Edinburgh East (UK Parliament constituency)

Edinburgh East was a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

It existed from 1885 to 1997 and from 2005 to 2024.

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was expanded to include the town of Musselburgh. As a consequence, it reverted to the name of Edinburgh East and Musselburgh used from 1997 to 2005.

Boundaries
Edinburgh East was one of five constituencies covering the City of Edinburgh council area. All were entirely within the city council area. Prior to the 2005 general election, the city area was covered by six constituencies, with Edinburgh East and Musselburgh straddling the boundary with the East Lothian 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.

2005–2024: 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, consisted of areas formerly within the constituencies of Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, Edinburgh Central and Edinburgh South. It was largely a replacement for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh. Scottish Parliament constituencies retained the names and boundaries of the older Westminster constituencies.

As implied by the name, Edinburgh East covered an eastern portion of the City of Edinburgh council area, although it extended well into the city centre. It included the areas of Craigmillar, Duddingston, Holyrood, Leith Links, Meadowbank, Milton, Mountcastle, Portobello, Prestonfield, Restalrig, Southside and Tollcross.

The constituency was 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 as it existed from 2005 to 2024 covered 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 housed the University of Edinburgh and had a significant student population. Towards the south and east it also included some of Edinburgh's more deprived areas such as the Craigmillar housing estate.

On average, residents were slightly wealthier and healthier than the UK average.

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: