Newcastle-under-Lyme_(UK_Parliament_constituency)

Newcastle-under-Lyme (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885 onwards

Newcastle-under-Lyme is a constituency^{[n 1]} in northern Staffordshire created in 1354 and represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Aaron Bell of the Conservative Party.^{[n 2]} It was the last to be co-represented by a member of the Conservative Party when it was dual-member, before the 1885 general election which followed the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 coupled with the Reform Act 1884. In 1919 the local MP, Josiah Wedgwood, shifted his allegiance from the Liberal Party — the Lloyd George Coalition Liberals allying with the Conservatives — to the Labour Party and the seat elected the Labour candidate who has stood at each election for the next hundred years, a total of 29 elections in succession. Labour came close to losing the seat in 1969, 1986, 2015 and 2017, and eventually lost the seat in 2019.

Quick Facts County, Electorate ...

Newcastle-under-Lyme
Borough constituency for the House of Commons
Boundary of Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire
Location of Staffordshire within England
County	Staffordshire
Electorate	68,692 (December 2010)^[1]
Major settlements	Newcastle-under-Lyme, Keele and Audley
Current constituency
Created	1885
Member of Parliament	Aaron Bell (Conservative)
Seats	One
1354–1885
Seats	Two
Type of constituency	Borough constituency

Its 2017 general election result was the fifth-closest result, a winning margin of 30 votes.^[2] In 2019, it was subsequently won by the Conservatives for the first time since its creation, by over 7,000 votes.

Newcastle-under-Lyme is one of twelve Staffordshire seats won (held or gained) by a Conservative candidate in 2019 out of a total of twelve covering the county.

History

From its creation in 1354, Newcastle-under-Lyme returned two MPs to the House of Commons. Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the constituency's representation was cut to one member.

Prominent frontbenchers or members

Josiah Wedgwood of the pottery family was repeatedly elected to the seat from 1906 until he was ennobled to join the Lords in 1942, as 1st Baron Wedgwood and campaigned in the United States for that country to join World War II and for Indian Independence; he was among many Liberals and their supporters deserting the party in or around 1918 due to the steering of David Lloyd George to the right and inviting Conservatives into government with him. Before the 20th century the constituency was often influenced and represented by members of the Leveson, Leveson-Gower^{[n 3]} and related Egerton family who owned in this constituency the Trentham estate^{[n 4]} - their most important MP was the Viscount Trentham who obtained a Dukedom.

Summary of results

This constituency had been a loyal Labour Party seat having returned a Labour MP in all 29 elections since 1918 and specifically since 1922 when MP Wedgwood defected from the Liberal Party to the Labour Party — his was among a great series of defections at this time see for example ex-Prime Minister H. H. Asquith's strong criticism of the Coalition Liberals particularly David Lloyd George. The 2015 result gave the seat the 9th-smallest majority of Labour's 232 seats by percentage of majority and 3rd-lowest in 2017.^[3] The Conservatives took six seats from Labour in 2017, and this seat was the second closest to being taken that was held, behind Dudley North, where the result was a Labour majority of 22 votes.

Results of candidates of other parties

In 2015 one of four other parties' candidates standing, UKIP's Wood, won more than 5% of the vote in 2015 therefore keeping his deposit, the party which campaigned consistently for the public vote for leaving the European Union in 2016. In 2017 the three largest British parties fielded candidates only — Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat candidates in order of votes won.

Turnout since 1945

Turnout has ranged from 87.6% in 1950 to 58.8% in 2001.

2017 election issues

In the 2017 election, 1,500 eligible voters were turned away while 2 ineligible voters were able to vote.^[4] An independent report by Andrew Scallan found a "complex picture of administrative mistakes around registration and postal voting processes", and because of the small margin of victory (30 votes) concluded that "it is impossible to have absolute confidence that the result... reflects the will of the electorate."^[5]

Boundaries

Map of current boundaries

The constituency includes most of the northerly parts of Newcastle-under-Lyme borough, primarily Newcastle-under-Lyme town plus Keele and Audley.

Parliament accepted the Boundary Commission's Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies for General Election 2010 since which it has electoral wards, with no alterations in that review:

Audley and Bignall End; Bradwell; Chesterton; Clayton; Cross Heath; Halmerend; Holditch; Keele; Knutton and Silverdale; May Bank; Porthill; Seabridge; Silverdale and Parksite; Thistleberry; Town; Westlands; and Wolstanton in the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme^[6]

From 1983-2010 the constituency comprised the following wards of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, namely, Audley and Bignall End, Bradwell, Chesterton, Clayton, Cross Heath, Halmerend, Holditch, Keele, May Bank, Porthill, Seabridge, Silverdale, Thistleberry, Town, Westlands and Wolstanton.

1885–1918: The existing parliamentary borough, so much of the municipal borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme as was not already included in the parliamentary borough, the local government district of Tunstall, and so much of the parish of Wolstanton as lay south of a line drawn along the centre of the road leading west from Chatterley railway station to the boundary of Audley parish.^[7]

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the next general election, due by January 2025, the constituency will be composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

The Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme wards of: Audley; Bradwell; Clayton; Crackley & Red Street; Cross Heath; Holditch & Chesterton; Keele; Knutton; Madeley & Betley; May Bank; Silverdale; Thistleberry; Town; Westbury Park & Northwood; Westlands; Wolstanton.^[8]

Boundaries unchanged, except for the addition of the village of Madeley from the (to be abolished) constituency of Stone, in order to bring the electorate within the permitted range.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1353–1509

Where the name of the member has not yet been ascertained or is not recorded in a surviving document, the entry unknown is entered in the table.

Before 1354 No records^[9]
1354 John Lagowe and Richard de Lavendene
1355 John de Blorton and Richard de Podmore
1358 Richard de Podmore and William de Homersley
1360 William Gent and Richard de Colclough
1361 William Gent and Richard de Podmore
1362 Richard de Podmore and Thomas de Wodhull
1363 Richard de Lavendene and John de Lylsull
1365 Thomas de Wodhull and Richard de Podmore
1366 Richard de Podmore and Thomas de Wodhull
1369 Richard de Lavendene, Roger Letys
1371 Roger Letys and Richard Lavendene
1372 Edmund Toly and Thomas Colclough
1373 Thomas de Wodhull and Roger del Castell
1377 Richard Buntable and Thomas Thicknesse
1377 Thomas de Podmore and Henry de Erdeleye
1378 Thomas de Podmore and William Thickness
1379 No records
1380 John Kene and William Thickness
1381-1382 Thomas Podmore and Thomas Hap
1382 Thomas Thicknesse and John Thykenesse
1382 William Thickness and Henry de Kele
1383 Thomas Thicknesse and William de Brompton
1383 Thomas Thicknesse and Thomas de Podmore
1384 William Thickness and Ralf de la Hogh
1384 John Colclough and William Colclough
1385 William Colclough and Ralf de la Hogh
1386 William Colclough and Ralf Hogh
1388 William Thickness and John Kene
1388 William Thickness and Thomas de Thikenes
1390 John Colclough and William Colclough
1391 Thomas Thicknesse and Ralf de la Hogh
1393 Ralf Hogh, John Cook
1394 No records
1395 William Colclough and Ralf Hogh
1397 William Colclough and Thomas Thicknesse
1397-1398 No records
1399 Thomas Podmore and Thomas Thicknesse
1402 John Joce and Thomas Joce
1406 Richard Fyton and William Lee II
1407 Hugh Colclough and John Tatenhale
1410 ? possibly John Delves was an MP representing the county or a borough
1411 Thomas Thicknesse and William Bowyer
1413 (1) ? possibly Newport, or Robert Bapthorpe was an MP representing the county or a borough
1413 (2) William de Lee and Hugh Wyldeblood
1416 William Skytteby, Thomas Chamberleyn
1419 John Biddulph (Bedulf), John Miners
1420 Hugo de Stanford and John Hardhed
1421 John Biddulph (Bydulf) and Thomas Baron
1421 Hugh Stanford and Thomas Lee
1422 John Myners and Hugh Stanford
1423-1424 Hugh Stanford and William Sandbache
1425 John Wood and William Hextall
1426 Robert Wodehous and Henry Lilie
1427-1428 John Wood and Thomas Lee
1429-1430 William Egerton and William Hextall
1431 John Wood and Roger Legh
1432 James Leveson and John Wood
1433 John Wood and Thomas Podmore
1435 Richard Bruyn and William Hextall
1437 Thomas Preston and Nicholas Repynghale
1442 John Nedham and William Cumberford of Cumberford
1447 John Nedham and John Cudworth
1449 John Nedham and Thomas Everdon
1449-1450 Ralf Wolseley and Thomas Mayne
1450-1451 Thomas Colclogh and Richard Mosley
1453-1434 Thomas Colcloghe and John Spenser
1455-1456 John Spenser and Richard Mosley
1467-1468 James Norys and Robert Hille
1472-1475 William Paston and John Wood
1477-1478 William Yonge and Reynold Bray
1491-1492 Richard Harpur and Richard Blunt
1495-1496 ? Sir Reynold Bray
1497 County or a borough - ?Richard Wrottesley, ?Humphrey Peshale,?Thomas Welles
1504 unknown

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)

Burgesses in the English Parliament 1510-1707

As there were sometimes significant gaps between Parliaments held in this period, the dates of first assembly and dissolution are given.

The Roman numerals after some names are those used in The House of Commons 1509-1558 and The House of Commons 1558-1603 to distinguish a member from another politician of the same name.

More information Elected, Assembled ...

Elected	Assembled	Dissolved	First member	Second member
1510	21 January 1510	23 February 1510	John Welles	William Pury
1512	4 February 1512	4 March 1514	John Welles	Thomas Rider
1515	5 February 1515	22 December 1515	John Welles	Thomas Rider
1523	15 April 1523	13 August 1523	unknown	unknown
1529	3 November 1529	14 April 1536	John Persall	Richard Grey
1536	8 June 1536	18 July 1536	unknown	unknown
1539	28 April 1539	24 July 1540	unknown	unknown
1542	16 January 1542	28 March 1544	Harry Broke	John Smith
1545	23 November 1545	31 January 1547	Humphrey Welles	Harry Broke
1547	4 November 1547	15 April 1552	James Rolston	William Layton (died) Alexander Walker in place of Layton
1553	1 March 1553	31 March 1553	Roger Fowke	John Smyth
1553	5 October 1553	5 December 1553	Roger Fowke	James Rolston
1554	2 April 1554	3 May 1554	James Rolleston	Francis Moore
1554	12 November 1554	16 January 1555	Sir Ralph Bagnall	Richard Smyth
1555	21 October 1555	9 December 1555	Sir Richard Bagnall (properly Sir Nicholas Bagenal)	Richard Smyth
14 January 1558	20 January 1558	17 November 1558	Richard Hussey	Thomas Egerton
5 January 1559	23 January 1559	8 May 1559	Sir Nicholas Bagenal	Walter Blount
1562 or 1563	11 January 1563	2 January 1567	Sir Ralph Bagnall	John Long
1571	2 April 1571	29 May 1571	Sir Ralph Bagnall	Ralph Bourchier
12 April 1572	8 May 1572	19 April 1583	Ralph Bourchier	Thomas Grimsdiche
16 November 1584	23 November 1584	14 September 1585	Peter Warburton	Walter Chetwynd
28 September 1586	13 October 1586	23 March 1587	James Colyer	Walter Chetwynd
10 October 1588	4 February 1589	29 March 1589	Thomas Humphrey	Francis Angier
1593	18 February 1593	10 April 1593	John James	Thomas Fitzherbert
16 October 1597	24 October 1597	9 February 1598	Sir Walter Leveson	John Bowyer
1 October 1601	27 October 1601	19 December 1601	Edward Mainwaring	Thomas Trentham
1603 [sic]	19 March 1604	9 February 1611	Sir Walter Chetwynd	John Bowyer (replaced in by-election 1605 by Rowland Cotton)
1614	5 April 1614	7 June 1614	Edward Wymarke	Robert Needham, 2nd Viscount Kilmorey
1621	16 January 1621	8 February 1622	Sir John Davies	Edward Kerton
1624	12 February 1624	27 March 1625	Sir Edward Vere (disabled, replaced April 1624 by Charles Glemham	Richard Leveson
1625	17 May 1625	12 August 1625	Edward Mainwaring	John Keeling
1626	6 February 1626	15 June 1626	Sir John Skeffington	John Keeling
1628	17 March 1628	10 March 1629	Sir George Gresley, 1st Baronet	Sir Rowland Cotton
No parliament held
1640	13 April 1640	5 May 1640	Sir John Merrick (Country)	Richard Lloyd (Court)
1640	3 November 1640	5 December 1648	Sir Richard Leveson (Royalist) (until 1643) replaced by Samuel Terrick (Parl.)	Sir John Merrick (Parl.)
N/A	6 December 1648^{[n 5]}	20 April 1653^{[n 6]}	unrepresented
N/A^{[n 7]}	4 July 1653	12 December 1653	unrepresented
1654^{[n 8]}	3 September 1654	22 January 1655	Edward Keeling
1656^{[n 9]}	17 September 1656	4 February 1658	John Bowyer(never sat)
1659	27 January 1659	22 April 1659	Edward Keeling	Tobias Bridge
N/A^{[n 10]}	7 May 1659	20 February 1660	unknown	unknown
			unknown	unknown

MPs 1660–1885

More information Election, 1st Member ...

Election	1st Member^[10]		1st Party		2nd Party
1660		John Bowyer		Samuel Terrick
1661		Sir Caesar Colclough		Edward Mainwaring
1675		Sir Caesar Colclough		William Leveson-Gower
1679		Sir Thomas Bellot, Bt		William Leveson-Gower
1685		Edward Mainwaring		William Sneyd
1689		Sir William Leveson-Gower		John Lawton
1690		Sir William Leveson-Gower		Sir Thomas Bellot, Bt
1692		Sir John Leveson-Gower, later 1st Lord Gower		Sir Thomas Bellot, Bt
1695				John Lawton
1698				Sir Thomas Bellot, Bt
1699				Rowland Cotton	Tory
1702		John Crewe Offley		Rowland Cotton	Tory
1705^{[n 11]}		John Crewe Offley		Sir Thomas Bellot, Bt	Tory
1706		Crewe Offley		John Lawton
1708		Sir Thomas Bellot, 3rd Baronet	Tory	Rowland Cotton	Tory
1709		Crewe Offley	Whig	John Lawton
1710		William Burslem		Rowland Cotton	Tory
Jan 1715		Henry Vernon		Rowland Cotton	Tory
1715		Sir Brian Broughton		Crewe Offley	Whig
1722		Sir Brian Broughton		Thomas Leveson-Gower
1724 by-election		Sir Walter Bagot		Thomas Leveson-Gower
1727		Baptist Leveson-Gower		John Ward
1734				John Lawton II
1740 by-election				Randle Wilbraham
1747				Viscount Parker
1754				John Waldegrave
1761		Henry Vernon II
1762 by-election		Sir Lawrence Dundas, Bt
1763 by-election		Sir Lawrence Dundas, Bt		Thomas Gilbert
Mar 1768		John Wrottesley, later 8th Bt		Alexander Forrester
May 1768 by-election		Sir George Hay		Alexander Forrester
1774		Sir George Hay		George Waldegrave, Viscount Chewton
1779 by-election		George Leveson-Gower, Viscount Trentham		George Waldegrave, Viscount Chewton
1780		George Leveson-Gower, Viscount Trentham		Sir Archibald Macdonald
1784		Richard Vernon
1790		John Leveson-Gower
1792 by-election		William Egerton
1793 by-election				Sir Francis Ford
1796				Edward Bootle-Wilbraham
1802		Sir Robert Lawley
1806		James Macdonald
1812		Earl Gower	Whig^[11]	Sir John Boughey, Bt	Whig^[11]
1815 by-election		Sir John Chetwode	Tory^[11]	Sir John Boughey, Bt	Whig^[11]
1818		William Shepherd Kinnersley	Tory^[11]	Robert Wilmot-Horton	Whig^[11]
1823 by-election		Evelyn Denison	Whig
1826		Richardson Borradaile	Tory^[11]
1830		Richardson Borradaile	Tory^[11]	William Henry Miller	Whig^[11]
1831		Edmund Peel	Tory^[11]		Tory^[11]
1832		Sir Henry Willoughby	Tory^[11]		Tory^[11]
1834		Sir Henry Willoughby	Conservative^[11]		Conservative^[11]
1835		Edmund Peel	Conservative^[11]
1837		Spencer Horsey de Horsey	Conservative^[11]
1841		Edmund Buckley	Conservative^[11]	John Quincey Harris	Whig^[11]^[12]^[13]
1842 by-election		Edmund Buckley	Conservative^[11]	John Campbell Colquhoun	Conservative^[11]
1847		Samuel Christy	Peelite^[14]^[15]	William Jackson	Whig
1859		William Murray	Conservative	William Jackson	Liberal
1865		William Shepherd Allen	Liberal	Sir Edmund Buckley, Bt	Conservative
1878 by-election				Samuel Rathbone Edge	Liberal
1880				Charles Donaldson-Hudson	Conservative
1885	representation reduced to one member by the Redistribution of Seats Act

MPs since 1885

More information Year, Member ...

	Member^[10]	Party
1885	William Shepherd Allen	Liberal
1886	Douglas Coghill	Liberal Unionist
1892	William Allen	Liberal
1900	Sir Alfred Seale Haslam	Liberal Unionist
1906	Josiah Wedgwood	Liberal
1918		Ind. Liberal
1919		Labour
1931		Ind. Labour
1935		Labour
1942 by-election	John Mack	Labour
1951	Stephen Swingler	Labour
1969 by-election	John Golding	Labour
1986 by-election	Llin Golding	Labour
2001	Paul Farrelly	Labour
2019	Aaron Bell	Conservative