Tightest 3 and 4 way Westminster marginals since 1918

saltire shield'We come with the intention of returning as soon as possible to our own country, where we may, under democratic government, achieve the long-needed reconstruction of Scotland.'
Dr Robert D. Macintyre, SNP MP for Motherwell, Hansard, 1 May 1945.		Lion Rampant

Four way marginals - candidates within 10%

The most marginal ever seat in an election in Scotland (and indeed, in the whole of the UK) was Inverness, Nairn & Lochaber in 1992. There was a gap of only 3.4 % between the Liberal Democrats, Labour, Scottish National Party and Conservatives.

Inverness, Nairn & Lochaber, 1992

CandidatePartyVote% Vote% Change
Sir Russell JohnstonLiberal Democrat13,25826.0 %-10.7 %
David StewartLabour12,80025.2 %-0.2 %
Fergus. EwingScottish National Party12,56224.7 %+ 9.8 %
J. ScottConservative11,51722.6 %-0.4 %

Three way marginals - candidates within 10%

Gap 1st-3rd %ConstituencyYearFirstSecondThird
0.37 Caithness & Sutherland1945 E.L. Gandar-Dower, Conservative Labour Sir Archibald Sinclair, Liberal
0.86Dunbartonshire East Oct 1974 Margaret Bain (Ewing), Scottish National Party Barrie Henderson, Conservative E. McGarry, Labour
1.37 Inverness, Nairn & Lochaber 1992Sir Russell Johnston, Liberal Democrat David Stewart, Labour Fergus. Ewing, Scottish National Party
1.54Paisley1918


1.77Glasgow Cathcart1922J.P. Hay, Labour

3.66Renfrew West & Inverclyde,1983Anna McCurley, ConservativeDr Dickson Mabon, Social Democratic PartyGeorge Doherty, Labour
5.73Peebles & Southern Midlothian1922


6.18 Caithness & Sutherland 1950 Sir David Robertson, Conservative Sir Archibald Sinclair, Liberal A. MacArthur, Labour
6.27Orkney & Shetland1945


6.33Edinburgh, West1924


6.74Paisley1923


7.22 Ross & Cromarty 1970 Hamish Gray, Conservative Alasdair Mackenzie, Liberal R.D. MacLean, Labour
7.37Greenock1922


7.46Glasgow Hillhead by election, 25 th Mar 1982 Roy Jenkins, Social Democratic Party Gerry Malone, Conservative David Wiseman, Labour
7.55Dundee East by election 1 st Mar 1973 George Machin, Labour Gordon Wilson, Scottish National Party W.K. Fitzgerald, Conservative
8.16Edinburgh South 1983 Michael Kerr, Earl of Ancram, Conservative John Godfrey, Social Democratic Party Robert McCreadie, Labour
8.76Glasgow Pollokby election 9 th Mar 1967Professor Esmond Wright, Conservative Dick Douglas, Labour George Leslie, Scottish National Party
8.90Aberdeen South1997Anne Begg, LabourNichol Stephen, Liberal DemocratRaymond Robertson, Conservative
8.94Roxburghshire & Selkirkshire1945


8.97Edinburgh West1929


9.12Tweeddale, Ettrick & Lauderdale1997Michael Moore, Liberal DemocratKeith Geddes, LabourAlister Jack, Conservative
9.38Edinburgh PentlandsOct 1974Malcolm Rifkind, ConservativeGeorge Foulkes, LabourJ. Hutchison, Scottish National Party
9.65Berwickshire & Haddingtonshire1922


9.83Ayrshire South1979George Foulkes, LabourJim Sillars, Scottish Labour PartyGordon Young, Conservative
9.86Clackmannan & Eastern Stirlingshire1918


9.88Dunfermline West1983Dick Douglas, LabourDr Peter Davison, ConservativeFrank Moyes, Social Democratic Party

Data based upon the British list compliled by David Boothroyd at British Parliamentary Elections

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