Newcastle-under-Lyme is a constituency[n 1] in northern Staffordshire created in 1354 and represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Aaron Bell of the Conservative Party.[n 2] It was the last to be co-represented by a member of the Conservative Party when it was dual-member, before the 1885 general election which followed the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 coupled with the Reform Act 1884. In 1919 the local MP, Josiah Wedgwood, shifted his allegiance from the Liberal Party — the Lloyd GeorgeCoalition Liberals allying with the Conservatives — to the Labour Party and the seat elected the Labour candidate who has stood at each election for the next hundred years, a total of 29 elections in succession. Labour came close to losing the seat in 1969, 1986, 2015 and 2017, and eventually lost the seat in 2019.
Its 2017 general election result was the fifth-closest result, a winning margin of 30 votes.[2] In 2019, it was subsequently won by the Conservatives for the first time since its creation, by over 7,000 votes.
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 United States 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[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 a loyal Labour Party seat having returned a Labour MP in all 29 elections since 1918 and specifically since 1922 when MP Wedgwood defected from the highly centrist and compromising Liberal Party at the time to the Labour Party — his was among a great series of defections at this time see for example ex-Prime Minister H. H. Asquith's strong criticism of the Coalition Liberals particularly David Lloyd George. The 2015 result gave the seat the 9th-smallest majority of Labour's 232 seats by percentage of majority and 3rd-lowest in 2017.[3] The Conservatives took six seats from Labour in 2017, and this seat was the second closest to being taken that was held, behind Dudley North, where the result was a Labour majority of 22 votes.
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, the party which campaigned consistently for the public vote for leaving the European Union in 2016. In 2017 the three largest British parties fielded candidates only — Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat candidates in order of votes won.
Turnout since 1945[]
Turnout has ranged from 87.6% in 1950 to 58.8% in 2001.
Boundaries[]
Map of current boundaries
The constituency includes most of the northerly parts of Newcastle-under-Lyme borough, primarily Newcastle-under-Lyme town plus Keele and Audley.
Audley and Bignall End; Bradwell; Chesterton; Clayton; Cross Heath; Halmerend; Holditch; Keele; Knutton and Silverdale; May Bank; Porthill; Seabridge; Silverdale and Parksite; Thistleberry; Town; Westlands; and Wolstantonin the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme[4]
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.
This list is incomplete; you can help by . (August 2008)
Burgesses in the English Parliament 1510-1707[]
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 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.
Christy resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds due to holding a government contract,[37] causing a by-election in which he stood.
^A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
^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.
^Usually e.g. H. D. G. Leveson-Gower, Granville George Leveson-Gower
^A series of marriages to heiresses by members of the Leveson-Gower family made the Dukes of Sutherland one of the richest landowning families in the Britain, they also owned Dunrobin Castle, Lancaster House as Stafford House and Stetchworth House.
^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).
^"Country Elections". Bell's Weekly Messenger. 5 July 1841. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 26 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"District News". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser. 3 July 1841. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 26 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ Jump up to: abcdBritish Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
^ Jump up to: abcdefghijklmnoCraig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885(e-book)|format= requires |url= (help) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN978-1-349-02349-3.
^"Borough of Newcastle". Staffordshire Advertiser. 17 July 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 26 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Newcastle-under-Lyme". Worcestershire Chronicle. 22 December 1847. p. 7. Retrieved 26 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Elections". Monmouthshire Beacon. 18 December 1847. p. 3. Retrieved 7 June 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme". Staffordshire Advertiser. 10 July 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 7 June 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Newcastle". Staffordshire Advertiser. 28 March 1857. p. 8. Retrieved 7 June 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Local Election Intelligence". Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser. 25 March 1857. p. 4. Retrieved 7 June 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.