Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30
Argyll was won by Conservative at the 1979 general election, with a majority of 1,646 votes over SNP. This page covers every general election in Argyll from 1950 to 1979.
Full Election History, 1950–1979
Election
Elected
Votes
Vote Share
Runner-up
Majority
Turnout
1950
Duncan McCallum (Unionist)
19,259
66.5%
Ian William Nicholson (Labour)
10,044 (34.7 pts)
75.1%
1951
Duncan McCallum (Unionist)
21,191
68.1%
Robert Young (Labour)
11,266 (36.2 pts)
67.1%
1955
Duncan McCallum (Unionist)
19,006
67.4%
Robert M Young (Labour)
9,915 (35.1 pts)
66.6%
1959
Michael Antony Cristobal Noble (Unionist)
16,599
58.4%
Daniel Nisbet (Labour)
9,243 (32.5 pts)
71.0%
1964
Michael Antony Cristobal Noble (Unionist)
13,277
47.2%
Duncan L MacMillan (Labour)
5,157 (18.4 pts)
70.3%
1966
Michael Noble (Conservative)
12,178
43.2%
John McFadden (Labour)
3,692 (13.1 pts)
72.3%
1970
Michael Noble (Conservative)
13,521
44.8%
Iain MacCormick (SNP)
4,482 (14.8 pts)
74.0%
Oct 1974
Iain MacCormick (SNP)
14,967
49.7%
John MacKay (Conservative)
3,931 (13.1 pts)
72.0%
Feb 1974
Iain MacCormick (SNP)
15,646
48.8%
Peter Hutchison (Conservative)
3,288 (10.3 pts)
77.0%
1979
John MacKay (Conservative)
12,191
36.8%
Iain MacCormick (SNP)
1,646 (5.0 pts)
76.1%
Full Result Breakdown by Election
1950
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Duncan McCallum
Unionist
19,259
66.5%
Yes
Ian William Nicholson
Labour
9,215
31.8%
No
MS MacP Holt
Scottish Home Rule
490
1.7%
No
1951
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Duncan McCallum
Unionist
21,191
68.1%
Yes
Robert Young
Labour
9,925
31.9%
No
1955
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Duncan McCallum
Unionist
19,006
67.4%
Yes
Robert M Young
Labour
9,091
32.2%
No
1959
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Michael Antony Cristobal Noble
Unionist
16,599
58.4%
Yes
Daniel Nisbet
Labour
7,356
25.9%
No
Gerard Eyre Wriothesley Noel
Liberal
4,469
15.7%
No
1964
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Michael Antony Cristobal Noble
Unionist
13,277
47.2%
Yes
Duncan L MacMillan
Labour
8,120
28.9%
No
John Jackson MacKay
Liberal
6,707
23.9%
No
1966
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Michael Noble
Conservative
12,178
43.2%
Yes
John McFadden
Labour
8,486
30.1%
No
John MacKay
Liberal
7,512
26.7%
No
1970
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Michael Noble
Conservative
13,521
44.8%
Yes
Iain MacCormick
SNP
9,039
29.9%
No
John McFadden
Labour
7,633
25.3%
No
Oct 1974
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Iain MacCormick
SNP
14,967
49.7%
Yes
John MacKay
Conservative
11,036
36.7%
No
Malcolm John Nathaniel MacGregor
Labour
4,103
13.6%
No
Feb 1974
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Iain MacCormick
SNP
15,646
48.8%
Yes
Peter Hutchison
Conservative
12,358
38.6%
No
Malcolm John Nathaniel MacGregor
Labour
4,027
12.6%
No
1979
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
John MacKay
Conservative
12,191
36.8%
Yes
Iain MacCormick
SNP
10,545
31.8%
No
Malcolm John Nathaniel MacGregor
Labour
5,283
15.9%
No
Janet Michie
Liberal
5,113
15.4%
No
Margin Over Time
Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.
Trend
Argyll has been contested at 10 general elections on record since 1950. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Unionist, Conservative, SNP.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Argyll in the 1979 general election?
Conservative won Argyll in 1979 with 12,191 votes (36.8%), a majority of 1,646 votes over SNP in second place.
Which parties have won Argyll since 1950?
Since 1950, Argyll has been won by: Conservative, SNP, Unionist.
What was the closest result in Argyll?
The closest result on record for Argyll was 1979, when Conservative beat SNP by just 1,646 votes (5.0 percentage points).