Leicester East (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Leicester East
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Leicester East (UK Parliament constituency)
Interactive map of boundaries since 2024
East Midlands - Leicester East constituency.svg
Boundary within the East Midlands
County Leicestershire
Electorate 76,465 (2023) [1]
Current constituency
Created 1974 (1974)
Member of Parliament Shivani Raja (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created from Leicester South East
Leicester North East
19181950
SeatsOne
Created from Leicester
Replaced by Leicester South East
Leicester North East

Leicester East is a constituency [n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since July 2024 by Shivani Raja of the Conservative Party.

Contents

Constituency profile

This is an urban constituency, much of which is densely developed as housing, retail or industry. The seat does not include central Leicester, skirting its ring road, but is served by buses and cycle routes into Leicester City Centre, which is within normal walking distance of the division's south-west quarter. The boundaries include a golf course situated in the south-east and a large municipal garden in the north-west.

Leicester East has an extremely high South Asian population. Almost a third of the population is Hindu, and the majority of the others of Asian ethnicity are of Muslim or Sikh faiths. Those of mixed ethnicities are gradually increasing – to 3.1% of the population in 2011.

Leicester East
Leicester East (UK Parliament constituency)
Racial makeup (2021) [2]
   Asian 68.6%
   White 20.3%
  Other4.1%
   Black 4.1%
   Mixed 2.9%

History

First creation

The seat was created in 1918 and for the next four years was served by Sir Gordon Hewart KC, who resigned to become Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales. In 1950 the area was divided between Leicester North East and Leicester South East.

Second (current) creation

The constituency was re-created in 1974.

Summary of results

Leicester East has been won by the Labour Party's candidate in 12 of the 14 elections since it was re-created. Its MP from 1987 to 2019, Keith Vaz, won an absolute majority of votes from the 1992 general election onward. It had been narrowly won by Conservative Party candidate Peter Bruinvels (a lay canon) at the height of his party's popularity in 1983. The following election saw Vaz regain the seat for Labour; he held it at every election thereafter, from 1997 onward always winning by margins of over 29% and 13,000 votes, until he stood down at the 2019 general election. The result in 2015 made the constituency the 37th-safest of Labour's 232 seats by percentage majority. [3] Vaz won his highest majority, 22,428 votes (42.8%), in 2017. In 2019 Labour held the seat with a substantially reduced majority of 6,019, down from 22,428 – a swing of 15%.

The constituency was the sole gain by the Conservatives at the 2024 general election, when Shivani Raja was elected with 31.1% of the vote.

Opposition parties

The Conservative Party candidate has been runner-up in every election save for Bruinvels' win in 1983 and Raja's victory in 2024. The candidate of UKIP took third place in 2015, for the first time; her 2010 counterpart had won 1.5% of the vote, the party not having previously stood in the constituency. The pro-UKIP swing between the 2010 and 2015 elections, of 7.4%, was less than the national average of 9.5%. Susan Cooper was 1.8% away from second place in 2005, giving the best result of a Liberal Democrat to date, attracting just under a fifth of the vote.

Turnout

Turnout in the recreated seat has ranged between 78.7% in 1992 and 62.1% in 2001.

Boundaries

1918–1950: The County Borough of Leicester wards of Belgrave, Latimer, Spinney Hill, and West Humberstone.

1974–1983: The County Borough of Leicester wards of Belgrave, Charnwood, Evington, Humberstone, and Latimer.

1983–2010: The City of Leicester wards of Belgrave, Charnwood, Coleman, Evington, Humberstone, Latimer, Rushey Mead, Thurncourt, and West Humberstone.

2010–2024: The City of Leicester wards of Belgrave, Charnwood, Coleman, Evington, Humberstone & Hamilton, Latimer, Rushey Mead, and Thurncourt.

2024–present: The City of Leicester wards of Belgrave, Evington, Humberstone & Hamilton, North Evington, Rushey Mead, Thurncourt and Troon, with polling district EVF in Evington ward transferred out to Leicester South. [4]

Members of Parliament

MPs 1918–1950

Leicester prior to 1918

YearMember [5] Party
1918 Sir Gordon Hewart Liberal Party
1922 by-election George Banton Labour
1922 Arthur Evans National Liberal
1923 George Banton Labour
1924 John Loder Conservative
1929 Frank Wise Labour
1931 Abraham Lyons Conservative
1945 Terence Donovan Labour
1950 constituency abolished

MPs since 1974

Leicester South East and Leicester North East prior to 1974

YearMemberParty
Feb 1974 Tom Bradley Labour
1981 SDP
1983 Peter Bruinvels Conservative
1987 Keith Vaz Labour
2019 Claudia Webbe Labour
2020 Independent
2024 Shivani Raja Conservative

Elections

Leicester East vote share as a percentage since the seat's formation in 1918 and reformation in 1974. Leicester East Results.png
Leicester East vote share as a percentage since the seat's formation in 1918 and reformation in 1974.

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Leicester East [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Shivani Raja 14,526 31.1 –7.4
Labour Rajesh Agrawal10,10021.6–29.3
Liberal Democrats Zuffar Haq6,32913.5+7.9
Independent [n 2] Claudia Webbe [7] 5,53211.8N/A
One Leicester Keith Vaz [8] 3,6817.9N/A
Reform UK Raj Solanki2,6115.6+3.1
Green Mags Lewis2,1434.6+2.8
Independent Malihah Adam9742.1N/A
Independent Nagarjun Agath7031.5N/A
Independent Khandu Patel1150.2N/A
Majority4,4269.5–2.7
Turnout 46,71461.0–2.1
Registered electors 76,560
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +11.0

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Leicester East [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Claudia Webbe 25,090 50.8 –16.2
Conservative Bhupendra Dave19,07138.6+14.4
Liberal Democrats Nitesh Dave2,8005.7+3.1
Brexit Party Tara Baldwin1,2432.5N/A
Green Melanie Wakley8881.8−0.2
Independent Sanjay Gogia3290.7N/A
Majority6,01912.2–30.6
Turnout 49,42163.0–4.4
Labour hold Swing –15.3

In November 2021 Webbe was given a 10-week suspended sentence for making threatening phone calls to a friend of her partner. Webbe, who since September 2020 had been suspended from the Labour Party and was sitting as an independent MP, was then expelled from the party and continued to sit as an independent until Parliament was dissolved. [10] [11]

General election 2017: Leicester East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Keith Vaz 35,116 67.0 +5.9
Conservative Edward Yi He12,68824.2+1.2
Independent Sujata Barot1,7533.3N/A
Liberal Democrats Nitesh Dave1,3432.60.0
Green Melanie Wakley1,0702.0–1.1
Independent Ian Fox4540.9N/A
Majority22,42842.8+4.6
Turnout 52,42467.4+3.7
Labour hold Swing +2.3
General election 2015: Leicester East [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Keith Vaz 29,386 61.1 +7.4
Conservative Kishan Devani11,03423.0–1.5
UKIP Susanna Steptoe4,2908.9+7.4
Green Nimit Jethwa1,4683.1+1.5
Liberal Democrats Dave Raval1,2332.6–11.6
TUSC Michael Barker5401.1N/A
Independent Tom Darwood1170.2N/A
Majority18,35238.2+8.9
Turnout 48,59963.7–2.1
Labour hold Swing +4.5
General election 2010: Leicester East [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Keith Vaz 25,804 53.8 −5.0
Conservative Jane Hunt 11,72224.4+4.6
Liberal Democrats Ali Asghar6,81714.2−2.3
BNP Colin Gilmore [14] 1,7003.5N/A
Green Mo Taylor [15] 7331.5N/A
UKIP Felicity Ransome7251.5N/A
Unity For Peace And Socialism Avtar Sadiq4941.0N/A
Majority14,08229.3–9.6
Turnout 47,99565.8+3.9
Labour hold Swing −4.8

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Leicester East [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Keith Vaz 24,015 58.1 +0.5
Conservative Suella Fernandes 8,13919.7−4.8
Liberal Democrats Susan Cooper7,05217.1+4.8
Veritas Colin Brown1,6664.0N/A
Socialist Labour Valerie Smalley4341.1−1.0
Majority15,87638.4+5.3
Turnout 41,30662.2+0.1
Labour hold Swing +2.6

In 2005 this seat bucked the national trend as there was a swing to Labour whereas the national swing was 2.5% to the Conservatives.

General election 2001: Leicester East [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Keith Vaz 23,402 57.6 −7.9
Conservative John Mugglestone9,96024.5+0.5
Liberal Democrats Harpinder Athwal4,98912.3+5.3
Socialist Labour David Roberts8372.1+1.1
BNP Clive Potter7721.9N/A
Independent Shirley Bennett7011.7+1.5
Majority13,44233.1–8.4
Turnout 40,66162.1−7.0
Labour hold Swing –4.2

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Leicester East [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Keith Vaz 29,083 65.5 +9.2
Conservative Simon Milton 10,66124.01–9.7
Liberal Democrats Jay Matabudul3,1056.99−1.1
Referendum Philip Iwaniw1,0152.29N/A
Socialist Labour Sohan Singh Sidhu4360.98N/A
Independent Neil Slack1020.23N/A
Majority18,42241.49+18.9
Turnout 44,40269.11
Labour hold Swing +9.4
General election 1992: Leicester East [19] [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Keith Vaz 28,123 56.3 +10.1
Conservative Jeffery C. Stevens16,80733.7−8.8
Liberal Democrats Sheila A. Mitchell4,0438.1−3.3
Green Murray R. Frankland4530.9N/A
Independent Dennis J. Taylor3080.6N/A
Natural Law ASK Mahaldar1860.4N/A
Majority11,31622.6+18.9
Turnout 49,92078.7+0.1
Labour hold Swing +9.5

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Leicester East [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Keith Vaz 24,074 46.2 +9.2
Conservative Peter Bruinvels 22,15042.5+3.6
SDP Aileen Ayres5,93511.4–9.7
Majority1,9243.7N/A
Turnout 52,15978.59
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
General election 1983: Leicester East [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Peter Bruinvels 19,117 38.9 –2.3
Labour Patricia Hewitt 18,18437.0–9.9
SDP Tom Bradley 10,36221.1N/A
IndependentRV Ganatra9702.0N/A
BNP RL Sutton4590.9N/A
Majority9331.9N/A
Turnout 49,09273.2–2.4
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +3.8

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Leicester East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Tom Bradley 23,844 46.9 +2.1
Conservative M Waterhouse20,98841.3+4.8
Liberal B Andrews4,6239.1–3.2
National Front BJ Calver1,3852.7–3.7
Majority2,8565.6–2.6
Turnout 50,84075.6+3.3
Labour hold Swing +1.4
General election October 1974: Leicester East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Tom Bradley 20,688 44.8 +0.1
Conservative KG Reeves16,87736.5–8.3
Liberal W Capstick5,66812.3N/A
National Front A Reed-Herbert 2,9676.4−1.1
Majority3,8118.3+5.4
Turnout 46,20072.3–5.5
Labour hold Swing +4.2
General election February 1974: Leicester East [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Tom Bradley 23,474 47.7 N/A
Conservative K.G. Reeves22,06144.8N/A
National Front K. Sanders3,6627.5N/A
Majority1,4132.9N/A
Turnout 49,19977.8N/A
Labour win (new seat)

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Leicester East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Terence Donovan 28,41456.94
Conservative Abraham Lyons 15,18230.42
Liberal David Goodwillie Galloway6,30612.64
Majority13,23226.52N/A
Turnout 49,90276.05
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Leicester East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Abraham Lyons 20,44249.28
Labour Frederick Gould 17,53242.62
Liberal Frederick Lawson3,5098.46N/A
Majority2,9106.66
Turnout 41,48370.18
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1931: Leicester East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Abraham Lyons 30,26568.67
Labour Frank Wise 13,81131.33
Majority16,45437.34N/A
Turnout 44,07679.10
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Leicester East [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Frank Wise 22,533 50.8 +1.5
Unionist John Loder 13,80131.1−19.6
Liberal Frederick Lawson8,05418.1N/A
Majority8,73219.7N/A
Turnout 44,38881.6+2.0
Registered electors 54,364
Labour gain from Unionist Swing +1.6
General election 1924: Leicester East [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist John Loder 16,090 50.7 +22.7
Labour George Banton 15,66949.3+4.5
Majority4211.4N/A
Turnout 31,75979.6+3.5
Registered electors 39,906
Unionist gain from Labour Swing +9.1
General election 1923: Leicester East [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour George Banton 13,162 44.8 −2.9
Unionist Arthur Evans 8,24728.0N/A
Liberal James Henderson-Stewart 7,99827.2−25.1
Majority4,91516.8N/A
Turnout 29,40776.1−0.8
Registered electors 38,658
Labour gain from National Liberal Swing +11.1
General election 1922: Leicester East [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
National Liberal Arthur Evans 15,164 52.3 N/A
Labour George Banton 13,85047.7+20.6
Majority1,3144.6N/A
Turnout 29,01476.9+11.3
Registered electors 37,749
National Liberal gain from Liberal Swing N/A
1922 Leicester East by-election [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour George Banton 14,062 52.9 +25.8
National Liberal Albert E. Marlow8,71032.7−40.2
Liberal Ronald Wilberforce Allen 3,82514.4N/A
Majority5,35220.2N/A
Turnout 26,59771.3+5.7
Registered electors 37,319
Labour gain from National Liberal Swing +33.0

Election in the 1910s

General election 1918: Leicester East [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
C Liberal Gordon Hewart 18,02472.9
Labour George Banton 6,69727.1
Majority11,32745.8
Turnout 24,72165.6
Registered electors 37,687
Liberal win (new seat)
Cindicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

See also

Notes

  1. A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer).
  2. Webbe contested the election as an Independent, but received endorsement by the Workers Party of Britain.

References

  1. "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – East Midlands". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  2. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/topic/home-affairs/communities/demography/census/ [ bare URL ]
  3. "Labour Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018.
  4. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 1 East Midlands.
  5. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "L" (part 2)
  6. "Leicester East – General election results 2024". BBC News . Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  7. "Leicester MP Claudia Webbe will fight again for her seat in Westminster". Leicestershire Live. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  8. Patel, Asha (7 June 2024). "Keith Vaz to stand as MP for Leicester East". BBC News . Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  9. "Leicester East Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  10. "Claudia Webbe: MP convicted of harassment gets suspended sentence". BBC News. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  11. Mack, Tom (4 November 2021). "MP Claudia Webbe expelled from Labour Party after being handed suspended prison sentence". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  12. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus . Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  13. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  14. "Full slate in Leicestershire as BNP candidate nominated in Leicester East". BNP. March 2010. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010.
  15. "Green Candidate Mo Taylor for Leicester East". Green Party. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  16. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. "General Election 1992". Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  21. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. "UK General Election results: February 1974 [Archive]". Politics Resources. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Craig, F.W.S. (1969). British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949 . Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. ISBN   978-0-900178-01-6.

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