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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Gainsborough (UK Parliament Constituency)
Gainsborough is a constituency in Lincolnshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1983 by Sir Edward Leigh of the Conservative Party, who, since the 2024 general election, is the Father of the House.

History

The constituency was created under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 that year, which lasted until it was reformed as Gainsborough and Horncastle on a boundary change for the 1983 election. That seat lasted until 1997, as from the mid-1990s population changes led to removal of Horncastle from the seat and recreation of the old seat with largely similar boundaries.

Boundaries

The constituency is named for its largest town of Gainsborough, on the western edge of the constituency.

1885–1918: The Municipal Borough of Lincoln, the Sessional Divisions of Epworth, Gainsborough, Lincoln, and the parish of Bracebridge.

1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Crowle and Gainsborough, and the Rural Districts of Gainsborough, Isle of Axholme, and Welton.

1950–1983: The Urban Districts of Gainsborough and Market Rasen, and the Rural Districts of Caistor, Gainsborough, Isle of Axholme, and Welton.

Constituency was abolished in 1983 and re-established in 1997

1997–2010: The District of West Lindsey, and the District of East Lindsey wards of Binbrook and Wragby.

2010–2024: The District of West Lindsey, and the District of East Lindsey ward of Wragby.

2024–present: The District of West Lindsey.

Constituency profile

This relatively vast rural seat north of Lincoln is named after the small market town at its western boundary. Regeneration projects are attempting to reduce pockets of severe deprivation in the constituency, but most of the area is affluent, albeit remote from many major cities; the closest conurbation is the city of Lincoln to the immediate south. Scunthorpe and Grimsby are both close enough to the northern edge of the constituency to be significant to residents. Though arable farming dominates the landscape and noteworthy pig farming industry (see Lincolnshire sausages), agriculture is in decline and the service/creative sector dominates. The seat has elected Conservative MPs since 1924 and is a stronghold, as well as giving its MPs very long tenures, having been represented by only three people since 1924.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1885–1983

North Lincolnshire prior to 1885

Year Member Party
1885 Joseph Bennett Liberal
1886 Henry Eyre Conservative
1892 Joseph Bennett Liberal
1895 Emerson Bainbridge Liberal
1900 Seymour Fitzroy Ormsby-Gore Conservative
1906 Leslie Renton Liberal
1907 Liberal Unionist
1910 George Jackson Bentham Liberal
1918 John Molson Unionist
1923 Richard Winfrey Liberal
1924 Harry Crookshank Conservative
1956 by-election Marcus Kimball Conservative
1983 constituency abolished

MPs since 1997

Gainsborough and Horncastle prior to 1997

Year Member Party
1997 Sir Edward Leigh Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Leigh 16,636 35.6 −30.7
Labour Jess McGuire 13,104 28.1 +6.9
Reform UK Pat O'Connor 9,916 21.2 N/A
Liberal Democrats Lesley Rollings 5,001 10.7 +0.3
Green Vanessa Smith 1,832 3.9 N/A
SDP Tim Mellors 196 0.4 N/A
Majority 3,532 7.6 −37.4
Turnout 46,685 61.8 −5.1
Registered electors 75,836
Conservative hold Swing −18.8

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Leigh 33,893 66.4 +4.6
Labour Perry Smith 10,926 21.4 −7.3
Liberal Democrats Lesley Rollings 5,157 10.1 +3.0
Independent Mary Cavill 1,070 2.1 New
Majority 22,967 45.0 +11.9
Turnout 51,046 66.9 −1.1
Conservative hold Swing +5.95
General election 2017: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Leigh 31,790 61.8 +9.1
Labour Catherine Tite 14,767 28.7 +7.4
Liberal Democrats Lesley Rollings 3,630 7.1 +0.4
Green Victoria Pearson 1,238 2.4 −0.2
Majority 17,023 33.1 +1.7
Turnout 51,575 68.0 +0.7
Conservative hold Swing +0.85
General election 2015: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Leigh 25,949 52.7 +3.4
Labour David Prescott 10,500 21.3 +5.7
UKIP John Saxon 7,727 15.7 +11.5
Liberal Democrats Lesley Rollings 3,290 6.7 −21.1
Green Geoff Barnes 1,290 2.6 New
Lincolnshire Independent Chris Darcel 505 1.0 New
Majority 15,449 31.4 +9.9
Turnout 48,261 67.3 −1.0
Conservative hold Swing -1.15
General election 2010: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Leigh 24,266 49.3 +5.4
Liberal Democrats Pat O'Connor 13,707 27.8 +1.8
Labour Jamie McMahon 7,701 15.6 −10.5
UKIP Steven Pearson 2,065 4.2 +0.1
BNP Malcolm Porter 1,512 3.1 New
Majority 10,559 21.5 +4.0
Turnout 49,251 68.3 +3.6
Conservative hold Swing +1.8

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Leigh 20,040 43.9 −2.3
Liberal Democrats Adrian Heath 12,037 26.4 −0.3
Labour John Knight 11,744 25.7 −1.4
UKIP Steven Pearson 1,860 4.1 New
Majority 8,003 17.5 −1.6
Turnout 45,681 64.6 +0.4
Conservative hold Swing −1.0
General election 2001: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Leigh 19,555 46.2 +3.1
Labour Alan Rhodes 11,484 27.1 −1.7
Liberal Democrats Steve Taylor 11,280 26.7 −1.4
Majority 8,071 19.1 +4.8
Turnout 42,319 64.2 −10.4
Conservative hold Swing +2.4
Sir Edward Leigh

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Leigh 20,593 43.1
Labour Paul Taylor 13,767 28.8
Liberal Democrats Neil Taylor 13,436 28.1 −1.5
Majority 6,826 14.3
Turnout 47,796 74.6
Conservative win (new seat)

Election results 1885–1979

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1885: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Bennett 4,955 56.3
Conservative Charles Alexander Sim 3,850 43.7
Majority 1,105 12.6
Turnout 8,805 79.3
Registered electors 11,107
Liberal win (new seat)
General election 1886: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Eyre 4,123 50.5 +6.8
Liberal Joseph Bennett 4,038 49.5 −6.8
Majority 85 1.0 N/A
Turnout 8,161 73.5 −5.8
Registered electors 11,107
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +6.8

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Bennett 4,945 55.1 +5.6
Conservative Henry Eyre 4,037 44.9 −5.6
Majority 908 10.2 N/A
Turnout 8,982 77.8 +4.3
Registered electors 11,546
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +5.6
Emerson Bainbridge
General election 1895: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Emerson Bainbridge 5,077 54.1 −1.0
Conservative Edward Pearson 4,301 45.9 +1.0
Majority 776 8.2 −2.0
Turnout 9,378 71.8 −6.0
Registered electors 13,057
Liberal hold Swing -1.0

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Seymour Fitzroy Ormsby-Gore 4,661 50.2 +4.3
Liberal Emerson Bainbridge 4,624 49.8 −4.3
Majority 37 0.4 N/A
Turnout 9,285 75.3 +3.5
Registered electors 12,328
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +4.3
Leslie Renton
General election 1906: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Leslie Renton 5,922 53.9 +4.1
Conservative Charles Algernon Moreing 5,071 46.1 −4.1
Majority 851 7.8 N/A
Turnout 10,993 88.9 +13.6
Registered electors 12,370
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +4.1

Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Jackson Bentham 6,178 52.2 −1.7
Conservative Robert Henderson 5,663 47.8 +1.7
Majority 515 4.4 −3.4
Turnout 11,841 89.9 +1.0
Liberal hold Swing -1.7
General election December 1910: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Jackson Bentham 5,825 50.3 −1.9
Conservative Archibald Weigall 5,745 49.7 +1.9
Majority 80 0.6 −3.8
Turnout 11,570 87.9 −2.0
Liberal hold Swing -1.9

General Election 1914–15:

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;

General election 1918: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist John Molson 8,634 56.8 +7.1
Liberal George Jackson Bentham 6,556 43.2 −7.1
Majority 2,078 13.6 N/A
Turnout 15,190 55.2 −32.7
Registered electors 27,503
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +7.1
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist John Molson 9,015 42.7 −14.1
Liberal Joel Seaverns 7,216 34.2 −9.0
Labour James Read 4,884 23.1 New
Majority 1,799 8.5 −5.1
Turnout 21,115 77.6 +22.4
Registered electors 27,219
Unionist hold Swing −2.6
Richard Winfrey
General election 1923: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Richard Winfrey 9,694 47.1 +12.9
Unionist John Molson 7,841 38.1 −4.6
Labour James Read 3,039 14.8 −8.3
Majority 1,853 9.0 N/A
Turnout 20,574 75.4 −2.2
Registered electors 27,294
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing 8.8
General election 1924: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Harry Crookshank 10,281 47.1 +9.0
Labour F J Knowles 5,958 27.3 +12.5
Liberal Richard Winfrey 5,590 25.6 −21.5
Majority 4,323 19.8 N/A
Turnout 21,829 79.0 +3.6
Registered electors 27,619
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing −1.8
Arthur Neal
General election 1929: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Harry Crookshank 10,058 37.1 −10.0
Liberal Arthur Neal 9,991 36.9 +11.3
Labour George Deer 7,032 26.0 −1.3
Majority 67 0.2 −19.6
Turnout 27,081 79.7 −0.7
Registered electors 33,977
Unionist hold Swing −10.7

Election in the 1930s

Henry Purchase
General election 1931: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harry Crookshank 14,839 51.7 +14.6
Liberal Henry Purchase 8,009 27.9 −9.0
Labour George Deer 5,856 20.4 −5.6
Majority 6,830 23.8 +23.6
Turnout 28,704 83.2 +3.5
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1935: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harry Crookshank 12,597 44.8 −6.9
Liberal John Johnson Till Ferens 10,840 38.5 +10.6
Labour E Pittwood 4,698 16.7 −3.7
Majority 1,757 6.3 −17.5
Turnout 28,135 80.4 −2.8
Conservative hold Swing

General Election 1939–40:

Another general election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;

Election in the 1940s

General election 1945: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harry Crookshank 11,081 38.5 −6.3
Labour Gerald Samson Saville 9,436 32.8 +16.1
Liberal Roy Desmond Robinson 8,284 28.8 −9.7
Majority 1,645 5.7 −0.6
Turnout 28,801 75.2 −5.2
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harry Crookshank 17,066 41.4
Labour Gerald Samson Saville 14,890 36.1
Liberal Henry Ivan Spence 9,276 22.5
Majority 2,176 5.3
Turnout 41,232 83.5
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harry Crookshank 19,915 49.1 +7.7
Labour Gordon RS Hawkins 16,074 39.6 +3.5
Liberal John Gregory 4,580 11.3 −11.2
Majority 3,841 9.5 +4.2
Turnout 40,569 80.1 −3.4
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harry Crookshank 22,576 55.8 +6.7
Labour Gordon RS Hawkins 17,107 44.2 +4.6
Majority 4,469 11.6 +2.1
Turnout 39,683 76.8 −3.3
Conservative hold Swing
Gainsborough by-election, 1956
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Marcus Kimball 12,836 40.8 −15.0
Labour Henry Walston 11,830 37.6 −6.6
Liberal Henry Ivan Spence 6,806 21.6 New
Majority 1,006 3.2 −8.4
Turnout 31,472
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1959: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Marcus Kimball 20,056 49.6 −6.2
Labour Henry Walston 13,247 32.8 −11.4
Liberal Roy Douglas 7,147 17.7 N/A
Majority 6,809 16.8 +5.2
Turnout 40,450 80.8 +4.0
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Marcus Kimball 19,235 47.7 −1.9
Labour Douglas Poirier 12,126 30.1 −2.7
Liberal Roy Douglas 8,930 22.2 +4.5
Majority 7,109 17.6 +0.8
Turnout 40,291 78.2 −2.6
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1966: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Marcus Kimball 18,770 47.2 −0.5
Labour Alan Day 14,904 37.5 +7.4
Liberal Geoffrey R S Stevenson 6,064 15.3 −6.9
Majority 3,866 9.7 −7.9
Turnout 39,738 75.8 −2.4
Conservative hold Swing +3.95

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Marcus Kimball 22,163 50.2 +3.0
Labour Maurice P Tracy 14,454 32.7 −4.8
Liberal Roger Blackmore 7,543 17.1 +1.8
Majority 7,709 17.5 +7.8
Turnout 44,163 74.6 −1.2
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Marcus Kimball 22,177 44.2 −6.0
Liberal Roger Blackmore 15,967 31.8 +14.7
Labour Terry J Lansbury 12,011 24.0 −8.7
Majority 6,210 12.4 −5.1
Turnout 50,155 82.0 +7.4
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Marcus Kimball 19,163 41.5 −2.7
Liberal Roger Blackmore 15,195 32.9 +1.1
Labour Terry J Lansbury 11,797 25.6 +1.6
Majority 3,968 8.6 −3.8
Turnout 46,155 74.8 −7.2
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1979: Gainsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Marcus Kimball 24,040 46.4 +4.9
Liberal Roger Blackmore 16,885 32.6 −0.3
Labour Willy Bach 10,335 20.0 −5.6
Ind. Conservative R E August 570 1.1 New
Majority 7,155 13.8 +5.2
Turnout 51,830 79.0 +4.2
Conservative hold Swing

Election results following boundary changes

For 1983 – 1992, see Gainsborough and Horncastle (UK Parliament constituency)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ A county 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

  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. ^ "'Gainsborough', Feb 1974 – May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  3. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part I.
  4. ^ "Local statistics – Office for National Statistics". ons.gov.uk.
  5. ^ "Gainsborough – General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Gainsborough Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  7. ^ "UK Parliamentary General Election – 8 June 2017". West Lindsey District Council. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  8. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Gainsborough parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  10. ^ "UKIP candidate John Saxon will challenge veteran Tory Sir Edward Leigh's seat in Gainsborough and Market Rasen". Lincolnshire Echo. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  11. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  12. ^ "UK > England > East Midlands > Gainsborough". Election 2010. BBC. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  13. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, FWS Craig
  17. ^ The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  18. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
  19. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  20. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
  21. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.
  22. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1955.

Sources

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Constituency represented by the father of the House
2024– 		Incumbent

53°21′N 0°30′W / 53.35°N 0.50°W / 53.35; -0.50

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