Stockton North (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 54°35′49″N 1°18′43″W / 54.597°N 1.312°W / 54.597; -1.312
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stockton North
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Stockton North in Cleveland
Outline map
Location of Cleveland within England
CountyCounty Durham
Electorate65,023 (2018)[1]
Major settlementsStockton-on-Tees, Billingham, Wolviston, Port Clarence and Thorpe Thewles
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentAlex Cunningham (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromStockton-on-Tees

Stockton North is a constituency[n 1] covering the town of Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham and other nearby settlements in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees located north of the River Tees, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Alex Cunningham, a member of the Labour Party.[n 2]

Boundaries[edit]

Map
Map of current boundaries

1983–1997: The Borough of Stockton-on-Tees wards of Blue Hall, Charltons, Elm Tree, Glebe, Grange, Hardwick, Marsh House, Mile House, Newtown, Northfield, Norton, Portrack and Tilery, Roseworth, St Aidan's, St Cuthbert's, Whitton, and Wolveston.

1997–2010: The Borough of Stockton-on-Tees wards of Blue Hall, Charltons, Glebe, Grange, Hardwick, Marsh House, Mile House, Newtown, Northfield, Norton, Portrack and Tilery, Roseworth, St Aidan's, St Cuthbert's, Whitton, and Wolviston.

2010–present: The Borough of Stockton-on-Tees wards of Billingham Central, Billingham East, Billingham North, Billingham South, Billingham West, Hardwick, Newtown, Northern Parishes, Norton North, Norton South, Norton West, Roseworth, Stockton Town Centre, and Western Parishes.

Stockton North consists of the north-eastern part of Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham and the nearby towns and villages of Billingham, Wolviston, Port Clarence and Thorpe Thewles.[2]

Proposed[edit]

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the next general election, due by January 2025, the constituency will be composed of the following wards of the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

Billingham Central; Billingham East; Billingham North; Billingham South; Billingham West; Hardwick and Salters Lane; Newtown; Northern Parishes; Norton North; Norton South; Norton West; Parkfield and Oxbridge; Roseworth; Stockton Town Centre.[3]

In order to bring the electorate within the permitted electoral range, the Parkfield and Oxbridge ward will be transferred in from Stockton South (to be renamed Stockton West) in exchange for Western Parishes.

History[edit]

The constituency was created for the 1983 general election, partially replacing the former Stockton-on-Tees constituency. The outgoing MP for Stockton-on-Tees was Bill Rodgers, who had held the seat since 1962. He had been a Labour Party member until 1981, when he left to found the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The 1983 election was the first since Rodgers had left the Labour Party, and he was narrowly defeated by Labour's Frank Cook. Cook held the seat with majorities between 16% and 48% until the 2010 general election, when after 27 years as the MP he was de-selected by his local party. Cook chose to run again however, as an independent candidate. Cook polled less than 5% of the vote, fifth of the seven candidates who stood, and joined four of these in forfeiting his deposit and the seat was held by the Labour Party's next candidate, Alex Cunningham.

In November 2021, Cunningham announced his intention to stand down at the next general election.[4]

Constituency profile[edit]

The town of Stockton-on-Tees is a significant exports manufacturing and processing base in the United Kingdom. Stockton North has often in economically troubled times significantly more unemployment than Stockton South: workless claimants, registered jobseekers, were in November 2012 significantly above the national average of 3.8%, at 7.0% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian compared to 4.5% in Stockton South.[5]

In November 2023 Home Secretary James Cleverly was accused of calling the constituency "a shithole" during a Commons debate. The comment was said to have been made after the prime minister Rishi Sunak was challenged by MP Alex Cunningham on the level of child poverty in his constituency.[6][7]

Members of Parliament[edit]

Election Member[8] Party
1983 Frank Cook Labour
2010 Alex Cunningham Labour

Elections[edit]

Elections in the 2020s[edit]

Next general election: Stockton North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Niall Innes[9]
Reform UK John Gerard McDermottroe[10]
Labour Chris McDonald[11]
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors
Swing

Elections in the 2010s[edit]

General election 2019: Stockton North[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Cunningham 17,728 43.1 −13.8
Conservative Steven Jackson 16,701 40.6 +4.1
Brexit Party Martin Walker 3,907 9.5 New
Liberal Democrats Aidan King 1,631 4.0 +2.5
North East Mark Burdon 1,189 2.9 New
Majority 1,027 2.5 −17.9
Turnout 41,156 61.7 −2.8
Labour hold Swing −9.0
General election 2017: Stockton North[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Cunningham[14] 24,304 56.9 +7.8
Conservative Mark Fletcher 15,589 36.5 +8.5
UKIP Ted Strike 1,834 4.3 −14.9
Liberal Democrats Sarah Brown[15] 646 1.5 −0.7
Green Emma Robson 358 0.8 New
Majority 8,715 20.4 −0.7
Turnout 42,731 64.5 +4.7
Labour hold Swing −0.3
General election 2015: Stockton North[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Cunningham 19,436 49.1 +6.3
Conservative Christopher Daniels 11,069 28.0 +2.1
UKIP Mandy Boylett 7,581 19.2 +15.3
Liberal Democrats Anthony Sycamore 884 2.2 −13.9
North East John Tait 601 1.5 New
Majority 8,367 21.1 +4.2
Turnout 39,571 59.8 +1.2
Labour hold Swing +2.2
General election 2010: Stockton North[17][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Cunningham 16,923 42.8 −12.0
Conservative Ian Galletley 10,247 25.9 +4.7
Liberal Democrats Philip Latham 6,342 16.1 -2.6
BNP James MacPherson 1,724 4.4 +1.8
Independent Frank Cook 1,577 4.0 New
UKIP Gordon Parkin 1,556 3.9 +1.2
English Democrat Ian Saul 1,129 2.9 New
Majority 6,676 16.9 -17.2
Turnout 39,498 58.6 +0.5
Labour hold Swing -8.3

Elections in the 2000s[edit]

General election 2005: Stockton North[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Cook 20,012 54.9 -8.5
Conservative Harriett Baldwin 7,575 20.8 -1.3
Liberal Democrats Neil Hughes 6,869 18.9 +7.0
BNP Kevin Hughes 986 2.7 New
UKIP Gordon Parkin 986 2.7 New
Majority 12,439 34.1 -7.2
Turnout 36,428 57.6 +2.8
Labour hold Swing -3.6
General election 2001: Stockton North[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Cook 22,470 63.4 -3.4
Conservative Amanda Vigar 7,823 22.1 +3.3
Liberal Democrats Mary Wallace 4,208 11.9 +1.1
Green Bill Wennington 926 2.6 New
Majority 14,647 41.3 −6.7
Turnout 35,427 54.8 −14.2
Labour hold Swing −3.3

Elections in the 1990s[edit]

General election 1997: Stockton North[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Cook 29,726 66.8 +14.5
Conservative Bryan Johnston 8,369 18.8 −13.9
Liberal Democrats Suzanne Fletcher 4,816 10.8 −3.2
Referendum Kevin McConnell 1,563 3.5 New
Majority 21,357 48.0 +28.4
Turnout 44,474 69.0 −7.8
Labour hold Swing +14.2
General election 1992: Stockton North[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Cook 27,918 52.3 +3.1
Conservative Simon E Brocklebank-Fowler 17,444 32.7 +0.2
Liberal Democrats Suzanne Fletcher 7,454 14.0 -4.3
Independent Labour Ken McGarvey 550 1.0 New
Majority 10,474 19.6 +3.0
Turnout 53,366 76.8 +1.4
Labour hold Swing +1.5

Elections in the 1980s[edit]

General election 1987: Stockton North[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Cook 26,043 49.2 +12.1
Conservative David Faber 17,242 32.5 −0.8
SDP Nicholas Bosanquet 9,712 18.3 −11.3
Majority 8,801 16.6 +12.8
Turnout 52,997 75.4 +5.1
Labour hold Swing +6.5
General election 1983: Stockton North[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Cook 18,339 37.1
Conservative Harry Davies 16,469 33.3
SDP Bill Rodgers 14,630 29.6
Majority 1,870 3.8
Turnout 49,438 70.3
Labour win (new seat)

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  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[edit]

  1. ^ "England Parliamentary electorates 2010-2018". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  2. ^ 2010 post-revision map Greater London and metropolitan areas of England
  3. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 4 North East region.
  4. ^ "Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham to retire at next election". BBC News. 25 November 2021.
  5. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  6. ^ "James Cleverly denies claims he called Stockton North a s***hole". The Independent. 22 November 2023. Speaking at PMQs, Mr Cunningham had asked: "Why are 34 per cent of children in my constituency living in poverty?" Before the Prime Minister could answer, Cleverly allegedly responded: "Because it's a shithole".
  7. ^ "Watch: MP accused of calling Stockton North a 's***hole'". The Spectator. 22 November 2023.
  8. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 5)
  9. ^ "New Conservative candidate for Stockton North Niall Innes: 'An opportunity to bring real change'". Teesside Live. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Stockton North Constituency". Reform UK. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Hartlepool-born businessman Chris McDonald selected by Labour to fight Billingham seat at next General Election". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Stockton North". BBC News. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Stockton North". BBC News. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  14. ^ "Alex Cunningham Statement Regarding Upcoming Election". Alex Cunningham. 18 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  15. ^ "Stockton Liberal Democrat Candidates".
  16. ^ "Stockton North". BBC News. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  17. ^ "UK General Election results May 2010". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  18. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. ^ "UK General Election results May 2005". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  20. ^ "UK General Election results 2001: Stockton North". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  21. ^ "UK General Election results 1997: Stockton North". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  22. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  23. ^ "UK General Election results June 1987". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  24. ^ "UK General Election results June 1983". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 February 2011.

Sources[edit]

54°35′49″N 1°18′43″W / 54.597°N 1.312°W / 54.597; -1.312