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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Penrith And The Border
Penrith and The Border was a constituency in Cumbria represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. Throughout its existence it elected only members of the Conservative Party.

The seat was abolished prior to the 2024 general election, with its area being split between three other constituencies.

History

Penrith and The Border was first contested in 1950 since which it was generally a safe Conservative seat and on rare occasions a marginal. The Conservatives came close to losing the seat in a 1983 by-election, when the former cabinet minister William Whitelaw became the leader of the House of Lords: the by-election took place a mere seven weeks after his success in the 1983 general election. Since that year the Liberal Democrats have come second behind the Conservatives until the 2015 general election when they came fourth. At the two subsequent general elections they have come third.

History of boundaries

1950–1983: The Urban District of Penrith, and the Rural Districts of Alston with Garrigill, Border, Penrith, and Wigton.

1983–1997: The District of Eden wards of Alston Moor, Appleby, Appleby Bongate, Askham, Brough, Crosby Ravensworth, Dacre, Eamont, Greystoke, Hartside, Hesket, Kirkby Thore, Kirkoswald, Langwathby, Lazonby, Long Marton, Lowther, Penrith East, Penrith North, Penrith South, Penrith West, Skelton, Ullswater, and Warcop, the City of Carlisle wards of Arthuret, Brampton, Burgh, Dalston, Great Corby and Geltsdale, Hayton, Irthing, Lyne, St Cuthbert Without, Stanwix Rural, and Wetheral, and the District of Allerdale wards of Aspatria, Boltons, Marsh, Silloth, Tarns, Wampool, Warnell, Waver, and Wigton.

1997–2010: The District of Eden, the City of Carlisle wards of Arthuret, Brampton, Great Corby and Geltsdale, Hayton, Irthing, Lyne, Stanwix Rural, and Wetheral, and the District of Allerdale wards of Marsh, Wampool, Warnell, and Wigton.

2010–2024: The District of Eden, the City of Carlisle wards of Brampton, Great Corby and Geltsdale, Hayton, Irthing, Longtown and Rockcliffe, Lyne, and Stanwix Rural, and the District of Allerdale wards of Warnell and Wigton.

The constituency was created in 1950 by merging part of Penrith and Cockermouth with North Cumberland. It was redrawn in 1983 by taking in most of the northern part of the old Westmorland constituency and in 1997 by taking in the Kirkby Stephen and Tebay areas of the pre-1997 Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency by doing so the constituency covered the entire district of Eden. Penrith and The Border also included parts of Allerdale and Carlisle districts, but lost parts of these areas to other seats at each boundary review.

Penrith and The Border was the largest constituency by area in England until 2024. Despite the name, it only included the Cumbrian portion of the English border with Scotland. The Northumberland portion was covered by the constituencies of Hexham and Berwick-upon-Tweed. The name stems from the fact that when the constituency was first created it consisted of the Penrith Rural and Urban Districts, the Border Rural District and also the Alston with Garrigill Rural District.

Abolition

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

Constituency profile

A heavily undulating, mostly farmed terrain dotted by market towns and historic villages, with wooded mountainsides and heath-covered tops, the constituency was focused on the Eden Valley between the Pennines and the Lake District, with the vale of the River Irthing above Carlisle. In the north towards Scotland were 8 of its 42 wards all beside or in the market town of Brampton which sits beside Hadrian's Wall.

The constituency tended to have modest incomes, low unemployment and a rate of dependency on social housing lower than urban centres.

Members of Parliament

The seat was represented for nearly three decades by William Whitelaw, who served as a cabinet minister in various capacities during Conservative governments of the 1970s and 1980s and later joined the House of Lords.

His successor, the former Conservative Chief Whip and junior minister, David Maclean, sat as MP from 1983 to 2010, when he stood down due to the state of his health; he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1996.

Maclean was succeeded by Rory Stewart in May 2010. In September 2019 Rory Stewart had the Conservative whip withdrawn and therefore sat as an Independent MP.

At the December 2019 general election, Neil Hudson of the Conservative Party became the new MP.

Election Member Party
1950 Donald Scott Conservative
1955 William Whitelaw Conservative
1983 by-election David Maclean Conservative
2010 Rory Stewart Conservative
September 2019 Independent
2019 Neil Hudson Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Neil Hudson 28,875 60.4 ±0.0
Labour Co-op Sarah Williams 10,356 21.7 ―4.5
Liberal Democrats Matthew Severn 5,364 11.2 +3.4
Green Ali Ross 2,159 4.5 +2.3
CumbriaFirst Jonathan Davies 1,070 2.2 New
Majority 18,519 38.7 +4.5
Turnout 47,824 71.7 +0.7
Conservative hold Swing +2.2
General election 2017: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rory Stewart 28,078 60.4 +0.7
Labour Lola McEvoy 12,168 26.2 +11.8
Liberal Democrats Neil Hughes 3,641 7.8 ―0.7
UKIP Kerryanne Wilde 1,142 2.5 ―9.7
Green Doug Lawson 1,029 2.2 ―3.1
Independent Jonathan Davies 412 0.9 New
Majority 15,910 34.2 ―11.1
Turnout 46,470 71.0 +3.6
Conservative hold Swing ―5.5
General election 2015: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rory Stewart 26,202 59.7 +6.3
Labour Lee Rushworth 6,308 14.4 +1.5
UKIP John Stanyer 5,353 12.2 +9.4
Liberal Democrats Neil Hughes 3,745 8.5 ―20.0
Green George Burrow 2,313 5.3 New
Majority 19,894 45.3 +20.4
Turnout 43,921 67.4 ―2.5
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2010: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rory Stewart 24,071 53.4 +2.0
Liberal Democrats Peter Thornton 12,830 28.5 +2.6
Labour Barbara Cannon 5,834 12.9 ―6.1
UKIP John Stanyer 1,259 2.8 +0.3
BNP Chris Davidson 1,093 2.4 New
Majority 11,241 24.9 ―0.6
Turnout 45,087 69.9 +3.8
Conservative hold Swing ―0.3

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Maclean 24,046 51.3 ―3.6
Liberal Democrats Kenneth Walker 12,142 25.9 +4.1
Labour Michael Boaden 8,958 19.1 +0.6
UKIP William Robinson 1,187 2.5 +0.4
Legalise Cannabis Mark Gibson 549 1.2 ―0.8
Majority 11,904 25.4 ―7.7
Turnout 46,882 66.1 +1.6
Conservative hold Swing ―3.9
General election 2001: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Maclean 24,302 54.9 +7.3
Liberal Democrats Kenneth Walker 9,625 21.8 ―4.9
Labour Michael Boaden 8,177 18.5 ―3.1
UKIP Thomas Lowther 938 2.1 New
Legalise Cannabis Mark Gibson 870 2.0 New
Independent John Moffat 337 0.8 New
Majority 14,677 33.1 +12.2
Turnout 44,249 64.5 ―9.1
Conservative hold Swing +6.1

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Maclean 23,300 47.6 ―11.1
Liberal Democrats Kenneth Walker 13,067 26.7 ―2.3
Labour Margaret Meling 10,576 21.6 +10.6
Referendum Charles Pope 2,018 4.1 New
Majority 10,233 20.9 ―8.8
Turnout 48,961 73.6 ―3.9
Conservative hold Swing ―4.4
General election 1992: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Maclean 33,808 57.5 ―2.8
Liberal Democrats Kenneth Walker 15,359 26.1 ―2.6
Labour John Metcalfe 8,871 15.1 +4.1
Green Robert A. Gibson 610 1.0 New
Natural Law Ian Docker 129 0.2 New
Majority 18,449 31.4 ―0.2
Turnout 58,777 79.7 +2.2
Conservative hold Swing ―0.1

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Maclean 33,148 60.3 +1.5
Liberal David Ivison 15,782 28.7 +0.8
Labour John Hutton 6,075 11.0 ―2.3
Majority 17,366 31.6 +1.5
Turnout 55,005 77.5 +4.4
Conservative hold Swing +0.8
By-election 1983: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Maclean 17,530 46.0 ―12.8
Liberal Michael Young 16,978 44.6 +16.7
Labour Lindsay Williams 2,834 7.4 ―5.9
Monster Raving Loony Screaming Lord Sutch 412 1.1 New
Retired Naval Officer Eric Morgan 150 0.4 New
Death off Roads: Freight on Rail Helen Anscomb 72 0.2 New
Independent Socialist John Connell 69 0.2 New
New Britain Peter Smith 35 0.1 New
Majority 552 1.4 ―28.5
Turnout 38,080 55.9 ―17.2
Conservative hold Swing ―14.8
General election 1983: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Whitelaw 29,304 58.8 ―2.4
Liberal Michael Young 13,883 27.9 +11.4
Labour Lindsay Williams 6,612 13.3 ―9.1
Majority 15,421 30.9 ―8.9
Turnout 49,799 73.1 ―3.9
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Whitelaw 26,940 61.2
Labour L.R. West 9,844 22.4
Liberal B. Wates 7,257 16.5
Majority 17,096 38.8
Turnout 44,041 77.0
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Whitelaw 23,547 58.06
Labour Joseph Norman David Weedall 9,791 24.14
Liberal Joseph Pease 7,215 17.79
Majority 13,756 33.92
Turnout 40,553 72.93
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Whitelaw 26,433 60.12
Labour Joseph Norman David Weedall 9,095 20.69
Liberal Peter Alexander 8,202 18.66
Independent William Hesmondalgh 235 0.53 New
Majority 17,338 39.43
Turnout 43,965 79.79
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Whitelaw 23,800 58.95
Labour R. Longworth 10,256 25.40
Liberal William Jackson 6,316 15.64
Majority 13,544 33.55
Turnout 40,372 74.39
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Whitelaw 20,982 52.69
Labour Kate M.A. Roberts 12,081 30.34
Liberal John R. Howe 6,757 16.97
Majority 8,901 22.35
Turnout 39,820 78.66
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Whitelaw 21,288 51.78
Labour Kate M.A. Roberts 10,490 25.59
Liberal William Jackson 9,279 22.63
Majority 10,738 26.19
Turnout 41,057 80.64
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Whitelaw 23,551 58.2 +0.7
Labour Bernard P. Atha 9,342 23.1 +0.1
Liberal Brian G. Ashmore 7,602 18.8 +0.3
Majority 14,209 35.1 +0.6
Turnout 40,495 79.1 +1.2
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Whitelaw 22,791 57.52
Labour Co-op Thomas L MacDonald 9,119 23.02
Liberal Frederick James Sleath 7,342 18.53
Ind. Conservative William Brownrigg 368 0.93
Majority 13,672 34.50
Turnout 39,620 77.88
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Donald Scott 23,274 54.07
Labour John Rafferty 10,759 24.99
Liberal Stafford Vaughan Stepney Howard 8,857 20.57
Ind. Conservative William Brownrigg 158 0.37 New
Majority 12,515 29.08
Turnout 43,048 83.47
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Penrith and The Border
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Donald Scott 21,214 48.23
Liberal Wilfrid Roberts 12,333 28.04
Labour C.J. Taylor 10,441 23.74
Majority 8,881 20.19
Turnout 43,988 85.26
Conservative win (new seat)

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. ^ "General Election results 2019". Eden District Council. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  2. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – North West | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Local statistics – Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk.
  4. ^ "Unemployment claimants by constituency". The Guardian. 17 November 2017.
  5. ^ "2011 Census Interactive – ONS". 29 January 2016. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016.
  6. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "P" (part 2)
  7. ^ "Penrith & The Border". BBC News. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  8. ^ "General Election results 2019". Eden District Council. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  9. ^ "Penrith & The Border". BBC News. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  10. ^ "General Election results 2017". Eden District Council. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  11. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Penrith & The Border". BBC News. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  13. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1955.

54°42′N 2°42′W / 54.7°N 2.7°W / 54.7; -2.7

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