Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30
West Lothian was won by Labour at the 1979 general election, with a majority of 20,082 votes over SNP. This page covers every general election in West Lothian from 1950 to 1979.
Full Election History, 1950–1979
Election
Elected
Votes
Vote Share
Runner-up
Majority
Turnout
1950
George Mathers (Labour)
27,236
60.6%
William Mcewan Younger (Unionist)
11,237 (25.0 pts)
79.1%
1951
John Taylor (Labour)
28,906
60.5%
Humphrey Edward Gregory Atkins (Unionist)
10,052 (21.1 pts)
84.9%
1955
John Taylor (Labour)
25,654
59.7%
William Grieve (Unionist)
8,307 (19.3 pts)
75.4%
1959
John Taylor (Labour)
27,454
60.3%
W Ian Stewart (Unionist)
9,371 (20.6 pts)
77.9%
1964
Thomas Dalyell (Labour)
24,933
50.3%
William Cuthbertson Wolfe (SNP)
9,846 (19.9 pts)
79.5%
1966
Tam Dalyell (Labour)
26,662
52.4%
William Wolfe (SNP)
8,707 (17.1 pts)
79.6%
1970
Tam Dalyell (Labour)
29,360
52.9%
William Wolfe (SNP)
13,740 (24.8 pts)
76.7%
Feb 1974
Tam Dalyell (Labour)
28,112
45.3%
William Wolfe (SNP)
6,422 (10.3 pts)
80.6%
Oct 1974
Tom Dalyell (Labour)
27,687
45.3%
William Wolfe (SNP)
2,690 (4.4 pts)
78.8%
1979
Tom Dalyell (Labour)
36,713
54.9%
William Wolfe (SNP)
20,082 (30.0 pts)
78.1%
Full Result Breakdown by Election
1950
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
George Mathers
Labour
27,236
60.6%
Yes
William Mcewan Younger
Unionist
15,999
35.6%
No
Maxwell Hynd
Scottish Self-Government
1,039
2.3%
No
James Borrowman
Communist
664
1.5%
No
1951
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
John Taylor
Labour
28,906
60.5%
Yes
Humphrey Edward Gregory Atkins
Unionist
18,854
39.5%
No
1955
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
John Taylor
Labour
25,654
59.7%
Yes
William Grieve
Unionist
17,347
40.3%
No
1959
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
John Taylor
Labour
27,454
60.3%
Yes
W Ian Stewart
Unionist
18,083
39.7%
No
1964
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Thomas Dalyell
Labour
24,933
50.3%
Yes
William Cuthbertson Wolfe
SNP
15,087
30.4%
No
RA Gordon Stuart
Unionist
8,919
18.0%
No
Irene Swan
Communist
610
1.2%
No
1966
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Tam Dalyell
Labour
26,662
52.4%
Yes
William Wolfe
SNP
17,955
35.3%
No
Dr David MacKinnon
Conservative
5,726
11.2%
No
Irene Swan
Communist
567
1.1%
No
1970
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Tam Dalyell
Labour
29,360
52.9%
Yes
William Wolfe
SNP
15,620
28.2%
No
Michael Ancram
Conservative
10,048
18.1%
No
Christopher Bett
Communist
459
0.8%
No
Feb 1974
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Tam Dalyell
Labour
28,112
45.3%
Yes
William Wolfe
SNP
21,690
35.0%
No
Alexander Pollock
Conservative
11,804
19.0%
No
Christ Bett
Communist
438
0.7%
No
Oct 1974
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Tom Dalyell
Labour
27,687
45.3%
Yes
William Wolfe
SNP
24,997
40.9%
No
Anthony Lester
Conservative
6,086
10.0%
No
Hector MacAulay
Liberal
2,083
3.4%
No
Christ Bett
Communist
247
0.4%
No
1979
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Tom Dalyell
Labour
36,713
54.9%
Yes
William Wolfe
SNP
16,631
24.9%
No
John Whyte
Conservative
13,162
19.7%
No
William Sneddon
Communist
404
0.6%
No
Margin Over Time
Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.
Trend
West Lothian has been contested at 10 general elections on record since 1950. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Labour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won West Lothian in the 1979 general election?
Labour won West Lothian in 1979 with 36,713 votes (54.9%), a majority of 20,082 votes over SNP in second place.
Which parties have won West Lothian since 1950?
Since 1950, West Lothian has been won by: Labour.
What was the closest result in West Lothian?
The closest result on record for West Lothian was Oct 1974, when Labour beat SNP by just 2,690 votes (4.4 percentage points).