Stoke-on-Trent South (UK Parliament constituency)

Stoke-on-Trent South
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Stoke-on-Trent South in West Midlands region
CountyStaffordshire
Electorate68,624 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsStoke-on-Trent
Current constituency
Created1950
Member of ParliamentAllison Gardner
SeatsOne
Created fromStoke-on-Trent/"Stoke"

Stoke-on-Trent South is a constituency[n 1] created in 1950, and represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Allison Gardner, a Labour party representative.[n 2] The local electorate returned a Labour MP in every election until 2017, when Jack Brereton became its first Conservative MP.[2] The seat is non-rural and in the upper valley of the Trent covering half of the main city of the Potteries, a major ceramics centre since the 17th century.

In the 2024 election Labour overturned a majority of over 11,000, to regain the seat from the Conservatives.[3]

Boundaries

2024–present: The Borough of Stafford wards of: Barlaston; Fulford; Swynnerton & Oulton; the District of Staffordshire Moorlands wards of: Checkley; Forsbrook; and the City of Stoke-on-Trent wards of: Blurton; Dresden & Florence; Hanford, Newstead & Trentham; Hollybush; Lightwood North & Normacot; Longton & Meir Hay South (nearly all); Meir Hay North, Parkhall & Weston Coney (majority); Meir North; Meir Park; Meir South.[4]

2010–2024: The City of Stoke-on-Trent wards of Blurton, Fenton, Longton North, Longton South, Meir Park and Sandon, Trentham and Hanford, and Weston and Meir North.

1983–2010: The City of Stoke-on-Trent wards of Blurton, Fenton Green, Great Fenton, Longton South, Meir Park, Trentham Park, and Weston.

1955–1983: The County Borough of Stoke-on-Trent wards numbers 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24.

1950–1955: The County Borough of Stoke-on-Trent wards numbers 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26.

Constituency profile

A former safe Labour seat, like the other Stoke-on-Trent constituencies, it includes the city's most middle-class electoral wards of Meir that contrast with much of the neighbouring, predominantly lower income, population of the other wards.[5]

The seat is home to Stoke City F.C. whose Bet365 Stadium is at the northern edge of the constituency.

Workless claimants, registered jobseekers, were in November 2012 equal to the regional average of 4.7% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[6]

History

Political history

The constituency and its predecessor was a safe Labour seat from 1935 until the 2010s when it became marginal. It was won by the Conservative Party for the first time in 2017. At the 2019 general election, the Conservatives increased their majority to over 11,000 votes; with a vote share of 62%.

In 2023 parliament accepted the proposal of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies and enacted changes to constituencies, which resulted in the following boundaries (as of 1 December 2020):

  • The Borough of Stafford wards of: Barlaston; Fulford; Swynnerton & Oulton.
  • The District of Staffordshire Moorlands wards of: Checkley; Forsbrook.
  • The City of Stoke-on-Trent wards of: Blurton East; Blurton West and Newstead; Broadway and Longton East; Dresden and Florence; Hanford and Trentham; Hollybush and Longton West; Lightwood North and Normacot; Meir North; Meir Park; Meir South; Weston Coyney.[7]

However following a further local government boundary review in the City of Stoke-on-Trent which came into effect in May 2023,[8][9] the constituency obtained boundaries for the 2024 election onwards.

Changes to the constituency since 2024 were described as following:

Significant changes, with northern parts, including the town of Fenton to be transferred to Stoke-on-Trent Central. To compensate and bring the electorate within the permitted range, the parts in the Stafford and Staffordshire Moorlands local authorities will be added from the current constituency of Stone (to be abolished).

Prominent members

Jack Ashley (later Lord Ashley) became deaf as a result of an operation, but his disability campaigns led to major enactments and public sector changes to improve ordinary life for deaf people, including the inclusion of sign language in television programmes and campaigns to help other disabled people.

Members of Parliament

Stoke-on-Trent/"Stoke" prior to 1950

Election Member[10] Party
1950 Ellis Smith Labour
1966 Jack Ashley Labour
1992 George Stevenson Labour
2005 Rob Flello Labour
2017 Jack Brereton Conservative
2024 Allison Gardner Labour

Elections

Stoke South election results

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Stoke-on-Trent South[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Allison Gardner 14,221 34.7 +5.1
Conservative Jack Brereton 13,594 33.2 −29.3
Reform UK Michael Bailey 8,851 21.6 N/A
Liberal Democrats Alec Sandiford 1,577 3.9 −2.3
Independent Asif Mehmood 1,372 3.4 N/A
Green Peggy Wiseman 1,207 2.9 +1.3
Independent Carla Parrish 120 0.3 N/A
Majority 627 1.5 N/A
Turnout 40,942 59.7 −1.7
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +15.0

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Stoke-on-Trent South[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jack Brereton 24,632 62.2 +13.1
Labour Mark McDonald 13,361 33.7 –13.8
Liberal Democrats Rosalyn Gordon 1,611 4.1 +2.2
Majority 11,271 28.5 +26.9
Turnout 39,604 61.4 –1.7
Conservative hold Swing +13.4
General election 2017: Stoke-on-Trent South[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jack Brereton 20,451 49.1 +16.4
Labour Rob Flello 19,788 47.5 +8.3
Liberal Democrats Ian Wilkes 808 1.9 –1.4
Green Jan Zablocki 643 1.5 –1.1
Majority 663 1.6 N/A
Turnout 41,690 63.1 +5.8
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +4.1
General election 2015: Stoke-on-Trent South[14][15][16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rob Flello 15,319 39.2 +0.4
Conservative Joe Rich 12,780 32.7 +4.3
UKIP Tariq Mahmood 8,298 21.2 +17.8
Liberal Democrats Peter Andras 1,309 3.3 –12.6
Green Luke Bellamy 1,029 2.6 New
TUSC Matthew Wright 372 1.0 New
Majority 2,539 6.5 –3.9
Turnout 39,107 57.3 –1.5
Labour hold Swing –2.0
General election 2010: Stoke-on-Trent South[18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rob Flello 15,446 38.8 –8.1
Conservative James Rushton 11,316 28.4 +4.2
Liberal Democrats Zulfiqar Ali 6,323 15.9 +0.8
BNP Michael Coleman 3,762 9.4 +0.4
UKIP Mark Barlow 1,363 3.4 +0.7
Staffordshire Independent Group Terry Follows 1,208 3.0 New
Independent Mark Breeze 434 1.1 New
Majority 4,130 10.4 –12.6
Turnout 39,852 58.8 +4.4
Labour hold Swing –6.2

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Stoke-on-Trent South[20][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rob Flello 17,727 46.9 –6.9
Conservative Mark Deaville 9,046 23.9 –0.7
Liberal Democrats Andrew Martin 5,894 15.6 +2.5
BNP Mark Leat 3,305 8.7 +4.9
UKIP Neville Benson 1,043 2.8 New
Veritas Grant Allen 805 2.1 New
Majority 8,618 23.0 –6.2
Turnout 37,820 53.6 +2.2
Labour hold Swing –3.1
General election 2001: Stoke-on-Trent South[22][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Stevenson 19,366 53.8 –8.2
Conservative Philip Bastiman 8,877 24.6 +2.2
Liberal Democrats Christopher Coleman 4,724 13.1 +2.9
Independent Adrian Knapper 1,703 4.7 New
BNP Steven Batkin 1,358 3.8 +2.6
Majority 10,489 29.2 –10.4
Turnout 36,028 51.4 –14.7
Labour hold Swing –5.2

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Stoke-on-Trent South[24][25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Stevenson 28,645 62.0 +12.2
Conservative Sheila Scott 10,342 22.4 –14.3
Liberal Democrats Peter Barnett 4,710 10.2 +2.8
Referendum Richard Adams 1,103 2.4 New
Liberal Alison Micklem 580 1.3 New
BNP Steven Batkin 568 1.2 New
National Democrats Brian Lawrence 288 0.6 New
Majority 18,303 39.6 +26.5
Turnout 46,236 66.1 –8.2
Labour hold Swing +13.3
General election 1992: Stoke-on-Trent South[26][27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Stevenson 26,380 49.8 +2.3
Conservative Roger Ibbs 19,471 36.7 –1.1
Liberal Democrats Fred Jones 6,870 13.0 –1.7
Natural Law Elizabeth Lines 291 0.5 New
Majority 6,909 13.1 +3.4
Turnout 53,012 74.3 +0.6
Labour hold Swing +1.7

Elections of the 1980s

General election 1987: Stoke-on-Trent South[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Ashley 24,794 47.5
Conservative Dennis Hartshorne 19,741 37.8
Liberal Peter Wild 7,669 14.69
Majority 5,053 9.68
Turnout 52,204 73.73
Labour hold Swing
General election 1983: Stoke-on-Trent South[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Ashley 23,611 48.0 −10.8
Conservative Peter Maxwell 16,506 33.6 +1.3
Liberal William Walley 9,050 18.4 +9.4
Majority 7,105 14.4 −12.1
Turnout 49,167 69.6 −2.9
Labour hold Swing -6.0

Elections of the 1970s

General election 1979: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Ashley 31,610 58.75
Conservative R Rayner 17,364 32.27
Liberal D Chantrey 4,829 8.98
Majority 14,246 26.48
Turnout 53,803 72.52
Labour hold Swing
General election October 1974: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Ashley 30,699 61.18
Conservative S Heath 14,204 28.31
Liberal E Johnson 5,278 10.52
Majority 16,495 32.87
Turnout 50,181 69.09
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Ashley 31,650 56.83
Conservative S Newall 15,981 28.70
Liberal M Smith 7,578 13.61 New
Communist S Lomas 481 0.86
Majority 15,669 28.13
Turnout 55,690 77.38
Labour hold Swing
General election 1970: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Ashley 20,770 60.24
Conservative RJ Apps 13,344 38.70
Communist SJ Lomas 364 1.06
Majority 7,426 21.54
Turnout 34,478 50.66
Labour hold Swing

Elections of the 1960s

General election 1966: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Ashley 27,380 61.65
Conservative FW Thornton 14,769 33.26
Communist SJ Lomas 2,262 5.09 New
Majority 12,611 28.39
Turnout 44,411 71.02
Labour hold Swing
General election 1964: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ellis Smith 28,928 60.56
Conservative Clive Howson 18,839 39.44
Majority 10,089 21.12
Turnout 47,767 75.65
Labour hold Swing

Elections of the 1950s

General election 1959: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ellis Smith 29,578 59.28
Conservative Geoffrey S Tucker 20,318 40.72
Majority 9,260 18.56
Turnout 49,896 78.24
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ellis Smith 31,003 63.61
Conservative Basil GC Webb 17,739 36.39
Majority 13,264 27.22
Turnout 48,742 73.62
Labour hold Swing
General election 1951: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ellis Smith 35,261 65.77
Conservative Basil Webb 18,355 34.23
Majority 16,906 31.54
Turnout 53,616 84.21
Labour hold Swing
General election 1950: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Ellis Smith 34,339 64.45
Conservative L Orridge 14,637 27.47
Liberal William Herbert Kemp 4,307 8.08
Majority 19,702 36.98
Turnout 53,283 85.27
Labour win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  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

  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. ^ Brereton's was 1 of 6 total gains offset by greater losses (13 net seats lost) for his party in the 2017 results nationwide. In 2017 the two largest parties increased their share of the vote largely in England at the expense of UKIP.
  3. ^ Andrews, Rob (5 July 2024). "Labour win Stoke-on-Trent South as Jack Brereton kicked out". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  4. ^ "New Seat Details – Stoke-on-Trent South". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Local statistics – Office for National Statistics". neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk.
  6. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  7. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 8 West Midlands region.
  8. ^ LGBCE. "Stoke-on-Trent | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  9. ^ "The Stoke-on-Trent (Electoral Changes) Order 2022".
  10. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 5)
  11. ^ "Stoke-on-Trent South". BBC News. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Stoke-on-Trent South Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  13. ^ "Stoke-on-Trent South". BBC News. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  14. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Candidates (PPCS) for Stoke-on-Trent South in the UK 2015 General Ele…". Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  16. ^ "Peter Andras PPC page". Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  17. ^ "MORE TUSC CANDIDATES IN PLACE AS ELECTION CHALLENGE GROWS". www.tusc.org.uk. 19 December 2014.
  18. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated".[permanent dead link‍]
  20. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ^ "BBC NEWS – Election 2005 – Results – Stoke-on-Trent South". BBC News.
  22. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ^ "BBC NEWS – VOTE 2001 – RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES – Stoke-on-Trent South". BBC News.
  24. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ^ "BBC – Error 404 : Not Found". Archived from the original on 28 October 2004.
  26. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  27. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  28. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  29. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

52°57′N 2°07′W / 52.95°N 2.11°W / 52.95; -2.11