Summary
Congleton is a parliamentary constituency[n 1] in Cheshire, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Fiona Bruce of the Conservative Party.[n 2]
| Congleton | |
|---|---|
| County constituency for the House of Commons | |
 Boundary of Congleton in Cheshire | |
 Location of Cheshire within England | |
| County | Cheshire |
| Electorate | 77,258 (2018)[1] |
| Major settlements | Congleton, Sandbach, Middlewich and Alsager |
| Current constituency | |
| Created | 1983 |
| Member of Parliament | Fiona Bruce ( Conservative) |
| Seats | One |
| Created from | Crewe, Macclesfield, Knutsford and Nantwich[2] |
Constituency profile edit
The constituency adjoins the Stoke-on-Trent urban area and rural areas in all other directions, including the Peak District to the East, Staffordshire Moorlands to the South and Cheshire Plain to the West.
Congleton is a stronghold for the Conservative Party as the seat has elected a Conservative MP since its creation in 1983, with a majority of 32% in the 2019 general election.[n 3]
The constituency consists mainly of rural areas of south-east Cheshire, with the only four towns being - in descending order of population - Congleton, Sandbach, Middlewich and Alsager. The seat is also home to the large village of Holmes Chapel, as well as many much smaller villages and settlements, such as Church Lawton, Rode Heath and Goostrey.
Creation edit
The constituency was created for the 1983 general election following the major reorganisation of local authorities under the Local Government Act 1972, which came into effect on 1 April 1974. It comprises parts of Macclesfield and the abolished constituencies of Crewe, Knutsford and Nantwich.
Boundaries edit
1983–1997: The Borough of Congleton, and the Borough of Crewe and Nantwich ward of Haslington.[3]
The town of Congleton was previously in the constituency of Macclesfield; Alsager, Sandbach and Haslington, came from Crewe; Middlewich from Nantwich; and rural areas comprising the former Rural District of Congleton were previously part of Knutsford.
1997–2010: The Borough of Congleton.[4]
Haslington was transferred to Crewe and Nantwich.
The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007 made no changes to Congleton.[5] However, before this came into force for the 2010 election, the Borough of Congleton was abolished on 1 April 2009, becoming part of the new unitary authority of Cheshire East. Consequently, the constituency's boundaries are currently:
2010–present: The Cheshire East Borough wards of Alsager, Brereton Rural (most), Congleton East, Congleton West, Dane Valley, Middlewich, Odd Rode, Sandbach Elworth, Sandbach Ettiley Heath and Wheelock, Sandbach Heath and East, and Sandbach Town.
Future edit
Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the composition of the constituency from the next general election, due by January 2025, will be reduced to bring the electorate within the permitted range. This will be achieved by including Middlewich in the newly created constituency of Mid Cheshire.[6][7]
Political history edit
Congleton is a stronghold for the Conservative Party as the seat has elected a Conservative MP since its creation in 1983, with a majority of 32% in the 2019 UK General Election.[n 4]
The seat was held comfortably from 1983 until 2010 by the Conservative Ann Winterton, the wife of Sir Nicholas Winterton, the MP for the adjacent Macclesfield constituency. Both stood down at the 2010 general election; their joint statement cited the hectic life of politics as part of their reason for standing down,[8] in addition to an investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, who concluded that they misused their MPs' expenses to pay rent for a flat that they had already bought outright.[8]
Ann Winterton was succeeded by Fiona Bruce at the 2010 general election and she has held the seat since then.
Members of Parliament edit
| Election | Member[9] | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Ann Winterton | Conservative | |
| 2010 | Fiona Bruce | ||
Elections edit
Elections in the 2020s edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Fiona Bruce[10] | ||||
| Green | Rich McCarthy[11] | ||||
| Reform UK | Martin York[12] | ||||
| Labour | Sarah Russell[13] | ||||
| Liberal Democrats | Paul Duffy[13] | ||||
| Independent | Rob Moreton[10] | ||||
Elections in the 2010s edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Fiona Bruce | 33,747 | 59.0 | +2.4 | |
| Labour | Jo Dale | 15,186 | 26.5 | –7.7 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Paul Duffy | 6,026 | 10.5 | +5.3 | |
| Green | Richard McCarthy | 1,616 | 2.8 | +1.0 | |
| Animal Welfare | Jane Smith | 658 | 1.1 | New | |
| Majority | 18,561 | 32.5 | +10.1 | ||
| Turnout | 57,233 | 70.7 | –2.6 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +5.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Fiona Bruce | 31,830 | 56.6 | +3.3 | |
| Labour | Sam Corcoran | 19,211 | 34.2 | +13.8 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Peter Hirst | 2,902 | 5.2 | –3.9 | |
| UKIP | Mark Davies | 1,289 | 2.3 | –11.3 | |
| Green | Alec Heath | 999 | 1.8 | –1.9 | |
| Majority | 12,619 | 22.4 | –10.5 | ||
| Turnout | 56,231 | 73.3 | +2.9 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | –5.2 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Fiona Bruce | 27,164 | 53.3 | +7.5 | |
| Labour | Darren Price | 10,391 | 20.4 | +3.2 | |
| UKIP | Lee Slaughter | 6,922 | 13.6 | +9.4 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Peter Hirst | 4,623 | 9.1 | −22.8 | |
| Green | Alec Heath | 1,876 | 3.7 | New | |
| Majority | 16,773 | 32.9 | +19.0 | ||
| Turnout | 50,976 | 70.4 | +1.5 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | 2.2 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Fiona Bruce | 23,250 | 45.8 | +0.4 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Peter Hirst | 16,187 | 31.9 | +5.0 | |
| Labour | David Bryant | 8,747 | 17.2 | −10.5 | |
| UKIP | Lee Slaughter | 2,147 | 4.2 | New | |
| Independent | Paul Edwards | 276 | 0.5 | New | |
| Independent | Paul Rothwell | 94 | 0.2 | New | |
| Independent | Adam Parton | 79 | 0.2 | New | |
| Majority | 7,063 | 13.9 | -3.8 | ||
| Turnout | 50,780 | 68.9 | +4.8 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −2.3 | |||
Elections in the 2000s edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Ann Winterton | 21,189 | 45.4 | −0.9 | |
| Labour | Nicholas Milton | 12,943 | 27.7 | −2.8 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Eleanor Key | 12,550 | 26.9 | +5.3 | |
| Majority | 8,246 | 17.7 | -1.9 | ||
| Turnout | 46,682 | 64.2 | +1.5 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.9 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Ann Winterton | 20,872 | 46.3 | +5.1 | |
| Labour | John Flanagan | 13,738 | 30.5 | +2.9 | |
| Liberal Democrats | David Lloyd-Griffiths | 9,719 | 21.6 | −8.1 | |
| UKIP | Bill Young | 754 | 1.7 | +0.2 | |
| Majority | 7,134 | 15.8 | +4.3 | ||
| Turnout | 45,083 | 62.7 | −14.9 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | =1.1 | |||
Elections in the 1990s edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Ann Winterton | 22,012 | 41.2 | −7.3 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Joan Walmsley | 15,882 | 29.7 | −2.0 | |
| Labour | Helen Scholey | 14,713 | 27.6 | +8.4 | |
| UKIP | John Lockett | 811 | 1.5 | New | |
| Majority | 6,130 | 11.5 | -7.2 | ||
| Turnout | 53,418 | 77.6 | -6.9 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | -3.6 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Ann Winterton | 29,163 | 49.0 | +0.7 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Iain Brodie-Browne | 18,043 | 30.3 | −3.5 | |
| Labour | Matthew Finnegan | 11,927 | 20.0 | +2.1 | |
| Natural Law | Peter Brown | 399 | 0.7 | New | |
| Majority | 11,120 | 18.7 | +4.2 | ||
| Turnout | 59,532 | 84.5 | +4.0 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +2.1 | |||
Elections in the 1980s edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Ann Winterton | 26,513 | 48.3 | −0.4 | |
| Liberal | Iain Brodie-Browne | 18,544 | 33.8 | +2.4 | |
| Labour | Michael Knowles | 9,810 | 17.9 | −2.0 | |
| Majority | 7,969 | 14.5 | -2.8 | ||
| Turnout | 54,867 | 80.5 | +3.6 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | −1.4 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Ann Winterton | 23,895 | 48.7 | ||
| Liberal | Clive Smedley | 15,436 | 31.4 | ||
| Labour | Eric Gill | 9,783 | 19.9 | ||
| Majority | 8,459 | 17.3 | |||
| Turnout | 49,114 | 76.9 | |||
| Conservative win (new seat) | |||||
See also edit
Notes edit
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
References edit
- ^ "England Parliamentary electorates 2010-2018". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ "'Congleton', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". Archived from the original on 6 November 2015.
- ^ "Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". Archived from the original on 4 January 2011.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 5 North West region.
- ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – North West | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ a b "MP pair to step down at election". BBC News. 25 May 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 5)
- ^ a b "Mayor throws his hat into the election ring". Congleton Chronicle. 28 March 2024. p. 2.
- ^ "Full list of all Green Party candidates at the next general election". Bright Green. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "Congleton Constituency". Reform UK. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ a b Watterson, Kaleigh (18 March 2024). "Congleton: Former city councillor to stand for Cheshire seat". BBC News. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
- ^ "Congleton Parliamentary constituency", Election 2019, BBC News, retrieved 13 December 2019
- ^ "Congleton Parliamentary constituency", Election 2017, BBC News, retrieved 9 June 2017
- ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "Congleton". BBC News. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Congleton". BBC News.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Congleton CONSERVATIVE HOLD". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 27 May 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2009.
- ^ "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 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
- ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
53°9′N 2°16′W / 53.150°N 2.267°W