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Newcastle upon Tyne Central (UK Parliament constituency)

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Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Former borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
2010–2024 boundary of Newcastle upon Tyne Central in Tyne and Wear
Outline map
Location of Tyne and Wear within England
CountyTyne and Wear
Electorate60,795 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsNewcastle upon Tyne
1918–2024
SeatsOne
Created fromNewcastle-upon-Tyne
Replaced by

Newcastle upon Tyne Central was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 2010 until its abolition for the 2024 general election by Chi Onwurah of the Labour Party. As with all constituencies since 1950, the constituency elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

Under the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the majority of the seat was included in the new constituency of Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West.[2]

History

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Parliament created this seat under the Representation of the People Act 1918 for the general election later that year. It was one of four divisions of the parliamentary borough of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, which had previously been represented by one two-member seat.[3]

The constituency covered the central part of Newcastle upon Tyne, being one of three constituencies in the city. Between 1983 and 2010, the seat did not actually include the city's commercial centre, being instead part of the now-abolished Tyne Bridge constituency.

From its creation, the constituency was represented by only members of the Labour and Conservative parties. The seat was represented by Labour from 1987 until its abolition.

At the 2017 and 2019 general elections, the constituency was the first in the UK to officially declare its result. It narrowly beat Houghton and Sunderland South, which had declared first in 2010 and 2015 (as did its predecessor Sunderland South in the four preceding general elections), and would do so again in 2024.[4]

Boundaries

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1918–1950

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  • The County Borough of Newcastle upon Tyne wards of All Saints, St John's, St Nicholas, Stephenson, and Westgate.[3]

1950–1955

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  • The County Borough of Newcastle upon Tyne wards of Armstrong, Byker, St Anthony's, St Nicholas, and Stephenson; and
  • The Rural District of Newcastle upon Tyne.[5]

NB: the Rural District of Newcastle upon Tyne contained just a single building ('the Moot Hall and Precincts') in the centre of Newcastle.[6]

Boundaries redrawn to take account of expansion of the County Borough and redistribution of wards. Expanded eastwards, gaining Byker and St Anthony's from Newcastle upon Tyne East, westwards, gaining Armstrong from Newcastle upon Tyne West. St John's and Westgate were transferred to Newcastle upon Tyne North. The constituency now comprised a narrow strip along the north bank of the River Tyne.

1955–1983

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  • The County Borough of Newcastle upon Tyne wards of Armstrong, Benwell, Byker, St Anthony's, St Nicholas, and Stephenson; and
  • The Rural District of Newcastle upon Tyne.[7]

Benwell ward transferred from Newcastle upon Tyne West.

1983–1997

  • The City of Newcastle upon Tyne wards of Blakelaw, Fenham, Jesmond, Kenton, Moorside, South Gosforth, and Wingrove.[8]

Following the reorganisation of local authorities as a result of the Local Government Act 1972, the constituencies within the City of Newcastle upon Tyne were completely redrawn. The contents of the newly constituted seat comprised only a small area common to the previous version. The central and western areas of the old seat, including Benwell and the city centre, were incorporated into the new constituency of Tyne Bridge, which included parts of Gateshead Borough on the south side of the River Tyne. Byker and St Anthony's were returned to Newcastle upon Tyne East, along with the Battle Field area.

The new version of the constituency absorbed the whole of the existing Newcastle upon Tyne North seat, apart from Sandyford. It also included parts of the now abolished Newcastle upon Tyne West constituency (Fenham and Kenton) and a small area transferred from Wallsend (South Gosforth).

1997–2010

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  • The City of Newcastle upon Tyne wards of Blakelaw, Fenham, Jesmond, Kenton, Moorside, Sandyford, South Gosforth, and Wingrove.[9]

Sandyford ward transferred from Newcastle upon Tyne East, which was now abolished.

2010–2024

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Map
Map of 2010–2024 boundaries
  • The City of Newcastle upon Tyne wards of Benwell and Scotswood, Blakelaw, Elswick, Fenham, Kenton, Westgate, West Gosforth, and Wingrove.[10]

Following its review of parliamentary representation in Tyne and Wear in 2007, which took effect at the 2010 general election, the Boundary Commission for England moved the Sandyford area back to the re-created constituency of Newcastle upon Tyne East, together with the suburb of Jesmond. Those areas north of the River Tyne in the now abolished Tyne Bridge constituency (Benwell, Scotswood, Elswick and the city centre) were transferred in.[11]

Constituency profile

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The constituency contained the city centre and surrounding suburbs. Previously based around heavy industry, such as shipbuilding, its adult population had mostly lower or middle incomes. The economy is now mainly focused on services and tourism.[12] In November 2012 total unemployment (based on the more up-to-date claimant statistics) placed the constituency in joint 17th place of 29 constituencies in the region, above, for example the City of Durham at the bottom of the list, with just 3.4% claimants whereas Newcastle had 6.0% claimants, identical to Sunderland Central.[13]

Members of Parliament

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Election Member[14] Party
1918 George Renwick Conservative
1922 Charles Trevelyan Labour
1931 Arthur Denville Conservative
1945 Lyall Wilkes Labour
1951 Ted Short
1976 by-election Harry Cowans
1983 Piers Merchant Conservative
1987 Jim Cousins Labour
2010 Chi Onwurah
2024 Constituency abolished

Election results 1918-2024

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Election in the 1910s

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General election 1918: Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central [15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist George Renwick 9,414 65.4
Labour James Smith 4,976 34.6
Majority 4,438 30.8
Turnout 14,390 43.9
Registered electors 32,796
Unionist win (new seat)
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1920s

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Trevelyan
General election 1922: Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central [15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Trevelyan 13,709 54.2 +17.6
Unionist George Renwick 8,639 34.2 −31.2
Liberal John Dodd 2,923 11.6 New
Majority 5,070 20.0 N/A
Turnout 25,271 72.5 +28.6
Registered electors 34,844
Labour gain from Unionist Swing +24.4
General election 1923: Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central [15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Trevelyan 12,447 52.5 −1.7
Unionist Francis Fisher 11,260 47.5 +13.3
Majority 1,187 5.0 −15.0
Turnout 23,707 67.4 −5.1
Registered electors 35,193
Labour hold Swing -7.5
General election 1924: Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central [15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Trevelyan 14,542 51.6 −0.9
Unionist F.M.B. Fisher 13,646 48.4 +0.9
Majority 896 3.2 −1.8
Turnout 28,188 79.8 +12.4
Registered electors 35,307
Labour hold Swing -0.9
General election 1929: Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central [15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Trevelyan 17,580 57.2 +5.6
Unionist Richard Wyndham-Quin 13,161 42.8 −5.6
Majority 4,419 14.4 +11.2
Turnout 30,740 73.7 −6.1
Registered electors 41,683
Labour hold Swing +5.6

Elections in the 1930s

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General election 1931: Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Arthur Denville 20,309 62.4 +19.6
Ind. Labour Party Charles Trevelyan 12,136 37.3 −19.9
National Labour W.H.D. Caple 94 0.3 New
Majority 8,173 25.1 N/A
Turnout 32,539 80.5 +6.8
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
General election 1935: Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Arthur Denville 15,826 59.3 −3.1
Labour Walter Monslow 10,871 40.7 New
Majority 4,955 18.6 −6.5
Turnout 26,697 75.5 −5.0
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

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General election 1945: Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Lyall Wilkes 10,627 61.9 +21.2
Conservative Arthur Denville 6,536 38.1 −21.2
Majority 4,091 23.8 N/A
Turnout 17,163 71.8 −3.7
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Elections in the 1950s

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General election 1950: Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Lyall Wilkes 25,190 63.7 +1.8
Conservative George Campbell White 13,567 34.3 +25.2
Ind. Labour Party Fred Barton 812 2.1 New
Majority 11,623 29.4 +5.6
Turnout 39,569 79.8 +8.0
Labour hold Swing
General election 1951: Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ted Short 25,637 64.1 +0.4
Conservative Frederick Talbot Webster 13,325 33.3 −1.0
Ind. Labour Party Fred Barton 1,006 2.5 +0.4
Majority 12,312 30.8 +1.4
Turnout 39,968 80.7 +0.9
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ted Short 26,102 66.6 +2.5
Conservative George Peters 13,099 33.4 +0.1
Majority 13,003 33.2 +2.4
Turnout 39,201 70.88 −8.8
Labour hold Swing
General election 1959: Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ted Short 24,051 65.8 −0.8
Conservative William D Rutter 12,485 34.2 +0.8
Majority 11,566 31.6 −1.6
Turnout 36,536 73.2 +2.3
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

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General election 1964: Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ted Short 20,547 70.9 +5.1
Conservative William D Rutter 7,896 27.3 −6.9
Communist Thomas G Welch 532 1.8 New
Majority 12,651 43.6 +12.0
Turnout 28,975 69.13 −4.1
Labour hold Swing
General election 1966: Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ted Short 19,291 76.7 +5.8
Conservative John J. Walker-Smith 5,474 21.6 −5.7
Communist Thomas G. Welch 404 1.6 −0.2
Majority 13,817 54.9 +11.3
Turnout 25,169 65.8 −3.3
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1970: Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ted Short 13,671 70.6 −6.1
Conservative Michael St John Way 4,256 22.0 +0.4
Liberal David Lesser 1,433 7.4 New
Majority 9,415 48.6 −6.3
Turnout 19,360 61.6 −4.2
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ted Short 12,182 74.5 +3.9
Conservative Michael Jack 4,180 25.5 +3.5
Majority 8,002 49.0 +0.4
Turnout 16,362 65.4 +3.8
Labour hold Swing +0.2
General election October 1974: Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ted Short 10,540 71.8 −2.7
Conservative Sheila Faith 2,432 16.6 −9.0
Liberal Andrew Stephen Ellis 1,716 11.7 New
Majority 8,108 55.2 +6.2
Turnout 14,694 58.4 −7.0
Labour hold Swing +3.1
1976 Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Harry Cowans 4,692 47.6 −24.2
Liberal Andrew Stephen Ellis 2,854 29.0 +17.3
Conservative Richard Sowler 1,945 19.7 +3.2
Socialist Workers David Hayes 184 1.9 New
National Front Bruce Anderson-Lynes 181 1.8 New
Majority 1,838 18.65 −36.6
Turnout 9,856
Labour hold Swing
General election 1979: Newcastle upon Tyne Central[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Harry Cowans 10,395 67.3 −4.5
Conservative Piers Merchant 2,982 19.3 +2.8
Liberal Andrew Steven Ellis 2,073 13.4 +1.7
Majority 7,413 48.0 −7.2
Turnout 15,450 65.25 +6.8
Labour hold Swing −3.6

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1983: Newcastle upon Tyne Central[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Piers Merchant 18,161 40.8
Labour Nigel Todd 15,933 35.8
SDP John Horam 9,923 22.3 New
Ecology Douglas Jacques 478 1.1 New
Majority 2,228 5.0
Turnout 44,495 71.0
Conservative win (new boundaries)
General election 1987: Newcastle upon Tyne Central[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jim Cousins 20,416 44.2 +8.4
Conservative Piers Merchant 17,933 38.8 −2.0
SDP Nigel Martin 7,304 15.8 −6.5
Green Richard Bird 418 0.9 −0.2
Red Front Kirk Williams 111 0.2 New
Majority 2,483 5.4 N/A
Turnout 46,182 75.5 +4.5
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +5.2

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1992: Newcastle upon Tyne Central[20][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jim Cousins 21,123 49.4 +5.2
Conservative Mike Summersby 15,835 37.0 −1.8
Liberal Democrats Lembit Öpik 5,816 13.6 −2.2
Majority 5,288 12.4 +7.0
Turnout 42,774 71.3 −4.2
Labour hold Swing +3.5
General election 1997: Newcastle upon Tyne Central[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jim Cousins 27,272 59.2 +7.5
Conservative Brooks Newmark 10,792 23.4 −12.2
Liberal Democrats Ruth Berry 6,911 15.0 +2.3
Referendum Charles A. Coxon 1,113 2.4 New
Majority 16,480 35.8 +19.7
Turnout 46,088 65.9 −5.4
Labour hold Swing +9.9

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2001: Newcastle upon Tyne Central[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jim Cousins 19,169 55.0 −4.2
Liberal Democrats Stephen Psallidas 7,564 21.7 +6.7
Conservative Aidan Ruff 7,414 21.3 −2.1
Socialist Labour Gordon Potts 723 2.1 New
Majority 11,605 33.3 −2.5
Turnout 34,870 51.3 −14.6
Labour hold Swing −5.5
General election 2005: Newcastle upon Tyne Central[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jim Cousins 16,211 45.1 −9.9
Liberal Democrats Greg Stone 12,229 34.0 +12.3
Conservative Wendy Morton 5,749 16.0 −5.3
Green Joe Hulm 1,254 3.5 New
Newcastle Academy with Christian Values Party Clive Harding 477 1.3 New
Majority 3,982 11.1 −22.2
Turnout 35,920 52.5 +1.2
Labour hold Swing -11.1

Elections in the 2010s

[edit]
General election 2010: Newcastle upon Tyne Central[25][26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Chi Onwurah 15,692 45.9 −4.6
Liberal Democrats Gareth Kane 8,228 24.1 −3.4
Conservative Nick Holder 6,611 19.4 +2.8
BNP Ken Booth 2,302 6.7 New
UKIP Martin Davies 754 2.2 New
Green John Pearson 568 1.7 −2.2
Majority 7,464 21.8 −1.2
Turnout 34,155 56.5 +4.0
Labour hold Swing −0.6
General election 2015: Newcastle upon Tyne Central[27][28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Chi Onwurah 19,301 55.0 +9.1
Conservative Simon Kitchen[29] 6,628 18.9 −0.5
UKIP Daniel Thompson[30] 5,214 14.9 +12.7
Liberal Democrats Nick Cott 2,218 6.3 −17.8
Green Alex Johnson[31] 1,724 4.9 +3.2
Majority 12,673 36.1 +14.3
Turnout 35,085 60.3 +3.8
Labour hold Swing +4.8
General election 2017: Newcastle upon Tyne Central[32][33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Chi Onwurah 24,071 64.9 +9.9
Conservative Steve Kyte 9,134 24.6 +5.7
Liberal Democrats Nick Cott 1,812 4.9 −1.4
UKIP David Muat 1,482 4.0 −10.9
Green Peter Thomson 595 1.6 −3.3
Majority 14,937 40.3 +4.2
Turnout 37,094 67.0 +6.7
Labour hold Swing +2.1
General election 2019: Newcastle upon Tyne Central[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Chi Onwurah 21,568 57.6 −7.3
Conservative Emily Payne 9,290 24.8 +0.2
Liberal Democrats Ali Avaei 2,709 7.2 +2.3
Brexit Party Mark Frederick Griffin 2,542 6.8 New
Green Taymar Pitman 1,365 3.6 +2.0
Majority 12,278 32.8 −7.5
Turnout 37,474 64.8 −2.2
Labour hold Swing −3.8

See also

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Notes

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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. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – North East | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b Fraser, Hugh (1918). The Representation of the people act, 1918 : with explanatory notes. University of California Libraries. London : Sweet and Maxwell. p. 447.
  4. ^ "Elections 2017: Declaration times in time order". Press Association. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Representation of the People Act 1948" (PDF). p. 115.
  6. ^ "Moot Hall and Precincts RD through time".
  7. ^ Craig, Fred W. S. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972;. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. pp. 82, 140. ISBN 0-900178-09-4. OCLC 539011.
  8. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983" (PDF). p. 74.
  9. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". In the county of Tyne and Wear.
  10. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". In Tyne and Wear.
  11. ^ "Boundary Commission for England Fifth Periodical Report" (PDF). p. 170.
  12. ^ Constituency Profile The Guardian
  13. ^ Unemployment statistics The Guardian
  14. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "N" (part 1)
  15. ^ a b c d e British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
  16. ^ Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1922
  17. ^ "'Newcastle upon Tyne Central', Feb 1974 - May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  18. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  22. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ^ "Election Data 2010".
  26. ^ "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Washington & Sunderland West". BBC News.
  27. ^ "Newcastle upon Tyne Central". BBC News. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  28. ^ "General Elections Online 2015".
  29. ^ Wearmouth, Rachel (17 January 2015). "Young Geordie Tory from Heaton to battle Labour for Newcastle Central seat". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  30. ^ "UKIP Gateshead-Newcastle - Candidates". Archived from the original on 13 February 2015.
  31. ^ Tallentire, Mark (15 January 2015). "Greens name election candidates". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  32. ^ "Green Party announces its Newcastle candidates". Newcastle upon Tyne Green Party. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  33. ^ "Newcastle upon Tyne Central". BBC News. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  34. ^ "Newcastle upon Tyne Central Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
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