Berwick-upon-Tweed (UK Parliament constituency)

Berwick-upon-Tweed ⁱ/ˈbɛrᵻk əpɒn ˈtwiːd/ is a constituency ^{[n 1]} represented in the House of Commons of the UK parliament by an elected Member of Parliament (MP). Since 2015 this MP has been Anne-Marie Trevelyan of the Conservative Party who replaced the longest serving Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith who stood down prior to the 2015 election.^{[n 2]}

Boundaries

The constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed is in the county of Northumberland. It includes as its northernmost point the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed and stretches south to include the towns of Alnwick and Amble — the Northumberland coast forms its long eastern boundary. Its length is roughly 50 miles (80 km) and its area is 2,310 square kilometres.

Predominantly rural in character, this constituency is the most northerly in England and is relatively sparsely populated.

Between 1918 and 1949 the constituency comprised Berwick upon Tweed Municipal Borough, the Urban Districts of Alnwick, Amble and Rothbury, together with the Rural Districts of Alnwick, Belford, Glendale, Norham & Islandshire and Rothbury.

Boundary review

Following the last review of parliamentary representation in Northumberland, the Boundary Commission for England made only minor changes to the existing Berwick constituency. A proposal to rename the historic seat "Berwick-upon-Tweed and Mid Northumberland" was rejected: whilst it is geographically accurate, it was thought unwieldy^{[n 3]}.

The electoral wards used to form the slightly modified constituency are:

• The entire former district of Alnwick
• The entire former district of Berwick-upon-Tweed
• The former Castle Morpeth wards of Chevington, Ellington, Hartburn, Longhorsley, Lynemouth, Ulgham

History

Rural in nature, sparse of population and with agriculture as a major source of employment, Berwick-upon-Tweed has never elected a Labour candidate. It was represented by Liberal Democrat Sir Alan Beith from 1973 (formerly Liberal) until his retirement in 2015, when it was gained by the Conservative candidate Anne-Marie Trevelyan. The area has been notable for its Liberal members – both Sir William Beveridge (influential in the formation of the National Health Service) and Edward Grey (Foreign Secretary at the start of World War I, best remembered for the "lamps are going out all over Europe...." remark) have served this constituency.

Sir Alan was first elected in a by-election, required as a result of the resignation of the then incumbent MP Antony Lambton (Conservative), who had been caught up in a scandal involving call girls, marijuana and a tabloid newspaper.

In 1923, Mabel Philipson, a former music hall actress, took over the seat as a Conservative, when her husband was forced to resign. In doing so she became only the third female MP to sit in the House of Commons since female members became legal five years previously.

Members of Parliament

The seat has sent members to Parliament since its enfranchisement by Henry VIII. It initially sent two members; this was reduced to one in 1885.

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MPs before 1660

MPs 1660–1885

MPs since 1885

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1950s

Elections in the 1940s

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1910s

Elections in the 1900s

Elections in the 1890s

Sir Edward Grey

Elections in the 1880s

Elections from 1832 to 1880

By-election 1853: Berwick-upon-Tweed
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Y Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks	473
	Liberal	Y John Forster	385
	Conservative	John Campbell Renton	196
	Conservative	Richard Hodgson	157
Majority
Turnout
	Liberal hold		Swing

General Election 1832: Berwick-upon-Tweed
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	Y Sir Rufane Shaw Donkin	371
	Whig	Y Sir Francis Blake, Bt.	357
	Tory	Lt. Col. Marcus Beresford	345
Majority
Turnout
	Whig hold		Swing

See also

• Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1941
• Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1944
• Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1973
• List of Parliamentary constituencies in Northumberland

Notes and references

Notes

References

Sources

• "politics.co.uk". Berwick-upon-Tweed: Big seat, big issues. Archived from the original on 22 April 2005. Retrieved 30 April 2005. 
• "bbc.co.uk". BBC NEWS – Vote 2001 – Results & Constituency – Berwick-upon-Tweed. Retrieved 30 April 2005. 
• "Women in the house of commons" (PDF). House of Commons Factsheet. Retrieved 1 May 2005. 
• "Burton Mail". Todd reveals his expenses claim. Retrieved 2 May 2005. 
• "Constituencies in the unreformed House". David Boothroyd Page. Retrieved 8 September 2006. 
• Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807)

Ceremonial county of Northumberland North East England Portal Unitary authorities Northumberland Major settlements Alnwick Amble Ashington Bedlington Berwick-upon-Tweed Blyth Cramlington Haltwhistle Hexham Morpeth Newbiggin-by-the-Sea Ponteland Prudhoe Rothbury Wooler See also: List of civil parishes in Northumberland Topics Flag Parliamentary constituencies Places SSSIs Country Houses Grade 1 listed buildings History Museums Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs Schools

Coordinates: 55°33′N 1°55′W / 55.550°N 1.917°W / 55.550; -1.917