Ashfield | |
---|---|
County constituency for the House of Commons | |
County | Nottinghamshire |
Population | 101,914 (2011 census)[1] |
Electorate | 77,049 (December 2010)[2] |
Major settlements | Sutton in Ashfield, Kirkby in Ashfield and Eastwood |
Current constituency | |
Created | 1955 |
Member of Parliament | Lee Anderson (Reform UK) |
Number of members | One |
Created from | Broxtowe |
Ashfield is a constituency of the UK Parliament. It is in the county of Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands. [n 1] The constituency is the Erewash Valley. It is is to the north west of the city of Nottingham, and alongside the border with neighbouring county of Derbyshire.
Ashfield was created in 1955, and is considered to is part of the Red Wall. The red wall is a term used in British politics to describe UK Parliament constituencies in Midlands and Northern England that traditionally vote Labour. However in 2019 many of these constituencies voted for the Conservative Party. Ashfield was one of these constituencies as it voted for Lee Anderson, a member of the Conservative Party. Anderson defected to Reform UK in March 2024, after having the whip removed. He is Reform UK's first and only MP. Before 2019 Ashfield only voted for the Conservatives once, in a by-election in 1977 when Tim Smith won the constituency. Smith represented the constituency for two years until he lost it in the 1979 general election . Apart from 1977 and 2019, Ashfield has voted for Labour. In the 2016 referendum on membership of the European Union, they voted 70% in favour of Brexit.[3]
The constituency has the market towns of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Huthwaite and Eastwood. Coal mining was once a significant part of the economy. Historically many people in the area were employed in coal industry, and former coal miners live the area. Current MP Lee Anderson once worked as a coal miner.
1955–1974: The Urban Districts of Eastwood, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, and Sutton-in-Ashfield. In the Rural District of Basford the parishes of Annesley, Bestwood Park, Brinsley, Felley, Linby, Newstead, Papplewick, and Selston.
1974–1983: The Urban Districts of Hucknall, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, and Sutton-in-Ashfield. In the Rural District of Basford the parishes of Annesley, Felley, and Selston.
1983–2010: The District of Ashfield wards of Jacksdale, Kirkby-in-Ashfield Central, Kirkby-in-Ashfield East, Kirkby-in-Ashfield West, Selston, Sutton-in-Ashfield Central, Sutton-in-Ashfield East, Sutton-in-Ashfield North, Sutton-in-Ashfield West, Underwood, and Woodhouse, and the Borough of Broxtowe wards of Brinsley, Eastwood East, Eastwood North, and Eastwood South.
2010–present: The District of Ashfield wards of Jacksdale, Kirkby-in-Ashfield Central, Kirkby-in-Ashfield East, Kirkby-in-Ashfield West, Selston, Sutton-in-Ashfield Central, Sutton-in-Ashfield East, Sutton-in-Ashfield North, Sutton-in-Ashfield West, Underwood, and Woodhouse. Also the Borough of Broxtowe wards of Brinsley, Eastwood North and Greasley Beauvale, and Eastwood South.
The Ashfield constituency has been represented by a Secretary of State. Between 1992 and 2010 the constituency was represented by Geoff Hoon. Between 1999 and 2005, Hoon was Defence Secretary in Tony Blair's cabinet. Between 2008 and 2009, Hoon was Transport Secretary in Gordon Brown's cabinet.
For only two years since its creation in 1955 and up until 2019 has the constituency been represented by a party other than Labour. Tim Smith of the Conservative Party won the constituency in a by-election in 1977. Smith represented the constituency until he lost in the 1979 general election. In 2019 the constituency was won again by the conservatives. It was won by Lee Anderson. Anderson was a member of the labour party, however joined the Conservatives in 2018 after he was suspended from Labour. Anderson defected to Reform UK in March 2024, after having the whip suspended. He is Reform UK's first and only MP.
General election 2019: Ashfield[5] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Conservative | Lee Anderson | 19,231 | 39.3 | 2.4 | |
Ashfield Independents | Jason Zadrozny | 13,498 | 27.6 | 18.4 | |
Labour | Natalie Fleet | 11,971 | 24.4 | 18.2 | |
Brexit Party | Martin Daubney | 2,501 | 5.1 | New | |
Liberal Democrats | Rebecca Wain | 1,105 | 2.3 | 0.4 | |
Green | Rose Woods | 674 | 1.4 | 0.6 | |
Majority | 5,733 | 11.7 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 48,980 | 62.6 | 1.4 | ||
Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 7.9 |
General election 2017: Ashfield | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Labour | Gloria De Piero | 21,285 | 42.6 | 1.6 | |
Conservative | Tony Harper | 20,844 | 41.7 | 19.3 | |
Ashfield Independents | Gail Turner | 4,612 | 9.2 | New | |
UKIP | Ray Young | 1,885 | 3.8 | 17.6 | |
Liberal Democrats | Bob Charlesworth | 969 | 1.9 | 12.9 | |
Green | Arran Rangi | 398 | 0.8 | New | |
Majority | 441 | 0.9 | 17.7 | ||
Turnout | 49,993 | 64.0 | 5.5 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | 8.9 |
General election 2015: Ashfield[6] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Labour | Gloria De Piero | 19,448 | 41.0 | +7.3 | |
Conservative | Helen Harrison[7] | 10,628 | 22.4 | +0.2 | |
UKIP | Simon Ashcroft | 10,150 | 21.4 | +19.5 | |
Liberal Democrats | Philip Smith[8] [a] | 7,030 | 14.8 | −18.5 | |
Justice for Men and Boys | Mike Buchanan | 153 | 0.3 | New | |
Majority | 8,820 | 18.6 | +18.2 | ||
Turnout | 47,409 | 61.5 | −0.8 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | +3.55 |
General election 2010: Ashfield[9][10] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Labour | Gloria De Piero | 16,239 | 33.7 | −15.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | Jason Zadrozny | 16,047 | 33.3 | +19.5 | |
Conservative | Garry Hickton | 10,698 | 22.2 | −2.2 | |
BNP | Edward Holmes | 2,781 | 5.8 | New | |
English Democrat | Tony Ellis | 1,102 | 2.3 | New | |
UKIP | Terry Coleman | 933 | 1.9 | New | |
Independent | Eddie Smith | 396 | 0.8 | New | |
Majority | 192 | 0.4 | −23.9 | ||
Turnout | 48,196 | 62.3 | +5.2 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | −17.2 |
General election 2005: Ashfield[11] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Labour | Geoff Hoon | 20,433 | 48.6 | −9.5 | |
Conservative | Giles Inglis-Jones | 10,220 | 24.3 | −0.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | Wendy Johnson | 5,829 | 13.9 | +2.6 | |
Ashfield Independents | Roy Adkins | 2,292 | 5.5 | New | |
Independent | Kate Allsop | 1,900 | 4.5 | New | |
Veritas | Sarah Hemstock | 1,108 | 2.6 | New | |
Independent | Eddie Grenfell | 269 | 0.6 | New | |
Majority | 10,213 | 24.3 | -9.4 | ||
Turnout | 42,051 | 57.3 | +3.7 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | −4.7 |
General election 2001: Ashfield[12] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Labour | Geoff Hoon | 22,875 | 58.1 | −7.0 | |
Conservative | Julian Leigh | 9,607 | 24.4 | +4.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | William Smith | 4,428 | 11.3 | +1.6 | |
Independent | Charlie Harby | 1,471 | 3.7 | New | |
Socialist Alliance | George Watson | 589 | 1.5 | New | |
Socialist Labour | Katrina R. Howse | 380 | 1.0 | New | |
Majority | 13,268 | 33.7 | -11.1 | ||
Turnout | 39,350 | 53.6 | −16.4 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | −5.6 |
General election 1997: Ashfield[13][14] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Labour | Geoff Hoon | 32,979 | 65.1 | +10.2 | |
Conservative | Mark Simmonds | 10,251 | 20.3 | −12.3 | |
Liberal Democrats | William E. Smith | 4,882 | 9.7 | −2.8 | |
Referendum | Martin I. Betts | 1,896 | 3.8 | New | |
BNP | Steven E. Belshaw | 595 | 1.2 | New | |
Majority | 22,728 | 44.8 | +21.5 | ||
Turnout | 50,603 | 70.0 | -10.4 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | +11.3 |
General election 1992: Ashfield[15][16] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Labour | Geoff Hoon | 32,018 | 54.9 | +13.2 | |
Conservative | Laurence Robertson | 19,031 | 32.6 | −1.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | James S. Turton | 7,291 | 12.5 | −12.2 | |
Majority | 12,987 | 22.3 | +14.2 | ||
Turnout | 58,340 | 80.4 | +3.2 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | +7.1 |
General election 1987: Ashfield[14][17] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Labour | Frank Haynes | 22,812 | 41.7 | ±0.0 | |
Conservative | Barry Coleman | 18,412 | 33.6 | +2.9 | |
Liberal | Frances Stein | 13,542 | 24.7 | −2.1 | |
Majority | 4,400 | 8.1 | −2.9 | ||
Turnout | 70,937 | 77.2 | +2.4 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | −1.45 |
General election 1983: Ashfield[14][18] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Labour | Frank Haynes | 21,859 | 41.7 | -11.1 | |
Conservative | Roderick Seligman | 15,772 | 30.7 | -9.7 | |
Liberal | Frances Stein | 13,812 | 26.8 | +20.6 | |
Majority | 6,087 | 11.0 | -1.4 | ||
Turnout | 68,791 | 74.8 | -5.8 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -0.7 |
General election 1979: Ashfield[14] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Labour | Frank Haynes | 33,116 | 52.8 | −10.6 | |
Conservative | Tim Smith | 25,319 | 40.4 | +18.1 | |
Liberal | Hampton Flint | 3,914 | 6.2 | −8.1 | |
National Front | W. Annable | 397 | 0.6 | N/A | |
Majority | 7,797 | 12.4 | -28.7 | ||
Turnout | 77,878 | 80.6 | +5.9 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | −14.4 |
By-election 1977: Ashfield | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Conservative | Tim Smith | 19,616 | 43.1 | +20.8 | |
Labour | Michael Cowan | 19,352 | 42.5 | −20.9 | |
Liberal | Hampton Flint | 4,380 | 9.6 | −4.7 | |
National Front | George Herrod | 1,734 | 3.8 | New | |
Socialist Workers | June Hall | 453 | 1.0 | New | |
Majority | 264 | 0.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 45,535 | ||||
Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +20.8 |
General election October 1974: Ashfield[14] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Labour | David Marquand | 35,367 | 63.4 | +4.1 | |
Conservative | Richard Kemm | 12,452 | 22.3 | −1.1 | |
Liberal | Hampton Flint | 7,959 | 14.3 | −3.0 | |
Majority | 22,915 | 41.1 | +5.2 | ||
Turnout | 74,683 | 74.7 | -12.7 | ||
Labour hold | Swing |
General election February 1974: Ashfield[14] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Labour | David Marquand | 35,994 | 59.3 | −11.0 | |
Conservative | Richard Kemm | 14,206 | 23.4 | −6.3 | |
Liberal | Hampton Flint | 10,534 | 17.3 | New | |
Majority | 21,788 | 35.9 | -0.5 | ||
Turnout | 74,095 | 82.0 | +11.8 | ||
Labour hold | Swing |
General election 1970: Ashfield[14] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Labour | David Marquand | 32,372 | 68.2 | −5.4 | |
Conservative | Richard Kemm | 15,089 | 31.8 | +5.4 | |
Majority | 17,283 | 36.4 | -11.4 | ||
Turnout | 67,623 | 70.2 | -3.1 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | −5.4 |
General election 1966: Ashfield[19] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Labour | David Marquand | 33,477 | 73.6 | +0.8 | |
Conservative | E.T. Gibbons | 11,991 | 26.4 | -0.8 | |
Majority | 21,486 | 47.8 | +2.1 | ||
Turnout | 62,030 | 73.30 | -3.89 | ||
Labour hold | Swing |
General election 1964: Ashfield[20] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Labour | William Warbey | 34,841 | 72.84 | ||
Conservative | TL Wright | 12,989 | 27.16 | ||
Majority | 21,852 | 45.68 | |||
Turnout | 61,960 | 77.19 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
General election 1959: Ashfield[21] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Labour | William Warbey | 35,432 | 70.69 | ||
Conservative | Julian GW Sandys | 14,690 | 29.31 | ||
Majority | 20,742 | 41.38 | |||
Turnout | 61,139 | 81.98 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
General election 1955: Ashfield[22] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Labour | William Warbey | 32,905 | 71.94 | ||
Conservative | Alan S Plane | 12,836 | 28.06 | ||
Majority | 20,069 | 43.88 | |||
Turnout | 59,820 | 76.46 | |||
Labour win (new seat) |