Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30
Dumbarton Boroughs was won by Labour at the 1945 general election, with a majority of 7,586 votes over Unionist. This page covers every general election in Dumbarton Boroughs from 1918 to 1945.
Full Election History, 1918–1945
Election
Elected
Votes
Vote Share
Runner-up
Majority
Turnout
1918
John Taylor (Liberal)
11,734
52.6%
David Kirkwood (Labour)
1,168 (5.2 pts)
70.4%
1922
David Kirkwood (Labour)
16,397
64.3%
John Taylor (National Liberal)
7,290 (28.6 pts)
76.2%
1923
David Kirkwood (Labour)
13,472
61.3%
Walter Black Munro (Unionist)
4,952 (22.5 pts)
68.0%
1924
David Kirkwood (Labour)
14,562
59.2%
Walter Black Munro (Unionist)
4,535 (18.4 pts)
76.1%
1929
David Kirkwood (Labour)
19,193
63.1%
Charles Black Milne (Unionist)
7,968 (26.2 pts)
77.1%
1931
David Kirkwood (Independent Labour)
16,335
51.6%
Maurice James McCracken (Unionist)
997 (3.1 pts)
80.7%
1935
David Kirkwood (Labour)
20,409
65.2%
Maurice James McCracken (Unionist)
9,500 (30.3 pts)
78.8%
1945
David Kirkwood (Labour)
16,262
65.2%
John Richardson (Unionist)
7,586 (30.4 pts)
73.2%
Full Result Breakdown by Election
1918
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
John Taylor
Liberal
11,734
52.6%
Yes
David Kirkwood
Labour
10,566
47.4%
No
1922
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
David Kirkwood
Labour
16,397
64.3%
Yes
John Taylor
National Liberal
9,107
35.7%
No
1923
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
David Kirkwood
Labour
13,472
61.3%
Yes
Walter Black Munro
Unionist
8,520
38.7%
No
1924
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
David Kirkwood
Labour
14,562
59.2%
Yes
Walter Black Munro
Unionist
10,027
40.8%
No
1929
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
David Kirkwood
Labour
19,193
63.1%
Yes
Charles Black Milne
Unionist
11,225
36.9%
No
1931
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
David Kirkwood
Independent Labour
16,335
51.6%
Yes
Maurice James McCracken
Unionist
15,338
48.4%
No
1935
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
David Kirkwood
Labour
20,409
65.2%
Yes
Maurice James McCracken
Unionist
10,909
34.8%
No
1945
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
David Kirkwood
Labour
16,262
65.2%
Yes
John Richardson
Unionist
8,676
34.8%
No
Margin Over Time
Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.
Trend
Dumbarton Boroughs has been contested at 8 general elections on record since 1918. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Liberal, Labour, Independent Labour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Dumbarton Boroughs in the 1945 general election?
Labour won Dumbarton Boroughs in 1945 with 16,262 votes (65.2%), a majority of 7,586 votes over Unionist in second place.
Which parties have won Dumbarton Boroughs since 1918?
Since 1918, Dumbarton Boroughs has been won by: Independent Labour, Labour, Liberal.
What was the closest result in Dumbarton Boroughs?
The closest result on record for Dumbarton Boroughs was 1931, when Independent Labour beat Unionist by just 997 votes (3.1 percentage points).