Talk:Ross and Cromarty (UK Parliament constituency)

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UK Parliament constituencies

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Names and boundaries

It was formed from Cromartyshire and Nairnshire and Ross-shire.: Does this mean Ross and Cromarty was a merger of Cromartyshire and Nairnshire with Ross-shire? In Cromartyshire and Nairnshire I read It was altered to Ross and Cromarty., It refering to Cromarty and Nairnshire. In Ross-shire I read exactly the same sentence, It refering to Ross-shire. Laurel Bush 10:39, 9 August 2005 (UTC).[reply]

It's a bit more complex than that. Cromartyshire and Nairnshire actually wasn't one constituency but two, which alternated in Parliaments: Cromartyshire would elect an MP to one Parliament, Nairnshire to the next, then back to Cromartyshire etc. etc. In 1832 this was changed so that Cromartyshire merged with Ross-shire and Nairnshire with Elgin. David | Talk 10:42, 9 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Cheers. I suspected something of the sort. I believe Caithness also alternated with somewhere else. Laurel Bush 11:19, 9 August 2005 (UTC).[reply]

I now wonder where the Scottish Parliament constituency name Ross, Skye and Inverness West comes from. I presume in 1999 there was already a UK Parliament constituency with the same name and boundaries. Laurel Bush 11:40, 20 August 2005 (UTC).[reply]

I have found it. Laurel Bush 10:32, 14 January 2006 (UTC).[reply]

Re constituency and county

This looks wrong: ... from 1832 to 1983, serving the electorate of Ross and Cromarty. Lewis has been part of Western Isles since 1918. Not sure where Lewis was before Western Isles was created. Laurel Bush 10:52, 14 January 2006 (UTC).[reply]

MacLeod

Since there isn't yet an article on him, this looks the best place to tackle this.

This article says he was "John MacLeod", List of UK minor party and independent MPs elected says he was "Jack MacLeod" and there doesn't appear to be an article on him yet.

Also there's discrepancy about his exact party status. Here he's listed as National Liberal & Conservative from 1945, but on the list (and its source) it says he only became a full National Liberal in 1951. Equally here it says he was independent from 1957 but the list and source leave him out in the 1959 election - is he being confused with his neighbour, David Robertson in Caithness and Sutherland?

Plus just what was the status of the Ross and Cromarty Liberal Association in the 1940s and 1950s? (National) newspaper reports of the 1936 by-election (it was high profile because MacDonald was a Cabinet minister trying to get back into the Commons and was opposed by Randolph Churchill) seem to indicate it was very much a National Liberal organisation - a lot of local parties backing National Liberals still called themselves just "Liberal", many being the historic Liberal branch from before the staggered splits of the 1930s. Timrollpickering 03:55, 15 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The affiliations come from Craig. Re: his name and checking the affiliation details, my first thought was to see what the ODNB says, but unfortunately it doesn't cover him. I'll see if I can get to the library and look in Stenton and Lees tomorrow. Warofdreams talk 00:04, 16 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Stenton and Lees call him "Sir John MacLeod" and describe his as a "National Liberal and Conservative" member; Craig on the other hand adds explanatory notes that his constituency Liberal association was affiliated to neither the "official" Liberal Party nor the National Liberals. In Parliament, he declared his loyality to Churchill, and usually sat with the National Liberals. Warofdreams talk 15:54, 17 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]