1892 United Kingdom general election in Scotland

The 1892 United Kingdom general election was held from 4 to 26 July 1892,[1] and members were returned for all Scottish seats. Scotland was allocated 72 seats in total, of which 70 were territorial seats, comprising 32 burgh constituencies and 37 county constituencies.[e] There were also two university constituencies, Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities and Edinburgh and St Andrews Universities. As voters in university constituencies voted in addition to their territorial vote, the results are compiled separately.

1892 United Kingdom general election in Scotland

 1886
4–24 July 1892 (1892-07-04 1892-07-24)
1895 

All 72 Scottish seats to the House of Commons
  First party Second party
 
Leader William Ewart Gladstone Marquess of Salisbury
Party Liberal Conservative and Liberal Unionist
Last election 43[a][b] 29[a][c]
Seats won 51 21
Seat change Increase 8 Decrease 8
Popular vote 256,944[d] 209,944[d]
Percentage 53.9% 44.4%
Swing Increase 0.3% Decrease 2.0%

Results of the 1892 election in Scotland for the county and burgh seats
  Liberal
  Conservative
  Liberal Unionist

Although the Liberals, led by William Ewart Gladstone won a majority of the seats in Scotland, when combined with results from across the United Kingdom the Conservatives, led by Lord Salisbury again won the greatest number of seats, however they were no longer able to command a majority in the House of Commons. Salisbury refused to resign on hearing the election results and waited to be defeated in a vote of no confidence on 11 August. Gladstone formed a minority government dependent on Irish Nationalist support.

The election was the first election in Scotland to see meaningful attempts by groups associated with the trades union movement to win seats: the Scottish United Trades Councils Labour Party stood in four seats whilst the Scottish Labour Party (1888) stood in three seats. Neither group was able to win seats.

Results

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Seats summary

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Party Seats Last Election Seats change
  Liberal[b] 51 43 Increase 8
  Conservative and Liberal Unionist (Total) 21 29 Decrease 8
  Liberal Unionist 11 17 Decrease 6
  Conservative 10 12 Decrease 2
Total 72 72 Steady

Burgh & County constituencies

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Party Seats[1] Seats change Votes[1] % % Change
Liberal 51 Increase 8 256,944 53.9 Increase 0.3
Conservative & Liberal Unionist 19 Decrease 8 209,944 44.4 Decrease 2.0
Scottish Trades Councils Labour 0 Steady 2,313 0.5 Increase 0.5
Scottish Parliamentary Labour 0 Steady 2,043 0.4 Increase 0.4
  Other 0 Steady 3,886 0.8 Increase 0.8
Total 70 475,130 100.0
Turnout: 78.3[2] Increase 6.0

University constituencies

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The two university constituencies each elected an additional member to the house. In this election both seats were uncontested, with the sitting members being returned unopposed.

General election 1892: Edinburgh and St Andrews Universities[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Pearson Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1892: Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Alexander Campbell Unopposed
Conservative hold


Votes summary

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Popular vote[d]
Liberal
53.4%
Conservative and Liberal Unionist[c]
44.4%
Scottish Trades Councils Labour
0.5%
Scottish Parliamentary Labour
0.4%
Parliamentary seats[a]
Liberal
70.8%
Liberal Unionist
15.3%
Conservative
13.9%

Notes

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  1. 1 2 3 Combined results for burgh, county and university seats
  2. 1 2 The seat and vote count figures are compared to the combined results for the Liberals and the Independent Liberals/Crofters at the previous election.
  3. 1 2 The seat and vote count figures given here combines the Conservatives and the Liberal Unionists.
  4. 1 2 3 Total and percentage votes given here are for territorial constituencies only
  5. One burgh seat, Dundee, was represented by two members of parliament.

References

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  1. 1 2 3 Colin Rallings; Micheal Thrasher (2006). British Electoral Facts. Total Politics. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-907278-03-7.
  2. Colin Rallings; Micheal Thrasher (2006). British Electoral Facts. Total Politics. p. 87. ISBN 978-1-907278-03-7.
  3. 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons and Judicial Bench, 1916