At the 2019 general election, the constituency had the largest SNP vote share and relative majority, effectively making it the safest SNP seat, although this majority was heavily reduced at the subsequent 2024 election.[1][2]
The seat covers much of the northern half of the Aberdeen Council Area. It includes affluent suburbs like Kingswells and Bridge of Don, alongside areas with significant social housing within the city proper such as; Tillydrone, Northfield, Mastrick and Bucksburn. [3]
In full: the Aberdeen Council wards of Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone, Bridge of Don, Kingswells/Sheddocksley/Summerhill, Northfield/Mastrick North, Hilton/Woodside/Stockethill, Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen;
In part: the Aberdeen Council ward of Midstocket/Rosemount[4]
Location of the constituency after boundary review
From 1832 to 1885 there was a single Aberdeen constituency. Prior to 1832, the burgh of Aberdeen had been represented as a component of the Aberdeen Burghs constituency.
For the 1950 general election boundaries were redefined again, by the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949. A new list of wards defined Aberdeen North - Glimonston, Greyfriars, St Clement, St Machar, St Nicholas and Woodside[6] - but the county of city of Aberdeen remained a two-constituency city, divided between Aberdeen South and Aberdeen North, with both constituencies entirely within the city.
The county of Aberdeen was now again divided between East Aberdeenshire and West Aberdeenshire, with both of these constituencies entirely within the county.
For the February 1974 general election there was, again, no change to the boundaries of Aberdeen North, but a review had defined the constituency in terms of a new list of wards. The new wards were Mastrick, Northfield, St Clement's, St Machar, St Nicholas, and Woodside.[6] February 1974 boundaries were used also for the October 1974 general election.
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In this period the constituency was made up of the City of Aberdeen District electoral divisions of Ashgrove, Brimmond, Kittybrewster, Mastrick, Northfield East, Northfield West, St Machar, Seaton, Summerfield, and Woodside.
In this period the constituency was made up of the City of Aberdeen District electoral divisions of Balgownie, Brimmond, Danestone, Mastrick, Middleton, Northfield, Summerfield, and West Don, as provided for by the Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) Order 1995.[7]
Since 2005 the constituency is made up of the Aberdeen City Council wards of Auchmill, Berryden, Castlehill, Cummings Park, Donmouth, Hilton, Kittybrewster, Mastrick, Midstocket, Newhills, Pittodrie, St Machar, Seaton, Sheddocksley, Springhill, Stockethill, Summerhill, Sunnybank, and Woodside, as provided for by the Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) Order 2005.[8]
As redefined for the 1997 general election, Aberdeen North was one of three constituencies covering and entirely within the Aberdeen City area, the other two being Aberdeen South and Aberdeen Central. Aberdeen South shared boundaries with both of the other two constituencies.
As redefined by the Fifth Review of the Boundary Commission for Scotland, and subsequently first used in the 2005 general election,[9] Aberdeen North is entirely within the Aberdeen City council area and one of five constituencies covering that council area and the Aberdeenshire council area. To the south of Aberdeen North there is Aberdeen South, which is also entirely within the Aberdeen City council area. To the west there is West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, which is entirely within the Aberdeenshire council area, and to the north there is Gordon, which covers part of the Aberdeen City council area and part of the Aberdeenshire council area. Further north there is Banff and Buchan which, like West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, is entirely within the Aberdeenshire council area.
Fifth Review changes include the transfer of Bridge of Don, Dyce and Danestone areas from Aberdeen North to Gordon, and the new Aberdeen North has boundaries which are very different from those of the earlier constituency. The northern boundary of the earlier constituency coincided with the northern boundary of the Aberdeen City council area. At that time, Aberdeen Central and Aberdeen South covered the rest of the Aberdeen City council area, and all three Aberdeen constituencies were entirely within the council area.