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Walsall North (UK Parliament constituency)

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Walsall North was a constituency[n 1] in the West Midlands represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament, created in 1955.[n 2]

Walsall North
Former borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Walsall North in West Midlands
Outline map
Location of West Midlands within England
CountyWest Midlands
Electorate65,468 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsWillenhall, Bloxwich and Walsall (part)
1955–2024
SeatsOne
Created fromWalsall
Replaced byWalsall and Bloxwich

The local electorate returned a Labour MP in the constituency's first seventeen general elections; in the following election Eddie Hughes became its second Conservative MP, following an earlier by-election win by his party in 1976.[2] The constituency consisted of green-buffered urban areas across one half of the formerly metalworking- and manufacturing-centred town of Walsall, and the main other settlement within its boundaries, Bloxwich.

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished. Subject to major boundary changes, it was reformed as Walsall and Bloxwich, first contested at the 2024 general election.[3]

Constituency profile

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See also: Walsall

The constituency was in the heart of an area traditionally focused on manufacturing which retained many mechanical and engineering jobs in its economy.

Workless claimants, registered jobseekers, were in November 2012 significantly higher than the national average of 3.8%, at 8.0% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian, not the highest in the region (which was Birmingham Ladywood at 11.1%) but also significantly higher than the average for the region, 4.7%.[4]

Boundaries

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Map of boundaries 1983-2024

Walsall North was one of three constituencies covering the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall. The others were Walsall South and Aldridge-Brownhills.

1955–1964: The County Borough of Walsall wards of Birchills, Blakenall, Bloxwich, Hatherton, and Leamore, and the Urban District of Brownhills.[5]

1964–1974: The County Borough of Walsall wards of Birchills, Blakenall, Bloxwich East, Bloxwich West, Hatherton, and Leamore, and the Urban District of Brownhills.[6]

1974–1983: The County Borough of Walsall wards of Bentley, Birchills, Blakenall, Bloxwich East, Bloxwich West, Leamore, Willenhall North and Willenhall South.

1983–2024: The Metropolitan Borough of Walsall wards of Birchills Leamore, Blakenall, Bloxwich East, Bloxwich West, Short Heath, Willenhall North, and Willenhall South.

History

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Results between 1955 and 1979

The seat was created in 1955 from part of Walsall. Its first Member of Parliament was W.T. Wells of the Labour Party, who had been the MP for Walsall. In 1974, he was succeeded by controversial Labour MP John Stonehouse, who was appointed Postmaster General and became infamous for faking his own death, being later jailed for fraud. After resigning from the party in April 1976, he was invited to join the English National Party, becoming their first (and only) MP, before being forced to resign as an MP in August 1976. The ensuing by-election was won by Robin Hodgson, a Conservative.

Results since 1979

Labour regained the seat in 1979; their candidate was the former Croydon South MP David Winnick, who represented the constituency until 2017. Aside from a marginal majority in 1987 of 3.7%, Winnick's wins from and including 1979 ranged between 7.3% and 29% (the latter twice) until 2010. He fended off a strong challenge from Conservative Helyn Clack, who he beat by 2.7% of the vote in 2010.[7] Going into the 2015 general election, Walsall North was 13th on the list of Conservative target seats.[8] Winnick increased his majority to 1,937 — 5.2% of the vote.[9] The 2015 result gave the seat the 22nd-smallest majority of Labour's 232 seats by percentage of majority.[10]

Other parties since 1979

Conservative candidates finished runner-up in each election from and including 1979, winning in 2017.

The UKIP swing of +17.2% in 2015, coming the year before the UK's EU membership referendum, was higher than the national average of 9.5%. The Liberal Democrat, TUSC and Green Party candidates of 2015 won less than 5% of the vote, so lost their deposits.

The Liberal Democrats managed to produce their best result since the seat's 1955 creation (counting their two predecessor parties) in 1983, when Liberal A. Bentley polled 20.7% of the vote. In 2005 and 2010, the BNP saved their deposit by polling more than 5% of the vote. The last time this percentage had been reached by a candidate in Walsall North in other than the top three parties had been 1976.

Abolition

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Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished prior to the 2024 general election, with its contents distributed three ways:

Members of Parliament

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Election Member[11] Party
1955 William Wells Labour
Feb 1974 John Stonehouse Labour Co-operative
1976 English Nationalist
1976 by-election Robin Hodgson Conservative
1979 David Winnick Labour
2017 Eddie Hughes Conservative

Elections

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Elections in the 2010s

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General election 2019: Walsall North[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Eddie Hughes 23,334 63.8   14.2
Labour Gill Ogilvie 11,369 31.1   11.7
Liberal Democrats Jennifer Gray 1,236 3.4   1.9
Green Mark Wilson 617 1.7 New
Majority 11,965 32.7   25.9
Turnout 36,556 54.4   2.9
Conservative hold Swing   13.0
General election 2017: Walsall North[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Eddie Hughes 18,919 49.6   15.8
Labour David Winnick 16,318 42.8   3.8
UKIP Elizabeth Hazell 2,295 6.0   16.0
Liberal Democrats Isabelle Parasram 586 1.5   0.8
Majority 2,601 6.8 N/A
Turnout 38,118 57.3   2.3
Conservative gain from Labour Swing   6.1
General election 2015: Walsall North[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Winnick 14,392 39.0   2.0
Conservative Douglas Hansen-Luke 12,455 33.8   0.5
UKIP Elizabeth Hazell 8,122 22.0   17.2
Liberal Democrats Nigel Jones 840 2.3   10.8
TUSC Peter Smith 545 1.5   0.8
Green Mike Harrison 529 1.4 New
Majority 1,937 5.2   2.5
Turnout 36,883 55.0   0.5
Labour hold Swing   1.3
General election 2010: Walsall North[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Winnick 13,385 37.0   10.8
Conservative Helyn Clack 12,395 34.3   6.3
Liberal Democrats Nadia Fazal 4,754 13.1   0.7
BNP Christopher Woodall 2,930 8.1   2.1
UKIP Elizabeth Hazell 1,737 4.8   1.3
Democratic Labour Peter Smith 842 2.3   0.0
Christian Babar Shakir 144 0.4 New
Majority 990 2.7  17.2
Turnout 36,187 55.5   3.3
Labour hold Swing   9.0

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Walsall North[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Winnick 15,990 47.8   10.3
Conservative Ian Lucas 9,350 28.0   1.1
Liberal Democrats Douglas Taylor 4,144 12.4   3.4
BNP William Locke 1,992 6.0 New
UKIP Anthony Lenton 1,182 3.5   1.0
Democratic Labour Peter Smith 770 2.3 New
Majority 6,640 19.8  9.2
Turnout 33,428 52.8   3.8
Labour hold Swing   4.6
General election 2001: Walsall North[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Winnick 18,779 58.1   1.5
Conservative Melvin Pitt 9,388 29.1   1.5
Liberal Democrats Michael Heap 2,923 9.0   0.4
UKIP Jenny Mayo 812 2.5 New
Socialist Alliance David Church 410 1.3 New
Majority 9,391 29.0   0.0
Turnout 32,312 49.0   15.1
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Walsall North[18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Winnick 24,517 56.6   9.9
Conservative Michael Bird 11,929 27.6   11.8
Liberal Democrats Tracy O'Brien 4,050 9.4   3.3
Referendum Derek Bennett 1,430 3.3 New
Independent Melvin Pitt 911 2.1 New
National Front Alan Humphries 465 1.1   0.1
Majority 12,588 29.0  21.7
Turnout 43,302 64.1  10.9
Labour hold Swing
General election 1992: Walsall North[20][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Winnick 24,387 46.7   4.1
Conservative Robert Syms 20,563 39.4   0.4
Liberal Democrats AR Powis 6,629 12.7   5.7
National Front KA Reynolds 614 1.2 New
Majority 3,824 7.3   3.7
Turnout 52,193 75.0   1.2
Labour hold Swing   1.9

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Walsall North[22][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Winnick 21,458 42.6 +0.1
Conservative Leah Hertz 19,668 39.0 +2.3
Liberal Ian Shires 9,285 18.4 −2.3
Majority 1,790 3.6 −2.2
Turnout 50,411 73.8 +2.8
Labour hold Swing
General election 1983: Walsall North[24][25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Winnick 20,782 42.5
Conservative Nicholas Stephens 17,958 36.7
Liberal Arthur Bentley 10,141 20.7
Majority 2,824 5.8
Turnout 48,881 71.0
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1979: Walsall North[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Winnick 26,913 50.9 −8.6
Conservative Robin Hodgson 21,047 39.8 +13.7
Liberal Arthur Bentley 3,778 7.1 −6.3
National Front C Parker 1,098 2.1 N/A
Majority 5,866 11.1 N/A
Turnout 52,836 72.3 +5.7
Labour hold Swing
Walsall North by-election, 1976
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robin Hodgson 16,212 43.4   17.3
Labour David Winnick 11,833 31.6   27.9
Independent Sidney Wright 4,374 11.7 New
National Front Joseph Parker 2,724 7.3 New
Liberal Fran Oborski 1,212 3.2   13.2
Socialist Workers James McCallum 574 1.5 New
National Party Marian Powell 258 0.7 New
Ecology Jonathan Tyler 181 0.5 New
Air, Road, Public Safety, White Resident Bill Boaks 30 0.1 New
Majority 4,379 11.8 N/A
Turnout 37,398
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +22.5
General election October 1974: Walsall North[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op John Stonehouse 28,340 59.5 −4.1
Conservative Robin Hodgson 12,455 26.1 −8.7
Liberal W Gill 6,337 13.4 New
Communist J Richards 465 1.0 −0.6
Majority 15,885 33.4 +4.6
Turnout 47,597 66.6 −5.5
Labour Co-op hold Swing
General election February 1974: Walsall North[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op John Stonehouse 32,458 63.6
Conservative Robin Hodgson 17,754 34.8
Communist J Richards 819 1.6
Majority 14,704 28.8
Turnout 51,031 72.1
Labour Co-op hold Swing
General election 1970: Walsall North[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Wells 27,543 57.1 −8.0
Conservative A John Barnes 20,128 41.7 +6.8
Communist Graham Stevenson 597 1.2 New
Majority 7,415 15.4 −14.8
Turnout 48,268 66.8 −4.1
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

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General election 1966: Walsall North[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Wells 29,710 65.1 +3.7
Conservative A John L Barnes 15,953 34.9 −3.7
Majority 13,757 30.2 +7.4
Turnout 45,663 70.9 −1.0
Labour hold Swing
General election 1964: Walsall North[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Wells 27,842 61.4 +0.4
Conservative A John L Barnes 17,518 38.6 −0.4
Majority 10,324 22.8 +0.8
Turnout 45,360 71.9 −4.8
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

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General election 1959: Walsall North[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Wells 27,693 61.0 −1.5
Conservative James G Ackers 17,741 39.0 +1.5
Majority 9,952 22.0 −3.0
Turnout 45,434 76.7 −0.3
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Walsall North[33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Wells 26,665 62.5
National Liberal Francis R Roberts 15,970 37.5
Majority 10,695 25.0
Turnout 42,635 77.0
Labour win (new seat)

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.

References

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  1. ^ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ^ Hughes's gain was one of six gains offset by greater losses (13 net seats lost) for his party in the 2017 results nationwide. The two largest parties increased their share of the vote in 2017, largely in England at the expense of UKIP.
  3. ^ a b "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – West Midlands | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  4. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  5. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (South-East staffordshire) Order 1955. SI 1955/170". Statutory Instruments 1955. Part II. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1956. pp. 2166–2167.
  6. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Walsall) Order 1955. SI 1960/464". Statutory Instruments 1960. Part III. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1961. pp. 2885–2886.
  7. ^ "Election 2010 – Walsall North". BBC News. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Conservative top target seats to win the 2015 general election with an overall majority". Mirror. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Walsall North parliamentary constituency – Election 2015". BBC News. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Labour Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018.
  11. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 1)
  12. ^ "Walsall North Parliamentary constituency". BBC Online. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Walsall North Parliamentary constituency". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  14. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Walsall North [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. 12 October 2022.
  20. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  22. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1987. Politics Resources. 11 June 1987. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  24. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1983. Politics Resources. 9 June 1983. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  26. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1979. Politics Resources. 28 May 1979. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  27. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1979. Politics Resources. 10 October 1974. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  28. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1979. Politics Resources. 28 February 1974. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  29. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1970. Politics Resources. 18 June 1970. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  30. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1966. Politics Resources. 31 March 1966. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  31. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1966. Politics Resources. 15 October 1964. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  32. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1959. Politics Resources. 8 October 1959. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  33. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1955. Politics Resources. 26 May 1955. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
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52°37′N 2°01′W / 52.61°N 2.01°W / 52.61; -2.01

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