# Kirkcaldy Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)

Kirkcaldy Burghs was a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (Westminster) from 1832 to 1974. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post voting system. From 1832 to 1950 it was, officially, a district of burghs constituency.

## Boundaries
### 1885–1918

Comprising Kirkcaldy, Burntisland, Dysart, Kinghorn and the Municipal Burgh of Kirkcaldy not included in the old Parliamentary Burgh (except that portion within the Parliamentary Borough of Dysart).

### 1918–1949

The burghs of Kirkcaldy, Buckhaven, Methil and Innerleven, Burntisland, Dysart and Kinghorn.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Election | Member | Party | Notes |
| | 1832 | Robert Ferguson | Whig |
| | 1835 | John Fergus | Whig |
| | 1837 | Robert Ferguson | Whig |
| | 1841 by-election | Robert Ferguson | Whig |
| | 1859 | Robert Ferguson | Liberal |
| | 1862 by-election | Roger Sinclair Aytoun | Liberal |
| | 1874 | Robert Reid | Liberal |
| | 1875 by-election | Sir George Campbell | Liberal |
| | 1885 | Sir George Campbell | Independent Liberal |
| | 1886 | Sir George Campbell | Liberal |
| | 1892 by-election | Henry Dalziel | Liberal | later Baron Dalziel of Kirkcaldy |
| | 1921 by-election | Thomas Kennedy | Labour |
| | 1922 | Sir Robert Hutchison | National Liberal | later Baron Hutchison of Montrose |
| | 1923 | Thomas Kennedy | Labour |
| | 1931 | Albert Russell | Unionist |
| | 1935 | Thomas Kennedy | Labour |
| | 1944 by-election | Thomas Hubbard | Labour |
| | 1959 | Harry Gourlay | Labour | subsequently MP for Kirkcaldy |
| Feb. 1974 | Feb. 1974 | constituency abolished: see Kirkcaldy | constituency abolished: see Kirkcaldy |

## Election results 1832–1885
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1832: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Robert Ferguson | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 507 | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
General election 1835: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | John Fergus | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 539 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1837: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Robert Ferguson | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 641 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

Ferguson's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 27 January 1841: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Ferguson | 218 | 62.5 | N/A |
| | Radical | John Bowring | 131 | 37.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 87 | 25.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 349 | 53.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 657 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1841: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Ferguson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 657 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1847: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Ferguson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 896 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Ferguson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 786 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1857: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Ferguson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 728 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1859: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert Ferguson | 312 | 51.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | William Harcourt | 294 | 48.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18 | 3.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 606 | 78.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 777 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

Ferguson resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 25 July 1862: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Roger Sinclair Aytoun | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1865: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Roger Sinclair Aytoun | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 816 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1868: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Roger Sinclair Aytoun | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,160 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert Reid | 1,967 | 61.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative | James Townsend Oswald | 1,228 | 38.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 739 | 23.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,195 | 84.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,766 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
Reid's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 23 Apr 1875: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Campbell | 1,811 | 60.7 | −0.9 |
| | Independent Liberal | William Jarvis Harker | 1,171 | 39.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 640 | 21.4 | −1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,982 | 78.2 | −6.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,811 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Campbell | 2,763 | 97.9 | +36.3 |
| | Conservative | Charles Scott | 59 | 2.1 | −36.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,704 | 95.8 | +72.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,822 | 63.2 | −21.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,465 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +36.3 | |

## Election results 1885–1918
### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1885: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Liberal | George Campbell | 2,180 | 49.2 | −48.7 |
| | Lib-Lab | John Malcolm Inglis | 1,504 | 34.0 | −63.9 |
| | Conservative | Hugh Munro | 746 | 16.8 | +14.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 676 | 15.2 | −80.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,430 | 83.9 | +20.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,282 | | |
| | Independent Liberal gain from Liberal | Independent Liberal gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
General election 1886: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Campbell | 2,014 | 68.9 | +19.7 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Thomas Barclay | 911 | 31.1 | +14.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,103 | 37.8 | +22.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,925 | 55.4 | −28.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,282 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Independent Liberal | Liberal gain from Independent Liberal | Swing | +2.7 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

1892 Kirkcaldy Burghs by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Dalziel | 2,567 | 62.6 | −6.3 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Robert Cox | 1,531 | 37.4 | +6.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,036 | 25.2 | −12.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,098 | 77.7 | +22.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,274 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -6.3 | |
General election 1892: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Dalziel | 2,741 | 74.5 | +5.6 |
| | Conservative | John Chisholm (politician) | 939 | 25.5 | −5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,802 | 49.0 | +11.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,680 | 69.8 | +14.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,274 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +5.6 | |
General election 1895: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Dalziel | 3,078 | 73.3 | −1.2 |
| | Conservative | Charles Granville Kekewich | 1,122 | 26.7 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,956 | 46.6 | −2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,200 | 72.3 | +2.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,808 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -1.2 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Dalziel | 3,354 | 62.5 | −10.8 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Michael Nairn | 2,013 | 37.5 | +10.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,341 | 25.0 | −21.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,367 | 78.1 | +5.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,872 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −10.8 | |
General election 1906: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Dalziel | 4,659 | 76.8 | +14.3 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Constable | 1,410 | 23.2 | −14.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,249 | 53.6 | +28.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,069 | 76.4 | −1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,943 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +14.3 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Dalziel | 5,035 | 75.2 | −1.6 |
| | Conservative | Arthur Anthony Baumann | 1,659 | 24.8 | +1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,376 | 50.4 | −3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,694 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -3.6 | |
General election December 1910: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Dalziel | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

## Election results 1918–1949
### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Liberal | Henry Dalziel | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1920s

1921 Kirkcaldy Burghs by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Kennedy | 11,674 | 53.4 | New |
| C | Liberal | Robert Cook Lockhart | 10,199 | 46.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,475 | 6.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,873 | 65.6 | N/A |
| | Labour gain from National Liberal | Labour gain from National Liberal | Swing | N/A | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
General election 1922: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Robert Hutchison | 12,762 | 51.4 | +4.8 |
| | Labour | Tom Kennedy | 12,089 | 48.6 | −4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 673 | 2.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,851 | 79.3 | +13.7 |
| | National Liberal gain from Labour | National Liberal gain from Labour | Swing | +4.8 | |
General election 1923: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Kennedy | 14,221 | 54.4 | +5.8 |
| | Liberal | Robert Hutchison | 11,937 | 45.6 | −5.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,284 | 8.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,158 | 81.7 | +2.4 |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | +5.8 | |
General election 1924: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Kennedy | 14,038 | 52.7 | −1.7 |
| | Liberal | John Murray | 12,607 | 47.3 | +1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,431 | 5.4 | −3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,645 | 81.8 | +0.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -1.7 | |
General election 1929: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Kennedy | 17,410 | 59.6 | +6.9 |
| | Unionist | Henry Scrymgeour-Wedderburn | 11,805 | 40.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,605 | 19.2 | +13.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,215 | 72.2 | −9.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Albert Russell | 19,132 | 56.9 | +16.5 |
| | Labour | Tom Kennedy | 14,492 | 43.1 | −16.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,640 | 13.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,624 | 81.1 | +8.9 |
| | Unionist gain from Labour | Unionist gain from Labour | Swing | +16.5 | |
General election 1935: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Kennedy | 19,457 | 56.3 | +13.2 |
| | Unionist | Albert Russell | 15,086 | 43.7 | −13.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,371 | 12.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,543 | 79.9 | −1.2 |
| | Labour gain from Unionist | Labour gain from Unionist | Swing | +13.2 | |

### Elections in the 1940s

1944 Kirkcaldy Burghs by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Thomas Hubbard | 8,268 | 51.6 | −4.7 |
| | SNP | Douglas Young | 6,621 | 41.3 | New |
| | Christian Socialist | Henry Hilditch | 1,136 | 7.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,647 | 10.3 | −2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,025 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1945: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Thomas Hubbard | 15,401 | 45.0 | −11.3 |
| | Unionist | Christopher Guest | 10,099 | 29.5 | −14.2 |
| | SNP | Douglas Young | 5,811 | 17.0 | N/A |
| | Communist | John McArthur | 2,898 | 8.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,302 | 15.5 | +2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,209 | 76.4 | −3.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.4 | |

## Election results 1950–1973
### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Thomas Hubbard | 25,756 | 59.97 | +14.95 |
| | Unionist | R Bell | 17,192 | 40.03 | +10.51 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,564 | 19.94 | +4.44 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,948 | 84.80 | +8.40 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.22 | |
General election 1951: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Thomas Hubbard | 26,885 | 60.59 | +0.62 |
| | National Liberal | Ralph Harris | 17,484 | 39.41 | −0.62 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,401 | 21.18 | +1.24 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,369 | 84.63 | −0.17 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.62 | |
General election 1955: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Thomas Hubbard | 23,861 | 59.28 | −1.31 |
| | National Liberal | Duncan Drummond Young | 16,392 | 40.72 | +1.31 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,469 | 18.56 | −2.62 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,253 | 75.31 | −9.32 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -1.31 | |
General election 1959: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Harry Gourlay | 25,428 | 58.28 | −1.00 |
| | Unionist | James Law QC | 14,186 | 32.51 | −8.21 |
| | Liberal | David Blyth | 4,020 | 9.21 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,242 | 25.77 | +7.21 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,634 | 80.46 | +5.15 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.61 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Harry Gourlay | 24,263 | 59.99 | +1.71 |
| | National Liberal | Neil Gow QC | 11,756 | 29.07 | −3.44 |
| | SNP | James C. Lees | 4,423 | 10.94 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,507 | 30.92 | +5.15 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,442 | 77.25 | −3.21 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1966: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Harry Gourlay | 23,273 | 59.62 | −0.37 |
| | Conservative | Neil Gow QC | 10,539 | 27.00 | −2.07 |
| | SNP | James C. Lees | 4,423 | 13.38 | +2.44 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,734 | 32.62 | +1.60 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,035 | 75.41 | −1.84 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 52,355 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.85 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Kirkcaldy Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Harry Gourlay | 22,986 | 56.01 | −3.61 |
| | Conservative | A Myles Hogg | 13,193 | 32.15 | +5.15 |
| | SNP | James C. Lees | 4,863 | 11.85 | −1.53 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,793 | 23.86 | −8.76 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,042 | 71.87 | −3.54 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 52,355 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -4.38 | |