Wikipedia

Littleborough and Saddleworth (UK Parliament constituency)

Littleborough and Saddleworth was a parliamentary constituency in Greater Manchester, England. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Littleborough and Saddleworth
Former borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Littleborough and Saddleworth in Greater Manchester, showing boundaries used from 1983-1997
CountyGreater Manchester
Major settlementsLittleborough, Saddleworth and Milnrow
1983–1997
SeatsOne
Created fromOldham East, Rochdale and Colne Valley
Replaced byOldham East and Saddleworth and Rochdale

The constituency was created for the 1983 general election, and abolished for the 1997 general election.

History

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This Conservative-Liberal Democrat marginal was held by the Conservative Party at the three general elections of its existence. The victorious MP on each of these occasions was Geoffrey Dickens, who was elected in 1979 for Huddersfield West (which was a predecessor seat to this constituency, however no part of it was added to this seat when it was created in 1983). However, at a by-election called after Dickens' death in 1995, it was won by Chris Davies of the Liberal Democrats.

Boundaries

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1983–1997: The Metropolitan Borough of Oldham wards of Crompton, Lees, Saddleworth East, Saddleworth West, and Shaw, and the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale wards of Littleborough, Milnrow, and Wardle.[1]

The constituency was centred on the towns of Littleborough, Milnrow and Saddleworth. In 1997, three quarters of the seat became part of the new Oldham East and Saddleworth constituency, with Littleborough and surrounding areas joining the redrawn Rochdale constituency.

Members of Parliament

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Election Member[2] Party Notes
1983 Geoffrey Dickens Conservative Died in office May 1995
1995 by-election Chris Davies Liberal Democrat
1997 constituency abolished: see Oldham East and Saddleworth & Rochdale

Elections

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Elections in the 1990s

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By-election 1995: Littleborough and Saddleworth
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Chris Davies 16,231 38.5 2.7
Labour Phil Woolas 14,238 33.8 14.9
Conservative John Hudson 9,934 23.6 −20.6
Monster Raving Loony Screaming Lord Sutch 782 1.9 New
UKIP John Whittaker 549 1.3 New
Independent Peter Douglas 193 0.5 New
Independent Mr Blobby 105 0.2 New
Socialist (GB) Andrew Pitts 46 0.1 New
Independent Lawson McLaren 33 0.1 New
Independent Colin Palmer 25 0.1 New
Majority 1,993 4.7 N/A
Turnout 42,136 64.5 −17.1
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing -6.0
General election 1992: Littleborough and Saddleworth[3][4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Geoffrey Dickens 23,682 44.2 1.1
Liberal Democrats Chris Davies 19,188 35.9 5.0
Labour Allen J. Brett 10,649 19.9 −6.1
Majority 4,494 8.3 −3.8
Turnout 53,519 81.6 4.2
Conservative hold Swing −1.9

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Littleborough and Saddleworth[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Geoffrey Dickens 22,027 43.1 0.3
Liberal Chris Davies 15,825 30.9 −0.1
Labour Paul Stonier 13,299 26.0 0.7
Majority 6,202 12.1 0.3
Turnout 51,151 77.4 2.6
Conservative hold Swing 0.2
General election 1983: Littleborough and Saddleworth[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Geoffrey Dickens 20,510 42.8
Liberal Richard Knowles 14,860 31.0
Labour Stephen Moore 12,106 25.3
Restoration of Capital and Corporal Punishment R Barry 398 0.8
Majority 5,650 11.8
Turnout 47,874 74.8
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

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Notes and references

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  1. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  2. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "L" (part 3)
  3. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  5. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.

53°38′N 2°06′W / 53.64°N 2.10°W / 53.64; -2.10

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