Northampton South

History

This constituency was created for the election of February 1974 when the old constituency of Northampton was split into Northampton South and Northampton North.

Since creation it is generally a marginal and in elections since 1979 but one, in 2005, has been a bellwether, electing an MP from the winning (or largest governing) party.

The one-time Deputy Speaker of the House, Michael Morris, a Conservative, held this seat from its creation in 1974 until 1997, when Tony Clarke defeated Morris in a surprise result (one of many in the Labour landslide of that year) to gain the seat for Labour with a majority of just 744. The Almanac of British Politics described Labour's gain of the seat as "one of the most unexpected results of the 1997 election", despite the fact that Labour had come close to winning the seat in both 1974 elections. Clarke only just increased his majority in 2001, but Brian Binley defeated Clarke to regain the seat for the Conservatives in 2005 with a comfortable majority, and held it until 2015 when he retired and fellow Conservative David Mackintosh held the seat. Mackintosh retired at the 2017 snap election after just one Parliament, after facing the prospect of being deselected by his local constituency party, and Andrew Lewer took over with a decreased majority from 2015 of over 1,000.

Boundaries

Historic

1974–1983: The County Borough of Northampton wards of Castle, Delapre, Duston, St Crispin, South, and Weston.

1983–1997: The Borough of Northampton wards of Billing, Castle, Delapre, Nene Valley, New Duston, Old Duston, St Crispin, South, and Weston, and the District of South Northamptonshire wards of Blisworth, Brafield, Bugbrooke, Cogenhoe, Gayton, Hackleton, Harpole, Heyford, Kislingbury, Milton, Roade, Salcey, and Yardley.

1997–2010: The Borough of Northampton wards of Billing, Castle, Delapre, Nene Valley, New Duston, Old Duston, St Crispin, South, and Weston, and the District of South Northamptonshire wards of Brafield, Cogenhoe, Hackleton, Harpole, Kislingbury, Milton, Roade, Salcey, and Yardley. From 1999, ward boundary changes created two extra wards from Nene Valley, West Hunsbury and East Hunsbury.

2010–2024: The Borough of Northampton wards of Billing, Castle, Delapre, Ecton Brook, New Duston, Old Duston, St Crispin, St James, Spencer, and Weston.

Following the 2010 redistribution which created South Northamptonshire, the constituency was once again entirely within the Borough of Northampton as opposed to 1983 to 2010 when it also took in outlying rural parts outside the town.

NB: with effect from 1 April 2021, the Borough of Northampton was abolished and absorbed into the new unitary authority of West Northamptonshire.

Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is as follows (as they existed on 1 April 2021):

• The District of West Northamptonshire wards of: Billing and Rectory Farm; Delapre and Rushmere; Duston East; Duston West and St. Crispin; East Hunsbury and Shelfleys; Nene Valley; Riverside Park; Sixfields.

The constituency has undergone major changes, with those parts of the former Borough of Northampton previously in the South Northamptonshire constituency being added, partly offset by the transfer of the town centre of Northampton to Northampton North.

Constituency profile

The constituency has income, social housing and unemployment statistics close to the national average and a varied and dynamic service and engineering-centred economy typical of the East Midlands with significant foodstuffs, clothing and consumables manufacturing and processing operations. Health inequality is high, with the life expectancy gap between the least deprived and most deprived men in northampton reaching over 10.2 years. Additionally, the constituency is "considerably worse than [the] England average" in violent crime, self harm, under 18 conception and GCSE achievement.

Members of Parliament

Northampton prior to 1974

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

Notes

References

References

1. (1999). "[[The Almanac of British Politics]]". Routledge.
2. {{cite legislation UK. (1973)
3. "The Northamptonshire (Structural Changes) Order 2020".
4. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023".
5. [https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/nov/17/unemployment-and-employment-statistics-economics Unemployment claimants by constituency] ''[[The Guardian]]''
6. "2011 census interactive maps".
7. "E07000154".
8. "E07000154".
9. {{Rayment-hc. n. 3. (March 2012)
10. "Northampton South – General election results 2024". [[BBC News]].
11. "Northampton South Parliamentary constituency". BBC.
12. (30 April 2017). "BBC Local Live: Northamptonshire".
13. "Election Data 2015". [[Electoral Calculus]].
14. "Election Data 2010". [[Electoral Calculus]].
15. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/election2010/results/constituency/d36.stm] BBC Election Results for Northampton South
16. "Election Data 2005". [[Electoral Calculus]].
17. "Election Data 2001". [[Electoral Calculus]].
18. "Election Data 1997". [[Electoral Calculus]].
19. "Election Data 1992". [[Electoral Calculus]].
20. (9 April 1992). "Politics Resources". Politics Resources.
21. "Election Data 1987". [[Electoral Calculus]].
22. "Election Data 1983". [[Electoral Calculus]].