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City of Durham (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 54°46′N 1°37′W / 54.77°N 1.61°W / 54.77; -1.61
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

City of Durham
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Interactive map of boundaries from 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of City of Durham in the North East England
CountyCounty Durham
Population94,375 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate72,878 (2023) [2]
Major settlementsDurham, Brandon, Coxhoe, Bowburn, Framwellgate Moor, Sherburn and Ushaw Moor
Current constituency
Created1918
Member of ParliamentMary Kelly Foy (Labour)
SeatsOne
18851918
SeatsOne
Type of constituencyBorough constituency
1678–1885
SeatsTwo
Type of constituencyBorough constituency

City of Durham is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Mary Kelly Foy of the Labour Party.[n 2]

Constituency profile

[edit]

The constituency contains a large minority of students, researchers and academics at the early 19th century founded University of Durham,[n 3] that has a claim towards being the third oldest in England and has elected Labour MPs since 1935, although there have been strong SDP–Liberal Alliance and Liberal Democrat challenges to Labour since the 1980s.

The constituency includes a number of surrounding villages and suburbs as well as Durham itself, the largest of these are Brandon, Bowburn, Esh Winning, Framwellgate Moor, Sherburn, Ushaw Moor and Willington. The seat extends as far west as Satley and as far east as Shadforth.

The seat has traditionally been dominated by Labour, with support particularly strong in those villages historically connected to County Durham's mining industry. Durham is famous as an educational centre, for Durham University and the feepaying preparatory school, Chorister School where Tony Blair was educated. The city centre is more inclined to the Liberal Democrats. Like many other university cities such as Cambridge and Oxford, in the 2005 election it swung strongly towards the Liberal Democrats, one possible reason being these cities' sizeable student population who were viewed as being hostile to Labour's policies on areas such as top-up fees and the Iraq War. The Liberal Democrats were able to reduce Labour's majority by over 10,000 votes, although they were still unable to gain the seat from Labour, as was the case in the 2010 election. As reflected in throughout the country, the Liberal Democrat vote collapsed in the 2015 election.

History

[edit]

The parliamentary borough (1678–1918)

[edit]

The City of Durham was first given the right to return Members to Parliament by an Act of Parliament in 1673, although the first election was not held until 1678 due to drafting errors.[3] It was the last new borough but one to be enfranchised before the Great Reform Act of 1832.[4] It was the only borough in County Durham, the county also having been unrepresented until the same Act of Parliament, which created two MPs for the county and two for the city. Both constituencies were frequently referred to simply as Durham, which can make for some confusion.

The constituency as constituted in 1678 consisted only of the city of Durham itself, though this included its suburbs which were within the municipal boundary. The right to vote was held by the corporation and the freemen of the city, many of whom were not resident within the boundaries. Unlike the situation in many small rotten boroughs, the corporation had no jurisdiction over the creation of freemen: freemen were generally created by connection with companies of trade, either by apprenticeship or by birth (by being the son of an existing freeman), though the common council of the city had a power to create honorary freemen.

The creation of honorary freemen with the specific intention of swaying elections was a common abuse in a number of boroughs in the 18th century, and at the Durham election of 1762 became sufficiently controversial to force a change in the law. The election was disputed because 215 new freemen, most of them not resident in the city, had been made after the writ for the election was issued. The existing freemen petitioned against this dilution of their voting rights, the candidate who had been declared elected was unseated by the Commons committee which heard the case, and the following year an Act of Parliament was passed to prevent any honorary freeman from voting in a borough election within twelve months of their being accorded that status.

Through having a freeman franchise the electorate was comparatively numerous for the period, though comprising only a small fraction of the city's population; at the time of the Reform Act there were between 1,100 and 1,200 freemen in total, of whom 427 were resident and 558 lived within seven miles, while the total population of the borough was 9,269. The Lambton and Tempest families were influential, and were generally able to secure election, but fell far short of the sort of control common in pocket boroughs.

The city retained both its MPs under the 1832 Reform Act, with its boundaries adjusted only very slightly, although as elsewhere the franchise was reformed. The Reform Act 1867 extended the boundaries to include part of Framwellgate parish which had previously been excluded.[5] Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the borough's representation was reduced from the 1885 general election to a single MP.[6] In the boundary changes of 1918, the borough was abolished, but a division of County Durham was named after the city.

County constituency (since 1918)

[edit]

From 1918, Durham City was included in a county constituency officially called The Durham Division of (County) Durham, consisting of the central part of the county.[7] In the 1983 boundary changes, the constituency officially acquired the unambiguous City of Durham name for the first time and its boundaries were realigned to match the new City of Durham local government district.

Boundaries

[edit]

1918–1950

[edit]
  • the Borough of Durham
  • the Urban District of Hetton
  • the Rural District of Durham except the parish of Brancepeth
  • in the Rural District of Houghton-le-Spring, the parishes of East Rainton, Great Eppleton, Little Eppleton, Moor House, Moorsley, and West Rainton.[7]

As well as absorbing the abolished parliamentary borough, the reconstituted seat included Hetton-le-Hole and surrounding rural areas, transferred from Houghton-le-Spring, and northern areas of the abolished Mid Division of Durham.

1950–1974

[edit]
  • the Borough of Durham
  • the Urban Districts of Hetton and Spennymoor
  • the Rural District of Durham.[8]

Spennymoor and the parish of Brancepeth transferred in from the abolished constituency of Spennymoor. Other minor changes (the Rural District of Houghton-le-Spring had been abolished and absorbed into neighbouring local authorities).

1974–1983

[edit]
  • the Borough of Durham and Framwelgate
  • the Rural District of Sedgefield and the Rural District of Durham except the parish of Brancepeth.[9]

Hetton transferred back to Houghton-le-Spring, and Spennymoor and Brancepeth now included in Durham North West. Gained the Rural District of Sedgefield from the abolished constituency of Sedgefield.

1983–2024

[edit]
Map
Map of boundaries 1997–2024

Sedgefield returned to the re-established constituency thereof. Gained the area comprising the former Urban District of Brandon and Byshottles which had been absorbed into the District of the City of Durham, previously part of North West Durham.

2024–present

[edit]
  • The County of Durham electoral districts of: Belmont; Brandon; Deerness; Durham South; Elvet and Gilesgate; Esh and Witton Gilbert; Framwellgate and Newton Hall; Neville's Cross; Sherburn; and Willington and Hunwick.[13]
Coxhoe was transferred to the new constituency of Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor, offset by gains from the abolished constituency of North West Durham, including the communities of Esh and Willington.

Members of Parliament

[edit]

Durham City (borough)

[edit]
  • Constituency created 1678

MPs 1678–1885

[edit]
Year First member[14] First party Second member[14] Second party
1678 Sir Ralph Cole John Parkhurst
February 1679 William Tempest
September 1679 William Blakiston Sir Richard Lloyd
1681 William Tempest
1685 Charles Montagu
1689 George Morland Henry Liddell
1690 William Tempest
1695 Charles Montagu Henry Liddell
1698 Thomas Conyers Tory
1701 Sir Henry Belasyse
1702 Thomas Conyers Tory
1708 James Nicolson
1710 Sir Henry Belasyse Tory
1712 Robert Shafto Tory
1713 George Baker Tory
1722 Charles Talbot
1727 Robert Shafto Tory
1730 John Shafto Tory
1734 Henry Lambton Whig
1742 John Tempest
1761 Ralph Gowland[15]
1762 Major General John Lambton
1768 John Tempest Tory[16]
1787 William Henry Lambton Whig[16]
1794 Sir Henry Vane-Tempest Tory[16]
1798 Ralph John Lambton Whig[16]
1800 Michael Angelo Taylor Whig[16]
1802 Richard Wharton[17] Tory[16]
1804 Robert Eden Duncombe Shafto
1806 Richard Wharton Tory[16]
1813 George Allan Tory[16]
1818 Michael Angelo Taylor Whig[16]
1820 Sir Henry Hardinge Tory[16]
1830 Sir Roger Gresley[18] Tory[16]
March 1831 William Chaytor Whig[16]
May 1831 Hon. Arthur Trevor Tory[16]
1832 William Charles Harland Whig[16][19][20]
1835 Hon. Arthur Trevor Conservative[16]
1841 Thomas Colpitts Granger Radical[21][22][23][24] Robert FitzRoy Conservative
April 1843 The Viscount Dungannon[25] Conservative[16]
July 1843 John Bright Radical/Anti-Corn Law[16]
1847 Henry John Spearman Whig[26][27]
July 1852 William Atherton[28] Radical[29][30]
December 1852 Lord Adolphus Vane[31] Conservative
1853 John Mowbray Conservative
1859 Liberal
1864 John Henderson Liberal
1868 John Robert Davison Liberal
1871 John Lloyd Wharton Conservative
February 1874 Thomas Charles Thompson Liberal
June 1874[32] Farrer Herschell Liberal Sir Arthur Middleton Liberal
1880 Thomas Charles Thompson Liberal
1885 Representation reduced to one member

MPs 1885–1918

[edit]
Matthew Fowler
Election Member[14][33] Party
1885 Thomas Milvain Conservative
1892 Matthew Fowler Liberal
1898 by-election Arthur Elliot Liberal Unionist
1906 John Hills Liberal Unionist
1918 Parliamentary borough abolished

Durham, Durham/City of Durham (county constituency)

[edit]

MPs since 1918

[edit]
Year Member[14][33] Party
1918 John Hills Conservative
1922 Joshua Ritson Labour
1931 William McKeag Liberal
1935 Joshua Ritson Labour
1945 Charles Grey Labour
1970 Mark Hughes Labour
1987 Gerry Steinberg Labour
2005 Roberta Blackman-Woods Labour
2019 Mary Foy Labour

Elections

[edit]

Elections in the 2020s

[edit]
General election 2024: City of Durham [34][35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mary Kelly Foy 19,131 47.1 +6.2
Reform UK Mark Belch 7,374 18.2 +11.6
Liberal Democrats Mark Wilkes 5,920 14.6 −2.3
Conservative Luke Holmes 5,221 12.9 −19.0
Green Jonathan Elmer 2,803 6.9 +3.6
SDP Sarah Welbourne 178 0.4 N/A
Majority 11,757 28.9
Turnout 40,627 58.5
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 2010s

[edit]
General election 2019: City of Durham[36][37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mary Kelly Foy 20,531 42.0 –13.4
Conservative William Morgan 15,506 31.7 +1.9
Liberal Democrats Amanda Hopgood 7,935 16.2 +6.3
Brexit Party Lesley Wright 3,252 6.7 N/A
Green Jonathan Elmer 1,635 3.3 +1.7
Majority 5,025 10.3 –15.3
Turnout 48,859 68.6 +0.7
Labour hold Swing –7.7
General election 2017: City of Durham[38][39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Roberta Blackman-Woods 26,772 55.4 +8.1
Conservative Richard Lawrie 14,408 29.8 +7.6
Liberal Democrats Amanda Hopgood 4,787 9.9 –1.4
UKIP Malcolm Bint 1,116 2.3 –9.1
Green Jonathan Elmer 797 1.6 –4.3
Independent Jim Clark 399 0.8 N/A
Young People's Jon Collings 45 0.1 N/A
Majority 12,364 25.6 +0.5
Turnout 48,324 67.9 +1.4
Labour hold Swing +0.25
General election 2015: City of Durham[40][41]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Roberta Blackman-Woods 21,596 47.3 +3.0
Conservative Rebecca Coulson[42] 10,157 22.2 +8.9
UKIP Liam Clark 5,232 11.4 +9.5
Liberal Democrats Craig Martin[43] 5,183 11.3 −26.4
Green Jonathan Elmer[44] 2,687 5.9 N/A
Independent John Marshall[45] 649 1.4 N/A
Independent Jon Collings 195 0.4 N/A
Majority 11,439 25.1 +18.5
Turnout 45,699 66.5 –0.7
Labour hold Swing −3.0
General election 2010: City of Durham[46][47][48]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Roberta Blackman-Woods 20,496 44.3 −2.9
Liberal Democrats Carol Woods 17,429 37.7 −2.1
Conservative Nick Varley 6,146 13.3 +3.9
BNP Ralph Musgrave 1,153 2.5 N/A
UKIP Nigel Coghill-Marshall 856 1.9 N/A
Independent Jon Collings 172 0.4 N/A
Majority 3,067 6.6 −0.8
Turnout 46,252 67.2 +5.1
Labour hold Swing −0.4

Elections in the 2000s

[edit]
General election 2005: City of Durham[49]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Roberta Blackman-Woods 20,928 47.2 −8.9
Liberal Democrats Carol Woods 17,654 39.8 +16.1
Conservative Ben Rogers 4,179 9.4 −7.9
Veritas Tony Martin 1,603 3.6 N/A
Majority 3,274 7.4 −25.0
Turnout 44,364 62.1 +2.5
Labour hold Swing −12.5
General election 2001: City of Durham[50]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gerry Steinberg 23,254 56.1 −7.2
Liberal Democrats Carol Woods 9,813 23.7 +8.4
Conservative Nick Cartmell 7,167 17.3 −0.2
UKIP Chris Williamson 1,252 3.0 N/A
Majority 13,441 32.4 −13.4
Turnout 41,486 59.6 −11.2
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

[edit]
General election 1997: City of Durham[51]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gerry Steinberg 31,102 63.3 +10.0
Conservative Richard Chalk 8,598 17.5 −6.2
Liberal Democrats Nigel Martin 7,499 15.3 −6.2
Referendum Margaret Robson 1,723 3.5 N/A
Natural Law Paul Kember 213 0.4 N/A
Majority 22,504 45.8 +16.2
Turnout 49,135 70.8 −3.8
Labour hold Swing +8.1
General election 1992: City of Durham[52][53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gerry Steinberg 27,095 53.3 +8.4
Conservative Martin I. Woodroofe 12,037 23.7 +1.8
Liberal Democrats Nigel Martin 10,915 21.5 −11.7
Green Jane Banks 812 1.6 N/A
Majority 15,058 29.6 +17.9
Turnout 50,859 74.6 −3.6
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1980s

[edit]
General election 1987: City of Durham[54]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gerry Steinberg 23,382 44.9 +8.4
SDP David Stoker 17,257 33.2 +0.7
Conservative Gordon Colquhoun 11,408 21.9 −9.1
Majority 6,125 11.7 +7.7
Turnout 52,047 78.2 +3.8
Labour hold Swing +3.8
General election 1983: City of Durham[55]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mark Hughes 18,163 36.5
SDP David Stoker 16,190 32.5
Conservative Matthew Lavis 15,438 31.0
Majority 1,973 4.0
Turnout 49,791 74.4
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

[edit]
General election 1979: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mark Hughes 30,903 52.3 −6.1
Conservative Matthew Lavis 19,666 33.3 +9.6
Liberal Chris Foote Wood 8,572 14.5 −2.3
Majority 11,237 19.0 −15.7
Turnout 59,141 76.4 +4.8
Labour hold Swing
General election October 1974: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mark Hughes 31,305 58.5 +6.0
Conservative Derek Conway 13,189 24.7 −2.4
Liberal Alan Heesom 9,011 16.8 −1.7
Majority 18,116 33.9 +8.5
Turnout 53,505 71.6 −9.2
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mark Hughes 31,405 52.5
Conservative Timothy Kirkhope 16,202 27.1
Liberal Alan Heesom 12,235 20.5
Majority 15,203 25.4
Turnout 59,842 80.8
Labour hold Swing
General election 1970: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mark Hughes 33,766 66.9 −0.7
Conservative Ernest Greenwood 16,707 33.1 +3.7
Majority 17,059 33.8 −4.1
Turnout 50,473 73.3 −1.4
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

[edit]
General election 1966: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Grey 32,200 70.6 +2.3
Conservative Richard Yorke 13,383 29.4 −2.3
Majority 18,817 41.2 +4.6
Turnout 45,583 74.7 −4.1
Labour hold Swing
General election 1964: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Grey 32,818 68.3 +1.9
Conservative Joseph Whittaker 15,209 31.7 −1.9
Majority 17,609 36.7 +3.8
Turnout 48,027 78.8 −3.0
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

[edit]
General election 1959: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Grey 33,795 66.4 +0.3
Conservative Charles MacCarthy 17,106 33.6 −0.3
Majority 16,689 32.8 +0.7
Turnout 50,901 81.8 +2.3
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Grey 32,412 66.1 −1.0
Conservative Charles P. MacCarthy 16,640 33.9 +1.0
Majority 15,772 32.2 +2.0
Turnout 49,052 79.5 −6.6
Labour hold Swing
General election 1951: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Grey 35,597 67.1 −1.0
Conservative Robert Fisher 17,447 32.9 +1.0
Majority 18,150 34.2 −2.0
Turnout 53,044 86.1 −0.9
Labour hold Swing
General election 1950: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Grey 36,024 68.1
Conservative Henry Laslett 16,903 31.9
Majority 19,121 36.2
Turnout 52,927 87.0
Labour hold Swing

Election in the 1940s

[edit]
General election 1945: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Grey 24,135 66.2 +7.1
National Liberal John Bunyan 12,331 33.8 −7.1
Majority 11,804 32.4 +14.3
Turnout 36,466 79.8 −5.4
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s

[edit]
General election 1935: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joshua Ritson 21,517 59.1 +9.5
National Liberal William McKeag 14,910 40.9 N/A
Majority 6,607 18.1 N/A
Turnout 36,427 85.2 +1.5
Labour gain from Liberal Swing
General election 1931: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William McKeag 17,406 50.4 +28.1
Labour Joshua Ritson 17,136 49.6 −7.2
Majority 270 0.8 N/A
Turnout 34,542 83.7 N/A
Liberal gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 1920s

[edit]
General election 1929: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joshua Ritson 18,514 56.8 +1.9
Liberal William McKeag 7,266 22.3 +12.3
Unionist George Hamilton-Fletcher 6,820 20.9 −14.2
Majority 11,248 34.5 +14.7
Turnout 32,600 80.1 −5.1
Registered electors 40,676
Labour hold Swing −5.2
General election 1924: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joshua Ritson 15,032 54.9 −1.9
Unionist Sidney Streatfeild 9,614 35.1 −8.1
Liberal William McKeag 2,747 10.0 N/A
Majority 5,418 19.8 +6.2
Turnout 27,393 85.2 +8.0
Registered electors 32,163
Labour hold Swing +3.1
General election 1923: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joshua Ritson 13,819 56.8 +1.6
Unionist Thomas Bradford 10,530 43.2 −1.6
Majority 3,289 13.6 +3.2
Turnout 24,349 77.2 −4.7
Registered electors 31,523
Labour hold Swing +1.6
General election 1922: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joshua Ritson 14,068 55.2 +5.8
Unionist John Hills 11,396 44.8 −5.8
Majority 2,672 10.4 N/A
Turnout 25,464 81.9 +20.5
Registered electors 31,104
Labour gain from Unionist Swing +1.8

Elections in the 1910s

[edit]
General election 1918: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist John Hills 9,027 50.6
Labour Joshua Ritson 8,809 49.4
Majority 218 1.2
Turnout 17,836 61.4
Unionist hold Swing
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
General election December 1910: Durham[56]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist John Hills 1,313 60.0
Liberal Cecil Cochrane 877 40.0
Majority 436 20.0
Turnout 2,190 84.2
Liberal Unionist hold Swing
General election January 1910: Durham[56]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist John Hills Unopposed
Liberal Unionist hold

Elections in the 1900s

[edit]
General election 1906: Durham[56]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist John Hills 1,313 59.9 −1.6
Free Trader Arthur Elliot[n 4] 880 40.1 +1.6
Majority 433 19.8 −3.2
Turnout 2,193 85.0 +7.1
Registered electors 2,580
Liberal Unionist hold Swing N/A
General election 1900: Durham[56]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Arthur Elliot 1,250 61.5 +11.6
Liberal William Geary 781 38.5 −11.6
Majority 469 23.0 +22.8
Turnout 2,031 77.9 −11.4
Registered electors 2,607
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +11.4

Elections in the 1890s

[edit]
By-election, 1898: Durham[56]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Arthur Elliot 1,167 51.4 +1.5
Liberal H.F. Boyd 1,102 48.6 −1.5
Majority 65 2.8 N/A
Turnout 2,269 89.1 −0.2
Registered electors 2,548
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +1.5
  • Caused by Fowler's death.
General election 1895: Durham[56]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Matthew Fowler 1,110 50.1 −1.7
Liberal Unionist Arthur Elliot 1,107 49.9 +1.7
Majority 3 0.2 −3.4
Turnout 2,217 89.3 −0.1
Registered electors 2,482
Liberal hold Swing −1.7
  • These are the final 1895 results after a recount. The original result was Fowler with 1,111 votes, and Elliot with 1,110 votes, leaving a Liberal majority of just one vote.
General election 1892: Durham[56]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Matthew Fowler 1,075 51.8 +8.7
Conservative Thomas Milvain 1,000 48.2 −8.7
Majority 75 3.6 N/A
Turnout 2,075 89.4 +3.2
Registered electors 2,322
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +8.7

Elections in the 1880s

[edit]
General election 1886: Durham (1 seat)[56]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Milvain 1,129 56.9 +4.0
Liberal George Brooks[57] 855 43.1 −4.0
Majority 274 13.8 +8.0
Turnout 1,984 86.2 −5.3
Registered electors 2,302
Conservative hold Swing −4.0
General election 1885: Durham (1 seat)[56]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Milvain 1,114 52.9
Liberal Thomas Charles Thompson 993 47.1
Majority 121 5.8
Turnout 2,107 91.5
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing
By-election, 10 May 1880: Durham (1 seat)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Farrer Herschell Unopposed
Liberal hold
General election 1880: Durham (2 seats)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Charles Thompson 1,237 35.9 +1.0
Liberal Farrer Herschell 1,152 33.4 +0.2
Conservative John Lloyd Wharton 1,058 30.7 −1.2
Majority 94 2.7 +1.4
Turnout 2,295 (est) 97.6 (est) +12.7
Registered electors 2,352
Liberal hold Swing
Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1870s

[edit]
By-election, 13 Jun 1874: Durham (2 seats)[58][59]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Farrer Herschell 930 27.8 −7.1
Liberal Arthur Monck[n 5] 918 27.5 −5.7
Conservative Francis Duncan 752 22.5 +6.5
Conservative Francis Barrington 742 22.2 +6.2
Majority 166 5.0 +3.7
Turnout 1,671 (est) 81.2 (est) −3.7
Registered electors 2,059
Liberal hold Swing -6.8
Liberal hold Swing -6.0
  • Caused by the 1874 election being declared void on petition.
General election 1874: Durham (2 seats)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Charles Thompson 924 34.9 +1.4
Liberal John Henderson 879 33.2 −2.0
Conservative John Lloyd Wharton 846 31.9 +0.6
Majority 33 1.3 −0.9
Turnout 1,748 (est) 84.9 (est) −2.5
Registered electors 2,059
Liberal hold Swing +0.6
Liberal hold Swing -1.2
By-election, 28 Apr 1871: Durham (1 seat)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Lloyd Wharton 814 51.2 +19.9
Liberal Thomas Charles Thompson 776 48.8 −19.9
Majority 38 2.4 N/A
Turnout 1,590 81.7 −5.7
Registered electors 1,946
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +19.9
  • Caused by Davison's death.
By-election, 14 Jan 1871: Durham (1 seat)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Robert Davison Unopposed
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1860s

[edit]
General election 1868: Durham (2 seats)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Henderson 823 35.2
Liberal John Robert Davison 784 33.5
Conservative John Lloyd Wharton 732 31.3
Turnout 1,536 (est) 87.4 (est)
Majority 89 3.9
Liberal hold Swing
Majority 52 2.2
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing
By-election, 11 July 1866: Durham (1 seat)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1865: Durham (2 seats)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Henderson Unopposed
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Registered electors 1,056
Liberal hold
Conservative hold
By-election, 9 February 1864: Durham (1 seat)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Henderson Unopposed
Liberal hold
  • Caused by Atherton's death.
By-election, 8 July 1861: Durham (1 seat)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Atherton Unopposed
Liberal hold
By-election, 9 January 1860: Durham (1 seat)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Atherton Unopposed
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1850s

[edit]
General election 1859: Durham (2 seats)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Atherton Unopposed
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Registered electors 1,147
Liberal hold
Conservative hold
By-election, 17 March 1858: Durham (1 seat)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1857: Durham (2 seats)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical William Atherton Unopposed
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Registered electors 1,184
Radical hold
Conservative gain from Radical
By-election, 25 June 1853: Durham (1 seat)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Mowbray 529 54.4 +22.5
Whig Charles Eurwicke Douglas[60][61] 444 45.6 −22.6
Majority 85 8.8 N/A
Turnout 973 88.9 −1.5
Registered electors 1,094
Void election result Swing +22.6
  • Caused by the earlier by-election being declared void on petition due to bribery.[62]
By-election, 3 December 1852: Durham (1 seat)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Adolphus Vane-Tempest 545 52.4 +20.5
Whig Henry Fenwick[63][64][65] 496 47.6 −20.6
Majority 49 4.8 N/A
Turnout 1,041 95.2 +4.8
Registered electors 1,094
Conservative gain from Radical Swing +20.6
  • Caused by Granger's death.
General election 1852: Durham (2 seats)[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical Thomas Colpitts Granger 571 36.0 −2.0
Radical William Atherton 510 32.2 −1.0
Conservative Adolphus Vane-Tempest 506 31.9 +3.1
Majority 4 0.3 −4.5
Turnout 1,047 (est) 90.4 (est) +3.7
Registered electors 1,157
Radical hold Swing −1.8
Radical gain from Whig Swing −1.3

Elections in the 1840s

[edit]
General election 1847: Durham (2 seats)[58]
Party Candidate Votes %
Radical Thomas Colpitts Granger 595 38.0
Whig Henry John Spearman 519 33.2
Conservative David Edward Wood[66] 450 28.8
Turnout 1,007 (est) 86.7 (est)
Majority 76 4.8
Radical hold
Majority 69 4.4
Whig gain from Conservative
By-election, 26 July 1843: Durham[58][16][67]
Party Candidate Votes %
Radical John Bright 488 54.3
Conservative Thomas Purvis 410 45.7
Majority 78 8.6
Turnout 898 81.2
Radical gain from Conservative
  • Caused by the by-election being declared void on petition due to bribery by Hill-Trevor's agents.[68]
By-election, 5 April 1843: Durham[58][16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Arthur Hill-Trevor 507 55.6
Radical John Bright 405 44.4
Majority 102 11.2
Turnout 912 82.5
Conservative hold
General election 1841: Durham (2 seats)[58][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert FitzRoy Unopposed
Radical Thomas Colpitts Granger Unopposed
Registered electors 1,022
Conservative hold
Radical gain from Conservative

Elections in the 1830s

[edit]
General election 1837: Durham (2 seats)[58][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Arthur Hill-Trevor 465 38.5 +0.8
Whig William Charles Harland 373 30.9 −3.6
Radical Thomas Colpitts Granger 371 30.7 +2.8
Turnout 857 90.3 −2.6
Registered electors 949
Majority 92 7.6 +4.4
Conservative hold Swing +2.2
Majority 2 0.2 −6.4
Whig hold Swing −2.2
General election 1835: Durham (2 seats)[58][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Arthur Hill-Trevor 473 37.7 +6.5
Whig William Charles Harland 433 34.5 −34.3
Radical Thomas Colpitts Granger 350 27.9 N/A
Turnout 829 92.9 −2.4
Registered electors 892
Majority 40 3.2 N/A
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +20.4
Majority 83 6.6 +4.9
Whig hold Swing −20.4
General election 1832: Durham (2 seats)[58][16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig William Charles Harland 440 35.9
Whig William Chaytor 404 32.9
Tory Arthur Hill-Trevor 383 31.2
Majority 21 1.7
Turnout 768 95.3
Registered electors 806
Whig win (new boundaries)
Whig win (new boundaries)
General election 1831: Durham (2 seats)[16][69]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig William Chaytor Unopposed
Tory Arthur Hill-Trevor Unopposed
Registered electors c. 1,200
Whig hold
Tory hold
By-election, 23 March 1831: Durham[16][69]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Chaytor 495 51.1 +13.9
Tory Arthur Hill-Trevor 470 48.6 +15.5
Whig John Clervaux Chaytor 3 0.3 −29.4
Majority 25 2.5 −1.6
Turnout 968 c. 80.7
Registered electors c. 1,200
Whig gain from Tory Swing −0.8
  • Caused by Gresley being unseated on petition.
General election 1830: Durham (2 seats)[16][69]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Michael Angelo Taylor 546 37.2
Tory Roger Gresley 486 33.1
Whig William Chaytor, Senior 436 29.7
Turnout 988
Registered electors
Majority 60 4.1
Whig hold
Majority 50 3.4
Tory hold

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ A county 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.
  3. ^ In the 2001 Census 14.5% of those aged 16–74 were further education students and 2.4% were students aged 16 or 17 such as at a sixth form or college.
  4. ^ Supported by the local Liberal association
  5. ^ Monck changed his surname to Middleton in 1876

References

[edit]
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  2. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – North East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Durham City | History of Parliament Online". www.histparl.ac.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
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  5. ^ "Boundary Act 1868". 1807. p. 131.
  6. ^ "Redistribution of Seats Act 1885". Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports. p. 126.
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  8. ^ "Representation of the People Act 1948" (PDF). p. 93.
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  10. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983" (PDF). p. 22.
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  12. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". In Durham and Darlington.
  13. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 4 North East region.
  14. ^ a b c d Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "D" (part 4)
  15. ^ On petition, Gowland's election was declared void and his opponent, Lambton, was seated in his place
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844–1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 99–102. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
  17. ^ Wharton was unseated on petition for illegal practices during the election
  18. ^ On petition, Gresley's election was declared void and a by-election was held
  19. ^ Mosse, Richard Bartholomew (1837). The Parliamentary Guide: A Concise Biography of the Members of Both House of Parliament, Their Connexions, Etc. London: A. H. Baily & Co. p. 173. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
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  25. ^ Dungannon's election at the by-election of April 1843 was declared void on petition and a new election held
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Sources

[edit]
  • F W S Craig, "British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885" (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
  • J Holladay Philbin, "Parliamentary Representation 1832 – England and Wales" (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1965)
  • Michael Kinnear, "The British Voter" (London: Batsford, 1968)
  • E Porritt and AG Porritt, "The Unreformed House of Commons, Vol I: England and Wales" (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1903)
  • Henry Stooks Smith, The Parliaments of England from 1715 to 1847 (2nd edition, edited by FWS Craig – Chichester: Parliamentary Reference Publications, 1973)
  • Robert Waller, "The Almanac of British Politics" (3rd edition, London: Croom Helm, 1987)
  • Frederic A Youngs, jr, "Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Vol II" (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991)
  • The Constitutional Yearbook, 1913" (London: National Unionist Association, 1913)
  • Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "D" (part 4)
[edit]

54°46′N 1°37′W / 54.77°N 1.61°W / 54.77; -1.61