 2010s

MacNeil was suspended from the SNP in July 2023. He had decided to sit as an independent MP after having an argument with the SNP Chief Whip.

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1950s

Elections in the 1940s

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1910s

References

References

1. "2023 review final recs news release". Boundary Commission for Scotland.
2. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023".
3. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) Order 1995".
4. Craig, Fred W. S.. (1972). "Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972". Political Reference Publications.
5. [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/1/section/11 The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011] Section 11
6. Fitzpatrick, Tara. (11 August 2023). "MP expelled from SNP after saying party 'clueless' about independence".
7. (2014-09-19). "Scotland Decides: SCOTLAND VOTES NO: Should Scotland be an independent country?". BBC.
8. {{Rayment-hc. w. 2. (March 2012)
9. {{Rayment-hc. n. 1. (March 2012)
10. (7 June 2024). "Uk Parliamentary Election: Na H-Eileanan An Iar Constituency: Notice Of Poll".
11. "Statutory Notices UK Parliamentary General Election - December 2019".
12. "Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles) parliamentary constituency - Election 2019".
13. Learmonth, Andrew. (14 July 2023). "Angus MacNeil has SNP membership suspended". [[The Herald (Glasgow).
14. "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". UK Parliamentary Election 8 June 2017 Na h-Eileanan an Iar Constituency.
15. "Election Data 2015". [[Electoral Calculus]].
16. "Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - Election Office (UK Parliamentary Elections)". Cne-siar.gov.uk.
17. "Election Data 2010". [[Electoral Calculus]].
18. "Election 2010: Na H-Eileanan An Iar (Western Isles)". BBC.
19. "Election Data 2005". [[Electoral Calculus]].
20. "Election Data 2001". [[Electoral Calculus]].
21. "Election Data 1997". [[Electoral Calculus]].
22. "Election Data 1992". [[Electoral Calculus]].
23. "Election Data 1987". [[Electoral Calculus]].
24. "Election Data 1983". [[Electoral Calculus]].
25. Stornoway Gazette
26. [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge74b/i21.htm Kimber's] UK General Election results 1974 (Oct)
27. [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge74a/i21.htm Kimber's] UK General Election results 1974 (Feb)
28. [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge70/i20.htm Kimber's] UK General Election results 1970
29. [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge66/i21.htm Kimber's] UK General Election results 1966
30. [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge64/i21.htm Kimber's] UK General Election results 1964
31. Whitaker's Almanack, 1939
32. Whitaker's Almanack, 1934
33. Whitaker's Almanack, 1920