Wansbeck (UK Parliament constituency)

Wansbeck
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Wansbeck in Northumberland.
Outline map
Location of Northumberland within England.
County Northumberland
Electorate 62,395 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlements Morpeth, Ashington, Bedlington
Current constituency
Created 1983
Member of parliament Ian Lavery (Labour)
Number of members One
Created from Morpeth and Blyth[2]
1885–1950
Number of members One
Type of constituency County constituency
Replaced by Blyth, Hexham, Morpeth and Tynemouth
Created from South Northumberland
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency North East England

Wansbeck is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Ian Lavery, a member of the Labour Party.[n 2]

Boundaries

1918-1950: The Urban Districts of Cramlington, Earsdon, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Newburn, Seaton Delaval, Seghill, and Whitley and Monkseaton; and part of the Rural Districts of Castle Ward, and Morpeth.[3]

1983–present: The District of Wansbeck, and the Borough of Castle Morpeth wards of Hebron Hepscott and Mitford, Morpeth Central, Morpeth Kirkhill, Morpeth North, Morpeth South, Morpeth Stobhill, and Pegswood.

Parliament accepted the Boundary Commission's Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies did not alter this constituency for the 2010 general election, thus since 1997 it has had the following electoral wards:

  • Bedlington: Central, East and West wards; Bothal, Central, Choppington, Guide Post, Haydon, Hurst, Newbiggin East, Newbiggin West, Park, Seaton, Sleekburn and Stakeford which formed the former district of Wansbeck
  • Hebron, Hepscott and Mitford, Morpeth Central, Morpeth Kirkhill, Morpeth North, Morpeth South, Morpeth Stobhill and Pegswood in the former borough of Castle Morpeth - all of the above being in the unitary county of Northumberland.[4]

History

1885–1950

Political history

The seat alternated in accordance with the national trend in mining-strong communities outside of South Yorkshire, which as such saw significant early Labour support, and led to, in the 1931 and 1935 elections, a general transfer of loyalty to the Conservative Party, and ushered in a return to Labour support in the next contested election in 1945.

Prominent frontbenchers

Alfred Robens represented the area in the Attlee ministry and towards the end of the year of Attlee's more marginal victory (1950–51) served as Minister of Labour and National Service. He then in 1951 won instead the newly created Blyth seat to the immediate south. In 1955 he became Shadow Foreign Secretary until an unimpressive performance in predicting and reacting to events in the Suez Crisis in 1956. However, in a position which would span the period 1961 until 1971, he became Chairman of the National Coal Board (and Lord Robens) and oversaw substantial cuts in the mining industry. During this period he co-authored the Robens Report that followed his difficult but practical risk management of the coal mining sector, including accepting some culpability in the Aberfan Disaster. This led, with the ministry of Barbara Castle's adjustments, to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 which set up the Health and Safety Executive and remains the foundation of this area of English law.

1983-date

The constituency has been held solely by Labour since its recreation, during which time its history presents a safe seat. The most marginal majority was in 2010, in a similar result to 1983 when the runner-up candidate was a Liberal Democrat.

Constituency profile

The seat has the visitor attractions of a historic main town with a castle, Morpeth and the traditional seaside town of Newbiggin. Workless claimants as registered jobseekers, with high male unemployment, which is widespread but exacerbated in the area, in November 2012, was higher than the national average of 3.8%, at 6.2% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian. This was marginally higher than the then regional average of 5.9%.[5]

Members of Parliament

MPs 1885–1950

ElectionMember[6]Party
1885 Charles Fenwick Liberal
1918 Robert Mason Liberal
1919 Coalition Liberal
1922 George Warne Labour
1929 George Shield Labour
1931 Bernard Cruddas Conservative
1940 Donald Scott Conservative
1945 Alfred Robens Labour
1950 Constituency abolished

MPs since 1983

ElectionMember[6]Party
1983 Jack Thompson Labour
1997 Denis Murphy Labour
2010 Ian Lavery Labour

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General Election 2017: Wansbeck[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Ian Lavery 24,338 57.3 +7.3
Conservative Chris Galley 13,903 32.7 +11.0
Liberal Democrat Joan Tebbutt 2,015 4.7 -1.5
UKIP Melanie Hurst 1,483 3.5 -14.7
Green Steven Leyland 715 1.7 -2.1
Majority 10,435 24.8 -3.4
Turnout 42,454 68.4 +4.8
Labour hold Swing -1.9
General Election 2015: Wansbeck[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Ian Lavery 19,267 50.0 +4.2
Conservative Chris Galley 8,386 21.8 +4.2
UKIP Melanie Hurst 7,014 18.2 +15.7
Liberal Democrat Tom Hancock 2,407 6.2 -21.2
Green Christopher Hedley 1,454 3.8 +2.2
Majority 10,881 28.2 +9.8
Turnout 38,528 63.6 +2.9
Labour hold Swing -0.03
General Election 2010: Wansbeck[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Ian Lavery 17,548 45.9 -9.3
Liberal Democrat Simon Reed 10,517 27.5 +1.0
Conservative Campbell Storey 6,714 17.5 +2.6
BNP Stephen Finlay 1,481 3.7 +3.7
UKIP Linda-Lee Stokoe 974 2.5 +2.5
Green Nic Best 601 1.6 -1.8
Independent Malcolm Reid 359 0.9 +0.9
Christian Michael Flynn 142 0.4 +0.4
Majority 7,031 18.4 -10.3
Turnout 38,273 60.7 +2.3
Labour hold Swing -5.2

Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: Wansbeck[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Denis Murphy 20,315 55.2 −2.6
Liberal Democrat Simon Reed 9,734 26.4 +3.6
Conservative Ginny Scrope 5,515 15.0 +2.2
Green Nic Best 1,245 3.4 +0.9
Majority 10,581 28.7 -6.3
Turnout 36,809 58.4 −0.9
Labour hold Swing -3.1
General Election 2001: Wansbeck[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Denis Murphy 21,617 57.8 -7.7
Liberal Democrat Alan Thompson 8,516 22.8 +6.8
Conservative Rachael Lake 4,774 12.8 -1.2
Independent Michael Kirkup 1,076 2.9 N/A
Green Nic Best 954 2.5 +0.4
UKIP Gavin Attwell 482 1.3 N/A
Majority 13,101 35.0 -14.5
Turnout 37,419 59.3 -12.3
Labour hold Swing -7.3

Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1997: Wansbeck[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Denis Murphy 29,569 65.5 +5.8
Liberal Democrat Alan Thompson 7,202 15.9 +0.6
Conservative Paul V. Green 6,299 13.9 -9.7
Referendum Peter H. Gompertz 1,146 2.5 N/A
Green Nic Best 956 2.1 +0.7
Majority 22,367 49.5 +13.4
Turnout 45,172 71.7 −7.6
Labour hold Swing +7.8
General Election 1992: Wansbeck[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Jack Thompson 30,046 59.7 +2.2
Conservative Glen Sanderson 11,872 23.6 +4.2
Liberal Democrat Brian C. Priestley 7,691 15.3 -7.8
Green Nic Best 710 1.4 +1.4
Majority 18,174 36.1 +1.7
Turnout 50,319 79.3 +1.3
Labour hold Swing +5.0

Elections in the 1980s

General Election 1987: Wansbeck[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Jack Thompson 28,080 57.5 +10.5
Liberal Sarah Mitchell 11,291 23.1 -7.0
Conservative David Walton 9,490 19.4 -3.5
Majority 16,789 34.4 +17.4
Turnout 48,861 78.0 +5.2
Labour hold Swing +8.8
General Election 1983: Wansbeck[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Jack Thompson 21,732 47.0 N/A
Liberal Alan Thompson 13,901 30.1 N/A
Conservative C.H.W. Mitchell 10,563 22.9 N/A
Majority 7,831 17.0 N/A
Turnout 46,196 72.8 N/A
Labour win (new seat)

Elections in the 1940s

General Election 1945: Wansbeck
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Alfred Robens 40,948 60.00
Conservative Donald Scott 27,295 40.00
Majority 13,653 20.01
Turnout 77.69
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Wansbeck by-election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Donald Scott unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1930s

General Election 1935: Wansbeck
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Bernard Cruddas 30,859 50.79
Labour Edward Dowling 29,904 49.21
Majority 955 1.57
Turnout 79.59
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1931: Wansbeck
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Bernard Cruddas 33,659 58.25
Labour George Shield 24,126 41.75
Majority 9,533 16.50
Turnout 81.86
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General Election 1929: Wansbeck
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour George Shield 27,930 54.5 +1.6
Unionist Bernard Cruddas 17,056 33.2 −13.9
Liberal Frederick Wandby 6,330 12.3 N/A
Majority 10,874 21.2 +15.5
Turnout 34,260 76.1 −3.3
Registered electors 67,390
Labour hold Swing +7.8
Wansbeck by-election, 1929
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour George Shield 20,398 58.0 +5.1
Unionist Ian McAllister Moffat Pender 9,612 27.3 −19.8
Liberal Harry Briggs 5,183 14.7 N/A
Majority 10,786 30.7 +24.9
Turnout 35,193 65.3 −14.1
Registered electors 53,886
Labour hold Swing +12.5
General Election 1924: Wansbeck
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour George Warne 21,159 52.9 −3.9
Unionist M.K. Middleton 18,875 47.1 +3.9
Majority 2,284 5.8 −7.8
Turnout 40,034 79.4 +11.0
Registered electors 50,446
Labour hold Swing −3.9
General Election 1923: Wansbeck
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour George Warne 18,583 56.8 +11.6
Unionist Hilton Philipson 14,131 43.2 +11.8
Majority 4,452 13.6 −0.2
Turnout 32,714 68.4 −8.2
Registered electors 47,828
Labour hold Swing −0.1
General Election 1922: Wansbeck
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour George Warne 16,032 45.2 +2.1
Unionist R. White 11,149 31.4 N/A
National Liberal John Neal 5,192 14.6 N/A
Liberal Matthew Davey 3,134 8.8 −48.1
Majority 4,883 13.8 N/A
Turnout 35,507 76.6 +18.7
Registered electors 46,354
Labour gain from Liberal Swing +25.1

Election results 1885–1918

Elections in the 1880s

Fenwick
General Election 1885: Wansbeck [17][18] [19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Lib-Lab Charles Fenwick 5,858 68.4 N/A
Conservative John Blencowe Cookson 2,703 31.6 N/A
Majority 3,155 36.8 N/A
Turnout 8,561 82.4 N/A
Registered electors 10,392
Lib-Lab win (new seat)
General Election 1886: Wansbeck [17] [19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Lib-Lab Charles Fenwick 5,235 75.4 +7.0
Liberal Unionist William Wight 1,710 24.6 −7.0
Majority 3,525 50.8 +14.0
Turnout 6,945 66.8 −15.6
Registered electors 10,392
Lib-Lab hold Swing +7.0

Elections in the 1890s

General Election 1892: Wansbeck [17][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Lib-Lab Charles Fenwick 5,696 66.1 −9.3
Conservative Seymour McCalmont Hill 2,920 33.9 +9.3
Majority 2,776 32.2 −18.6
Turnout 8,616 76.2 +9.4
Registered electors 11,304
Lib-Lab hold Swing −9.3
General Election 1895: Wansbeck [17][20][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Lib-Lab Charles Fenwick 5,629 69.9 +3.8
Conservative Joseph John Harris 2,422 30.1 −3.8
Majority 3,207 39.8 +7.6
Turnout 8,051 65.8 −10.4
Registered electors 12,234
Lib-Lab hold Swing +3.8

Elections in the 1900s

Fenwick
General Election 1900: Wansbeck [17][21][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Lib-Lab Charles Fenwick 5,474 56.1 −13.8
Conservative J Stanley Appleby 4,283 43.9 +13.8
Majority 1,191 12.2 −27.6
Turnout 9,757 68.8 +3.0
Registered electors 14,179
Lib-Lab hold Swing −13.8
General Election 1906: Wansbeck [17][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Lib-Lab Charles Fenwick 10,386 76.4 +20.3
Conservative Walter Riddell 3,210 23.6 −20.3
Majority 7,176 52.8 +40.6
Turnout 13,596 77.6 +8.8
Registered electors 17,529
Lib-Lab hold Swing +20.3

Elections in the 1910s

General Election January 1910: Wansbeck [22][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Lib-Lab Charles Fenwick 10,872 70.0 −6.4
Conservative Charles Percy 4,650 30.0 +6.4
Majority 6,222 40.0 −12.8
Turnout 15,522 81.6 +4.0
Registered electors 19,028
Lib-Lab hold Swing −6.8
General Election December 1910: Wansbeck [23][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Lib-Lab Charles Fenwick Unopposed
Lib-Lab hold

General Election 1914/15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

Wansbeck by-election, 1918
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Robert Mason 5,814 52.5 N/A
Independent Labour Ebenezer Edwards[n 3] 5,267 47.5 N/A
Majority 547 5.0 N/A
Turnout 11,081 51.3 −30.3
Registered electors 21,602
Liberal hold Swing N/A
General Election 1918: Wansbeck [24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
C Liberal Robert Mason 14,065 56.9 N/A
Labour Ebby Edwards 10,666 43.1 N/A
Majority 3,399 13.8 N/A
Turnout 24,731 57.9 N/A
Registered electors 42,750
Liberal gain from Lib-Lab Swing N/A
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

See also

Notes and references

Notes
  1. ↑ A county 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. ↑ Edwards was the nominee of the Northumberland Miners' Association and was supported by the Miners' Federation of Great Britain. However, due to the War-time electoral pact, he was not endorsed by Labour's national executive
References
  1. ↑ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ↑ "'Wansbeck', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  3. ↑ Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1985-1972. Chichester, Sussex: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4.
  4. ↑ 2010 post-revision map non-metropolitan areas and unitary authorities of England
  5. ↑ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  6. 1 2 Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 1)
  7. ↑ "Wansbeck". BBC News. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  8. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  9. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  10. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  11. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  12. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 Dec 2010.
  15. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  18. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
  20. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  21. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  22. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
  23. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
  24. ↑ Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1969). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949. Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. p. 442. ISBN 0-900178-01-9.

Sources

  • Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
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