Dunfermline and West Fife
An academic exploration of a former UK parliamentary constituency, detailing its historical context, representation, and electoral dynamics.
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Constituency Overview
Parliamentary Designation
The Dunfermline and West Fife constituency served as a county constituency for the House of Commons within the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was established for the 2005 general election, consolidating the entirety of the former Dunfermline West constituency with portions of the Dunfermline East constituency.
Temporal Scope
This electoral district was active from the 2005 general election until its dissolution following the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies. For the 2024 general election, its successor was established as the Dunfermline and Dollar constituency.
Geographical Context
Situated along the Firth of Forth, the constituency encompassed significant population centres such as Dunfermline, Inverkeithing, North Queensferry, and Rosyth. The northern and western areas featured more rugged Fife countryside, contrasting with the coastal settlements in the southeast.
Constituency Boundaries
Formation and Composition
The Dunfermline and West Fife constituency was meticulously formed in 2005 through the amalgamation of the entire former Dunfermline West constituency and substantial parts of the Dunfermline East constituency. This redistricting aimed to create a more balanced representation based on population shifts and electoral geography.
Geographic Features
The constituency's geography was defined by its proximity to the Firth of Forth. Key population centres like Rosyth and Inverkeithing were located on the southeastern coast. Inland, the area transitioned into the characteristic Fife countryside, with Dunfermline serving as the primary urban hub. This blend of coastal towns and rural hinterland shaped the constituency's demographic and political landscape.
Key Settlements
Royal Burghs
The constituency included several historic Royal Burghs, each with its own significance:
- Dunfermline: The principal town, with a population exceeding 55,000.
- Inverkeithing: A significant coastal burgh with a population of approximately 4,820.
- Culross: A smaller, historically rich burgh with around 395 residents (as of 2006).
Towns and Villages
Beyond the Royal Burghs, numerous towns and villages contributed to the constituency's population and character. Notable settlements with populations exceeding 1,000 included:
- Rosyth: A major town with approximately 13,570 inhabitants.
- Kincardine on Forth (2,940)
- Crossgates (2,830)
- Cairneyhill (2,510)
- Crossford (2,320)
- Valleyfield (2,280)
- Oakley (2,240)
- Limekilns (1,450)
- Saline (1,370)
- Townhill (1,160)
- North Queensferry (1,050)
- Torryburn (1,030)
Additionally, the constituency encompassed numerous electoral wards within Dunfermline and smaller outlying villages, contributing to a diverse local governance structure.
Parliamentary Representation
Historical MPs
The Dunfermline and West Fife constituency saw several Members of Parliament represent its constituents during its existence:
- Rachel Squire (Labour): Initially held the seat from its creation in 2005 until her passing in January 2006.
- Willie Rennie (Liberal Democrats): Won the subsequent by-election in February 2006, marking a significant gain for the Liberal Democrats in a traditionally Labour-held seat.
- Thomas Docherty (Labour): Reclaimed the seat for Labour in the 2010 general election.
- Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - SNP): Secured the constituency for the SNP in the 2015 general election, reflecting a broader national trend.
Electoral Dynamics
The constituency's electoral history is marked by notable shifts. The initial Labour hold was disrupted by a surprise Liberal Democrat by-election victory in 2006. Labour subsequently regained the seat in 2010, only for the SNP to achieve a significant gain in 2015. This pattern illustrates the dynamic political landscape of Scotland during this period.
Electoral Performance
Analysis of key general election results provides insight into the constituency's voting patterns.
2019 General Election
Result: SNP Hold
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ยฑ% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNP | Douglas Chapman | 23,727 | 44.4 | +8.9 |
| Labour Co-op | Cara Hilton | 13,028 | 24.4 | โ9.5 |
| Conservative | Moira Benny | 11,207 | 21.0 | โ3.7 |
| Liberal Democrats | Rebecca Bell | 4,262 | 8.0 | +2.1 |
| Green | Mags Hall | 1,258 | 2.4 | New |
| Majority | 10,699 | 20.0 | +18.4 | |
| Turnout | 53,482 | 69.8 | +2.4 | |
2017 General Election
Result: SNP Hold
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ยฑ% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNP | Douglas Chapman | 18,121 | 35.5 | โ14.8 |
| Labour Co-op | Cara Hilton | 17,277 | 33.9 | +2.2 |
| Conservative | Belinda Hacking | 12,593 | 24.7 | +12.8 |
| Liberal Democrats | James Calder | 3,019 | 5.9 | +1.9 |
| Majority | 844 | 1.6 | โ17.0 | |
| Turnout | 51,010 | 67.4 | โ4.2 | |
2015 General Election
Result: SNP Gain from Labour
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ยฑ% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNP | Douglas Chapman | 28,096 | 50.3 | +39.7 |
| Labour | Thomas Docherty | 17,744 | 31.7 | โ14.6 |
| Conservative | James Reekie | 6,623 | 11.9 | +5.1 |
| Liberal Democrats | Gillian Cole-Hamilton | 2,232 | 4.0 | โ31.1 |
| Green | Lewis Campbell | 1,195 | 2.1 | New |
| Majority | 10,352 | 18.6 | N/A | |
| Turnout | 55,890 | 71.6 | +5.2 | |
2010 General Election
Result: Labour Hold
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ยฑ% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Thomas Docherty | 22,639 | 46.3 | โ1.1 |
| Liberal Democrats | Willie Rennie | 17,169 | 35.1 | +14.9 |
| SNP | Joe McCall | 5,201 | 10.6 | โ8.3 |
| Conservative | Belinda Hacking | 3,305 | 6.8 | โ3.5 |
| UKIP | Otto Inglis | 633 | 1.3 | โ0.2 |
| Majority | 5,470 | 11.2 | โ16.0 | |
| Turnout | 48,947 | 66.4 | +6.5 | |
2006 By-Election
Result: Liberal Democrat Gain from Labour
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ยฑ% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Willie Rennie | 12,391 | 35.8 | +15.6 |
| Labour | Catherine Stihler | 10,591 | 30.6 | โ16.8 |
| SNP | Douglas Chapman | 7,261 | 21.0 | +2.1 |
| Conservative | Carrie Ruxton | 2,702 | 7.8 | โ2.5 |
| Scottish Socialist | John McAllion | 537 | 1.6 | 0.0 |
| Scottish Christian | George Hargreaves | 411 | 1.2 | New |
| Abolish Forth Bridge Tolls | Tom Minogue | 374 | 1.1 | New |
| UKIP | Ian Borland | 208 | 0.6 | โ0.9 |
| Common Good | Dick Rodgers | 103 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | 1,800 | 5.2 | N/A | |
| Turnout | 34,578 | 47.9 | โ12.0 | |
2005 General Election
Result: Labour Hold
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ยฑ% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Rachel Squire | 20,111 | 47.4 | โ7.1 |
| Liberal Democrats | David Herbert | 8,549 | 20.2 | +5.9 |
| SNP | Douglas Chapman | 8,026 | 18.9 | +1.1 |
| Conservative | Roger Smillie | 4,376 | 10.3 | +0.6 |
| Scottish Socialist | Susan Archibald | 689 | 1.6 | โ0.8 |
| UKIP | Ian Borland | 643 | 1.5 | +0.1 |
| Majority | 11,562 | 27.2 | โ13.0 | |
| Turnout | 42,394 | 59.9 | +2.3 | |
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References
References
- Boundary Commission Scotland 2023 Review Report
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs รขยย Constituencies beginning with "D" (part 4)
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Disclaimer
Important Notice Regarding Content
This document has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence model. The content is derived from publicly available data, primarily the Wikipedia article on the Dunfermline and West Fife (UK Parliament constituency), and is presented for educational and informational purposes. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness based on the source material, the AI cannot guarantee the absolute correctness, completeness, or timeliness of the information. Data related to political constituencies, electoral results, and historical boundaries can be subject to interpretation and change.
This is not official political commentary or advice. The information provided herein should not be considered a substitute for consulting official parliamentary records, electoral commission reports, or seeking expert analysis from political scientists or historians. Users should independently verify any critical information.
The creators of this content are not liable for any errors, omissions, or actions taken based on the information presented. The dynamic nature of political boundaries and electoral outcomes means that specific details may evolve over time.