# Ross and Cromarty (UK Parliament constituency)

Ross and Cromarty was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 1832 to 1983. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) using the first-past-the-post voting system.
When created in 1832 by the Scottish Reform Act 1832 it combined in one seat the former seats Ross-shire and Cromartyshire.
In 1918 Lewis (a large island several miles offshore) was taken from the seat and merged into the then new Western Isles constituency, and the Fortrose component of the former Inverness Burghs constituency and the Dingwall and Cromarty Parliamentary burghs which formed part of the Wick Burghs constituency were merged into the Ross and Cromarty constituency.
In 1983 the remaining area of the seat was merged with the Isle of Skye and Isle of Raasay areas of the then-Inverness seat to form Ross, Cromarty and Skye.

## Local government areas

1890 to 1918
County councils were created in Scotland in 1890, and so the constituency area became also the county council area of Ross and Cromarty, minus the Fortrose, Dingwall and Cromarty parliamentary burghs.
1918 to 1975
When reformed in 1918 the constituency covered the county of Ross and Cromarty (including the former parliamentary burghs) minus Lewis.
1975 to 1983
County councils were abolished in 1975 and replaced with regions and districts and island council areas. The constituency area was then that of the district of Ross and Cromarty plus the Lochalsh area of Skye and Lochalsh. Both districts were within the Highland region.
See also
* Counties of Scotland
* Regions and districts of Scotland

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 1832 | James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie | Whig |
| | 1837 | Thomas Mackenzie | Conservative |
| | 1847 | Sir James Matheson | Whig |
| | 1859 | Sir James Matheson | Liberal |
| | 1868 | Alexander Matheson | Liberal |
| | 1884 | Ronald Munro-Ferguson Later Viscount Novar | Liberal |
| | 1885 | Roderick Macdonald | Crofters' Party |
| | 1892 | James Galloway Weir | Liberal |
| | 1911 | Ian Macpherson (Later made Baron Strathcarron) | Liberal |
| | 1931 | Ian Macpherson (Later made Baron Strathcarron) | Liberal National |
| | 1936 | Malcolm MacDonald | National Labour |
| | 1945 | John MacLeod | Independent Liberal |
| | 1947 | John MacLeod | National Liberal |
| | 1964 | Alasdair Mackenzie | Liberal |
| | 1970 | Hamish Gray | Conservative |
| 1983 | 1983 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

## Election results
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1832: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie | 272 | 64.8 |
| | Tory | Hugh Alexander Johnstone Munro | 148 | 35.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 124 | 29.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 420 | 81.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 516 | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
General election 1835: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie | 241 | 54.6 | −10.2 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Mackenzie | 200 | 45.4 | +10.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 41 | 9.2 | −20.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 441 | 74.2 | −7.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 594 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −10.2 | |
Stewart-Mackenzie resigned after being appointed as Governor Ceylon, causing a by-election.
By-election, 18 April 1837: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Mackenzie | 307 | 61.0 | +15.6 |
| | Whig | William Mackenzie | 196 | 39.0 | −15.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 111 | 22.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 503 | 66.7 | −7.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 754 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +15.6 | |
General election 1837: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Thomas Mackenzie | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 754 | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Mackenzie | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 713 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1847: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | James Matheson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 827 | | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | James Matheson | 288 | 56.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | George William Holmes Ross | 218 | 43.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 70 | 13.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 506 | 60.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 832 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1857: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | James Matheson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 825 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1859: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Matheson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 851 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Matheson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 933 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1868: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alexander Matheson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,564 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alexander Matheson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,559 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alexander Matheson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,664 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
Matheson's resignation caused a by-election.
By-election, 22 August 1884: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ronald Munro-Ferguson | 717 | 55.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Alasdair Mackenzie | 334 | 25.7 | New |
| | Crofters | Roderick Macdonald | 248 | 19.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 383 | 29.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,299 | 75.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,721 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1885: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Liberal (Crofters) | Roderick Macdonald | 4,942 | 62.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Ronald Munro-Ferguson | 2,925 | 37.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,017 | 25.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,867 | 76.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,265 | | |
| | Independent Liberal gain from Liberal | Independent Liberal gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1886: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal (Crofters) | Roderick Macdonald | 4,263 | 78.1 | +40.9 |
| | Liberal Unionist | John Peter Grant | 1,197 | 21.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,066 | 56.2 | +30.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,460 | 53.2 | −23.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,265 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Independent Liberal | Liberal gain from Independent Liberal | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal (Crofters) | Galloway Weir | 3,171 | 56.8 | −21.3 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Neil Maclean | 2,413 | 43.2 | +21.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 758 | 13.6 | −42.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,584 | 62.3 | +9.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,966 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −21.3 | |
General election 1895: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Galloway Weir | 3,272 | 57.6 | +0.8 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Randle Jackson | 2,409 | 42.4 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 863 | 15.2 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,681 | 68.8 | +6.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,256 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +0.8 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Galloway Weir | 3,554 | 68.3 | +10.7 |
| | Conservative | J.D. Fletcher | 1,651 | 31.7 | −10.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,903 | 36.6 | +21.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,205 | 65.8 | −3.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,909 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +10.7 | |
General election 1906: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Galloway Weir | 3,883 | 68.7 | +0.4 |
| | Conservative | James Crabb Watt | 1,771 | 31.3 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,112 | 37.4 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,654 | 69.8 | +4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,101 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +0.4 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Galloway Weir | 4,430 | 75.8 | +7.1 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Neil Maclean | 1,418 | 24.2 | −7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,012 | 51.6 | +14.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,848 | 71.2 | +1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,211 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +7.1 | |
General election December 1910: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Galloway Weir | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
1911 Ross and Cromarty by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ian Macpherson | 3,717 | 74.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal Unionist | William Templeton | 1,253 | 25.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,464 | 49.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,970 | 60.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,259 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
General Election 1914–15:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
* Liberal: Ian Macpherson
* Unionist: MacLeod
General election 1918: Ross and Cromarty Shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Liberal | Ian Macpherson | 8,358 | 78.9 | N/A |
| | Highland Land League | Hector Munro | 2,238 | 21.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,120 | 57.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,636 | 51.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Ross and Cromarty :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Ian Macpherson | 5,923 | 56.7 | −22.2 |
| | Liberal | John Macdonald | 4,521 | 43.3 | −35.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,402 | 13.4 | −44.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,444 | 42.4 | −8.8 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1923: Ross and Cromarty :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ian Macpherson | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1924: Ross and Cromarty :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ian Macpherson | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1929: Ross and Cromarty :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ian Macpherson | 9,564 | 58.8 | N/A |
| | Labour | Hugh Donald MacIntosh | 6,710 | 41.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,854 | 17.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,274 | 55.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Ross and Cromarty :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Ian Macpherson | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1935: Ross and Cromarty :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Ian Macpherson | 10,810 | 76.7 | N/A |
| | Labour | John MacKinnon MacDiarmid | 3,284 | 23.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,526 | 53.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,094 | 50.8 | N/A |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
1936 Ross and Cromarty by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Labour | Malcolm MacDonald | 8,949 | 49.5 | N/A |
| | Labour | Hector McNeil | 5,967 | 33.0 | +9.7 |
| | Unionist | Randolph Churchill | 2,427 | 13.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Russell Thomas | 738 | 4.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,982 | 16.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,081 | 62.4 | +11.6 |
| | National Labour gain from National Liberal | National Labour gain from National Liberal | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General Election 1939–40
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;
* National Labour: Malcolm MacDonald
* Labour: Malcolm MacEwen
General election 1945: Ross and Cromarty :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Liberal | John MacLeod | 10,061 | 62.8 | New |
| | Labour | Angus Mackay Mackintosh | 5,959 | 37.2 | +13.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,102 | 25.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,020 | 62.4 | +11.6 |
| | Independent Liberal gain from National Labour | Independent Liberal gain from National Labour | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Ross and Cromarty :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | John MacLeod | 10,912 | 62.6 | New |
| | Labour | Alastair C Reid | 6,521 | 37.4 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,391 | 25.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,433 | 63.1 | +0.7 |
| | National Liberal gain from Independent Liberal | National Liberal gain from Independent Liberal | Swing | | |
General election 1951: Ross and Cromarty :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | John MacLeod | 10,969 | 64.25 | +1.6 |
| | Labour | Alastair C Reid | 6,104 | 35.75 | −1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,865 | 28.5 | +3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,073 | 57.5 | −5.6 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Ross and Cromarty :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | John MacLeod | 9,929 | 62.3 | −1.9 |
| | Labour | Jane B Saggar | 6,003 | 37.7 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,926 | 24.6 | −3.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,932 | 61.9 | +4.4 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | | |
General election 1959: Ross and Cromarty :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | John MacLeod | 7,813 | 47.2 | −15.1 |
| | Labour | Jane B Saggar | 4,815 | 29.1 | −8.6 |
| | Liberal | Colin Murchison | 3,918 | 23.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,998 | 18.1 | −6.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,902 | 75.2 | +13.3 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Ross and Cromarty :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alasdair Mackenzie | 6,923 | 40.2 | +16.5 |
| | National Liberal | John MacLeod | 5,516 | 32.1 | −15.1 |
| | Labour | William Alexander Ross | 4,767 | 27.7 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,407 | 8.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,306 | 69.4 | −5.8 |
| | Liberal gain from National Liberal | Liberal gain from National Liberal | Swing | | |
General election 1966: Ross and Cromarty :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alasdair Mackenzie | 7,348 | 42.1 | +1.9 |
| | Labour | William Alexander Ross | 5,304 | 30.4 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative | Allan John Cameron | 4,820 | 27.6 | −4.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,044 | 11.7 | +3.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,472 | 71.2 | +1.8 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Ross and Cromarty :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hamish Gray | 6,418 | 33.2 | +5.6 |
| | Liberal | Alasdair Mackenzie | 5,617 | 29.1 | −13.0 |
| | Labour | Ronald D. Maclean | 5,023 | 26.0 | −4.4 |
| | SNP | George Nicholson | 2,268 | 11.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 801 | 4.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,326 | 71.7 | +0.5 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
General election February 1974: Ross and Cromarty :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hamish Gray | 7,908 | 36.1 | +2.9 |
| | SNP | Willie McRae | 5,037 | 23.0 | +11.3 |
| | Liberal | John C. Robertson | 4,621 | 21.1 | −8.0 |
| | Labour | Ronald D. Maclean | 4,336 | 19.8 | −6.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,871 | 13.1 | +9.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,902 | 75.2 | +3.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Ross and Cromarty :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hamish Gray | 7,954 | 38.9 | +2.8 |
| | SNP | Willie McRae | 7,291 | 35.7 | +12.7 |
| | Labour | Brian Wilson | 3,440 | 16.8 | −3.0 |
| | Liberal | Tam Glen | 1,747 | 8.6 | −12.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 663 | 3.2 | −9.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,432 | 69.5 | −5.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1979: Ross and Cromarty :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hamish Gray | 10,650 | 42.4 | +3.5 |
| | SNP | Willie McRae | 5,915 | 23.6 | −12.1 |
| | Labour | Keir Bloomer | 5,055 | 20.1 | +3.3 |
| | Liberal | Hamish Morrison | 3,496 | 13.9 | +5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,735 | 18.8 | +15.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 25,116 | 76.4 | +6.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |