Gainsborough (UK Parliament constituency)

History

The constituency was created under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 that year, which lasted until it was reformed as Gainsborough and Horncastle on a boundary change for the 1983 election. That seat lasted until 1997, as from the mid-1990s population changes led to removal of Horncastle from the seat and recreation of the old seat with largely similar boundaries.

Boundaries

The constituency is named for its largest town of Gainsborough, on the western edge of the constituency.

1885–1918: The Municipal Borough of Lincoln, the Sessional Divisions of Epworth, Gainsborough, Lincoln, and the parish of Bracebridge.

1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Crowle and Gainsborough, and the Rural Districts of Gainsborough, Isle of Axholme, and Welton.

1950–1983: The Urban Districts of Gainsborough and Market Rasen, and the Rural Districts of Caistor, Gainsborough, Isle of Axholme, and Welton.

Constituency was abolished in 1983 and re-established in 1997

1997–2010: The District of West Lindsey, and the District of East Lindsey wards of Binbrook and Wragby.

2010–2024: The District of West Lindsey, and the District of East Lindsey ward of Wragby.

2024–present: The District of West Lindsey.

Constituency profile

This relatively vast rural seat north of Lincoln is named after the small market town at its western boundary. Regeneration projects are attempting to reduce pockets of severe deprivation in the constituency, but most of the area is affluent, albeit remote from many major cities; the closest conurbation is the city of Lincoln to the immediate south. Scunthorpe and Grimsby are both close enough to the northern edge of the constituency to be significant to residents. Though arable farming dominates the landscape and noteworthy pig farming industry (see Lincolnshire sausages), agriculture is in decline and the service/creative sector dominates. The seat has elected Conservative MPs since 1924 and is a stronghold, as well as giving its MPs very long tenures, having been represented by only three people since 1924.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1885–1983

North Lincolnshire prior to 1885

MPs since 1997

Gainsborough and Horncastle prior to 1997

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Election results 1885–1979

Elections in the 1880s

|reg. electors = 11,107

|reg. electors = 11,107

Elections in the 1890s

|reg. electors = 11,546

|reg. electors = 13,057

Elections in the 1900s

|reg. electors = 12,328

|reg. electors=12,370

Elections in the 1910s

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;

• Liberal: George Jackson Bentham
• Unionist: John Molson

|reg. electors = 27,503

Elections in the 1920s

|reg. electors = 27,219

|reg. electors = 27,294

|reg. electors = 27,619

|reg. electors = 33,977

Election in the 1930s

General Election 1939–40:

Another general election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;

• Conservative: Harry Crookshank,
• Liberal: Margaret Wintringham

Election in the 1940s

Elections in the 1950s

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1970s

Election results following boundary changes

For 1983 – 1992, see Gainsborough and Horncastle (UK Parliament constituency)

Notes

References

Sources

References

1. "'Gainsborough', Feb 1974 – May 1983". Cognitive Computing Limited.
2. "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – East Midlands". Boundary Commission for England.
3. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023".
4. "Local statistics – Office for National Statistics".
5. "Gainsborough – General election results 2024". BBC News.
6. "Gainsborough Parliamentary constituency". BBC.
7. "UK Parliamentary General Election – 8 June 2017". West Lindsey District Council.
8. "Election Data 2015". [[Electoral Calculus]].
9. "Gainsborough parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
10. (19 January 2015). "UKIP candidate John Saxon will challenge veteran Tory Sir Edward Leigh's seat in Gainsborough and Market Rasen". Lincolnshire Echo.
11. "Election Data 2010". [[Electoral Calculus]].
12. (7 May 2010). "UK > England > East Midlands > Gainsborough". BBC.
13. "Election Data 2005". [[Electoral Calculus]].
14. "Election Data 2001". [[Electoral Calculus]].
15. "Election Data 1997". [[Electoral Calculus]].
16. British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, FWS Craig
17. The Liberal Year Book, 1907
18. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
19. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
20. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
21. (1951). "The Times' Guide to the House of Commons".
22. (1955). "The Times' Guide to the House of Commons".