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Northampton South (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 52°13′N 0°53′W / 52.22°N 0.89°W / 52.22; -0.89
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the constituency to the south created in 2010, see South Northamptonshire (UK Parliament constituency).

Northampton South
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Northampton South in the East Midlands
CountyNorthamptonshire
Electorate71,512 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsNorthampton (part)
Current constituency
Created1974 (1974)
Member of ParliamentMike Reader (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromNorthampton

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]

History

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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

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Historic

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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

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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 District of West Northamptonshire wards of: Billing and Rectory Farm; Delapre and Rushmere; Duston East; Duston West and St. Crispin; East Hunsbury and Shelfleys; Nene Valley; Riverside Park; Sixfields.[5]

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

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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

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Northampton prior to 1974

Election Member[10] Party Notes
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

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Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Northampton South[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mike Reader 16,890 38.5 +7.6
Conservative Andrew Lewer 12,819 29.2 −28.6
Reform UK Anthony Owens 8,210 18.7 N/A
Liberal Democrats Jill Hope 3,193 7.3 −0.6
Green Simon Sneddon 2,398 5.5 +2.1
TUSC Katie Simpson 296 0.7 N/A
Climate Penelope Tollitt 98 0.2 N/A
Majority 4,071 9.3 N/A
Turnout 43,904 62.4 −7.0
Registered electors 70,393
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +18.1

Elections in the 2010s

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General election 2019: Northampton South[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Lewer 20,914 51.2 +4.3
Labour Gareth Eales 16,217 39.7 −4.3
Liberal Democrats Jill Hope 2,482 6.1 +2.7
Green Scott Mabbutt 1,222 3.0 +1.3
Majority 4,697 11.5 +8.6
Turnout 40,835 65.7 −0.8
Conservative hold Swing +4.3
General election 2017: Northampton South[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Lewer 19,231 46.9 +5.3
Labour Kevin McKeever 18,072 44.0 +12.2
UKIP Rose Gibbins 1,630 4.0 −14.3
Liberal Democrats Jill Hope 1,405 3.4 −0.9
Green Scott Mabbutt 696 1.7 −1.9
Majority 1,159 2.9 −6.9
Turnout 41,034 66.5 +3.3
Conservative hold Swing -3.5
General election 2015: Northampton South[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Mackintosh 16,163 41.6 +0.8
Labour Kevin McKeever 12,370 31.8 +6.4
UKIP Rose Gibbins 7,114 18.3 +13.4
Liberal Democrats Sadik Chaudhury 1,673 4.3 −15.1
Green Julie Hawkins 1,403 3.6 +2.7
Majority 3,793 9.8 −5.6
Turnout 38,884 63.4 +5.2
Conservative hold Swing -2.85
General election 2010: Northampton South [15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Brian Binley 15,917 40.8 +3.0
Labour Clyde Loakes 9,913 25.4 −16.1
Liberal Democrats Paul Varnsverry 7,579 19.4 +5.9
Independent Tony Clarke 2,242 5.8 New
UKIP Derek Clark 1,897 4.9 +2.8
English Democrat Kevin Sills 618 1.6 New
Green Julie Hawkins 363 0.9 New
Northampton Save our Public Services Dave Green 325 0.8 New
Independent Kevin Wilshire 65 0.2 New
Scrap Members' Allowances Liam Costello 59 0.2 New
Majority 6,004 15.4 +7.3
Turnout 38,978 58.2 −0.6
Conservative hold Swing +6.6

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Northampton South[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Brian Binley 23,818 43.7 +2.6
Labour Tony Clarke 19,399 35.6 −7.3
Liberal Democrats Kevin Barron 8,327 15.3 +2.8
UKIP Derek Clark 1,032 1.9 −0.5
Veritas Tony Green 508 0.9 New
S O S! Voters Against Overdevelopment of Northampton John Harrison 437 0.8 New
Monster Raving Loony John Percival 354 0.6 New
Independent Fitzy Fitzpatrick 346 0.6 New
CPA Tim Webb 260 0.5 New
Majority 4,419 8.1 N/A
Turnout 54,481 60.7 +1.1
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +5.0
General election 2001: Northampton South[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tony Clarke 21,882 42.9 +0.5
Conservative Shailesh Vara 20,997 41.1 0.0
Liberal Democrats Andrew Simpson 6,355 12.5 +1.4
UKIP Derek Clark 1,237 2.4 +0.4
Liberated Party Tina Harvey 362 0.7 New
ProLife Alliance Clare Johnson 196 0.4 New
Majority 885 1.8 +0.5
Turnout 51,029 59.6 −12.1
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Northampton South[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tony Clarke 24,214 42.4 +14.1
Conservative Michael Morris 23,470 41.1 −14.6
Liberal Democrats Anthony Worgan 6,316 11.1 −3.1
Referendum Christopher Petrie 1,405 2.5 New
UKIP Derek Clark 1,159 2.0 New
Natural Law Graham Woollcombe 541 0.9 New
Majority 744 1.3 N/A
Turnout 55,946 71.7 −8.2
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +14.1
General election 1992: Northampton South[20][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Morris 36,882 55.3 −0.4
Labour John Dickie 19,909 29.8 +5.2
Liberal Democrats Graham Mabbutt 9,912 14.9 −3.7
Majority 16,973 25.5 −5.6
Turnout 66,703 79.9 +4.7
Conservative hold Swing −2.8

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Northampton South[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Morris 31,864 55.7 +2.1
Labour John Dickie 14,061 24.6 −1.2
SDP George Hopkins 10,639 18.6 −4.8
Green Margaret Hamilton 647 1.1 New
Majority 17,803 31.1 +0.9
Turnout 57,211 75.2 +2.6
Conservative hold Swing +1.7
General election 1983: Northampton South[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Morris 26,824 53.6
SDP Keith Kyle 11,698 23.4
Labour Martin Coleman 11,533 23.0
Majority 15,126 30.2
Turnout 50,055 72.6
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1979: Northampton South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Morris 19,125 49.67
Labour Graham Mason 15,491 40.24
Liberal D Amey 3,478 9.03
National Front M James 407 1.06 New
Majority 3,634 9.43
Turnout 38,501 75.27
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Northampton South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Morris 14,393 42.98
Labour J Dilks 14,252 42.56
Liberal RF Miller 4,842 14.46
Majority 141 0.42
Turnout 33,487 75.52
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Northampton South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Morris 14,321 40.27
Labour J Dilks 14,142 39.77
Liberal RF Miller 7,099 19.96
Majority 179 0.50
Turnout 35,562 80.82
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

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Notes

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  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

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  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. ^ [1] 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.
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52°13′N 0°53′W / 52.22°N 0.89°W / 52.22; -0.89

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