Southport (UK Parliament constituency)

Southport
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons

Boundary of Southport in Merseyside.

Location of Merseyside within England.
County Merseyside
Electorate 67,803 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlements Southport
Current constituency
Created 1885 (1885)
Member of Parliament John Pugh (Liberal Democrat)
Number of members One
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency North West England

Southport is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Contents

Boundaries

The constituency covers the whole town of Southport and the localities of Ainsdale, Birkdale, Blowick, Churchtown, Crossens, Highpark, Hillside, Kew, Marshside, Meols Cop, and Woodvale. The constituency is bordered to the north by South Ribble, to the east by West Lancashire, and to the south by Sefton Central. The electoral wards used in the Southport constituency are:

Ainsdale · Birkdale · Cambridge · Dukes · Kew · Meols · Norwood

Members of Parliament

Election Member[2] Party
1885 George Augustus Pilkington Liberal
1886 George Nathaniel Curzon Conservative
1898 Sir Herbert Naylor-Leyland Liberal
1899 George Augustus Pilkington Liberal
1900 Edward Marshall-Hall Conservative
1906 John Meir Astbury Liberal
1910 Godfrey Dalrymple-White Conservative
1923 John Fowler Leece Brunner Liberal
1924 Godfrey Dalrymple-White Conservative
1931 Robert Hudson Conservative
1952 Roger Fleetwood-Hesketh Conservative
1959 Ian Percival Conservative
1987 Ronnie Fearn Liberal
1988 Liberal Democrats
1992 Matthew Banks Conservative
1997 Ronnie Fearn Liberal Democrats
2001 John Pugh Liberal Democrats

History

The constituency has been a Liberal - Conservative marginal for much of its history, changing hands 10 times between the two parties since it was created in 1885. Its most notable MPs were George Nathaniel Curzon, future Viceroy of India, Edward Marshall-Hall one of the most notable trial Lawyers of the early 20th century and Sir John Fowler Leece Brunner, son of the leading industrialist Sir John Tomlinson Brunner. On the decline of the Liberal Party in the 1930s the constituency became a safe Conservative Party seat.

With the rise again of the Liberal Party in the early 1970s, it again became a closely contested marginal. The constituency changed hands again in the 1987 general election, when it was taken by Ronnie Fearn of the Liberal Party for the SDP-Liberal Alliance (shortly before the two parties merged to form the Liberal Democrats).

Fearn lost the seat to the Conservatives' Matthew Banks at the 1992 election, only to regain it at the 1997 election. The Liberal Democrats have held the seat since then, with John Pugh representing the constituency since Fearn stood down in 2001.

An interesting note is that the former Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott ran for the seat in 1966, but came in second place.

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General Election 2010: Southport[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat John Pugh 21,707 49.6 +3.3
Conservative Brenda Porter 15,683 35.8 -1.2
Labour Jim Conalty 4,116 9.4 -3.4
UKIP Terry Durrance 2,251 5.1 +3.3
Majority 6,024 13.8
Turnout 43,757 65.1 +4.1
Liberal Democrat hold Swing +2.2

Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat John Pugh 19,093 46.3 +2.5
Conservative Mark Bigley 15,255 37.0 +0.5
Labour Paul Brant 5,277 12.8 -3.8
UKIP Terry Durrance 749 1.8 +0.5
Your Party Bill Givens 589 1.4 N/A
Veritas Harry Forster 238 0.6 N/A
Majority 3,838 9.3
Turnout 41,201 69.4 +10.8
Liberal Democrat hold Swing +1.0
General Election 2001: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat John Pugh 18,011 43.8 -4.3
Conservative Laurence Jones 15,004 36.5 +0.5
Labour Paul Brant 6,816 16.6 +4.4
Liberal David Green 767 1.9 +1.1
UKIP Gerry Kelley 555 1.3 N/A
Majority 3,007 7.3
Turnout 41,153 58.6 -13.5
Liberal Democrat hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1997: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Ronnie Fearn 24,356 48.1 +6.6
Conservative Matthew Banks 18,186 35.9 -11.1
Labour Sarah Norman 6,129 12.1 +1.9
Referendum Party Frank Buckle 1,368 2.7
Liberal Susan Ashton 386 0.8
Natural Law Elizabeth Lines 93 0.2 -0.1
National Democrats Michael Middleton 92 0.2
Majority 6,170 12.2
Turnout 50,610 72.1 -5.5
Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative Swing 8.9
General Election 1992: Southport[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Matthew Banks 26,801 47.0 +2.5
Liberal Democrat Ronnie Fearn 23,018 41.5 −6.4
Labour James King 5,637 10.2 +3.8
Green Justin Walker 545 1.0 −0.2
Natural Law Geoffrey Clements 159 0.3 N/A
Majority 3,063 5.5 +2.1
Turnout 55,440 77.6 +1.3
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat Swing 4.5

Elections in the 1980s

General Election 1987: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ronnie Fearn 26,110 47.9 +7.4
Conservative Nigel Thomas 24,261 44.5 -5.9
Labour Audrey Moore 3,483 6.4 -1.9
Green Justin Walker 653 1.2
Majority 1,849 3.4
Turnout 54,507 76.3
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing 6.7
General Election 1983: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Percival 25,612 50.4 -0.4
Liberal Ian Brodie-Browne 20,573 40.5 +2.5
Labour Francis Brady 4,233 8.3 -2.9
Independent K Wood 374 0.7
Majority 5,039 9.9 -2.9
Turnout 50,792 72.5 -2.2
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General Election 1979: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Percival 25,953 50.8
Liberal Ronnie Fearn 19,426 38.0
Labour I G James 5,725 12.8
Majority 6,527 12.8
Turnout 51,104 74.7
Conservative hold Swing
General Election October 1974: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Percival 23,014 47.2
Liberal Ronnie Fearn 17,387 35.7
Labour I G James 8,323 17.1
Majority 5,627 11.5
Turnout 48,724 73.7
Conservative hold Swing
General Election February 1974: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Percival 23,975 47.2
Liberal Ronnie Fearn 20,093 39.6
Labour P R Ward 6,690 13.2
Majority 3,882 7.6
Turnout 50,758 77.4
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1970: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Percival 22,950 50.2
Liberal Ronnie Fearn 13,809 30.2
Labour Bruce George 8,950 19.6
Majority 9,141 20.4
Turnout 45,709 70.5
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General Election 1966: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Percival 22,324 51.0
Labour John Prescott 12,798 29.2
Liberal C. Jack Coleman 8,630 19.7
Majority 9,526 21.8
Turnout 43,752 72.7
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1964: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Percival 23,917 51.9
Labour L Goldwater 11,572 25.1
Liberal C. Jack Coleman 10,609 23.0
Majority 12,345 26.7
Turnout 46,098 76.5
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General Election 1959: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Percival 26,905 56.0
Liberal Cllr. Sam Goldberg 11,292 23.5
Labour C W Hadfield 9,805 20.4
Majority 15,613 32.5
Turnout 48,002 76.8
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1955: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roger Fleetwood-Hesketh 30,268 70.2
Labour P Cameron 12,827 29.8
Majority 17,441 40.5
Turnout 43,095 68.8
Conservative hold Swing
Southport by-election, 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roger Fleetwood-Hesketh 24,589
Labour A L Tillotson 11,310
Liberal Hubert David Bentliff 3,776
Majority 13,279
Turnout 39,675
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1951: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Hudson 30,388 60.2
Labour H O Ellis 12,535 24.8
Liberal Hubert David Bentliff 7,576 15.0
Majority 17,853 35.3
Turnout 50,499 77.7
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1950: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Hudson 29,766 56.3
Labour J P Bonney 14,159 26.8
Liberal Maj. Harry Ellington 8,933 16.9
Majority 15,607 29.5
Turnout 52,858 81.8
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

General Election 1945: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Hudson 26,792 52.7 -19.5
Labour W Hamling 13,596 26.8 -1.0
Liberal Robert Martin 10,404 20.5
Majority 13,196 25.9 -18.5
Turnout 50,792 74.2 +3.3
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s

General Election 1935: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Hudson 29,652 72.2 +3.8
Labour R C Willis 11,419 27.8
Majority 18,233 44.4 +7.6
Turnout 41,071 70.9 -8.8
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1931: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Hudson 30,307 68.4 +20.1
Liberal Ronw Moelwyn Hughes 13,983 31.6 -7.8
Majority 16,324 36.8 +27.9
Turnout 44,290 79.7 +0.1
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General Election 1929: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Godfrey Dalrymple-White 21,161 48.3 -12.7
Liberal C B Ramage 17,220 39.4 +0.4
Labour A L Williams 5,380 12.3
Majority 3,941 8.9 -13.1
Turnout 43,761 79.6 +1.2
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1924: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Godfrey Dalrymple-White 17,430 61.0 +12.8
Liberal John Fowler Leece Brunner 11,158 39.0 -12.8
Majority 6,272 22.0
Turnout 28,588 78.7 +2.8
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing
General Election 1923: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Fowler Leece Brunner 13,704 51.8 +5.0
Conservative T W Comyn-Platt 12,776 48.2 -5.0
Majority 928 3.6
Turnout 26,480 75.9 -0.4
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing
General Election 1922: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Godfrey Dalrymple-White 13,733 53.2 -18.8
Liberal John Fowler Leece Brunner 12,068 46.8
Majority 1,665 6.4 -37.6
Turnout 25,801 76.3 +14.7
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1910s

General Election 1918: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Coalition Conservative Godfrey Dalrymple-White 14,707 72.0 +19.7
Labour Arthur Greenwood 5,727 28.0
Majority 8,980 44.0 +39.4
Turnout 20,434 61.6 -24.0
Coalition Conservative hold Swing
General Election December 1910: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Godfrey Dalrymple-White 7,467 52.3 +0.9
Liberal H B Drysdale Woodcock 6,798 47.7 -0.9
Majority 669 4.6 +1.8
Turnout 14,265 85.6 -3.6
Conservative hold Swing
General Election January 1910: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Godfrey Dalrymple-White 7,637 51.4 +2.3
Liberal Baron de Forest 7,218 48.6 -2.3
Majority 419 2.8
Turnout 14,855 89.2 +1.9
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Elections in the 1900s

General Election 1906: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Meir Astbury 6,607 50.9 +1.9
Conservative Edward Marshall-Hall 6,367 49.1 -1.9
Majority 240 1.8
Turnout 12,974 87.3 +5.0
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing
General Election 1900: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Marshall-Hall 5,522 51.0 +3.7
Liberal George Augustus Pilkington 5,313 49.0 -3.7
Majority 209 2.0
Turnout 10,835 82.3 -2.1
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Elections in the 1890s

Southport by-election, 1899
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Augustus Pilkington 5,635 52.7 +1.3
Conservative C B Balfour 5,052 47.3 -1.3
Majority 583 5.4 +2.6
Turnout 10,687 84.4 +4.3
Liberal hold Swing
Southport by-election, 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Sir Herbert Naylor-Leyland 5,100 51.4 +5.4
Conservative Lord Skelmersdale 4,828 48.6 -5.4
Majority 272 2.8
Turnout 9,928 80.1 -2.9
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing
General Election 1895: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Nathaniel Curzon 5,162 54.0 +0.6
Liberal Sir Herbert Naylor-Leyland 4,399 46.0 -0.6
Majority 763 8.0 +1.2
Turnout 9,561 83.0 -1.6
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1892: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Nathaniel Curzon 4,752 53.4 +0.1
Liberal G H Pollard 4,148 46.6 -0.1
Majority 604 6.8 +0.2
Turnout 8,900 84.6 +1.8
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1880s

General Election 1886: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Nathaniel Curzon 3,723 53.3 +4.4
Liberal George Augustus Pilkington 3,262 46.7 -4.4
Majority 461 6.6
Turnout 6,985 82.8 -4.0
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing
General Election 1885: Southport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Augustus Pilkington 3,741 51.1
Conservative J E Edwards-Moss 3,581 48.9
Majority 160 2.2
Turnout 7,322 86.8

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. http://www.boundarycommissionforengland.org.uk/electoral-figures/electoral-figures.htm. Retrieved 13 March 2011. 
  2. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 4)
  3. ^ ukpollingreport
  4. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/i18.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-06. 

Sources

Constituencies in North West England (75)
Labour (47)
Conservative (22)
Liberal Democrats (6)