Wikipedia

Birmingham Northfield (UK Parliament constituency)

Birmingham Northfield is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Laurence Turner, a Labour politician.[n 2] It represents the southernmost part of the city of Birmingham.

Birmingham Northfield
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Birmingham Northfield in West Midlands region
CountyWest Midlands
Population101,422 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate73,483 (2023)[2]
Major settlementsLongbridge, Northfield
Current constituency
Created1950
Member of ParliamentLaurence Turner (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromBirmingham King's Norton

Boundaries

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1950–1955: The County Borough of Birmingham Wards of Northfield, Selly Oak, and Weoley.[3]

1955–1974: The County Borough of Birmingham wards of King's Norton, Northfield, and Weoley.[4]

1974–1983: As above less King's Norton, plus Longbridge

1983–1997: The City of Birmingham wards of Bartley Green, Longbridge, Northfield, and Weoley.

1997–2010: As above less Bartley Green

2010–2018: As above plus King's Norton

Following the review of parliamentary representation in Birmingham and the West Midlands,[5] the Boundary Commission for England created a modified Northfield seat which gained the ward of Kings Norton (previously in the Selly Oak constituency).

2018–present: The City of Birmingham wards of: Allens Cross; Frankley Great Park; King’s Norton North; King’s Norton South; Longbridge & West Heath; Northfield; Rubery & Rednal; Weoley & Selly Oak (part).[6]

Minor changes reflecting the new ward structure in the City of Birmingham which became effective in May 2018.[7]

Constituency profile

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Among the area's largest features is the Longbridge Town shopping area built on the site of the now demolished MG Rover Group factory which for decades had been a major employer in the constituency but which was closed down in the run up to the 2005 general election, two hospitals, Northfield Shopping Centre and the now also closed North Worcestershire Golf Course.[8] Despite the closure of the Longbridge Motor works the Labour MP at the time, Richard Burden was returned in the subsequent general election with his majority reduced by 5.6%. He was re-elected with his majority further reduced by 14.1% in 2010. In 2015, Burden was re-elected with a majority of 2,509 votes and a vote share of 41.6%, which made Northfield the most marginal seat in Birmingham. Two years later at the 2017 snap election, Burden increased his majority to 4,667 votes and his vote share to 53.2% on an overall turnout of 44,348 voters.

At the 2019 general election, the seat was won by the Conservative candidate Gary Sambrook with a majority of 1,640 votes. The Conservatives therefore held the Birmingham Northfield seat for the first time in 27 years.

History

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Summary of results

The 2015 result gave the seat the 26th-smallest majority of Labour's 232 seats by percentage of majority.[9]

From its creation in 1950 until 2019, Labour Party MPs were elected and served the seat, with the exception of the period from 1979 to 1992, which was whilst the Conservative Party were in government, with a one-year gap caused by a Labour win at a 1982 by-election. From 1979 to 1982, the MP was Jocelyn Cadbury, a member of the influential and large Cadbury family.

Opposition parties

The Conservative candidate for 2015, MacLean, came within 5.9% of winning the seat. UKIP's swing nationally was +9.5% in 2015; here it was 13.5%, enabling a third place, having been fifth-placed in the previous election. The other two candidates, standing for parties other than Labour on the left, narrowly forfeited their deposits.

Turnout

Turnout has ranged between 84.7% in 1950 and 52.8% in 2001 (which was below the percentage of the 1982 by-election).

Members of Parliament

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Election Member[10] Party
1950 Raymond Blackburn Labour
1951 Donald Chapman Labour
1970 Ray Carter Labour
1979 Jocelyn Cadbury Conservative
1982 by-election John Spellar Labour
1983 Roger King Conservative
1992 Richard Burden Labour
2019 Gary Sambrook Conservative
2024 Laurence Turner Labour

Elections

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Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Birmingham Northfield[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Laurence Turner 14,929 39.6 −3.1
Conservative Gary Sambrook 9,540 25.3 −20.8
Reform UK Stephen Peters 7,895 21.0 +17.2
Green Rob Grant 2,809 7.5 +5.3
Liberal Democrats Jerry Evans 1,791 4.8 +0.2
Independent Altaf Hussain 310 0.8 N/A
Common Good Dick Rodgers 215 0.6 N/A
Independent Dean Gwilliam 163 0.4 N/A
Majority 5,389 14.3
Turnout 37,652
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +8.8

Elections in the 2010s

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General election 2019: Birmingham Northfield[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gary Sambrook 19,957 46.3   3.6
Labour Richard Burden 18,317 42.5   10.7
Liberal Democrats Jamie Scott 1,961 4.6   2.4
Brexit Party Keith Rowe 1,655 3.8 New
Green Eleanor Masters 954 2.2   0.3
UKIP Kenneth Lowry 254 0.6 New
Majority 1,640 3.8 N/A
Turnout 43,238 58.7   2.6
Registered electors 73,694
Conservative gain from Labour Swing  7.2
General election 2017: Birmingham Northfield[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard Burden 23,596 53.2   11.6
Conservative Meg Powell-Chandler 18,929 42.7   7.0
Liberal Democrats Roger Harmer 959 2.2   1.0
Green Eleanor Masters 864 1.9   0.9
Majority 4,667 10.5   4.6
Turnout 44,348 61.3   1.9
Labour hold Swing   2.3
General election 2015: Birmingham Northfield[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard Burden 17,673 41.6   1.3
Conservative Rachel Maclean 15,164 35.7   2.1
UKIP Keith Rowe 7,106 16.7   13.4
Liberal Democrats Steve Haynes 1,349 3.2   12.5
Green Anna Masters[16] 1,169 2.8   1.8
Majority 2,509 5.9   0.8
Turnout 42,461 59.4   0.8
Labour hold Swing   0.4

Going into the 2015 general election, this was the 121st most marginal constituency in Great Britain, the Conservatives requiring a swing from Labour of 3.3% to take the seat (based on the result of the 2010 general election).[17]

General election 2010: Birmingham Northfield[18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard Burden 16,841 40.3   10.1
Conservative Keely Huxtable 14,059 33.6   3.2
Liberal Democrats Mike Dixon 6,550 15.7   3.3
BNP Les Orton 2,290 5.5   2.2
UKIP John Borthwick 1,363 3.3   1.0
Green Susan Pearce 406 1.0 New
Common Good Dick Rodgers 305 0.7   0.4
Majority 2,782 6.7   14.1
Turnout 41,814 58.6   3.4
Labour hold Swing   6.6

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Birmingham Northfield[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard Burden 15,419 49.6   6.4
Conservative Vicky Ford 8,965 28.9   0.7
Liberal Democrats Trevor Sword 4,171 13.4   2.2
BNP Mark Cattell 1,278 4.1 New
UKIP Gillian Chant 641 2.1   0.2
Common Good Richard Rogers 428 1.4 New
Socialist Alternative Louise Houdley 120 0.4 New
Workers Revolutionary Frank Sweeney 34 0.1 New
Majority 6,454 20.7   5.7
Turnout 31,056 56.6   3.8
Labour hold Swing   2.8
General election 2001: Birmingham, Northfield[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard Burden 16,528 56.0   1.4
Conservative Nils Purser 8,730 29.6   1.7
Liberal Democrats Trevor Sword 3,322 11.2   0.8
UKIP Stephen Rogers 550 1.9 New
Socialist Alliance Clive Walder 193 0.7 New
Socialist Labour Zane Carpenter 151 0.5 New
Communist Andrew Chaffer 60 0.2 New
Majority 7,798 26.4   3.0
Turnout 29,534 52.8   15.5
Labour hold Swing   1.5

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Birmingham Northfield[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard Burden 22,316 57.4   11.9
Conservative Alan C. Blumenthal 10,873 28.0   14.4
Liberal Democrats Michael R. Ashell 4,078 10.5   0.4
Referendum David Gent 1,243 3.2 New
BNP Keith A. Axon 337 0.9 New
Majority 11,443 29.4   28.3
Turnout 38,847 68.3   7.8
Labour hold Swing   13.1
General election 1992: Birmingham Northfield[23][24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard Burden 24,433 45.5   6.3
Conservative Roger King 23,803 44.4   0.7
Liberal Democrats David L. Cropp 5,431 10.1   5.5
Majority 630 1.1   4.8
Turnout 53,667 76.1   4.5
Labour gain from Conservative Swing   3.5

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Birmingham Northfield[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roger King 24,024 45.1   2.4
Labour John Spellar 20,889 39.2   1.7
SDP John Gordon 8,319 15.6   3.6
Majority 3,135 5.9   0.7
Turnout 53,232 72.6   1.4
Conservative hold Swing   2.0
General election 1983: Birmingham Northfield[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roger King 22,596 42.7   2.7
Labour John Spellar 19,836 37.5   7.6
Liberal David Webb 10,045 19.0   10.8
Communist Peter Sheppard 420 0.8 N/A
Majority 2,760 5.2 N/A
Turnout 52,897 71.2   0.6
Conservative gain from Labour Swing   5.1
By-election 1982: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Spellar 15,904 36.3   8.8
Conservative Roger Gale 15,615 35.6   9.8
Liberal Stephen Ridley 11,453 26.1   18.0
National Front Ian Anderson 411 0.9   0.2
Communist Peter Sheppard 349 0.8 New
People's Progressive Party Ronald Taylor 63 0.2 New
Democratic Monarchist, Public Safety, White Resident Bill Boaks 60 0.1 New
Majority 289 0.7 N/A
Turnout 43,855 55.0   15.6
Labour gain from Conservative Swing   0.5

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1979: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jocelyn Cadbury 25,304 45.4   13.4
Labour Raymond Carter 25,100 45.1   7.0
Liberal Roy Lewthwaite 4,538 8.2   6.7
National Front R.A. Newman 614 1.1 New
Workers Revolutionary J.E. Beale 144 0.3 New
Majority 204 0.3 N/A
Turnout 55,700 70.6   2.7
Conservative gain from Labour Swing   10.2
General election October 1974: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Raymond Carter 27,435 52.1   4.0
Conservative Jocelyn Cadbury 16,838 32.0   9.0
Liberal Richard Hains 7,851 14.9 New
PEOPLE Elizabeth A. Davenport 359 0.7 New
Communist Derek Robinson 180 0.3   0.4
Majority 10,597 20.1   5.0
Turnout 52,663 67.9   5.6
Labour hold Swing   2.5
General election February 1974: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Raymond Carter 31,704 56.1   5.6
Conservative John Butcher 23,175 41.0   7.6
Independent M. Newman 1,237 2.2 New
Communist Derek Robinson 368 0.7   0.2
Majority 8,529 15.1   13.2
Turnout 56,484 73.5   5.2
Labour hold Swing   1.0
General election 1970: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Raymond Carter 33,364 50.5   8.2
Conservative David W. Bell 32,148 48.6   8.9
Communist Derek Robinson 605 0.9   0.7
Majority 1,216 1.9   17.1
Turnout 66,117 68.3   6.8
Labour hold Swing   8.6

Elections in the 1960s

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General election 1966: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Chapman 36,801 58.7   11.5
Conservative Christopher Cromwell Chalker 24,899 39.7   0.7
Communist Derek Robinson 1,029 1.6 New
Majority 11,902 19.0   12.2
Turnout 62,729 75.1   2.1
Labour hold Swing   6.1
General election 1964: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Chapman 29,301 47.2   3.6
Conservative Herbert Banner Adkins 25,063 40.4   8.8
Liberal Roy Lewthwaite 7,682 12.4 New
Majority 4,238 6.8   5.2
Turnout 62,046 77.2   1.3
Labour hold Swing   2.6

Elections in the 1950s

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General election 1959: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Chapman 29,587 50.8   2.0
Conservative Reginald Eyre 28,647 49.2   2.0
Majority 940 1.6   4.0
Turnout 58,234 78.5   0.1
Labour hold Swing   2.0
General election 1955: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Chapman 27,072 52.8  
Conservative Clement Sweet 24,188 47.2  
Majority 2,884 5.6  
Turnout 51,260 78.6   4.8
Labour hold Swing  
General election 1951: Birmingham Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Chapman 26,580 52.8   0.2
Conservative Maurice Chandler 23,730 47.2   7.6
Majority 2,850 5.6   7.8
Turnout 50,310 83.4   1.3
Labour hold Swing   3.9
General election 1950: Birmingham, Northfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Raymond Blackburn 26,714 53.0
Conservative Tom Iremonger 19,974 39.6
Liberal Evan Laurence Frederick Richards 3,280 6.5
Communist Richard Albert Etheridge 479 1.0
Majority 6,740 13.4
Turnout 50,447 84.7
Labour 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. ^ 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

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  1. ^ "Birmingham, Northfield: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  2. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – West Midlands". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  3. ^ Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1985-1972. Chichester, Sussex: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4.
  4. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Birmingham and North Warwickshire) Order 1955. SI 1955/177". Statutory Instruments 1955. Part II. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1956. pp. 2099–2102.
  5. ^ "Archived copy". www.boundarycommissionforengland.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2 November 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 8 West Midlands region.
  7. ^ LGBCE. "Birmingham | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  8. ^ "OS Maps - online and App mapping system | Ordnance Survey Shop". www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk.
  9. ^ "Labour Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018.
  10. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "N" (part 3)
  11. ^ Birmingham Northfield
  12. ^ "Birmingham Northfield Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Parliamentary General Election Results December 2019". Birmingham City Council. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  14. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and notice of poll". Birmingham City Council. Archived from the original on 8 February 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  16. ^ "| Green Party Members' Website". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  17. ^ Ransome Mpini; Charlotte Thornton; John Walton; Marcelo Zanni (24 February 2014). "Election 2015: The political battleground". BBC News. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  18. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll 2010" (PDF).
  20. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  25. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  26. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
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52°24′36″N 1°58′30″W / 52.41°N 1.975°W / 52.41; -1.975

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