# Aberdeen South (UK Parliament constituency)

Aberdeen South is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post system of election.
The seat is currently held by Stephen Flynn of the Scottish National Party since the 2019 general election. Flynn has served as the leader of the SNP in the House of Commons since December 2022.
The constituency was first used in the 1885 general election, but has undergone boundary changes since then. There was also an Aberdeen South Holyrood constituency, a constituency of the Scottish Parliament, created in 1999 with the boundaries of the Westminster constituency at that time. In 2011 the Scottish Parliament constituency of Aberdeen South was abolished and replaced with the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine constituency.

## Constituency profile

Aberdeen South is an affluent suburban constituency located along the south of the Aberdeen City council area. The seat covers most of Aberdeen's affluent West End and the outer villages of Bieldside, Cults, Milltimber and Peterculter. Situated within the constituency are some of Scotland's most affluent neighbourhoods, including Broomhill, Rubislaw and Queen's Cross, which was named the wealthiest part of Scotland in 2003. The seat also extends south-east across the River Dee to cover the suburb of Cove Bay and the more deprived neighbourhoods of Torry and Kincorth.

## Boundaries
### Historic
#### 1885 to 1918

From 1832 to 1885 there was a single Aberdeen constituency. Prior to 1832, the burgh of Aberdeen had been represented as a component of the Aberdeen Burghs constituency.
When Aberdeen South was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 and first used in the 1885 general election, so was Aberdeen North. Aberdeen South then consisted of the municipal wards of St Nicholas, Rosemount, Rubislaw and Ferryhill, and the 9th Parliamentary Polling District. The rest of the county of Aberdeen was covered by the county constituencies of Eastern Aberdeenshire and Western Aberdeenshire.
The same boundaries were used in the 1886 general election, the 1892 general election, the 1895 general election, the 1900 general election, the 1906 general election, the January 1910 general election and the December 1910 general election.

#### 1918 to 1950

In 1918 constituency boundaries were redefined by the Representation of the People Act 1918. By then the county of city of Aberdeen had been created; Aberdeen North and Aberdeen South became the two constituencies covering the city (which was one of four counties of cities in Scotland) and entirely within the city. The new boundaries were first used in the 1918 general election, and Aberdeen South then consisted of the wards of Ferryhill, Rosemount, Rubislaw, Ruthrieston and St Nicholas. The county of Aberdeen was covered by Aberdeen and Kincardine East, Central Aberdeenshire and Kincardine and West Aberdeenshire. East Aberdeenshire and West Aberdeenshire were entirely within the county of Aberdeen. Kincardine and West Aberdeenshire covered the county of Kincardine (minus the burgh of Inverbervie, which was included in Montrose Burghs) and part of the county of Aberdeen.
The same boundaries were used in the 1922, 1923, 1924, 1929, 1931, 1935 and 1945 general elections.

#### 1950 to 1955

For the 1950 general election boundaries were redefined again, by the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949. A new list of wards defined Aberdeen South – Ferryhill, Holburn, Rosemount, Rubislaw, Ruthrieston and Torry – but the county of city of Aberdeen remained a two-constituency city, divided between Aberdeen South and Aberdeen North, with both constituencies entirely within the city.
The county of Aberdeen was then again divided between East Aberdeenshire and West Aberdeenshire, with both of these constituencies entirely within the county.
The same boundaries were used for the 1951 general election.

#### 1955 to 1983

By the time of the 1955 general election, a boundary review had taken account of a small enlargement of the city area. However, the same list of wards – Ferryhill, Holburn, Rosemount, Rubislaw, Ruthrieston and Torry – continued to define Aberdeen South, and the same boundaries were used for the 1959 general election, the 1964 general election, the 1966 general election, the 1970 general election, the February 1974 general election and the October 1974 general election.
In 1975, throughout Scotland, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, counties were abolished, and the enlarged City of Aberdeen district was formed by including areas formerly within the county of Aberdeen and the county of Kincardine. The city became a district within the Grampian region. The enlarged City of Aberdeen district included areas covered by the constituencies of West Aberdeenshire and North Angus and Mearns. North Angus and Mearns had been created in 1950 to cover the county of Kincardine and part of the county of Angus.
The 1979 general election was held before a review of constituency boundaries took account of new local government boundaries.

#### 1983 to 1997

For the 1983 election, the electoral wards used to create this seat were Rosemount, Rubislaw, St Clements, St Nicholas, Hazlehead, Holburn, Ferryhill, Torry, Nigg.
The 1983 general election, the 1987 general election and the 1992 general election took place during this period. At the 1992 general election the constituency was the only seat which Labour had won at the 1987 election to be gained by the Conservatives.
In 1996, under the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994, local government regions and districts were abolished and the city became one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. Also, the name of the city became, officially, Aberdeen City.

#### 1997 to 2005

As redefined for the 1997 general election, Aberdeen South was one of three constituencies covering and entirely within the Aberdeen City area, the other two being Aberdeen North and Aberdeen Central. Aberdeen South shared boundaries with both of the other two constituencies.
The same boundaries were used for the 2001 general election.

#### 2005 to 2024

As redefined by the Fifth Review of the Boundary Commission for Scotland, and subsequently first used in the 2005 general election, the constituency was entirely within the Aberdeen City council area and one of five constituencies covering that council area and the Aberdeenshire council area.
In this period the constituency was made up of the Aberdeen City Council wards of Queens Cross, Gilcomston, Langstane, Hazlehead, Peterculter, Murtle, Cults, Seafield, Ashley, Broomhill, Garthdee, Gairn, Duthie, Torry, Tullos Hill, Kincorth West, Nigg, Loirston, as provided for by the Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) Order 1995.

### Current

Following the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the newly redrawn Aberdeen South consists of the following:
* In full: the Aberdeen City Council wards of George Street/Harbour, Lower Deeside, Hazlehead/Queens Cross/Countesswells, Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee, Torry/Ferryhill, Kincorth/Nigg/Cove;
* In part: the Aberdeen City Council ward of Midstocket/Rosemount (small area in southeast of ward).
The city centre and harbour areas (George Street/Harbour ward) were transferred from Aberdeen North.

## Voting patterns

Aberdeen South was traditionally a strong Liberal Party constituency until it was won by the Unionist Party at the 1918 general election. The constituency subsequently went on to return Unionist MPs to Parliament until the party amalgamated with the Conservatives in 1965. The constituency developed into a Unionist-Labour marginal in 1964 and was gained by Labour's Donald Dewar in 1966, who went on to become the leader of the Scottish Labour Party and later the first-ever First Minister of Scotland in 1999. From the 1970 general election onwards, Aberdeen South returned Conservative MPs to Parliament. The seat was gained by Labour in 1987 and regained by the Conservatives in 1992. At Labour's 1997 landslide election victory Aberdeen South fell to Labour's Anne Begg, who represented the constituency until the 2015 general election when the constituency was gained by Callum McCaig of the Scottish National Party.
Throughout the 2000s, the Liberal Democrats emerged as the main challenger to Labour in Aberdeen South, taking second place in 2005 behind Labour by just 3.2% of the vote. In the Scottish Parliament the equivalent Aberdeen South constituency was represented by the Liberal Democrats from 1999 until 2011, when the constituency of Aberdeen South and North Kincardine was gained by the SNP. Recently the Conservatives have made a set of substantial advances in Aberdeen South, making gains in the constituency at the 2015 UK general election despite seeing a drop in their national vote share across Scotland. At the 2016 Scottish Parliament election the Conservatives finished in second place in the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine constituency, more than doubling their vote share in the constituency and coming behind the SNP by 8.5% of the vote.
Ross Thomson of the Conservatives went on to gain the seat at the 2017 snap general election with a majority of 4,752 votes (10.6%) ahead of the sitting SNP MP Callum McCaig.
In 2019, the seat went back to the SNP when Thomson declined to stand again after controversy. Stephen Flynn became the MP with a majority of 3,990 votes with 44.7% of the vote. This means that in the 10 years between 2010 and 2019, four MPs from three different parties had represented the seat. Notably, since 1964 no candidate has ever managed to secure an absolute majority – 50% of the vote or more.
At the 2024 election, Flynn held on to the seat despite a significant drop in his share of the vote, as the Conservative vote also fell, resulting in Labour gaining second place.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1885 | James Bryce | Liberal |
| 1907 | George Esslemont | Liberal |
| 1917 | John Fleming | Liberal |
| 1918 | Sir Frederick Thomson, Bt. | Unionist |
| 1935 | Sir Douglas Thomson, Bt. | Unionist |
| 1946 | Lady Tweedsmuir | Unionist |
| 1965 | Lady Tweedsmuir | Conservative |
| 1966 | Donald Dewar | Labour |
| 1970 | Iain Sproat | Conservative |
| 1983 | Gerry Malone | Conservative |
| 1987 | Frank Doran | Labour |
| 1992 | Raymond Robertson | Conservative |
| 1997 | Dame Anne Begg | Labour |
| 2015 | Callum McCaig | Scottish National Party |
| 2017 | Ross Thomson | Conservative |
| 2019 | Stephen Flynn | Scottish National Party |

### Elections in the 2020s

2024 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | Stephen Flynn | 15,213 | 32.8 | −12.5 |
| | Labour | M. Tauqeer Malik | 11,455 | 24.7 | +15.9 |
| | Conservative | John Wheeler | 11,300 | 24.4 | −10.0 |
| | Reform UK | Michael Pearce | 3,199 | 6.9 | +6.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jeff Goodhall | 2,921 | 6.3 | −4.4 |
| | Scottish Green | Guy Ingerson | 1,609 | 3.5 | +3.0 |
| | Scottish Family | Graeme Craib | 423 | 0.9 | N/A |
| | Independent | Sophie Molly | 225 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,758 | 8.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,345 | 59.9 | |
| | SNP hold | SNP hold | Swing | -14.2 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Scottish National Party | 22,683 | 45.3 |
| | Conservative | 17,220 | 34.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 5,358 | 10.7 |
| | Labour | 4,394 | 8.8 |
| | Scottish Greens | 268 | 0.5 |
| | Brexit Party | 195 | 0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 50118 | |
| Electorate | Electorate | 76,560 |
2019 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | Stephen Flynn | 20,388 | 44.7 | +13.2 |
| | Conservative | Douglas Lumsden | 16,398 | 35.9 | −6.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Yuill | 5,018 | 11.0 | +5.2 |
| | Labour | Shona Simpson | 3,834 | 8.4 | −12.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,990 | 8.8 | −1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,638 | 69.4 | +0.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 65,719 | | |
| | SNP gain from Conservative | SNP gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.7 | |
2017 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ross Thomson | 18,746 | 42.1 | +19.3 |
| | SNP | Callum McCaig | 13,994 | 31.5 | −10.1 |
| | Labour | Callum O'Dwyer | 9,143 | 20.6 | −6.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jenny Wilson | 2,610 | 5.9 | +1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,752 | 10.6 | −4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,493 | 68.5 | −2.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 64,964 | | |
| | Conservative gain from SNP | Conservative gain from SNP | Swing | +14.8 | |
2015 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | Callum McCaig | 20,221 | 41.6 | +29.7 |
| | Labour | Anne Begg | 12,991 | 26.8 | −9.8 |
| | Conservative | Ross Thomson | 11,087 | 22.8 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Denis Rixon | 2,252 | 4.6 | −23.8 |
| | Scottish Green | Dan Yeats | 964 | 2.0 | +1.0 |
| | UKIP | Sandra Skinner | 897 | 1.8 | N/A |
| | Independent | Christopher Gray | 139 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,230 | 14.8 | +6.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,551 | 71.3 | +4.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 68,056 | | |
| | SNP gain from Labour | SNP gain from Labour | Swing | +19.8 | |
2010 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Anne Begg | 15,722 | 36.5 | −0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Sleigh | 12,216 | 28.4 | −5.1 |
| | Conservative | Amanda Harvie | 8,914 | 20.7 | +3.6 |
| | SNP | Mark McDonald | 5,102 | 11.9 | +2.0 |
| | BNP | Susan Ross | 529 | 1.2 | N/A |
| | Scottish Green | Rhonda Reekie | 413 | 1.0 | −0.9 |
| | SACL | Robert Green | 138 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,506 | 8.1 | +4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,034 | 67.2 | +5.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 64,031 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.5 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

2005 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Anne Begg | 15,272 | 36.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Vicki Harris | 13,924 | 33.5 |
| | Conservative | Stewart Whyte | 7,134 | 17.1 |
| | SNP | Maureen Watt | 4,120 | 9.9 |
| | Scottish Green | Rhonda Reekie | 768 | 1.8 |
| | Scottish Socialist | Donald Munro | 403 | 1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,348 | 3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,621 | 62.1 |
| | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) |
2001 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Anne Begg | 14,696 | 39.8 | +4.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Yuill | 10,308 | 27.9 | +0.3 |
| | Conservative | Moray Macdonald | 7,098 | 19.2 | −7.2 |
| | SNP | Ian Angus | 4,293 | 11.6 | ±0.0 |
| | Scottish Socialist | David Watt | 495 | 1.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,388 | 11.9 | +4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,890 | 62.5 | −10.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 59,025 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.5 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

1997 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Anne Begg | 15,541 | 35.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nicol Stephen | 12,176 | 27.6 |
| | Conservative | Raymond Robertson | 11,621 | 26.4 |
| | SNP | Jim Towers | 4,299 | 11.6 |
| | Referendum | Ric Wharton | 425 | 1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,365 | 7.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,062 | 72.8 |
| | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) | Labour win (new boundaries) |
1992 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Raymond Robertson | 15,808 | 38.5 | +3.7 |
| | Labour | Frank Doran | 14,291 | 34.8 | −2.9 |
| | SNP | James Davidson | 6,223 | 15.1 | +8.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Irene Keith | 4,767 | 11.6 | −9.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,517 | 3.7 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,089 | 70.2 | +3.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 58,881 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +3.3 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

1987 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frank Doran | 15,917 | 37.7 | +7.8 |
| | Conservative | Gerry Malone | 14,719 | 34.8 | −4.1 |
| | SDP | Ian Philip | 8,844 | 20.9 | −5.3 |
| | SNP | Michael Weir | 2,776 | 6.6 | +1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,198 | 2.9 | −6.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,256 | 67.1 | −1.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 62,943 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.0 | |
1983 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Gerry Malone | 15,393 | 38.9 |
| | Labour | Robert Middleton | 11,812 | 29.9 |
| | SDP | Ian Philip | 10,372 | 26.2 |
| | SNP | Sam Coull | 1,974 | 5.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,581 | 9.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,551 | 68.7 |
| | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) | Conservative win (new boundaries) |

### Elections in the 1970s

1979 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Iain Sproat | 20,820 | 40.7 | +5.3 |
| | Labour | Norman Godman | 20,048 | 39.2 | +4.4 |
| | Liberal | Helen Pitt-Watson | 5,901 | 11.5 | +1.9 |
| | SNP | Alexander Stronach | 4,361 | 8.5 | −11.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 772 | 1.5 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,430 | 78.6 | +0.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 65,090 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.4 | |
October 1974 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Iain Sproat | 18,475 | 35.5 | −4.2 |
| | Labour | Robert Middleton | 18,110 | 34.8 | +1.6 |
| | SNP | Alexander Stronach | 10,481 | 20.1 | +6.4 |
| | Liberal | Angus Abercrombie Robbie | 5,018 | 9.6 | −3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 365 | 0.7 | −5.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,204 | 76.3 | −5.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 68,241 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.9 | |
February 1974 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Iain Sproat | 21,938 | 39.6 | −6.8 |
| | Labour | Robert Middleton | 18,380 | 33.2 | −10.1 |
| | SNP | Alexander Stronach | 7,599 | 13.7 | +8.4 |
| | Liberal | Angus Abercrombie Robbie | 7,447 | 13.5 | +7.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,558 | 6.4 | +4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,366 | 82.2 | +5.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 67,379 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -8.5 | |
1970 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Iain Sproat | 23,843 | 45.4 | +2.9 |
| | Labour | Donald Dewar | 22,754 | 43.3 | −2.8 |
| | Liberal | Kenneth McLeod | 3,135 | 6.0 | −5.5 |
| | SNP | Bruce Mavor Cockie | 2,777 | 5.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,089 | 2.1 | −1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,509 | 77.1 | −4.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 68,147 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +2.8 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

1966 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Donald Dewar | 23,291 | 46.1 | +3.7 |
| | Conservative | Priscilla Buchan | 21,492 | 42.5 | −7.5 |
| | Liberal | Norman W. King | 5,797 | 11.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,799 | 3.6 | −4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,580 | 81.3 | −2.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 62,206 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.6 | |
1964 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Priscilla Buchan | 25,824 | 50.0 | −3.8 |
| | Labour | Donald Dewar | 21,926 | 42.5 | +5.9 |
| | SNP | John Reid | 3,898 | 7.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,898 | 7.6 | −9.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,648 | 83.8 | +2.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 61,636 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +4.8 | |

### Elections in the 1950s

1959 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Priscilla Buchan | 25,471 | 53.8 | −3.9 |
| | Labour | Peter Doig | 17,349 | 36.6 | −5.7 |
| | Liberal | Elma Tryphosa Dangerfield | 4,558 | 9.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,122 | 17.2 | +1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,378 | 81.6 | +0.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 58,086 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -1.7 | |
1955 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Unionist | Priscilla Buchan | 26,817 | 57.7 |
| | Labour | Judith Hart | 19,627 | 42.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,190 | 15.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,444 | 81.1 |
| | Unionist win (new boundaries) | Unionist win (new boundaries) | Unionist win (new boundaries) | Unionist win (new boundaries) |
1951 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Priscilla Buchan | 28,947 | 58.8 | +5.1 |
| | Labour | Sinclair Shaw | 20,325 | 41.3 | +5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,622 | 17.5 | −0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,272 | 82.7 | −1.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 59,589 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +5.4 | |
1950 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Unionist | Priscilla Buchan | 26,128 | 53.7 |
| | Labour | Olive Crutchley | 17,302 | 35.5 |
| | Liberal | Richard Pirie | 5,248 | 10.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,826 | 18.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,680 | 84.9 |
| | Unionist win (new boundaries) | Unionist win (new boundaries) | Unionist win (new boundaries) | Unionist win (new boundaries) |

### Elections in the 1940s

1946 by-election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Priscilla Buchan | 21,750 | 54.8 | +8.1 |
| | Labour | Arthur Irvine | 17,911 | 45.2 | +2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,839 | 9.7 | +5.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,661 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +5.4 | |
1945 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Douglas Thomson | 19,214 | 46.7 | −26.6 |
| | Labour | William McLaine | 17,398 | 42.3 | +10.5 |
| | Liberal | James Logie Milne | 4,501 | 11.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,816 | 4.4 | −31.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,113 | 72.2 | +6.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 56,943 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +13.5 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

1935 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Douglas Thomson | 25,270 | 68.1 | −15.5 |
| | Labour | George Rettie McIntosh | 11,817 | 31.9 | +15.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,453 | 36.3 | −27.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,087 | 65.9 | −10.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 56,319 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -15.5 | |
1935 by-election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Douglas Thomson | 20,925 | 66.0 | −17.6 |
| | Labour | Joseph Forbes Duncan | 10,760 | 34.0 | +17.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,165 | 32.1 | −35.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,685 | 75.8 | 0.0 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |
1931 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Frederick Thomson | 33,988 | 83.7 | +22.8 |
| | Labour | George Catto | 6,627 | 16.3 | −22.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 27,361 | 67.4 | +45.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,115 | 75.8 | +8.6 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +22.9 | |

### Elections in the 1920s

1929 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Frederick Thomson | 21,548 | 60.8 | +0.7 |
| | Labour | William Martin | 13,868 | 39.2 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,680 | 21.6 | +1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,416 | 67.2 | −1.6 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -0.7 | |
1924 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Frederick Thomson | 16,092 | 60.1 | +12.8 |
| | Labour | George Archibald | 10,699 | 39.9 | +10.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,393 | 20.2 | +1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,791 | 68.8 | +8.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 38,958 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +1.0 | |
1923 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Frederick Thomson | 11,258 | 47.3 | −10.7 |
| | Labour | John Paton | 6,911 | 29.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Charles Mallet | 5,641 | 23.7 | −18.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,347 | 18.3 | +2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,810 | 60.7 | +3.2 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |
1922 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Frederick Thomson | 13,208 | 58.0 | −4.4 |
| | Liberal | Charles Mallet | 9,573 | 42.0 | +21.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,635 | 16.0 | −25.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,781 | 57.5 | +13.6 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -12.8 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

1918 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| C | Unionist | Frederick Thomson | 10,625 | 62.4 |
| | Liberal | John Fleming | 3,535 | 20.8 |
| | Independent | James Watson | 2,868 | 16.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,090 | 41.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,028 | 43.9 |
| | Unionist win (new boundaries) | Unionist win (new boundaries) | Unionist win (new boundaries) | Unionist win (new boundaries) |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. |||||
1917 by-election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Fleming | 3,283 | 64.1 | +4.6 |
| | Independent | James Watson | 1,507 | 29.4 | N/A |
| | Independent | Frederick Pethick-Lawrence | 333 | 6.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,776 | 34.7 | +15.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,123 | 37.1 | −35.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,791 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
December 1910 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Esslemont | 5,862 | 59.5 | −0.9 |
| | Liberal Unionist | William C. Smith | 3,997 | 40.5 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,865 | 19.0 | −1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,859 | 72.2 | −10.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,657 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -0.9 | |
January 1910 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Esslemont | 6,749 | 60.4 | −14.0 |
| | Unionist | Ronald McNeill | 4,433 | 39.6 | +14.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,316 | 20.8 | −28.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,182 | 82.9 | +12.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,496 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -14.0 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

1907 by-election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Esslemont | 3,779 | 42.3 | −32.1 |
| | Conservative | Ronald McNeill | 3,412 | 38.2 | +12.6 |
| | Independent Labour | Fred Bramley | 1,740 | 19.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 367 | 4.1 | −44.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,931 | 68.4 | −1.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,053 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -22.4 | |
1906 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Bryce | 6,780 | 74.4 | +21.9 |
| | Liberal Unionist | William George Black | 2,332 | 25.6 | −21.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,448 | 48.8 | +43.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,112 | 70.2 | −0.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,980 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +21.9 | |
1900 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Bryce | 4,238 | 52.5 | −3.6 |
| | Liberal Unionist | William Charles Smith | 3,830 | 47.5 | +3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 408 | 5.0 | −7.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,068 | 70.9 | −2.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,383 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -3.6 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

1895 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Bryce | 3,985 | 56.1 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal Unionist | David Stewart | 3,121 | 43.9 | +15.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 864 | 12.2 | −15.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,106 | 73.0 | +2.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,731 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -7.8 | |
1892 by-election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Bryce | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
1892 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | James Bryce | 3,513 | 56.0 |
| | Liberal Unionist | James McCullagh | 1,768 | 28.2 |
| | Scottish Trades Councils | Henry Hyde Champion | 991 | 15.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,745 | 27.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,272 | 70.7 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1880s

1886 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Bryce | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
1885 general election: Aberdeen South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | James Bryce | 4,548 | 75.8 |
| | Conservative | Colin McKenzie | 1,455 | 24.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,093 | 51.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,003 | 76.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,813 | | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |