Runcorn (UK Parliament constituency)

Runcorn was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Runcorn in Cheshire. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.

Runcorn
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Runcorn in Cheshire, boundaries 1974-83
CountyCheshire
1950–1983
Created fromBucklow, Eddisbury, Knutsford and Northwich
Replaced byWarrington South, Halton, Eddisbury and Tatton[1]

History

Runcorn was created for the 1950 general election from parts of several constituencies.

It was abolished following the reorganisation of local authorities in 1974 by the Third Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies for the 1983 general election, when it was divided primarily between the re-established constituency of Eddisbury and the new constituencies of Halton and Warrington South.

Boundaries

For its entire existence the constituency consisted of the Urban Districts of Runcorn and Lymm, and the Rural District of Runcorn.[2]

The Urban District of Runcorn was transferred from Northwich and Lymm was previously part of the abolished constituency of Bucklow. The Rural District of Runcorn (including Frodsham, Helsby, Grappenhall and Stockton Heath) was previously split between Knutsford, Northwich and the abolished Eddisbury constituency.

From local government boundary changes on 1 April 1974 until the constituency was abolished at the next parliamentary boundary review which came into effect for the 1983 general election, the constituency comprised parts of the expanded Borough of Warrington and the newly formed Borough of Halton, and the District of Vale Royal, but its boundaries were unchanged.

On abolition, the western half of Runcorn was included in the new constituency of Halton along with the town of Widnes (on the northern side of the River Mersey). The eastern half of the town forms part of the Weaver Vale constituency, along with Northwich, Frodsham, Helsby and surrounding areas.

Members of Parliament
ElectionMemberParty
1950 Dennis VosperConservative
1964 Mark CarlisleConservative
1983 constituency abolished: see Halton & Warrington South

Elections

Elections in the 1950s
General election 1950:Runcorn [3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dennis Vosper 22,145 54.04
Labour L H Wharrad 14,063 34.32
Liberal Harold Griffiths 4,768 11.64
Majority 8,082 19.72
Turnout 40,976
Conservative win (new seat)
General election 1951: Runcorn [4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dennis Vosper 24,821 62.36 +8.32
Labour John Hindle 14,980 37.64 +3.32
Majority 9,841 24.72 +5.00
Turnout 39,801
Conservative hold Swing +2.5
General election 1955: Runcorn [5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dennis Vosper 24,682 64.05 +1.69
Labour David Barker 13,852 35.95 -1.69
Majority 10,830 28.10 +3.38
Turnout 38,534
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1959: Runcorn [6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dennis Vosper 26,615 65.79 +1.74
Labour Joel Barnett 13,837 34.21 -1.74
Majority 12,778 31.58 +3.48
Turnout 40,452
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s
General election 1964: Runcorn [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Carlisle 21,586 49.00 -16.79
Labour Paul Lyall Jackson 14,127 32.07 -2.14
Liberal Robert Walter Jordan 8,343 18.94 New
Majority 7,459 16.93 -14.65
Turnout 44,056
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1966: Runcorn [8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Carlisle 21,472 48.40 -0.60
Labour Michael J E Taylor 16,290 36.72 +4.65
Liberal Terence Anthony Maher 6,606 14.89 -4.05
Majority 5,182 11.68 -5.25
Turnout 44,368
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s
General election 1970: Runcorn [9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Carlisle 25,272 53.52 +5.12
Labour Michael J E Taylor 16,204 34.32 -2.40
Liberal Christopher K Sumner 5,741 12.16 -2.73
Majority 9,068 19.20 +7.44
Turnout 47,217
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Runcorn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Carlisle 26,374 45.87 -7.65
Labour Michael John Ellerington Taylor 19,106 33.23 -1.09
Liberal Peter Michael Brenton 12,020 20.90 +8.74
Majority 7,268 12.64 -6.56
Turnout 57,500
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Runcorn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Carlisle 25,047 46.15 +0.28
Labour Anthony John Eccles 19,579 36.07 +2.84
Liberal David Saunders 9,188 16.93 -3.97
Independent Noel Dobson 464 0.85 New
Majority 5,468 10.08 -2.56
Turnout 54,278 77.62
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1979: Runcorn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Carlisle 32,907 51.48 +5.33
Labour George Joseph Maudsley 22,226 34.77 -1.30
Liberal Richard Charles Kemp 8,783 13.74 -3.19
Majority 10,681 16.71 +6.64
Turnout 63,916 77.83
Conservative hold Swing

See also

References
  1. "'Runcorn', Feb 1974 - May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  2. Craig, Fred W. S. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4. OCLC 539011.
  3. British parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
  4. British parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
  5. British parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
  6. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1973
  7. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1973
  8. British parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
  9. British parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
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