# Orkney and Shetland (UK Parliament constituency)

Orkney and Shetland (Scottish Gaelic: Arcaibh agus Sealtainn) is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election and has been represented by Alistair Carmichael of the Scottish Liberal Democrats since 2001. In the Scottish Parliament, Orkney and Shetland are separate constituencies. The constituency was historically known as Orkney and Zetland (an alternative name for Shetland).
In the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, 65.4% of the constituency's electors voted for Scotland to stay part of the United Kingdom.

## Creation

The British parliamentary constituency was created in 1708 following the Acts of Union, 1707 and replaced the former Parliament of Scotland shire constituency of Orkney & Zetland.

## Boundaries

The constituency is made up of the two northernmost island groups of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland. A constituency of this name has existed continuously since 1708. However, before 1918 the town of Kirkwall (the capital of Orkney) formed part of the Northern Burghs constituency. It is the most northerly of the 650 UK Parliament constituencies.
The constituency is one of five "protected constituencies", the others being Na h-Eileanan an Iar, two on the Isle of Wight, and Ynys Môn, defined exclusively by geography rather than by size of electorate. The constituency contains the areas of the Orkney Islands Council and the Shetland Islands Council. Before 2011 the constituency had been unique in having its boundaries protected by legislation.
The constituency has the second smallest electorate of any UK parliamentary constituency, after Na h-Eileanan an Iar.

## History

The constituency has elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post since its creation in 1707.
Although called Orkney and Shetland, prior to the Scottish Reform Act 1832 there were no eligible voters from Shetland. This was due to the land tenure and valuation structures used in Shetland, which meant no-one could show that they met the property qualification to be eligible to vote. This was a source of resentment in Shetland; its residents made several attempts to argue that some different form of valuation should be acceptable to show eligibility, but they were unsuccessful until the wider reforms of 1832.
The constituency has remained largely unchanged since its creation. The town of Kirkwall was added in 1918, having previously been part of Wick Burghs.

## Members of Parliament

The constituency has elected only Liberal and Liberal Democrat MPs since 1950; the longest run of any British parliamentary constituency. At each general election from 1955 until 1979, in 1987, 2010 and again in 2017 it was the safest Liberal Democrat seat in the UK. At the 2015 general election, it was the only seat in Scotland to return a Liberal Democrat MP.
| Year | Member | Party |
| 1707 | Sir Alexander Douglas | |
| 1713 | George Douglas | |
| 1715 | James Moodie | |
| 1722 | George Douglas | |
| 1730 by-election | Robert Douglas | |
| 1747 | James Halyburton | |
| 1754 | James Douglas | |
| 1768 | Thomas Dundas I | |
| 1771 by-election | Thomas Dundas II | |
| 1780 | Robert Baikie | |
| 1781 | Charles Dundas | |
| 1784 | Thomas Dundas II | |
| 1790 | John Balfour | Tory |
| 1796 | Capt. Robert Honyman I | |
| 1806 | Col. Robert Honyman II | |
| 1807 | Malcolm Laing | Whig |
| 1812 | Richard Honyman | Whig |
| 1818 | George Dundas | Whig |
| 1820 | John Balfour | |
| 1826 | George Dundas | Whig |
| 1830 | George Traill | Whig |
| 1835 | Thomas Balfour | Conservative |
| 1837 | Frederick Dundas | Whig |
| 1847 | Arthur Anderson | Whig |
| 1852 | Frederick Dundas | Whig |
| 1859 | Frederick Dundas | Liberal |
| 1873 by-election | Samuel Laing | Liberal |
| 1885 | Leonard Lyell | Liberal |
| 1900 | Cathcart Wason | Liberal Unionist |
| 1902 by-election | Cathcart Wason | Independent Liberal |
| 1906 | Cathcart Wason | Liberal |
| 1918 | Cathcart Wason | Coalition Liberal |
| 1921 by-election | Malcolm Smith | Coalition Liberal |
| 1922 | Robert Hamilton | Liberal |
| 1935 | Basil Neven-Spence | Unionist |
| 1950 | Jo Grimond | Liberal |
| 1983 | Jim Wallace | Liberal |
| 1992 | Jim Wallace | Liberal Democrat |
| 2001 | Alistair Carmichael | Liberal Democrat |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alistair Carmichael | 11,392 | 55.1 | +10.3 |
| | SNP | Robert Leslie | 3,585 | 17.3 | −16.7 |
| | Scottish Green | Alex Armitage | 2,046 | 9.9 | New |
| | Reform UK | Robert Smith | 1,586 | 7.7 | +3.8 |
| | Labour | Conor Savage | 1,493 | 7.2 | +0.5 |
| | Conservative | Shane Painter | 586 | 2.8 | −7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,807 | 37.8 | +27.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,688 | 60.4 | −7.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 34,236 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +13.5 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alistair Carmichael | 10,381 | 44.8 | −3.8 |
| | SNP | Robert Leslie | 7,874 | 34.0 | +5.0 |
| | Conservative | Jenny Fairbairn | 2,287 | 9.9 | +1.2 |
| | Labour | Coilla Drake | 1,550 | 6.7 | −4.7 |
| | Brexit Party | Robert Smith | 900 | 3.9 | New |
| | Independent | David Barnard | 168 | 0.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,507 | 10.8 | −8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,160 | 67.7 | −0.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | −4.4 | |
General election 2017: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alistair Carmichael | 11,312 | 48.6 | +7.2 |
| | SNP | Miriam Brett | 6,749 | 29.0 | −8.8 |
| | Labour | Robina Barton | 2,664 | 11.4 | +4.3 |
| | Conservative | Jamie Halcro Johnston | 2,024 | 8.7 | −0.2 |
| | UKIP | Robert Smith | 283 | 1.2 | −3.6 |
| | Independent | Stuart Hill | 245 | 1.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,563 | 19.6 | +16.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,277 | 68.1 | +2.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +8.0 | |
General election 2015: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alistair Carmichael | 9,407 | 41.4 | −20.6 |
| | SNP | Danus Skene | 8,590 | 37.8 | +27.2 |
| | Conservative | Donald Cameron | 2,025 | 8.9 | −1.6 |
| | Labour | Gerry McGarvey | 1,624 | 7.1 | −3.6 |
| | UKIP | Robert Smith | 1,082 | 4.8 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 817 | 3.6 | −47.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,728 | 65.8 | +7.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | −23.9 | |
General election 2010: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alistair Carmichael | 11,989 | 62.0 | +10.5 |
| | Labour | Mark Cooper | 2,061 | 10.7 | −3.5 |
| | SNP | John Mowat | 2,042 | 10.6 | +0.3 |
| | Conservative | Frank Nairn | 2,032 | 10.5 | −2.8 |
| | UKIP | Robert Smith | 1,222 | 6.3 | +3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,928 | 51.3 | +14.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,346 | 58.5 | +4.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +7.0 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alistair Carmichael | 9,138 | 51.5 | +10.2 |
| | Labour | Richard Meade | 2,511 | 14.2 | −6.4 |
| | Conservative | Frank Nairn | 2,357 | 13.3 | −5.4 |
| | SNP | John Mowat | 1,833 | 10.3 | −4.5 |
| | Scottish Socialist | John Aberdein | 992 | 5.6 | +1.0 |
| | UKIP | Scott Dyble | 424 | 2.4 | New |
| | Legalise Cannabis | Paul Cruickshank | 311 | 1.8 | New |
| | Free Scotland Party | Brian Nugent | 176 | 1.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,627 | 37.3 | +16.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,742 | 53.7 | +1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +8.3 | |
General election 2001: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alistair Carmichael | 6,919 | 41.3 | −10.7 |
| | Labour | Robert Mochrie | 3,444 | 20.6 | +2.3 |
| | Conservative | John Firth | 3,121 | 18.7 | +6.5 |
| | SNP | John Mowat | 2,473 | 14.8 | +2.1 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Peter Andrews | 776 | 4.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,475 | 20.7 | −13.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,733 | 52.4 | −11.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | −13.0 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jim Wallace | 10,743 | 52.0 | +5.6 |
| | Labour | James Paton | 3,775 | 18.3 | −1.5 |
| | SNP | Willie Ross | 2,624 | 12.7 | +1.5 |
| | Conservative | Hope Anderson | 2,527 | 12.2 | −9.8 |
| | Referendum | Francis Adamson | 820 | 4.0 | New |
| | Natural Law | Christian Wharton | 116 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | Arthur Robertson | 60 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,968 | 33.7 | +10.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,665 | 64.0 | −1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +3.6 | |
General election 1992: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jim Wallace | 9,575 | 46.4 | +4.7 |
| | Conservative | Paul McCormick | 4,542 | 22.0 | −1.3 |
| | Labour | John Aberdein | 4,093 | 19.8 | +1.1 |
| | SNP | Frances McKie | 2,301 | 11.2 | New |
| | Natural Law | Christian Wharton | 115 | 0.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,033 | 24.4 | +6.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,626 | 65.5 | −3.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +3.0 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Jim Wallace | 8,881 | 41.7 | −4.2 |
| | Conservative | Richard Jenkins | 4,959 | 23.3 | −2.3 |
| | Labour | John Aberdein | 3,995 | 18.7 | +5.6 |
| | Orkney and Shetland Movement | John Goodlad | 3,095 | 14.5 | New |
| | Green | Grierson Collister | 389 | 1.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,922 | 18.4 | −1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,319 | 68.7 | −0.1 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
General election 1983: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Jim Wallace | 9,374 | 45.9 | −10.5 |
| | Conservative | David Myles | 5,224 | 25.6 | +4.3 |
| | SNP | Winifred Ewing | 3,147 | 15.4 | +10.6 |
| | Labour | Robina Goodlad | 2,665 | 13.1 | −4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,150 | 20.3 | −14.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,410 | 67.8 | +0.6 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Jo Grimond | 10,950 | 56.4 | +0.2 |
| | Conservative | Charles Donaldson | 4,140 | 21.3 | +7.1 |
| | Labour | Robina Goodlad | 3,385 | 17.4 | +5.0 |
| | SNP | Michael Spens | 935 | 4.8 | −12.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,810 | 35.1 | −3.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,410 | 67.2 | +0.4 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −3.5 | |
General election October 1974: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Jo Grimond | 9,877 | 56.2 | −5.8 |
| | SNP | Howard Firth | 3,025 | 17.2 | New |
| | Conservative | Raymond M. Fraser | 2,495 | 14.2 | −8.4 |
| | Labour | Jonathan W. G. Wills | 2,175 | 12.4 | −3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,852 | 39.0 | −0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,572 | 66.8 | −4.3 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −11.5 | |
General election February 1974: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Jo Grimond | 11,491 | 62.0 | +15.0 |
| | Conservative | John L. Firth | 4,186 | 22.6 | −9.3 |
| | Labour | Jonathan W. G. Wills | 2,865 | 15.5 | −5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,305 | 39.4 | +24.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,542 | 71.1 | +5.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +12.2 | |
General election 1970: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Jo Grimond | 7,896 | 47.0 | −12.1 |
| | Conservative | John L. Firth | 5,364 | 31.9 | +9.6 |
| | Labour | William Macpherson Reid | 3,552 | 21.1 | +2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,532 | 15.1 | −21.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,812 | 65.6 | +0.4 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −10.9 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Jo Grimond | 9,605 | 59.1 | −3.5 |
| | Unionist | John L. Firth | 3,630 | 22.3 | +2.3 |
| | Labour | Hugh Lynch | 3,021 | 18.6 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,975 | 36.8 | −5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,256 | 65.2 | −7.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
General election 1964: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Jo Grimond | 11,604 | 62.6 | −1.5 |
| | Unionist | John L. Firth | 3,704 | 20.0 | +1.5 |
| | Labour | Ian MacInnes | 3,232 | 17.4 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,900 | 42.6 | −3.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,540 | 72.7 | +1.4 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Jo Grimond | 12,099 | 64.1 | +0.3 |
| | Unionist | Robert Hunter Wingate Bruce | 3,487 | 18.5 | −1.9 |
| | Labour | Robert S. McGowan | 3,275 | 17.4 | +1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,612 | 45.6 | +2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,861 | 71.3 | +5.2 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Jo Grimond | 11,753 | 63.8 | +6.3 |
| | Unionist | John W. Eunson | 3,760 | 20.4 | −6.2 |
| | Labour | Edgar Ramsay | 2,914 | 15.8 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,993 | 43.4 | +12.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,427 | 66.1 | −2.9 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
General election 1951: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Jo Grimond | 11,745 | 57.5 | +10.7 |
| | Unionist | Archibald Tennant | 5,354 | 26.2 | −5.7 |
| | Labour | Magnus A. Fairnie | 3,335 | 16.2 | −3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,391 | 31.3 | +16.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,434 | 69.0 | +1.4 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
General election 1950: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Jo Grimond | 9,237 | 46.8 | +12.6 |
| | Unionist | Basil Neven-Spence | 6,281 | 31.9 | −4.1 |
| | Labour | Harald Leslie | 3,335 | 21.3 | −8.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,956 | 14.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,716 | 67.7 | +12.2 |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Basil Neven-Spence | 6,304 | 36.0 | −21.6 |
| | Liberal | Jo Grimond | 5,975 | 34.2 | −8.2 |
| | Labour | Prophet Smith | 5,208 | 29.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 329 | 1.8 | −13.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,487 | 55.5 | +9.2 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1930s

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;
* Conservative: Basil Neven-Spence
* Liberal: Louise Glen-Coats
General election 1935: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Basil Neven-Spence | 8,406 | 57.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Robert Hamilton | 6,180 | 42.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,226 | 15.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,586 | 46.3 | N/A |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1931: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert Hamilton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert Hamilton | 8,256 | 60.4 | N/A |
| | Unionist | Basil Neven-Spence | 5,404 | 39.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,852 | 20.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,660 | 43.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1924: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert Hamilton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1923: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert Hamilton | 5,129 | 54.3 | +0.8 |
| | Unionist | Robert Boothby | 4,318 | 45.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 811 | 8.6 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,447 | 39.1 | +1.7 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
General election 1922: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert Hamilton | 4,814 | 53.5 | N/A |
| | National Liberal | Malcolm Smith | 4,189 | 46.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 625 | 7.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,003 | 37.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal gain from National Liberal | Liberal gain from National Liberal | Swing | N/A | |
1921 Orkney and Shetland by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Liberal | Malcolm Smith | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Liberal | Cathcart Wason | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
General election December 1910: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Cathcart Wason | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election January 1910: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Cathcart Wason | 4,117 | 80.6 | +1.6 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Thomas William Hemsley | 994 | 19.4 | −1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,123 | 61.2 | +3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,111 | 71.8 | +8.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1906: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Cathcart Wason | 3,837 | 79.0 | +29.5 |
| | Conservative | C. J. Dunlop | 1,021 | 21.0 | −21.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,816 | 58.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,858 | 63.3 | +8.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,680 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | +29.5 | |
1902 Orkney and Shetland by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Liberal | Cathcart Wason | 2,412 | 46.8 | +46.8 |
| | Liberal | McKinnon Wood | 2,001 | 38.8 | −10.7 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Theodore Vivian Samuel Angier | 740 | 14.4 | −36.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 411 | 8.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,153 | 68.1 | +13.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,572 | | |
| | Independent Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Independent Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | | |
General election 1900: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | Cathcart Wason | 2,057 | 50.5 | +10.4 |
| | Liberal | Leonard Lyell | 2,017 | 49.5 | −10.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 40 | 1.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,074 | 54.9 | −1.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,420 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +10.4 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Leonard Lyell | 2,361 | 59.9 | −2.0 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Ralph Wardlaw MacLeod Fullarton | 1,580 | 40.1 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 781 | 19.8 | −4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,941 | 55.9 | −4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,053 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −2.0 | |
General election 1892: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Leonard Lyell | 2,624 | 61.9 | −1.1 |
| | Liberal Unionist | William Younger | 1,617 | 38.1 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,007 | 23.8 | −2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,241 | 59.9 | +9.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,075 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −1.1 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Leonard Lyell | 2,353 | 63.0 | −0.3 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Henry Hoare | 1,382 | 37.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 971 | 26.0 | −0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,735 | 50.5 | −21.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,394 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −0.3 | |
General election 1885: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Leonard Lyell | 3,352 | 63.3 | +2.5 |
| | Conservative | Cospatrick Thomas Dundas | 1,940 | 36.7 | −2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,412 | 26.6 | +5.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,292 | 71.6 | −14.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,394 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.5 | |
General election 1880: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Samuel Laing | 896 | 60.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | George Roy Badenoch | 578 | 39.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 318 | 21.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,474 | 86.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,704 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Samuel Laing | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,618 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
By-election, 11 Jan 1873: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Samuel Laing | 646 | 51.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Peter Tait | 621 | 49.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25 | 2.0 | −21.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,267 | 82.4 | +4.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,537 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Caused by Dundas' death.

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Frederick Dundas | 715 | 61.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Henry Riddell | 446 | 38.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 269 | 23.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,161 | 78.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,486 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1865: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Frederick Dundas | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 685 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1859: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Frederick Dundas | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 621 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1857: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Frederick Dundas | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 615 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1852: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Frederick Dundas | 227 | 53.9 | −46.1 |
| | Conservative | John Inglis | 194 | 46.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 33 | 7.8 | +1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 421 | 64.7 | −0.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 651 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1847: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Arthur Anderson | 209 | 53.3 | N/A |
| | Whig | Frederick Dundas | 183 | 46.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 26 | 6.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 392 | 65.4 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 599 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1841: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Frederick Dundas | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 526 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1837: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Frederick Dundas | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 476 | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative |
General election 1835: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Balfour | 114 | 57.6 | +12.3 |
| | Whig | George Traill | 84 | 42.4 | −6.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 30 | 15.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 198 | 66.4 | −11.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 298 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +9.2 | |
General election 1832: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | George Traill | 107 | 50.5 |
| | Tory | Samuel Laing | 96 | 45.3 |
| | Whig | Robert Hunter | 9 | 4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11 | 5.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 212 | 77.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 272 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1831: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | George Traill | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 43 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1830: Orkney and Shetland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | George Traill | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 43 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |