Easington (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Easington
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Easington (UK Parliament constituency)
Interactive map of boundaries from 2024
North East England - Easington constituency.svg
Boundary of Easington in the North East England
County County Durham
Electorate 70,043 (2023) [1]
Major settlements Seaham, Peterlee, Easington, Murton
Current constituency
Created 1950
Member of Parliament Grahame Morris (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created from Seaham

Easington is a constituency [n 1] created in 1950 represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Grahame Morris of the Labour Party. [n 2]

Contents

Constituency profile

The constituency comprises the majority of the former district of the same name and takes in the coastal portion of the unitary authority of County Durham. The principal towns are Peterlee and Seaham. A seat of former mining traditions, it was until recently one of Labour's safest in Britain — Manny Shinwell was MP for 20 years.

Constituents' occupations include to a significant degree agriculture and the service sector, however the area was formerly heavily economically supported by the mining of coal, iron ore and businesses in the county still extract gangue minerals in present mining, such as fluorspar for the smelting of aluminium, to the south in the county is Darlington, which has particular strengths in international transport construction, including bridges. To the north is the large city of Sunderland which has a large service sector.

Boundaries

1950–1974

Created by the Representation of the People Act 1948 for the 1950 general election from the abolished Seaham constituency,but excluding the Urban District of Seaham Harbour, which was included in Houghton-le-Spring.

1974–1983

Gained the Rural District of Stockton from the abolished constituency of Sedgefield. Northern-most parts, including Murton, transferred to Houghton-le-Spring.

1983–2010

Seaham and Murton returned from the abolished constituency of Houghton-le-Spring. Area comprising the former Rural District of Stockton had been included in the new county of Cleveland, and its contents now distributed between Hartlepool, Stockton North and Stockton South. Southern parts of the District of Easington included in the re-established constituency of Sedgefield.

2010–2024

Easington (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of boundaries 2010–2024

Following their review of parliamentary representation in County Durham for the 2010 general election, the Boundary Commission for England made only minor changes to the boundaries of Easington (on the southern part of the boundary with Sedgefield).

In the 2009 structural changes to local government in England, the local authority districts in Durham were abolished and replaced with a single unitary authority; however, this did not affect the boundaries of the constituency.

2024–present

Following to the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the 2024 general election, the constituency has the following boundaries:

The constituency was expanded to bring the electorate within the permitted range, by adding the communities of Thornley and Wingate from the abolished constituency of Sedgefield.

Political history

Results of the winning party

The area has been held by the Labour Party since the 1935 election (including predecessor seat). Labour's majority in the seat has never fallen below 19% (the result in the party's 2019 landslide defeat - and in the party's 2024 landslide victory) in its history, and has only been below 40% four times (in 1979, 1983, 2019 and 2024). Labour won a majority of votes in every election from the seat's creation in 1950 until 2019, when their vote share fell below 50% for the first time.

Results of other parties

The 2015 general election saw an above-average swing to UKIP of 18.7%; the national average was 9.5% . Prior to 2019, the Conservative Party had last come second in the seat in 2001. Labour's candidate won more than three times that of UKIP in 2015, scoring 61%, although the latter polled the strongest second-place in the seat since 1983. 2017 saw the UKIP vote collapse and the Conservative vote rise, although a slight rise in the Labour vote ensured the majority remained above 40%. In 2019, the newly formed Brexit Party (later renamed Reform UK) won 19.5% of the vote, their sixth best result in the election, contributing to a dramatic collapse in Labour's vote share and majority. The 2024 election saw Labour's vote increase slightly, but Reform UK overtook the Conservatives, increasing its vote to 29.8% (11th best result), meaning that Labour's margin of victory was unchanged at just over 19%.

Turnout

Turnout has ranged from 87.7% in 1950 to 49.5% in 2024. It has been somewhat inconsistent with national averages, falling in 1992 and 2005 when national turnout increased.

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember [8] Party
1950 Manny Shinwell Labour
1970 Jack Dormand Labour
1987 John Cummings Labour
2010 Grahame Morris Labour

Elections

Easington graph v2.png

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Easington [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Grahame Morris 16,774 48.9 +2.1
Reform UK Lynn Murphy10,23229.8+11.7
Conservative Joanne Howey3,75310.9−16.2
North East Mary Cartwright1,5814.6+1.0
Green Stephen Ashfield1,1733.4+3.1
Liberal Democrats Tony Ferguson8112.4−1.7
Majority6,54219.1
Turnout 34,38549.5
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Easington [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Grahame Morris 15,723 45.5 −18.2
Conservative Clare Ambrosino9,14226.4+3.7
Brexit Party Julie Maughan6,74419.5New
Liberal Democrats Dominic Haney1,5264.4+3.1
North East Susan McDonnell1,4484.2−2.4
Majority6,58119.1−21.9
Turnout 34,58356.5−1.9
Labour hold Swing −10.9
General election 2017: Easington [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Grahame Morris 23,152 63.7 +2.7
Conservative Barney Campbell8,26022.7+9.8
North East Susan McDonnell2,3556.6+4.1
UKIP Allyn Roberts1,7274.7−14.0
Liberal Democrats Tom Hancock4601.3−1.1
Green Martie Warin4101.1−1.0
Majority14,89241.0−1.3
Turnout 36,36458.4+2.3
Labour hold Swing −3.6
General election 2015: Easington [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Grahame Morris 21,132 61.0 +2.1
UKIP Jonathan Arnott 6,49118.7+14.0
Conservative Chris Hampsheir4,47812.9−0.8
Liberal Democrats Luke Armstrong8342.4−13.6
North East Susan McDonnell [13] 8102.3New
Green Martie Warin7332.1New
Socialist (GB) Steve Colborn [14] 1460.4New
Majority14,64142.3−0.6
Turnout 34,62456.1+1.4
Labour hold Swing −6.0
General election 2010: Easington [15] [16] [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Grahame Morris 20,579 58.9 −12.4
Liberal Democrats Tara Saville5,59716.0+3.1
Conservative Richard Harrison4,79013.7+3.0
BNP Cheryl Dunn2,3176.6+3.4
UKIP Martyn Aiken1,6314.7New
Majority14,98242.9−15.6
Turnout 34,91454.7+2.8
Labour hold Swing −7.7

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Easington [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Cummings 22,733 71.4 −5.4
Liberal Democrats Christopher Ord4,09712.9+2.6
Conservative Lucille Nicholson3,40010.7+0.4
BNP Ian McDonald1,0423.3New
Socialist Labour Dave Robinson5831.8−0.7
Majority18,63658.5−8.0
Turnout 31,85552.1−1.5
Labour hold Swing −4.0
General election 2001: Easington [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Cummings 25,360 76.8 −3.4
Conservative Philip F. Lovel3,41110.3+1.7
Liberal Democrats Christopher J. Ord3,40810.3+3.1
Socialist Labour Dave Robinson8312.5New
Majority21,94966.5−5.1
Turnout 33,01053.6−13.4
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Easington [20] [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Cummings 33,600 80.2 +7.5
Conservative Jason D. Hollands3,5888.6−8.1
Liberal Democrats Jim P. Heppell3,0257.2−3.4
Referendum Richard B. Pulfrey1,1792.8New
Socialist (GB) Steve P. Colborn5031.2New
Majority30,01271.6+15.6
Turnout 41,89567.0−5.5
Labour hold Swing +7.8
General election 1992: Easington [22] [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Cummings 34,269 72.7 +4.6
Conservative William Perry7,87916.7+0.4
Liberal Democrats Peter Freitag5,00110.6−5.0
Majority26,39056.0+4.2
Turnout 47,14972.5−0.9
Labour hold Swing +2.1

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Easington [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Cummings 32,396 68.1 +8.7
Conservative William Perry7,75716.3−0.2
Liberal George Howard 7,44715.6−9.5
Majority24,63951.8+18.5
Turnout 47,60073.4+5.9
Labour hold Swing
General election 1983: Easington [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jack Dormand 25,912 59.4 −1.2
Liberal Frank E. Patterson11,12025.1+10.7
Conservative Colin J. Coulson-Thomas7,34216.5−8.2
Majority14,79233.3−2.6
Turnout 44,37467.5−6.8
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Easington
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jack Dormand 29,53760.60
Conservative J.S. Smailes11,98124.70
Liberal V. Morley6,97914.39
Majority17,55635.90
Turnout 48,49774.33
Labour hold Swing
General election October 1974: Easington
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jack Dormand 28,98465.82
Conservative J.S. Smailes8,04718.27
Liberal N.J. Scaggs7,00515.91New
Majority20,93747.55
Turnout 44,03669.01
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: Easington
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jack Dormand 33,63771.96
Conservative J.S. Smailes13,10728.04
Majority20,53043.92
Turnout 46,74473.95
Labour hold Swing
General election 1970: Easington
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jack Dormand 33,41879.80
Conservative Michael Spicer 8,45720.20
Majority24,96159.60
Turnout 41,87569.28
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Easington
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Manny Shinwell 32,09781.37
Conservative Michael Spicer 7,35018.63
Majority24,74762.74
Turnout 39,44770.54
Labour hold Swing
General election 1964: Easington
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Manny Shinwell 34,02880.45
Conservative George W Rossiter8,27019.55
Majority25,75860.90
Turnout 42,29875.22
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Easington
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Manny Shinwell 36,55279.79
Conservative George W Rossiter9,25920.21
Majority27,29359.58
Turnout 45,81180.81
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Easington
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Manny Shinwell 34,35279.07
Conservative George W Rossiter9,09520.93
Majority25,25758.14
Turnout 43,44779.36
Labour hold Swing
General election 1951: Easington
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Manny Shinwell 37,89980.77
Conservative George W Rossiter9,02519.23
Majority28,87461.54
Turnout 46,92486.74
Labour hold Swing
General election 1950: Easington
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Manny Shinwell 38,36781.05
Conservative C.A. Macfarlane8,97218.95
Majority29,39562.10
Turnout 47,33987.69
Labour win (new seat)

See also

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.

References

  1. ↑ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – North East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  2. ↑ Craig, Fred W. S. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885–1972;. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. p. 58. ISBN   0-900178-09-4. OCLC   539011.
  3. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970" (PDF). p. 43.
  4. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983" (PDF). p. 23.
  5. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". In the County of Durham.
  6. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". In Durham and Darlington.
  7. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 4 North East region.
  8. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "E" (part 1)
  9. ↑ Easington
  10. ↑ "Easington Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  11. ↑ "Easington Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  12. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "New political party the North East Party launches its first ever manifesto". Chronicle Live. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  14. ↑ "General Election – Campaign News | the Socialist Party of Great Britain". Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  15. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  16. ↑ http://www.durham.gov.uk/PDFApproved/ParliamentaryElection2010_SoPN_EAS.pdf%5B‍%5D
  17. ↑ "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Easington". BBC News.
  18. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ↑ "Easington: Constituency – Politics". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  22. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  24. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

54°47′24″N1°21′07″W / 54.790°N 1.352°W / 54.790; -1.352

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