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Warrington South (UK Parliament constituency)

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Warrington South is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Sarah Hall from the Labour and Co-operative Party since 2024.

Warrington South
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map of constituency
Boundary of Warrington South in North West England
CountyCheshire
Electorate76,639 (2023) [1]
Major settlementsGreat Sankey, Penketh, Warrington
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentSarah Hall (Labour Co-op)
SeatsOne
Created fromWarrington, Runcorn and Newton[2]

Constituency profile

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Warrington South is one of two seats covering the Borough of Warrington, the other being Warrington North. The seat covers the parts of the town lying south of the River Mersey, including Appleton, Grappenhall and Stockton Heath, the town centre and the Penketh and Sankey areas in the west of the town.

Warrington is a historic and industrious town which grew significantly in economy and in population in the 20th century. Workless claimants who were registered jobseekers, were in November 2012 lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 3.3% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian. This contrasted with Warrington North at 4.3% of its population.[3]

Creation

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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 comprised parts of the abolished constituencies of Newton, Runcorn and Warrington.

Boundaries

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Map of current boundaries, first used in 2024
 
Map of former boundaries, used from 2010-2019 inclusive

1983–1997: The Borough of Warrington wards of Appleton and Stretton, Booths Hill, Grappenhall and Thelwall, Great Sankey North, Great Sankey South, Heatley, Latchford, Lymm, Penketh and Cuerdley, Statham, Stockton Heath, and Walton and Westy, and the Borough of Halton wards of Daresbury and Norton.[4]

Areas to the south of the Manchester Ship Canal, now part of the newly formed Borough of Warrington (including Lymm) and the Borough of Halton wards were previously part of Runcorn constituency. Great Sankey and Penketh, to the west of the town, were previously part of Newton. Also included a small part of the abolished Warrington constituency.

1997–2010: The Borough of Warrington wards of Appleton, Stretton and Hatton, Grappenhall and Thelwall, Great Sankey North, Great Sankey South, Howley and Whitecross, Latchford, Lymm, Penketh and Cuerdley, Stockton Heath, and Walton and Westy.[5]

Under the Fourth Periodic Review of constituencies, the number of constituencies in Cheshire was increased from 10 to 11 and the Borough of Halton wards were now included in the newly created constituency of Weaver Vale. To compensate for this loss, the town centre area was transferred from Warrington North.

2010–2024: The Borough of Warrington wards of Appleton, Bewsey and Whitecross, Grappenhall and Thelwall, Great Sankey North, Great Sankey South, Hatton, Stretton and Walton, Latchford East, Latchford West, Lymm, Penketh and Cuerdley, Stockton Heath, and Whittle Hall.[6]

The boundaries were introduced at the 2010 general election, following the Fifth Periodic Review. Minor changes due to revision of ward boundaries.

2024–present: The Borough of Warrington wards of Appleton, Bewsey & Whitecross, Chapelford & Old Hall, Grappenhall, Great Sankey North & Whittle Hall, Great Sankey South, Latchford East, Latchford West, Lymm North & Thelwall (polling districts SNC, SND, SNE and SNF1), Penketh & Cuerdley, and Stockton Heath.[7]

1 Comprising the village of Thelwall.

The boundaries were introduced at the 2024 general election, following the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies. The constituency was reduced in size to bring the electorate within the permitted range by transferring the village of Lymm (but not Thelwall) to Tatton.

Political history

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In 1983, the seat was won for the Conservatives by Mark Carlisle, who before the seat's creation had represented Runcorn. Carlisle served as Secretary of State for Education during part of the Thatcher ministry.

The seat has been relative to others a marginal seat since 2001 as well as a swing seat as its winner's majority has not exceeded 7.5% of the vote since the 16.3% majority won in that year. The seat has changed hands three times since that year.

Warrington South is considered the more volatile of the two Warrington seats. While Warrington North is a safe seat for the Labour Party, Warrington South is often a bellwether and is regarded as a marginal constituency; it has been won by the largest party in each Parliament at every election with the exception of 1992, when it was taken by Labour's Mike Hall with a majority of just 0.3%, and again in 2017. Hall moved to the new Weaver Vale seat in 1997, but the seat was retained for the Labour party by Helen Southworth who represented the seat until her retirement at the 2010 election and successor candidate's defeat.

2010 election

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On 15 June 2009, Helen Southworth announced her intention to retire the next year. Largely because of its close result in 2005, the seat was considered to be one of the key seats which the Conservative Party would have to win to become the largest party in Parliament. The BBC ranked Warrington South as the 85th most marginal seat.[8] The new boundaries were considered to be slightly more favourable to the Labour Party according to an academic, non-partisan election analysis.[9]

The Liberal Democrats had also identified Warrington South as a target seat. On election day the Liberal Democrat party held 22 of the 30 Borough Council seats in the wards which made up the constituency.[10] The importance of the Warrington South seat was underlined when Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat party leader, chose to visit the constituency the morning after the first of the televised "leaders' debates", which he had been widely perceived as having won.[11]

While all three parties made strenuous efforts to win the seat, it was the Conservative candidate David Mowat who was elected, although fewer than 5,000 votes separated all three parties.

Subsequent elections

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In 2015 and 2017, the seat was considered an important Labour-Conservative marginal, the Liberal Democrats losing substantial ground here in both elections. The 2015 election saw Mowat re-elected with an increased majority; in 2017, it was regained by Labour's Faisal Rashid on a 4.4% swing. It was retaken for the Conservatives in 2019 by Andy Carter. In all three cases, the victory margin between first and second was smaller than overall vote of the third-placed Liberal Democrats, although the latter were a long way behind the top two parties. In 2024, due to boundary changes, the seat was considered a notional Labour seat despite being held by a Conservative MP in Andy Carter. It was taken officially for Labour by Sarah Hall, but records consider it a Labour hold rather than a Labour gain. Reform UK were placed third, bumping the Liberal Democrats down to fourth.

Members of Parliament

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Election Member[12] Party
1983 Mark Carlisle Conservative
1987 Chris Butler Conservative
1992 Mike Hall Labour
1997 Helen Southworth Labour
2010 David Mowat Conservative
2017 Faisal Rashid Labour
2019 Andy Carter Conservative
2024 Sarah Hall Labour Co-op

Elections

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Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Warrington South[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Sarah Hall[14] 23,201 46.7 +2.2
Conservative Andy Carter[15] 11,861 23.9 −20.5
Reform UK Janet Barbara Balfe 7,913 15.9 +13.2
Liberal Democrats Graham Gowland[16] 3,829 7.7 −0.5
Green Stephanie Davies[17] 2,313 4.7 N/A
Independent Peter Willett 445 0.9 N/A
SDP Graeme Kelly[18] 110 0.2 −0.1
Majority 11,340 22.8 N/A
Turnout 49,672 63.0 −7.2
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +4.4

Elections in the 2010s

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General election 2019: Warrington South[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andy Carter 28,187 45.5  1.2
Labour Faisal Rashid 26,177 42.3  6.1
Liberal Democrats Ryan Bate 5,732 9.3  3.9
Brexit Party Clare Aspinall 1,635 2.6 New
SDP Kevin Hickson 168 0.3 New
Majority 2,010 3.2 N/A
Turnout 61,899 72.0  0.4
Conservative gain from Labour Swing  0.9
General election 2017: Warrington South[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Faisal Rashid 29,994 48.4  9.3
Conservative David Mowat 27,445 44.3  0.6
Liberal Democrats Bob Barr 3,339 5.4  0.2
Independent John Boulton 1,217 2.0 New
Majority 2,549 4.1 N/A
Turnout 61,995 72.4  3.0
Labour gain from Conservative Swing  7.7
General election 2015: Warrington South[21][22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Mowat 25,928 43.7  7.9
Labour Nick Bent 23,178 39.1  6.1
UKIP Mal Lingley 4,909 8.3  5.3
Liberal Democrats Bob Barr 3,335 5.6  21.9
Green Stephanie Davies 1,765 3.0  2.2
TUSC Kevin Bennett 238 0.4 New
Majority 2,750 4.6  1.8
Turnout 59,353 69.4  1.2
Conservative hold Swing  5.8
General election 2010: Warrington South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Mowat 19,641 35.8  3.7
Labour Nick Bent 18,088 33.0  8.3
Liberal Democrats Jo Crotty 15,094 27.5  3.5
UKIP Derek Ashington 1,624 3.0  1.2
Green Stephanie Davies 427 0.8 New
Majority 1,553 2.8 N/A
Turnout 54,874 68.2  6.7
Conservative gain from Labour Swing  1.9

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Warrington South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Helen Southworth 18,972 40.5  8.8
Conservative Fiona Bruce 15,457 33.0 0.0
Liberal Democrats Ian Marks 11,111 23.7  7.4
UKIP Gerry Kelley 804 1.7  0.3
Independent Paul Kennedy[n 2] 453 1.0 New
Majority 3,515 7.5  8.8
Turnout 46,797 61.8  0.6
Labour hold Swing  5.8
General election 2001: Warrington South[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Helen Southworth 22,419 49.3  2.8
Conservative Caroline Mosley 15,022 33.0  0.5
Liberal Democrats Roger J. Barlow 7,419 16.3  3.2
UKIP Joan Kelley 637 1.4 New
Majority 7,397 16.3  3.3
Turnout 45,497 61.2  14.8
Labour hold Swing  1.7

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Warrington South[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Helen Southworth 28,721 52.1  8.5
Conservative Chris Grayling 17,914 32.5  10.8
Liberal Democrats Peter Walker 7,199 13.1  0.6
Referendum Gerald Kelly 1,082 2.0 New
Natural Law Steve Ross 166 0.3 New
Majority 10,807 19.6  19.3
Turnout 55,082 76.0  6.0
Labour hold Swing  8.1
General election 1992: Warrington South[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mike Hall 27,819 43.6  7.7
Conservative Chris Butler 27,628 43.3  1.3
Liberal Democrats Peter Walker 7,978 12.5  9.7
Natural Law Stephen Benson 321 0.5 New
Majority 191 0.3 N/A
Turnout 63,746 82.0  6.8
Labour gain from Conservative Swing  6.8

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Warrington South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Chris Butler 24,809 42.0  0.1
Labour Albert Booth 21,200 35.9  5.9
Liberal Ian Marks 13,112 22.2  5.1
Majority 3,609 6.1  5.8
Turnout 59,121 75.2  0.7
Conservative hold Swing  2.9
General election 1983: Warrington South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Carlisle 22,740 41.9
Labour David Colin-Thomé 16,275 30.0
Liberal Ian Marks 14,827 27.3
Ecology Neil Chantrell 403 0.7
Majority 6,465 11.9
Turnout 54,245 74.5
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer).
  2. ^ Later, in 2006 Paul Kennedy joined the Conservative Party and became a local councillor in May 2008.

References

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  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – North West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  2. ^ "'Warrington South', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  3. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  4. ^ "Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983" (PDF).
  5. ^ "Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995".
  6. ^ "Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007".
  7. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 5 North West region.
  8. ^ "BBC NEWS - Election 2010 - Battlegrounds - Conservative Party Targets". bbc.co.uk.
  9. ^ Electoral Calculus South
  10. ^ "2009 - 2010 > Full Council". warrington.gov.uk.
  11. ^ "Nick Clegg makes first post TV debate appearance in Warrington". Warrington Guardian. 16 April 2010.
  12. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 1)
  13. ^ Warrington South
  14. ^ "MP slams Warrington Labour councillor over priorities". Warrington Guardian. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  15. ^ "General Election Candidates". 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  16. ^ "Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". Mark Pack. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Announcing your Green Party General Election candidate for #Warrington South, Steph Davies". WarringtonHalton Greens Instagram. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  18. ^ "General Election Candidates". Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  19. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF).
  20. ^ "General Election 2017: who is standing for election". Liverpool Echo. 11 May 2017.
  21. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  22. ^ "Warrington South". BBC News. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  23. ^ a b "Results & Constituencies Warrington South - 2001". news.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  24. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
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53°22′N 2°33′W / 53.367°N 2.550°W / 53.367; -2.550

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