Enfield Southgate (UK Parliament constituency)

Enfield Southgate was a constituency in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. It was created in 1950 as Southgate.

Enfield Southgate
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Enfield Southgate in Greater London
CountyGreater London
Electorate64,932 (December 2010)[1]
Current constituency
Created1950
Member of ParliamentBambos Charalambous (Labour)
Created fromEnfield (western minority; on abolition) and Wood Green (bulk of; on abolition)

In the 1997 United Kingdom general election, it returned a memorable result when prominent Conservative Michael Portillo lost the previously safe seat to Stephen Twigg of the Labour Party.

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the majority of the seat was incorporated into the new constituency of Southgate and Wood Green.[2]

History

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From 1950 to the 1983 general election, this constituency was known as Southgate. The prefix of the seat's London Borough was added to some parts of the legislation, but not others, in 1974. In 1984, Conservative MP Sir Anthony Berry who represented Enfield Southgate was killed in the Brighton hotel bombing by the Provisional IRA, triggering a by-election.

It was regarded as a safe seat for the Conservative party, but it gained national attention in the 1997 general election when Michael Portillo, Secretary of State for Defence was unexpectedly defeated on a massive swing - the 'Portillo moment'. Portillo had been widely expected to contest the Conservative leadership and his defeat the media took to epitomise the Labour landslide victory. The victorious candidate, Stephen Twigg, increased his majority at the following election. In the 2005 general election, Twigg's majority was the largest overturned, with a swing of 8.7% to the Conservative candidate David Burrowes.

The 2015 result gave the seat the 60th most marginal majority of the Conservative Party's 331 seats by percentage of majority,[3] with Labour gaining the seat in the 2017 general election on a substantial 9.7% swing. Enfield Southgate is one of five constituencies, the others being Croydon Central, Leeds North West, Peterborough and Reading East, which elected Labour MPs in 2017 having not done so since 2001.

Constituency profile

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This constituency is located in the western parts of the London Borough of Enfield. Less out-of-work benefits (7.4%) are claimed here than the average for London (8.4%, which compares to 6.4% nationally in April 2021) and among those aged 18 to 24 the percentage is 10.4% in the seat during the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] For the year 2020, 71.3% of employees fell into the top three occupation groups of nine assessed by government, which is above the London and national average.[4] It has significant Jewish, Muslim and Cypriot communities.[n 1]

In recent years[when?], the south-eastern and southern wards of the constituency, including Bowes and Palmers Green have returned Labour local councillors, with some councillors also in Southgate Green and Winchmore Hill. These wards tend to give the bulk of the Labour vote. The remaining wards generally elect Conservative councillors.[5]

To the north, the seat is semi-rural taking in Trent Park and the former campus of Middlesex University, and the Cockfosters terminus of the Piccadilly line, stretching into the wealthy Hadley Wood area. Some areas (smaller than local government wards) in the south of the constituency have middle rankings of deprivation when placed in a complete list of wards (such as the 2000 Index of Multiple Deprivation), however all other output areas lack any significant deprivation.[6]

Boundaries

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Map of boundaries 2010-2024

1950–1974: The Municipal Borough of Southgate.

1974–1983: The London Borough of Enfield wards of Arnos, Bowes, Cockfosters, Grange, Highfield, Oakwood, Palmers Green, Southgate Green, West, and Winchmore Hill.

1983–2010: The London Borough of Enfield wards of Arnos, Bowes, Grange, Grovelands, Highfield, Merryhills, Oakwood, Palmers Green, Southgate Green, Trent, and Winchmore Hill.

2010–2024: The London Borough of Enfield wards of Bowes, Cockfosters, Grange, Palmers Green, Southgate, Southgate Green, and Winchmore Hill.

2007 boundary review

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Pre-2010 form of the seat, at centre. (Results shown: 2001)

The Boundary Commission for England recommended changes to the seat, which were approved and effective from 2010. Part of Highlands ward went to Enfield North; part of Grange ward came in reverse. Parts of Grange; Bowes; and Palmers Green wards were added to the seat from Edmonton. Part of wards: Bush Hill Park and Upper Edmonton supplemented Edmonton.

Members of Parliament

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Election Member Party
1950 Sir Beverley Baxter Conservative
1964 Sir Anthony Berry Conservative
1984 by-election Michael Portillo Conservative
1997 Stephen Twigg Labour
2005 David Burrowes Conservative
2017 Bambos Charalambous Labour
2023 Independent
2024 Labour

Elections

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Elections in the 2010s

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General election 2019: Enfield Southgate[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Bambos Charalambous 22,923 48.5 −3.2
Conservative David Burrowes 18,473 39.1 −3.6
Liberal Democrats Rob Wilson 4,344 9.2 +5.2
Green Luke Balnave 1,042 2.2 +0.6
Brexit Party Parag Shah 494 1.0 New
Majority 4,450 9.4 +0.4
Turnout 47,726 72.7 −1.4
Registered electors 65,055
Labour hold Swing +0.2
General election 2017: Enfield Southgate[8][9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Bambos Charalambous 24,989 51.7 +12.7
Conservative David Burrowes 20,634 42.7 −6.7
Liberal Democrats Pippa Morgan 1,925 4.0 +0.7
Green David Flint 780 1.6 −2.1
Majority 4,355 9.0 N/A
Turnout 48,328 74.1 +3.6
Registered electors 65,210
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +9.7
General election 2015: Enfield Southgate[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Burrowes 22,624 49.4 0.0
Labour Bambos Charalambous 17,871 39.0 +6.8
UKIP David Schofield 2,109 4.6 +3.5
Green Jean Robertson-Molloy 1,690 3.7 +2.3
Liberal Democrats Paul Smith 1,518 3.3 −10.5
Majority 4,753 10.4 −6.8
Turnout 45,812 70.5 +1.3
Registered electors 64,937
Conservative hold Swing −3.4
General election 2010: Enfield Southgate[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Burrowes 21,928 49.4 +5.7
Labour Bambos Charalambous 14,302 32.2 −8.8
Liberal Democrats Johar Khan 6,124 13.8 +2.7
Green Peter Krakowiak 632 1.4 −1.4
UKIP Bob Brock 505 1.1 −0.1
Independent Asit Mukhopadhyay 391 0.9 New
Respect Samad Billoo 174 0.4 New
English Democrat Ben Weald 173 0.4 New
Independent Mal 'the Warrior' Malakounides 88 0.2 New
Better Britain Party Jeremy Sturgess 35 0.1 New
Majority 7,626 17.2 +13.1
Turnout 44,352 69.2 +5.7
Registered electors 64,139
Conservative hold Swing +7.2

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Enfield Southgate[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Burrowes 18,830 44.6 +6.0
Labour Stephen Twigg 17,083 40.5 −11.3
Liberal Democrats Ziz Kakoulakis 4,724 11.2 +4.2
Green Trevor Doughty 1,083 2.6 +1.0
UKIP Brian Hall 490 1.2 +0.5
Majority 1,747 4.1 N/A
Turnout 42,210 66.4 +2.9
Registered electors 63,720
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +8.7
General election 2001: Enfield Southgate[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Stephen Twigg 21,727 51.8 +7.6
Conservative John Flack 16,181 38.6 −2.5
Liberal Democrats Wayne Hoban 2,935 7.0 −3.7
Green Elaine Graham-Leigh 662 1.6 New
UKIP Roy Freshwater 298 0.7 New
Independent Andrew Malakouna 105 0.3 −0.2
Majority 5,546 13.2 +10.1
Turnout 41,908 63.5 −7.1
Registered electors 65,957
Labour hold Swing +5.1

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Enfield Southgate[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Stephen Twigg 20,570 44.2 +18.0
Conservative Michael Portillo 19,137 41.1 −16.9
Liberal Democrats Jeremy Browne 4,966 10.7 −3.8
Referendum Nicholas Luard 1,342 2.9 New
Christian Democrat Alan Storkey 289 0.6 New
Mal – Voice of the People Andrew Malakouna 229 0.5 New
Majority 1,433 3.1 N/A
Turnout 46,533 70.6 −5.7
Registered electors 65,887
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +17.4
General election 1992: Enfield Southgate[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Portillo 28,422 58.0 −0.8
Labour Karen Livney 12,859 26.2 +7.3
Liberal Democrats Kevin Keane 7,080 11.2 −6.7
Green Marghanita Hollands 696 1.4 0.0
Majority 15,563 31.8 −6.1
Turnout 49,057 76.3 +3.7
Registered electors 64,311
Conservative hold Swing −4.1

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Enfield Southgate[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Portillo 28,445 58.8 +0.7
Liberal Nick Harvey 10,100 20.9 −2.4
Labour Allan Course 9,114 18.9 +1.0
Green Stephen Rooney 696 1.4 New
Majority 18,345 37.9 +3.2
Turnout 48,355 72.6 +3.0
Registered electors 66,600
Conservative hold Swing
1984 Enfield Southgate by-election[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Portillo 16,684 49.6 −8.5
Liberal Timothy Slack 11,973 35.6 +12.3
Labour Peter Hamid 4,000 11.9 −6.0
Turkish Troops Out of Cyprus Andreas Polydrou 687 2.0 New
Nationalist Party James Kershaw 80 0.2 New
English National Raymond Shenton 78 0.2 New
Abolish Greater London, Restore Middlesex Iain Burgess 50 0.2 New
Captain Rainbow's Universal Party George Weiss 48 0.2 New
Death off Roads: Freight on Rail Helen Anscomb 45 0.1 New
Majority 4,711 14.0 −20.7
Turnout 33,645 50.6 −19.0
Registered electors 66,473
Conservative hold Swing −1.3
General election 1983: Enfield; Southgate[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anthony Berry 26,451 58.1 −3.5
Liberal David Morgan 10,632 23.3 +9.3
Labour Mary Honeyball 8,132 17.9 −4.7
BNP M Braithwaite 318 0.7 New
Majority 15,819 34.8 −4.3
Turnout 51,365 69.6 −6.7
Registered electors 65,438
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1979:Southgate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anthony Berry 31,663 61.64 +7.74
Labour Ian Wilson[21] 11,584 22.55 −0.28
Liberal Anthony Baker[21] 7,223 14.06 −6.60
National Front Royston Pert[21] 895 1.74 −0.87
Majority 20,079 39.09 +8.02
Turnout 51,365 76.26 +8.55
Registered electors 67,355
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974:Southgate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anthony Berry 25,888 53.90 +1.76
Labour J P Sheppard 10,966 22.83 +2.64
Liberal George J Bridge 9,922 20.66 −4.81
National Front B W Pell 1,255 2.61 +0.41
Majority 14,922 31.07 +4.40
Turnout 48,031 67.71 −9.31
Registered electors 70,935
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974:Southgate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anthony Berry 28,620 52.14 −8.60
Liberal George J Bridge 13,806 25.47 +11.05
Labour F Sealey 10,945 20.19 −4.65
National Front B W Pell 1,192 2.2 New
Majority 14,454 26.67 −9.24
Turnout 54,563 77.02 +10.41
Registered electors 70,372
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Southgate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anthony Berry 22,963 60.74 +7.27
Labour Co-op Robert Brian Bastin 9,389 24.84 +0.23
Liberal George J Bridge 5,451 14.42 −7.50
Majority 13,574 35.90 +7.04
Turnout 37,803 67.61 +7.51
Registered electors 55,913
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

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General election 1966: Southgate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anthony Berry 21,171 53.47 −1.28
Labour Percy Sassoon Gourgey 9,743 24.61 +2.99
Liberal George J Bridge 8,679 21.92 −1.70
Majority 11,428 28.86 −2.27
Turnout 39,593 75.12 −1.27
Registered electors 52,705
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Southgate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anthony Berry 22,251 54.75 −6.04
Liberal George J Bridge 9,600 23.62 +2.41
Labour S. John Chapman 8,787 21.62 +3.62
Majority 12,651 31.13 −8.45
Turnout 40,638 76.39 −0.68
Registered electors 53,198
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

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General election 1959: Southgate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Beverley Baxter 25,704 60.79 −1.53
Liberal George J Bridge 8,968 21.21 +3.50
Labour S. John Chapman 7,613 18.00 −1.97
Majority 16,736 39.58 −2.77
Turnout 42,285 77.07 −0.05
Registered electors 54,869
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Southgate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Beverley Baxter 26,794 62.32 +0.16
Labour George Louis Caunt 8,584 19.97 −2.56
Liberal George J Bridge 7,614 17.71 +2.40
Majority 18,210 42.35 +2.72
Turnout 42,992 77.12 −7.0
Registered electors 55,745
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Southgate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Beverley Baxter 30,044 62.16 +1.06
Labour Vera Dart 10,889 22.53 +0.33
Liberal Edwin Malindine 7,402 15.31 −1.39
Majority 19,155 39.63 +0.73
Turnout 48,335 84.12 −2.28
Registered electors 57,462
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Southgate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Beverley Baxter 30,302 61.1
Labour Vera Dart 11,023 22.2
Liberal Gershon Ellenbogen 8,286 16.7
Majority 19,279 38.9
Turnout 49,611 86.4
Registered electors 57,447
Conservative win (new seat)

Graphical representation

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1992
26.2% 11.2% 58.0%
G Labour Lib Dems Conservative
1997
44.2% 10.7% 41.1% 2.9
Labour Lib Dems Conservative Re
2001
51.8% 7.0% 38.6%
G Labour Lib Dem Conservative
2005
2.6 40.5% 11.2% 44.6%
G Labour Lib Dems Conservative
2010
32.2% 13.8% 49.4%
Labour Lib Dems I Conservative
2015
3.7% 39.0% 3.3 49.4% 4.6%
Gn Labour LD Conservative UKIP
2017
51.7% 4.0% 42.7%
G Labour LD Conservative
2019
48.5% 9.2% 39.1%
G Labour LD Conservative B

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – London | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Conservative Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Labour Market Profile - Nomis - Official Labour Market Statistics".
  5. ^ "Home · Enfield Council". www.enfield.gov.uk.
  6. ^ "Local statistics - Office for National Statistics". neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 11 February 2003. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Enfield Southgate Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Enfield Southgate parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
  9. ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 7979. General Election 2017: results and analysis" (PDF) (Second ed.). House of Commons Library. 29 January 2019 [7 April 2018]. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2019.
  10. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Election Results for Enfield Southgate, 7 May 2015". 7 May 2015.
  12. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Electoral Commission - Enfield Southgate". www.electoralcommission.org.uk.
  14. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Results of Byelections in the 1983-87 Parliament". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  20. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ^ a b c Election Expenses. Parliament of the United Kingdom. 1980. p. 12. ISBN 0102374805.
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51°38′49″N 0°07′19″W / 51.647°N 0.122°W / 51.647; -0.122