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Stoke-on-Trent Central (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 53°01′N 2°10′W / 53.01°N 2.16°W / 53.01; -2.16
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stoke-on-Trent Central
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Stoke-on-Trent Central in West Midlands region
CountyStaffordshire
Electorate61,774 (December 2010)[1]
Current constituency
Created1950
Member of ParliamentGareth Snell (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromHanley
Stoke-on-Trent/"Stoke"

Stoke-on-Trent Central is a constituency in Staffordshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Gareth Snell of the Labour Party, who had previously represented the constituency between 2017 and 2019. He succeeded Jo Gideon of the Conservative Party who defeated him in the general election of 2019. Gideon did not seek re-election in 2024, having announced in early 2023 that she would be standing down.

Boundaries

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Historic

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Context of the 2019 result. The three seats of the city bore the opposite result to the other three-seat cities (such as Coventry, Nottingham, Leicester and Hull)

1950–1955: Wards 10 to 18 and 28 of the county borough of Stoke-on-Trent.[2]

1955–1983: Wards 9 to 16 of the county borough of Stoke-on-Trent.[3]

1983–2010: The Abbey, Berryhill, Brookhouse, Hanley Green, Hartshill, Shelton and Stoke West wards of the City of Stoke-on-Trent.[4]

2010–2024: Abbey Green, Bentilee and Townsend, Berryhill and Hanley East, Hanley West and Shelton, Hartshill and Penkhull, Northwood and Birches Head, and Stoke and Trent Vale in the City of Stoke-on-Trent.[5][6]

Current

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Under the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency was defined as composing the following as they existed on 1 December 2020:

  • The City of Stoke-on-Trent wards of: Abbey Hulton and Townsend; Bentilee and Ubberley; Birches Head and Central Forest Park; Boothen and Oak Hill; Eaton Park; Etruria and Hanley; Fenton East; Fenton West and Mount Pleasant; Hanley Park and Shelton; Hartshill and Basford; Joiner's Square; Meir Hay; Penkhull and Stoke; Sandford Hill; Sneyd Green; Springfields and Trent Vale.[7]

In order to bring the electorate within the permitted range, significant parts of the Stoke-on-Trent South constituency were transferred in, including the town of Fenton. In addition, the boundary with Stoke-on-Trent North were re-aligned to take account of changes to ward boundaries.

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 now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:

  • The City of Stoke-on-Trent wards of: Abbey Hulton; Basford & Hartshill; Bentilee, Ubberley & Townsend; Birches Head & Northwood; Boothen; Etruria and Hanley (nearly all); Bucknall & Eaton Park; Fenton East; Fenton West & Mount Pleasant; Hanley Park, Joiner's Square & Shelton; Hartshill Park & Stoke; Meir Hay North, Parkhall & Weston Coney (part); Moorcroft & Sneyd Green (part); Penkhull & Springfields; Sandford Hill; Trent Vale & Oak Hill; and a very small part of Longton & Meir Hay South.[10]

Constituency Profile

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The contribution of the city to Britain's economy and history is prominent as home to Staffordshire Potteries: Aynsley, Burleigh, Doulton, Dudson, Heron Cross, Minton, Moorcroft, Twyford and Wedgwood, most in this particular seat.

The constituency has a majority of residents from a clear-cut working-class background, many of whom work or have worked in trade union-represented industries. Of these, many were employed in The Potteries, the smaller foundries or in nearby hubs for the civil infrastructure and automotive industries; the latter of these remains an important source of employment in the region. The constituency's housing—overwhelmingly low-rise, and in some cases highly ornate Victorian terraces and semi-detached houses—is, compared with Staffordshire as a whole, a relatively dense urban network of streets.

Owing to a reduction in clay and coal excavation works in the area, and canal trade, this seat has the highest unemployment rates of the three Stoke seats; this seat has 6.2% of workless registered unemployment benefit claimants, compared to a national average of 3.8% and regional average of 4.7%.[11]

History

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The constituency was created for the 1950 general election as the successor to the Hanley Division of Stoke-on-Trent. The large town had first gained representation by way of the "Great Reform Act" in 1832.

Political history

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Statistics are confusing as to the current status of the area, reflecting the great demographic—in particular, economic sector—changes in the constituency. Tristram Hunt's result at the 2015 general election gave the seat the 60th-most marginal majority of the Labour Party's 232 seats, measured by percentage of majority.[12] Labour's continuous tenure of Stoke-on-Trent Central from 1950 to 2019 placed it among the approximately 120 constituencies of the 232 which returned Labour members in 2015—all their predecessor areas included—to have withstood landslides for the Conservative Party during the intervening period (such as the 1983 general election). Stoke-on-Trent Central ranked highest for political apathy at the 2015 election, recording the lowest turnout in the United Kingdom.[13]

Tristram Hunt resigned as an MP in January 2017,[14] and Labour's Gareth Snell won the subsequent by-election, with the then leader of UKIP, Paul Nuttall coming in second place. Snell retained the seat at the general election later that year, but was defeated by Jo Gideon at the 2019 general election, the first time the seat or its predecessor had been represented by the Conservative Party since 1935. Gideon did not contest the 2024 general election and the seat was recaptured by Snell, with Reform UK relegating the Conservatives into third place. Turnout in 2024 dropped to just 48%.

Prominent members

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Barnett Stross was awarded the Order of the White Lion in recognition of his role in the development of relations between the UK and Czechoslovakia, and for his role in the renewal of the substantial village of Lidice; he also led statutory efforts that began specific protection of workers against industrial disease.

Mark Fisher was for 13 months the Minister for the Arts at the outset of the Blair ministry.

Tristram Hunt was the Shadow Secretary of State for Education in the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet from October 2013 until September 2015. He resigned as an MP in 2017 to take up the post of Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum.[14]

Members of Parliament

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Election Member[15] Party
1950 Barnett Stross Labour
1966 Robert Cant Labour
1983 Mark Fisher Labour
2010 Tristram Hunt Labour
2017 by-election Gareth Snell Labour and Co-operative
2019 Jo Gideon Conservative
2024 Gareth Snell Labour and Co-operative

Elections

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Election Graph

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The letters "b-e" represent where a by-election has taken place.

Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Stoke-on-Trent Central[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Gareth Snell 14,950 42.4 −0.5
Reform UK Luke Shenton 8,541 24.2 +19.9
Conservative Chandra Kanneganti 6,221 17.6 −29.5
Independent Navid Kaleem 2,281 6.5 N/A
Green Adam Colclough 1,703 4.8 +2.8
Liberal Democrats Laura McCarthy 999 2.8 −1.0
Independent Andy Polshaw 315 0.9 N/A
Independent AliRom Alirom 279 0.8 N/A
Majority 6,409 18.2 N/A
Turnout 35,289 48.0 Decrease 9.7
Labour gain from Conservative Swing Increase 14.5

Elections in the 2010s

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General election 2019: Stoke-on-Trent Central[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jo Gideon 14,557 45.4 Increase 5.6
Labour Co-op Gareth Snell 13,887 43.3 Decrease 8.2
Brexit Party Tariq Mahmood 1,691 5.3 New
Liberal Democrats Steven Pritchard 1,116 3.5 Increase 1.5
Green Adam Colclough 819 2.6 Increase 1.5
Majority 670 2.1 N/A
Turnout 32,070 57.9 Increase 0.9
Conservative gain from Labour Co-op Swing Increase 6.9
General election 2017: Stoke-on-Trent Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Gareth Snell 17,083 51.5 Increase 12.2
Conservative Daniel Jellyman 13,186 39.8 Increase 17.2
UKIP Mick Harold 1,608 4.8 Decrease 17.9
Liberal Democrats Peter Andras 680 2.0 Decrease 2.2
Green Adam Colclough 378 1.1 Decrease 2.5
Independent Barbara Fielding 210 0.6 New
Majority 3,897 11.7 Decrease 4.9
Turnout 33,145 57.0 Increase 7.1
Labour hold Swing Decrease 2.5

Vote changes are made with reference to the 2015 general election, not to the 2017 by-election.

By-election 2017: Stoke-on-Trent Central[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gareth Snell 7,853 37.1 −2.2
UKIP Paul Nuttall 5,233 24.7 +2.0
Conservative Jack Brereton 5,154 24.3 +1.8
Liberal Democrats Zulfiqar Ali 2,083 9.8 +5.6
Green Adam Colclough 294 1.4 −2.2
Independent Barbara Fielding 137 0.6 New
Monster Raving Loony The Incredible Flying Brick 127 0.6 New
BNP David Furness 124 0.6 New
CPA Godfrey Davies 109 0.5 New
Independent Mohammad Akram 56 0.3 New
Majority 2,620 12.4 −4.2
Turnout 21,200 38.2 −11.7
Labour hold Swing -2.2
General election 2015: Stoke-on-Trent Central[19][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tristram Hunt 12,220 39.3 +0.5
UKIP Mick Harold 7,041 22.7 +18.4
Conservative Liam Marshall-Ascough 7,008 22.5 +1.5
Independent Mark Breeze 2,120 6.8 New
Liberal Democrats Zulfiqar Ali[21] 1,296 4.2 −17.5
Green Jan Zablocki[22] 1,123 3.6 New
CISTA Ali Majid 244 0.8 New
The Ubuntu Party Paul Toussaint 32 0.1 New
Majority 5,179 16.6 −0.5
Turnout 31,084 49.9 −3.3
Labour hold Swing -8.9
General election 2010: Stoke-on-Trent Central[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tristram Hunt 12,605 38.8 −13.6
Liberal Democrats John Redfern 7,039 21.7 +3.1
Conservative Norsheen Bhatti 6,833 21.0 +3.7
BNP Simon Darby 2,502 7.7 −0.1
UKIP Carol Lovatt 1,402 4.3 +1.1
Independent Paul Breeze 959 3.0 New
Independent Gary Elsby 399 1.2 New
City Independents Brian Ward 303 0.9 New
Independent Alby Walker 295 0.9 New
TUSC Matthew Wright 133 0.4 New
Majority 5,566 17.1 −12.9
Turnout 32,470 53.2 +4.5
Labour win (new seat)

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Stoke-on-Trent Central[24][25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mark Fisher 14,760 52.9 −7.8
Liberal Democrats John Redfern 4,986 17.9 +3.2
Conservative Esther Baroudy 4,823 17.3 −1.5
BNP Michael Coleman 2,178 7.8 New
UKIP Joseph Bonfiglio 914 3.3 New
Socialist Alternative Jim Cessford 246 0.9 New
Majority 9,774 35.0 −6.9
Turnout 27,907 48.4 +1.0
Labour hold Swing -5.5
General election 2001: Stoke-on-Trent Central[26][27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mark Fisher 17,170 60.7 −5.5
Conservative Jill Clark 5,325 18.8 +2.1
Liberal Democrats Gavin Webb 4,148 14.7 +2.8
Independent Richard Wise 1,657 5.9 New
Majority 11,845 41.9 −7.6
Turnout 28,300 47.4 −15.4
Labour hold Swing -3.9

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Stoke-on-Trent Central[28][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mark Fisher 26,662 66.2 +8.2
Conservative Neil Jones 6,738 16.7 −11.2
Liberal Democrats Ed Fordham 4,809 11.9 −1.7
Referendum Peter L. Stanyer 1,071 2.7 New
BNP Michael Coleman 606 1.5 New
Liberal Fran M. Oborski 359 0.9 New
Majority 19,924 49.5 +19.4
Turnout 40,245 62.8 −5.3
Labour hold Swing +9.7
General election 1992: Stoke-on-Trent Central[30][31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mark Fisher 25,897 58.0 +5.5
Conservative Nick Gibb 12,477 27.9 −3.1
Liberal Democrats Martin Dent 6,073 13.6 New
Natural Law Nicholas Pullen 196 0.4 New
Majority 13,420 30.1 +8.6
Turnout 44,643 68.1 −0.7
Labour hold Swing +4.3

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Stoke-on-Trent Central[32][33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mark Fisher 23,842 52.5 +4.4
Conservative David Stone 14,072 31.0 +1.6
SDP Iain Cundy 7,462 16.4 −5.1
Majority 9,770 21.5 +2.8
Turnout 45,376 68.8 +2.9
Labour hold Swing +3.1
General election 1983: Stoke-on-Trent Central[34][35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mark Fisher 21,194 48.1 −12.1
Conservative Keith Mans 12,944 29.4 −0.1
SDP Vicki Freeman 9,458 21.5 New
Monster Raving Loony Clive Cook 504 1.1 New
Majority 8,250 18.7 −12.0
Turnout 44,102 65.9 −3.1
Labour hold Swing −-6.0

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1979: Stoke-on-Trent Central[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Cant 24,707 60.2 −0.2
Conservative Wallace Williams 12,104 29.5 +5.7
Liberal Alan Thomas 4,260 10.4 −5.4
Majority 12,603 30.7 −5.9
Turnout 41,073 69.0 +3.7
Labour hold Swing -3.0
General election October 1974: Stoke-on-Trent Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Cant 24,146 60.4 −3.4
Conservative Wallace Williams 9,493 23.8 −12.4
Liberal Alan Thomas 6,313 15.8 New
Majority 14,653 36.6 +9.0
Turnout 39,952 65.3 −5.0
Labour hold Swing +4.6
General election February 1974: Stoke-on-Trent Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Cant 27,171 63.8 +1.2
Conservative E Ashley 15,423 36.2 −1.2
Majority 11,748 27.6 +2.4
Turnout 42,594 70.2 +20.2
Labour hold Swing +1.2
General election 1970: Stoke-on-Trent Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Cant 18,758 62.6 −5.5
Conservative E Ashley 11,227 37.4 +5.5
Majority 7,531 25.2 −11.0
Turnout 29,594 50.0 −18.3
Labour hold Swing -5.5

Elections in the 1960s

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General election 1966: Stoke-on-Trent Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Cant 26,663 68.1 +3.9
Conservative KG Reeves 12,515 31.9 −3.9
Majority 14,148 36.2 +7.8
Turnout 39,178 68.3 −4.0
Labour hold Swing +3.9
General election 1964: Stoke-on-Trent Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Barnett Stross 27,424 64.2 +3.1
Conservative Julian PH Harrison 15,322 35.8 −3.1
Majority 12,102 28.4 +6.2
Turnout 42,746 72.3 −3.0
Labour hold Swing -3.0

Elections in the 1950s

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General election 1959: Stoke-on-Trent Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Barnett Stross 28,630 61.1 −2.8
Conservative Julian PH Harrison 18,205 38.9 +2.8
Majority 10,425 22.2 −5.4
Turnout 46,835 75.3 +4.0
Labour hold Swing -2.7
General election 1955: Stoke-on-Trent Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Barnett Stross 28,452 63.9 −0.7
Conservative Geoffrey B Price 16,097 36.1 +0.7
Majority 12,355 27.8 −1.5
Turnout 44,549 71.3 −10.8
Labour hold Swing -0.7
General election 1951: Stoke-on-Trent Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Barnett Stross 34,260 64.6 −0.9
Conservative H Ronald Fleck 18,770 35.4 +0.9
Majority 15,490 29.2 −1.8
Turnout 53,030 82.2 −1.0
Labour hold Swing -0.9
General election 1950: Stoke-on-Trent Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Barnett Stross 34,908 65.5
Conservative W Hancock 18,361 34.5
Majority 16,547 31.0
Turnout 53,269 83.2
Labour win (new seat)

See also

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References

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  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. ^ "Representation of the People Act 1948: Schedule 1", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1948 c. 65 (sch. 1), retrieved 23 July 2023
  3. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Stoke on Trent) Order 1955. SI 1955/172". Statutory Instruments 1955. Part II. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1956. pp. 2170–2171.
  4. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1983/417, retrieved 23 July 2023
  5. ^ "New seat: Stoke-on-Trent Central". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  6. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2007/1681, retrieved 23 July 2023
  7. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 8 West Midlands region.
  8. ^ LGBCE. "Stoke-on-Trent | LGBCE". lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  9. ^ "The Stoke-on-Trent (Electoral Changes) Order 2022".
  10. ^ "New Seat Details – Stoke-on-Trent Central". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  11. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  12. ^ "Labour Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018.
  13. ^ Why Stoke-on-Trent is a microcosm of the battle for Labour's soul The Guardian, 15 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  14. ^ a b Stewart, Heather (13 January 2017). "Tristram Hunt to quit as MP to become V&A director". The Guardian. London. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  15. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 5)
  16. ^ "Stoke-on-Trent Central". BBC News. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  17. ^ Statement of persons nominated and notice of poll – Stoke-On-Trent Central constituency retrieved 15 November 2019
  18. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF). Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  19. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Stoke-on-Trent Central constituency – Election 2015". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  21. ^ "Zulfiqar Ali PPC page". Liberal Democrats (UK). Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  22. ^ "Green Party To Challenge Tristram Hunt in Stoke-On-Trent".
  23. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ^ "BBC NEWS-Election 2005-Results-Stoke-on-Trent Central".
  26. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  27. ^ "BBC NEWS-VOTE 2001-RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES-Stoke-on-Trent Central".
  28. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  29. ^ "BBC-Error 404 : Not Found". Archived from the original on 19 January 2005.
  30. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  31. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  32. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  33. ^ "UK General Election results: June 1987 [Archive]". 12 October 2022.
  34. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  35. ^ "UK General Election results: June 1983 [Archive]". 12 October 2022.
  36. ^ "UK General Election results: May 1979 [Archive]". 12 October 2022.
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53°01′N 2°10′W / 53.01°N 2.16°W / 53.01; -2.16

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