Leigh (UK Parliament constituency)

Constituency profile

Leigh was a marginal seat in the south of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and on the border with Warrington, with virtually all wards held by the Labour Party at local level, although also containing the more Conservative-inclined area of Lowton East. In line with the wider borough of Wigan it voted by a majority to Leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum, but has slightly lower levels of deprivation than the town of Wigan itself, and is mostly made of skilled working-class families in residential areas, with some light industry, all factors in the swing towards the Conservatives in 2019. Leigh, Tyldesley and Golborne are former mill and mining towns undergoing urban regeneration. Pennington Flash in between Lowton and Leigh is an important local nature reserve and area of natural regeneration in a former mining area.

Boundaries

Following the review of parliamentary representation in Greater Manchester in 2009, the Boundary Commission for England recommended alterations to constituencies in the Wigan area. The electoral wards used in the altered Leigh constituency were:

• Astley, Mosley Common, Atherleigh, Golborne and Lowton West, Leigh East, Leigh South, Leigh West, Lowton East and Tyldesley, all from the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan.

History

The constituency was created in the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 as a result of the South West Lancashire constituency being divided into eight single member seats. Between 1922 and December 2019, candidates belonging to the Labour Party had continuously served the seat, which for the political party made it one of their longest held constituencies. One recent Labour incumbent was Andy Burnham, Shadow Home Secretary from September 2015 to October 2016.

Members of Parliament

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

The 2019 result saw the largest 2017 majority for a party overturned in the country. It also saw the largest fall in the UKIP vote share.

| access-date = 10 May 2015}}

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge79/i13.htm|title=UK General Election results April 1979|work=Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources|publisher=Politics Resources|access-date=2011-11-06}} url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge74b/i13.htm|title=UK General Election results October 1974|work=Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources|publisher=Politics Resources|access-date=2011-11-06}} url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge74a/i13.htm|title=UK General Election results February 1974|work=Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources|publisher=Politics Resources|access-date=2011-11-06}}}}

Elections in the 1960s

url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge66/i13.htm|title=UK General Election results 1966|work=Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources|publisher=Politics Resources|access-date=2011-11-06}} url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge64/i13.htm|title=UK General Election results 1964|work=Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources|publisher=Politics Resources|access-date=2011-11-06}}

Elections in the 1950s

url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge59/i13.htm|title=UK General Election results 1959|work=Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources|publisher=Politics Resources|access-date=2011-11-06}} url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge55/i13.htm|title=UK General Election results 1955|work=Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources|publisher=Politics Resources|access-date=2011-11-06}} url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge51/i13.htm|title=UK General Election results 1951|work=Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources|publisher=Politics Resources|access-date=2011-11-06}} url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge50/i13.htm|title=UK General Election results '950|work=Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources|publisher=Politics Resources|access-date=2011-11-06}}

Elections in the 1940s

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

|reg. electors = 50,982 |reg. electors = 38,010 |reg. electors = 37,597 |reg. electors = 37,050

Elections in the 1910s

|reg. electors = 35,912

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 the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected:

• Liberal: Peter Raffan
• Unionist: Frank Hatchard
• Labour: Thomas Greenall

|reg. electors = 14,150

|reg. electors = 14,150

Elections in the 1900s

|reg. electors = 13,380 |reg. electors = 11,907

Elections in the 1890s

|reg. electors = 10,763 |reg. electors = 9,839

Elections in the 1880s

|reg. electors = 8,572

|reg. electors = 8,572

Notes

References

References

1. "North West {{!}} Boundary Commission for England".
2. (21 September 2020). "Constituency data: Indices of deprivation".
3. {{Rayment-hc. l. 2. (March 2012)
4. [https://www.leighobserver.co.uk/news/politics/candidates-standing-in-the-general-election-for-leigh-constituency-revealed-1-10104763 Leigh Observer on 14 November 2019, retrieved 14 November.]
5. "General Election 2019: results and analysis – Second edition".
6. "Leigh parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
7. "Leigh parliamentary constituency". Wigan Council.
8. "Election Data 2015". [[Electoral Calculus]].
9. "Election Data 2010". [[Electoral Calculus]].
10. "The figure reported by the BBC for Burnham (24,295) was incorrect".
11. "Election Data 2005". [[Electoral Calculus]].
12. "Election Data 2001". [[Electoral Calculus]].
13. "Election Data 1997". [[Electoral Calculus]].
14. "Election Data 1992". [[Electoral Calculus]].
15. (9 April 1992). "UK General Election results April 1992". Politics Resources.
16. "Election Data 1987". [[Electoral Calculus]].
17. "UK General Election results April 1992". Politics Resources.
18. "Election Data 1983". [[Electoral Calculus]].
19. "UK General Election results April 1983". Politics Resources.
20. "UK General Election results '970". Politics Resources.
21. "UK General Election results 1945". Politics Resources.
22. Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. {{ISBN. 0-900178-06-X.
23. British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)