Glasgow Bridgeton (UK Parliament constituency)

Glasgow Bridgeton was a parliamentary constituency in the city of Glasgow. From 1885 to 1974, it returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first-past-the-post voting system.

Glasgow Bridgeton
Former burgh constituency
for the House of Commons
Major settlementsGlasgow
18851974 (1974)
SeatsOne
Created fromGlasgow
Replaced byGlasgow Central,
Glasgow Shettleston[1]

For many years it was represented by James Maxton, the leader of the Independent Labour Party whose policies were to the left of the Labour Party.

Boundaries

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The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 provided that the constituency was to consist of the first and fourth Municipal Wards.[2]

The constituency was described in the Glasgow Parliamentary Divisions Act 1896 as being:

The area within a line beginning at a point in the centre of Albert Bridge, where the same intersects the centre line of the River Clyde, and thence proceeding eastwards along the centre of that river till it meets the parliamentary boundary of the city at Harvie's Dyke; thence northwards along the said parliamentary boundary to the centre of London Road; thence westwards along the centres of London Road and Canning Street to a point opposite the centre of Clyde Street; thence northwards along the centres of Clyde Street and Abercromby Street to the centre of Gallowgate; thence westwards along the centre of Gallowgate to a point opposite the centre of Saltmarket; thence southwards along the centre of Saltmarket to the centre of the River Clyde at the point first described.

In the Representation of the People Act 1918 it was described as:

That portion of the city which is bounded by a line commencing at a point on the centre line of London Road, where the road is crossed by the Caledonian Railway (Glasgow Lines), thence south-westward and southward along the centre line of the said railway to where it joins the Caledonian Railway Branch Line from Dalmarnock to Rutherglen, thence southward along the centre line of the said last-mentioned railway to a point on the municipal boundary at the centre line of the River Clyde, thence south-westward and north-westward along the municipal boundary of the city to a point on the centre line of the River Clyde about 77 yards south-eastward from the centre of Rutherglen Bridge, thence westward, northward and westward along the centre line of the River Clyde to the centre of Albert Bridge thence northward along the centre line of Saltmarket to the centre line of Gallowgate, thence eastward along the centre line of Gallowgate to the centre line of Abercromby Street, thence southwestward along the centre line of Abercromby Street to the centre line of Canning Street, thence eastward along the centre line of Canning Street and London Road to the point of commencement.

The Representation of the People Act 1948 provided that the constituency was to consist of the Calton and Dalmarnock wards of the City of Glasgow. The Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) (Glasgow Bridgeton, Glasgow Provan and Glasgow Shettleston) Order, 1955[3] added to this the portion of the Mile-End ward that had previously been part of the Glasgow Camlachie constituency.

The Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) Order 1970[4] provided that the constituency was to consist of:

The following wards of the county of the city of Glasgow, namely, Calton and Dalmarnock and that part of Mile-End ward which lies to the west of a line commencing at a point on the northern boundary of the ward immediately opposite the centre line of Millerston Street; thence southward to and along the centre line of Millerston Street to the centre line of Gallowgate; thence eastward along the centre line of Gallowgate to a point opposite the centre line of Fielden Street; thence southward along the centre line of Fielden Street to the termination of the line on the southern boundary of the Mile-End ward opposite the centre of Fielden Street.

Members of Parliament

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Election Member Party
1885 Sir Edward Richard Russell Liberal
1887 by-election Sir George Otto Trevelyan Liberal
1897 by-election Sir Charles Cameron Liberal
1900 Charles Scott Dickson Unionist
1906 James William Cleland Liberal
1910 (Dec) Alexander MacCallum Scott Liberal
1922 James Maxton Labour
1931 Independent Labour Party
1946 by-election James Carmichael Independent Labour Party
1947[5] Labour
1961 by-election James Bennett Labour
1974 (Feb) constituency abolished

Election results

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Elections in the 1880s

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Russell
General election 1885: Glasgow Bridgeton [6][7][8][9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Edward Russell 3,601 44.7
Conservative Elphinstone Vans Agnew Maitland 3,478 43.2
Scottish Land Restoration William Forsyth 978 12.1
Majority 123 1.5
Turnout 8,057 80.1
Registered electors 10,058
Liberal win (new seat)
General election 1886: Glasgow Bridgeton [6][7][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Edward Russell 4,364 55.0 10.3
Conservative Colin Mackenzie 3,567 45.0 1.8
Majority 797 10.0 8.5
Turnout 7,931 78.9 −1.2
Registered electors 10,058
Liberal hold Swing 4.2

Russell resigned, causing a by-election.

 
Trevelyan
By-election, 2 Aug 1887: Glasgow Bridgeton[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Trevelyan 4,654 58.9 3.9
Liberal Unionist Evelyn Ashley 3,253 41.1 −3.9
Majority 1,401 17.8 7.8
Turnout 7,907 78.3 −0.6
Registered electors 10,095
Liberal hold Swing 3.9

Elections in the 1890s

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General election 1892: Glasgow Bridgeton [10][7][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Trevelyan 4,729 58.5 3.5
Conservative William Charles Maughan 3,351 41.5 −3.5
Majority 1,378 17.0 7.0
Turnout 8,080 76.9 −2.0
Registered electors 10,512
Liberal hold Swing 3.5

Trevelyan was appointed Secretary for Scotland, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 1892: Glasgow Bridgeton[10][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Trevelyan Unopposed
Liberal hold
General election 1895: Glasgow Bridgeton [7][8][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Trevelyan 3,161 48.7 −9.8
Conservative Charles Dickson 2,719 41.9 0.4
Ind. Labour Party James Watson 609 9.4 New
Majority 442 6.8 −10.2
Turnout 6,489 61.9 −15.0
Registered electors 10,481
Liberal hold Swing −5.1
1897 Glasgow Bridgeton by-election[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Cameron 4,506 50.7 2.0
Conservative Charles Dickson 4,381 49.3 7.4
Majority 125 1.4 −5.4
Turnout 8,887 81.3 19.4
Registered electors 10,930
Liberal hold Swing -2.7

Elections in the 1900s

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General election 1900: Glasgow Bridgeton [7][8][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Dickson 5,032 55.5 13.6
Liberal Alexander Murison 4,041 44.5 −4.2
Majority 991 11.0 N/A
Turnout 4,041 77.5 15.6
Registered electors 11,706
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing 8.9
 
Cleland
General election 1906: Glasgow Bridgeton [12][7][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James William Cleland 5,585 58.2 13.7
Conservative Charles Dickson 4,019 41.8 −13.7
Majority 1,566 16.4 N/A
Turnout 9,604 84.1 6.6
Registered electors 11,421
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing 13.7

Elections in the 1910s

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General election January 1910: Glasgow Bridgeton [7][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James William Cleland 5,336 60.1 1.9
Conservative Patrick Keith Lang 3,539 39.9 −1.9
Majority 1,797 20.2 3.8
Turnout 8,875 87.5 3.4
Liberal hold Swing 1.9
General election December 1910: Glasgow Bridgeton [7][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal MacCallum Scott 4,759 55.5 −4.6
Conservative William Hutchison 3,816 44.5 4.6
Majority 943 11.0 −9.2
Turnout 8,575 85.6 −1.9
Liberal hold Swing -4.6

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 July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

 
James Maxton
General election 1918: Glasgow Bridgeton [14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Liberal MacCallum Scott 10,887 55.2 −0.3
Labour James Maxton 7,860 39.8 New
Independent Eunice Murray 991 5.0 New
Majority 3,207 15.4 4.4
Turnout 19,738 52.0 −33.6
Registered electors 37,980
Liberal hold Swing N/A
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
  • Unionist candidate William Hutchison withdrew when Coalition Government endorsed the Liberal candidate

Elections in the 1920s

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General election 1922: Glasgow Bridgeton [15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Maxton 17,890 63.7 23.9
National Liberal MacCallum Scott 10,198 36.3 −18.9
Majority 7,692 27.4 N/A
Turnout 28,088 76.7 24.7
Registered electors 36,627
Labour gain from Liberal Swing 21.4
General election 1923: Glasgow Bridgeton [16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Maxton 15,735 64.8 1.1
Unionist J. B. Black 6,101 25.1 New
Liberal Thomas Randall Anderson 2,445 10.1 −26.2
Majority 9,634 39.7 12.3
Turnout 24,281 66.5 −10.2
Registered electors 36,522
Labour hold Swing 13.7
General election 1924: Glasgow Bridgeton [15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Maxton 16,850 61.3 −3.5
Unionist Maurice James McCracken 10,633 38.7 13.6
Majority 6,217 22.6 −17.1
Turnout 27,483 75.1 8.6
Registered electors 36,571
Labour hold Swing −8.6
General election 1929: Glasgow Bridgeton [15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Maxton 21,033 67.7 6.4
Unionist Maurice James McCracken 10,049 32.3 −6.4
Majority 10,984 35.4 12.8
Turnout 31,082 71.6 −3.5
Registered electors 43,421
Labour hold Swing 6.4

Elections in the 1930s

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General election 1931: Glasgow Bridgeton[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ind. Labour Party James Maxton 16,630 58.21
Unionist Catherine Gavin 11,941 41.79
Majority 4,689 16.42 N/A
Turnout 28,571
Ind. Labour Party gain from Labour Swing
General election 1935: Glasgow Bridgeton [18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ind. Labour Party James Maxton 17,691 64.95
Unionist McInnes Shaw 8,951 32.86
Labour Samuel McLaren 863 2.18 N/A
Majority 8,740 32.09
Turnout 27,236
Ind. Labour Party hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

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General election 1945: Glasgow Bridgeton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ind. Labour Party James Maxton 13,220 66.4 1.5
Unionist Richard Brooman-White 6,695 33.6 0.7
Majority 6,525 32.8 0.7
Turnout 19,915 58.4
Ind. Labour Party hold Swing
1946 Glasgow Bridgeton by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ind. Labour Party James Carmichael 6,351 34.3 − 32.1
Labour John Wheatley 5,180 28.0 New
Unionist Victor Dunn Warren 3,987 21.6 −15.0
SNP Wendy Wood 2,575 13.9 New
United Socialist Movement Guy Aldred 405 2.2 New
Majority 1,171 6.3 −26.5
Turnout 18,498
Ind. Labour Party hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

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General election 1950: Glasgow Bridgeton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Carmichael 20,268 59.4 N/A
Unionist Francis Charles Irwin 11,025 32.3 −1.3
Ind. Labour Party Robert Duncan 1,974 5.8 −60.6
Communist D. Kelly 858 2.5 New
Majority 9,243 27.1 N/A
Turnout 34,125 76.9 18.5
Labour gain from Ind. Labour Party Swing
General election 1951: Glasgow Bridgeton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Carmichael 21,307 63.6 4.2
Unionist Richard A. Thomson 10,382 31.0 −1.3
Ind. Labour Party Robert Duncan 1,796 5.4 −0.4
Majority 10,925 32.6 5.5
Turnout 33,485 76.9 0.0
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Glasgow Bridgeton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Carmichael 20,476 57.7 −5.9
Unionist Paul Thomas Cowcher 12,375 34.9 3.9
Ind. Labour Party George Stone 2,619 7.4 2.0
Majority 8,101 22.8 −9.8
Turnout 35,470 66.0 −10.9
Labour hold Swing
General election 1959: Glasgow Bridgeton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Carmichael 21,048 63.4 5.7
Unionist Iain Docherty 12,139 36.6 1.7
Majority 8,909 26.8 4.0
Turnout 33,187 68.5 2.5
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

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1961 Glasgow Bridgeton by-election[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Bennett 10,930 57.5 −5.9
Unionist Malcolm McNeill 3,935 20.7 −15.9
SNP Ian Macdonald 3,549 18.7 New
Ind. Labour Party George Stone 586 3.1 N/A
Majority 6,995 36.8 10.0
Turnout 19,000 41.9 −26.6
Labour hold Swing
General election 1964: Glasgow Bridgeton[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Bennett 18,879 71.59 8.19
Unionist John Hogg 7,492 28.41 −8.19
Majority 11,387 43.18 16.38
Turnout 26,371 63.57 −4.93
Registered electors 41,482
Labour hold Swing 8.19
General election 1966: Glasgow Bridgeton[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Bennett 16,219 74.27 2.68
Conservative John Hogg 5,619 25.73 −2.68
Majority 10,600 48.54 5.36
Turnout 21,838 58.77 −4.80
Registered electors 37,159
Labour hold Swing 2.68

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1970: Glasgow Bridgeton[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Bennett 11,056 62.86 −11.41
Conservative Robert Gavin 3,801 21.61 −4.12
SNP Gordon E J Wallace 1,550 8.81 New
Independent Protestant Jack T A Glass 1,180 6.71 New
Majority 7,255 41.25 −7.29
Turnout 15,787 56.26 −1.51
Registered electors 31,262
Labour hold Swing -3.65

Notes

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  1. ^ Statutory Instrument 1970 No. 1680 (section Two) The Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) Order 1970 (Coming into force 25 November 1970)
  2. ^ Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, Sixth Schedule
  3. ^ Statutory Instrument 1995/23
  4. ^ S.I. 1970/1680.
  5. ^ James Carmichael was elected in 1946 as an Independent Labour Party candidate. However, he and the two other ILP MPs defected to the Labour Party in 1947.
  6. ^ a b c Debrett's House of Commons and Judicial Bench, 1889
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
  8. ^ a b c d e f g The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  9. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
  10. ^ a b Whitaker's Almanack, 1893
  11. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  12. ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1907
  13. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
  14. ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1920
  15. ^ a b c The Constitutional Year Book, 1930
  16. ^ The Constitutional Year Book, 1932
  17. ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1934
  18. ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1939
  19. ^ The Times, 17 November 1961
  20. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1964". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  21. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1966". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  22. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1970". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 11 April 2016.

References

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