1886 United Kingdom general election in Scotland

A general election was held in the United Kingdom over the period was held from 1 to 27 July 1886, and members were returned for all Scottish seats. Scotland was allocated 72 seats in total, with 70 territorial seats, comprising 32 burgh constituencies and 37 county constituencies.^[e] There were also two university constituencies, Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities and Edinburgh and St Andrews Universities. As voters in university constituencies voted in addition to their territorial vote, the results are compiled separately.

Quick facts All 72 Scottish seats to the House of Commons, First party ...

1886 United Kingdom general election in Scotland

← 1885 1–27 July 1886 (1886-07-01 â€“ 1886-07-27) 1892 â†’
← outgoing members elected members â†’
All 72 Scottish seats to the House of Commons
First party Second party   Leader William Ewart Gladstone Marquess of Salisbury Party Liberal Conservative and Liberal Unionist Last election 62[a][b] 10[a][c] Seats won 43 29 Seat change 19 19 Popular vote 193,801[d] 164,314[d] Percentage 53.6% 46.4% Swing 12.1% 12.1%
Results of the 1886 election in Scotland for the county and burgh seats   Liberal   Conservative   Liberal Unionist   Crofters

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The election was called following the defeat of the Government of Ireland Bill 1886, which led to a split in the Liberal party: Liberals who did not support Home Rule for Ireland formed the breakaway Liberal Unionist Party. The election in Scotland was effectively fought between two blocs, as the Conservatives did not put up candidates against sitting Liberal Unionist MPs, whilst the Liberals did not oppose sitting Crofters Party MPs even where they did not take the Liberal whip (several Crofters candidates elected in 1885 had been endorsed by Liberals prior to election, or had since become fully alligned with them).

Although the Liberals won a majority of the seats in Scotland, when combined with results from across the United Kingdom the election resulted in the defeat of William Ewart Gladstone's government. Although the Liberal Unionists did not formally join with the Conservatives, in practice the two groups acted together to control a parliamentary majority in the House of Commons.