Wigan (UK Parliament Constituency)
History
Wigan was incorporated as a borough on 26 August 1246, after the issue of a charter by Henry III. In 1295 and January 1307 Wigan was one of the significant places called upon to send a representative, then known as a 'burgess', to the Model Parliament. However, for the remainder of the medieval period the seat was not summoned to send an official despite being one of only four boroughs in Lancashire possessing Royal Charters; the others were Lancaster, Liverpool and Preston. This changed in the Tudor period with Henry VIII's grant of two Members of Parliament to the town.
Following the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, single-member constituencies were imposed nationwide, meaning the seat saw a reduction of the number of its members.
The death of Roger Stott in office in 1999 made him the fourth Wigan MP in the twentieth century to die in office (uniquely for a constituency in the United Kingdom); the others were John Parkinson, Ronald Williams and William Foster.
Political history
Wigan is considered a safe seat given that it has been held by the Labour Party since 1918, with solid majorities ranging from 1,018 votes (2.2%) in 1931 to 22,643 votes (51.7%) in 1997.
Prominent frontbenchers
Member of Parliament | Notability |
---|---|
William Ewart |
|
Algernon Egerton | Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1874–80) |
Alan Fitch | Vice-Chamberlain of the Household (1968–70) |
Roger Stott |
|
Lisa Nandy |
|
Boundaries
1832–1918: The Township of Wigan.
- In 1835 Wigan became a Municipal borough, using the then current Parliamentary boundaries of the Township.
- In 1888 Wigan Municipal Borough became the County Borough of Wigan on the same boundaries.
- In 1904 Pemberton Urban District was dissolved, with the area covered by it becoming part of the County Borough of Wigan. However, for Parliamentary purposes, that area remained part of South-West Lancashire, Ince Division until the Parliamentary boundaries were redefined in 1918.
1918–1983: The County Borough of Wigan
- In 1974 the Country Borough of Wigan was abolished and superseded by the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, covering a far greater area. However, the boundary of the Parliamentary Constituency of Wigan remained unchanged until 1983, when it was expanded to cover the northern part of the Metropolitan Borough.
1983–1997: The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan wards of Aspull-Standish, Beech Hill, Ince, Langtree, Newtown, Norley, Swinley, Whelley.
1997–2010: The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan wards of Aspull-Standish, Beech Hill, Langtree, Newtown, Norley, Swinley, Whelley.
- In 2004, new ward boundaries in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan came in to effect. However, the Parliamentary boundaries remained unchanged until they were reviewed and adjusted to line up with the new ward boundaries in 2010.
2010–present: The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan wards of Aspull, New Springs and Whelley; Douglas; Ince; Pemberton; Shevington with Lower Ground; Standish with Langtree; Wigan Central; Wigan West.
The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which was based on the ward structure in place at 1 December 2020, left the boundaries unchanged.
Constituency profile
The seat is productive and has excellent links to Manchester, as well as close links to the M6, which lies just within its western border. However, over the past century, Wigan has witnessed a fall in manufacturing, particularly in the production of textiles, which have been unable to compete with the Indian subcontinent and the Far East. Another industry which has suffered is coal mining, which had been a large employer in this part of Lancashire up until the mid-20th century. There are some industrial areas remaining in and around the town centre. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal flows through the town, including the famous Wigan Pier area.
As of May 2018, the rate of JSA and Universal Credit claimants was 3.9%, higher than the national average of 2.8% and regional average of 3.7%, based on a statistical compilation by the House of Commons Library. The constituency also includes more desirable semi-rural residential villages to the north of Wigan town centre, such as Standish, which are relatively more affluent.
Members of Parliament
MPs 1295–1640
MPs 1640–1885
MPs since 1885
Notes
- ^ The Honourable Orlando Bridgeman from 1796
- ^ On petition, the election of Crosse was declared void and after scrutiny of the votes his opponent, Standish, was declared duly elected.
- ^ On petition, Powell's election was declared void and the writ was suspended. The following year a new writ was issued and a by-election was held
Elections
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. Updates on reimplementing the Graph extension, which will be known as the Chart extension, can be found on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
Elections in the 2020s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Lisa Nandy | 19,401 | 47.4 | 0.7 | |
Reform UK | Andy Dawber | 9,852 | 24.1 | 10.9 | |
Conservative | Henry Mitson | 4,310 | 10.5 | 21.3 | |
Independent | Maureen O'Bern | 3,522 | 8.6 | N/A | |
Liberal Democrats | Brian Crombie-Fisher | 1,692 | 4.1 | 1.3 | |
Green | Jane Leicester | 1,629 | 4.0 | 1.1 | |
Independent | Jan Cunliffe | 406 | 1.0 | N/A | |
Independent | The Zok | 87 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Majority | 9,549 | 23.3 | 8.4 | ||
Turnout | 40,899 | 52.9 | 6.6 | ||
Registered electors | 77,538 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | 5.1 |
Elections in the 2010s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Lisa Nandy | 21,042 | 46.7 | 15.5 | |
Conservative | Ashley Williams | 14,314 | 31.8 | 3.3 | |
Brexit Party | William Molloy | 5,959 | 13.2 | N/A | |
Liberal Democrats | Stuart Thomas | 2,428 | 5.4 | 3.6 | |
Green | Peter Jacobs | 1,299 | 2.9 | 1.3 | |
Majority | 6,728 | 14.9 | 18.8 | ||
Turnout | 45,042 | 59.5 | 3.1 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 9.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Lisa Nandy | 29,575 | 62.2 | 10.0 | |
Conservative | Alex Williams | 13,548 | 28.5 | 7.8 | |
UKIP | Nathan Ryding | 2,750 | 5.8 | 13.7 | |
Liberal Democrats | Mark Clayton | 916 | 1.8 | 1.0 | |
Green | Will Patterson | 753 | 1.6 | 1.2 | |
Majority | 16,027 | 33.7 | 2.2 | ||
Turnout | 47,542 | 62.6 | 3.1 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 1.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Lisa Nandy | 23,625 | 52.2 | 3.7 | |
Conservative | Caroline Kerswell | 9,389 | 20.7 | 4.0 | |
UKIP | Mark Bradley | 8,818 | 19.5 | 13.8 | |
Green | Will Patterson | 1,273 | 2.8 | N/A | |
Liberal Democrats | Mark Clayton | 1,255 | 2.8 | 12.6 | |
Wigan Independents | Gareth Fairhurst | 768 | 1.7 | N/A | |
Independent | Brian Parr | 165 | 0.4 | N/A | |
Majority | 14,236 | 31.5 | 7.7 | ||
Turnout | 45,293 | 59.5 | 1.1 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 3.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Lisa Nandy | 21,404 | 48.5 | 9.6 | |
Conservative | Michael Winstanley | 10,917 | 24.7 | 5.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | Mark Clayton | 6,797 | 15.4 | 1.5 | |
UKIP | Alan Freeman | 2,516 | 5.7 | 2.3 | |
BNP | Charles Mather | 2,506 | 5.7 | N/A | |
Majority | 10,487 | 23.8 | 10.5 | ||
Turnout | 44,140 | 58.4 | 6.3 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 7.7 |
Elections in the 2000s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Neil Turner | 18,901 | 55.1 | 6.6 | |
Conservative | John Coombes | 7,134 | 20.8 | 0.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | Denise Capstick | 6,051 | 17.7 | 2.9 | |
UKIP | John Whittaker | 1,166 | 3.4 | N/A | |
Community Action | Kevin Williams | 1,026 | 3.0 | N/A | |
Majority | 11,767 | 34.3 | 6.6 | ||
Turnout | 34,278 | 53.3 | 0.8 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 3.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Neil Turner | 20,739 | 61.7 | 6.9 | |
Conservative | Mark Page | 6,996 | 20.8 | 3.9 | |
Liberal Democrats | Trevor Beswick | 4,970 | 14.8 | 4.8 | |
Socialist Alliance | Dave Lowe | 886 | 2.6 | N/A | |
Majority | 13,743 | 40.9 | 10.8 | ||
Turnout | 33,591 | 52.5 | 15.2 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 5.4 |
Elections in the 1990s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Neil Turner | 9,641 | 59.6 | 9.0 | |
Conservative | Tom Peet | 2,912 | 18.0 | 1.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | Jonathan Rule | 2,148 | 13.3 | 3.3 | |
UKIP | John Whittaker | 834 | 5.2 | N/A | |
Socialist Labour | William Kelly | 240 | 1.5 | N/A | |
Green | Chris Maile | 190 | 1.2 | 0.2 | |
National Democrats | Stephen Ebbs | 100 | 0.6 | N/A | |
Natural Law | Paul Davis | 64 | 0.4 | 0.2 | |
Independent | David Braid | 58 | 0.4 | N/A | |
Majority | 6,729 | 41.6 | 10.1 | ||
Turnout | 16,187 | 25.0 | 42.7 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 5.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Roger Stott | 30,043 | 68.6 | 5.6 | |
Conservative | Mark Loveday | 7,400 | 16.9 | 6.7 | |
Liberal Democrats | Trevor Beswick | 4,390 | 10.0 | 1.0 | |
Referendum | Anthony Bradborne | 1,450 | 3.3 | N/A | |
Green | Christopher Maile | 442 | 1.0 | N/A | |
Natural Law | William Ayliffe | 94 | 0.2 | 0.2 | |
Majority | 22,643 | 51.7 | 12.3 | ||
Turnout | 43,819 | 67.7 | 8.5 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 6.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Roger Stott | 34,910 | 63.0 | 1.5 | |
Conservative | Edward Hess | 13,068 | 23.6 | 0.9 | |
Liberal Democrats | George Davies | 6,111 | 11.0 | 3.0 | |
Liberal | Kevin White | 1,116 | 2.0 | 12.0 | |
Natural Law | Annie Tayler | 197 | 0.4 | N/A | |
Majority | 21,842 | 39.4 | 2.3 | ||
Turnout | 55,402 | 76.2 | 0.4 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 1.2 |
Elections in the 1980s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Roger Stott | 33,955 | 61.5 | 6.9 | |
Conservative | Kenneth Wade | 13,493 | 24.5 | 2.0 | |
Liberal | Kevin White | 7,732 | 14.0 | 8.9 | |
Majority | 20,462 | 37.0 | 5.3 | ||
Turnout | 55,179 | 76.6 | 1.0 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 7.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Roger Stott | 29,859 | 54.6 | 5.2 | |
Liberal | John Piggott | 12,554 | 22.9 | 13.5 | |
Conservative | Henry Cadman | 12,320 | 22.5 | 7.5 | |
Majority | 17,305 | 31.7 | 1.9 | ||
Turnout | 54,734 | 75.6 | 1.5 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 1.2 |
Elections in the 1970s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alan Fitch | 26,144 | 59.8 | 6.0 | |
Conservative | Thomas Peet | 13,149 | 30.0 | 8.9 | |
Liberal | K Bruce | 4,102 | 9.4 | 3.8 | |
Workers Revolutionary | A Smith | 348 | 0.8 | N/A | |
Majority | 12,995 | 29.8 | 14.9 | ||
Turnout | 43,742 | 74.1 | 0.1 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 7.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alan Fitch | 27,692 | 65.8 | 5.5 | |
Conservative | PM Beard | 8,865 | 21.1 | 7.6 | |
Liberal | J Campbell | 5,548 | 13.2 | N/A | |
Majority | 18,827 | 44.7 | 2.1 | ||
Turnout | 42,105 | 74.0 | 1.8 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 1.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alan Fitch | 30,485 | 71.3 | 3.8 | |
Conservative | P Beard | 12,283 | 28.7 | 2.2 | |
Majority | 18,202 | 42.6 | 6.0 | ||
Turnout | 42,766 | 75.8 | 3.5 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 3.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alan Fitch | 28,102 | 67.5 | 5.4 | |
Conservative | Anthony Daniels | 12,882 | 30.9 | 5.9 | |
Communist | Jack Kay | 672 | 1.6 | 0.6 | |
Majority | 15,220 | 36.6 | 11.3 | ||
Turnout | 41,655 | 72.3 | 3.5 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 5.7 |
Elections in the 1960s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alan Fitch | 28,754 | 72.9 | 3.5 | |
Conservative | Malcolm Kingston | 9,876 | 25.0 | 3.2 | |
Communist | Michael Weaver | 858 | 2.2 | 0.2 | |
Majority | 18,878 | 47.9 | 6.7 | ||
Turnout | 42,766 | 75.8 | 3.6 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 3.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alan Fitch | 28,640 | 69.4 | 3.1 | |
Conservative | Ian K Paley | 11,648 | 28.2 | 3.4 | |
Communist | Michael Weaver | 988 | 2.4 | 0.4 | |
Majority | 16,992 | 41.2 | 6.5 | ||
Turnout | 41,276 | 79.4 | 4.4 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 3.3 |
Elections in the 1950s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alan Fitch | 30,664 | 66.3 | 1.9 | |
Conservative | John Hodgson | 14,615 | 31.6 | 0.6 | |
Communist | Michael Weaver | 945 | 2.0 | 1.4 | |
Majority | 16,049 | 34.7 | 2.5 | ||
Turnout | 46,224 | 83.8 | 3.5 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 1.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alan Fitch | 27,415 | 71.0 | 6.6 | |
Conservative | John Hodgson | 10,248 | 26.5 | 5.7 | |
Communist | Michael Weaver | 972 | 2.5 | 0.9 | |
Majority | 17,167 | 44.5 | 12.3 | ||
Turnout | 38,635 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | 6.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Ronald Williams | 29,755 | 64.4 | 2.5 | |
Conservative | Harold D Lowe | 14,883 | 32.2 | 0.9 | |
Communist | Thomas Rowlandson | 1,567 | 3.4 | N/A | |
Majority | 14,872 | 32.2 | 1.6 | ||
Turnout | 46,205 | 80.3 | 6.7 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 0.8 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Ronald Williams | 34,530 | 66.9 | 4.4 | |
Conservative | Dennis C Walls | 17,078 | 33.1 | 3.1 | |
Majority | 17,452 | 33.8 | 1.3 | ||
Turnout | 51,608 | 87.0 | 2.3 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 0.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Ronald Williams | 32,746 | 62.5 | 5.7 | |
Conservative | Harold Dowling | 15,733 | 30.0 | 1.8 | |
Liberal | Ian Webster | 2,651 | 5.0 | N/A | |
Communist | Thomas Rowlandson | 1,243 | 2.4 | N/A | |
Majority | 17,013 | 32.5 | 3.9 | ||
Turnout | 52,373 | 89.3 | 8.9 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 2.0 |
Elections in the 1940s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Ronald Williams | 28,941 | 59.1 | 9.1 | |
Conservative | Harold Dowling | 17,466 | 35.6 | 3.8 | |
Communist | Thomas Rowlandson | 1,647 | 3.7 | New | |
King's Cavalier | Owen L Roberts | 932 | 1.6 | New | |
Majority | 11,475 | 23.4 | 12.9 | ||
Turnout | 48,986 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | 6.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William Foster | 31,392 | 68.2 | 6.9 | |
Conservative | Evelyn Charles Lacy Hulbert-Powell | 14,666 | 31.8 | 6.9 | |
Majority | 16,726 | 36.4 | 13.8 | ||
Turnout | 46,058 | 80.4 | 1.3 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 6.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William Foster | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold |
Elections in the 1930s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Parkinson | 27,950 | 61.3 | 10.2 | |
Conservative | Robert Grant-Ferris | 17,646 | 38.7 | 10.2 | |
Majority | 10,304 | 22.6 | 20.4 | ||
Turnout | 45,596 | 81.7 | 2.5 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 10.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Parkinson | 23,544 | 51.1 | 7.4 | |
Conservative | Geoffrey Dorling Roberts | 22,526 | 48.9 | 10.2 | |
Majority | 1,018 | 2.2 | 17.6 | ||
Turnout | 46,070 | 84.2 | 2.7 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 8.8 |
Elections in the 1920s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Parkinson | 27,462 | 58.5 | 0.9 | |
Unionist | Ernest Barlow | 18,144 | 38.7 | 3.7 | |
Communist | Frank Bright | 1,307 | 2.8 | N/A | |
Majority | 9,318 | 19.8 | 4.6 | ||
Turnout | 46,913 | 86.9 | 1.0 | ||
Registered electors | 54,008 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | 2.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Parkinson | 20,350 | 57.6 | 0.0 | |
Unionist | David Maxwell Fyfe | 15,006 | 42.4 | 0.0 | |
Majority | 5,344 | 15.2 | 0.0 | ||
Turnout | 35,356 | 87.9 | 2.9 | ||
Registered electors | 40,217 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | 0.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Parkinson | 19,637 | 57.6 | 1.1 | |
Unionist | David Lindsay | 14,451 | 42.4 | 1.1 | |
Majority | 5,186 | 15.2 | 2.2 | ||
Turnout | 34,088 | 85.0 | 3.9 | ||
Registered electors | 40,105 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | 1.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Parkinson | 20,079 | 56.5 | 8.5 | |
Unionist | Albert Edward Baucher | 15,436 | 43.5 | 0.5 | |
Majority | 4,643 | 13.0 | 8.0 | ||
Turnout | 35,515 | 88.9 | 19.5 | ||
Registered electors | 39,929 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | 4.0 |
Elections in the 1910s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Parkinson | 12,914 | 48.0 | 1.2 | |
C | Unionist | Reginald Neville | 11,584 | 43.0 | 10.2 |
Liberal | Robert Alstead | 2,434 | 9.0 | N/A | |
Majority | 1,330 | 5.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 26,932 | 69.4 | 22.3 | ||
Registered electors | 38,811 | ||||
Labour gain from Unionist | Swing | 5.7 | |||
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. |
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;
- Unionist: Reginald Neville
- Labour: Henry Twist
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Reginald Neville | 4,673 | 53.2 | 6.0 | |
Labour | Henry Twist | 4,110 | 46.8 | 6.0 | |
Majority | 563 | 6.4 | 0.8 | ||
Turnout | 8,783 | 91.7 | 3.3 | ||
Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 6.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Henry Twist | 4,803 | 52.8 | N/A | |
Conservative | Reginald Neville | 4,293 | 47.2 | 0.6 | |
Majority | 510 | 5.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 9,096 | 95.0 | 7.8 | ||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
Elections in the 1900s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Francis Powell | 3,573 | 46.6 | 8.1 | |
Independent Labour | Thorley Smith | 2,205 | 28.7 | N/A | |
Liberal | William Woods | 1,900 | 24.7 | 20.6 | |
Majority | 1,368 | 17.9 | 8.5 | ||
Turnout | 7,678 | 87.2 | 1.6 | ||
Registered electors | 8,804 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | 6.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Francis Powell | 3,772 | 54.7 | 1.5 | |
Liberal | William Woods | 3,130 | 45.3 | 1.5 | |
Majority | 642 | 9.4 | 3.0 | ||
Turnout | 6,902 | 85.6 | 3.7 | ||
Registered electors | 8,059 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | 1.5 |
Elections in the 1890s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Francis Powell | 3,949 | 56.2 | 5.4 | |
Lib-Lab | Thomas Aspinwall | 3,075 | 43.8 | 5.4 | |
Majority | 874 | 12.4 | 10.8 | ||
Turnout | 7,024 | 89.3 | 1.8 | ||
Registered electors | 7,864 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | 5.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Francis Powell | 3,422 | 50.8 | 4.0 | |
Lib-Lab | Thomas Aspinwall | 3,312 | 49.2 | 4.0 | |
Majority | 110 | 1.6 | 8.0 | ||
Turnout | 6,734 | 91.1 | 3.1 | ||
Registered electors | 7,390 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | 4.0 |
Elections in the 1880s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Francis Powell | 3,371 | 54.8 | 2.4 | |
Liberal | Cornelius McLeod Percy | 2,780 | 45.2 | 2.4 | |
Majority | 591 | 9.6 | 4.8 | ||
Turnout | 6,151 | 88.0 | 3.0 | ||
Registered electors | 6,988 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | 2.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Francis Powell | 3,637 | 57.2 | 5.7 | |
Liberal | George Harris Lea (judge) | 2,721 | 42.8 | 5.8 | |
Majority | 916 | 14.4 | 14.1 | ||
Turnout | 6,358 | 91.0 | 2.1 (est) | ||
Registered electors | 6,988 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | 5.8 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Nathaniel Eckersley | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
- Caused by Knowles' death.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Algernon Egerton | 2,867 | 56.1 | 4.6 | |
Liberal | Walter Wren | 2,243 | 43.9 | 4.7 | |
Majority | 624 | 12.2 | 11.9 | ||
Turnout | 5,110 | 83.8 | 9.3 (est) | ||
Registered electors | 6,097 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | 4.7 |
- Caused by the previous election being declared void on petition.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Francis Powell | 3,005 | 54.2 | 2.7 | |
Liberal | John Lancaster | 2,536 | 45.8 | 2.8 | |
Majority | 469 | 8.4 | 8.1 | ||
Turnout | 5,541 | 93.3 | 0.2 (est) | ||
Registered electors | 5,937 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | 2.8 |
- Caused by Lindsay's elevation to the peerage, becoming Earl of Crawford and Balcarres. This by-election was later voided on petition.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Lord Lindsay | 2,946 | 25.9 | 2.0 | |
Conservative | Thomas Knowles | 2,913 | 25.6 | 1.3 | |
Liberal | John Lancaster | 2,880 | 25.3 | 4.2 | |
Liberal | George McCorquodale | 2,653 | 23.3 | 11.8 | |
Majority | 33 | 0.3 | 5.5 | ||
Turnout | 5,696 (est) | 93.1 (est) | 4.8 | ||
Registered electors | 6,120 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | 3.1 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | 6.6 |
Elections in the 1870s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | James Lindsay | 2,493 | 27.9 | 4.4 | |
Conservative | Thomas Knowles | 2,401 | 26.9 | 4.0 | |
Liberal | John Lancaster | 1,883 | 21.1 | 5.4 | |
Lib-Lab | William Pickard | 1,134 | 12.7 | N/A | |
Liberal | Henry Woods | 1,029 | 11.5 | 15.6 | |
Majority | 518 | 5.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 4,470 (est) | 88.3 (est) | 5.5 | ||
Registered electors | 5,062 | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | 7.5 | |||
Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | 7.3 |
Elections in the 1860s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Henry Woods | 2,219 | 27.1 | N/A | |
Liberal | John Lancaster | 2,166 | 26.5 | N/A | |
Conservative | Nathaniel Eckersley | 1,920 | 23.5 | N/A | |
Conservative | John Pearson | 1,875 | 22.9 | N/A | |
Majority | 246 | 3.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 4,090 (est) | 82.8 (est) | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 4,939 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Nathaniel Eckersley | 411 | 54.1 | N/A | |
Liberal | John Lancaster | 349 | 45.9 | N/A | |
Majority | 62 | 8.2 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 760 | 88.1 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 863 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
- Caused by Lindsay's resignation due to prolonged service in Canada in the British Army.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | James Lindsay | Unopposed | |||
Liberal | Henry Woods | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 863 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Liberal hold |
Elections in the 1850s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | James Lindsay | 500 | 40.0 | 15.2 | |
Liberal | Henry Woods | 476 | 38.1 | 2.3 | |
Conservative | Francis Powell | 273 | 21.9 | 17.5 | |
Turnout | 625 (est) | 74.8 (est) | 4.5 | ||
Registered electors | 835 | ||||
Majority | 24 | 1.9 | 1.7 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | 7.0 | |||
Majority | 203 | 16.2 | 5.2 | ||
Liberal hold | Swing | 2.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Francis Powell | 492 | 39.4 | 8.4 | |
Whig | Henry Woods | 447 | 35.8 | 0.8 | |
Conservative | James Lindsay | 309 | 24.8 | 9.2 | |
Turnout | 624 (est) | 78.3 (est) | 5.5 | ||
Registered electors | 797 | ||||
Majority | 45 | 3.6 | N/A | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | 4.0 | |||
Majority | 138 | 11.0 | 7.0 | ||
Whig hold | Swing | 0.8 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Joseph Acton | 339 | 50.4 | 15.4 | |
Conservative | Francis Powell | 334 | 49.6 | 15.4 | |
Majority | 5 | 0.8 | 3.2 | ||
Turnout | 673 | 85.4 | 12.6 | ||
Registered electors | 788 | ||||
Whig hold | Swing | 15.4 |
- Caused by Thicknesse's death.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Ralph Anthony Thicknesse | 366 | 35.0 | N/A | |
Conservative | James Lindsay | 356 | 34.0 | N/A | |
Conservative | Francis Powell | 324 | 31.0 | N/A | |
Majority | 42 | 4.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 523 (est) | 72.8 (est) | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 797 | ||||
Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
Elections in the 1840s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | James Lindsay | Unopposed | |||
Whig | Ralph Anthony Thicknesse | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 637 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Whig gain from Conservative |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | James Lindsay | 274 | 56.5 | 5.8 | |
Whig | Ralph Anthony Thicknesse | 211 | 43.5 | 5.8 | |
Majority | 63 | 13.0 | 12.6 | ||
Turnout | 485 | 93.8 | 2.3 | ||
Registered electors | 517 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | 5.8 |
- Caused by Greenall's death.
After the 1841 election, Crosse was unseated on petition and Standish was declared elected in his place on 11 April 1842.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Peter Greenall | 273 | 25.6 | 1.1 | |
Conservative | Thomas Bright Crosse | 268 | 25.1 | 2.5 | |
Whig | Charles Strickland Standish | 264 | 24.7 | 11.4 | |
Whig | Charles Grenfell | 263 | 24.6 | 11.3 | |
Majority | 4 | 0.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 536 | 91.5 | 4.5 | ||
Registered electors | 586 | ||||
Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | 5.1 | |||
Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | 4.4 |
Elections in the 1830s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Radical | William Ewart | 261 | 50.2 | 24.0 | |
Conservative | John Hodson Kearsley | 259 | 49.8 | 2.7 | |
Majority | 2 | 0.4 | 1.3 | ||
Turnout | 520 | 94.4 | 7.4 | ||
Registered electors | 551 | ||||
Radical hold | Swing | 10.7 |
- Caused by Potter's resignation
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Charles Strickland Standish | 249 | 26.7 | 1.3 | |
Radical | Richard Potter | 245 | 26.2 | 3.0 | |
Conservative | John Hodson Kearsley | 229 | 24.5 | 1.9 | |
Conservative | Peter Greenall | 211 | 22.6 | 0.1 | |
Turnout | 469 | 87.0 | 5.3 | ||
Registered electors | 539 | ||||
Majority | 20 | 2.2 | N/A | ||
Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | 0.2 | |||
Majority | 34 | 3.6 | 0.2 | ||
Radical hold | Swing | 2.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Hodson Kearsley | 296 | 45.3 | 27.6 | |
Radical | Richard Potter | 191 | 29.2 | 22.4 | |
Whig | Charles Strickland Standish | 166 | 25.4 | 5.3 | |
Turnout | 457 | 92.3 | 2.2 | ||
Registered electors | 495 | ||||
Majority | 130 | 19.9 | N/A | ||
Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | 16.5 | |||
Majority | 25 | 3.8 | 8.6 | ||
Radical hold | Swing | 18.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Ralph Thicknesse | 302 | 30.7 | 17.0 | |
Radical | Richard Potter | 296 | 30.1 | 26.6 | |
Radical | James Whittle | 212 | 21.5 | 18.0 | |
Tory | John Hodson Kearsley | 174 | 17.7 | 27.6 | |
Turnout | 435 | 90.1 | c. 58.4 | ||
Registered electors | 483 | ||||
Majority | 90 | 9.2 | 21.1 | ||
Whig hold | Swing | 19.7 | |||
Majority | 122 | 12.4 | N/A | ||
Radical gain from Tory | Swing | 20.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Ralph Thicknesse | 41 | 47.7 | 41.9 | |
Tory | John Hodson Kearsley | 24 | 27.9 | 18.0 | |
Tory | Richard Bootle-Wilbraham | 15 | 17.4 | 28.5 | |
Radical | Richard Potter | 6 | 7.0 | 4.5 | |
Turnout | 38 | c. 31.7 | c. 20.0 | ||
Registered electors | c. 120 | ||||
Majority | 26 | 30.3 | N/A | ||
Whig gain from Tory | Swing | 32.6 | |||
Majority | 18 | 20.9 | 6.4 | ||
Tory hold | Swing | 19.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | John Hodson Kearsley | 48 | 92.3 | 0.6 | |
Whig | James Hardcastle | 4 | 7.7 | 1.9 | |
Majority | 44 | 84.6 | 57.3 | ||
Turnout | 52 | c. 43.3 | c. 8.4 | ||
Registered electors | c. 120 | ||||
Tory hold | Swing | 0.7 |
- Caused by Hodson's resignation
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | James Alexander Hodson | 54 | 44.6 | ||
Tory | James Lindsay (1793–1855) | 45 | 37.2 | ||
Tory | John Hodson Kearsley | 12 | 9.9 | ||
Whig | James Hardcastle | 7 | 5.8 | ||
Radical | Richard Potter | 3 | 2.5 | ||
Majority | 33 | 27.3 | |||
Turnout | 62 | c. 51.7 | |||
Registered electors | c. 120 | ||||
Tory hold | |||||
Tory hold |
See also
Notes
- ^ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
- ^ 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.
- ^ Exceptions were the twenty-three borough constituencies, the City of London and the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin
- ^ Nominee of the Lancashire and Cheshire Women's Textile and Other Workers Representation Committee
References
- ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – North West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ "Townships: Wigan | British History Online".
- ^ Parliamentary Boundaries Act 1832
- ^ Municipal Corporations Act 1835
- ^ "View: Lancashire XCIII (includes: Billinge and Winstanley; Orrell; Wigan.) - Ordnance Survey Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952". maps.nls.uk.
- ^ Local Government Act 1888
- ^ "A History of the County of Lancaster | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk.
- ^ A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 4
- ^ Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
- ^ Representation of the People Act 1918
- ^ "View: Lancashire XCIII.SE (includes: Ashton in Makerfield; Ince in Makerfield; Wigan.) - Ordnance Survey Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952". maps.nls.uk.
- ^ Local Administrative Units: Northern England, Frederic A. Youngs, Jr, Royal Historical Society, 1991
- ^ Representation of the People Act 1948
- ^ Boundary Commission for England: First Periodical Report
- ^ Boundary Commission for England: Second Periodical Report
- ^ Local Government Act 1972
- ^ Boundary Commission for England: Third Periodical Report
- ^ Boundary Commission for England: Fourth Periodical Report
- ^ Boundary Commission for England: Fifth Periodical Report
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 5 North West region.
- ^ McGuinness, Feargal; Powell, Andy (12 June 2018). People claiming unemployment benefits by constituency, May 2018 (Report).
- ^ "History of Parliament". Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "Gerard, Sir Gilbert (d.1593), of Ince, Lancs. and Gerrard's Bromley, Staffs". History of Parliament.
- ^ "Wigan". History of Parliament.
- ^ "Gerard, Sir Gilbert, 1st Bt. (1587–1670), of Flambards, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Mdx". History of Parliament.
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 4)
- ^ Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 188–190. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
- ^ Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. pp. 186, 212.
- ^ "POTTER, Richard, 1778–1833, politician". Archives Hub. Jisc. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
- ^ Donnelly, Sue (22 January 2015). "Beatrice Webb – the early years". LSE History. The London School of Economics and Political Science. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
- ^ Dod, Charles Roger; Dod, Robert Phipps (1847). Dod's Parliamentary Companion, Volume 15. Dod's Parliamentary Companion. p. 164. Retrieved 1 September 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ Boase, George Clement (1889). Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 18. London: Smith, Elder & Co. . In
- ^ Farrell, S. M. (9 January 2014) [2004]. "Ewart, William (1798–1869)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9011.
- ^ "Leeds Intelligencer". 31 July 1841. p. 7. Retrieved 1 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Dumfries Burghs". Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser. 10 July 1841. p. 7. Retrieved 1 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "The General Election". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser. 31 July 1847. pp. 2, 3, 6, 7. Retrieved 22 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "The Late Elections". Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser. 14 August 1847. pp. 3, 7, 8. Retrieved 22 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Wigan Election". Coventry Standard. 6 October 1854. p. 2. Retrieved 22 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "UK General Election - Results 4th July 2024". Wigan Council. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "Statement of persons nominated" (PDF).
- ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "Wigan". BBC News.
- ^ "Wigan". BBC News. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Wigan". BBC News.
- ^ "The BNP Announces Candidates for Makerfield, Leigh and Wigan".
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
- ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "UK". Politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
- ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "UK". Politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
- ^ "UK". Politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
- ^ "UK". Politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
- ^ "UK". Politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
- ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
- ^ Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. p. 209. ISBN 9781349022984.
- ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
- ^ The Liberal Year Book, 1907
- ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
- ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
- ^ Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 331–332. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
- ^ "Wigan Election". Todmorden & District News. 8 December 1882. p. 9. Retrieved 15 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Wigan". The Morning Post. 17 November 1868. pp. 5–6. Retrieved 23 March 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Election Intelligence." Times [London, England] 27 March 1866: 5. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 29 September 2013.
- ^ Bairstow, Stephen; Fisher, David R. "Wigan". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
Sources
- Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) A Chronological Register of Both Houses of the British Parliament, from the Union in 1708, to the Third Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in 1807
- D Brunton & D H Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
- Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) titles A-Z
- F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
- Maija Jansson (ed.), Proceedings in Parliament, 1614 (House of Commons) (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1988)
- J E Neale, The Elizabethan House of Commons (London: Jonathan Cape, 1949)
- Henry Stooks Smith, The Parliaments of England from 1715 to 1847 (2nd edition, edited by FWS Craig - Chichester: Parliamentary Reference Publications, 1973)
External links
- Wigan UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
- Wigan UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
- Wigan UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK