Liverpool Riverside (UK Parliament constituency)

Liverpool Riverside
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Map of constituency
Boundary of Liverpool Riverside in North West England
CountyMerseyside
Electorate70,157 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsAigburth, Kirkdale, Liverpool (part), Mossley Hill, St Michaels
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentKim Johnson (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromLiverpool Toxteth,
Liverpool Scotland Exchange

Liverpool Riverside is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Kim Johnson, who is a member of the Labour Party.

Constituency profile

Liverpool Riverside covers an urban area, many neighbourhoods and households of which are economically deprived on relative and absolute measures. As of the 2024 election, it is the most deprived constituency in England.[2] The latter 20th century economic history of Liverpool cost many jobs, businesses and sources of investment to the city leading to urban blight and the return of widespread generational poverty, not seen since the 19th century. The city's 21st century economic history has been increasing prosperous, seeing growth amongst its financial sector, innovative technology businesses, tourism and entertainment gigs and events. The re-investment has been heightened by heavily used high rise buildings by leading architects, principally the Tate Liverpool and an adjoining block, and publicly funded transport and services improvements.

History

Creation

Liverpool Riverside was created in 1983, merging most of the old Liverpool Scotland Exchange and Liverpool Toxteth constituencies. A provisional recommendation by the Boundary Commission was for the name Liverpool Abercromby, dropped during the local consultations, during which an alternative name of Liverpool Cathedrals was also proposed.[3]

Results of the winning party

The area has been held by the Labour Party since the 1964 election (including predecessor seats); 1983—1997 by Robert Parry (ex-MP for Scotland Exchange, from 1974), 1997—2019 by Louise Ellman, and 2019—date by Kim Johnson. The 2017 result made the seat the 3rd safest seat by percentage of majority.[4]

Results of other parties

The 2005 general election saw much more than the national average swing (+8.1%) to the Liberal Democrat candidate (compared with 3.4% nationwide), however Labour's candidate won more than double that share of the vote, scoring 57%. In the same election the area was one of several urban seats in which the Green Party retained its deposit by its candidate scoring just over 5% of the vote. The last time until 2017 that the Conservatives fielded a candidate who achieved second place was in 1992. That party took third place in 2015 behind the highest polling to date for any candidate from the Green Party across Merseyside. Despite the Conservatives managing to come second in the seat in 2017, this was significantly overshadowed by the fact Labour won over 84% of the vote and a majority of 35,947 (74.8%), the biggest margin by both popular vote and percentage majority the party has ever won in the seat.

Turnout

In the 2001 and 2005 general elections it had the lowest turnout of all constituencies of the UK. In a contest where positions of runner-up candidates greatly changed, turnout exceeded 62% in the 2015 election.[5] This slightly increased to 62.9% in 2017, which remains below the average (the 2017 election had a total turnout of 68.8%), but significantly less so than has previously been the case in the constituency.

Boundaries

Map
Map of present boundaries

Historic

1983–1997: The City of Liverpool wards of Abercromby, Arundel, Dingle, Everton, Granby, and Vauxhall.

1997–2010: The City of Liverpool wards of Abercromby, Aigburth, Arundel, Dingle, Everton, Granby, Smithdown, and Vauxhall.

2010–2024: The City of Liverpool wards of Central, Greenbank, Kirkdale, Mossley Hill, Princes Park, Sefton Park, Riverside, and St Michael's.

Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency was defined as being composed of the following wards of the City of Liverpool as they existed on 1 December 2020:

  • Anfield; Central; Everton; Kirkdale; Princes Park; Riverside.[6]

The seat was subject to significant change, with the transfer of the (former) wards of Greenbank, Mossley Hill and St Michael's to Liverpool Wavertree, offset by the addition of the Anfield and Everton wards from Liverpool Walton.

Liverpool was subject to a comprehensive local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2023.[7][8] As a result, the new constituency boundaries do not align with the revised ward boundaries. The constituency now comprises the following wards or part wards of the City of Liverpool from the 2024 general election:

  • Anfield (most); Brownlow Hill; Canning (most); City Centre North; City Centre South; Dingle; Edge Hill (very small part); Everton East (most); Everton North; Everton West; Festival Gardens (most); Kensington & Fairfield (small part); Kirkdale East; Kirkdale West; Princes Park (most); Toxteth; Tuebrook Breckside Park (part); Vauxhall; Waterfront North; Waterfront South.[9]

The constituency is one of five covering the city of Liverpool. It covers the central area of the city, including famous sights of the city such as the Royal Liver Building and Albert Dock. Neighbourhoods include Aigburth, Canning, Chinatown, Dingle, Kirkdale, Part of Mossley Hill, St Michael's Hamlet, Toxteth and Vauxhall. It contains the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University. [needs update?]

Members of Parliament

Election Member[10] Party
1983 Robert Parry Labour
1997 Louise Ellman Labour Co-op
October 2019[11] Independent[12]
2019 Kim Johnson Labour

Elections

Liverpool Scotland / Riverside election results

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Liverpool Riverside [13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kim Johnson 20,039 61.9 −23.2
Green Chris Coughlan 5,246 16.2 +13.8
Reform UK Gary Hincks 3,272 10.1 +7.5
Liberal Democrats Rebecca Turner 1,544 4.8 +2.6
Conservative Jane Austin 1,155 3.6 −4.2
TUSC Roger Bannister 622 1.9 N/A
Liberal Sean Weaver 256 0.8 N/A
NHA Stephen McNally 247 0.8 N/A
Majority 14,793 45.7 −24.5
Turnout 32,381 44.7 −15.1
Registered electors 71,380
Labour hold Swing -18.5

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Liverpool Riverside[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kim Johnson 41,170 78.0 Decrease6.5
Conservative Sean Malkeson 4,127 7.8 Decrease1.9
Green Tom Crone 3,017 5.7 Increase2.4
Liberal Democrats Robert McAllister-Bell 2,696 5.1 Increase2.6
Brexit Party David Leach 1,779 3.4 New
Majority 37,043 70.2 Decrease 4.6
Turnout 52,789 65.7 Increase 2.8
Labour hold Swing Decrease 2.4
General election 2017: Liverpool Riverside[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Louise Ellman 40,599 84.5 Increase17.1
Conservative Pamela Hall 4,652 9.7 Increase0.1
Green Stephanie Pitchers 1,582 3.3 Decrease8.8
Liberal Democrats Tom Sebire 1,187 2.5 Decrease1.4
Majority 35,947 74.8 Increase19.5
Turnout 48,020 62.9 Increase0.5
Labour Co-op hold Swing Increase8.5
General election 2015: Liverpool Riverside[16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Louise Ellman 29,835 67.4 Increase8.1
Green Martin Dobson 5,372 12.1 Increase8.6
Conservative Jackson Ng 4,245 9.6 Decrease1.3
UKIP Joe Chiffers 2,510 5.7 Increase4.0
Liberal Democrats Paul Childs 1,719 3.9 Decrease18.8
TUSC Tony Mulhearn 582 1.3 New
Majority 24,463 55.3 Increase18.7
Turnout 44,263 62.4 Increase10.3
Labour Co-op hold Swing Decrease0.3
General election 2010: Liverpool Riverside[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Louise Ellman 22,998 59.3 Decrease0.1
Liberal Democrats Richard Marbrow 8,825 22.7 Decrease0.6
Conservative Kegang Wu 4,243 10.9 Increase1.9
Green Tom Crone 1,355 3.5 Decrease1.7
BNP Peter Stafford 706 1.8 New
UKIP Patricia Gaskell 674 1.7 Increase0.1
Majority 14,173 36.6 Decrease 0.5
Turnout 38,801 52.1 Increase9.4
Labour Co-op hold Swing Increase0.3

Elections in the 2000s

The turnout compared to the 2001 election had risen by 7.4% to 41.5% (an above average increase). However, this was still the lowest throughout the United Kingdom which averaged 61.3% with a 2.1% increase.

General election 2005: Liverpool Riverside[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Louise Ellman 17,951 57.6 −13.8
Liberal Democrats Richard Marbrow 7,737 24.8 +8.1
Conservative Gabrielle J.F. Howatson 2,843 9.1 +0.7
Green Peter A.E. Cranie 1,707 5.5 New
Socialist Labour Beth R. Marshall 498 1.6 New
UKIP Ann R.F. Irving 455 1.5 New
Majority 10,214 32.8 −21.9
Turnout 31,191 41.5 +7.4
Labour Co-op hold Swing

In the 2001 election it had a turnout of 34.1% which was the lowest of the United Kingdom. The average turnout in that year was 59.2%.

General election 2001: Liverpool Riverside[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Louise Ellman 18,201 71.4 +1.0
Liberal Democrats Richard Marbrow 4,251 16.7 +3.4
Conservative Judith Edwards 2,142 8.4 −1.1
Socialist Alliance Cathy Wilson 909 3.6 +1.6
Majority 13,950 54.7 −2.4
Turnout 25,503 34.1 −17.5
Labour Co-op hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Liverpool Riverside[21][22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Louise Ellman 26,858 70.4
Liberal Democrats Beatrice L. Fraenkel 5,059 13.3
Conservative David G. Sparrow 3,635 9.5
Socialist Alternative Cathy Wilson 776 2.0 New
Liberal David W. Green 594 1.6 New
Referendum George Skelly 586 1.5 New
ProLife Alliance Heather M. Neilson 277 0.7 New
Multi-Racial Anti-Corruption Alliance David Braid 179 0.5 New
Natural Law Geoffrey Gay 171 0.5
Majority 21,799 57.1
Turnout 38,135 51.6
Labour Co-op hold Swing
General election 1992: Liverpool Riverside[23][24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Parry 20,550 75.9 +2.7
Conservative Andrew Zsigmond 3,113 11.5 −2.3
Liberal Democrats Mohammed Akbar Ali 2,498 9.3 −2.0
Green Lawrence Brown 738 2.7 New
Natural Law John D. Collins 169 0.6 New
Majority 17,437 64.4 +5.0
Turnout 27,068 54.6 −4.7
Labour hold Swing +2.5

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Liverpool Riverside[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Parry 25,505 73.2 +8.3
Conservative Stephen Fitzsimmons 4,816 13.8 −6.0
SDP Baldey Singh Chahal 3,912 11.3 −2.7
Communist Katherine Gardner 601 1.7 +1.0
Majority 20,689 59.4 +14.3
Turnout 34,834 65.3 +2.9
Labour hold Swing +7.5
General election 1983: Liverpool Riverside[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Parry 24,978 64.9 −2.0
Conservative Thomas Morrison 7,600 19.8 −0.7
SDP Peter Zentner 5,381 14.0 +3.2
Communist John Blevin 261 0.7 New
Workers Revolutionary David Latchford 234 0.6 New
Majority 17,378 45.1 −1.3
Turnout 38, 454 62.4
Labour win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)

References

  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – North West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Constituency data: Indices of deprivation". UK Parliament. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  3. ^ Boundary Commission for England, Third Periodic Review, 1983
  4. ^ McInnes, Roderick (23 June 2017). "GE2017: Marginal seats and turnout". House of Commons Library. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  5. ^ Dawson, Katie (5 May 2010). "Can Liverpool Riverside improve its voting turnout?". BBC News. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  6. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 5 North West region.
  7. ^ LGBCE. "Liverpool | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  8. ^ "The Liverpool (Electoral Changes) Order 2022".
  9. ^ "New Seat Details - Liverpool Riverside". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  10. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 1)
  11. ^ Ellman, Louise [@LouiseEllman] (17 October 2019). "I have made the truly agonising decision to leave the Labour Party after 55 years. I can no longer advocate voting Labour when it risks Corbyn becoming PM. I will continue to serve the people of Liverpool Riverside as I have had the honour to do since 1997" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 October 2019 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ "MPs - Dame Louise Ellman MP". parliament.uk. Houses of Parliament. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  13. ^ "Liverpool Riverside results". BBC News. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Statement of persons nominated 2019".
  15. ^ "Statement of persons nominated and notice of poll / Election of a Member of Parliament / Liverpool Riverside Constituency". 11 May 2017.
  16. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Liverpool Riverside". BBC News. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  18. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. ^ "'Liverpool Riverside', May 1997 -". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  23. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 26 October 2016. 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.

53°21′18″N 2°56′49″W / 53.355°N 2.947°W / 53.355; -2.947