Edinburgh East is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
In present form, the constituency was first used at the 2005 general election, but there was also an Edinburgh East constituency in existence from 1885 to 1997. boundary changes whic
Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat will be expanded to include the town of Musselburgh. As a consequence, it will revert to the name of Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, to be first contested at the next general election.
Boundaries
Edinburgh East is now one of five constituencies covering the City of Edinburgh council area. All are entirely within the city council area. Prior to the 2005 general election, the city area was covered by six constituencies, with one straddling a boundary with another 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–: 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, consists of areas formerly within the constituencies of Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, Edinburgh Central and Edinburgh South. It is largely a replacement for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh. Scottish Parliament constituencies retain the names and boundaries of the older Westminster constituencies.
As implied by the name, Edinburgh East covers an eastern portion of the City of Edinburgh council area, although it extends well into the city centre. It includes the areas of Craigmillar, Duddingston, Holyrood, Leith Links, Meadowbank, Milton, Mountcastle, Portobello, Prestonfield, Restalrig, Southside and Tollcross.
The constituency is 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 covers 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 houses the University of Edinburgh and has a significant student population. Towards the south and east it also includes some of Edinburgh's more deprived areas such as the Craigmillar housing estate.
On average, residents are slightly wealthier and healthier than the UK average.
Members of Parliament
1885 to 1997
2005 to present
Election results
Elections in the 2020s
Elections in the 2010s
Elections in the 2000s
Election in the 1990s
Elections in the 1980s
Elections in the 1970s
Elections in the 1960s
Elections in the 1950s
Elections in the 1940s
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: