City of Chester (UK Parliament constituency): Difference between revisions
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== History == |
== History == |
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As part of a county palatine with a parliament of its own until the early 16th century Chester was not enfranchised until an Act of 1543. From then on it returned two MPs to Parliament until 1885, when the representation was reduced to one member. |
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Prior to 1997, Chester was a seat traditionally held by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], although their majorities over [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] were not always large. |
Prior to 1997, Chester was a seat traditionally held by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], although their majorities over [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] were not always large. |
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Revision as of 10:04, 22 September 2011
| City of Chester | |
|---|---|
| County constituency for the House of Commons | |
 Boundary of City of Chester in Cheshire | |
 Location of Cheshire within England | |
| County | Cheshire |
| Electorate | 68,280 (December 2010)[1] |
| Major settlements | Chester |
| Current constituency | |
| Created | 1918 |
| Member of Parliament | Stephen Mosley (Conservative) |
| Seats | One |
| 1545–1918 | |
| Seats | 1545–1880: Two 1885–1918: One |
| Type of constituency | Borough constituency |
City of Chester is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
Boundaries
The constituency covers the city of Chester, and parts of the surrounding Cheshire West and Chester unitary authority, including the villages of Aldford, Capenhurst, Christleton, Guilden Sutton, Newtown, Pulford and Saughall.
Much of the city of Chester itself is residential of varying characteristics, with more middle-class areas such as Upton and the large rural council estate of Blacon. However, the estate of Blacon is now owned, run and maintained by the Chester And District Housing Trust CDHT.
Boundary Review
Following their review of parliamentary representation in Cheshire, the Boundary Commission for England made minor changes to the existing arrangement as a consequence of population changes. The electoral wards included in this modified constituency were (as at 12 April 2005):
- Blacon Hall, Blacon Lodge, Boughton, Boughton Heath, Christleton, City and St Anne's, College, Curzon and Westminster, Dodleston, Handbridge and St Mary's, Hoole All Saints, Hoole Groves, Huntington, Lache Park, Mollington, Newton Brook, Newton St Michaels, Saughall, Upton Grange, Upton Westlea, and Vicars Cross, all from the Chester District [2]
The changes were approved in 2007 and came into effect at the 2010 general election [3].
History
As part of a county palatine with a parliament of its own until the early 16th century Chester was not enfranchised until an Act of 1543. From then on it returned two MPs to Parliament until 1885, when the representation was reduced to one member.
Prior to 1997, Chester was a seat traditionally held by the Conservative Party, although their majorities over Labour were not always large.
Labour's Christine Russell gained the seat easily at the 1997 election and held it until 2010. Her majority over the Conservatives had been reduced to under 1,000 at the 2005 election.
Four of the six candidates at the 2010 General Election had contested the seat previously; Christine Russell (1997, 2001, 2005); Allan Weddell (2001, 2005); Ed Abrahms (2005) and Tom Barker (1992). All candidates had contested at least one election for local authorities for wards inside the constituency.
Members of Parliament
MPs 1545 to 1660
- 1547: Richard Sneyd; William Aldersey [4]
- 1553 (Mar): Richard Sneyd; Randall Mainwaring [4]
- 1553 (Oct): Richard Sneyd; Thomas Massey [4]
- 1554 (Apr): Richard Sneyd; William Aldersey [4]
- 1554 (Nov): Richard Sneyd; Thomas Massey [4]
- 1555: William Gerard; William Aldersey [4]
- 1558: Sir Lawrence Smith; William Gerard [4]
- 1559 (Jan): Sir Lawrence Smith; William Gerard I[5]
- 1562/1563: William Gerard I; John Yerworth [5]
- 1571: William Gerard I; William Glasier [5]
- 1572 (Apr): William Gerard I; William Glasier [5]
- 1584 (Nov): Richard Birkheved; Richard Bavand [5]
- 1586 (Sep): Richard Birkheved; Peter Warburton [5]
- 1588/1589: Richard Birkheved; Peter Warburton [5]
- 1593:Richard Birkheved; Gilbert Gerard [5]
- 1597 (Sep): Peter Warburton; William Brock [5]
- 1601: Hugh Glasier; Thomas Gamull [5]
| Year | First member | Second member | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1604 | Thomas Lawton | Hugh Glasior | |
| 1614 | Edward Whitby | John Savage | |
| 1621-1622 | Edward Whitby | John Radcliff | |
| 1624 | Edward Whitby | John Savage | |
| 1625 | Edward Whitby | John Savage | |
| 1626 | Edward Whitby | William Samuel | |
| 1628-1629 | Edward Whitby | John Radcliff | |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | ||
| Apr 1640 | Sir Thomas Smith | Robert Brerewood | |
| Nov 1640 | Sir Thomas Smith | Francis Gamull | Both disabled |
| 1645 | William Edwards | John Ratcliffe | |
| 1653 | Not represented in Barebones Parliament | ||
| 1654 | Charles Walley | ||
| 1656 | Edward Bradshaw | ||
| 1659 | Jonathan Ridge | John Griffith | |
MPs 1660-1880
- Constituency suspended (1880)
MPs since 1885
- Voting restored (1885)
Elections
Elections in the 2010s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Stephen Mosley | 18,995 | 40.6 | +3.8 | |
| Labour | Christine Russell | 16,412 | 35.1 | -3.8 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Lizzie Jewkes | 8,930 | 19.1 | -2.8 | |
| UKIP | Allan Weddell | 1,225 | 2.6 | +0.9 | |
| English Democrat | Ed Abrams | 594 | 1.3 | +0.6 | |
| Green | Tom Barker | 535 | 1.1 | +1.1 | |
| Independent | John Whittingham | 99 | 0.2 | +0.2 | |
| Majority | 2,583 | 5.5 | |||
| Turnout | 46,853 | 67.9 | +3.6 | ||
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +3.9 | |||
Elections in the 2000s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Christine Russell | 17,458 | 38.9 | -9.6 | |
| Conservative | Paul Offer | 16,543 | 36.8 | +3.7 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Mia Jones | 9,818 | 21.9 | +7.2 | |
| UKIP | Allan Weddell | 776 | 1.7 | -0.3 | |
| English Democrat | Ed Abrams | 308 | 0.7 | +0.7 | |
| Majority | 917 | 2.0 | |||
| Turnout | 44,903 | 64.3 | +0.5 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | -6.7 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Christine Russell | 21,760 | 48.5 | -4.5 | |
| Conservative | David Jones | 14,866 | 33.1 | -1.1 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Tony Dawson | 6,589 | 14.7 | +5.2 | |
| UKIP | Allan Weddell | 899 | 2.0 | N/A | |
| Independent | George Rogers | 763 | 1.7 | +1.4 | |
| Majority | 6,894 | 15.4 | |||
| Turnout | 44,877 | 63.8 | -14.7 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | -1.7 | |||
Elections in the 1990s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Christine Russell | 29,806 | 53.0 | +11.0 | |
| Conservative | Gyles Brandreth | 19,253 | 34.2 | -9.9 | |
| Liberal Democrats | David Simpson | 5,353 | 9.5 | -3.4 | |
| Referendum | R. Mullen | 1,487 | 2.6 | N/A | |
| Monster Raving Loony | I Sanderson | 204 | 0.4 | N/A | |
| West Cheshire College In Crisis | J Gerrard | 154 | 0.3 | N/A | |
| Majority | 10,553 | 18.2 | |||
| Turnout | 78.4 | -5.5 | |||
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 10.5 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Gyles Brandreth | 23,411 | 44.1 | −0.8 | |
| Labour | DE Robinson | 22,310 | 42.0 | +6.4 | |
| Liberal Democrats | JG Smith | 6,867 | 12.9 | −6.6 | |
| Green | MT Barker | 448 | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Natural Law | SRH Cross | 98 | 0.2 | N/A | |
| Majority | 1,101 | 2.1 | −7.2 | ||
| Turnout | 53,134 | 83.9 | +4.1 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −3.6 | |||
See also
Notes and references
- ^ "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- ^ The Chester district and its constituent wards were abolished on 1 April 2009, when they became part of the new unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester; however, the boundaries of the parliamentary constituency remain fixed according to the wards in operation at 12 April 2005.
- ^ The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007, S.I. 2007/1681.
- ^ a b c d e f g "History of Parliament". Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "History of Parliament". Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ a b c Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 3)
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/b12.stm
- ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
