Wellingborough (UK Parliament constituency)

Wellingborough
County constituency
for the House of Commons

Outline map

Boundary of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire.

Outline map

Location of Northamptonshire within England.
County Northamptonshire
Electorate 76,848 (December 2010)
Major settlements Wellingborough, Rushden, Higham Ferrers and Irchester
Current constituency
Created 1918
Member of parliament Peter Bone (Conservative Party)
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency East Midlands

Wellingborough is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2005 by Peter Bone, a Conservative.[n 2]

History

This seat was created under the Representation of the People Act 1918.

Political history

Wellingborough's earliest years were left-leaning. Since the 1964 the seat has kept on producing examples of bellwether results and rarely showed itself to be safe for more than one government term. Departing from this are two years where the result has defied the most common result nationwide, by leaning towards the Conservative Party, in 1974 (twice) and in 2005.

Prominent frontbenchers

Sir Geoffrey Shakespeare was a Lloyd-Georgist National Liberal who served in junior minister roles through much of World War II including, briefly as the Secretary for Overseas Trade in 1940.

The lack of other senior positions is assisted by no majority having been gained by the winner which is in national terms generally shown to be insurmountable, see marginal seat.

Boundaries

1918-1950: The Municipal Borough of Higham Ferrers, the Urban Districts of Finedon, Irthlingborough, Raunds, Rushden, and Wellingborough, the Rural District of Wellingborough, and in the Rural District of Thrapston the civil parishes of Chelveston-cum-Caldecott, Hargrave, and Stanwick.

1950-1974: The Municipal Borough of Higham Ferrers, the Urban Districts of Irthlingborough, Raunds, Rushden, and Wellingborough, the Rural District of Wellingborough, and in the Rural District of Oundle and Thrapston the civil parishes of Chelveston-cum-Caldecott and Hargrave.

1974-1983: The Municipal Borough of Higham Ferrers, the Urban Districts of Irthlingborough, Oundle, Raunds, Rushden, and Wellingborough, and the Rural Districts of Oundle and Thrapston, and Wellingborough.

1983-2010: The Borough of Wellingborough, and the District of East Northamptonshire wards of Higham Ferrers, Rushden East, Rushden North, Rushden South, and Rushden West.

2010-present: The Borough of Wellingborough wards of Brickhill, Castle, Croyland, Finedon, Great Doddington and Wilby, Hemmingwell, Irchester, North, Queensway, Redwell East, Redwell West, South, Swanspool, and Wollaston, and the District of East Northamptonshire wards of Higham Ferrers, Rushden East, Rushden North, Rushden South, and Rushden West.

The constituency is named after the town of Wellingborough and covers most of the Borough of Wellingborough local government district. The constituency also includes Rushden (a broad town) and Higham Ferrers, a large village in the neighbouring local government district of East Northamptonshire.

Higham Ferrers was itself a former borough constituency until its abolition as one of the rotten boroughs in 1832.

Constituency profile

Strengths in local industries here or in neighbouring Northampton and Kettering include in printing, logistics and distribution, automotive (assembly and design), construction, food processing and advanced engineering sectors. Despite this a decline in the traditional local industries such as quarrying, furniture making and textiles pushes workless claimants who were registered jobseekers in November 2012 higher than the national (and regional) average of 3.8%, at 4.5% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[1]

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember[2] PartyNotes
1918 Walter Robert Smith Labour
1922 Geoffrey Shakespeare National Liberal Secretary for Overseas Trade (1940)
1923 William Cove Labour
1929 George Dallas Labour
1931 Archibald James Conservative
1945 George Lindgren Labour
1959 Michael Hamilton Conservative
1964 Harry Howarth LabourDied 1969
1969 by-election Sir Peter Fry Conservative
1997 Paul Stinchcombe Labour
2005 Peter Bone Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General Election 2015: Wellingborough[3][4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Peter Bone 26,265 52.1 +3.8
UKIP Jonathan Munday[5] 9,868 19.6 +16.4
Labour Richard Garvie1 9,839 19.5 -5.9
Liberal Democrat Chris Nelson 2,240 4.4 -12.7
Green Marion-Turner-Hawes 2,218 4.4 +3.5
Majority 16,397 32.5
Turnout 50,430 65.4 -1.8
Conservative hold Swing

1: After nominations were closed, Garvie was suspended from the Labour Party after he was convicted of fraud after buying £900 of train tickets with a closed bank account.[6] He still appeared on ballot papers as Labour.

General Election 2010: Wellingborough[7][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Peter Bone 24,918 48.2 +5.5
Labour Jayne Buckland 13,131 25.4 -16.0
Liberal Democrat Kevin Barron 8,848 17.1 +5.6
UKIP Adrian Haynes 1,636 3.2 +0.9
BNP Rob Walker 1,596 3.1 +3.1
English Democrat Terry Spencer 530 1.0 +1.0
Green Jonathan Hornett 480 0.9 +0.9
TUSC Paul Crofts 249 0.5 +0.5
Independent Gary Donaldson 240 0.5 +0.5
Independent Marcus Lavin 33 0.1 +0.1
Majority 11,787 22.8
Turnout 51,661 67.2 +1.4
Conservative hold Swing +10.8

Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: Wellingborough[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Peter Bone 22,674 42.8 +0.6
Labour Paul Stinchcombe 21,987 41.5 5.3
Liberal Democrat Richard Church 6,147 11.6 +2.3
UKIP James Wrench 1,214 2.3 +0.6
Veritas Nicholas Alex 749 1.4 +1.4
Socialist Labour Andy Dickson 234 0.4 +0.4
Majority 687 1.3
Turnout 53,005 66.5 +2.4
Conservative gain from Labour Swing 2.9
General Election 2001: Wellingborough[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Paul Stinchcombe 23,867 46.8 +2.6
Conservative Peter Bone 21,512 42.2 -1.6
Liberal Democrat Peter Gaskell 4,763 9.3 -0.1
UKIP Tony Ellwood 864 1.7 -0.4
Majority 2,355 4.6
Turnout 51,006 64.1 -10.7
Labour hold Swing +2.1

Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1997: Wellingborough[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Paul Stinchcombe 24,854 44.2 +10.3
Conservative Sir Peter Fry 24,667 43.8 -9.6
Liberal Democrat Peter Smith 5,279 9.4 -3.4
UKIP Tony Ellwood 1,192 2.1 N/A
Natural Law Annie Lorys 297 0.5 N/A
Majority 187 0.3
Turnout 56,289 74.8
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +9.9
General Election 1992: Wellingborough[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Sir Peter Fry 32,302 53.4 +0.7
Labour Phil Sawford 20,486 33.9 +6.7
Liberal Democrat Julie Trevor 7,714 12.8 -7.4
Majority 11,816 19.5 -6.0
Turnout 60,502 81.9
Conservative hold Swing -3.0%

Elections in the 1980s

General Election 1987: Wellingborough[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Sir Peter Fry 29,038 52.7 +3.8
Labour J. Currie 14,968 27.2 +1.2
Liberal L.E. Stringer 11,047 20.1 -4.6
Majority 14,070 25.5 +2.6
Turnout 55,053
Conservative hold Swing +1.3%
General Election 1983: Wellingborough[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Sir Peter Fry 25,715 48.9 -3.4
Labour J.H. Mann 13,659 26.0 -8.9
Liberal L.E. Stringer 12,994 24.7 +12.9
Independent D.M.P. Garnett 228 0.4 +0.1
Majority 12,056 22.9 +5.5
Turnout 52,596
Conservative hold Swing +2.8%

Elections in the 1970s

General Election 1979: Wellingborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Sir Peter Fry 37,812 52.3 +9.5
Labour D.A. Forwood 25,278 34.9 -5.3
Liberal L.E. Stringer 8,506 11.8 -6.2
National Front S.F. Wright 529 0.7 +0.7
Independent D.M.P. Garnett 228 0.3 +0.3
Majority 12,534 17.4 +9.5
Turnout 72,353 81.25
Conservative hold Swing +7.4
General Election Oct 1974: Wellingborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Sir Peter Fry 29,078 42.8 +2.3
Labour J H Mann 27,320 40.2 +2.9
Liberal Penelope Jessel 11,500 17.0 -3.9
Majority 1,758 2.6 -0.5
Turnout 67,898 79.61
Conservative hold Swing -0.3%
General Election Feb 1974: Wellingborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Sir Peter Fry 29,099 40.5 -11.7
Labour J.H. Mann 26,829 37.3 -10.5
Liberal Penelope Jessel 15,049 20.9 +20.9
Independent Conservative D.T. James 897 1.2 +1.2
Majority 2,720 3.1 -1.3
Turnout 71,874 85.00
Conservative hold Swing -0.6%
General Election 1970: Wellingborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Sir Peter Fry 27,459 52.2 -2.2
Labour J.H. Mann 25,107 47.8 8.0
Majority 2,532 4.4 -12.2
Turnout 52,566 81.34
Conservative hold Swing -5.1

Elections in the 1960s

Wellingborough By-election December 1969
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Sir Peter Fry 22,548 54.4 +6.8
Labour J.H. Mann 16,499 39.8 -7.8
Independent M.P. Coney 2,421 5.8 +5.8
Majority 6,049 14.6 +14.6
Turnout
Conservative gain from Labour Swing 7.3
General Election 1966: Wellingborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Harry Howarth 24,705 52.4 +10.1
Conservative J.L. Leatham 22,472 47.6 +5.4
Majority 2,233 4.8 +4.7
Turnout 54,566 86.46 +1322
Labour hold Swing +10.1 (from Lib)
General Election 1964: Wellingborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Harry Howarth 19,592 42.26 -7.17
Conservative Michael Hamilton 19,545 42.16 -8.51
Liberal P.A.J. Petit 7,227 15.59 +15.59
Majority 47 0.10
Turnout 87.11
Labour gain from Conservative Swing 11.9 (Con to Lib)

Elections in the 1950s

General Election 1959: Wellingborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Michael Hamilton 22,964 50.67 +1.61
Labour George Samuel Lindgren 22,358 49.33 -1.61
Majority 606 1.34
Turnout 86.72
Conservative gain from Labour Swing 1.61
General Election 1955: Wellingborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour George Samuel Lindgren 22,745 51.04 -1.35
Conservative Albert Arthur Jones 21,819 48.96 +1.35
Majority 926 2.08
Turnout 86.01
Labour hold Swing -1.35
General Election 1951: Wellingborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour George Samuel Lindgren 24,113 52.39 +5.29
Conservative F.R. Parsons 21,912 47.61 +19.15
Majority 2,201 4.78
Turnout 88.38
Labour hold Swing +21.8 (from Lib)
General Election 1950: Wellingborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour George Samuel Lindgren 21,640 47.10 -10.61
Conservative J. Sayer 13,075 28.46 -13.83
Liberal Edwin Thomas Malindine 11,227 24.44 +24.44
Majority 8,565 18.64
Turnout 89.51
Labour hold Swing -17.53 (to Lib)

Election in the 1940s

General Election 1945: Wellingborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour George Lindgren 22,416 57.71
Conservative Archibald James 16,426 42.29
Majority 5,990 15.42
Turnout 74.39
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Elections in the 1930s

General Election 1935: Wellingborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Archibald James 18,085 50.52
Labour George Dallas 17,713 49.48
Majority 372 1.04
Turnout 77.26
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1931: Wellingborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Archibald James 22,127 61.02
Labour George Dallas 14,137 38.98
Majority 7,990 22.03
Turnout 81.24
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 1920s

G. Dallas
General Election 1929: Wellingborough [15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour George Dallas 15,300 42.2 +2.2
Liberal Richard Pattinson Winfrey 11,255 31.0 +2.2
Unionist Archibald William Henry James 9,703 26.8 -4.4
Majority 4,045 11.2 -+2.4
Turnout 83.3 -0.7
Labour hold Swing +0.0
General Election 1924: Wellingborough [15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour William George Cove 11,381 40.0
Unionist R A Raphael 8,900 31.2
Liberal H M Paul 8,223 28.8
Majority 2,481 8.8
Turnout 84.0
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1923: Wellingborough [15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour William George Cove 11,175 42.1 -0.3
Liberal Geoffrey Hithersay Shakespeare 8,638 32.5 -25.1
Unionist Robert Massy-Dawson Sanders 6,747 25.4 n/a
Majority 2,537 9.6 24.8
Turnout 79.9
Labour gain from Liberal Swing +12.4
General Election 1922: Wellingborough [15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
National Liberal Geoffrey Hithersay Shakespeare 14,995
Labour Walter Robert Smith 11,057
Majority
Turnout
National Liberal gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 1910s

General Election 1918 Wellingborough[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Walter Robert Smith 10,290 52.5 n/a
Liberal 9,313 47.5 n/a
Majority 5.0 n/a
Turnout n/a
Labour win

See also

Notes and references

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. Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  2. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 2)
  3. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  4. "Election 2015:Wellingborough Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  5. http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/wellingborough/
  6. Francesca Gosling. "Labour's candidate for Wellingborough and Rushden Richard Garvie suspended after conviction for fraud". Nothampton Chronicle & Echo.
  7. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  8. Wellingborough BBC News | Election 2010
  9. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  10. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  11. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  12. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  13. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.

Sources

Coordinates: 52°18′N 0°42′W / 52.30°N 0.70°W / 52.30; -0.70

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