From its creation in 1354, Newcastle-under-Lyme returned two MPs to the House of Commons. Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the constituency's representation was cut to one member.
Prominent frontbenchers or members
Josiah Wedgwood of the pottery family was repeatedly elected to the seat from 1906 until he was ennobled to join the Lords in 1942, as 1st Baron Wedgwood and campaigned in the US for that country to join World War II and for Indian Independence; he was among many Liberals and their supporters deserting the party in or around 1918 due to the steering of David Lloyd George to the right and inviting Conservatives into government with him. Before the 20th century the constituency was often influenced and represented by members of the Leveson-Leveson-Gower (/ˈluːsənˈɡɔːr/) [n 3] and related Egerton family who owned in this constituency the Trentham estate[n 4] - their most important MP was the Viscount Trentham who obtained a Dukedom.
Summary of results
This constituency had been one of the most loyal Labour Party seats having returned a Labour MP since 1922 when MP Wedgwood defected from the highly centrist and compromising Liberal Party at the time to the Labour Party. However, at the 2010 General Election it was won by Farrelly with a margin of 3%, seeing a Conservative increase of +9.4% and a Labour decline of -7.4%. The 2015 result gave the seat the 9th-smallest majority of Labour's 232 seats by percentage of majority.[2]
Results of candidates of other parties
In 2015 one of four other parties' candidates standing, UKIP's Wood, won more than 5% of the vote in 2015 therefore keeping his deposit.
Turnout since 1945
Turnout has ranged from 87.6% in 1950 to 58.8% in 2001.
From 1983-2010 the constituency comprised the following wards of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, namely, Audley and Bignall End, Bradwell, Chesterton, Clayton, Cross Heath, Halmerend, Holditch, Keele, May Bank, Porthill, Seabridge, Silverdale, Thistleberry, Town, Westlands and Wolstanton.
Members of Parliament
MPs 1353–1509
Where the name of the member has not yet been ascertained or is not recorded in a surviving document, the entry unknown is entered in the table.
As there were sometimes significant gaps between Parliaments held in this period, the dates of first assembly and dissolution are given.
The Roman numerals after some names are those used in The House of Commons 1509-1558 and The House of Commons 1558-1603 to distinguish a member from another politician of the same name.
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
* Wedgwood was issued with a Coalition Coupon but did not accept it. He was also adopted by the local Liberal association, but considered himself an independent candidate.
^Date when Oliver Cromwell dissolved the Rump Parliament by force.
^Date when the members of the nominated or Barebones Parliament were selected at a "Convention". The parliamentary borough of Newcastle under Lyme was not represented in this body.
^Date when the members of the First Protectorate Parliament were elected. The parliamentary borough was represented in this body.
^Date when the members of the Second Protectorate Parliament were elected. The parliamentary borough was entitled to be represented in this body.
^The Rump Parliament was recalled and subsequently Pride's Purge was reversed, allowing the full Long Parliament to meet until it agreed to dissolve itself.
^The MPs of the last Parliament of England and 45 members co-opted from the former Parliament of Scotland, became the House of Commons of the 1st Parliament of Great Britain which assembled on 23 October 1707 (see below for the members in that Parliament).