1956 Aberdeen Corporation election

1956 Aberdeen Corporation election
May 1, 1956 (1956-05-01)
12 out of 37 seats of City of Aberdeen Council
19 seats needed for a majority
Turnout19.4% Decrease
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Labour Progressives SNP
Seats won 7 5 0
Seats after 21 16 0
Seat change 0 0 0
Popular vote 7,868 3,596 526
Percentage 60.74% 27.76% 4.06%
  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Party Communist Scottish National Congress
Seats won 0 0
Seats after 0 0
Seat change 0 0
Popular vote 482 481
Percentage 3.72% 3.71%
Composition of Corporation after the election

An election to the Aberdeen Corporation was held on 1 May 1956, alongside municipal elections across Scotland. 12 of the corporation's 37 seats were up for election, although only 6 were contested.

This election set a record for low turnout rate for the third year in a row, with turnout dropping to below 20% for the first time ever.[1][2] While just shy of 13,000 electors voted in this election, the estimated attendance at the Aberdeen F.C. match just three days prior was 16,000.[1] From 1952 to 1955, the Scottish nationalist vote was captured by the Scottish Self-Government Party. In this election, members and former candidates switched to supporting either the Scottish National Party or the Scottish National Congress.[3] These new affiliations and record low turnout resulted in a much closer race in the St. Nicholas ward, with Labour's majority dropping from 921 to 366.

Ward results

Cairncry
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour John McM. Watt (incumbent) 2,058 81.06
Scottish National Congress William Sinclair 481 18.94
Majority 1,577
Turnout 2,539 14.41
Labour hold
Ferryhill
Party Candidate Votes %
Progressives A. McRobb (incumbent) Unopposed
Progressives hold
Holburn
Party Candidate Votes %
Progressives W. D. Reid (incumbent) Unopposed
Progressives hold
Rosemount
Party Candidate Votes %
Progressives James Thomson (incumbent) 2,091 76.76
Labour Norman D. Fraser 633 23.24
Majority 1,458
Turnout 2,724 31.58
Progressives hold
Rubislaw
Party Candidate Votes %
Progressives J. Scott MacLachlan (incumbent) Unopposed
Progressives hold
Ruthrieston
Party Candidate Votes %
Progressives T. Scott Sutherland (incumbent) Unopposed
Progressives hold
St. Andrews
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour R. McG. Bruce (incumbent) Unopposed
Labour hold
St. Clements
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour William K. Park (incumbent) 1,326 87.01
Communist Margaret Rose 198 12.99
Majority 1,128
Turnout 1,524 16.18
Labour hold
St. Machar
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour John D. Burgoyne (incumbent) 1,304 82.12
Communist Andrew Smith 284 17.88
Majority 1,020
Turnout 1,588 17.40
Labour hold
St. Nicholas
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Robert A. McIntyre (incumbent) 892 62.91
SNP Thomas W. Crockett 526 37.09
Majority 366
Turnout 1,418 12.67
Labour hold
Torry
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Ellen Williamson Unopposed
Labour hold
Woodside
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Sidney Fyfe 1,655 52.37
Progressives Thomas H. Murdoch 1,505 47.63
Majority 150
Turnout 3,160 29.29
Labour hold

[1][2][4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Where, Oh Where Were The Electors?". Aberdeen Evening Express. 2 May 1956. p. 7. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  2. 1 2 Ware, L.; Rallings, C.; Thrasher, M. (2006). "British Local Election Database, 1889-2003". beta.ukdataservice.ac.uk. doi:10.5255/ukda-sn-5319-1. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  3. ↑ "Town Council Aspirants: Six Contests are Certain". Aberdeen Evening Express. 10 April 1956. p. 1. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  4. ↑ "Labour Maintain Majority in Aberdeen". The Herald (Glasgow). 2 May 1856. p. 8. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
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