Stoke-on-Trent Central (UK Parliament Constituency)
Boundaries
1950–1955: Wards 10 to 18 and 28 of the county borough of Stoke on Trent.
1955–1983: Wards 9 to 16 of the county borough of Stoke on Trent.
1983–2010: The Abbey, Berryhill, Brookhouse, Hanley Green, Hartshill, Shelton and Stoke West wards of the City of Stoke-on-Trent.
2010–2024:
Since the implementation of the Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies after the 2005 election the seat has had these electoral wards:
- Abbey Green, Bentilee and Townsend, Berryhill and Hanley East, Hanley West and Shelton, Hartshill and Penkhull, Northwood and Birches Head, and Stoke and Trent Vale in the City of Stoke-on-Trent.
2024-present:
Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the 2024 United Kingdom general election, the constituency is composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
- The City of Stoke-on-Trent wards of: Abbey Hulton and Townsend; Bentilee and Ubberley; Birches Head and Central Forest Park; Boothen and Oak Hill; Eaton Park; Etruria and Hanley; Fenton East; Fenton West and Mount Pleasant; Hanley Park and Shelton; Hartshill and Basford; Joiner’s Square; Meir Hay; Penkhull and Stoke; Sandford Hill; Sneyd Green; Springfields and Trent Vale.
In order to bring the electorate within the permitted range, significant parts of the Stoke-on-Trent South constituency will be transferred in, including the town of Fenton. In addition, the boundary with Stoke-on-Trent North will be re-aligned to take account of changes to ward boundaries.
Following a further local government boundary review in the City of Stoke-on-Trent which came into effect in May 2023, the constituency will now comprise the following from the 2024 general election:
- The City of Stoke-on-Trent wards of: Abbey Hulton; Basford & Hartshill; Bentilee, Ubberley & Townsend; Birches Head & Northwood; Boothen; Etruria and Hanley (nearly all); Bucknall & Eaton Park; Fenton East; Fenton West & Mount Pleasant; Hanley Park, Joiner’s Square & Shelton; Hartshill Park & Stoke; Meir Hay North, Parkhall & Weston Coney (part); Moorcroft & Sneyd Green (part); Penkhull & Springfields; Sandford Hill; Trent Vale & Oak Hill; and a very small part of Longton & Meir Hay South.
Constituency Profile
The contribution of the city to Britain's economy and history is prominent as home to Staffordshire Potteries: Aynsley, Burleigh, Doulton, Dudson, Heron Cross, Minton, Moorcroft, Twyford and Wedgwood, most in this particular seat.
Owing to a reduction in clay and coal excavation works in the area, and canal trade, this seat has the highest unemployment rates of the three Stoke seats; this seat has 6.2% of workless registered unemployment benefit claimants, compared to a national average of 3.8% and regional average of 4.7%.
History
The constituency was created for the 1950 general election. The large town had, in succession, two forerunners, the first of which gained representation by way of the "Great Reform Act" in 1832. The constituency has a majority of residents from a clear-cut working-class background, many of whom work or have worked in trade union-represented industries. Of these, many were employed in The Potteries, the smaller foundries or in nearby hubs for the civil infrastructure and automotive industries; the latter of these remains an important source of employment in the region. The constituency's housing—overwhelmingly low-rise, and in some cases highly ornate Victorian terraces and semi-detached houses—is, compared with Staffordshire as a whole, a relatively dense urban network of streets.
Political history
Statistics are confusing as to the current status of the area, reflecting the great demographic—in particular, economic sector—changes in the constituency. Tristram Hunt's result at the 2015 general election gave the seat the 60th-most marginal majority of the Labour Party's 232 seats, measured by percentage of majority. Labour's continuous tenure of Stoke-on-Trent Central from 1950 to 2019 placed it among the approximately 120 constituencies of the 232 which returned Labour members in 2015—all their predecessor areas included—to have withstood landslides for the Conservative Party during the intervening period (such as the 1983 general election). Stoke-on-Trent Central ranked highest for political apathy at the 2015 election, recording the lowest turnout in the United Kingdom.
Prominent members
Barnett Stross was awarded the Order of the White Lion in recognition of his role in the development of relations between the UK and Czechoslovakia, and for his role in the renewal of the substantial village of Lidice; he also led statutory efforts that began specific protection of workers against industrial disease.
Mark Fisher was for 13 months the Minister for the Arts at the outset of the Blair ministry.
Tristram Hunt was the Shadow Secretary of State for Education in the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet from October 2013 until September 2015.
Members of Parliament
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour Co-op | Gareth Snell | 14,950 | 42.4 | 0.5 | |
Reform UK | Luke Shenton | 8,541 | 24.2 | 19.9 | |
Conservative | Chandra Kanneganti | 6,221 | 17.6 | 29.5 | |
Independent | Navid Kaleem | 2,281 | 6.5 | New | |
Green | Adam Colclough | 1,703 | 4.8 | 2.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | Laura McCarthy | 999 | 2.8 | 1.0 | |
Independent | Andy Polshaw | 315 | 0.9 | New | |
Independent | AliRom Alirom | 279 | 0.8 | New | |
Majority | 6,409 | 18.2 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 35,289 | 48.0 | 9.7 | ||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 14.5 |
Elections in the 2010s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Jo Gideon | 14,557 | 45.4 | 5.6 | |
Labour Co-op | Gareth Snell | 13,887 | 43.3 | 8.2 | |
Brexit Party | Tariq Mahmood | 1,691 | 5.3 | New | |
Liberal Democrats | Steven Pritchard | 1,116 | 3.5 | 1.5 | |
Green | Adam Colclough | 819 | 2.6 | 1.5 | |
Majority | 670 | 2.1 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 32,070 | 57.9 | 0.9 | ||
Conservative gain from Labour Co-op | Swing | 6.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour Co-op | Gareth Snell | 17,083 | 51.5 | 12.2 | |
Conservative | Daniel Jellyman | 13,186 | 39.8 | 17.2 | |
UKIP | Mick Harold | 1,608 | 4.8 | 17.9 | |
Liberal Democrats | Peter Andras | 680 | 2.0 | 2.2 | |
Green | Adam Colclough | 378 | 1.1 | 2.5 | |
Independent | Barbara Fielding | 210 | 0.6 | New | |
Majority | 3,897 | 11.7 | 4.9 | ||
Turnout | 33,145 | 57.0 | 7.1 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 2.5 |
Vote changes are made with reference to the 2015 general election, not to the 2017 by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Gareth Snell | 7,853 | 37.1 | -2.2 | |
UKIP | Paul Nuttall | 5,233 | 24.7 | +2.0 | |
Conservative | Jack Brereton | 5,154 | 24.3 | +1.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | Zulfiqar Ali | 2,083 | 9.8 | +5.6 | |
Green | Adam Colclough | 294 | 1.4 | -2.2 | |
Independent | Barbara Fielding | 137 | 0.6 | New | |
Monster Raving Loony | The Incredible Flying Brick | 127 | 0.6 | New | |
BNP | David Furness | 124 | 0.6 | New | |
CPA | Godfrey Davies | 109 | 0.5 | New | |
Independent | Mohammad Akram | 56 | 0.3 | New | |
Majority | 2,620 | 12.4 | -4.2 | ||
Turnout | 21,200 | 38.2 | -11.7 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -2.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Tristram Hunt | 12,220 | 39.3 | +0.5 | |
UKIP | Mick Harold | 7,041 | 22.7 | +18.4 | |
Conservative | Liam Marshall-Ascough | 7,008 | 22.5 | +1.5 | |
Independent | Mark Breeze | 2,120 | 6.8 | New | |
Liberal Democrats | Zulfiqar Ali | 1,296 | 4.2 | -17.5 | |
Green | Jan Zablocki | 1,123 | 3.6 | New | |
CISTA | Ali Majid | 244 | 0.8 | New | |
The Ubuntu Party | Paul Toussaint | 32 | 0.1 | New | |
Majority | 5,179 | 16.6 | -0.5 | ||
Turnout | 31,084 | 49.9 | -3.3 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -8.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Tristram Hunt | 12,605 | 38.8 | -13.6 | |
Liberal Democrats | John Redfern | 7,039 | 21.7 | +3.1 | |
Conservative | Norsheen Bhatti | 6,833 | 21.0 | +3.7 | |
BNP | Simon Darby | 2,502 | 7.7 | -0.1 | |
UKIP | Carol Lovatt | 1,402 | 4.3 | +1.1 | |
Independent | Paul Breeze | 959 | 3.0 | New | |
Independent | Gary Elsby | 399 | 1.2 | New | |
City Independents | Brian Ward | 303 | 0.9 | New | |
Independent | Alby Walker | 295 | 0.9 | New | |
TUSC | Matthew Wright | 133 | 0.4 | New | |
Majority | 5,566 | 17.1 | -12.9 | ||
Turnout | 32,470 | 53.2 | +4.5 | ||
Labour win (new seat) |
Elections in the 2000s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Mark Fisher | 14,760 | 52.9 | -7.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | John Redfern | 4,986 | 17.9 | +3.2 | |
Conservative | Esther Baroudy | 4,823 | 17.3 | -1.5 | |
BNP | Michael Coleman | 2,178 | 7.8 | New | |
UKIP | Joseph Bonfiglio | 914 | 3.3 | New | |
Socialist Alternative | Jim Cessford | 246 | 0.9 | New | |
Majority | 9,774 | 35.0 | -6.9 | ||
Turnout | 27,907 | 48.4 | +1.0 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -5.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Mark Fisher | 17,170 | 60.7 | -5.5 | |
Conservative | Jill Clark | 5,325 | 18.8 | +2.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | Gavin Webb | 4,148 | 14.7 | +2.8 | |
Independent | Richard Wise | 1,657 | 5.9 | New | |
Majority | 11,845 | 41.9 | -7.6 | ||
Turnout | 28,300 | 47.4 | -15.4 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -3.9 |
Elections in the 1990s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Mark Fisher | 26,662 | 66.2 | +8.2 | |
Conservative | Neil Jones | 6,738 | 16.7 | -11.2 | |
Liberal Democrats | Ed Fordham | 4,809 | 11.9 | -1.7 | |
Referendum | Peter L. Stanyer | 1,071 | 2.7 | New | |
BNP | Michael Coleman | 606 | 1.5 | New | |
Liberal | Fran M. Oborski | 359 | 0.9 | New | |
Majority | 19,924 | 49.5 | +19.4 | ||
Turnout | 40,245 | 62.8 | -5.3 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | +9.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Mark Fisher | 25,897 | 58.0 | +5.5 | |
Conservative | Nick Gibb | 12,477 | 27.9 | -3.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | Martin Dent | 6,073 | 13.6 | New | |
Natural Law | Nicholas Pullen | 196 | 0.4 | New | |
Majority | 13,420 | 30.1 | +8.6 | ||
Turnout | 44,643 | 68.1 | -0.7 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | +4.3 |
Elections in the 1980s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Mark Fisher | 23,842 | 52.5 | +4.4 | |
Conservative | David Stone | 14,072 | 31.0 | +1.6 | |
SDP | Iain Cundy | 7,462 | 16.4 | -5.1 | |
Majority | 9,770 | 21.5 | +2.8 | ||
Turnout | 45,376 | 68.8 | +2.9 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | +3.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Mark Fisher | 21,194 | 48.1 | -12.1 | |
Conservative | Keith Mans | 12,944 | 29.4 | -0.1 | |
SDP | Vicki Freeman | 9,458 | 21.5 | New | |
Monster Raving Loony | Clive Cook | 504 | 1.1 | New | |
Majority | 8,250 | 18.7 | -12.0 | ||
Turnout | 44,102 | 65.9 | -3.1 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | −-6.0 |
Elections in the 1970s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Robert Cant | 24,707 | 60.2 | -0.2 | |
Conservative | Wallace Williams | 12,104 | 29.5 | +5.7 | |
Liberal | Alan Thomas | 4,260 | 10.4 | -5.4 | |
Majority | 12,603 | 30.7 | -5.9 | ||
Turnout | 41,073 | 69.0 | +3.7 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -3.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Robert Cant | 24,146 | 60.4 | -3.4 | |
Conservative | Wallace Williams | 9,493 | 23.8 | -12.4 | |
Liberal | Alan Thomas | 6,313 | 15.8 | New | |
Majority | 14,653 | 36.6 | +9.0 | ||
Turnout | 39,952 | 65.3 | -5.0 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | +4.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Robert Cant | 27,171 | 63.8 | +1.2 | |
Conservative | E Ashley | 15,423 | 36.2 | -1.2 | |
Majority | 11,748 | 27.6 | +2.4 | ||
Turnout | 42,594 | 70.2 | +20.2 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | +1.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Robert Cant | 18,758 | 62.6 | -5.5 | |
Conservative | E Ashley | 11,227 | 37.4 | +5.5 | |
Majority | 7,531 | 25.2 | -11.0 | ||
Turnout | 29,594 | 50.0 | -18.3 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -5.5 |
Elections in the 1960s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Robert Cant | 26,663 | 68.1 | +3.9 | |
Conservative | KG Reeves | 12,515 | 31.9 | -3.9 | |
Majority | 14,148 | 36.2 | +7.8 | ||
Turnout | 39,178 | 68.3 | -4.0 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | +3.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Barnett Stross | 27,424 | 64.2 | +3.1 | |
Conservative | Julian PH Harrison | 15,322 | 35.8 | -3.1 | |
Majority | 12,102 | 28.4 | +6.2 | ||
Turnout | 42,746 | 72.3 | -3.0 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -3.0 |
Elections in the 1950s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Barnett Stross | 28,630 | 61.1 | -2.8 | |
Conservative | Julian PH Harrison | 18,205 | 38.9 | +2.8 | |
Majority | 10,425 | 22.2 | -5.4 | ||
Turnout | 46,835 | 75.3 | +4.0 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -2.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Barnett Stross | 28,452 | 63.9 | -0.7 | |
Conservative | Geoffrey B Price | 16,097 | 36.1 | +0.7 | |
Majority | 12,355 | 27.8 | -1.5 | ||
Turnout | 44,549 | 71.3 | -10.8 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -0.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Barnett Stross | 34,260 | 64.6 | -0.9 | |
Conservative | H Ronald Fleck | 18,770 | 35.4 | +0.9 | |
Majority | 15,490 | 29.2 | -1.8 | ||
Turnout | 53,030 | 82.2 | -1.0 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -0.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Barnett Stross | 34,908 | 65.5 | ||
Conservative | W Hancock | 18,361 | 34.5 | ||
Majority | 16,547 | 31.0 | |||
Turnout | 53,269 | 83.2 | |||
Labour win (new seat) |
See also
- List of parliamentary constituencies in Staffordshire
- List of parliamentary constituencies in West Midlands (region)