Rossendale and Darwen (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 53°42′29″N 2°14′24″W / 53.708°N 2.240°W / 53.708; -2.240

Rossendale and Darwen is a constituency^{[n 1]} represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Jake Berry, a Conservative.^{[n 2]}

Boundaries

1983–2010

The constituency is made up as follows:

• The areas in and around Bacup and Rawtenstall
• The whole of the semi-rural 'district' of Darwen
• Grane, Helmshore & Ewood Bridge — part of the area surrounding Haslingden
• Buckhurst, Deeply Vale, Edenfield, Stubbins & Turn — part of the area in and around Ramsbottom
• The Belmont, Chapeltown, Edgworth and Entwistle — part of the area in and around Turton

2010-date

Following their review of parliamentary representation in the run-up to the United Kingdom general election, 2010, the Boundary Commission for England's accepted report by Parliament has led to revised boundaries. From the borough of Rossendale, twelve wards are used to create the seat: –

• Cribden, Eden, Facit and Shawforth, Goodshaw, Hareholme, Healey and Whitworth, Helmshore, Irwell, Longholme, Stacksteads and Whitewell.

Eight wards are as those used in local elections in the Blackburn with Darwen district: –

• Earcroft, East Rural, Fernhurst, Marsh House, North Turton with Tockholes, Sudell, Sunnyhurst and Whitehall.^[2]

Constituency profile

The constituency consists of Census Output Areas of two local government districts with similar characteristics: a working population whose income is close to the national average but varying reliance upon social housing in relative terms to the national average.^[3] At the end of 2012 the unemployment rate in the constituency stood as 3.5% of the population claiming jobseekers allowance, compared to the regional average of 4.2%.^[4]

The borough of Rossendale that contributes to the bulk of the population has a 21.5% of its population without a car, whereas this is 30.5% in Blackburn and outside of the seat in Burnley is 32.3%. A relatively high 24% of Rossendale's population were in 2001 without qualifications and a high 25.1% were with level 4 qualifications or above. A higher share, 28.7% of Blackburn's population lacked qualifications, however 19.8% of its population had Level 4 qualifications or above.

In terms of tenure 69.6% of homes are owned outright or on a mortgage as at the 2011 census across the Rossendale district; this compares to a similar 63.7% across Blackburn. Whereas in Ribble Valley to the north 76.6% of homes fall within this category, in Leeds the figure is 58.2% and in Manchester just 37.8%.^[5]

History

This constituency was created in 1983 and has alternated between the two largest parties MPs during this time; since 1997 the constituency has been a bellwether of the national result.

Members of Parliament

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

See also

• List of Parliamentary constituencies in Lancashire

Notes and references

Notes

References