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Leicester West

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Leicester West
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Interactive map of boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Location within the East Midlands
CountyLeicestershire
Electorate72,848 (March 2020)[1]
Current constituency
Created1974 (1974)
Member of ParliamentLiz Kendall (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromLeicester North West and Leicester South West
1918–1950
SeatsOne
Created fromLeicester
Replaced byLeicester North West and Leicester South West

Leicester West is a constituency[n 1] in Leicestershire. The seat was created in 1974, and existed in a previous form from 1918 to 1950. The seat has been represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom by Liz Kendall of the Labour Party since 2010.[n 2] Until July 2026, Kendall served as Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology in the government of Keir Starmer. Since its creation in 1918 (and its recreation in 1974), the seat has sided with parties from the left wing of politics.

Constituency profile

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Leicester West is a constituency in Leicestershire. It covers the western neighbourhoods of the city of Leicester, including Beaumont Leys, Westcotes, New Parks, Rowley Fields and Aylestone. Leicester has a strong association with the textile, clothing and shoemaking industries, which – having suffered a devastating slump in the early 1980s – survived in the city in a vestigial form until recently but mostly collapsed during the 2020s.[2][3] Potato crisp manufacturer Walkers is a significant local employer; the company's headquarters and main factory – the largest crisp factory in the world – is located in Beaumont Leys.[4][5] Leicester West has high levels of deprivation, particularly in New Parks and around Braunstone Park, where there is a high proportion of council housing.[6] House prices in the constituency are lower than the rest of the East Midlands and considerably lower than the national average.[7]

In general, residents of Leicester West are young and have low levels of education. Rates of homeownership and household income are low.[7] A high proportion of residents work in the health and manufacturing sectors, and few work in professional occupations.[8] The child poverty rate is high, and the percentage of residents claiming unemployment benefits is higher than the country as a whole.[9] White people made up 63% of the population at the 2021 census, the highest proportion of the three Leicester constituencies. Asians, mostly Indians, were the largest ethnic minority group at 18% and Black people were 10%.[10] Unlike neighbouring Leicester East, the Asian population is mostly Muslim rather than Hindu.[11] On Leicester City Council, the inner-city areas like Westcotes and the more deprived suburbs such as New Parks are represented by the Labour Party, while Beaumont Leys has elected Conservative councillors and Aylestone has elected Liberal Democrats. An estimated 55% of voters in Leicester West supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, higher than the nationwide figure of 52%.[7]

Boundaries

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Historic

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1918–1950: The County Borough of Leicester wards of Abbey, Newton, St Margaret's, Westcotes, and Wyggeston.

1974–1983: The County Borough of Leicester wards of Abbey, Newton, North Braunstone, St Margaret's, and Westcotes.

1983–2010: The City of Leicester wards of Abbey, Beaumont Leys, Mowmacre, New Parks, North Braunstone, Rowley Fields, St Augustine's, Westcotes, and Western Park.

2010–2024: The City of Leicester wards of Abbey, Beaumont Leys, Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields, Fosse, New Parks, Westcotes, and Western Park.

Further to a local government boundary review which became effective in May 2015,[12] the New Parks ward was largely absorbed into the Western Park ward which was renamed the Western ward.

Current

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The City of Leicester wards of Abbey, Aylestone, Beaumont Leys, Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields, Fosse, Westcotes, and Western.

Following the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the size of the constituency was increased to bring it within the permitted electoral range with the transfer of Aylestone ward from Leicester South.[13]

History

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In 1950, the seat was replaced by the constituencies of Leicester North West and Leicester South West, until 1974. During that period Leicester North West was represented by Barnett Janner until 1970, and subsequently by his son Greville Janner.

This used to be the safest Labour seat in Leicester; at the 1983 general election it was the only one to remain in Labour hands. However, the high South Asian populations in Leicester South and Leicester East tended historically to push them away from the Conservative Party; conversely, while Leicester West is still a safe Labour seat and has been represented by that party since the Second World War, it has become the most marginal of the three Leicester seats. While it did, like the other two Leicester constituencies, see a significant swing to Labour in 2017, Liz Kendall's majority was not a record high for the constituency, unlike the results in Leicester East and Leicester South. However, Leicester West was the only Leicester seat to remain in Labour hands after the 2024 general election, with Leicester East becoming the sole Conservative gain of the election, and Leicester South won by independent candidate Shockat Adam.

Members of Parliament

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MPs 1918–1950

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Leicester prior to 1918

ElectionMember[14]Party
1918 Joseph Frederick Green Coalition National Democratic
1922 Alfred Hill Labour
1923 Frederick Pethick-Lawrence Labour
1931 Ernest Pickering Liberal
1935 Harold Nicolson National Labour
1945 Barnett Janner Labour
1950 constituency abolished

MPs since 1974

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Leicester North West and Leicester South West prior to 1974

YearMemberParty
Feb 1974 Greville Janner Labour
1997 Patricia Hewitt Labour
2010 Liz Kendall Labour

Elections

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Leicester west and Leicester north west election results 1918–2024

Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Leicester West[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Liz Kendall 15,798 44.6 −4.7
Conservative Max Chauhan 7,021 19.8 −16.8
Reform Ian Hayes 5,666 16.0 +11.5
Green Aasiya Bora 4,089 11.6 +8.8
Liberal Democrats Benjamin Feist 2,179 6.2 −0.5
One Leicester Rahoul Naik 327 0.9 New
TUSC Steve Score 317 0.9 New
Majority 8,777 24.8 +12.7
Turnout 35,397 48.0 −5.2
Registered electors 74,102
Labour hold Swing +6.1

Elections in the 2010s

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General election 2019: Leicester West[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Liz Kendall 17,291 49.7 −11.1
Conservative Amanda Wright 13,079 37.6 +6.2
Liberal Democrats Ian Bradwell 1,808 5.2 +3.1
Brexit Party Jack Collier 1,620 4.7 New
Green Ani Goddard 977 2.8 +1.2
Majority 4,212 12.1 −17.3
Turnout 34,775 53.6 −4.3
Labour hold Swing −8.7
General election 2017: Leicester West[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Liz Kendall 22,823 60.8 +14.3
Conservative Jack Hickey 11,763 31.4 +5.8
UKIP Stuart Young 1,406 3.7 −13.5
Liberal Democrats Ian Bradwell 792 2.1 −2.3
Green Mel Gould 607 1.6 −3.8
Independent David Bowley 121 0.3 New
Majority 11,060 29.4 +8.5
Turnout 37,512 57.9 +3.3
Labour hold Swing +4.3
General election 2015: Leicester West[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Liz Kendall 16,051 46.5 +8.1
Conservative Paul Bessant 8,848 25.6 −1.6
UKIP Stuart Young 5,950 17.2 +14.7
Green Peter Hague 1,878 5.4 +3.6
Liberal Democrats Ian Bradwell 1,507 4.4 −18.2
TUSC Heather Rawling 288 0.8 +0.4
Majority 7,203 20.9 +9.7
Turnout 34,522 54.6 −0.6
Labour hold Swing +4.8
General election 2010: Leicester West[19][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Liz Kendall 13,745 38.4 −12.4
Conservative Celia Harvey 9,728 27.2 +2.8
Liberal Democrats Peter Coley 8,107 22.6 +4.4
BNP Gary Reynolds 2,158 6.0 New
UKIP Stephen Ingall 883 2.5 New
Green Geoff Forse 639 1.8 −3.0
Independent Steven Huggins 181 0.5 New
TUSC Steve Score[21] 157 0.4 New
Pirate Shaun Dyer 113 0.3 New
Independent David Bowley 108 0.3 New
Majority 4,017 11.2 −16.1
Turnout 35,819 55.2 +2.6
Labour hold Swing −7.6

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Leicester West[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Patricia Hewitt 17,184 51.7 −2.5
Conservative Sarah Richardson 8,114 24.4 −0.8
Liberal Democrats Zuffar Haq 5,803 17.5 +2.2
Green Geoff Forse 1,571 4.7 +1.5
Socialist Steve Score 552 1.7 New
Majority 9,070 27.3 −1.7
Turnout 33,224 53.3 +2.4
Labour hold Swing −0.8
General election 2001: Leicester West[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Patricia Hewitt 18,014 54.2 −1.0
Conservative Christopher Shaw 8,375 25.2 +1.5
Liberal Democrats Andy Vincent 5,085 15.3 +1.1
Green Matthew Gough 1,074 3.2 +1.8
Socialist Labour Sean Kirkpatrick 350 1.1 0.0
Socialist Alliance Stephen Score 321 1.0 New
Majority 9,639 29.0 −2.5
Turnout 33,219 50.9 −12.2
Labour hold Swing −1.2

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Leicester West[18][24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Patricia Hewitt 22,580 55.2 +8.4
Conservative Richard Thomas 9,716 23.7 −14.8
Liberal Democrats Mark Jones 5,795 14.2 +0.9
Referendum William Shooter 970 2.4 New
Green Geoff Forse 586 1.4 +0.3
Socialist Labour David Roberts 452 1.1 New
Socialist Josephine Nicholls 327 0.8 New
BNP Adrian Belshaw 302 0.7 New
National Democrats Clive Potter 186 0.5 New
Majority 12,864 31.5 +23.2
Turnout 40,914 63.1 −10.6
Labour hold Swing +11.6
General election 1992: Leicester West[25][26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Greville Janner 22,574 46.8 +2.3
Conservative John Guthrie 18,596 38.5 −3.6
Liberal Democrats Geoffrey F. Walker 6,402 13.3 −0.2
Green Claire D. Wintram 517 1.1 New
Natural Law Jenny M. Rosta 171 0.4 New
Majority 3,978 8.3 +5.9
Turnout 48,260 73.7 +0.2
Labour hold Swing +2.9

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Leicester West[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Greville Janner 22,156 44.5 −0.3
Conservative James Cooper 20,955 42.1 +1.0
SDP William Edgar 6,708 13.5 +0.8
Majority 1,201 2.4 −1.3
Turnout 49,819 73.5 +4.7
Labour hold Swing −1.3
General election 1983: Leicester West[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Greville Janner 20,837 44.8 −8.8
Conservative Robert Meacham 19,125 41.1 +5.7
SDP Sumal Fernando 5,935 12.8 New
BNP Ray Hill 469 1.0 New
Workers Revolutionary B.J. Prangle 176 0.4 New
Majority 1,712 3.7 −14.5
Turnout 46,542 68.8 −3.5
Labour hold Swing −7.3

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1979: Leicester West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Greville Janner 26,032 53.60 +0.69
Conservative Alastair Ross Goobey 17,194 35.40 +5.01
Liberal A. Lycett 4,032 8.30 −3.31
National Front P. Ash 1,308 2.69 −0.75
Majority 8,838 18.20
Turnout 48,566 72.26
Labour hold Swing −4.32
General election October 1974: Leicester West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Greville Janner 23,406 52.91
Conservative Anthony Simpson 13,446 30.39
Liberal J. Windram 5,135 11.61 New
National Front W. Newcombe 2,253 5.09
Majority 9,960 22.52
Turnout 44,240 68.43
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: Leicester West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Greville Janner 27,195 56.28
Conservative Anthony Simpson 18,543 38.38
National Front W. Newcombe 2,579 5.34
Majority 8,652 17.90
Turnout 48,317 75.45
Labour win (new seat)

Election in the 1940s

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General election 1945: Leicester West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Barnett Janner 20,563 53.34
National Harold Nicolson[n 3] 13,348 34.63
Liberal Joseph Arnold Kirby 4,639 12.03
Majority 7,215 18.71 N/A
Turnout 38,550 76.80
Labour gain from National Labour Swing

Elections in the 1930s

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General election 1935: Leicester West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Labour Harold Nicolson 15,821 43.73 New
Labour John Morgan 15,734 43.49
Liberal Horace Crawfurd 4,621 12.77
Majority 87 0.24 N/A
Turnout 35,636 66.83
National Labour gain from Liberal Swing
General election 1931: Leicester West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ernest Pickering 26,826 67.49
Labour Frederick Pethick-Lawrence 12,923 32.51
Majority 13,903 34.98 N/A
Turnout 39,749 74.64
Liberal gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 1920s

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General election 1929: Leicester West[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frederick Pethick-Lawrence 22,635 55.3 +4.1
Unionist Paul Emrys-Evans 10,691 26.1 New
Liberal Charles William Hartshorn 7,617 18.6 −30.2
Majority 11,944 29.2 +26.8
Turnout 40,943 78.3 +2.2
Registered electors 52,318
Labour hold Swing +17.2
General election 1924: Leicester West[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frederick Pethick-Lawrence 16,047 51.2 +6.6
Liberal Maurice Alfred Gerothwohl 15,310 48.8 +18.6
Majority 737 2.4 −12.0
Turnout 31,357 76.1 +0.1
Registered electors 41,207
Labour hold Swing −6.0
General election 1923: Leicester West[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frederick Pethick-Lawrence 13,634 44.6 −0.4
Liberal Winston Churchill 9,236 30.2 +3.6
Unionist Alfred Instone 7,696 25.2 New
Majority 4,398 14.4 −2.2
Turnout 30,566 76.0 +3.5
Registered electors 40,244
Labour hold Swing −2.0
General election 1922: Leicester West[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alfred Hill 12,929 45.0 +21.4
National Democratic Joseph Frederick Green 8,137 28.4 −48.0
Liberal Ernest Spero 7,631 26.6 New
Majority 4,792 16.6 N/A
Turnout 28,697 72.5 +6.3
Registered electors 39,604
Labour gain from National Democratic Swing +34.7

Election in the 1910s

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General election 1918: Leicester West[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C National Democratic Joseph Frederick Green 20,570 76.4
Labour Ramsay MacDonald 6,347 23.6
Majority 14,223 52.8
Turnout 26,917 66.2
Registered electors 40,634
National Democratic win (new seat)
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

See also

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Notes

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  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. ↑ Due to National Labour dissolving as a party before the 1945 general election, Nicholson stood as a National candidate in the seat.

References

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  1. ↑ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – East Midlands". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  2. ↑ Butler, Sarah (30 August 2020). "Revealed: 'shocking' lack of regulation at Leicester garment factories". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  3. ↑ Conway, Ed (28 May 2025). "'Leicester is embargoed': City's clothing industry in crisis". Sky News. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  4. ↑ Dayman, Ady (6 June 2023). "£58 million investment for world's biggest Crisp Factory". BBC. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  5. ↑ "Walkers Crisps Production Line, Leicester". Packaging Gateway. 15 June 2011. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  6. ↑ "Constituency data: Deprivation in England". House of Commons Library. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 "Seat Details – Leicester West". Electoral Calculus. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "Constituency data: businesses and industries". House of Commons Library. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  9. ↑ "Constituency dashboard". House of Commons Library. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  10. ↑ "2021 census results: Ethnic groups in your constituency". House of Commons Library. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  11. ↑ "2021 census results: Religion in your constituency". House of Commons Library. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  12. ↑ LGBCE. "Leicester | LGBCE". lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  13. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part I.
  14. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "L" (part 2)
  15. ↑ "Leicester West – General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  16. ↑ "Leicester West Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  17. ↑ "Leicester West parliamentary constituency – Election 2017". BBC.
  18. 1 2 "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  19. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Election 2010 – Constituency – Leicester West". BBC. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  21. ↑ "Candidates for TUSC". tusc.org.uk. Archived from the original on 7 April 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  22. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ↑ "Leicester West [Archive]". politicsresources.net. 12 October 2022.
  25. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  26. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  27. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  28. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949, FWS Craig
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52°39′N 1°10′W / 52.65°N 1.16°W / 52.65; -1.16

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