Fife's Electoral Frontier
An academic exploration of the North East Fife UK Parliament constituency, detailing its history, boundaries, electoral performance, and representation.
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Constituency Overview
Designation
North East Fife is a county constituency within Scotland, represented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. It was established in 1983.
Electorate & Settlements
As of March 2020, the constituency comprised 70,452 registered electors. Key urban centres within its boundaries include the historic university town of St Andrews, Cupar, Leuchars, and parts of Leven.
Current Representation
The current Member of Parliament (MP) for North East Fife is Wendy Chamberlain, representing the Liberal Democrats. She secured the seat in the 2019 general election.
Historical Context
Evolution of Representation
Established in 1983, the constituency was initially held by the Conservative Party for its first four years. Subsequently, it was represented by Sir Menzies Campbell, a prominent figure in the Liberal Party and later the Liberal Democrats, from 1987 until 2015. The seat then transitioned to the Scottish National Party (SNP) with the election of Stephen Gethins in 2015, who retained it in 2017 by a narrow margin.
Electoral Dynamics
The 2017 general election saw North East Fife become the most marginal constituency in the United Kingdom, with the SNP candidate winning by a mere two votes. This close contest underscored the constituency's volatile political landscape. In the 2019 general election, Wendy Chamberlain of the Liberal Democrats regained the seat, marking a significant shift and highlighting the constituency's competitive nature.
Constituency Boundaries
Boundary Reviews
The constituency's geographical definition has undergone revisions. From 1983 to 2005, it largely corresponded to the North East Fife District. Following the Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, its boundaries were slightly expanded in 2005 to incorporate parts of the town of Leven, encompassing areas previously outside its scope.
Recent Adjustments
The most recent boundary review, effective from the 2024 general election, has led to further modifications. The constituency now includes specific wards of Fife Council, such as Howe of Fife and Tay Coast, Tay Bridgehead, St Andrews, East Neuk and Landward, Cupar, and Leven, Kennoway and Largo. These changes involved the transfer of areas, including parts of Leven, from the Glenrothes constituency.
Parliamentary Representation
Historical MPs
The constituency has seen representation from several parties since its inception:
- Barry Henderson (Conservative): 1983โ1987
- Sir Menzies Campbell (Liberal/Liberal Democrats): 1987โ2015
- Stephen Gethins (SNP): 2015โ2019
- Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrats): 2019โPresent
Electoral Performance
Recent Election Results
The electoral history of North East Fife is characterized by close contests and shifts in party dominance. The following tables summarise key results from recent general elections:
2024 General Election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ยฑ% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Wendy Chamberlain | 23,384 | 54.7 | +15.1 | |
| SNP | Stefan Hoggan-Radu | 9,905 | 23.2 | โ17.8 | |
| Labour | Jennifer Gallagher | 4,026 | 9.4 | +3.9 | |
| Reform UK | Matthew Wren | 2,094 | 4.9 | +4.5 | |
| Conservative | Bill Bowman | 1,666 | 3.9 | โ9.8 | |
| Green | Morven Ovenstone-Jones | 1,653 | 3.9 | New | |
| Majority | 13,479 | 31.5 | +28.6 | ||
| Turnout | 42,728 | 61.5 | โ13.8 | ||
Historical Election Data
Further details on past electoral contests illustrate the constituency's shifting political allegiances:
2019 General Election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ยฑ% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Wendy Chamberlain | 19,763 | 43.1 | +10.2 | |
| SNP | Stephen Gethins | 18,447 | 40.2 | +7.3 | |
| Conservative | Tony Miklinski | 5,961 | 13.0 | โ11.1 | |
| Labour | Wendy Haynes | 1,707 | 3.7 | โ5.9 | |
| Majority | 1,316 | 2.9 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 45,878 | 75.3 | +4.0 | ||
2017 General Election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ยฑ% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNP | Stephen Gethins | 13,743 | 32.86 | โ8.0 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Elizabeth Riches | 13,741 | 32.85 | +1.6 | |
| Conservative | Tony Miklinski | 10,088 | 24.1 | +7.8 | |
| Labour | Rosalind Garton | 4,026 | 9.6 | +1.9 | |
| Independent | Mike Scott-Hayward | 224 | 0.5 | โ0.2 | |
| Majority | 2 | 0.01 | โ9.6 | ||
| Turnout | 41,822 | 71.3 | โ1.7 | ||
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References
References
- 2023 Review UK Parliament constituencies Boundary Commission for Scotland
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs รขยย Constituencies beginning with "F"
- Uberoi, Cracknell & McGuiness 2020, pp.ย 71รขยย72.
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Disclaimer
Important Notice
This content has been generated by an AI model for educational purposes, drawing upon publicly available data. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and adherence to the source material, it may not be exhaustive or reflect the most current information.
This is not political advice. The information presented here is for academic understanding and analysis of electoral geography and history. It should not be used as a basis for making political decisions or forming opinions without consulting primary sources and expert analysis.
The creators of this page are not liable for any inaccuracies, omissions, or actions taken based on the information provided.