Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy: MP, 2024 result and local figures
The MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy is Melanie Ward (Labour), returned on 4 July 2024. Melanie Ward took the seat for Labour in July 2024 with 18,662 votes (45.7%), ahead of Lesley Backhouse (Scottish National Party) on 11,414. 40,814 valid votes were cast by an electorate of 71,845, 56.8% of those registered. The majority was 7,248.
Key figures
What the figures show
Workplaces in Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy accounted for 36,000 jobs in 2024; the business register lists 2,880 local units for March 2026.
2,723 children in Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy were in relative low income families after housing costs in 2024/25, the Department for Work and Pensions estimates: 17.1% of under-16s, where the UK share is 26.0%. On the before-housing-costs measure it fell from 18.8% in 2021/22 to 14.9% in 2024/25.
Residents of Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy earned more than jobs based there paid in April 2025: median full-time pay was £34,009 for workplace jobs and £36,715 for residents. In April 2024 the residents' figure was £37,805. The residents' figure ranks 227th lowest of 632 constituencies with an estimate. The latest year is provisional.
The Annual Population Survey puts the employment rate for 16 to 64 year olds at 77.3% for April 2025 to March 2026, give or take 6.0 points. 21.3% were economically inactive.
The claimant count for September 2026 was 2,360, or 4.1% of the working-age population. A year earlier the count was 2,150.
MP
Melanie Ward, Labour
- MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy since 4 July 2024
Official UK Parliament page · Statements by Melanie Ward on this site
In Parliament
What Melanie Ward said most recently in Parliament, word for word from Hansard (from 15 July 2026 to 19 October 2026). Hansard search returns 220 spoken contributions by Melanie Ward since 4 July 2024.
I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Torcuil Crichton) on securing this debate and thank him for his kind words. I am very pleased to respond on behalf of the Government.
Read in Hansard (opening words; the full contribution is longer)
I would have more time for that argument if the Conservative Government had themselves invested in nuclear anywhere in the UK during their 14 years in power. The fact is that the arguments made against the Scottish Government’s position are strong.
Read in Hansard (opening words; the full contribution is longer)
I certainly did not say that we were anti-baseload, which would be a ridiculous argument. In fact, I am proud that this Government are making record investment in renewable energy; I mentioned at the start of my speech that I have seen some of it myself since I was appointed.
Read in Hansard (opening words; the full contribution is longer)
It is a pleasure to speak in this debate and to hear Members’ warm recollections of Sir David Amess, including from you, Madam Deputy Speaker. He was obviously widely respected across this Chamber. Last month, we also remembered my dear friend Jo Cox, whom we continue to miss.
Read in Hansard (opening words; the full contribution is longer)
Given the threats that our country faces, in March the Secretary of State announced welcome funding for two defence technical excellence colleges, one to be in the east of Scotland.
Read in Hansard (opening words; the full contribution is longer)
Read from the Hansard API on 27 October 2026. Up to two items per debate; remarks under 40 characters are left out. All contributions in Hansard.
General election, 4 July 2024
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Change in share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melanie Ward | Labour | 18,662 | 45.7% | +16.2 |
| Lesley Backhouse | Scottish National Party | 11,414 | 28.0% | −8.3 |
| Jonathan Gray | Conservative | 3,203 | 7.8% | −14.4 |
| Sonia Davidson | Reform UK | 3,128 | 7.7% | +5.7 |
| Fraser Graham | Liberal Democrat | 1,593 | 3.9% | −2.6 |
| Mags Hall | Scottish Green Party | 1,556 | 3.8% | +0.3 |
| Neale Hanvey | Alba Party | 1,132 | 2.8% | |
| Calum Paul | Scottish Libertarian Party | 126 | 0.3% |
Result summary as published: Lab gain from SNP. Change in share is in percentage points against the notional 2019 result on the new boundaries. Source: House of Commons Library, election results (data, read 14 October 2026).
Results on these boundaries
| Date | Election | First | Second | Majority | Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 July 2024 | General election | Labour 45.7% | Scottish National Party 28.0% | 7,248 | 56.8% |
| 12 December 2019 | General election (notional result on these boundaries) | Scottish National Party 36.3% | Labour 29.5% | 3,220 | 67.0% |
Only results on the constituency boundaries first used at the 2024 general election are shown. The 2019 figures are the House of Commons Library's notional estimates of how votes cast in 2019 would have fallen on these boundaries, not a result that was declared. Source: House of Commons Library, constituency results.
Councils
Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy lies within Fife.
- Fife S12000047
Who has power over Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy
Every body that makes decisions for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, from the street up to the G20. Each one links to its page on the official record. How the ten levels work.
Level 1: Neighbourhood and community power
Residents' and tenants' groups, neighbourhood forums and local policing panels.
Level 2: Parish, town and community councils
Community councils, where the area has them, sit below the council.
Level 3: Local councils
Level 5: Devolved and state governments
- Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government makes law for Scotland on devolved subjects
Level 6: National government
- Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy this page: Melanie Ward (Labour) MP
- All 650 MPs votes, interests and costs
- UK government and Parliament official figures and sources
Level 7: Regional blocs and supranational bodies
- Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights (CoE / ECtHR) The UK Government says the United Kingdom was one of the Council of Europe's founding members.
Level 8: The UN and global treaty bodies
- United Nations (General Assembly and Security Council) The UN lists the United Kingdom as a member admitted on 24 October 1945.
- United Nations Security Council (UNSC) The UK is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council and holds the veto, according to the UN.
- NATO NATO lists the United Kingdom among its 12 founding members, which signed the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, D.C.
- World Health Organization (WHO) WHO's list of member states includes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
- World Trade Organization (WTO) The WTO says the United Kingdom has been a WTO member since 1 January 1995 and a member of GATT since 1 January 1948.
- Commonwealth of Nations The UK is one of the 56 members, one of three European members with Cyprus and Malta, and the Commonwealth Secretariat is headquartered at Marlborough House in London.
Level 9: The IMF, World Bank and global finance
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) The UK has been a member since 27 December 1945 and has a quota of SDR 20,155.1 million (IMF country page for the United Kingdom).
- World Bank Group (WBG) The UK holds 3.75% of voting power in the IBRD (data as of 30 June 2026) and 6.92% in IDA (as of 30 June 2026), according to the World Bank's voting tables.
Level 10: G7, G20, Davos and global forums
Sources
| Figure | Period | Publisher | Read | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claimants as a share of residents aged 16 to 64 | September 2026 | ONS | 29 October 2026 | data · area |
| Claimant count | September 2026 | ONS | 29 October 2026 | data · area |
| Employment rate, aged 16 to 64 | April 2025 to March 2026 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Median full-time pay of residents | April 2025 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Median full-time pay of people working here | April 2025 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Children in relative low income families, after housing costs | 2024/25 | DWP | 14 October 2026 | data · release |
| Children in relative low income families, before housing costs | 2024/25 | DWP | 14 October 2026 | data · release |
| Business sites (local units) | March 2026 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| People employed by businesses here | 2024 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Economically inactive, aged 16 to 64 | April 2025 to March 2026 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
"Data" is the file or query each figure was read from (its SHA-256 is in the link title); "area" shows the same table for this constituency alone.
Common questions
Who is the MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy?
Melanie Ward (Labour), elected on 4 July 2024, according to UK Parliament records.
What was the 2024 general election result in Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy?
The House of Commons Library records 18,662 votes for Melanie Ward of Labour and a majority of 7,248; 56.8% of the electorate cast a valid vote.
What is the unemployment claimant rate in Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy?
The ONS claimant count for September 2026 is 2,360, 4.1% of the 16 to 64 population.
What is the average salary in Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy?
For full-time employees living here the ONS puts median annual pay at £36,715 (April 2025).
How many children in Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy live in low income families?
2,723 children under 16, 17.1%, after housing costs in 2024/25, according to the Department for Work and Pensions.
Built 14 October 2026 from official records; how these pages are compiled. This page lists what the record shows and gives no verdict on the MP or the area. Link moved or figure wrong? Tell us.