1949 Aberdeen Corporation election

An election to the Aberdeen Corporation was held on 3 May 1949, alongside municipal elections across Scotland. 12 of the corporation's 37 seats were up for election.

1949 Aberdeen Corporation election

← 1947 May 3, 1949 (1949-05-03) 1950 →

12 out of 37 seats of City of Aberdeen Council
19 seats needed for a majority
Turnout46%
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Labour Progressives Communist
Seats won 7 5 0
Seats after 19[a] 18 0
Seat change 0 Increase1 0
Popular vote 25,846 29,235 1,862
Percentage 44.8% 50.7% 3.2%

  Fourth party
 
Party Independent
Seats won 0
Seats after 0
Seat change Decrease1
Popular vote 691
Percentage 1.2%

Composition of Corporation after the election

The election saw Labour retain their control over the corporation, although tenuously. Leading up to the election, Labour councillor Robert S. Lennox had the whip withdrawn, and was sitting as an independent. Despite this, Lennox still voted with Labour, allowing the party to keep control. The overall turnout for the election was 46%.[1][2][3]

Ward Results

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Ferryhill
Party Candidate Votes %
Progressives Ian G. McPherson (incumbent) 2,682 71.7
Labour Francis Brand 1,059 28.3
Majority 1,623
Progressives hold
Gilcomston
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Dr May Baird (incumbent) 2,311 52.7
Progressives J. Patrick Jeffery 2,071 47.3
Majority 240
Labour hold
Greyfriars
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Collin MacIver 2,850 72.9
Independent Alexander Riddell (incumbent)[b] 691 17.7
Communist Robert H. Cooney 370 9.5
Majority 2,159
Labour gain from Independent
Holburn
Party Candidate Votes %
Progressives John Collins 2,012 59.8
Labour Rev. Leonard Baker Short (incumbent) 1,355 40.2
Majority 657
Progressives gain from Labour
Rosemount
Party Candidate Votes %
Progressives George A. Anderson (incumbent) 3,408 71.4
Labour John J. Adams 1,366 28.6
Majority 2,042
Progressives hold
Rubislaw
Party Candidate Votes %
Progressives James A. Mackie (incumbent) 4,447 84.5
Labour George M. Thow 817 15.5
Majority 3,630
Progressives hold
Ruthrieston
Party Candidate Votes %
Progressives Andrew R. Abercrombie 5,132 77.1
Labour Douglas Cummings 1,520 22.9
Majority 3,612
Progressives hold
St. Clements
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour George W. Davis (incumbent) 2,724 88.4
Communist Robert F. Murray 316 11.6
Majority 2,408
Labour hold
St. Machar
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour William Yuill 3,442 51.9
Progressives Gilbert F. Hamilton 2,757 41.6
Communist Norman S. Simpson 435 6.6
Majority 685
Labour hold
St. Nicholas
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour John Robertson (incumbent) 1,612 56.1
Progressives Robert Lobban 1,260 43.9
Majority 352
Labour hold
Torry
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour William Collins (incumbent) 2,851 58.8
Progressives Sidney H. Robinson 1,700 35.0
Communist Arthur Cryle 301 6.2
Majority 1,151
Labour hold
Woodside
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Alexander Armet 3,939 48.4
Progressives Patrick Mitchell 3,766 46.2
Communist Mrs. Alice Milne 440 5.4
Majority 173
Labour hold

[1][2][3]

Notes

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  1. ^ Including one Labour councilor with the whip removed but voting with the party.
  2. ^ Ran as an Independent but Labour-aligned candidate.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Labour Retain Their Odd Vote Lead in Aberdeen". The Herald (Glasgow). 4 May 1949. p. 6. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b 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 4 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b "How They Voted at Aberdeen". The Press and Journal. 4 May 1949. p. 1. Retrieved 6 June 2023.