Nuneaton (UK Parliament constituency)

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Nuneaton
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Nuneaton in Warwickshire.
Outline map
Location of Warwickshire within England.
County Warwickshire
Electorate 68,288 (December 2010)[1]
Current constituency
Created 1885
Member of parliament Marcus Jones (Conservative)
Number of members One
Created from North Warwickshire
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency West Midlands

Nuneaton is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Marcus Jones, a Conservative.[n 2]

In the 2015 general election, Nuneaton was the first key marginal seat between the Conservatives and Labour to declare its results. Instead of seeing the predicted victory for Labour,[2] the seat saw a swing of 3.0% towards the Conservatives which proved to be a big indication that they were heading for victory in the 2015 general election, contrary to prior Opinion Poll projections.

Boundaries

1885-1918: The Sessional Division of Coventry, the Municipal Borough of Coventry, and part of the Sessional Divisions of Atherstone and Coleshill.

1918-1945: The Municipal Borough of Nuneaton, the Urban District of Bulkington, and the Rural Districts of Atherstone (the civil parishes of Ansley, Atherstone, Baddesley Ensor, Baxterley, Bentley, Grendon, Hartshill, Mancetter, Merevale, Oldbury, and Polesworth), Coventry, Foleshill, and Nuneaton.

1945-1955: The Municipal Borough of Nuneaton, the Urban District of Bedworth, and the Rural District of Atherstone (the civil parishes of Ansley, Atherstone, Baddesley Ensor, Baxterley, Bentley, Caldecote, Grendon, Hartshill, Mancetter, Merevale, Oldbury, and Polesworth).

1955-1974: The Municipal Borough of Nuneaton, and the Urban District of Bedworth.

1974-1983: The Municipal Borough of Nuneaton, and the Urban District of Bedworth as altered by the Coventry Order 1965.

1983-2010: The Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth wards of Abbey, Arbury, Attleborough, Bulkington, Camp Hill, Chilvers Coton, Galley Common, St Nicolas, Stockingford, Weddington, and Whitestone, and the Borough of Rugby wards of Earl Craven, Fosse, and Wolvey.

2010–present: The Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth wards of Abbey, Arbury, Attleborough, Bar Pool, Camp Hill, Galley Common, Kingswood, St Nicolas, Weddington, Wem Brook, and Whitestone, and the Borough of North Warwickshire wards of Arley and Whitacre, and Hartshill.

The boundary changes which took effect for the 1983 general election removed the town of Bedworth, which was transferred to the newly created North Warwickshire constituency. As a result the sitting MP Les Huckfield declined to stand and unsuccessfully sought nomination in other constituencies such as Wigan[3] and Sedgefield.[4]

History

The constituency was created as a result of the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, in an area whose population had expanded as coal miners poured in from other parts of the country. At one time 20 collieries operated in the area and now one of three major British coal mines continued with operations in the constituency at Daw Mill atop the Warwickshire Coalfield (known as the Warwickshire Thick) in the north of the county until 2012 when it closed. The associated heavy industry and mining-centred economy coupled with the Representation of the People Act 1918 (Fourth Reform Act) led to Nuneaton being held by the Labour Party for nearly 50 years until lost in the 1983 Conservative Landslide to Lewis Stevens, a Conservative who retained the seat in 1987.

Labour regained the constituency at the 1992 election. Bill Olner beat Stevens and retained the seat in 2001 and 2005. Olner announced in 2007 that he would not be contesting the 2010 general election and would be standing down at the end of the 2005-2010 parliament.[5] Former Nuneaton and Bedworth Council Leader, Marcus Jones was successful in taking the seat for the Conservative Party at the 2010 election.

2015 general election significance

In the 2015 general election, Nuneaton was the first marginal constituency between the Conservatives and Labour to declare its results. The result proved to be significant as it saw a 3.0% swing to the Conservatives, despite the seat being Labour's 38th biggest target[6] and Labour being predicted to win the seat.[2] The result therefore proved to be a major indication that the Conservatives were going to win a majority of seats in the House of Commons for the first time since the 1992 general election, something which went against national opinion polls which pointed towards Labour gains in the key marginal constituencies.[7]

This has led to many pointing out the similarities between Nuneaton and the former constituency of Basildon which in 1992, Labour failed to win. This is why the Nuneaton result has been seen as the 'Basildon Moment' of 2015, since the Basildon constituency similarly foreshadowed the Conservative's election victory in 1992.[8]

Labour's failure to win Nuneaton in the 2015 general election was seen as symbolic of their national failure. This meant Nuneaton was chosen by the Labour Party as the host of their first televised leadership debate.[9]

Members of Parliament

Election Member[10] Party
1885 Jasper Wilson Johns Liberal
1886 John Stratford Dugdale Conservative
1892 Francis Newdigate, from 1902 Francis Newdigate-Newdegate Conservative
1906 William Johnson Liberal
1909 Labour
1914 Liberal
1918 Sir Henry Maddocks Coalition Conservative
1923 Herbert Willison Liberal
1924 Arthur Hope Conservative
1929 Francis Smith Labour
1931 Edward North Conservative
1935 Reginald Fletcher Labour
1942 by-election Frank Bowles Labour
1965 by-election Frank Cousins Labour
1967 by-election Les Huckfield Labour
1983 Lewis Stevens Conservative
1992 Bill Olner Labour
2010 Marcus Jones Conservative

Elections

Election in 2015

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See also: Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15 § Nuneaton
General Election 2015: Nuneaton [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Marcus Jones 20,827 45.5 +4.0
Labour Vicky Fowler 15,945 34.9 -2.0
UKIP Alwyn Waine [12] 6,582 14.4 +14.4
Greens Keith Kondakor [13] 1,281 2.8 +2.8
Liberal Democrat Christina Jebb [14] 816 1.8 -13.6
TUSC Paul Reilly 194 0.4 +0.4
English Democrats Steve Paxton 104 0.2 +0.2
Majority 4,882 10.7
Turnout 45,749 67.2
Conservative hold Swing +3.0

Elections between 2000s and 1950s

Election Political result Candidate Party Votes % ±%
General Election 2010 [15]
Turnout: 44,646 (65.8%) +6.9		 Conservative gain from Labour
Majority: 2,069 (4.6%) -0.4
Swing: 7.2% from Lab to Con		 Marcus Jones Conservative 18,536 41.5 +4.6
Jayne Innes Labour 16,467 36.9 -9.8
Christina Jebb Liberal Democrat 6,846 15.3 +2.8
Martyn Findley BNP 2,797 6.3 N/A
General Election 2005 [16]
Turnout: 45,279 (61.7%) +1.6		 Labour hold
Majority: 2,280 (5.0%) -12.4
Swing: 6.2% from Lab to Con		 Bill Olner Labour 19,945 44.0 -8.1
Mark Pawsey Conservative 17,665 39.0 +4.3
Ali Asghar Liberal Democrat 5,884 13.0 +1.9
Keith Tyson UKIP 1,786 3.9 +1.9
General Election 2001 [17]
Turnout: 43,312 (60.1%) −14.3		 Labour hold
Majority: 7,535 (17.4%) -7.9
Swing: 4.0% from Lab to Con		 Bill Olner Labour 22,577 52.1 -4.1
Mark Lancaster Conservative 15,042 34.7 +3.8
Tony Ferguson Liberal Democrat 4,820 11.1 +2.3
Brian James UKIP 873 2.0 +1.5
General Election 1997
Turnout: 53,513 (74.4%) −8.6		 Labour hold
Majority: 13,540 (25.3%) +22.5		 Bill Olner Labour 30,080 56.2 +10.5
Richard Blunt Conservative 16,540 30.9 -12.1
Ron Cockings Liberal Democrat 4,732 8.8 -2.4
Roy English Referendum 1,533 2.9 N/A
David Bray Independent 390 0.7 N/A
Peter Everitt UKIP 238 0.5 N/A
General Election 1992 [18]
Turnout: 59,354 (83.0%) +2.7		 Labour gain from Conservative
Majority: 1,631 (2.8%) -7.5
Swing: 6.6% from Con to Lab		 Bill Olner Labour 27,157 45.8 +11.2
Lewis Stevens Conservative 25,526 43.0 -1.9
Ruth Merritt Liberal Democrat 6,671 11.2 -8.0
General Election 1987
Turnout: 54,874 (80.3%) +2.7		 Conservative hold
Majority: 5,655 (10.3%) +0.4		 Lewis Stevens Conservative 24,630 44.9 +4.4
Valerie Veness Labour 18,975 34.6 +4.0
Andrew Trembath Liberal 10,550 19.2 -8.8
John Morrissey Green 719 1.3 N/A
General Election 1983
Turnout: 51,039 (77.3%) -1.2		 Conservative gain from Labour
Majority: 5,061 (9.9%) N/A		 Lewis Stevens Conservative 20,666 40.5 N/A
John Haynes Labour 15,605 30.6 N/A
Ruth Levitt Social Democratic 14,264 28.0 N/A
G.E. Davies Independent 504 1.0 N/A
General Election 1979
Turnout: 62,959 (78.5%) +4.6		 Labour hold
Majority: 7,688 (12.2%) -18.6		 Leslie John Huckfield Labour 31,403 49.9 -6.2
Lewis Stevens Conservative 23,715 37.7 +12.5
C.E.G. Williams Liberal 6,184 9.8 -8.8
R.P. Matthews National Front 1,028 1.6 N/A
G.E. Davies Independent 504 1.0 N/A
General Election October 1974 [19]
Electorate: 77,892
Turnout: 57,584 (73.9%)		 Labour hold
Majority: 17,761 (30.8%)		 Leslie John Huckfield Labour 32,308 56.1
R Freeman Conservative 14,547 25.3
N Hawkins Liberal 10,729 18.6
General Election February 1974
Electorate: 77,189
Turnout: 82.41%		 Labour hold
Majority: 17,493 (27.50%)		 Leslie John Huckfield Labour 34,258 53.85
D Samuel Conservative 16,765 26.35
D Inman Liberal 12,591 19.79
General Election 1970
Electorate: 75,131
Turnout: 76.20%		 Labour hold
Majority: 14,108 (24.64%)		 Leslie John Huckfield Labour 32,877 57.43
Susan M Lewis-Smith Conservative 18,769 32.79
Alex D N Harrison Liberal 5,602 9.79
By Election 1967
Turnout: 67.90%		 Labour hold
Majority: 4,054		 Leslie John Huckfield Labour 18,239 42.08
David Laidlaw Knox Conservative 14,185 32.73
Alan Meredith Liberal 7,644 17.64
John Creasey All Party Alliance 2,755 6.36
Donald Clifford Tyndall Bennett Independent 517 1.19
General Election 1966
Electorate: 63,826
Turnout: 79.68%		 Labour hold
Majority: 11,403 (22.42%)		 Frank Cousins Labour 27,452 53.98
David S Marland Conservative 16,049 31.56
Alan Meredith Liberal 7,356 14.46
By Election 1965
Turnout: 60.80%		 Labour hold
Majority: 5,241		 Frank Cousins Labour 18,325 48.92
David S Marland Conservative 13,084 34.93
John Campbell Liberal 6,047 16.14
General Election 1964
Electorate: 61,627
Turnout: 80.11%		 Labour hold
Majority: 11,702 (23.70%)		 Francis George Bowles Labour 26,059 52.78
David S Marland Conservative 14,357 29.08
John Campbell Liberal 8,953 18.13
General Election 1959
Turnout: 81.80%		 Labour hold
Majority: 9,540 (20.09%)		 Francis George Bowles Labour 24,894 52.44
Charles G Miller Conservative 15,354 32.34
John Campbell Liberal 7,227 15.22
General Election 1955
Turnout: 79.69%		 Labour hold
Majority: 10,284 (22.86%)		 Francis George Bowles Labour 25,112 55.83
Robert Dermott D Griffith Conservative 14,828 32.96
John Beeching Frankenburg Liberal 5,048 11.22
General Election 1951
Turnout: 85.02%		 Labour hold
Majority: 18,295 (30.80%)		 Francis George Bowles Labour 35,651 60.03
JE Tippett Conservative 17,356 29.22
GC Middleton Liberal 6,386 10.75
General Election 1950: Nuneaton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Francis George Bowles 35,129 58.7
Conservative Mrs. Phylis G Spencer 16,488 27.6
Liberal Jack A Harris 8,177 13.7
Majority 18,641 31.2
Turnout 87.3
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

General Election 1945: Nuneaton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Francis George Bowles 30,587 58.5
Conservative Com. John Maurice Fitzroy-Newdegate 12,267 23.4
Liberal Wing-Com. Peter John Ambrose Calvocoressi 8,986 17.2
Independent Leonard Melling 468 0.9
Majority 18,320 35.0
Turnout 78.7
Labour hold Swing
Nuneaton by-election, 1942
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Francis George Bowles unopposed
Labour hold Swing

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;

Elections in the 1930s

General Election 1935: Nuneaton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Reginald Thomas Herbert Fletcher 33,237 48.4
Conservative John Moores 28,000 40.8
Liberal William Thomas Stanton 7,384 10.8
Majority 5,237 7.6
Turnout 68,621 75.9
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
General Election 1931: Nuneaton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Tempest Tunstall North 25,839 41.7
Labour Francis Samuel Smith 23,375 37.7
Liberal National Herbert Willison 12,811 20.6
Majority 2,464 4.0
Turnout 62,025 78.0
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General Election 1929: Nuneaton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Francis Samuel Smith 27,102 44.4 +13.1
Liberal Herbert Willison 19,104 31.3 +0.3
Unionist Arthur Oswald James Hope 14,189 24.3 -13.4
Majority 7,998 13.1 19.5
Turnout 84.1 +5.4
Labour gain from Unionist Swing +13.2
General Election 1924: Nuneaton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Arthur Oswald James Hope 15,242 37.7 +7.2
Labour Francis Samuel Smith 12,679 31.3 +2.2
Liberal Herbert Willison 12,550 31.0 -9.4
Majority 2,563 6.4
Turnout 78.7
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing n/a
General Election 1923: Nuneaton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Herbert Willison 14,518 40.4 +11.2
Unionist Sir Henry H Maddocks 10,940 30.5 -7.8
Labour Thomas Barron 10,437 29.1 -3.4
Majority 3,578 9.9 15.7
Turnout
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +9.5
General Election 1922: Nuneaton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Henry H Maddocks 12,765 38.3 -7.9
Labour J Stevenson 10,842 32.5 +6.7
Liberal T Slack 9,730 29.2 +5.7
Majority 1,923 5.8 -14.6
Turnout 69.8 +13.9
Unionist hold Swing -7.3

Elections in the 1910s

General Election 1918: Nuneaton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist 11,198 46.2
Labour Ivor Gregory 6,269 25.8
Liberal William Henry Grant 5,707 23.5
National Democratic William Henry Dyson 1,101 4.5
Majority 4,929 20.4
Turnout 55.9
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing
  • denotes candidate who was endorsed by the Coalition Government.

See also

References

Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.

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. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/NuneatonCX3-March-2015-Full-tables.pdf
  3. ↑ Alamanac of British Politics, 3rd edition, Robert Waller
  4. ↑ "The glittering prize", The Telegraph, 16 July 2000 accessed 24 April 2010
  5. ↑ Coventry Telegraph 27 March 2007 Accessed 26 November 2007
  6. ↑ http://labourlist.org/2013/01/labours-106-battleground-target-seats-for-2015/
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/14/nuneaton-labour-party-voters-rejected
  10. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "N" (part 3)[self-published source][better source needed]
  11. ↑ http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/Nuneaton/
  12. ↑ http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/wife-expelled-tory-stand-ukip-8309064
  13. ↑ http://www.nuneaton-news.co.uk/Green-councillor-joins-MP-battle/story-24521088-detail/story.html
  14. ↑ http://www.libdems.org.uk/list_of_selected_candidates
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ UK General Election results October 1974

External links

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