Manchester Withington (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 53°25′59″N 2°14′02″W / 53.433°N 2.234°W

Manchester, Withington
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons

Outline map

Boundary of Manchester, Withington in Greater Manchester.

Outline map

Location of Greater Manchester within England.
County Greater Manchester
Electorate 73,656 (December 2010)[1]
Current constituency
Created 1918
Member of parliament John Leech (Liberal Democrat)
Number of members One
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency North West England

Manchester Withington is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2005 by John Leech of the Liberal Democrats.[n 2]

Boundaries

In time for the 1983 general election the electoral wards used to form Withington were Barlow Moor, Burnage, Chorlton, Didsbury, Old Moat and Withington.[2] The current Manchester wards in the constituency are Burnage, Chorlton, Chorlton Park, Didsbury East, Didsbury West, Old Moat and Withington.[3]

History

Manchester Withington was mostly before 1987 (with three years of Liberal Party representation near its 1918 inception) Conservative. With this designation of MP, it even resisted being gained by Labour in its massive landslide victories in 1945 and 1966. However in 1987 the seat turned red for the first time and remained so until 2005 when it was gained by a Liberal Democrat.

Constituency profile

This constituency contains the medium-to-high income average areas of Chorlton and Didsbury, as well as mixed[4] Old Moat and Withington neighbourhoods.[5] A seat south of Manchester's city centre with a large student population,[4] the seat had in 2005 a strong reaction by many voters including, students, opposing Labour's policy of top-up fees. The Conservatives have, bucking the national and regional result in 2010 dropped into third place and the Lib Dems have taken much of the former Labour share of the vote.

Members of Parliament

John Leech is the current Liberal Democrat MP for the constituency. He was elected at the 2005 general election, defeating the Labour incumbent Keith Bradley who had held the seat since 1987.

ElectionMember[6]Party
1918 Alfred Deakin Carter Conservative
1922 Dr. Thomas Watts Conservative
1923 Ernest Darwin Simon Liberal
1924 Sir Thomas Watts Conservative
1929 Ernest Darwin Simon Liberal
1931 Edward Fleming Conservative
1950 Frederick Cundiff Conservative
1951 Sir Robert Cary, Bt Conservative
Feb 1974 Fred Silvester Conservative
1987 Keith Bradley Labour
2005 John Leech Liberal Democrat

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General Election 2015: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Lucy Jane Bannister
UKIP Mark Davies[7]
Independent Marcus Jonathan Farmer[8]
Liberal Democrat John Leech[9]
Conservative Robert George Manning[10]
Labour Jeff Smith[11]
General Election 2010: Manchester Withington [12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat John Leech 20,110 44.6 +2.4
Labour Lucy Powell 18,260 40.5 −0.4
Conservative Chris Green 5,005 11.1 +0.7
Green Brian A. Candeland 798 1.8 −2.5
UKIP Robert Gutfreund-Walmsley 698 1.5 +0.4
Independent Yasmin Zalzala 147 0.3 −0.1
Independent Marcus Farmer 57 0.1 N/A
Majority 1,894 4.1
Turnout 45,075 62.2 +6.8
Liberal Democrat hold Swing +1.4

Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: Manchester Withington[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat John Leech 15,872 42.4 +20.4
Labour Keith John Charles Bradley 15,205 40.6 −14.3
Conservative Karen Bradley 3,919 10.5 −4.8
Green Brian A. Candeland 1,595 4.3 −0.1
UKIP Robert Gutfreund-Walmsley 424 1.1 N/A
Independent Ivan Benett 243 0.6 N/A
Independent Yasmin Zalzala 152 0.4 N/A
Their Party Richard Reed 47 0.1 N/A
Majority 667 1.8
Turnout 37,459 55.3 +3.4
Liberal Democrat gain from Labour Swing +17.3
General Election 2001: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Keith John Charles Bradley 19,239 54.9
Liberal Democrat Yasmin Zalzala 7,715 22.0
Conservative Julian Samways 5,349 15.3
Green Michelle Valentine 1,539 4.4 N/A
Socialist Alliance John Clegg 1,208 3.4 N/A
Majority 11,524 32.9
Turnout 35,050 51.9
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1997: Manchester Withington[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Keith John Charles Bradley 27,103 61.56 +8.9
Conservative Jonathan M. Smith 8,522 19.4 −11.9
Liberal Democrat Yasmin Zalzala 6,000 13.6 −0.6
Referendum Party Mark B.B. Sheppard 1,079 2.5 N/A
ProLife Alliance Simon P. Caldwell 614 1.4 N/A
Socialist (GB) Miss Julie White 376 0.9 N/A
Rainbow Dream Ticket Stephen Kingston 181 0.4 N/A
Natural Law Mark E.J. Gaskell 152 0.4 +0.1
Majority 18,581 42.2
Turnout 44,027 65.8
Labour hold Swing +10.4
General Election 1992: Manchester Withington[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Keith John Charles Bradley 23,962 52.7 +9.7
Conservative Eric N. Farthing 14,227 31.3 −5.0
Liberal Democrat Gordon Hennell 6,457 14.2 −5.6
Green Brian A. Candeland 725 1.6 +0.6
Natural Law Clive E. Menhinick 128 0.3 N/A
Majority 9,735 21.4 +14.7
Turnout 45,499 71.3 −5.9
Labour hold Swing +7.3

Elections in the 1980s

General Election 1987: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Keith John Charles Bradley 21,650 42.9 +8.7
Conservative Fred Silvester 18,259 36.2 −3.0
Liberal Audrey Jones 9,978 19.8 −6.4
Green Michael Terence Abberton 524 1.0 N/A
Majority 3,391 6.7
Turnout 50,411 77.1 +4.8
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +5.9
General Election 1983: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Fred Silvester 18,329 39.2 −8.1
Labour Frances Done 15,956 34.2 −4.7
Social Democratic Bernard L. Lever 12,231 26.2
Independent Michael George Gibson 184 0.4 +0.0
Majority 2,373 5.1
Turnout 46,700 72.3
Conservative hold Swing −3.4

Elections in the 1970s

General Election 1979: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Fred Silvester 18,862 47.3 +4.3
Labour Geoff M. Hodgson 15,510 38.9 +1.1
Liberal John T. Mitchell 5,387 13.5 −5.7
Independent Michael George Gibson 157 0.4 N/A
Majority 3,352 8.4
Turnout 39,916 74.7
Conservative hold Swing +1.6
General Election October 1974: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Fred Silvester 16,937 43.0
Labour P.J. Hildrew 14,936 37.8
Liberal N. Davies 7,555 19.2
Majority 2,001 5.1
Turnout 39,428 67.8
Conservative hold Swing
General Election February 1974: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Fred Silvester 17,997 42.4
Labour S.N.M. Moxley 13,584 32.0
Liberal I. McWilliam-Fowler 10,877 25.6
Majority 4,413 10.39
Turnout 73.6
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1970: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Robert Cary, Bt 18,854 48.64
Labour Michael Noble 13,365 39.64
Liberal J. Clarney 4,540 11.71
Majority 3,489 9.00
Turnout 67.84
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General Election 1966: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Robert Cary, Bt 16,676 42.92
Labour David George Clark 16,029 41.25
Liberal G.V. Davies 6,150 15.83
Majority 647 1.67
Turnout 71.18
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1964: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Robert Cary, Bt 18,259 44.28
Labour K. Openshaw 13,117 31.18
Liberal G.V. Davies 9,860 23.91
Majority 5,142 12.47
Turnout 72.35
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General Election 1959: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Robert Cary, Bt 23,170 52.28
Labour Robert Sheldon 13,476 30.41
Liberal Geoffrey Vaughan Davies 7,675 17.32
Majority 9,694 21.84
Turnout 74.54
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1955: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Robert Cary, Bt 25,707 58.64
Labour J.B. Hayes 13,054 29.78
Liberal Geoffrey Vaughan Davies 5,077 11.58
Majority 12,653 28.86
Turnout 71.94
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1951: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Robert Cary, Bt 26,804 64.73
Labour J. Clough 14,604 35.27
Majority 12,200 29.46
Turnout 80.29
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1950: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederick Cundiff 22,817 52.32
Labour Lewis Wright 14,206 32.57
Liberal Leonard Behrens 6,591 15.11
Majority 8,611 19.74
Turnout 85.31
Conservative hold Swing

Election in the 1940s

General Election 1945: Manchester, Withington[16]

Manchester County Borough wards of Chorlton cum Hardy, Didsbury, Withington

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Fleming 30,881 46.4
Labour R. Edwards 22,634 34.0
Liberal Leonard Behrens 13,107 19.7
Majority 8,247 12.4
Turnout 74.5
Conservative hold Swing

Election in the 1930s

General Election 1935: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Fleming 35,564 62.27
Labour D.S. Morton 12,248 21.45
Liberal William C. Ross 9,298 16.28
Majority 23,316 40.83
Turnout 70.89
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1931: Manchester Withington[17]

Electorate 75,782

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Fleming 36,097 62.8 +23.0
Liberal Philip Guedalla 21,379 37.2 -6.6
Majority 5,562 11.5 15.5
Turnout 48,168 75.8 -2.0
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +14.8

Elections in the 1920s

General Election 1929

Electorate 61,494

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ernest Emil Darwin Simon 20,948 43.8
Unionist Sir Thomas Watts 19,063 39.8
Labour Dr Joseph Robinson 7,853 16.4
Majority 1,885 4.0
Turnout
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing
General Election 1924

Electorate 32,712

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Dr Thomas Watts 13,633 50.9
Liberal Cllr. Ernest Emil Darwin Simon 10,435 39.0
Labour Edgar Whiteley 2,467 9.2
Independent Kenneth Burke 236 0.9
Majority 3,198 11.9
Turnout 81.8
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing
General Election 1923

Electorate 31,094

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Cllr. Ernest Emil Darwin Simon 13,944
Unionist Dr Thomas Watts 10,026
Majority
Turnout
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing
General Election 1922

Electorate 29,025

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Dr Thomas Watts 11,678
Liberal Cllr. Ernest Emil Darwin Simon 11,008
Majority
Turnout
Unionist hold Swing

Elections in the 1910s

General Election 1918

Electorate 27,601

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Alfred Deakin Carter 11,677
Liberal George Frederick Burditt 5,166
Majority
Turnout
Unionist hold Swing

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.
References
  1. ↑ "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ↑ Crewe, Ivor (1983). British Parliamentary constituencies - a statistical compendium. faber and faber. ISBN 0-571-13236-7.
  3. ↑ Proposals - Greater Manchester Boundary Commission for England
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 2001 Census
  5. ↑ Constituency Profile The Guardian
  6. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 4)
  7. ↑ http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/manchesterwithington/
  8. ↑ "Member of Parliament for Manchester, Withington". YourNextMP. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  9. ↑ https://twitter.com/WSECA/status/556493534908649474
  10. ↑ Conservatives Manning, Robert
  11. ↑ http://www.labour.org.uk/candidates
  12. ↑ Manchester Withington UK Polling
  13. ↑ "Parliamentary Election Results 2005". manchester.gov.uk. Manchester City Council.
  14. ↑ "UK General Election results May 1997". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 1 May 1997. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
  15. ↑ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  16. ↑ UK General Election results: July 1945
  17. ↑ British parliamentary election results, 1918-1949 by FWS Craig