Birmingham Northfield (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 52°24′N 1°59′W / 52.40°N 1.98°W / 52.40; -1.98

Birmingham, Northfield
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Birmingham, Northfield in Birmingham.
Outline map
Location of Birmingham within England.
County West Midlands
Population 101,422 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate 72,190 (December 2010)[2]
Current constituency
Created 1950
Member of parliament Richard Burden (Labour)
Number of members One
Created from Birmingham King's Norton
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency West Midlands

Birmingham, Northfield is a constituency[n 1] created in 1950 represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1992 by Richard Burden of the Labour Party.[n 2] It represents the southernmost part of the city of Birmingham.

Members of Parliament

Election Member[3]Party
1950 Raymond Blackburn Labour
1951 Donald Chapman Labour
1970 Ray Carter Labour
1979 Jocelyn Cadbury Conservative
1982 by-election John Spellar Labour
1983 Roger Douglas King Conservative
1992 Richard Burden Labour

Constituency profile

Among the area's largest features are the closed MG Rover Group factory that was formerly a major employer in the constituency and closed down in the run up to the 2005 general election, a large hospital and the North Worcestershire Golf Course.[4] The Labour MP Richard Burden was nonetheless returned, albeit with a majority reduced by 5.6%. He was re-elected, with a majority reduced by 14.1%,[n 3] in 2010. In 2015, Burden was re-elected with a majority of 2,509 votes and a vote share of 41.6%, which made Northfield the most marginal seat in Birmingham, as the margin in nearby Birmingham Edgbaston, traditionally Labour's weakest seat in the city, rose to be 197 votes more than Northfield. Two years later at the 2017 snap election, Burden had increased his majority to 4,667 votes and his vote share to 53.2% on an overall turnout of 44,348 voters; despite this, due to the Labour majority in Edgbaston rising to almost 7,000 votes, Northfield is now Labour's weakest seat in Birmingham by a considerable margin.

Boundaries

1950-1955: The County Borough of Birmingham Wards of Northfield, Selly Oak, and Weoley.[5]

1955-1974: The County Borough of Birmingham wards of King's Norton, Northfield, and Weoley.

1974-1983: As above less King's Norton, plus Longbridge

1983-1997: The City of Birmingham wards of Bartley Green, Longbridge, Northfield, and Weoley.

1997-2010: As above less Bartley Green

2010–present: As above plus King's Norton

Following the review of parliamentary representation in Birmingham and the West Midlands,[6] the Boundary Commission for England created a modified Northfield seat which gained the ward of Kings Norton (previously in the Selly Oak constituency).

History

Summary of results

The 2015 result gave the seat the 26th-smallest majority of Labour's 232 seats by percentage of majority.[7]

Since creation in 1950, Labour Party MPs have been elected and served the seat with the exception of the period from 1979 to 1992 while the Conservative Party were in government, with a one-year gap caused by a Labour win in a by-election, in 1982. From 1979 to 1982 the MP was a member of the influential and large Cadbury family, Jocelyn Cadbury.

Opposition parties

The Conservative candidate for 2015, MacLean, came within 5.9% of winning the seat. UKIP's swing nationally was +9.5% in 2015; here it was 13.5%, enabling a third place, having been fifth-placed in the previous election. The other two candidates standing, for parties other than Labour on the left wing, narrowly forfeited their deposits

Turnout

Turnout has ranged between 84.7% in 1950 and 52.8% in 2001 (which was below the percentage of the by-election, in 1982).

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General Election 2017: Birmingham Northfield[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Richard Burden 23,596 53.2 Increase 11.6
Conservative Meg Powell-Chandler 18,929 42.7 Increase 7.0
Liberal Democrat Roger Harmer 959 2.2 Decrease 1.0
Green Eleanor Masters 864 1.9 Decrease 0.8
Majority 4,667 10.5 Increase 4.6
Turnout 44,348 61.3 Increase 1.9
Labour hold Swing Increase 2.3
General Election 2015: Birmingham Northfield[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Richard Burden 17,673 41.6 Increase 1.3
Conservative Rachel Maclean 15,164 35.7 Increase 2.1
UKIP Keith Rowe 7,106 16.7 Increase 13.5
Liberal Democrat Steve Haynes 1,349 3.2 Decrease 12.5
Green Anna Masters[10] 1,169 2.8 Increase 1.8
Majority 2,509 5.9 Decrease 0.8
Turnout 42,461 59.4 Increase 0.8
Labour hold Swing Decrease 0.8

Going into the 2015 general election, this was the 121st most marginal constituency in Great Britain, the Conservatives requiring a swing from Labour of 3.3% to take the seat (based on the result of the 2010 general election).[11]

General Election 2010: Birmingham Northfield[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Richard Burden 16,841 40.3 Decrease 10.1
Conservative Keely Huxtable 14,059 33.6 Increase 3.2
Liberal Democrat Mike Dixon 6,550 15.7 Increase 3.3
BNP Les Orton 2,290 5.5 Increase 2.2
UKIP John Borthwick 1,363 3.3 Increase 1.0
Green Susan Pearce 406 1.0 N/A
Common Good Dick Rodgers 305 0.7 Decrease 0.4
Majority 2,782 6.7 Decrease 14.1
Turnout 41,814 58.6 Increase 3.4
Labour hold Swing Decrease 6.6

Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: Birmingham Northfield[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Richard Burden 15,419 49.6 Decrease 6.4
Conservative Vicky Ford 8,965 28.9 Decrease 0.7
Liberal Democrat Trevor Sword 4,171 13.4 +2.2
BNP Mark Cattell 1,278 4.1 N/A
UKIP Gillian Chant 641 2.1 Increase 0.2
Common Good Richard Rogers 428 1.4 N/A
Socialist Alternative Louise Houdley 120 0.4 N/A
Workers Revolutionary Frank Sweeney 34 0.1 N/A
Majority 6,454 20.8 Decrease 5.6
Turnout 31,056 56.6 Increase 3.8
Labour hold Swing Decrease 2.8
General Election 2001: Birmingham, Northfield[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Richard Burden 16,528 56.0 Decrease 1.5
Conservative Nils Purser 8,730 29.6 Increase 1.6
Liberal Democrat Trevor Sword 3,322 11.2 Increase 0.8
UKIP Stephen Rogers 550 1.9 N/A
Socialist Alliance Clive Walder 193 0.7 N/A
Socialist Labour Zane Carpenter 151 0.5 N/A
Communist Andrew Chaffer 60 0.2 N/A
Majority 7,798 26.4 Decrease 3.1
Turnout 29,534 52.8 Decrease 15.5
Labour hold Swing Decrease 1.5

Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1997: Birmingham Northfield[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Richard Burden 22,316 57.4 Increase 11.9
Conservative Alan C. Blumenthal 10,873 28.0 Decrease 14.4
Liberal Democrat Micheal R. Ashell 4,078 10.5 Increase 0.4
Referendum David Gent 1,243 3.2 N/A
BNP Keith A. Axon 337 0.9 N/A
Majority 11,443 29.5
Turnout 38,847 68.3 Decrease 7.8
Labour hold Swing Increase 13.1
General Election 1992: Birmingham Northfield[17][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Richard Burden 24,443 45.5 Increase 6.3
Conservative Roger King 23,803 44.4 Decrease 0.7
Liberal Democrat David L. Cropp 5,431 10.1 Decrease 5.5
Majority 630 1.1 Decrease 4.8
Turnout 53,667 76.1 Increase 4.5
Labour gain from Conservative Swing Increase 3.5

Election in the 1980s

General Election 1987: Birmingham Northfield[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Roger King 24,024 45.1 Increase 2.4
Labour John Spellar 20,889 39.2 Increase 1.7
Social Democratic John Gordon 8,319 15.6 Decrease 3.6
Majority 3,135 5.9
Turnout 53,232 72.6
Conservative hold Swing Increase 2.0
General Election 1983: Birmingham Northfield[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Roger King 22,596 42.7 Decrease 2.7
Labour John Spellar 19,836 37.5 Decrease 7.6
Liberal David Webb 10,045 19.0 Increase 10.8
Communist Peter Sheppard 420 0.8 N/A
Majority 2,760 5.2
Turnout 52,897 71.2
Conservative gain from Labour Swing Increase 5.1
By-election 1982: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour John Spellar 15,904 36.3 Decrease 8.8
Conservative Roger Gale 15,615 35.6 Decrease 9.8
Liberal Stephen Ridley 11,453 26.1 Increase 18.0
National Front Ian Anderson 411 0.9 Decrease 0.2
Communist Peter Sheppard 349 0.8 N/A
People's Progressive Party Ronald Taylor 63 0.2 N/A
Democratic Monarchist, Public Safety, White Resident Bill Boaks 60 0.1 N/A
Majority 289 0.7
Turnout 43,855 55.0
Labour gain from Conservative Swing Decrease 0.5

Elections in the 1970s

General Election 1979: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Jocelyn Cadbury 25,304 45.4 Increase 13.4
Labour Raymond Carter 25,100 45.1 Decrease 7.0
Liberal Roy Lewthwaite 4,538 8.2 Decrease 6.7
National Front R.A. Newman 614 1.1 N/A
Workers Revolutionary J.E. Beale 144 0.3 N/A
Majority 204 0.4
Turnout 55,700 70.6 Increase 2.7
Conservative gain from Labour Swing Increase 10.2
General Election October 1974: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Raymond Carter 27,435 52.1 Decrease 4.0
Conservative Jocelyn Cadbury 16,838 32.0 Decrease 9.0
Liberal David Hains 7,851 14.9 N/A
PEOPLE Elizabeth A. Davenport 359 0.7 N/A
Communist Derek Robinson 180 0.3 Decrease 0.4
Majority 10,597 20.1
Turnout 52,663 67.9 Decrease 5.6
Labour hold Swing Increase 2.5
General Election February 1974: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Raymond Carter 31,704 56.1 Increase 5.6
Conservative John Butcher 23,175 41.0 Decrease 7.6
Independent M. Newman 1,237 2.2 N/A
Communist Derek Robinson 368 0.7 Decrease 0.2
Majority 8,529 15.1
Turnout 56,484 73.5
Labour hold Swing Increase 1.0
General Election 1970: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Raymond Carter 33,364 50.5 Decrease 8.2
Conservative David W. Bell 32,148 48.6 Increase 8.9
Communist Derek Robinson 605 0.9 Decrease 0.7
Majority 1,216 1.8
Turnout 66,117 68.3
Labour hold Swing Decrease 8.6

Elections in the 1960s

General Election 1966: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Donald Chapman 36,801 58.7 Increase 11.5
Conservative Christopher Cromwell Chalker 24,899 39.7 Decrease 0.7
Communist Derek Robinson 1,029 1.6 N/A
Majority 11,902 19.0
Turnout 62,729 75.1
Labour hold Swing Increase 6.1
General Election 1964: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Donald Chapman 29,301 47.2 Decrease 3.6
Conservative Herbert Banner Adkins 25,063 40.4 Decrease 8.8
Liberal Roy Lewthwaite 7,682 12.4 N/A
Majority 4,238 6.8
Turnout 62,046 77.2
Labour hold Swing Increase 2.6

Election in the 1950s

General Election 1959: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Donald Chapman 29,587 50.8 Decrease 2.0
Conservative Reginald Eyre 28,647 49.2 Increase 2.0
Majority 940 1.6
Turnout 58,234 78.5
Labour hold Swing Decrease 2.0
General Election 1955: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Donald Chapman 27,072 52.8 Steady
Conservative Clement Sweet 24,188 47.2 Steady
Majority 2,884 5.6
Turnout 51,260 78.6
Labour hold Swing Steady
General Election 1951: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Donald Chapman 26,580 52.8 Decrease 0.2
Conservative Maurice Chandler 23,730 47.2 Increase 7.6
Majority 2,850 5.7
Turnout 50,310 83.4
Labour hold Swing Decrease 3.9
General Election 1950: Birmingham, Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Raymond Blackburn 26,714 53.0 N/A
Conservative Tom Iremonger 19,974 39.6 N/A
Liberal Evan Laurence Frederick Richards 3,280 6.5 N/A
Communist Richard Albert Etheridge 479 1.0 N/A
Majority 6,740 13.4 N/A
Turnout 50,447 84.7 N/A
Labour win (new seat)

See also

Notes and references

Notes
  1. ↑ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ↑ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
  3. ↑ Which leaves the incumbent MP with a majority of 6.7%
References
  1. ↑ "Birmingham, Northfield: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  3. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "N" (part 3)
  4. ↑ Ordnance survey website
  5. ↑ Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1985-1972. Chichester, Sussex: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4.
  6. ↑ http://www.boundarycommissionforengland.org.uk/review_areas/West_Midlands_Boroughs/images/Birmingham_OM_RR.gif%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D
  7. ↑ List of Labour MPs elected in 2015 by % majority UK Political.info. Retrieved 2017-01-29
  8. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated and notice of poll". Birmingham City Council. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  9. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  10. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
  11. ↑ Ransome Mpini; Charlotte Thornton; John Walton; Marcelo Zanni (24 February 2014). "Election 2015: The political battleground". BBC News. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  12. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  13. ↑ Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll 2010
  14. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
  19. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
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