# Edinburgh East (UK Parliament constituency)

Edinburgh East was a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
It existed from 1885 to 1997 and from 2005 to 2024.
Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was expanded to include the town of Musselburgh. As a consequence, it reverted to the name of Edinburgh East and Musselburgh used from 1997 to 2005.

## Boundaries

Edinburgh East was one of five constituencies covering the City of Edinburgh council area. All were entirely within the city council area. Prior to the 2005 general election, the city area was covered by six constituencies, with Edinburgh East and Musselburgh straddling the boundary with the East Lothian council area.
1885–1918: The municipal wards of Broughton, Calton, and Canongate of the burgh of Edinburgh, and so much of St. Leonard's ward as lies to the north of a line drawn along the centres of East and West Richmond Streets.
1918–1950: The burgh of Musselburgh and the Canongate and Portobello municipal wards of the county of the city of Edinburgh.
1950–1955: The burgh of Musselburgh and the Craigentinny, Craigmillar and Portobello wards (as constituted by the Local Government (Scotland) (Edinburgh Wards) Order 1948, SI 1948/1138) of the county of the city of Edinburgh.
1955–1974: The burgh of Musselburgh and the Craigentinny, Portobello and Craigmillar (with the exception of the area added by the Edinburgh Corporation Order Confirmation Act 1954).
1974–1983: The burgh of Musselburgh and the Craigmillar, Craigentinny and Portobello wards of the county of the city of Edinburgh.
1983–1997: Electoral divisions 22 (Calton/Lochend), 30 (Willowbrae/Mountcastle), 31 (Portobello/Milton) and 39 (Niddrie/Craigmillar) and ward 30 (Craigentinny) of the City of Edinburgh.
2005–2024: The City of Edinburgh wards of Tollcross, Southside, Holyrood, Meadowbank, Mountcastle, Leith Links, Restalrig, Portobello, Milton, Prestonfield, Craigmillar, and Duddingston.
The Edinburgh East constituency, as defined in 2005, consisted of areas formerly within the constituencies of Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, Edinburgh Central and Edinburgh South. It was largely a replacement for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh. Scottish Parliament constituencies retained the names and boundaries of the older Westminster constituencies.
As implied by the name, Edinburgh East covered an eastern portion of the City of Edinburgh council area, although it extended well into the city centre. It included the areas of Craigmillar, Duddingston, Holyrood, Leith Links, Meadowbank, Milton, Mountcastle, Portobello, Prestonfield, Restalrig, Southside and Tollcross.
The constituency was predominantly urban.
The constituency of the 1885 to 1997 period was created when the Edinburgh constituency was abolished, in favour of four new constituencies: Edinburgh East, Edinburgh Central, Edinburgh South and Edinburgh West. Edinburgh Central was abolished in 2005. The South and West constituencies continue in use, with altered boundaries.

## Constituency profile

The seat as it existed from 2005 to 2024 covered the historic Old Town including notable buildings such as Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, the Royal Mile, St Giles' Cathedral and the Scottish Parliament building, as well as Portobello Beach. The constituency also housed the University of Edinburgh and had a significant student population. Towards the south and east it also included some of Edinburgh's more deprived areas such as the Craigmillar housing estate.
On average, residents were slightly wealthier and healthier than the UK average.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 1885 | George Goschen | Independent Liberal |
| | 1886 | George Goschen | Liberal Unionist |
| | 1886 | Robert Wallace | Liberal |
| | 1899 by-election | Sir George McCrae | Liberal |
| | 1909 by-election | Sir James Gibson, Bt | Liberal |
| | 1912 by-election | James Myles Hogge | Liberal |
| | 1924 | Thomas Drummond Shiels | Labour |
| | 1931 | David Marshall Mason | Liberal |
| | 1935 | Frederick Pethick-Lawrence | Labour |
| | 1945 by-election | George Reid Thomson | Labour |
| | 1947 by-election | John Wheatley | Labour |
| | 1954 by-election | George Willis | Labour |
| | 1970 | Gavin Strang | Labour |
| 1997 | 1997 | Constituency abolished: see Edinburgh East and Musselburgh | Constituency abolished: see Edinburgh East and Musselburgh |
| | 2005 | Gavin Strang | Labour |
| | 2010 | Sheila Gilmore | Labour |
| | 2015 | Tommy Sheppard | SNP |
| 2024 | 2024 | Constituency abolished: see Edinburgh East and Musselburgh | Constituency abolished: see Edinburgh East and Musselburgh |

## Election results
### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | Tommy Sheppard | 23,165 | 48.4 | 5.9 |
| | Labour | Sheila Gilmore | 12,748 | 26.7 | 8.0 |
| | Conservative | Eleanor Price | 6,549 | 13.7 | 4.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jill Reilly | 3,289 | 6.9 | 2.7 |
| | Scottish Green | Claire Miller | 2,064 | 4.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,417 | 21.7 | 13.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,815 | 68.9 | 2.7 |
| | SNP hold | SNP hold | Swing | 7.0 | |
General election 2017: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | Tommy Sheppard | 18,509 | 42.5 | 6.7 |
| | Labour | Patsy King | 15,084 | 34.7 | 4.8 |
| | Conservative | Katie Mackie | 8,081 | 18.6 | 8.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tristan Gray | 1,849 | 4.2 | 1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,425 | 7.8 | 11.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,622 | 66.2 | 3.9 |
| | SNP hold | SNP hold | Swing | 5.7 | |
General election 2015: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | Tommy Sheppard | 23,188 | 49.2 | 28.8 |
| | Labour | Sheila Gilmore | 14,082 | 29.9 | 13.5 |
| | Conservative | James McMordie | 4,670 | 9.9 | 1.0 |
| | Scottish Green | Peter McColl | 2,809 | 6.0 | 0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Karen Utting | 1,325 | 2.8 | 16.6 |
| | UKIP | Oliver Corbishley | 898 | 1.9 | New |
| | TUSC | Ayesha Saleem | 117 | 0.2 | 0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,106 | 19.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,089 | 70.1 | 4.7 |
| | SNP gain from Labour | SNP gain from Labour | Swing | 21.1 | |
General election 2010: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sheila Gilmore | 17,314 | 43.4 | 3.4 |
| | SNP | George Kerevan | 8,133 | 20.4 | 3.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Beverley Hope | 7,751 | 19.4 | 5.0 |
| | Conservative | Martin Donald | 4,358 | 10.9 | 0.6 |
| | Scottish Green | Robin Harper | 2,035 | 5.1 | 0.6 |
| | TUSC | Gary Clark | 274 | 0.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,181 | 23.0 | 7.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,865 | 65.4 | 4.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.0 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gavin Strang | 15,899 | 40.0 | −9.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gordon Mackenzie | 9,697 | 24.4 | +7.2 |
| | SNP | Stefan Tymkewycz | 6,760 | 17.0 | +0.6 |
| | Conservative | Mev Brown | 4,093 | 10.3 | −0.8 |
| | Scottish Green | Cara Gillespie | 2,266 | 5.7 | New |
| | Scottish Socialist | Catriona Grant | 868 | 2.2 | −1.8 |
| | Death, Dungeons and Taxes Party | Brett Harris | 89 | 0.2 | New |
| | Communist League | Peter Clifford | 37 | 0.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,202 | 15.6 | −16.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,709 | 61.3 | +8.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −8.4 | |

### Election in the 1990s

General election 1992: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gavin Strang | 15,446 | 45.7 | −4.7 |
| | Conservative | Kenneth F. Ward | 8,235 | 24.4 | −0.3 |
| | SNP | Debin McKinney | 6,225 | 18.4 | +8.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Devin S. Scobie | 3,432 | 10.2 | −5.2 |
| | Scottish Green | Graeme W. Farmer | 424 | 1.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,211 | 21.3 | −4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,762 | 73.9 | −0.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gavin Strang | 18,257 | 50.4 | +5.5 |
| | Conservative | John Renz | 8,962 | 24.7 | −3.9 |
| | Liberal | Judith Aitken | 5,592 | 15.4 | −5.6 |
| | SNP | Mungo Bovey | 3,434 | 9.5 | +4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,295 | 25.7 | +9.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,245 | 74.1 | +3.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1983: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gavin Strang | 16,169 | 44.9 | −7.6 |
| | Conservative | Paul Martin | 10,303 | 28.6 | −6.3 |
| | Liberal | Roderick Macleod | 7,570 | 21.0 | New |
| | SNP | Paul Henderson Scott | 1,976 | 5.5 | −6.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,866 | 16.3 | −3.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,018 | 70.4 | −5.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gavin Strang | 23,477 | 53.69 | |
| | Conservative | G Campbell | 14,660 | 33.52 | |
| | SNP | George C MacDougall | 5,296 | 12.11 | |
| | Communist | Carol Downes | 173 | 0.40 | |
| | Workers Revolutionary | Terry Brotherstone | 124 | 0.28 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,817 | 20.17 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,730 | 76.10 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Gavin Strang | 19,669 | 44.92 |
| | SNP | George C MacDougall | 11,213 | 25.61 |
| | Conservative | M Hogg | 10,111 | 23.09 |
| | Liberal | GN Dalzell | 2,578 | 5.89 |
| | Communist | Irene Swan | 213 | 0.49 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,456 | 19.31 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,784 | 76.20 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election February 1974: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gavin Strang | 20,163 | 43.66 | |
| | Conservative | DJ May | 14,614 | 31.65 | |
| | SNP | George C MacDougall | 7,128 | 15.44 | |
| | Liberal | John Melling | 3,998 | 8.66 | New |
| | Communist | Irene Swan | 274 | 0.59 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,549 | 12.01 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,077 | 81.08 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1970: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gavin Strang | 22,171 | 51.87 | |
| | Conservative | Neil Gow | 16,657 | 38.97 | |
| | SNP | Helen B Davidson | 3,502 | 8.19 | New |
| | Communist | Irene Swan | 413 | 0.97 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,514 | 12.90 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,743 | 74.42 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Willis | 25,423 | 60.48 | |
| | Conservative | Barry Henderson | 16,614 | 39.52 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,809 | 20.96 | +8.66 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,037 | 77.40 | −3.55 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1964: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | George Willis | 24,808 | 56.15 |
| | Conservative | Robert L McEwen | 19,376 | 43.85 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,432 | 12.30 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,184 | 80.95 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Willis | 22,244 | 50.35 | |
| | Unionist | Earl of Dalkeith | 21,932 | 49.65 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 312 | 0.70 | −4.34 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,176 | 80.68 | +5.31 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | George Willis | 21,240 | 52.52 |
| | Unionist | W Ian R Fraser | 19,198 | 47.48 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,042 | 5.04 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,438 | 75.37 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
1954 by-election: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Willis | 18,950 | 57.7 | +3.6 |
| | Unionist | William Grant | 13,922 | 42.4 | −3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,028 | 15.4 | +7.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,872 | 61.8 | −22.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -3.6 | |
General election 1951: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Wheatley | 25,201 | 54.08 | |
| | Unionist | William Grant | 21,400 | 45.92 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,801 | 8.16 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,601 | 83.82 | +0.64 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1950: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | John Wheatley | 24,072 | 53.22 |
| | Unionist | Charles Donaldson | 17,531 | 38.76 |
| | Liberal | John Hope | 3,632 | 8.03 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,541 | 14.46 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,235 | 83.18 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1940s

1947 by-election: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Wheatley | 16,906 | 50.5 | −5.9 |
| | National Liberal (Conservative) | Duncan M. Matthews | 11,490 | 34.4 | −2.9 |
| | Liberal | John Junor | 3,379 | 10.1 | New |
| | SNP | Mary Fraser Dott | 1,682 | 5.0 | −1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,416 | 16.1 | −3.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,457 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
1945 by-election: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Thomson | 15,482 | 61.6 | +5.2 |
| | Unionist | Tam Galbraith | 9,665 | 38.4 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,817 | 23.2 | +4.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 25,147 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1945: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frederick Pethick-Lawrence | 19,300 | 56.4 | +13.2 |
| | Unionist | William Angus Sinclair | 12,771 | 37.3 | −2.3 |
| | SNP | Frederick C Yeaman | 2,149 | 6.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,529 | 19.1 | +15.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,220 | 69.6 | +1.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.7 | |
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 from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;
* Labour: Frederick Pethick-Lawrence
* Liberal:
* Unionist:

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frederick Pethick-Lawrence | 13,341 | 43.20 | |
| | Unionist | Minna Cowan | 12,229 | 39.60 | |
| | Liberal | David Marshall Mason | 5,313 | 17.20 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,112 | 3.60 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,883 | 68.63 | −8.21 |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
General election 1931: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Marshall Mason | 17,372 | 56.98 | |
| | Labour | Drummond Shiels | 10,244 | 33.60 | |
| | National (Scotland) | Rev Thomas Thomson Alexander | 2,872 | 9.42 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,128 | 23.38 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,488 | 76.84 | |
| | Liberal gain from Labour | Liberal gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Drummond Shiels | 13,933 | 47.2 | +2.9 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Pringle McDonald | 8,687 | 29.4 | +3.4 |
| | Unionist | Richard Cobden Thyne | 6,889 | 23.3 | −5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,246 | 17.8 | +2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,509 | 76.5 | +2.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.9 | |
General election 1924: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Drummond Shiels | 9,330 | 44.3 | New |
| | Unionist | Charles Milne | 6,105 | 29.0 | −2.7 |
| | Liberal | James Myles Hogge | 5,625 | 26.7 | −41.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,255 | 15.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,190 | 74.2 | +15.7 |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1923: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Myles Hogge | 10,876 | 68.3 | +8.5 |
| | Unionist | Charles John Morris Mancor | 5,045 | 31.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,831 | 36.6 | +17.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,921 | 58.5 | −7.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1922: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Myles Hogge | 10,551 | 59.8 | −2.4 |
| | National Liberal | Sam McDonald | 7,088 | 40.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,463 | 19.6 | −4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,639 | 66.0 | +13.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -2.4 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Myles Hogge | 8,460 | 62.2 | +7.2 |
| C | National Democratic | Alexander E Balfour | 5,136 | 37.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,324 | 24.4 | +14.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,596 | 52.5 | −21.2 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
1912 by-election: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Myles Hogge | 5,064 | 55.0 | −8.0 |
| | Liberal Unionist | John Gordon Jameson | 4,139 | 45.0 | +8.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 925 | 10.0 | −16.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,203 | 73.7 | −7.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,491 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -8.0 | |
General election December 1910: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Gibson | 6,436 | 63.0 | +1.7 |
| | Conservative | R.M. Cameron | 3,782 | 37.0 | −1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,654 | 26.0 | +3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,218 | 81.0 | −7.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,620 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +1.7 | |
General election January 1910: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Gibson | 6,760 | 61.3 | −11.8 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Patrick Ford | 4,273 | 38.7 | +11.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,487 | 22.6 | −23.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,033 | 88.0 | +9.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,544 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −11.8 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

1909 by-election: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Gibson | 4,527 | 52.7 | −20.4 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Patrick Ford | 4,069 | 47.3 | +20.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 458 | 5.4 | −40.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,596 | 73.4 | −4.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,710 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −20.4 | |
General election 1906: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George McCrae | 6,606 | 73.1 | +14.6 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Rankine Dawson | 2,432 | 26.9 | −14.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,174 | 46.2 | +29.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,038 | 78.1 | +8.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,572 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +14.6 | |
General election 1900: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George McCrae | 4,461 | 58.5 | +5.1 |
| | Liberal Unionist | R. Scott-Brown | 3,170 | 41.5 | −5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,291 | 17.0 | +10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,631 | 69.2 | −0.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,025 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +5.1 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

1899 by-election: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George McCrae | 4,891 | 62.3 | +8.9 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Harry G. Younger | 2,961 | 37.7 | −8.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,930 | 24.6 | +17.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,852 | 73.2 | +3.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,730 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +8.9 | |
General election 1895: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert Wallace | 3,499 | 53.4 | −5.2 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Harry G. Younger | 3,050 | 46.6 | +5.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 449 | 6.8 | −10.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,549 | 69.4 | −7.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,437 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −5.2 | |
General election 1892: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert Wallace | 3,969 | 58.6 | −3.5 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Ralph Wardlaw McLeod Fullarton | 2,809 | 41.4 | +3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,160 | 17.2 | −7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,778 | 76.7 | −1.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,840 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −3.5 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert Wallace | 3,694 | 62.1 | +31.3 |
| | Liberal Unionist | George Goschen | 2,253 | 37.9 | −31.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,441 | 24.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,947 | 77.9 | −4.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,639 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Independent Liberal | Liberal gain from Independent Liberal | Swing | +31.3 | |
General election 1885: Edinburgh East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Liberal | George Goschen | 4,337 | 69.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Benjamin Francis Conn Costelloe | 1,929 | 30.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,408 | 38.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,266 | 82.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,639 | | |
| | Independent Liberal win (new seat) | Independent Liberal win (new seat) | Independent Liberal win (new seat) | Independent Liberal win (new seat) | Independent Liberal win (new seat) |