Northampton South (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Northampton South
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Northampton South (UK Parliament constituency)
Boundaries since 2024
East Midlands - Northampton South constituency.svg
Boundary of Northampton South in the East Midlands
County Northamptonshire
Electorate 71,512 (2023) [1]
Major settlements Northampton (part)
Current constituency
Created 1974 (1974)
Member of Parliament Mike Reader (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created from Northampton

Northampton South is a constituency [n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Mike Reader, representing the Labour Party. [n 2]

Contents

History

This constituency was created for the election of February 1974 when the old constituency of Northampton was split into Northampton South and Northampton North.

Since creation it is generally a marginal and in elections since 1979 but one, in 2005, has been a bellwether, electing an MP from the winning (or largest governing) party.

The one-time Deputy Speaker of the House, Michael Morris, a Conservative, held this seat from its creation in 1974 until 1997, when Tony Clarke defeated Morris in a surprise result (one of many in the Labour landslide of that year) to gain the seat for Labour with a majority of just 744. The Almanac of British Politics described Labour's gain of the seat as "one of the most unexpected results of the 1997 election", despite the fact that Labour had come close to winning the seat in both 1974 elections. [2] Clarke only just increased his majority in 2001, but Brian Binley defeated Clarke to regain the seat for the Conservatives in 2005 with a comfortable majority, and held it until 2015 when he retired and fellow Conservative David Mackintosh held the seat. Mackintosh retired at the 2017 snap election after just one Parliament, after facing the prospect of being deselected by his local constituency party, and Andrew Lewer took over with a decreased majority from 2015 of over 1,000.

Boundaries

Historic

1974–1983: The County Borough of Northampton wards of Castle, Delapre, Duston, St Crispin, South, and Weston. [3]

1983–1997: The Borough of Northampton wards of Billing, Castle, Delapre, Nene Valley, New Duston, Old Duston, St Crispin, South, and Weston, and the District of South Northamptonshire wards of Blisworth, Brafield, Bugbrooke, Cogenhoe, Gayton, Hackleton, Harpole, Heyford, Kislingbury, Milton, Roade, Salcey, and Yardley.

1997–2010: The Borough of Northampton wards of Billing, Castle, Delapre, Nene Valley, New Duston, Old Duston, St Crispin, South, and Weston, and the District of South Northamptonshire wards of Brafield, Cogenhoe, Hackleton, Harpole, Kislingbury, Milton, Roade, Salcey, and Yardley. From 1999, ward boundary changes created two extra wards from Nene Valley, West Hunsbury and East Hunsbury.

2010–2024: The Borough of Northampton wards of Billing, Castle, Delapre, Ecton Brook, New Duston, Old Duston, St Crispin, St James, Spencer, and Weston.

Following the 2010 redistribution which created South Northamptonshire, the constituency was once again entirely within the Borough of Northampton as opposed to 1983 to 2010 when it also took in outlying rural parts outside the town.

NB: with effect from 1 April 2021, the Borough of Northampton was abolished and absorbed into the new unitary authority of West Northamptonshire. [4]

Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is as follows (as they existed on 1 April 2021):

The constituency has undergone major changes, with those parts of the former Borough of Northampton previously in the South Northamptonshire constituency being added, partly offset by the transfer of the town centre of Northampton to Northampton North.

Constituency profile

The constituency has income, social housing and unemployment statistics [6] close to the national average and a varied and dynamic service and engineering-centred economy typical of the East Midlands with significant foodstuffs, clothing and consumables manufacturing and processing operations. [7] Health inequality is high, with the life expectancy gap between the least deprived and most deprived men in northampton reaching over 10.2 years. [8] Additionally, the constituency is "considerably worse than [the] England average" in violent crime, self harm, under 18 conception and GCSE achievement. [9]

Members of Parliament

Northampton prior to 1974

ElectionMember [10] PartyNotes
Feb 1974 Michael Morris Conservative Chairman of Ways and Means of the House of Commons, 1992–97
1997 Tony Clarke Labour
2005 Brian Binley Conservative
2015 David Mackintosh Conservative
2017 Andrew Lewer Conservative
2024 Mike Reader Labour

Elections

Northampton south election results 1983-2024 Northampton South Election Results.png
Northampton south election results 1983-2024

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Northampton South [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Mike Reader 16,890 38.5 +7.6
Conservative Andrew Lewer 12,81929.2−28.6
Reform UK Anthony Owens8,21018.7N/A
Liberal Democrats Jill Hope3,1937.3−0.6
Green Simon Sneddon2,3985.5+2.1
TUSC Katie Simpson2960.7N/A
Climate Penelope Tollitt980.2N/A
Majority4,0719.3N/A
Turnout 43,90462.4−7.0
Registered electors 70,393
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +18.1

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Northampton South [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Andrew Lewer 20,914 51.2 +4.3
Labour Gareth Eales16,21739.7−4.3
Liberal Democrats Jill Hope2,4826.1+2.7
Green Scott Mabbutt1,2223.0+1.3
Majority4,69711.5+8.6
Turnout 40,83565.7−0.8
Conservative hold Swing +4.3
General election 2017: Northampton South [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Andrew Lewer 19,231 46.9 +5.3
Labour Kevin McKeever18,07244.0+12.2
UKIP Rose Gibbins1,6304.0−14.3
Liberal Democrats Jill Hope1,4053.4−0.9
Green Scott Mabbutt6961.7−1.9
Majority1,1592.9−6.9
Turnout 41,03466.5+3.3
Conservative hold Swing -3.5
General election 2015: Northampton South [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative David Mackintosh 16,163 41.6 +0.8
Labour Kevin McKeever12,37031.8+6.4
UKIP Rose Gibbins7,11418.3+13.4
Liberal Democrats Sadik Chaudhury1,6734.3−15.1
Green Julie Hawkins1,4033.6+2.7
Majority3,7939.8−5.6
Turnout 38,88463.4+5.2
Conservative hold Swing -2.85
General election 2010: Northampton South [15] [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Brian Binley 15,917 40.8 +3.0
Labour Clyde Loakes9,91325.4−16.1
Liberal Democrats Paul Varnsverry7,57919.4+5.9
Independent Tony Clarke 2,2425.8New
UKIP Derek Clark 1,8974.9+2.8
English Democrat Kevin Sills6181.6New
Green Julie Hawkins3630.9New
Northampton Save our Public ServicesDave Green3250.8New
Independent Kevin Wilshire650.2New
Scrap Members' AllowancesLiam Costello590.2New
Majority6,00415.4+7.3
Turnout 38,97858.2−0.6
Conservative hold Swing +6.6

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Northampton South [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Brian Binley 23,818 43.7 +2.6
Labour Tony Clarke 19,39935.6−7.3
Liberal Democrats Kevin Barron8,32715.3+2.8
UKIP Derek Clark 1,0321.9−0.5
Veritas Tony Green5080.9New
S O S! Voters Against Overdevelopment of NorthamptonJohn Harrison4370.8New
Monster Raving Loony John Percival3540.6New
Independent Fitzy Fitzpatrick3460.6New
CPA Tim Webb2600.5New
Majority4,4198.1N/A
Turnout 54,48160.7+1.1
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +5.0
General election 2001: Northampton South [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Tony Clarke 21,882 42.9 +0.5
Conservative Shailesh Vara 20,99741.10.0
Liberal Democrats Andrew Simpson6,35512.5+1.4
UKIP Derek Clark 1,2372.4+0.4
Liberated PartyTina Harvey3620.7New
ProLife Alliance Clare Johnson1960.4New
Majority8851.8+0.5
Turnout 51,02959.6−12.1
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Northampton South [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Tony Clarke 24,214 42.4 +14.1
Conservative Michael Morris 23,47041.1−14.6
Liberal Democrats Anthony Worgan6,31611.1−3.1
Referendum Christopher Petrie1,4052.5New
UKIP Derek Clark 1,1592.0New
Natural Law Graham Woollcombe5410.9New
Majority7441.3N/A
Turnout 55,94671.7−8.2
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +14.1
General election 1992: Northampton South [20] [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Michael Morris 36,882 55.3 −0.4
Labour John Dickie19,90929.8+5.2
Liberal Democrats Graham Mabbutt9,91214.9−3.7
Majority16,97325.5−5.6
Turnout 66,70379.9+4.7
Conservative hold Swing −2.8

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Northampton South [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Michael Morris 31,864 55.7 +2.1
Labour John Dickie14,06124.6−1.2
SDP George Hopkins10,63918.6−4.8
Green Margaret Hamilton6471.1New
Majority17,80331.1+0.9
Turnout 57,21175.2+2.6
Conservative hold Swing +1.7
General election 1983: Northampton South [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Michael Morris 26,824 53.6
SDP Keith Kyle 11,69823.4
Labour Martin Coleman11,53323.0
Majority15,12630.2
Turnout 50,05572.6
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Northampton South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Michael Morris 19,12549.67
Labour Graham Mason15,49140.24
Liberal D Amey3,4789.03
National Front M James4071.06New
Majority3,6349.43
Turnout 38,50175.27
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Northampton South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Michael Morris 14,39342.98
Labour J Dilks14,25242.56
Liberal RF Miller4,84214.46
Majority1410.42
Turnout 33,48775.52
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Northampton South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Michael Morris 14,32140.27
Labour J Dilks14,14239.77
Liberal RF Miller7,09919.96
Majority1790.50
Turnout 35,56280.82
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

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.

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 3 July 2024.
  2. ↑ Waller, Robert; Criddle, Byron (1999). The Almanac of British Politics (Sixth ed.). London: Routledge. p. 586. ISBN   0-415-18541-6.
  3. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Daventry, Wellingborough and Northampton) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1973/604, retrieved 26 February 2023
  4. ↑ "The Northamptonshire (Structural Changes) Order 2020".
  5. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part I.
  6. ↑ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  7. ↑ "2011 census interactive maps". Archived from the original on 29 January 2016.
  8. ↑ "E07000154".
  9. ↑ "E07000154".
  10. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "N" (part 3)
  11. ↑ "Northampton South – General election results 2024". BBC News . Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  12. ↑ "Northampton South Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  13. ↑ "BBC Local Live: Northamptonshire". BBC News. 30 April 2017.
  14. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  16. ↑ BBC Election Results for Northampton South
  17. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  22. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

52°13′N0°53′W / 52.22°N 0.89°W / 52.22; -0.89

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