Orkney and Shetland (UK Parliament constituency)

Creation

The British parliamentary constituency was created in 1708 following the Acts of Union, 1707 and replaced the former Parliament of Scotland shire constituency of Orkney & Zetland.

Boundaries

The constituency is made up of the two northernmost island groups of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland. A constituency of this name has existed continuously since 1708. However, before 1918 the town of Kirkwall (the capital of Orkney) formed part of the Northern Burghs constituency. It is the most northerly of the 650 UK Parliament constituencies.

The constituency is one of five "protected constituencies", the others being Na h-Eileanan an Iar, two on the Isle of Wight, and Ynys Môn, defined exclusively by geography rather than by size of electorate. The constituency contains the areas of the Orkney Islands Council and the Shetland Islands Council. Before 2011 the constituency had been unique in having its boundaries protected by legislation.

The constituency has the second smallest electorate of any UK parliamentary constituency, after Na h-Eileanan an Iar.

History

The constituency has elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post since its creation in 1707.{{cite web | access-date = 9 June 2019 | archive-date = 12 November 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241112142434/https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1754-1790/constituencies/orkney-and-shetland | url-status = dead | access-date = 9 June 2019 | archive-date = 29 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141129075348/http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/constituencies/orkney-and-shetland | url-status = dead | access-date = 9 June 2019 | archive-date = 14 April 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190414142702/http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/constituencies/orkney-and-shetland | url-status = dead

Although called Orkney and Shetland, prior to the Scottish Reform Act 1832 there were no eligible voters from Shetland. This was due to the land tenure and valuation structures used in Shetland, which meant no-one could show that they met the property qualification to be eligible to vote. This was a source of resentment in Shetland; its residents made several attempts to argue that some different form of valuation should be acceptable to show eligibility, but they were unsuccessful until the wider reforms of 1832.

The constituency has remained largely unchanged since its creation. The town of Kirkwall was added in 1918, having previously been part of Wick Burghs.

Members of Parliament

The constituency has elected only Liberal and Liberal Democrat MPs since 1950; the longest run of any British parliamentary constituency. At each general election from 1955 until 1979, in 1987, 2010 and again in 2017 it was the safest Liberal Democrat seat in the UK. At the 2015 general election, it was the only seat in Scotland to return a Liberal Democrat MP.

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Elections in the 2010s

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

General 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;

• Conservative: Basil Neven-Spence
• Liberal: Louise Glen-Coats

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1910s

Elections in the 1900s

|reg. electors = 7,680

|reg. electors = 7,572

|reg. electors = 7,420

Elections in the 1890s

|reg. electors = 7,053

|reg. electors = 7,075

Elections in the 1880s

|reg. electors = 7,394

|reg. electors = 7,394

|reg. electors = 1,704

Elections in the 1870s

|reg. electors = 1,618

|reg. electors = 1,537

• Caused by Dundas' death.

Elections in the 1860s

|reg. electors = 1,486

|reg. electors = 685

Elections in the 1850s

|reg. electors = 621

|reg. electors = 615

|reg. electors = 651

Elections in the 1840s

|reg. electors = 599

|reg. electors = 526

Elections in the 1830s

|reg. electors = 476

|reg. electors = 298

|reg. electors = 272

|reg. electors = 43

|reg. electors = 43

References

References

1. "2023 review final recs news release". Boundary Commission for Scotland.
2. (19 September 2014). "Scottish referendum: North east and Northern Isles vote "No"". BBC News.
3. (30 June 2020). "Ynys Môn constituency 'protected' from cut in number of MPS". BBC News.
4. Rule 3A of the [[Boundary Commissions (United Kingdom). Boundary Commission]] rules stated "A constituency which includes the Orkney Islands or the Shetland Islands shall not include the whole or any part of a local government area other than the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands." [http://www.boundarycommission.org.uk/rules.asp Boundary Commission Rules] {{webarchive. link. (2014-09-24 This rule was added in the [[Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986]] and retained in the [[Scotland Act 1998]], which established the Scottish Parliament.)
5. Office for National Statistics. (24 February 2016). "Parliamentary Electors by Parliamentary Constituencies 2010–2015".
6. "Orkney and Shetland". History of Parliament Online (1690-1715).
7. "Orkney and Shetland". History of Parliament Online (1715-1754).
8. (1833). "Orcadensis to William Corbett MP on the Political Grievances of Orkney and Shetland". John Hamilton.
9. {{usurped
10. [http://www.snptacticalvoting.com/2009/10/untouchable-orkney-shetland-isles.html "The Untouchable Orkney & Shetland Isles "] {{webarchive. link. (2 June 2013 (1 October 2009) www.snptacticalvoting.com Retrieved 9 February 2010.)
11. (1842). "The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections". Simpkin, Marshall & Company.
12. (1838). "The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838".
13. (3 August 1837). "Orkney". Fife Herald.
14. "UK Parliamentary Election - 4 July 2024 Orkney and Shetland Constituency".
15. (5 July 2024). "Orkney and Shetland results". BBC News.
16. "Candidates announced for Orkney and Shetland constituency - 14 November".
17. "Orkney & Shetland parliamentary constituency - Election 2019".
18. (2017-04-27). "shetnews: Barton for Labour". shetnews.
19. (2017-05-02). "shetnews: Hill to Stand for Parliament". shetnews.
20. "Election Data 2015". [[Electoral Calculus]].
21. "Archived copy".
22. "Alistair Carmichael reselected for Orkney and Shetland". Liberal Democrat Voice.
23. (2015-03-16). "Conservative candidate named". The Shetland Times.
24. (2015-03-04). "UKIP to field Robert Smith again". Shetland News.
25. "Election Data 2010". [[Electoral Calculus]].
26. "Press Association Elections". pressassociation.com.
27. "BBC News — Election 2010 - Constituency - Orkney & Shetland". bbc.co.uk.
28. "Election Data 2005". [[Electoral Calculus]].
29. "Election Data 2001". [[Electoral Calculus]].
30. "Election Data 1997". [[Electoral Calculus]].
31. (1 May 1997). "Politics Resources". Politics Resources.
32. C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.130 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
33. "Election Data 1992". [[Electoral Calculus]].
34. (9 April 1992). "Politics Resources". Politics Resources.
35. "Election Data 1987". [[Electoral Calculus]].
36. "Election Data 1983". [[Electoral Calculus]].
37. (1974). "British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918". Macmillan Press.
38. (28 July 1886). "Orkney and Shetland Election". [[Hampshire Advertiser]].
39. (5 December 1885). "Every Man's Duty". [[The Shetland Times]].
40. (1977). "British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885". Macmillan Press.
41. (24 April 1880). "Candidate". [[The Shetland Times]].
42. (16 December 1872). "Orkney and Shetland Election". [[The Shetland Times]].
43. (10 November 1868). "The County Contest". [[Orkney Herald]].
44. (12 November 1868). "Orkney and Shetland". [[London Evening Standard]].
45. (23 July 1852). "Orkney and Shetland Election". John o'Groat Journal.
46. (24 January 1833). "Orkney and Zetland Election". Fife Herald.
47. "Orkney and Shetland".