# Dumfriesshire (UK Parliament constituency)

Dumfriesshire was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of Great Britain (at Westminster) from 1708 to 1801 and in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (also at Westminster) from 1801 until 2005. It was known as Dumfries from 1950.

## 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 Dumfries & Annandale.

## History

The constituency was virtually unchanged until it was redistributed in 2005. It was redistributed to Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale and Dumfries and Galloway as part of a major reorganisation of Scottish constituencies. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system.

## Boundaries

From 1885 to 1918 it comprised the shire districts of the county. From 1918 all the burghs were added.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs 1708–1832

| Year | Year | Member | Party |
| | 1708 | James Johnstone | |
| | 1709 | William Grierson | |
| | 1711 | James Murray | Tory |
| | 1713 | Sir William Johnstone | |
| | 1722 | Charles Erskine | |
| | 1741 | Sir John Douglas | |
| | 1747 | Lord Charles Douglas | |
| | 1755 | James Veitch | |
| | 1761 | Lt Gen Archibald Douglas | |
| | 1774 | Sir Robert Laurie | |
| | 1804 | Sir William Johnstone Hope | Tory |
| | 1830 | John Hope-Johnstone | Tory |
| 1832 | 1832 | Reform Act 1832: franchise expanded | Reform Act 1832: franchise expanded |

### MPs 1832–2005

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 1832 | John Hope-Johnstone (1) | Conservative |
| | 1847 | Archibald Douglas | Conservative |
| | Feb 1857 | John Hope-Johnstone (1) | Conservative |
| | 1865 | George Gustavus Walker | Conservative |
| | 1868 | Sydney Waterlow | Liberal |
| | Mar. 1869 | George Gustavus Walker | Conservative |
| | 1874 | John Hope-Johnstone (2) | Conservative |
| | 1880 | Sir Robert Jardine | Liberal |
| | 1886 | Sir Robert Jardine | Liberal Unionist |
| | 1892 | William Herries Maxwell | Liberal Unionist |
| | 1895 | Robinson Souttar | Liberal |
| | 1900 | William Herries Maxwell | Liberal Unionist |
| | 1906 | Percy Molteno | Liberal |
| | 1918 | William Murray | Unionist |
| | 1922 | William Chapple | Liberal |
| | 1924 | John Charteris | Unionist |
| | 1929 | Dr Joseph Hunter $^1$ | Liberal |
| | 1931 | Dr Joseph Hunter $^1$ | National Liberal |
| | 1935 by-election | Sir Henry Fildes | National Liberal |
| | 1945 | Niall Macpherson | National Liberal |
| | 1963 by-election | David Anderson | Conservative |
| | 1964 | Sir Hector Monro | Conservative |
| | 1997 | Russell Brown | Labour |
| 2005 | 2005 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |
$^1$ Dr Hunter was elected in 1929 as a Liberal candidate, but in the split after the 1931 general election, he joined the National Liberals.

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

General election 1830: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | John Hope-Johnstone | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 84 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1831: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | John Hope-Johnstone | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 84 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1832: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | John Hope-Johnstone | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,123 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1835: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | John Hope-Johnstone | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,374 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1837: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | John Hope-Johnstone | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,461 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Hope-Johnstone | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,912 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1847: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Archibald Douglas | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,485 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Archibald Douglas | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,520 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Douglas was appointed Comptroller of the Household, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 12 January 1853: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Archibald Douglas | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Douglas succeeded to the peerage, becoming 8th Marquess of Queensberry and causing a by-election.
By-election, 12 February 1857: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Hope-Johnstone | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1857: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Hope-Johnstone | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,702 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1859: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Hope-Johnstone | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,192 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Gustavus Walker | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,097 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1868: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Sydney Waterlow | 1,100 | 51.0 | New |
| | Conservative | George Gustavus Walker | 1,056 | 49.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44 | 2.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,156 | 72.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,989 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
Waterlow was disqualified, owing to holding a government contract at the time of the election, causing a by-election.
By-election, 31 March 1869: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Gustavus Walker | 1,117 | 50.8 | +1.8 |
| | Liberal | Sydney Waterlow | 1,081 | 49.2 | −1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 36 | 1.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,198 | 73.5 | +1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,989 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +1.8 | |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Hope-Johnstone | 1,453 | 52.5 | +3.5 |
| | Liberal | Robert Jardine | 1,315 | 47.5 | −3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 138 | 5.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,768 | 88.4 | +16.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,130 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +3.5 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert Jardine | 1,577 | 51.2 | +3.7 |
| | Conservative | George Gustavus Walker | 1,505 | 48.8 | −3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 72 | 2.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,082 | 91.2 | +2.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,379 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.7 | |
General election 1885: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert Jardine | 4,857 | 57.7 | +6.5 |
| | Conservative | Walter Montagu Douglas Scott | 3,566 | 42.3 | −6.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,291 | 15.4 | +13.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,423 | 88.8 | −2.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,489 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +6.5 | |
General election 1886: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | Robert Jardine | 4,106 | 55.8 | +13.5 |
| | Liberal | Thomas McKie | 3,252 | 44.2 | −13.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 854 | 11.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,358 | 77.5 | −11.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,489 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +13.5 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | William Herries Maxwell | 4,123 | 51.7 | −4.1 |
| | Liberal | Thomas McKie | 3,849 | 48.3 | +4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 274 | 3.4 | −8.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,972 | 86.4 | +8.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,229 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Swing | -4.1 | |
General election 1895: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robinson Souttar | 3,965 | 51.1 | +1.8 |
| | Liberal Unionist | William Herries Maxwell | 3,952 | 49.9 | −1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,917 | 86.7 | +0.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,134 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | +1.8 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | William Herries Maxwell | 4,124 | 52.9 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal | Robinson Souttar | 3,675 | 47.1 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 449 | 5.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,799 | 85.0 | −1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,178 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +3.0 | |
General election 1906: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Percy Molteno | 4,814 | 58.4 | +11.3 |
| | Conservative | J.H. Balfour-Browne | 3,431 | 41.6 | −11.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,383 | 16.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,245 | 87.8 | +2.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,394 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | +11.3 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Percy Molteno | 4,666 | 53.3 | −5.1 |
| | Conservative | William Murray | 4,091 | 46.7 | +5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 575 | 6.6 | −10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,757 | 90.7 | +2.9 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -5.1 | |
General election December 1910: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Percy Molteno | 4,708 | 53.2 | −0.1 |
| | Conservative | William Murray | 4,146 | 46.8 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 562 | 6.4 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,854 | 90.7 | 0.0 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | 0.0 | |
General Election 1914–15:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
* Liberal:
* Unionist: William T. Shaw
General election 1918: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | William Murray | 13,345 | 63.8 | +17.0 |
| | Liberal | John Gulland | 7,562 | 36.2 | −17.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,783 | 27.6 | +21.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,907 | 57.4 | −33.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 36,394 | | |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +17.0 | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Chapple | 13,296 | 54.6 | +18.4 |
| | Unionist | Henry Keswick | 11,055 | 45.4 | −18.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,241 | 9.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,351 | 73.5 | +16.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 33,113 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | +18.4 | |
General election 1923: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Chapple | 13,107 | 53.5 | −1.1 |
| | Unionist | John Charteris | 11,380 | 46.5 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,727 | 7.0 | −2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,487 | 72.6 | −0.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 33,728 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −1.1 | |
General election 1924: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | John Charteris | 12,718 | 46.2 | −0.3 |
| | Liberal | William Chapple | 8,472 | 30.8 | −22.7 |
| | Labour | Agnes Dollan | 6,342 | 23.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,246 | 15.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,532 | 80.8 | +8.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 34,079 | | |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +11.2 | |
General election 1929: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Hunter | 16,174 | 45.1 | +14.3 |
| | Unionist | John Charteris | 12,984 | 36.2 | −10.0 |
| | Labour | W. H. Marwick | 6,687 | 18.7 | −4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,190 | 8.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,845 | 81.4 | +0.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 44,050 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | +12.2 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Hunter | 26,873 | 77.7 | +32.6 |
| | Labour | J. S. Paterson | 7,693 | 22.3 | +3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,180 | 55.4 | +46.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,566 | 77.6 | −3.8 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
1935 Dumfriesshire by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Henry Fildes | 16,271 | 60.3 | −17.4 |
| | Labour Co-op | John Downie | 10,697 | 39.7 | +17.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,574 | 20.6 | −34.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,968 | 58.7 | −18.9 |
| | National Liberal gain from Liberal | National Liberal gain from Liberal | Swing | −17.4 | |
General election 1935: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Henry Fildes | 22,053 | 65.4 | +5.1 |
| | Labour Co-op | John Downie | 11,685 | 34.6 | −5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,368 | 30.8 | +10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,738 | 73.6 | +14.9 |
| | National Liberal gain from Liberal | National Liberal gain from Liberal | Swing | +5.1 | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Dumfriesshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Niall Macpherson | 16,465 | 47.4 | −18.0 |
| | Labour Co-op | David Dunwoodie | 12,388 | 35.7 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal | Ian McColl | 5,850 | 16.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,077 | 11.7 | −16.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,703 | 72.3 | −1.3 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | -8.4 | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Dumfries :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | National Liberal | Niall Macpherson | 26,268 | 59.31 |
| | Labour | Harry S Wilson | 18,025 | 40.69 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,243 | 18.62 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,293 | 78.60 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | |
General election 1951: Dumfries :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | National Liberal | Niall Macpherson | 26,386 | 61.28 |
| | Labour | George BA Douglas | 16,669 | 38.72 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,717 | 22.56 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,085 | 80.17 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | |
General election 1955: Dumfries :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | National Liberal | Niall Macpherson | 24,550 | 61.34 |
| | Labour | Harry S Wilson | 15,427 | 38.66 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,078 | 22.68 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,977 | 73.73 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | |
General election 1959: Dumfries :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | National Liberal | Niall Macpherson | 25,867 | 58.39 |
| | Labour | Graeme Moodie | 18,437 | 41.61 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,430 | 16.78 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,304 | 77.44 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1960s

By-election 1963: Dumfries :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | David Anderson | 16,762 | 40.84 | −17.55 |
| | Labour | Iain Jordan | 15,791 | 38.47 | −3.14 |
| | Liberal | Charles Abernethy | 4,491 | 10.94 | N/A |
| | SNP | John HD Gair | 4,001 | 9.75 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 971 | 2.37 | −14.41 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,045 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |
General election 1964: Dumfries :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hector Monro | 22,816 | 48.65 | |
| | Labour | Iain Jordan | 18,360 | 39.15 | |
| | SNP | John HD Gair | 5,726 | 12.21 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,456 | 9.50 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,902 | 81.57 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1966: Dumfries :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hector Monro | 20,779 | 45.63 | |
| | Labour | Christopher Boyd | 16,358 | 35.92 | |
| | SNP | John HD Gair | 5,727 | 12.57 | |
| | Liberal | Roy Semple | 2,679 | 5.88 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,421 | 9.71 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,543 | 80.19 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Dumfries :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Hector Monro | 24,661 | 53.12 |
| | Labour | Raymond David Donnelly | 15,555 | 33.50 |
| | SNP | John HD Gair | 6,211 | 13.38 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,106 | 19.62 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,427 | 76.13 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election February 1974: Dumfries :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hector Monro | 21,707 | 44.05 | |
| | Labour | John Wheatley | 12,739 | 25.85 | |
| | SNP | LAB Whitley | 9,186 | 18.64 | |
| | Liberal | DH Reive | 5,642 | 11.45 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,968 | 18.20 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,274 | 80.38 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Dumfries :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Hector Monro | 18,386 | 38.75 |
| | Labour | John Wheatley | 12,558 | 26.47 |
| | SNP | LAB Whitley | 12,542 | 26.43 |
| | Liberal | A Sinclair | 3,961 | 8.35 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,828 | 12.28 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,447 | 76.71 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1979: Dumfries :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hector Monro | 22,704 | 45.2 | +6.5 |
| | Labour | Alex Wood | 13,700 | 27.3 | +0.8 |
| | Liberal | Jim Wallace | 7,169 | 14.3 | +6.0 |
| | SNP | Ernest Gibson | 6,647 | 13.2 | −13.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,004 | 17.9 | +5.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,220 | 78.1 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1983: Dumfries :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hector Monro | 18,730 | 44.5 | −0.7 |
| | SDP | James McCall | 10,036 | 23.9 | +9.6 |
| | Labour | Thomas McAughtrie | 8,764 | 20.8 | −6.5 |
| | SNP | Ernest Gibson | 4,527 | 10.8 | −2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,694 | 20.6 | +2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,057 | 73.0 | −5.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1987: Dumfries :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hector Monro | 18,785 | 41.9 | −2.6 |
| | Labour | Catherine Phillips | 11,292 | 25.2 | +4.4 |
| | SDP | James McCall | 8,064 | 18.0 | −5.9 |
| | SNP | Thomas McAlpine | 6,391 | 14.2 | +3.4 |
| | Green | Paul Thomas | 349 | 0.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,493 | 16.7 | −3.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,881 | 75.6 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Dumfries :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hector Monro | 21,089 | 43.1 | +1.2 |
| | Labour | Peter R. Rennie | 14,674 | 30.0 | +4.8 |
| | SNP | Alasdair Morgan | 6,971 | 14.3 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Neil C. Wallace | 5,749 | 11.8 | −6.2 |
| | Independent | Graham McLeod | 312 | 0.6 | New |
| | Natural Law | Thomas Barlow | 107 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,415 | 13.1 | −3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,902 | 80.0 | +3.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1997: Dumfries :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Russell Brown | 23,528 | 47.5 | +17.4 |
| | Conservative | Struan Stevenson | 13,885 | 28.0 | −15.1 |
| | SNP | Robert J. Higgins | 5,977 | 12.1 | −2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Neil C. Wallace | 5,487 | 11.1 | −0.7 |
| | Referendum | David F. Parker | 533 | 1.1 | New |
| | Natural Law | Elizabeth Hunter | 117 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,643 | 19.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,527 | 78.2 | −1.8 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | -16.2 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2001: Dumfries :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Russell Brown | 20,830 | 48.9 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative | John Charteris | 11,996 | 28.2 | +0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Scott | 4,955 | 11.6 | +0.5 |
| | SNP | Gerard Fisher | 4,103 | 9.6 | −2.5 |
| | Scottish Socialist | John Dennis | 702 | 1.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,834 | 20.7 | +1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,586 | 67.0 | −11.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |