Wrexham (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Wrexham
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Wrexham2024Constituency.svg
Boundary of Wrexham in Wales
Preserved county Clwyd
Electorate 70,964 (March 2020) [1]
Major settlements Wrexham, Gwersyllt, Llay, Gresford
Current constituency
Created 1918
Member of Parliament Andrew Ranger (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created from Denbigh Boroughs and East Denbighshire
Overlaps
Senedd Wrexham, North Wales

Wrexham (Welsh: Wrecsam) is a parliamentary constituency [n 1] centred on the city of Wrexham in the preserved county of Clwyd, Wales in the United Kingdom. It was created in 1918, and is represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Andrew Ranger of the Labour Party. [n 2]

Contents

The constituency retained its name and gained wards, as part of the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies and under the June 2023 final recommendations of the Boundary Commission for Wales for the 2024 general election. [2]

History

Summary of results

Labour won the seat in all general elections from 1935 until 2019, when Conservative Sarah Atherton became the first woman elected to represent Wrexham. [3] This result was reversed in 2024 when Andrew Ranger regained the seat for Labour.

Tom Ellis, first elected in 1970, defected in 1981 to the newly founded Social Democratic Party. In 1983, he unsuccessfully stood for Clwyd South West instead. [4]

Turnout

Turnout has ranged between 57.5% in 2024 and 87.3% in 1950.

Boundaries

Until 1885, Wrexham was part of the Denbighshire parliamentary constituency, which elected one Member of Parliament until the Reform Act 1832 increased this to two members. In 1885 the Denbighshire constituency was split — the area covered today became part of East Denbighshire constituency.

In 1918 the Wrexham constituency was created, electing one Member of Parliament.

1918–1949: The Municipal Borough of Wrexham, and the Rural District of Wrexham, and part of Chirk.

1950–1983: The Municipal Borough of Wrexham, and part of the Rural Districts of Ceiriog, and Wrexham. [5]

1983–1997: The Borough of Wrexham Maelor wards Nos. 1 to 12, 23 to 25 and 28 to 36. [6]

For the 1983 general election, major boundary reorganisation saw large areas removed from the Wrexham constituency to form part of the new constituency of Clwyd South West.

Wrexham (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of boundaries 1997-2024

1997–2010: The Borough of Wrexham Maelor wards of Acton, Borras Park, Caia Park, Garden Village, Gresford East and West, Grosvenor, Gwersyllt East and South, Gwersyllt North, Gwersyllt West, Holt, Little Acton, Llay, Maesydre, Marford and Hoseley, Offa East, Offa West, Queensway, Rhosnesni, Rossett, Stansty, and Whitegate. [7] Further parts included in the new constituency of Clywd South (which replaced Clwyd South West).

Wrexham (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of current boundaries

2010–2024: The following County Borough of Wrexham wards: Acton, Borras Park, Brynyffynnon, Cartrefle, Erddig, Garden Village, Gresford East and West, Grosvenor, Gwersyllt East and South, Gwersyllt North, Gwersyllt West, Hermitage, Holt, Little Acton, Llay, Maesydre, Marford and Hoseley, Offa, Queensway, Rhosnesni, Rossett, Smithfield, Stansty, Whitegate, Wynnstay. [8]

No changes to boundaries.

2024–present: Under the 2023 boundary review, drawn up in accordance with the ward structure in existence on 1 December 2020, the constituency was defined as comprising the wards above, plus Bronington, Brymbo, Bryn Cefn, Coedpoeth, Gwenfro, Marchwiel, Minera, New Broughton, and Overton, transferred from the now abolished Clywd South constituency. [9]

Following a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2022, [10] the constituency now comprises the following wards of the County Borough of Wrexham from the 2024 general election: [11]

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember [12] Party
1918 Sir Robert Thomas Coalition Liberal
1922 Robert Richards Labour
1924 Christmas Price Williams Liberal
1929 Robert Richards Labour
1931 Aled Roberts Liberal
1935 Robert Richards Labour
1955 Idwal Jones Labour
1970 Tom Ellis Labour
1981 SDP
1983 John Marek Labour
2001 Ian Lucas Labour
2019 Sarah Atherton Conservative
2024 Andrew Ranger Labour

Elections

Elections in the 1910s

Robert Thomas Sir Robert Thomas.jpg
Robert Thomas
General election 1918: Wrexham [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
C Liberal Robert Thomas 20,87476.3N/A
Labour Hugh Hughes 6,50023.7N/A
Majority14,37452.6N/A
Turnout 27,37469.7N/A
Registered electors 39,259
Liberal win (new seat)
Cindicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Wrexham [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Robert Richards 11,940 35.8 +12.1
National Liberal E.R. Davies10,84232.6−43.7
Unionist R.C.G Roberts10,50831.6N/A
Majority1,0983.2N/A
Turnout 33,29084.4+14.7
Registered electors 39,446
Labour gain from Liberal Swing +27.9
General election 1923: Wrexham [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Robert Richards 12,918 39.0 +3.2
Liberal Horace Alexander Morgan11,03733.4+0.8
Unionist Edmund Fleming Bushby9,13127.6−4.0
Majority1,8815.6+2.4
Turnout 33,08681.1−3.3
Registered electors 40,789
Labour hold Swing +1.2
General election 1924: Wrexham [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Christmas Price Williams 19,154 55.6 +22.2
Labour Robert Richards 15,29144.4+5.4
Majority3,86311.2N/A
Turnout 35,44582.6+1.5
Registered electors 41,686
Liberal gain from Labour Swing
General election 1929: Wrexham [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Robert Richards 20,584 46.4 +2.0
Liberal Christmas Price Williams 13,99731.5−24.1
Unionist Edmund Fleming Bushby9,82022.1N/A
Majority6,58714.9N/A
Turnout 44,40184.9+2.3
Registered electors 52,310
Labour gain from Liberal Swing +13.0

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Wrexham [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Aled Roberts 22,474 52.1 +20.6
Labour Robert Richards 20,65347.9+1.5
Majority1,8214.2N/A
Turnout 43,12779.8−5.1
Registered electors 54,048
Liberal gain from Labour Swing
General election 1935: Wrexham [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Robert Richards 23,650 56.3 +8.4
Liberal Aled Roberts 18,36743.7−8.4
Majority5,28312.6N/A
Turnout 42,01775.5+4.3
Registered electors 55,656
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Election in the 1940s

General Election 1939–40: Another general election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;

General election 1945: Wrexham [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Robert Richards 26,854 56.0 −0.3
National Liberal David Leslie Milne13,71428.6N/A
Liberal John David Williams6,96014.5−29.2
Independent (nationalist)John Rathbone Hayes-Jones4300.9N/A
Majority13,14027.4+14.8
Turnout 47,95876.8+1.3
Registered electors 62,446
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Wrexham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Robert Richards 32,042 57.8 +1.8
National Liberal Willoughby Gervase Cooper14,11725.5−3.1
Liberal Herbert Mostyn Lewis8,28715.0+0.5
Plaid Cymru Geraint Bowen 9601.7N/A
Majority17,92532.3+4.9
Turnout 55,40687.3+10.5
Registered electors 63,455
Labour hold Swing
General election 1951: Wrexham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Robert Richards 33,759 61.5 +3.7
National Liberal Willoughby Gervase Cooper19,12434.8+9.3
Plaid Cymru A Daniel Thomas1,9973.6+1.9
Majority14,63526.7−5.6
Turnout 54,88084.8−2.5
Registered electors 64,736
Labour hold Swing
1955 Wrexham by-election [15] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Idwal Jones 23,402 57.9 −3.6
National Liberal Griffith Winston Guthrie Jones12,47630.8−4.0
Plaid Cymru Elystan Morgan 4,57211.3+7.7
Majority10,92627.1+0.4
Turnout 46,07262.4−22.4
Registered electors 64,788
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Wrexham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Idwal Jones 27,945 56.6 −4.9
National Liberal Griffith Winston Guthrie Jones16,28633.0−1.8
Plaid Cymru Elystan Morgan 5,13910.4+6.8
Majority11,65923.6−3.1
Turnout 49,37076.2−8.6
Registered electors 64,788
Labour hold Swing
General election 1959: Wrexham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Idwal Jones 30,101 55.9 −0.7
National Liberal Griffith Hughes Pierce17,14431.9−1.1
Plaid Cymru Elystan Morgan 6,57912.2+1.8
Majority12,95724.0+0.4
Turnout 53,82481.4+5.2
Registered electors 66,150
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Wrexham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Idwal Jones 30,478 58.2 +2.3
National Liberal Griffith Hughes Pierce17,24032.9+1.0
Plaid Cymru John Richard Thomas4,6738.9−3.3
Majority13,23825.3+1.3
Turnout 52,39178.7−2.7
Registered electors 66,530
Labour hold Swing
General election 1966: Wrexham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Idwal Jones 30,039 58.6 −0.4
Conservative Griffith Hughes Pierce12,59624.6−8.3
Liberal Wilfred McBriar6,35112.4N/A
Plaid Cymru John Richard Thomas2,2974.5−4.4
Majority17,44334.0+8.7
Turnout 51,28377.2−1.5
Registered electors 66,441
Labour hold Swing +4.3

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Wrexham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Tom Ellis 31,089 56.8 −1.8
Conservative Benjamin Patterson15,64928.6+4.0
Liberal Wilfred McBriar5,0679.3−3.1
Plaid Cymru Cyril Golding2,8945.3+0.8
Majority15,44028.2−5.8
Turnout 54,69975.1−2.1
Registered electors 72,814
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: Wrexham [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Tom Ellis 27,384 46.7 −10.1
Conservative John Laurence Pritchard14,30124.4−4.2
Liberal Martin Thomas 14,29724.4+15.1
Plaid Cymru Hywel Wyn Roberts2,6244.5−0.8
Majority13,08322.3−5.9
Turnout 58,60677.6+2.5
Registered electors 75,492
Labour hold Swing
General election October 1974: Wrexham [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Tom Ellis 28,885 51.1 +4.4
Liberal Martin Thomas 12,51922.1−2.3
Conservative John Pritchard12,25121.7−2.7
Plaid Cymru Hywel Wyn Roberts2,8595.1+0.6
Majority16,36629.0+6.7
Turnout 56,51474.3−3.3
Registered electors 76,106
Labour hold Swing
General election 1979: Wrexham [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Tom Ellis 30,405 49.2 −1.9
Conservative Roger Graham-Palmer18,25629.6+7.9
Liberal Martin Thomas 11,38918.4−3.7
Plaid Cymru Hywel Wyn Roberts1,7402.8−2.3
Majority12,14919.6−9.4
Turnout 56,51478.4+4.1
Registered electors 78,771
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1983: Wrexham [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Marek 16,120 34.3 −14.9
Conservative Cynthia Kay Wood15,69633.4+3.8
Liberal Martin Thomas 13,97429.7+11.3
Plaid Cymru John Thomas1,2392.6−0.2
Majority4240.9−18.7
Turnout 47,02977.5−0.9
Registered electors 60,707
Labour hold Swing −10.5
General election 1987: Wrexham [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Marek 22,144 43.9 +9.6
Conservative Roger Graham-Palmer17,99235.6+2.2
Liberal Martin Thomas 9,80819.4−10.3
Plaid Cymru Dennis Watkins5391.1−1.5
Majority4,1528.3+7.4
Turnout 50,48380.9+3.4
Registered electors 62,401
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Wrexham [21] [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Marek 24,830 48.3 +4.4
Conservative Owen Paterson 18,11435.2−0.4
Liberal Democrats Andrew Thomas7,07413.8−5.6
Plaid Cymru Gareth Wheatley1,4152.8+1.7
Majority6,71613.1+4.8
Turnout 51,43380.7−0.2
Registered electors 63,720
Labour hold Swing +2.4
General election 1997: Wrexham [23] [24] [25] [26] [27]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Marek 20,450 56.1 +6.1
Conservative Stuart Andrew 8,68823.9−8.5
Liberal Democrats Andrew Thomas4,83313.3−1.7
Referendum John Cronk1,1953.3N/A
Plaid Cymru Kevin Plant1,1703.2+0.5
Natural Law Nicholas Low860.2N/A
Majority11,76232.2+14.7
Turnout 36,42271.8−8.9
Registered electors 50,741
Labour hold Swing +7.4

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2001: Wrexham [28] [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Ian Lucas 15,934 53.0 −3.1
Conservative Felicity Elphick6,74622.5−1.4
Liberal Democrats Ronald Davies5,15317.1+3.8
Plaid Cymru Malcolm Evans1,7835.9+2.7
UKIP Jane Brookes4321.4N/A
Majority9,18830.5−1.7
Turnout 30,04859.5−12.3
Registered electors 50,465
Labour hold Swing −0.8
General election 2005: Wrexham [30] [31] [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Ian Lucas 13,993 46.1 −6.9
Liberal Democrats Tom Rippeth7,17423.6+6.5
Conservative Thérèse Coffey 6,07920.0−2.5
Plaid Cymru Sion Owen1,7445.7−0.2
BNP John Walker9193.0N/A
Forward Wales Janet Williams4761.6N/A
Majority6,81922.5−8.0
Turnout 30,38563.3+3.8
Registered electors 48,016
Labour hold Swing −6.7

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2010: Wrexham [33] [34] [35]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Ian Lucas 12,161 36.9 −9.2
Liberal Democrats Tom Rippeth8,50325.8+2.2
Conservative Gareth Hughes8,37525.4+5.4
Plaid Cymru Arfon Jones 2,0296.2+0.5
BNP Mel Roberts1,1343.4+0.4
UKIP John Humberstone7742.3N/A
Majority3,65811.1−11.4
Turnout 32,97664.8+1.5
Registered electors 50,872
Labour hold Swing −5.7
General election 2015: Wrexham [36] [37] [38]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Ian Lucas 12,181 37.2 +0.3
Conservative Andrew Atkinson10,35031.6+6.2
UKIP Niall Plevin-Kelly5,07215.5+13.2
Plaid Cymru Carrie Harper2,5017.6+1.4
Liberal Democrats Rob Walsh1,7355.3−20.5
Green David Munnerley6692.0N/A
Independent Brian Edwards [39] 2110.6N/A
Rejected ballots55
Majority1,8315.6−5.5
Turnout 32,71964.2−0.6
Registered electors 50,992
Labour hold Swing −2.9

Of the 55 rejected ballots:

General election 2017: Wrexham [40] [41] [42]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Ian Lucas 17,153 48.9 +11.7
Conservative Andrew Atkinson15,32143.7+12.1
Plaid Cymru Carrie Harper1,7535.0−2.6
Liberal Democrats Carole O'Toole8652.5−2.8
Rejected ballots68
Majority1,8325.2−0.4
Turnout 35,09269.6+5.4
Registered electors 50,245
Labour hold Swing −0.2

Of the 68 rejected ballots:

General election 2019: Wrexham [43] [44] [45]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Sarah Atherton 15,199 45.3 +1.6
Labour Co-op Mary Wimbury13,06839.0−9.9
Plaid Cymru Carrie Harper2,1516.4+1.4
Liberal Democrats Tim Sly1,4474.3+1.8
Brexit Party Ian Berkeley-Hurst1,2223.6N/A
Green Duncan Rees4451.3N/A
Majority2,1316.3N/A
Rejected ballots70
Turnout 33,53267.4−2.2
Registered electors 49,734
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +5.8

Of the 70 rejected ballots:

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Wrexham [46]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Andrew Ranger 15,836 39.2 +1.0
Conservative Sarah Atherton 9,88824.5−22.0
Reform UK Charles Dodman6,91517.1+13.3
Plaid Cymru Becca Martin4,13810.2+3.9
Liberal Democrats Timothy John Sly1,7774.4+0.1
Green Tim Morgan1,3393.3+2.4
Abolish Paul Ashton4801.2N/A
Majority5,94814.7N/A
Turnout 40,37357.5−9.0
Registered electors 70,269
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +11.6

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. Mrs Justice Jefford; Thomas, Huw Vaughan; Hartley, Sam A (June 2023). "Appendix 1: Recommended Constituencies" (PDF). The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales. Cardiff: Boundary Commission for Wales. p. 251. ISBN   978-1-5286-3901-9 . Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  2. 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies – The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales (PDF). Boundary Commission for Wales. 28 June 2023.
  3. Morris, Steven (13 December 2019). "'Things can't get worse': Wrexham turns Tory amid Welsh Labour losses". The Guardian . Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  4. Langdon, Julia (18 April 2010). "Tom Ellis obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  5. Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1985-1972. Chichester, Sussex: Political Reference Publications. ISBN   0-900178-09-4.
  6. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Wales) Order 1983".
  7. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Wales) Order 1995".
  8. "The Parliamentary Constituencies and Assembly Electoral Regions (Wales) Order 2006".
  9. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 4 (Wales).
  10. "The County Borough of Wrexham (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021".
  11. "Election Maps". www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  12. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 5)
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Craig, F. W. S. (1969). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (1 ed.). Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. ISBN   0-900178-019. Page 531
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Craig, F. W. S. (1971). British parliamentary election results 1950–1970 (1 ed.). Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN   9780900178023. Page 573
  15. "British parliamentary by-elections: Wrexham 1955". Web Cite. Archived from the original on 31 August 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  16. "Politics Resources". Election February 1974. Politics Resources. 28 February 1974. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  17. "Politics Resources". Election October 1974. Politics Resources. 10 October 1974. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  18. "Politics Resources". Election 1979. Politics Resources. 3 May 1979. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  19. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  23. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. "Politics Resources". Election 1997. Politics Resources. 1 May 1997. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  25. C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.181 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
  26. The 1997 election result is calculated relative to the notional, not the actual, 1992 result.
  27. "BBC NEWS>VOTE 2001>Results and Constituencies>Wrexham". Vote 2001. BBC News. 1 May 1997. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  28. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  29. "BBC NEWS > VOTE 2001 > RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES > Wrexham". Vote 2001. BBC News. 7 June 2001. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  30. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  31. "Wrexham: Constituency > Politics > guardian.co.uk". Election 2010. The Guardian. 5 May 2005. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  32. "Wrexham parliamentary constituency – Election 2005" via www.bbc.co.uk.
  33. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  34. "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Wrexham". BBC News Online . Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  35. "Results" (PDF). Wrexham County Borough Council. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  36. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  37. 1 2 3 "Wrexham result" (PDF). DECLARATION OF RESULT OF POLL. Wrexham County Borough Council. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  38. "Wrexham Parliamentary constituency". Election 2015 Results. BBC. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  39. "Member of Parliament for Wrexham". YourNextMP. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  40. "Full Candidate List for Wrexham & Clwyd South". Wrexham.com . Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  41. "Wrexham Constituency results". BBC. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  42. 1 2 3 "2017 Results". Wrexham County Borough Council. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  43. "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll – Wrexham Constituency" (PDF). Wrexham County Borough Council. 14 November 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  44. "Wrexham parliamentary constituency – Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  45. 1 2 3 4 "Election-Results/General-Election-2019" (PDF). Wrexham County Borough Council. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  46. "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll – UK Parliamentary Election for the Wrexham Constituency" (PDF). Wrexham County Borough Council. 7 June 2024.

53°04′34″N2°56′59″W / 53.07611°N 2.94972°W / 53.07611; -2.94972