Bury North (UK Parliament constituency)
Bury North | |
---|---|
Borough constituency for the House of Commons | |
![]() Interactive map of boundaries from 2024 | |
![]() Boundary of Bury North in North West England | |
County | Greater Manchester |
Population | 87,218 (2011 UK Census)[1] |
Electorate | 77,009 (2023)[2] |
Major settlements | Bury, Ramsbottom, Tottington |
Current constituency | |
Created | 1983 |
Member of Parliament | James Frith (Labour) |
Seats | One |
Created from | Rossendale (part) Bury & Radcliffe (part) |
Bury North is a borough constituency in Greater Manchester, created in 1983 and represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. With a Conservative majority of 105 votes, it was the most marginal constituency for a sitting MP in the United Kingdom at the 2019 general election. Labour took the seat at the 2024 general election.
History
[edit]- Summary of results
Bury North is a marginal seat between Labour and the Conservatives, and a bellwether constituency throughout most of its existence — the winner of the seat has tended to win the general election, with 2017 being an exceptional Labour gain, though it was subsequently regained by the Conservatives in 2019. In forerunner seats, the town of Bury did not have a Labour MP until 1964, since when Bury North has become reported on as an important marginal seat.
The 2010 Conservative win at Bury North was the Conservative Party's sole gain in Greater Manchester. The 2015 general election result was narrower, which produced the fifth-most marginal majority of the Conservative Party's 331 seats by percentage of majority.[3] The 2019 general election result made this the most marginal constituency in Great Britain, with a narrow majority of 105 votes. Only Sinn Fein's majority of 57 in Fermanagh and South Tyrone was lower in the UK, and as Sinn Fein members do not take their seats, Daly's majority was therefore the smallest for that of a sitting MP.
Boundaries
[edit]The constituency of Bury North covers the towns of Ramsbottom, Tottington and Bury. It was created in 1983 from parts of the former seats of Rossendale and Bury and Radcliffe. In those boundary changes Ramsbottom was transferred from Rossendale to Bury North, while with the loss of Ramsbottom, Rossendale was linked with Darwen. In 2010 the Unsworth area was transferred to Bury South.
1983–2010: The Metropolitan Borough of Bury wards of Church, East, Elton, Moorside, Ramsbottom, Redvales, Tottington, and Unsworth.
2010–2024: The Metropolitan Borough of Bury wards of Church, East, Elton, Moorside, North Manor, Ramsbottom, Redvales, and Tottington.
2024–present: The Metropolitan Borough of Bury wards of Bury East; Bury West (part); Elton; Moorside; North Manor; Radcliffe North & Ainsworth (part); Ramsbottom; Redvales; Tottington; and Unsworth (part).[4]
- Expanded to bring the electorate within the permitted range.
Constituency profile
[edit]Despite its name, Bury North includes the entirety of the town of Bury. A traditional Labour-Conservative marginal, Ramsbottom and Tottington are mostly Conservative, but in the case of Ramsbottom, not always overwhelmingly so, whereas the town of Bury itself (particularly the Bury East ward) is generally more favourable to Labour, with Elton being a marginal. Tottington, Church ward and the rural North Manor ward are safely Conservative, however Ramsbottom is now a Labour marginal, re-gained by the party in 2018. The 2011 Ramsbottom local election was famously a tie between the Labour and Conservative candidates, decided by drawing straws which Labour won and took control of the council.
The wards surrounding the town centre include some terraced and social housing and is ethnically diverse. The Bury town centre itself features two large sixth form colleges, the 'World Famous' market famed for Black Pudding as well as newer shopping and leisure developments such as The Rock. Tourist attractions include the East Lancashire Heritage Railway and Fusiliers Museum. North of Bury the area becomes more rural, approaching the provincial towns of Tottington and Ramsbottom, which are becoming increasingly desirable for Manchester commuters looking for quieter housing overlooking the West Pennines. Ramsbottom features Peel Monument, a tower on Holcombe Hill dedicated to former Conservative Prime Minister Robert Peel who was born in Bury. The tower is occasionally opened by volunteers, which offers views across Greater Manchester and as far out as Cheshire.
The constituency voted Leave in the 2016 referendum with a margin close to that of the national average at an estimated 54%.[5]
Members of Parliament
[edit]Election | Member[6][7] | Party | |
---|---|---|---|
1983 | Alistair Burt | Conservative | |
1997 | David Chaytor | Labour | |
2010 | David Nuttall | Conservative | |
2017 | James Frith | Labour | |
2019 | James Daly | Conservative | |
2024 | James Frith | Labour |
Elections
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Bury_North_vote_share.png/500px-Bury_North_vote_share.png)
Elections in the 2020s
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | James Frith | 19,625 | 43.1 | –1.8 | |
Conservative | James Daly | 12,681 | 27.9 | –19.4 | |
Reform UK | Lynda Rosewell | 7,385 | 16.2 | +13.6 | |
Workers Party | Shafat Ali | 1,917 | 4.2 | N/A | |
Green | Owain Sutton | 1,747 | 3.8 | +2.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | Mark Alcock | 1,317 | 2.9 | –0.2 | |
Independent | Anwarul Haq | 571 | 1.3 | N/A | |
Independent | Spencer Donnelly | 277 | 0.6 | N/A | |
Majority | 6,944 | 15.2 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 45,520 | 58.5 | −10.8 | ||
Registered electors | 77,703 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +8.8 |
Elections in the 2010s
[edit]2019 notional result[9] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Vote | % | |
Conservative | 25,285 | 47.3 | |
Labour | 24,003 | 44.9 | |
Liberal Democrats | 1,639 | 3.1 | |
Brexit Party | 1,446 | 2.7 | |
Green | 939 | 1.8 | |
Others | 158 | 0.3 | |
Turnout | 53,470 | 69.4 | |
Electorate | 77,009 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | James Daly | 21,660 | 46.2 | +1.7 | |
Labour | James Frith | 21,555 | 46.0 | –7.6 | |
Liberal Democrats | Gareth Lloyd-Johnson | 1,584 | 3.4 | +1.5 | |
Brexit Party | Alan McCarthy | 1,240 | 2.6 | N/A | |
Green | Charlie Allen | 802 | 1.8 | N/A | |
Majority | 105 | 0.2 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 46,841 | 68.1 | –2.8 | ||
Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | + 4.7 |
This was the smallest Conservative majority at the 2019 general election.[11]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | James Frith | 25,683 | 53.6 | +12.5 | |
Conservative | David Nuttall | 21,308 | 44.5 | +2.6 | |
Liberal Democrats | Richard Baum | 912 | 1.9 | –0.2 | |
Majority | 4,375 | 9.1 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 47,903 | 70.9 | +4.0 | ||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | + 5.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | David Nuttall | 18,970 | 41.9 | +1.7 | |
Labour | James Frith | 18,592 | 41.1 | +5.9 | |
UKIP | Ian Henderson | 5,595 | 12.4 | +9.5 | |
Green | John Southworth | 1,141 | 2.5 | N/A | |
Liberal Democrats | Richard Baum | 932 | 2.1 | −14.9 | |
Majority | 378 | 0.8 | −4.2 | ||
Turnout | 45,230 | 66.9 | −0.4 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | −2.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | David Nuttall | 18,070 | 40.2 | +3.7 | |
Labour | Maryam Khan | 15,827 | 35.2 | −7.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | Richard Baum | 7,645 | 17.0 | +1.9 | |
BNP | John Maude | 1,825 | 4.1 | +0.1 | |
UKIP | Stephen Evans | 1,282 | 2.9 | +1.8 | |
Independent | Bill Brison | 181 | 0.4 | N/A | |
Pirate | Graeme Lambert | 131 | 0.3 | N/A | |
Majority | 2,243 | 5.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 44,961 | 67.3 | +5.7 | ||
Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +5.8 |
Elections in the 2000s
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David Chaytor | 19,130 | 43.0 | −8.2 | |
Conservative | David Nuttall | 16,204 | 36.5 | −0.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | Wilfred Davison | 6,514 | 14.7 | +2.6 | |
BNP | Stewart Clough | 1,790 | 4.0 | N/A | |
UKIP | Philip Silver | 476 | 1.1 | N/A | |
Socialist Labour | Ryan O'Neill | 172 | 0.4 | N/A | |
Veritas | Ian Upton | 153 | 0.3 | N/A | |
Majority | 2,926 | 6.5 | −8.1 | ||
Turnout | 44,439 | 61.5 | −1.5 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | −4.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David Chaytor | 22,945 | 51.2 | −0.6 | |
Conservative | John Walsh | 16,413 | 36.6 | −0.9 | |
Liberal Democrats | Bryn Hackley | 5,430 | 12.1 | +3.9 | |
Majority | 6,532 | 14.6 | +0.3 | ||
Turnout | 44,788 | 63.0 | −14.8 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | +0.1 |
Elections in the 1990s
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David Chaytor | 28,523 | 51.8 | +10.2 | |
Conservative | Alistair Burt | 20,657 | 37.5 | −12.2 | |
Liberal Democrats | Neville Kenyon | 4,536 | 8.2 | −0.3 | |
Referendum | Richard Hallewell | 1,337 | 2.4 | N/A | |
Majority | 7,866 | 14.3 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 55,053 | 77.8 | −7.0 | ||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +11.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Alistair Burt | 29,266 | 49.7 | −0.4 | |
Labour | Jim Dobbin | 24,502 | 41.6 | +3.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | Colin McGrath | 5,010 | 8.5 | −3.6 | |
Natural Law | Michael Sullivan | 163 | 0.3 | N/A | |
Majority | 4,764 | 8.1 | −4.2 | ||
Turnout | 58,941 | 84.8 | +2.3 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | −2.1 |
Elections in the 1980s
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Alistair Burt | 28,097 | 50.1 | +4.6 | |
Labour | David Crausby | 21,186 | 37.8 | −2.4 | |
Liberal | David Vasmer | 6,804 | 12.1 | −2.3 | |
Majority | 6,911 | 12.3 | +7.0 | ||
Turnout | 56,087 | 82.5 | +2.9 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +3.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Alistair Burt | 23,923 | 45.5 | ||
Labour | Frank White | 21,131 | 40.2 | ||
Liberal | Elisabeth Wilson | 7,550 | 14.4 | ||
Majority | 2,792 | 5.3 | |||
Turnout | 52,604 | 79.6 | |||
Conservative win (new seat) |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Bury North: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 8 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Conservative Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ "New Seat Details – Bury North". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "Election 2021 dashboard". Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ "Bury North 1983–". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 5)
- ^ "Statement of persons nominated, notice of poll and situation of polling stations for Bury North". Sky News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ "Bury North parliamentary constituency – Election 2019". BBC News. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Commons Briefing Paper 8749. General Election 2019: results and analysis" (PDF). London: House of Commons Library. 28 January 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "Bury North". BBC News. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "General Election Results 2010". Bury Council. 5 December 2005. Archived from the original on 12 May 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
- ^ "Election 2010 – Bury North". BBC News. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1997. Politics Resources. 1 May 1997. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
- ^ C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.45 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
- ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
- ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
External links
[edit]- nomis Constituency Profile for Bury North — presenting data from the ONS annual population survey and other official statistics.
- Bury North UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
- Bury North UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
- Bury North UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK