South Ribble (UK Parliament Constituency)
History
The seat of South Ribble was created for the 1983 general election, following the local government changes in the 1970s which saw the creation of the main constitutive borough of the same name. It has been a classic bellwether seat since its creation, changing hands with the change of government.
Former Preston North MP Robert Atkins won the South Ribble constituency in 1983 and fought the seat in every election up to the 1997 general election. At that time, in dramatic bellwether fashion, Labour's David Borrow gained the seat on a clear majority, with nearly 26,000 votes, 2,000 less than Atkins' victory in the corresponding "landslide" year of 1983. From 1997 until 2010, David Borrow's vote total and majority consistently shrunk with a swing back to the Conservatives at every election. In terms of the other parties, Liberal Democrats have not thus far achieved better than third and 2005 saw UKIP nominating a candidate for the first time, and taking just over 1,200 votes.
Borrow finally lost South Ribble in 2010 on a large two-party swing to Conservative Lorraine Fullbrook. In 2024, the seat was regained by Labour with a swing of over 15%.
Boundaries
Historic
1983–1997: The Borough of South Ribble.
1997–2010: The Borough of South Ribble wards of Charnock, Farington, Howick, Hutton and New Longton, Kingsfold, Leyland Central, Leyland St Ambrose, Leyland St John's, Leyland St Mary's, Little Hoole and Much Hoole, Longton Central and West, Lostock Hall, Manor, Middleforth Green, Moss Side, Priory, and Seven Stars, and the District of West Lancashire wards of Hesketh with Becconsall, North Meols, Rufford, and Tarleton.
For the 1997 general election, the communities of Bamber Bridge and Walton-le-Dale were moved to the Preston constituency. To partly compensate, the four mainly rural wards in the District of West Lancashire were transferred from the West Lancashire constituency.
2010–2024: The Borough of South Ribble wards of Broad Oak, Charnock, Earnshaw Bridge, Golden Hill, Howick and Priory, Kingsfold, Leyland Central, Leyland St Ambrose, Leyland St Mary's, Little Hoole and Much Hoole, Longton and Hutton West, Lowerhouse, Middleforth, Moss Side, New Longton and Hutton East, Seven Stars, and Whitefield, the District of West Lancashire wards of Hesketh with Becconsall, North Meols, Rufford, and Tarleton, and the Borough of Chorley wards of Eccleston and Mawdesley, and Lostock.
Following the review of parliamentary representation in Lancashire prior to the 2010 general election, Walton-le-Dale and Bamber Bridge were subsequently transferred into the Ribble Valley seat, along with the villages of Samlesbury, Higher Walton, Coupe Green, Gregson Lane, Lostock Hall, Farington and Farington Moss. This meant that the borough of South Ribble was now split between the South Ribble and Ribble Valley parliamentary seats.
Current
Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 United Kingdom general election, the constituency is composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
- The Borough of Chorley wards of: Croston, Mawdesley & Euxton South; Eccleston, Heskin & Charnock Richard.
- The Borough of South Ribble wards of: Broad Oak; Broadfield; Buckshaw & Worden; Charnock; Earnshaw Bridge; Farington East; Farington West; Hoole; Howick & Priory; Leyland Central; Longton & Hutton West; Middleforth; Moss Side; New Longton & Hutton East; St. Ambrose; Seven Stars.
The four West Lancashire Borough wards were transferred to Southport. To compensate, Farington was transferred back in from Ribble Valley and there was a small gain from Chorley due to ward boundary changes.
The seat's original boundaries were coterminous with the South Ribble borough. Due to population changes, the borough of South Ribble and its parliamentary constituency have not shared the same boundaries since, although the towns of Leyland and Penwortham have always featured at the centre of the constituency.
Members of Parliament
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Paul Foster | 19,840 | 42.5 | +6.3 | |
| Conservative | Katherine Fletcher | 13,339 | 28.6 | −24.9 | |
| Reform UK | Andy Hunter | 8,995 | 19.3 | N/A | |
| Liberal Democrats | Angela Turner | 2,972 | 6.4 | −1.3 | |
| Green | Stephani Mok | 1,574 | 3.4 | +0.9 | |
| Majority | 6,501 | 13.9 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 46,720 | 63.9 | −4.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 73,420 | ||||
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
Elections in the 2010s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Katherine Fletcher | 30,028 | 55.8 | +3.0 | |
| Labour | Kim Snape | 18,829 | 35.0 | ―4.3 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Jo Barton | 3,720 | 6.9 | +3.2 | |
| Green | Andy Fewings | 1,207 | 2.2 | +1.3 | |
| Majority | 11,199 | 20.8 | +7.3 | ||
| Turnout | 53,784 | 71.4 | ―0.6 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +3.7 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Seema Kennedy | 28,980 | 52.9 | +6.4 | |
| Labour | Julie Gibson | 21,559 | 39.3 | +4.2 | |
| Liberal Democrats | John Wright | 2,073 | 3.7 | ―0.7 | |
| UKIP | Mark Smith | 1,387 | 2.5 | ―11.6 | |
| Green | Andrew Wight | 494 | 0.9 | New | |
| NHA | Mark Jamell | 341 | 0.6 | New | |
| Majority | 7,421 | 13.5 | +2.2 | ||
| Turnout | 54,834 | 72.0 | +3.5 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.1 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Seema Kennedy | 24,313 | 46.4 | +0.9 | |
| Labour | Veronica Bennett | 18,368 | 35.1 | +0.4 | |
| UKIP | David Gallagher | 7,377 | 14.1 | +10.4 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Sue McGuire | 2,312 | 4.4 | ―9.7 | |
| Majority | 5,945 | 11.3 | +0.5 | ||
| Turnout | 52,370 | 68.5 | +0.6 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Lorraine Fullbrook | 23,396 | 45.5 | +7.1 | |
| Labour | David Borrow | 17,842 | 34.7 | ―9.6 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Peter Fisher | 7,271 | 14.1 | ―0.6 | |
| UKIP | David Duxbury | 1,895 | 3.7 | +1.5 | |
| BNP | Rosalind Gauci | 1,054 | 2.0 | New | |
| Majority | 5,554 | 10.8 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 51,458 | 67.9 | +4.4 | ||
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +8.1 | |||
Elections in the 2000s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | David Borrow | 20,428 | 43.0 | ―3.4 | |
| Conservative | Lorraine Fullbrook | 18,244 | 38.4 | +0.3 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Mark Alcock | 7,634 | 16.1 | +0.6 | |
| UKIP | Kenneth Jones | 1,205 | 2.5 | New | |
| Majority | 2,184 | 4.6 | ―3.7 | ||
| Turnout | 47,511 | 63.0 | +0.5 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | ―1.9 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | David Borrow | 21,386 | 46.4 | ―0.4 | |
| Conservative | Adrian Owens | 17,584 | 38.1 | +0.5 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Mark Alcock | 7,150 | 15.5 | +4.9 | |
| Majority | 3,802 | 8.3 | ―0.9 | ||
| Turnout | 46,120 | 62.5 | ―14.6 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | ―0.5 | |||
Elections in the 1990s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | David Borrow | 25,856 | 46.8 | +12.0 | |
| Conservative | Robert Atkins | 20,772 | 37.6 | ―12.3 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Tim Farron | 5,879 | 10.6 | ―4.2 | |
| Referendum | Mark Adams | 1,475 | 2.7 | New | |
| Liberal | Nigel R. Ashton | 1,127 | 2.0 | New | |
| Natural Law | Bibette Leadbetter | 122 | 0.2 | ―0.2 | |
| Majority | 5,084 | 9.2 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 55,231 | 77.1 | ―5.9 | ||
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +12.1 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Robert Atkins | 30,828 | 47.5 | +0.3 | |
| Labour | Geoffrey Smith | 24,855 | 38.3 | +5.2 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Simon Jones | 8,928 | 13.8 | ―5.9 | |
| Natural Law | Decter Ronald | 269 | 0.4 | New | |
| Majority | 5,973 | 9.2 | ―4.9 | ||
| Turnout | 64,880 | 83.0 | +0.5 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ―2.5 | |||
Elections in the 1980s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Robert Atkins | 28,133 | 47.2 | ―1.6 | |
| Labour | David Roebuck | 19,703 | 33.1 | +6.6 | |
| Liberal | Joseph Alan Holleran | 11,746 | 19.7 | ―5.0 | |
| Majority | 8,430 | 14.1 | ―8.2 | ||
| Turnout | 59,582 | 82.5 | +4.5 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ―4.1 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Robert Atkins | 27,625 | 48.8 | ||
| Labour | Frank Duffy | 14,966 | 26.5 | ||
| Liberal | Robert Walker | 13,960 | 24.7 | ||
| Majority | 12,659 | 22.3 | |||
| Turnout | 56,551 | 78.0 | |||
| Conservative win (new seat) | |||||
See also
Notes
References
- ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – North West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ "'South Ribble', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 5 North West region.
- ^ Crewe, Ivor (1983). British Parliamentary Constituencies - a statistical compendium. faber and faber.
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 4)
- ^ "General Election 4 July Results". South Ribble Borough Council. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "South Ribble Results". BBC. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "South Ribble Borough Council leader Paul Foster selected as Labour's parliamentary candidate for the area". Lancashire Post. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "South Ribble MP Katherine Fletcher will fight to keep seat at the next general election". Lancashire Post. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "South ribble constituency". Reform UK. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ "Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". Mark Pack. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "Our Candidates". Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ "Election for the constituency of South Ribble on 12 December 2019". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Election for the constituency of South Ribble on 8 June 2017". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "South Ribble". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1997. Politics Resources. 1 May 1997. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.138 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
- ^ The 1997 election result is calculated relative to the notional, not the actual, 1992 result.
- ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
- ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
External links
- South Ribble UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
- South Ribble UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
- South Ribble UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK
