1936 Edinburgh Corporation election

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Map showing election results by ward

An Election to the Edinburgh Corporation was held on 3 November 1936, alongside municipal elections across Scotland. The election took place amidst an increasingly sectarian political climate, with hardline Protestant and anti-Catholic political parties being on the rise in Glasgow and Edinburgh in the 1930s. The Protestant Action Society (PAS); Edinburgh's far-right Protestant grouping which had inspired a sectarian riot the previous year, won 31% of the vote and got 5 new members elected.[1] The PAS had won 24% in the previous years election.[2]

In Glasgow in 1933 a similarly strong showing by that city's insurgent Protestant party had split the Moderate vote, allowing in a Labour council for the first time in Glasgow's history. In contrast, despite the PAS's strong showing in Edinburgh, the dominant Progressives enjoyed such an overwhelming majority over Labour that the PAS could hardly dent it. Labour, in turn, were relegated to third place.[3]

Edinburgh Corporation at the time was made up of 71 members, of whom 69 were elected. Following the election the Corporation was composed of 46 Progressives/Moderates, 15 Labour, 8 Protestant Action, and 2 independents.[4]

Turnout was 111,841, or 49.3%.[4]

Aggregate results[edit]

Edinburgh Corporation election, 1936[4]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Progressives 14 0 39.15 43,788
  Labour 5 1 2 Decrease1 29.25 32,709
  Protestant Action 5 5 0 Increase5 26.64 29,797
  Independent 2 2 0 Increase2 4.21 4,704
  Tenants' Association 0.43 479
  Ind. Labour Party 0.20 222
  Revolutionary Socialists 0.10 115
  B.S.I.S.L.P. 0.02 27

Ward results[edit]

Broughton
1 seat
Electorate: 10,783[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Protestant Action George Ballantine 2601
Progressives James Gorman (incumbent) 2238
Majority 363
Turnout 44.87
Protestant Action gain from Progressives Swing
Canongate
2 seats
Electorate: 10,343[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Esta Henry 2793 25.27
Protestant Action James Leitch 2503 22.64
Labour John Gibson 2150 19.45
Progressives Alexander Thomson (incumbent) 1918 17.35
Labour Alexander H. Paton 1468 13.28
Ind. Labour Party James H. Moore 222 2.01
Majority
Turnout 5,527 53.92
Independent gain from Progressives Swing
Protestant Action gain from Labour Swing
Dalry
1 seat
Electorate: 10,783[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mrs Mary Graham (incumbent) 2817
Protestant Progressive James Graham 2522
Majority 295
Turnout 50.26
Labour hold Swing
Haymarket
1 seat
Electorate: 11,527[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressives Ian A Johnson Gilbert 3659
Tenants' Association Mrs Freds. M. Gembles 479
Majority 3180
Turnout 36.88
Progressives hold Swing
South Leith
Electorate: 15,996[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Protestant Action James C. Trainer 4825
Progressives George Mackie 2486
Labour William D. Mitchell 1495
Revolutionary Socialists Thomas Tait 115
B.S.I.S.L.P. Robert Gillespie 27
Majority 2139
Turnout 54.05
Protestant Action gain from Progressives Swing

References[edit]

  1. ^ Paul, Freston (2004). Protestant Political Parties: A Global Survey. Ashgate. p. 51. ISBN 9780754640622.
  2. ^ Bowd, Gavin (7 April 2013). "Gavin Bowd reveals some uncomfortable truths in Fascist Scotland". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015.
  3. ^ Smyth, James J. "Resisting labour: Unionists, Liberals, and Moderates in Glasgow Between the Wars" (PDF). The Historical Journal. Cambridge University Press: 397. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Scottish Municipal Elections". The Glasgow Herald. 4 November 1936. p. 14.
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