EveryElectionResult.com

Election results, country by country.

Edinburgh South — UK General Election Results

Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30

Edinburgh South was won by Labour at the 2024 general election, with a majority of 17,251 votes over SNP. This page covers every general election in Edinburgh South from 1885 to 2024.

Full Election History, 1885–2024

Election Elected Votes Vote Share Runner-up Majority Turnout
1885 George Harrison (Independent Liberal) 4,273 59.8% Thomas Raleigh (Liberal) 1,399 (19.6 pts) 81.6%
1886 Hugh Culling Eardley Childers (Liberal) 3,778 63.3% Robert Purvis (Liberal Unionist) 1,587 (26.6 pts) 68.2%
1892 Herbert Woodfield Paul (Liberal) 4,692 52.4% Lewis MacIver (Liberal Unionist) 431 (4.8 pts) 82.9%
1895 Robert Cox (Liberal Unionist) 4,802 50.5% Herbert Woodfield Paul (Liberal) 97 (1.0 pts) 78.9%
1900 Andrew Noel Agnew (Liberal Unionist) 5,766 50.5% Arthur Dewar (Liberal) 111 (1.0 pts) 77.2%
1906 Arthur Dewar (Liberal) 8,945 63.8% William Smith (Liberal Unionist) 3,860 (27.5 pts) 83.4%
Dec 1910 Charles Henry Lyell (Liberal) 9,576 54.5% Charles David Murray (Conservative) 1,590 (9.0 pts) 84.2%
Jan 1910 Arthur Dewar (Liberal) 10,235 56.4% Harold Cox (Liberal Unionist) 2,334 (12.9 pts) 88.8%
1918 Charles Murray (Unionist) 14,874 75.0% David Caird (Liberal) 9,908 (49.9 pts) 61.8%
1922 Samuel Chapman (Unionist) 14,843 66.7% Catherine Buchanan Alderton (Liberal) 7,435 (33.4 pts) 69.2%
1923 Samuel Chapman (Unionist) 12,804 55.7% William Hope (Liberal) 2,610 (11.3 pts) 70.2%
1924 Samuel Chapman (Unionist) 15,854 64.4% David Cleghorn Thomson (Liberal) 7,077 (28.7 pts) 73.6%
1929 Samuel Chapman (Unionist) 19,541 56.7% Arthur Pillans Laurie (Liberal) 9,692 (28.1 pts) 75.2%
1931 Samuel Chapman (Unionist) Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record 0.0%
1935 Samuel Chapman (Unionist) 27,254 83.6% Barbara Woodburn (Labour) 21,889 (67.1 pts) 67.6%
1945 William Young Darling (Unionist) 23,652 70.8% William Paisley Earsman (Labour) 13,885 (41.5 pts) 66.4%
1950 William Young Darling (Unionist) 23,081 65.0% William Paisley Earsman (Labour) 14,356 (40.4 pts) 82.1%
1951 William Young Darling (Unionist) 26,545 74.6% James Forsyth (Labour) 16,515 (46.4 pts) 81.4%
1955 Sir William Young Darling (Unionist) 24,836 67.5% James A Forsyth (Labour) 12,887 (35.0 pts) 77.2%
1959 Michael Clark Hutchison (Unionist) 22,799 57.6% Alex D Reid (Labour) 11,514 (29.1 pts) 81.2%
1964 Michael Clark Hutchison (Unionist) 21,375 53.2% James W Kerr (Labour) 7,820 (19.4 pts) 80.3%
1966 Michael Hutchison (Conservative) 20,820 53.2% James Wright Kerr (Labour) 5,333 (13.6 pts) 77.6%
1970 Michael Hutchison (Conservative) 19,851 48.1% John Henderson (Labour) 4,780 (11.6 pts) 74.1%
Feb 1974 Michael Hutchison (Conservative) 18,784 41.7% Trenor John Davies (Labour) 6,381 (14.2 pts) 80.8%
Oct 1974 Michael Hutchison (Conservative) 14,962 35.9% Charlotte Haddow (Labour) 3,226 (7.7 pts) 74.2%
1979 Michael Ancram (Conservative) 17,986 39.7% Gordon Brown (Labour) 2,460 (5.4 pts) 77.3%
1983 Michael Ancram (Conservative) 16,485 36.8% John Godfrey (Social Democratic Party) 3,655 (8.2 pts) 71.7%
1987 Nigel Griffiths (Labour) 18,211 37.7% Michael Ancram (Conservative) 1,859 (3.8 pts) 75.8%
1992 Nigel Griffiths (Labour) 18,485 41.5% Struan Stevenson (Conservative) 4,176 (9.4 pts) 72.7%
1997 Nigel Griffiths (Labour) 20,993 46.8% Elizabeth Smith (Conservative) 11,452 (25.5 pts) 71.8%
2001 Nigel Griffiths (Labour) 15,671 42.2% Marilyn MacLaren (Liberal Democrat) 5,499 (14.8 pts) 58.1%
2005 Nigel Griffiths (Labour) 14,188 33.2% Marilyne MacLaren (Liberal Democrat) 405 (0.9 pts) 70.0%
2010 Ian Murray (Labour) 15,215 34.7% Fred Mackintosh (Liberal Democrat) 316 (0.7 pts) 73.9%
2015 Ian Murray (Labour) 19,293 39.1% Neil Hay (SNP) 2,637 (5.3 pts) 75.0%
2017 Ian Murray (Labour) 26,269 54.9% Jim Eadie (SNP) 15,514 (32.4 pts) 74.2%
2019 Ian Murray (Labour) 23,745 47.7% Catriona MacDonald (SNP) 11,095 (22.3 pts) 75.3%
2024 Ian Murray (Labour) 24,976 53.3% Simita Kumar (SNP) 17,251 (36.8 pts) 66.3%

Full Result Breakdown by Election

1885

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
George Harrison Independent Liberal 4,27359.8% Yes
Thomas Raleigh Liberal 2,87440.2% No

1886

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Hugh Culling Eardley Childers Liberal 3,77863.3% Yes
Robert Purvis Liberal Unionist 2,19136.7% No

1892

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Herbert Woodfield Paul Liberal 4,69252.4% Yes
Lewis MacIver Liberal Unionist 4,26147.6% No

1895

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Robert Cox Liberal Unionist 4,80250.5% Yes
Herbert Woodfield Paul Liberal 4,70549.5% No

1900

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Andrew Noel Agnew Liberal Unionist 5,76650.5% Yes
Arthur Dewar Liberal 5,65549.5% No

1906

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Arthur Dewar Liberal 8,94563.8% Yes
William Smith Liberal Unionist 5,08536.2% No

Dec 1910

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Charles Henry Lyell Liberal 9,57654.5% Yes
Charles David Murray Conservative 7,98645.5% No

Jan 1910

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Arthur Dewar Liberal 10,23556.4% Yes
Harold Cox Liberal Unionist 7,90143.6% No

1918

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Charles Murray Unionist 14,87475.0% Yes
David Caird Liberal 4,96625.0% No

1922

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Samuel Chapman Unionist 14,84366.7% Yes
Catherine Buchanan Alderton Liberal 7,40833.3% No

1923

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Samuel Chapman Unionist 12,80455.7% Yes
William Hope Liberal 10,19444.3% No

1924

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Samuel Chapman Unionist 15,85464.4% Yes
David Cleghorn Thomson Liberal 8,77735.6% No

1929

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Samuel Chapman Unionist 19,54156.7% Yes
Arthur Pillans Laurie Liberal 9,84928.6% No
Arthur Woodburn Labour 5,05014.7% No

1931

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Samuel Chapman Unionist Unopposed Yes

1935

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Samuel Chapman Unionist 27,25483.6% Yes
Barbara Woodburn Labour 5,36516.4% No

1945

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
William Young Darling Unionist 23,65270.8% Yes
William Paisley Earsman Labour 9,76729.2% No

1950

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
William Young Darling Unionist 23,08165.0% Yes
William Paisley Earsman Labour 8,72524.6% No
Lionel Henry Daiches Liberal 3,69910.4% No

1951

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
William Young Darling Unionist 26,54574.6% Yes
James Forsyth Labour 10,03028.2% No

1955

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Sir William Young Darling Unionist 24,83667.5% Yes
James A Forsyth Labour 11,94932.5% No

1959

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Michael Clark Hutchison Unionist 22,79957.6% Yes
Alex D Reid Labour 11,28528.5% No
William Douglas-Home Liberal 5,50513.9% No

1964

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Michael Clark Hutchison Unionist 21,37553.2% Yes
James W Kerr Labour 13,55533.7% No
Ronald H Guild Liberal 5,27213.1% No

1966

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Michael Hutchison Conservative 20,82053.2% Yes
James Wright Kerr Labour 15,48739.5% No
Harrison Mclean Robertson SNP 2,8567.3% No

1970

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Michael Hutchison Conservative 19,85148.1% Yes
John Henderson Labour 15,07136.5% No
Ronald Harrower Guild Liberal 3,4698.4% No
David John Douglas Stevenson SNP 2,8616.9% No

Feb 1974

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Michael Hutchison Conservative 18,78441.7% Yes
Trenor John Davies Labour 12,40327.5% No
Nathaniel Louis Gordon Liberal 8,07317.9% No
Robert Shirley SNP 5,77012.8% No

Oct 1974

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Michael Hutchison Conservative 14,96235.9% Yes
Charlotte Haddow Labour 11,73628.2% No
Robert Shirley SNP 9,03421.7% No
Nathaniel Louis Gordon Liberal 5,92114.2% No

1979

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Michael Ancram Conservative 17,98639.7% Yes
Gordon Brown Labour 15,52634.3% No
Julian Patrick Bryan Lovell Liberal 7,40016.3% No
Robert Shirley SNP 3,8008.4% No
Stewart Malcolm Biggar Green 5521.2% No

1983

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Michael Ancram Conservative 16,48536.8% Yes
John Godfrey Social Democratic Party 12,83028.6% No
Robert Anderson McCreadie Labour 12,82428.6% No
Neil MacCallum SNP 2,2565.0% No
Linda Margaret Hendry Green 4501.0% No

1987

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Nigel Griffiths Labour 18,21137.7% Yes
Michael Ancram Conservative 16,35233.8% No
David Graham Social Democratic Party 10,90022.5% No
Catherina McMillan Moore SNP 2,4555.1% No
Ruth Clark Green 4400.9% No

1992

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Nigel Griffiths Labour 18,48541.5% Yes
Struan Stevenson Conservative 14,30932.1% No
Bob McCreadie Liberal Democrat 5,96113.4% No
Roger Knox SNP 5,72712.8% No
George Manclark Natural Law 1080.2% No

1997

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Nigel Griffiths Labour 20,99346.8% Yes
Elizabeth Smith Conservative 9,54121.3% No
Mike Pringle Liberal Democrat 7,91117.6% No
John Hargreaves SNP 5,79112.9% No
Ian McLean Referendum Party 5041.1% No
Bradley Dunn Natural Law 980.2% No

2001

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Nigel Griffiths Labour 15,67142.2% Yes
Marilyn MacLaren Liberal Democrat 10,17227.4% No
Gordon Buchan Conservative 6,17216.6% No
Heather Williams SNP 3,6839.9% No
Colin Fox Scottish Socialist 9332.5% No
Margaret Hendry Legalise Cannabis 5351.4% No

2005

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Nigel Griffiths Labour 14,18833.2% Yes
Marilyne MacLaren Liberal Democrat 13,78332.3% No
Gavin Brown Conservative 10,29124.1% No
Graham Sutherland SNP 2,6356.2% No
Steve Burgess Green 1,3873.2% No
Morag Robertson Scottish Socialist 4141.0% No

2010

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Ian Murray Labour 15,21534.7% Yes
Fred Mackintosh Liberal Democrat 14,89934.0% No
Neil Hudson Conservative 9,45221.6% No
Sandy Howat SNP 3,3547.7% No
Steve Burgess Green 8812.0% No

2015

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Ian Murray Labour 19,29339.1% Yes
Neil Hay SNP 16,65633.8% No
Miles Briggs Conservative 8,62617.5% No
Phyl Meyer Green 2,0904.2% No
Pramod Subbaraman Liberal Democrat 1,8233.7% No
Paul Marshall UKIP 6011.2% No
Colin Fox Scottish Socialist Party 1970.4% No

2017

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Ian Murray Labour 26,26954.9% Yes
Jim Eadie SNP 10,75522.5% No
Stephanie Smith Conservative 9,42819.7% No
Alan Beal Liberal Democrat 1,3882.9% No

2019

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Ian Murray Labour 23,74547.7% Yes
Catriona MacDonald SNP 12,65025.4% No
Nick Cook Conservative 8,16116.4% No
Alan Beal Liberal Democrat 3,8197.7% No
Kate Nevens Green 1,3572.7% No

2024

CandidatePartyVotesShareElected
Ian Murray Labour 24,97653.3% Yes
Simita Kumar SNP 7,72516.5% No
Jo Phillips Green 4,2709.1% No
Christopher Cowdy Conservative 4,0018.5% No
Andy Williamson Liberal Democrat 2,7465.9% No
Cameron Rose Reform UK 1,8453.9% No
Alex Martin Independent 4661.0% No
Lynne Lyon Alba Party 4541.0% No
Phil Holden Scottish Family Party 2670.6% No
Mark Rowbotham Independent 760.2% No

Margin Over Time

Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.

1885: Independent Liberal margin 19.6 pts 1886: Liberal margin 26.6 pts 1892: Liberal margin 4.8 pts 1895: Liberal Unionist margin 1.0 pts 1900: Liberal Unionist margin 1.0 pts 1906: Liberal margin 27.5 pts Dec 1910: Liberal margin 9.0 pts Jan 1910: Liberal margin 12.9 pts 1918: Unionist margin 49.9 pts 1922: Unionist margin 33.4 pts 1923: Unionist margin 11.3 pts 1924: Unionist margin 28.7 pts 1929: Unionist margin 28.1 pts 1935: Unionist margin 67.1 pts 1945: Unionist margin 41.5 pts 1950: Unionist margin 40.4 pts 1951: Unionist margin 46.4 pts 1955: Unionist margin 35.0 pts 1959: Unionist margin 29.1 pts 1964: Unionist margin 19.4 pts 1966: Conservative margin 13.6 pts 1970: Conservative margin 11.6 pts Feb 1974: Conservative margin 14.2 pts Oct 1974: Conservative margin 7.7 pts 1979: Conservative margin 5.4 pts 1983: Conservative margin 8.2 pts 1987: Labour margin 3.8 pts 1992: Labour margin 9.4 pts 1997: Labour margin 25.5 pts 2001: Labour margin 14.8 pts 2005: Labour margin 0.9 pts 2010: Labour margin 0.7 pts 2015: Labour margin 5.3 pts 2017: Labour margin 32.4 pts 2019: Labour margin 22.3 pts 2024: Labour margin 36.8 pts 1885 1886 1892 1895 1900 1906 Dec 1910 Jan 1910 1918 1922 1923 1924 1929 1935 1945 1950 1951 1955 1959 1964 1966 1970 Feb 1974 Oct 1974 1979 1983 1987 1992 1997 2001 2005 2010 2015 2017 2019 2024

Trend

Edinburgh South has been contested at 37 general elections on record since 1885. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Independent Liberal, Liberal, Liberal Unionist, Unionist, Conservative, Labour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won Edinburgh South in the 2024 general election?

Labour won Edinburgh South in 2024 with 24,976 votes (53.3%), a majority of 17,251 votes over SNP in second place.

Which parties have won Edinburgh South since 1885?

Since 1885, Edinburgh South has been won by: Conservative, Independent Liberal, Labour, Liberal, Liberal Unionist, Unionist.

What was the closest result in Edinburgh South?

The closest result on record for Edinburgh South was 2010, when Labour beat Liberal Democrat by just 316 votes (0.7 percentage points).

Related Pages