Sedgefield (UK Parliament constituency)

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Sedgefield
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Sedgefield in County Durham.
Outline map
Location of County Durham within England.
County County Durham
Electorate 67,386 (December 2010)[1]
Current constituency
Created 1983 (1983)
Member of Parliament Phil Wilson (Labour)
Number of members One
1918 (1918)–1974 (1974)
Number of members One
Type of constituency County constituency
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency North East England

Sedgefield is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2007 by Phil Wilson, a member of of the Labour Party.[n 2]

Labour have held Sedgefield since 1935. From 1983 to 2007, the constituency was represented by Tony Blair, who became the party's leader in 1994 and Prime Minister three years later.

Contents

Boundaries [edit]

Following the review of parliamentary representation in County Durham, the Boundary Commission made only minor changes to the Sedgefield constituency for the 2010 general election. The seat, in County Durham in the North East region of England, comprises:

The electoral wards used in the modified seat are;

  • Bishop Middleham and Cornforth, Broom, Chilton, Ferryhill, Fishburn and Old Trimdon, Greenfield Middridge, Neville and Simpasture, New Trimdon and Trimdon Grange, Sedgefield, Shafto St Marys, West and Woodham [n 3]
  • Thornley and Wheatley Hill, and Wingate in County Durham [n 4]
  • Heighington and Coniscliffe, Hurworth, Middleton St George, and Sadberge and Whessoe in the Borough of Darlington (administered separately from the rest of the county).

From 1997 to 2010, the boundaries were:

History [edit]

1918-1974

This constituency was first created in time for the 1918 general election, and then abolished for the February 1974 election.

1983-date

Sedgefield was recreated in 1983. Its member from 1983 until 27 June 2007 was Tony Blair who led a successful campaign for his party to win in a Landslide Result in 1997 and thereafter served for ten years as the Prime Minister, leading the campaigns in two subsequent elections. This was the first triple term for the Labour Party. Blair resigned as a Member of Parliament on the same day as he resigned as Prime Minister, which triggered a by-election.[2]

At the by-election on 19 July 2007, the Labour candidate Phil Wilson was elected on a reduced majority which in national terms is safe instead of marginal.

Constituency Profile [edit]

Sedgefield has a long mining history (extracting coal, fluorspar and iron ore) and very strong affiliation to the Labour Party.

In Statistics

The constituency consists of Census Output Areas of two local government districts with similar characteristics: a working population whose average income is lower than the national average and close to average reliance upon social housing.[3] At the end of 2012 the unemployment rate in the constituency stood as 5.0% of the population claiming jobseekers allowance, compared to the regional average of 5.5%.[4]

The local authority contributing to the bulk of the seat has a middling 27.2% of its population without a car, a high 27.5% of the population without qualifications and a medium 21.5% with level 4 qualifications or above. Darlington has 28% of its population without a car, 24.8% of the population without qualifications and a medium 23.7% with level 4 qualifications or above

In terms of tenure 65.8% of County Durham homes and 64.9% of Darlington homes are owned outright or on a mortgage as at the 2011 census.[5]

Members of Parliament [edit]

MPs 1918–1974 [edit]

Election Member [6] Party
1918 Rowland Burdon Coalition Conservative
1922 John Herriotts Labour
1923 Leonard Ropner Conservative
1929 John Herriotts Labour
1931 Roland Jennings Conservative
1935 John Leslie Labour
1950 Joe Slater Labour
1970 David Reed Labour
Feb 1974 constituency abolished

MPs since 1983 [edit]

Election Member [6] Party
1983 Tony Blair Labour
2007 by-election Phil Wilson Labour

Elections [edit]

Elections in the 2010s [edit]

General Election 2010: Sedgefield [7][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Phil Wilson 18,141 45.1 -13.9
Conservative Neil Mahapatra 9,445 23.5 +9.3
Liberal Democrat Alan Thompson 8,033 20.0 +8.2
BNP Mark Walker 2,075 5.2 -3.7
UKIP Brian Gregory 1,479 3.7 +2.1
Independent Paul Gittins 1,049 2.6 -4.1
Majority 8,696 21.6
Turnout 40,222 62.1 -0.2
Labour hold Swing -11.6

Elections in the 2000s [edit]

Sedgefield by-election, 2007
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Phil Wilson 12,528 44.8 -14.1
Liberal Democrat Greg Stone 5,572 19.9 +8.0
Conservative Graham Robb 4,082 14.6 +0.2
BNP Andrew Spence 2,494 8.9 N/A
Independent Paul Gittins 1,885 6.7 N/A
UKIP Toby Horton 536 1.9 +0.3
Green Chris Haine 348 1.2 N/A
English Democrats Stephen Gash 177 0.6 N/A
Christian Vote Tim Grainger 177 0.6 N/A
Monster Raving Loony Alan Hope 129 0.5 +0.1
Anti Crime Norman Scarth 34 0.1 N/A
Majority 6,956 24.9 -19.6
Turnout 27,962 43.05 -19.15
Labour hold Swing -11
General Election 2005: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tony Blair 24,421 58.9 -6.0
Conservative Al Lockwood 5,972 14.4 -6.5
Liberal Democrat Robert Browne 4,935 11.9 +2.9
Independent Reg Keys 4,252 10.3 N/A
UKIP William Brown 646 1.6 -0.8
National Front Mark Farrell 253 0.6 N/A
Veritas Fiona Luckhurst-Matthews 218 0.5 N/A
Independent Berony Abraham 205 0.5 N/A
Monster Raving Loony Melodie Staniforth 157 0.4 N/A
Blair Must Go Party Jonathan Cockburn 103 0.2 N/A
Senior Citizens Party Terry Pattinson 97 0.2 N/A
UK Pensioners Party Cherri Gilham 82 0.2 N/A
Independent Helen John 68 0.2 -0.4
Independent John Barker 45 0.1 N/A
Independent Julian Brennan 17 0.0 N/A
Majority 18,449 44.5
Turnout 41,475 62.2 +0.2
Labour hold Swing 0.2
General Election 2001: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tony Blair 26,110 64.9 -6.3
Conservative Douglas Carswell 8,397 20.9 +3.1
Liberal Democrat Andrew Duffield 3,624 9.0 +2.5
UKIP Andrew Spence 974 2.4 N/A
Socialist Labour Brian Gibson 518 1.3 +0.3
Rock 'n' Roll Loony Chris Driver 375 0.9 N/A
Independent Helen John 260 0.6 N/A
Majority 17,713 44.0
Turnout 40,258 62.0 -10.3
Labour hold Swing -4.7

Elections in the 1990s [edit]

General Election 1997: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tony Blair 33,526 71.2 +10.8
Conservative Elizabeth Pitman 8,383 17.8 -11.1
Liberal Democrat Ronald Beadle 3,050 6.5 -4.1
Referendum Party Miriam Hall 1,683 3.6 N/A
Socialist Labour Brian Gibson 474 1.0 N/A
Majority 25,143 53.4 +21.8
Turnout 47,116 72.6 -4.5
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1992: Sedgefield[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tony Blair 28,453 60.5 +4.5
Conservative Nicholas Jopling 13,594 28.9 +1.0
Liberal Democrat Gary Huntington 4,982 10.6 -5.5
Majority 14,859 31.6 +3.4
Turnout 47,029 77.1 +0.9
Labour hold Swing +1.8

Elections in the 1980s [edit]

General Election 1987: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tony Blair 25,965 56.0 +8.4
Conservative N. B. S. Hawkins 12,907 27.9 -1.3
Social Democrat R. I. Andrew 7,477 16.1 -6.5
Majority 13,058 28.2 +9.8
Turnout 76.2 +3.3
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1983: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tony Blair 21,401 47.6 N/A
Conservative Toby Horton 13,120 29.2 N/A
Social Democrat D. Shand 10,183 22.6 N/A
Independent M. Logan-Salton 298 0.7 N/A
Majority 8,281 18.4 N/A
Turnout 72.9 N/A
Labour win (new seat)

Elections in the 1970s [edit]

General Election 1970: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Reed 36,867 60.5 -4.2
Conservative A. A. Beck 24,036 39.5 +4.1
Majority 12,831 21.1 -8.2
Turnout 72.7 -3.3
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s [edit]

General Election 1966: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Slater 34,058 64.7 +4.0
Conservative C. F. Thring 18,620 35.4 -4.1
Majority 15,438 29.3 +8.0
Turnout 76.0 -3.5
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1964: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Slater 32,273 60.7 +2.2
Conservative C. F. Thring 20,931 39.3 -2.2
Majority 11,342 21.3 +4.4
Turnout 79.5 -3.0
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s [edit]

General Election 1959: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Slater 30,642 58.5 -1.2
Conservative D. Appleby 21,771 41.5 +1.2
Majority 8,871 16.9 -2.5
Turnout 82.5 +2.6
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1955: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Slater 27,221 59.7 -2.6
Conservative D. Appleby 18,368 40.3 +2.6
Majority 8,853 19.4 -5.2
Turnout 79.9 -6.5
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1951: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Slater 28,219 62.3 -0.2
Conservative E. H. Harrison 17,095 37.7 +0.2
Majority 11,124 24.6 -0.4
Turnout 86.4 -0.6
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1950: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Slater 27,946 62.5 - 1.3
Conservative J. E. S. Walford 16,782 37.5 + 1.3
Majority 11,164 25.0 - 2.6
Turnout 87.0 + 9.5
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s [edit]

General Election 1945: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Leslie 27,051 63.8 + 11.5
Conservative J. E. S. Walford 15,360 36.2 - 11.5
Majority 11,691 27.6 + 23.0
Turnout 42,411 77.5 - 3.9
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s [edit]

General Election 1935: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Leslie 20,375 52.3 + 11.1
Conservative Roland Jennings 18,604 47.7 - 11.1
Majority 1,771 4.6 - 13.0
Turnout 81.4 - 3.0
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
General Election 1931: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roland Jennings 21,956 58.8 + 19.3
Labour John Herriotts 15,404 41.2 - 6.5
Majority 6,552 17.6 + 9.6
Turnout 84.4 + 1.4
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 1920s [edit]

General Election 1929: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Herriotts 15,749 47.7 + 0.4
Conservative Leonard Ropner 13,043 39.5 - 13.2
Liberal W. Leeson 4,236 12.8 N/A
Majority 2,706 8.2 + 2.8
Turnout 83.0 - 2.4
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
General Election 1924: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Leonard Ropner 13,968 52.7 + 2.7
Labour John Herriotts 12,552 47.3 - 2.7
Majority 1,416 5.4 + 5.4
Turnout 85.4 + 10.9
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1923: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Leonard Ropner 11,093 50.0 + 9.5
Labour John Herriotts 11,087 50.0 + 6.4
Majority 6 0.0 - 3.1
Turnout 74.5 - 1.6
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
General Election 1922: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Herriotts 9,756 43.6 + 6.8
Conservative Eli Waddington 9,067 40.5 - 1.6
Liberal C. H. Brown 3,561 15.9 - 5.2
Majority 689 3.1 - 2.2
Turnout 76.1 + 12.7
Labour gain from Coalition Conservative Swing

Elections in the 1910s [edit]

General Election 1918: Sedgefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Coalition Conservative Col. Rowland Burdon 6,627 42.1 N/A
Labour John Herriotts 5,801 36.8 N/A
Liberal Charles Walter Starmer 3,333 21.1 N/A
Majority 826 5.3 N/A
Turnout 63.4 N/A
Coalition Conservative hold Swing

See also [edit]

Notes and References [edit]

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. ^ from the former Borough of Sedgefield
  4. ^ from the former Easington district.
References
  1. ^ "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011. 
  2. ^ Blair resigns as prime minister, BBC News, 27 June 2007
  3. ^ 2001 Census
  4. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  5. ^ 2011 census interactive maps
  6. ^ a b Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 2)[self-published source][better source needed]
  7. ^ http://www.durham.gov.uk/PDFApproved/ParliamentaryElection2010_SoPN_SEDGE.pdf
  8. ^ "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Sedgefield". BBC News. 
  9. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010. 


Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Derby South		 Constituency represented by the Leader of the Opposition
1994–1997		 Succeeded by
Huntingdon
Preceded by
Huntingdon		 Constituency represented by the Prime Minister
1997–2007		 Succeeded by
Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
Constituencies in North East England (29)
Labour (25)
Conservative (2)
Liberal Democrats (2)
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