Meriden (UK Parliament constituency)
Meriden | |
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County constituency for the House of Commons |
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![]() Boundary of Meriden in the West Midlands for the 2007 general election.
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![]() Location of the West Midlands within England.
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County | West Midlands |
Electorate | 83,428 (December 2010)[1] |
Major settlements | Balsall Common, Hampton-in-Arden, Meriden and Chelmsley Wood |
Current constituency | |
Created | 1955 |
Member of parliament | Caroline Spelman (Conservative) |
Number of members | One |
Overlaps | |
European Parliament constituency | West Midlands |
Meriden is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1997 by Caroline Spelman, a Conservative.[n 2]
Contents
History
Meriden is the largest geographical constituency in the West Midlands metropolitan area. It was created for the 1955 general election.
The 1983 boundary changes and landslide electoral success of Mrs Thatcher that year transformed the constituency into a Conservative safe seat, with the Labour-leaning areas becoming part of the new Warwickshire North constituency (which was also won by the Conservatives). Iain Mills held this seat until he died in office in January 1997, with the seat remaining vacant until the dissolution of Parliament that March (and therefore no by-election being held). Caroline Spelman was victorious in the 1997 general election, though on that occasion only by a marginal majority, and has held the seat since, with the challenge from Labour becoming more distant.
Boundaries
1955-1974: The Rural Districts of Atherstone (the civil parishes of Ansley, Atherstone, Baddesley Ensor, Baxterley, Bentley, Caldecote, Dordon, Grendon, Hartshill, Mancetter, Merevale, Oldbury, and Polesworth), Meriden (the civil parishes of Allesley, Balsall, Barston, Berkswell, Bickenhill, Castle Bromwich, Chelmsley Wood, Coleshill, Corley, Coundon, Curdworth, Fillongley, Fordbridge, Great Packington, Hampton-in-Arden, Keresley, Kingshurst, Kinwalsey, Lea Marston, Little Packington, Maxstoke, Meriden, Middleton, Minworth, Nether Whitacre, Over Whitacre, Sheldon, Shustoke, Water Orton, and Wishaw), and Tamworth.
1974-1983: The Rural Districts of Atherstone (the civil parishes of Ansley, Atherstone, Austrey, Baddesley Ensor, Baxterley, Bentley, Caldecote, Dordon, Grendon, Hartshill, Kingsbury, Mancetter, Merevale, Newton Regis, Oldbury, Polesworth, Seckington, and Shuttington) and Meriden.
1983-2010: The Metropolitan Borough of Solihull wards of Bickenhill, Castle Bromwich, Chelmsley Wood, Fordbridge, Kingshurst, Knowle, Meriden, Packwood, and Smith's Wood.
2010-present: The Metropolitan Borough of Solihull wards of Bickenhill, Blythe, Castle Bromwich, Chelmsley Wood, Dorridge and Hockley Heath, Kingshurst and Fordbridge, Knowle, Meriden, and Smith’s Wood.
The constituency was created in 1955 following a review of parliamentary seats in Warwickshire by the Boundary Commission appointed under the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949. The constituency's area was transferred from the neighbouring constituencies of Nuneaton and Sutton Coldfield.[2]
Tamworth Rural District was abolished in 1965, with most of its area redistributed between the two neighbouring rural districts. Accordingly, this resulted in only a minor boundary change to the constituency in 1974.[3]
Until 1983 the seat was a Labour-Conservative marginal, covering the coal mining areas of northern Warwickshire and the more affluent area near Solihull. It changed hands between the two parties several times, including in a by-election in 1968, which was won by Keith Speed of the Conservatives.
In 1983, reflecting the major local government boundary changes effected by the Local Government Act 1972, a new Meriden County Constituency was created as part of the parliamentary county of West Midlands. There were no boundary changes in 1997.[4]
Constituency profile
The constituency is one of two covering the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull. It covers the rural area, known as the Meriden Gap, between the West Midlands conurbation and Coventry, which contains villages such as Balsall Common, Hampton-in-Arden and Meriden itself, with some towns, particularly Castle Bromwich and Chelmsley Wood (a large area of 1960s council housing on the eastern edge of Birmingham, some of which since acquired privately under the right to buy others of which being remaining social housing), higher than average national income and affluent areas particular examples being Dorridge and Knowle.[5] Incidence of home ownership in this area is high, as opposed to the rented sector.[6][7]
Members of Parliament
The current MP since 1997 is the Conservative Caroline Spelman.
Elections
Elections in the 2010s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Caroline Spelman | 28,791 | 54.7 | +3.1 | |
Labour | Tom McNeil[10] | 9,996 | 19.0 | -1.5 | |
UKIP | Mick Gee | 8,908 | 16.9 | +14.3 | |
Liberal Democrat | Ade Adeyemo | 2,638 | 5.0 | -12.8 | |
Green | Alison Gavin[11] | 2,170 | 4.1 | +2.8 | |
Independence from Europe | Chris Booth | 100 | 0.2 | +0.2 | |
Majority | 18,795 | 35.7 | +4.5 | ||
Turnout | 52,603 | 64.9 | +1.6 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Caroline Spelman | 26,956 | 51.7 | +4.0 | |
Labour | Ed Williams | 10,703 | 20.5 | −11.7 | |
Liberal Democrat | Simon Slater | 9,278 | 17.8 | +1.0 | |
BNP | Frank O'Brien | 2,511 | 4.8 | N/A | |
UKIP | Barry Allcock | 1,378 | 2.6 | −0.7 | |
Green | Elly Stanton | 678 | 1.3 | N/A | |
Solihull and Meriden Residents' Association | Nikki Sinclaire | 658 | 1.3 | N/A | |
Majority | 16,253 | 31.2 | +15.7 | ||
Turnout | 52,162 | 63.3 | +3.2 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +7.9 |
Elections in the 2000s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Caroline Spelman | 22,416 | 48.2 | +0.5 | |
Labour | Jim Brown | 15,407 | 33.1 | −6.1 | |
Liberal Democrat | William Laitinen | 7,113 | 15.3 | +4.2 | |
UKIP | Denis Brookes | 1,567 | 3.4 | +1.4 | |
Majority | 7,009 | 15.1 | +6.6 | ||
Turnout | 46,503 | 60.1 | −0.3 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +3.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Caroline Spelman | 21,246 | 47.7 | +5.7 | |
Labour | Christine Shawcroft | 17,462 | 39.2 | −1.8 | |
Liberal Democrat | Nigel Hicks | 4,941 | 11.1 | −1.9 | |
UKIP | Richard Adams | 910 | 2.0 | N/A | |
Majority | 3,784 | 8.5 | +7.4 | ||
Turnout | 44,559 | 60.4 | −11.3 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +3.7 |
Elections in the 1990s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Caroline Spelman | 22,997 | 42.0 | −13.1 | |
Labour | Brian Seymour-Smith | 22,415 | 41.0 | +10.1 | |
Liberal Democrat | Tony Dupont | 7,098 | 13.0 | −1.0 | |
Referendum | P Gilbert | 2,208 | 4.0 | N/A | |
Majority | 582 | 1.1 | −23.1 | ||
Turnout | 54,718 | 71.7 | −7.1 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | −11.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Iain Mills | 33,462 | 55.1 | +0.0 | |
Labour | NJ Stephens | 18,763 | 30.9 | +4.8 | |
Liberal Democrat | Mrs JA Morris | 8,489 | 14.0 | −4.8 | |
Majority | 14,699 | 24.2 | −4.8 | ||
Turnout | 60,714 | 78.8 | +5.0 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | −2.4 |
Elections in the 1980s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Iain Mills | 31,935 | 55.11 | ||
Labour | Richard Burden | 15,115 | 26.08 | ||
Social Democratic | CE Parkinson | 10,896 | 18.80 | ||
Majority | 16,820 | 29.03 | |||
Turnout | 73.87 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Iain Mills | 28,474 | 53.66 | ||
Labour | John Sever | 13,456 | 25.36 | ||
Social Democratic | PM Dunbar | 10,674 | 20.12 | ||
National Front | CL Collins | 460 | 0.87 | ||
Majority | 15,018 | 28.30 | |||
Turnout | 71.55 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1970s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Iain Mills | 37,151 | 48.77 | ||
Labour | John Tomlinson | 33,024 | 43.35 | ||
Liberal | D Spurling | 4,976 | 6.53 | ||
National Front | A Parkes | 1,032 | 1.35 | ||
Majority | 4,127 | 5.42 | |||
Turnout | 77.02 | ||||
Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Tomlinson | 34,641 | 47.39 | ||
Conservative | Christopher Horne | 25,675 | 35.12 | ||
Liberal | D Minnis | 12,782 | 17.49 | ||
Majority | 8,966 | 12.27 | |||
Turnout | 75.08 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Tomlinson | 40,541 | 52.93 | ||
Conservative | Keith Speed | 36,056 | 47.07 | ||
Majority | 4,485 | 5.86 | |||
Turnout | 79.47 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Keith Speed | 40,077 | 53.13 | ||
Labour | NP Lister | 35,353 | 46.87 | ||
Majority | 4,724 | 6.26 | |||
Turnout | 75.59 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1960s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Keith Speed | 33,344 | 64.8 | +18.4 | |
Labour | Roderick MacFarquhar | 18,081 | 35.2 | −18.4 | |
Majority | 15,263 | 29.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 51,425 | 66.0 | -19.7 | ||
Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +18.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Christopher Rowland | 33,831 | 53.6 | ||
Conservative | Jonathan Aitken | 29,250 | 46.4 | ||
Majority | 4,581 | 7.2 | |||
Turnout | 63,081 | 85.7 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Christopher Rowland | 29,425 | 50.31 | ||
Conservative | Gordon Matthews | 29,062 | 49.69 | ||
Majority | 363 | 0.62 | |||
Turnout | 83.45 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
Elections in the 1950s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Gordon Matthews | 26,498 | 50.25 | ||
Labour | Reginald Moss | 26,235 | 49.75 | ||
Majority | 263 | 0.50 | |||
Turnout | 84.44 | ||||
Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Reginald Moss | 22,796 | 51.24 | ||
Conservative | WJ Peel | 21,691 | 48.76 | ||
Majority | 1,105 | 2.48 | |||
Turnout | 81.48 | ||||
Labour win |
See also
Notes and references
- Notes
- ↑ 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.
- References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ F A Youngs Jr., Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Vol.II: Northern England, London, 1991
- ↑ The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970 (S.I. 1970/1674)
- ↑ The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/1626)
- ↑ 2001 Census
- ↑ 2011 census interactive maps
- ↑ Statutory Instrument 2007 No. 1681 (section Schedule) The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007 (Coming into force 27 June 2007)
- ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "M" (part 2)[self-published source][better source needed]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://electionresults.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/meriden-2015.html
- ↑ http://westmidlands.greenparty.org.uk/news.html/2015/01/29/greens-select-meriden-parliamentary-candidate/
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.solihull.gov.uk/Attachments/SOPN.pdf
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.118 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Accuracy disputes from March 2012
- Articles lacking reliable references from March 2012
- Wikipedia articles incorporating an LRPP-MP template with two unnamed parameters
- Politics of Solihull
- Parliamentary constituencies in the West Midlands (county)
- United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies established in 1955