Ashton-under-Lyne (UK Parliament constituency)

Constituency profile

The constituency is located in Greater Manchester and consists of the north-western part of the metropolitan borough of Tameside. It is almost entirely urban and suburban, and contains the connected towns of Ashton-under-Lyne, Dukinfield, Audenshaw and Droylsden.

Like much of Greater Manchester, Ashton-under-Lyne and its surroundings were traditionally a significant hub for manufacturing, specifically of textiles. Residents of the constituency are, on average, less wealthy and less likely to be degree-educated compared to the country as a whole. The ethnic makeup of the constituency is similar to the national average. At the most recent borough council elections in 2024, voters in Ashton-under-Lyne and the nearby towns elected primarily Labour councillors. Voters in the constituency were in favour of leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, with an estimated 63% of the electorate voting for Brexit.

Boundaries

Historic

1832–1885: The area defined by the Ashton-under-Lyne Improvement Act 1827 (7 & 8 Geo. 4. c. lxxvii).

1885–1918: The existing parliamentary borough, and so much of the parish of Ashton-under-Lyne included in the local government district of Hurst as was not already included in the parliamentary borough.

1918–1949: The Municipal Borough of Ashton-under-Lyne, and the Urban District of Hurst.

1950–1955: The Municipal Boroughs of Ashton-under-Lyne, and Mossley; and the Rural District of Limehurst.

1955–1983: The Municipal Boroughs of Ashton-under-Lyne, and Mossley; and the Rural District of Droylsden.

1983–2024: The Metropolitan Borough of Oldham wards of Failsworth East and Failsworth West; and the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside wards of Ashton Hurst, Ashton St. Michael's, Ashton Waterloo, Droylsden East, Droylsden West and St Peter's.

Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency is composed of the following wards of the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

• Ashton Hurst; Ashton St. Michael's; Ashton Waterloo; Audenshaw; Droylsden East; Droylsden West; Dukinfield; St Peter's.

The constituency gained the Audenshaw and Dukinfield wards from the abolished constituency of Denton and Reddish, and lost the two Failsworth wards to Manchester Central.

Members of Parliament

In the 1886 election, voting resulted in a tie between incumbent John Edmund Wentworth Addison and the Liberal candidate. Under the legislation of the time, the Returning officer had a casting vote, and Addison was reelected. In the by-election of 29 October 1928, the turnout was 89.1%, a record for Great Britain. The mayor arranged for the result to be signalled by coloured rockets.

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

percentage=24.8 |reg. electors = 71,002

Elections in the 2010s

|reg. electors = 67,978

|reg. electors = 65,751

|reg. electors = 68,343

UKIP originally selected Angela McManus as candidate, but she changed to the Stalybridge and Hyde constituency.

|reg. electors = 67,714 Back to Elections

Elections in the 2000s

|reg. electors = 71,291

|reg. electors = 72,820 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1990s

|reg. electors = 72,308

|reg. electors = 58,701 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1980s

|reg. electors = 58,440

Back to Elections

Elections in the 1970s

|reg. electors = 58,588

|reg. electors = 60,393

|reg. electors = 59,881

|reg. electors = 61,468 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1960s

|reg. electors = 57,159

|reg. electors = 58,411 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1950s

|reg. electors = 60,706

|reg. electors = 62,392

|reg. electors = 48,490

Back to Elections

Elections in the 1940s

Back to Elections

Elections in the 1930s

|reg. electors = 34,789

Back to Elections

Elections in the 1920s

Back to Elections

Elections in the 1910s

Back to Elections

Elections in the 1900s

|reg. electors = 7,753 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1890s

|reg. electors = 7,152

|reg. electors = 7,012 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1880s

|reg. electors = 6,553

• Both candidates having received 3,049 votes each, Addison was elected on the Returning Officer's casting vote.

|reg. electors = 6,553

|reg. electors = 5,901 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1870s

|reg. electors = 5,471 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1860s

|reg. electors = 967 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1850s

• Caused by Gibson's appointment as President of the Board of Trade

• Caused by Gibson's appointment as President of the Poor Law Board.

|reg. electors = 1,081

• Caused by Hindley's death.

|reg. electors = 1,085

|reg. electors = 937 Back to Elections

Elections in the 1840s

|reg. electors = 871

|reg. electors = 713 Back to Top

Elections in the 1830s

|reg. electors = 603

|reg. electors = 515

Back to Top

Notes

References

Sources

• Election results 1992–2005
• Election results 1951–1992

References

1. "Usual Resident Population, 2011". Office for National Statistics.
2. McNiel and Nevell (2005), p. 54.
3. Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Ashton-under-Lyne
4. (1832). "The statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 2 & 3 William IV. Cap. LXIV. An Act to settle and describe the Divisions of Counties, and the Limits of Cities and Boroughs, in England and Wales, in so far as respects the Election of Members to serve in Parliament.". His Majesty's statute and law printers.
5. . (1885). ["The Public General Acts of the United Kingdom passed in the forty-eighth and forty-ninth years of the reign of Queen Victoria"](https://archive.org/details/publicgeneralac01walegoog). *Eyre and Spottiswoode*.
6. (1972). "Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1985-1972". Political Reference Publications.
7. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023".
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16. "Parties, Politics and Society in Mid-Victorian Britain".
17. (Winter 2009–10). "Celebrating 1859: Party, Patriotism and Liberal Values". Journal of Liberal History.
18. Rallings & Thrasher. "British Electoral Facts".
19. "Election for the constituency of Ashton-under-Lyne on 4 July 2024".
20. "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". [[UK Parliament]].
21. (2019-11-14). "All the Greater Manchester General Election 2019 candidates".
22. "Election Data 2015". [[Electoral Calculus]].
23. "Ashton-under-Lyne". BBC News.
24. "UKIP Tameside on Twitter".
25. "Angela McManus for Member of Parliament for Stalybridge and Hyde in the 2015 general election".
26. "Election Data 2010". [[Electoral Calculus]].
27. "Ashton-under-Lyne". YourNextMP.
28. "Election Data 2005". [[Electoral Calculus]].
29. "Election Data 2001". [[Electoral Calculus]].
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38. [https://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Lancashire/Articles/1/1499.html Cricket Archive]
39. (1977). "British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885". Macmillan Press.
40. (20 Feb 1880). "Election Intelligence". [[Manchester Courier.
41. (7 February 1874). "The Elections". Burnley Gazette.
42. (12 December 1857). "The Representation of Ashton". Bury Times.
43. (26 June 1841). "Election Movements". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser.