Warwick and Leamington (UK Parliament constituency)

Warwick and Leamington
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons

Outline map

Boundary of Warwick and Leamington in Warwickshire.

Outline map

Location of Warwickshire within England.
County Warwickshire
Electorate 66,278 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlements Warwick and Leamington
Current constituency
Created 1885
Member of parliament Chris White (Conservative)
Number of members One
Created from Warwick
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency West Midlands

Warwick and Leamington is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Chris White, a Conservative.[n 2]

Boundaries

1950–1983: The Municipal Boroughs of Warwick and Leamington Spa; the Rural District of Warwick; and the Urban District of Kenilworth.

1983–1997: The District of Warwick wards of Bishop’s Tachbrook, Budbrooke, Cubbington, Lapworth, Leamington Brunswick, Leamington Clarendon, Leamington Crown, Leamington Manor, Leamington Milverton, Leamington Willes, Leek Wootton, Radford Semele, Warwick North, Warwick South, Warwick West, and Whitnash.

1997–2010: The District of Warwick except the wards of Abbey, Park Hill, St John’s, and Stoneleigh; and the District of Stratford-on-Avon wards of Henley, Tanworth, and Tanworth Earlswood.

2010–present: The District of Warwick wards of Bishop’s Tachbrook, Budbrooke, Leamington Brunswick, Leamington Clarendon, Leamington Crown, Leamington Manor, Leamington Milverton, Leamington Willes, Warwick North, Warwick South, Warwick West, and Whitnash.

The constituency includes the towns of Warwick and Royal Leamington Spa with a minority of surrounding villages. At various times the constituency's boundaries have also taken in the towns of Kenilworth, Stratford-upon-Avon and the village of Studley.

The 2010 boundary changes reduced the constituency by removing outlying villages, reflecting population and housing growth. Wards removed, that generally share their names with outlying villages, were: Cubbington, Lapworth, Leek Wootton, Radford Semele, Tanworth-in-Arden and the formerly shared part of Henley-in-Arden.

History

The constituency was created under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, partially replacing the earlier and ancient Warwick constituency which unusually, until that year had sent two MPs to Westminster.[2]

Political history

Represented by Conservatives from 1910–1997, the seat was for much of this time a safe seat, seeing frequent majorities of more than 10,000 votes. The seat had not been expected to change hands in the 1997 general election: as such James Plaskitt's defeat of Dudley Smith was a Portillo moment, without the decapitation of a government frontbencher. Plaskitt increased his majority in the 2001 election, but on a lower turnout. In the 2005 election, Warwick and Leamington was 85th on the Conservative list of target seats, meaning that to gain it they would have required a somewhat greater swing than was seen nationally. With a greater swing from Labour to the Liberal Democrats, Plaskitt narrowly held the seat with a majority slashed from nearly 6,000 votes to only 266.

However, minor boundary changes in Labour's favour took effect at the 2010 general election and the winner was variously predicted. In the event the seat was gained by a Conservative, Chris White, with a majority of 7% of the vote. On this occasion the Conservative Party was the main beneficiary from swings away from the Labour Party and the Green Party.

Prominent frontbenchers

For 34 years the seat was represented by former prime minister Anthony Eden, until the end of his premiership caused by his resignation (after the Suez Crisis and falling ill).

In part of the early 1920s, the Solicitor General for England and Wales, then Attorney General for England and Wales represented the seat, Sir Ernest Pollock – Eden's successor was also in these senior positions, Sir John Hobson, in the part of early 1960s.

Constituency profile

The seat comprises the two eponymous towns, with modest hills surrounding them, in the upper valley of the River Avon (Warwickshire).

The towns of Warwick and Royal Leamington Spa are still distinct however form, in the modern seat, a contiguous urban area. Both towns are relatively affluent, although there are pockets of deprivation in Leamington. Warwick, with its historic castle, is an internationally advertised tourist destination, while Leamington's economy is more dependent on storage, distribution, manufacturing, processing, engineering and industry. Leamington is also more ethnically diverse (e.g. five per cent of the constituency's population is of Asian ethnicity) and is home to some students of the University of Warwick that lies close to Coventry.

Workless claimants who were registered jobseekers were in November 2012 significantly lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 2.2% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[3]

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember[4]PartyNotes
1885 Sir Arthur Wellesley Peel LiberalSpeaker of the House of Commons 1884–95
1886 Liberal Unionist
1895 by-election Alfred Lyttelton Liberal Unionist
1906 Thomas Berridge Liberal
Jan 1910 Sir Ernest Pollock Conservative Solicitor General then Attorney General (1919–1922)
1923 Sir Anthony Eden Conservative Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister 1955–57
1957 by-election Sir John Hobson Conservative Solicitor General then Attorney General (1962–1964), died 1967
1968 by-election Sir Dudley Smith Conservative
1997 James Plaskitt Labour
2010 Chris White Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General Election 2015: Warwick and Leamington[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Haseeb Arif
Labour Lynnette Kelly
UKIP Alastair MacBrayne[6]
Green Azzees Minott
Conservative Chris White
General Election 2010: Warwick and Leamington[7][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Chris White 20,876 42.6 +8.2
Labour James Plaskitt 17,363 35.4 -9.3
Liberal Democrat Alan Beddow 8,977 18.3 +2.4
UKIP Christopher Lenton 926 1.9 +0.2
Green Ian Davison 693 1.4 -1.9
Independent Jim Cullinane 197 0.4 +0.4
Majority 3,513 7.2
Turnout 49,032 71.0 +5.3
Conservative gain from Labour Swing 8.75

Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: Warwick and Leamington[9][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Plaskitt 22,238 40.6 −8.2
Conservative Chris White 21,972 40.1 +2.5
Liberal Democrat Linda Forbes 8,119 14.8 +3.7
Green Ian Davison 1,534 2.8 N/A
UKIP Greville Warwick 921 1.7 +0.5
Majority 266 0.5 −10.7
Turnout 54,744 67.4 +1.6
Labour hold Swing −5.4
General Election 2001: Warwick and Leamington[11][12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Plaskitt 26,108 48.8 +4.3
Conservative David Campbell-Bannerman 20,155 37.6 −1.2
Liberal Democrat Linda Forbes 5,964 11.1 −0.7
Socialist Alliance Claire Kime 664 1.2 N/A
UKIP Greville Warwick 648 1.2 N/A
Majority 5,953 11.2 +5.5
Turnout 53,539 65.8 −9.3
Labour hold Swing +2.8

Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1997: Warwick and Leamington[14][15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Plaskitt 26,747 44.5 +11.5
Conservative Dudley Smith 23,349 38.9 −9.5
Liberal Democrat Nigel Hicks 7,133 11.9 −4.7
Referendum Party Val Davis 1,484 2.5 N/A
Green Paul Baptie 764 1.3 −0.1
Independent Greville Warwick 306 0.5 N/A
Independent Michael Gibbs 183 0.3 N/A
Natural Law Roddy McCarthy 125 0.2 −0.1
Majority 3,398 5.7
Turnout 60,091 75.1 −6.5
Labour gain from Conservative Swing 10.5
General Election 1992: Warwick and Leamington[17][18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dudley Smith 28,093 48.4 −1.4
Labour Matthew Taylor 19,158 33.0 +9.5
Liberal Democrat S. E. Boad 9,645 16.6 −7.9
Green J. A. Alty 803 1.4 −0.6
Independent R. Newby 251 0.4 N/A
Natural Law J. Brewster 156 0.3 N/A
Majority 8,935 15.4 −9.9
Turnout 58,108 81.6 −5.6
Conservative hold Swing −5.5

Elections in the 1980s

General election, 1987: Warwick and Leamington[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dudley Smith 27,530 49.8 −1.1
SDP–Liberal Alliance K. P. O'Sullivan 13,548 24.5 −1.4
Labour A. Christina 13,019 23.5 +1.5
Green J. A. Alty 1,214 2.2 +0.9
Majority 13,982 25.3 +0.3
Turnout 55,311 76.0 +2.4
Conservative hold Swing −1.3
General election, 1983: Warwick and Leamington[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dudley Smith 26,512 50.9 −3.5
SDP–Liberal Alliance R. Behrens 13,480 25.9 +10.9
Labour Richard Chessum 11,463 22.0 −7.3
Ecology N. Charlton 685 1.3 −0.1
Majority 13,032 25.0 0.0
Turnout 52,140 73.6 −4.1
Conservative hold Swing −7.2

Elections in the 1970s

General election, 1979: Warwick and Leamington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dudley Smith 35,925 54.4 +7.3
Labour C. J. Gray 19,367 29.3 −3.8
Liberal D. Woodcock 9,905 15.0 −4.8
Ecology P. Sizer 905 1.4 N/A
Majority 16,558 25.0 +11.0
Turnout 66,102 77.7 +2.9
Conservative hold Swing +5.6
General election, October 1974: Warwick and Leamington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dudley Smith 27,721 47.1 −0.4
Labour J. W. England 19,476 33.1 +3.4
Liberal T. A. Jones 11,625 19.8 −3.0
Majority 8,245 14.0 −3.8
Turnout 58,822 74.8 −6.8
Conservative hold Swing −1.9
General election, February 1974: Warwick and Leamington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dudley Smith 30,167 47.5 −15.9
Labour J. W. England 18,874 29.7 −6.9
Liberal T. A. Jones 14,500 22.8 N/A
Majority 11,293 17.8 −9.0
Turnout 63,541 81.6 +9.0
Conservative hold Swing −19.4 (to the Liberal Party)
General election, 1970: Warwick and Leamington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dudley Smith 36,994 63.4 −4.9
Labour John Watkinson 21,355 36.6 +20.1
Majority 15,639 26.8 −25.0
Turnout 58,349 72.6 −6.3
Conservative hold Swing −12.5

Elections in the 1960s

Warwick and Leamington by-election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dudley Smith 28,914 68.3 +16.7
Labour Raymond Carter 6,992 16.5 −19.6
Liberal Antony Butcher 6,415 15.2 +2.9
Majority 21,922 51.8 +36.8
Conservative hold Swing +18.2
General election, 1966: Warwick and Leamington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Hobson 28,918 51.6 −2.2
Labour Les Huckfield 20,221 36.1 +2.0
Liberal Antony Butcher 6,912 12.3 +0.2
Majority 8,697 15.5 −4.2
Turnout 56,051 78.9 −1.5
Conservative hold Swing −2.1
General election, 1964: Warwick and Leamington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Hobson 29,749 53.8 −8.8
Labour Nigel Spearing 18,865 34.1 −3.3
Liberal P. Gibson 6,676 12.1 N/A
Majority 10,884 19.7 −5.5
Turnout 55,290 80.4 −2.3
Conservative hold Swing −10.5

Elections in the 1950s

General election, 1959: Warwick and Leamington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Hobson 32,513 62.6 10.3
Labour William Wilson 19,434 37.4 −10.3
Majority 13,079 25.2
Turnout 51,947 82.7
Conservative hold Swing +10.3
Warwick and Leamington by-election, 1957
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Hobson 24,948 52.3 −12.2
Labour William Wilson 22,791 47.7 12.2
Majority 2,157 4.5
Turnout
Conservative hold Swing −12.2
General election, 1955: Warwick and Leamington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anthony Eden 29,979 64.48 4.0
Labour William Wilson 16,513 35.52 -−4.0
Majority 13,466 28.96
Turnout 78.77
Conservative hold Swing +4.0
General election, 1951: Warwick and Leamington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anthony Eden 28,282 60.48 0.7
Labour William Wilson 18,479 39.52 −0.7
Majority 9,803 20.96
Turnout 82.38
Conservative hold Swing +0.7
General election, 1950: Warwick and Leamington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anthony Eden 27,353 59.78 −1.6
Labour H. Bithell 18,400 40.22 +8.0
Majority 8,953 19.57
Turnout 82.86
Conservative hold Swing −4.8

Election in the 1940s

General election, 1945: Warwick and Leamington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rt Hon. Robert Anthony Eden 37,110 61.34 -15.3
Labour D. Chesworth 19,476 32.19 +8.8
Liberal Walter Leslie Dingley 3,908 6.46 +6.46
Majority 17,634 29.15
Turnout 69.18
Conservative hold Swing −12.1

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: Warwick and Leamington [22]

Electorate

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rt Hon. Robert Anthony Eden 35,746 76.58 −4.0
Labour J. Perry 10,930 23.42 +4.0
Majority 24,816 53.17
Turnout 65.66
Conservative hold Swing −4.0
General election, 1931: Warwick and Leamington [23]

Electorate

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Anthony Eden 38,584 80.64
Ind. Labour Party Charles George Garton 9,261 19.36
Majority 29,323 61.29
Turnout 72.43
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General Election 1929: Warwick and Leamington[24]

Electorate 62,406

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Robert Anthony Eden 23,045 47.6
Liberal Walter Leslie Dingley 17,585 36.4
Labour Charles George Garton 7,741 16.0
Majority 5,460 11.2
Turnout 77.5
Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1924: Warwick and Leamington[25]

Electorate 44,191

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Robert Anthony Eden 19,575 60.2 +8.4
Liberal George Nicholls 12,966 39.8 +4.4
Majority 6,609 20.4 +4.0
Turnout 73.6 +0.7
Unionist hold Swing +2.0
General Election 1923: Warwick and Leamington[26]

Electorate 43,175

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Robert Anthony Eden 16,337 51.8
Liberal George Nicholls 11,134 35.4
Labour Countess of Warwick 4,015 12.8
Majority
Turnout 72.9
Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1922 : Warwick and Leamington[27]

Electorate

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Rt Hon. Sir Ernest Murray Pollock unopposed n/a n/a
Unionist hold Swing n/a

Elections in the 1910s

General Election 1918 Warwick and Leamington[28]

Electorate

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist unopposed n/a n/a
Unionist hold Swing n/a

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. ↑ 2010 post-revision map non-metropolitan areas and unitary authorities of England
  3. ↑ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  4. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 1)
  5. ↑ http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/warwickandleamington/
  6. ↑ http://ukipwarwickleamington.org/news/our-new-candidate-for-the-2015-general-election.html
  7. ↑ Warwick District Council, Official list of candidates
  8. ↑ "UK > England > West Midlands > Warwick & Leamington". Election 2010. BBC. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  9. ↑ BBC Vote 2005
  10. ↑ The Guardian
  11. ↑ BBC Vote 2001
  12. ↑ The Guardian
  13. ↑ Election Demon
  14. ↑ BBC Vote 2001
  15. ↑ The Guardian
  16. ↑ Election Demon
  17. ↑ The Guardian
  18. ↑ Election Demon
  19. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
  20. ↑ Election Demon
  21. ↑ Election Demon
  22. ↑ F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
  23. ↑ F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
  24. ↑ Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
  25. ↑ Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
  26. ↑ Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
  27. ↑ Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
  28. ↑ Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.

Sources

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Warwick		 Constituency represented by the Speaker
1885–1895 		Succeeded by
Carlisle
Preceded by
Woodford		 Constituency represented by the Prime Minister
1955–1957 		Succeeded by
Bromley

Coordinates: 52°18′N 1°36′W / 52.30°N 1.60°W