Birmingham Northfield (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 52°24′N 1°59′W / 52.40°N 1.98°W

Birmingham, Northfield
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons

Outline map

Boundary of Birmingham, Northfield in Birmingham.

Outline map

Location of Birmingham within England.
County West Midlands
Population 101,422 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate 72,190 (December 2010)[2]
Current constituency
Created 1950
Member of parliament Richard Burden (Labour)
Number of members One
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency West Midlands

Birmingham, Northfield is a constituency[n 1] of part of the city of Birmingham represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1992 by Richard Burden of the Labour Party.[n 2]

Constituency profile

Among the areas largest features are the closed MG Rover Group factory that long formed a major employer in the constituency and officially closed in the run up to the 2005 general election, a large hospital and the North Worcestershire Golf Course.[3] The Labour MP Richard Burden was nonetheless returned, albeit with a majority reduced by 5.6%. He was re-elected, with a majority reduced by 14.1%,[n 3] in 2010. Shortly after the 2010 election, Liberal Democrat candidate Mike Dixon was jailed for clubbing a family cat to death with a walking stick.[4]

History

Since creation in 1950, Labour Party MPs have served the ward with the exception of the period from 1979 to 1992 while the Conservative Party were in government, with a one-year gap caused by a Labour win in a by-election, in 1982. From 1979 to 1982 the MP was a member of the influential and large Cadbury family, Jocelyn Cadbury.

Boundaries

1950-1974: The County Borough of Birmingham wards of King's Norton, Northfield, and Weoley.

1974-1983: The County Borough of Birmingham wards of Longbridge, Northfield, and Weoley.

1983-1997: The City of Birmingham wards of Bartley Green, Longbridge, Northfield, and Weoley.

1997-2010: The City of Birmingham wards of Longbridge, Northfield, and Weoley.

2010-present: The City of Birmingham wards of King's Norton, Longbridge, Northfield, and Weoley.

Following the review of parliamentary representation in Birmingham and the West Midlands,[5] the Boundary Commission for England created a modified Northfield seat which gained the ward of Kings Norton (previously in the Selly Oak constituency).

Members of Parliament

Election Member[6]Party
1950 Raymond Blackburn Labour
1951 Donald Chapman Labour
1970 Ray Carter Labour
1979 Jocelyn Cadbury Conservative
1982 by-election John Spellar Labour
1983 Roger King Conservative
1992 Richard Burden Labour

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General Election 2015: Birmingham Northfield[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard Burden [8]
Liberal Democrat Steve Haynes [9]
Conservative Rachel Maclean [10]
Green Anna Masters[11]
UKIP Keith Rowe

Going into the 2015 general election, this is the 121st most marginal constituency in Great Britain, the Conservatives requiring a swing from Labour of 3.3% to take the seat (based on the result of the 2010 general election).[12]

General Election 2010: Birmingham, Northfield[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard Burden 16,841 40.3 −10.1
Conservative Keely Huxtable 14,059 33.6 +3.2
Liberal Democrat Mike Dixon 6,550 15.7 +3.3
BNP Les Orton 2,290 5.5 +2.2
UKIP John Borthwick 1,363 3.3 +1.0
Green Susan Pearce 406 1.0 N/A
Common Good Dick Rodgers 305 0.7 −0.4
Majority 2,782 6.7
Turnout 41,814 58.6 +3.4
Labour hold Swing −6.6

Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: Birmingham, Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard Burden 15,419 49.6 −6.4
Conservative Vicky Ford 8,965 28.9 −0.7
Liberal Democrat Trevor Sword 4,171 13.4 +2.2
BNP Mark Cattell 1,278 4.1 N/A
UKIP Gillian Chant 641 2.1 +0.2
Common Good Richard Rogers 428 1.4 N/A
Socialist Alternative Louise Houdley 120 0.4 N/A
Workers Revolutionary Frank Sweeney 34 0.1 N/A
Majority 6,454 20.8
Turnout 31,056 56.6 +3.8
Labour hold Swing −2.8
General Election 2001: Birmingham, Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard Burden 16,528 56.0 −1.5
Conservative Nils Purser 8,730 29.6 +1.6
Liberal Democrat Trevor Sword 3,322 11.2 +0.8
UKIP Stephen Rogers 550 1.9 N/A
Socialist Alliance Clive Walder 193 0.7 N/A
Socialist Labour Zane Carpenter 151 0.5 N/A
Communist Andrew Chaffer 60 0.2 N/A
Majority 7,798 26.4
Turnout 29,534 52.8 −15.5
Labour hold Swing −1.5

Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1997: Birmingham, Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard Burden 22,316 57.4 +11.9
Conservative Alan C. Blumenthal 10,873 28.0 −14.4
Liberal Democrat Micheal R. Ashell 4,078 10.5 +0.4
Referendum Party David Gent 1,243 3.2 N/A
BNP Keith A. Axon 337 0.9 N/A
Majority 11,443 29.5
Turnout 38,847 68.3 −7.8
Labour hold Swing +13.1
General Election 1992: Birmingham, Northfield[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard Burden 24,443 45.5 +6.3
Conservative Roger King 23,803 44.4 −0.7
Liberal Democrat David L. Cropp 5,431 10.1 −5.5
Majority 630 1.1 −4.8
Turnout 53,667 76.1 +4.5
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +3.5

Election in the 1980s

General Election 1987: Birmingham, Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roger King 24,024 45.1 +2.4
Labour John Spellar 20,889 39.2 +1.7
Social Democratic J.C. Gordon 8,319 15.6 −3.6
Majority 3,135 5.9
Turnout 53,232 72.6
Conservative hold Swing +2.0
General Election 1983: Birmingham, Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roger King 22,596 42.7 −2.7
Labour John Spellar 19,836 37.5 −7.6
Liberal David Webb 10,045 19.0 +10.8
Communist Peter Raymond Sheppard 420 0.8 N/A
Majority 2,760 5.2
Turnout 52,897 71.2
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +5.1
Birmingham, Northfield by-election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Spellar 15,904 36.3 −8.8
Conservative Roger Gale 15,615 35.6 −9.8
Liberal Stephen Ridley 11,453 26.1 +18.0
National Front Ian Anderson 411 0.9 −0.2
Communist Peter Sheppard 349 0.8 N/A
People's Progressive Party Ronald Taylor 63 0.2 N/A
Democratic Monarchist, Public Safety, White Resident Bill Boaks 60 0.1 N/A
Majority 289 0.7
Turnout 43,855 55.0
Labour gain from Conservative Swing −0.5

Elections in the 1970s

General Election 1979: Birmingham, Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jocelyn Cadbury 25,304 45.4 +13.4
Labour Ray Carter 25,100 45.1 −7.0
Liberal R. Lewthwaite 4,538 8.2 −6.7
National Front R. Newman 614 1.1 N/A
Workers Revolutionary J. Beale 144 0.3 N/A
Majority 204 0.4
Turnout 55,700 70.6 +2.7
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +10.2
General Election October 1974: Birmingham, Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ray Carter 27,435 52.1 −4.0
Conservative Jocelyn Cadbury 16,838 32.0 −9.0
Liberal D. Haines 7,851 14.9 N/A
People Party E.A. Davenport 359 0.7 N/A
Communist Derek Robinson 180 0.3 -0.4
Majority 10,597 20.1
Turnout 52,663 67.9 -5.6
Labour hold Swing +2.5
General Election February 1974: Birmingham, Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ray Carter 31,704 56.1 +5.6
Conservative John Butcher 23,175 41.0 −7.6
Independent M. Newman 1,237 2.2 N/A
Communist Derek Robinson 368 0.7 −0.2
Majority 8,529 15.1
Turnout 56,484 73.5
Labour hold Swing +1.0
General Election 1970: Birmingham, Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ray Carter 33,364 50.5 −8.2
Conservative D.W. Bell 32,148 48.6 +8.9
Communist Derek Robinson 605 0.9 −0.7
Majority 1,216 1.8
Turnout 66,117 68.3
Labour hold Swing −8.6

Elections in the 1960s

General Election 1966: Birmingham, Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Chapman 36,801 58.7 +11.5
Conservative C.C. Chalker 24,899 39.7 −0.7
Communist Derek Robinson 1,029 1.6 N/A
Majority 11,902 19.0
Turnout 62,729 75.1
Labour hold Swing +6.1
General Election 1964: Birmingham, Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Chapman 29,301 47.2 −3.6
Conservative H.B. Adkins 25,063 40.4 −8.8
Liberal R. Lewthwaite 7,682 12.4 N/A
Majority 4,238 6.8
Turnout 62,046 77.2
Labour hold Swing +2.6

Election in the 1950s

General Election 1959: Birmingham, Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Chapman 29,587 50.8 −2.0
Conservative Reginald Edwin Eyre 28,647 49.2 +2.0
Majority 940 1.6
Turnout 58,234 78.5
Labour hold Swing −2.0
General Election 1955: Birmingham, Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Chapman 27,072 52.8 +0.0
Conservative C. Sweet 24,188 47.2 +0.0
Majority 2,884 5.6
Turnout 51,260 78.6
Labour hold Swing +0.0
General Election 1951: Birmingham, Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Chapman 26,580 52.8 −0.2
Conservative M. Chandler 23,730 47.2 +7.6
Majority 2,850 5.7
Turnout 50,310 83.4
Labour hold Swing −3.9
General Election 1950: Birmingham, Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Raymond Blackburn 26,714 53.0 N/A
Conservative T.L. Iremonger 19,974 39.6 N/A
Liberal R. Richards 3,280 6.5 N/A
Communist R. Etheridge 479 1.0 N/A
Majority 6,740 13.4 N/A
Turnout 50,447 84.7 N/A
Labour win (new seat)

See also

Notes and references

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.
  3. ↑ Which leaves the incumbent MP with a majority of 6.7%
References
  1. ↑ "Birmingham, Northfield: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  3. ↑ Ordnance survey website
  4. ↑ http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2011/03/11/birmingham-liberal-democrat-election-candidate-jailed-for-killing-cat-65233-28320274/
  5. ↑ http://www.boundarycommissionforengland.org.uk/review_areas/West_Midlands_Boroughs/images/Birmingham_OM_RR.gif
  6. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "N" (part 3)
  7. ↑ http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/birminghamnorthfield/
  8. ↑ http://electionresults.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/birmingham-northfield-2015.html
  9. ↑ http://electionresults.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/birmingham-northfield-2015.html
  10. ↑ http://electionresults.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/birmingham-northfield-2015.html
  11. ↑ https://my.greenparty.org.uk/candidates/105819
  12. ↑ Ransome Mpini; Charlotte Thornton; John Walton; Marcelo Zanni (24 February 2014). "Election 2015: The political battleground". BBC News. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  13. ↑ Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll 2010
  14. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 2010-12-06.

External links