Ormskirk (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Ormskirk
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
Ormskirk1974Constituency.svg
Ormskirk in Lancashire, showing boundaries used from 1974-1983
County Lancashire
1885–1983
SeatsOne
Created from South West Lancashire
Replaced by West Lancashire, Knowsley North, St Helens North and Crosby

Ormskirk was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. It was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 as a division of the parliamentary county of Lancashire. The constituency boundaries were changed in 1918, 1950, 1955 and 1974. [1]

Contents

History

The constituency was a Labour - Conservative marginal for much of its history, changing hands several times between the two parties during its 98-year existence.

The seat was initially a safe Conservative seat under the influence of the Stanleys, the Earls of Derby. Indeed, the seat was held for twenty years by Arthur Stanley, a younger son of the 16th Earl. The only serious challenge by the Liberal Party in this period was in 1910 when William Lever, the leading industrialist, contested the seat. Indeed, this was the last time the Liberal Party would contest the constituency until the 1970s.

James Bell became the first non Conservative to be elected for this seat since its creation in 1885, principally due to a divided conservative vote between the Coalition Conservatives and the candidate of the National Farmers Union at the 1918 general election. Francis Blundell regained the seat for the Conservatives in 1922 but was to lose it to Labour's Sam Tom Rosbotham in 1929.

Sam Tom followed Ramsay MacDonald when the Labour Party split in 1931, and then defended the seat successfully for National Labour in both 1931 and 1935. He was succeeded in 1939 by Commander Stephen King-Hall for National Labour.

In a repeat of 1918, the election of 1945 saw future Prime Minister, Harold Wilson elected when the Conservative Party opted to stand against the National candidate, Stephen King-Hall, and split the anti Labour vote. With Harold Wilson moving in 1950 to the newly created Huyton constituency, the seat saw a succession of Conservative Members who were then moved on to the House of Lords, until the election of the much respected Colonel Douglas Glover in the 1953 by-election.

The retirement of Douglas Glover in 1970 saw the election of Harold Soref for the Conservatives who, however, was only to hold the seat for four years. Boundary changes brought in Kirkby New Town, leading to the election of Robert Kilroy-Silk for Labour.

The constituency ceased to exist with the implementation of the 1983 boundary changes. The sitting MP moved to the new Knowsley North seat.

Boundaries

1885–1918

The constituency, officially designated as South-West Lancashire, Ormskirk Division consisted of the town of Ormskirk and a number of surrounding parishes, namely: [1] [2] Aintree, Aughton, Bickerstaffe, Croxteth Park, Dalton, Downholland, Halsall, Kirkby, Knowsley, Lathom, Litherland, Lunt, Lydiate, Maghull, Melling, Netherton, Ormskirk, Orrell and Ford, Prescot, Scarisbrick, Sefton, Simonswood, Skelmersdale & Upholland.

1918–1950

The Representation of the People Act 1918 reorganised constituencies throughout the United Kingdom. Boundaries were adjusted and seats were defined in terms of the districts created by the Local Government Act 1894. According to the schedules of the Act, the Lancashire, Ormskirk Division comprised: [3]

1950–1955

The Representation of the People Act 1948 redistributed parliamentary seats, with the constituencies first being used in the general election of 1950. The term "county constituency" was introduced in place of "division". Ormskirk County Constituency was redefined as consisting of the following districts: [4]

This reflected local government boundary changes in 1931–32: Lathom & Burscough UD had been absorbed by Ormskirk UD and Sefton RD by West Lancashire RD. [1]

1955–1974

Following further council boundary changes in 1954, the remaining parishes from West Lancashire RD, (Aintree and Ford), were included in the constituency from 1955. [5]

1974–1983

From 1970 the seat was again redefined, to cover the urban districts of Formby, Kirkby, Ormskirk and Rainford, and West Lancashire Rural District. [6]

Abolition

The constituency was abolished by the Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983, which redrew constituencies based on the new counties and districts created in 1974.

The Ormskirk area became part of West Lancashire, Kirkby was included in Knowsley North, Rainford in St Helens North and Formby, Aintree and Melling in Crosby. [7]

Members of Parliament

ElectionMemberParty
1885 Arthur Forwood Conservative
1898 by-election Arthur Stanley Conservative
1918 James Bell Labour
1922 Francis Blundell Conservative
1929 Samuel Rosbotham Labour
1931 National Labour
1939 by-election Stephen King-Hall National Labour
1945 Harold Wilson Labour
1950 Ronald Cross Conservative
1951 by-election Arthur Salter Conservative
1953 by-election Douglas Glover Conservative
1970 Harold Soref Conservative
Feb 1974 Robert Kilroy-Silk Labour
1983 constituency abolished: see West Lancashire, Knowsley North, St Helens North & Crosby

Election results

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1885: Ormskirk [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Arthur Forwood 5,133 68.7
Liberal John Prince Sheldon2,34331.3
Majority2,79037.4
Turnout 7,47685.8
Registered electors 8,714
Conservative win (new seat)
General election 1886: Ormskirk [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Arthur Forwood Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Ormskirk [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Arthur Forwood 4,618 68.7 N/A
Liberal James Middlehurst [9] 2,10131.3New
Majority2,51737.4N/A
Turnout 6,71970.3N/A
Registered electors 9,553
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 1895: Ormskirk [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Arthur Forwood 4,780 71.7 +3.0
Liberal Thomas Stoner1,88528.3-3.0
Majority2,89543.4+6.0
Turnout 6,66565.9-4.4
Registered electors 10,107
Conservative hold Swing +3.0

Forwood's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 20 Oct 1898: Ormskirk [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Arthur Stanley Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Ormskirk [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Arthur Stanley Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1906: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Arthur Stanley 6,207 61.5 N/A
Liberal Climenson Yelverton Charles Dawbarn3,89138.5New
Majority2,31623.0N/A
Turnout 10,09880.0N/A
Registered electors 12,624
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Arthur Stanley 6,919 59.7 -1.8
Liberal William Lever 4,67940.3+1.8
Majority2,24019.4-3.6
Turnout 11,59885.8+5.8
Conservative hold Swing
General election December 1910: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Arthur Stanley Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1918: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James Bell 6,545 37.2 New
Unionist Thomas Fermor-Hesketh 6,08034.5N/A
National Farmers Union Stephen Hirst4,98928.3New
Majority4652.7N/A
Turnout 17,61461.0N/A
Labour gain from Unionist Swing N/A

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Francis Blundell 11,921 58.7 +24.2
Labour James Bell 8,37441.3+4.1
Majority3,54717.4N/A
Turnout 20,29567.8+6.8
Unionist gain from Labour Swing
General election 1923: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Francis Blundell 10,598 53.0 -5.7
Labour Robert Barrie Walker 9,38847.0+5.7
Majority1,2106.0-11.4
Turnout 19,98665.7-2.1
Unionist hold Swing -5.7
General election 1924: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Francis Blundell 13,392 56.3 +3.3
Labour Robert Barrie Walker 10,40243.7-3.3
Majority2,99012.6+6.6
Turnout 23,79475.9+10.2
Unionist hold Swing
General election 1929: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Samuel Rosbotham 20,350 53.4 +9.7
Unionist Francis Blundell 17,76146.6-9.7
Majority2,5896.8N/A
Turnout 38,11174.8-1.1
Labour gain from Unionist Swing +9.7

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
National Labour Samuel Rosbotham 30,368 75.0 N/A
Labour F V King10,11525.0-28.4
Majority20,25350.0N/A
Turnout 40,48571.7-3.1
National Labour gain from Labour Swing
General election 1935: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
National Labour Samuel Rosbotham 27,624 58.5 -16.5
Labour F V King19,57941.5+16.5
Majority8,04517.0-33.0
Turnout 47,20365.8-5.9
National Labour hold Swing
1939 Ormskirk by-election

In the Ormskirk By-Election of 27 October 1939, Stephen King-Hall, National Labour was elected unopposed.

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Harold Wilson 30,126 46.3 +4.8
Conservative A C Greg23,10435.5New
National Stephen King-Hall 11,84818.2N/A
Majority7,02210.8N/A
Turnout 65,07869.3+3.5
Labour gain from National Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Ronald Cross 28,654 66.27
Labour LC Edwards14,58333.73
Majority14,07132.54N/A
Turnout 43,23783.9
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
1951 Ormskirk by-election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Arthur Salter 24,190 71.47 +5.20
Labour H A Kelly8,96926.50-7.23
Ind. Labour Party Fred Barton 6892.04New
Majority15,22144.97+21.12
Turnout 33,848
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Arthur Salter 26,729 67.43 +1.16
Labour Ernest Kavanagh12,90832.57-1.16
Majority13,82134.86+2.32
Turnout 39,63778.68
Conservative hold Swing
1953 Ormskirk by-election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Douglas Glover 17,984 65.38 -2.02
Labour Muriel Ferguson9,51234.62+2.02
Majority8,47230.76-4.11
Turnout 27,496
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Douglas Glover 27,066 68.36 +0.93
Labour Thomas W Henry12,52731.64-0.93
Majority14,53936.72+1.86
Turnout 3953973.05
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1959: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Douglas Glover 32,952 69.15 +0.79
Labour Gwilym Roberts 14,70130.85-0.79
Majority18,25138.30+1.58
Turnout 47,65377.59+4.54
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Douglas Glover 33,704 62.54 -6.61
Labour James Harold20,18637.46+6.61
Majority13,51825.08-13.22
Turnout 53,89075.85-1.74
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1966: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Douglas Glover 32,763 58.77 -3.77
Labour William J. Quinn22,98341.23+3.77
Majority9,78017.54-7.54
Turnout 55,74673.87-1.98
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Harold Soref 40,517 61.4 +2.6
Labour Robert Kilroy-Silk 25,48638.6-2.6
Majority15,03122.77+5.3
Turnout 66,00372.49-1.38
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Robert Kilroy-Silk 34,807 47.19
Conservative Harold Soref 27,00436.61
Liberal David Parry11,94916.20New
Majority7,80310.58N/A
Turnout 73,70677.32
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
General election October 1974: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Robert Kilroy-Silk 35,392 50.33 +3.14
Conservative Brian Keefe26,54137.74+1.13
Liberal David Parry8,38711.93-4.27
Majority8,85112.59+2.01
Turnout 70,32072.80-4.52
Labour hold Swing
General election 1979: Ormskirk
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Robert Kilroy-Silk 37,222 50.03 -0.33
Conservative Brian Keefe36,36448.87+11.13
Workers Revolutionary S Pirani8201.10New
Majority8581.15
Turnout 74,40676.11+3.31
Labour hold Swing

See also

Sources

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Youngs, Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Volume 2
  2. ↑ Seventh Schedule: Counties at Large: Number of Members and Names and Contents of Divisions, Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, (1885 c.23)
  3. ↑ Ninth Schedule – Part II, Parliamentary Counties: England, excluding Monmouthshire, Representation of the People Act 1918 (1918 c.64)
  4. ↑ First Schedule: Parliamentary Constituencies, Representation of The People Act 1948, (1948 c.65)
  5. ↑ The Parliamentary Constituencies (Liverpool and South-West Lancashire) Order, 1955 (S.I. 1955 No. 15)
  6. ↑ The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970 (S.I. 1970 No. 1674)
  7. ↑ Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983 (S.I. 1983 No. 417)
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN   9781349022984.
  9. ↑ "The Election". Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald . 15 July 1982. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
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