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St Austell and Newquay (UK Parliament constituency)

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St Austell and Newquay is a constituency[n 1] in Cornwall represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Noah Law, a Labour MP.[n 2] It is on the South West Peninsula of England, bordered by both the Celtic Sea to the northwest and English Channel to the southeast.

St Austell and Newquay
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map of constituency
Boundary of St Austell and Newquay in Cornwall
Outline map
Location of Cornwall within England
CountyCornwall
Electorate76,076 (2024)[1]
Major settlementsSt Austell, Newquay
Current constituency
Created2010
Member of ParliamentNoah Law (Labour Party)
SeatsOne
Created fromNorth Cornwall
South East Cornwall
Truro & St Austell

History

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2010 election

On its creation in 2010, the constituency had, based on complex forecasts involving its three constitutive seats, which factored in to different degrees the recent local election results, a widely varying notional Liberal Democrat majority (see results below). In analysis, one forecast suggested that St Austell and Newquay would prove to be a safe seat, whereas another suggested an extremely marginal seat. The majority achieved was lower than an average of the two forecasts, but by no means the most slender of majorities achieved in that election.

In 2010, the Labour Party candidate polled in line with results of the recent decades in the forerunner seats, with 7.2% of the vote. Mebyon Kernow, the Cornish devolutionist party, achieved its highest share of the vote in any constituency, but narrowly lost its deposit by not reaching the 5% threshold.

2015 election

The seat was won by a Conservative on a majority of more than 15% which would rarely be termed marginal; however, approximately half the electorate of the seat fell within areas represented by a Liberal or Liberal Democrat MP between October 1974 and 2015 - Truro (later adopting a suffix- and St Austell). In terms of the important consideration of length of tenure the seat fails to be describable as in any analysis "safe".

2017 election

Theresa May announced a snap election would take place on 8 June 2017. In this constituency, Conservative incumbent Steve Double won with an increased majority of 11,142. The constituency also saw a gigantic 18.8% increase in the Labour vote, in common with many south-west seats, pushing the Liberal Democrats into third place.

2019 election

The Liberal Democrats further faded into a more distant third place, with their policy of cancelling Brexit failing to attract voters, in a constituency which voted 64% to Leave the European Union. Unlike many seats across the UK, the Labour vote held up pretty well, with only a 2.6% drop in their vote share.

2024 election

The seat was won by Labour MP Noah Law at the general election on 4 July 2024. Noah defeated incumbent Tory representative Steve Double with a majority of 2,470. Mr Double blamed the loss on a large Reform UK vote (Reform UK took 9,212 votes, and came third.)

Boundaries

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Map of 2010-2024 boundaries

2010–2024

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The Borough of Restormel wards of Bethel, Crinnis, Edgcumbe North, Edgcumbe South, Fowey and Tywardreath, Gannel, Gover, Mevagissey, Mount Charles, Poltair, Rialton, Rock, St Blazey, St Columb, St Enoder, St Ewe, St Stephen, and Treverbyn.

The constituency was created for the 2010 general election, following a review of parliamentary representation by the Boundary Commission, which increased the number of seats in the county from five to six.[2] It has the same boundaries as the former Borough of Restormel, with the exception of the ward of Lostwithiel, which remains in the South East Cornwall constituency. Previously, the historic area was divided between the North Cornwall, South East Cornwall and Truro and St Austell seats.[3]

2024–present

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Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which became effective for the 2024 general election, the constituency is composed of the following electoral divisions of Cornwall (as they existed on 4 May 2021):

  • Fowey, Tywardreath & Par; Mevagissey & St Austell Bay; Newquay Central & Pentire; Newquay Porth & Tretherras; Newquay Trenance; Penwithick & Boscoppa; Roche & Bugle; St Austell Bethel & Holmbush; St Austell Central & Gover; St Austell Poltair & Mount Charles; St Blazey; St Columb Minor & Colan; St Dennis & St Enoder; St Mewan & Grampound; St Stephen-in-Brannel.[4]

Minor changes to align with revised electoral division boundaries and bring the electorate within the permitted range.

Constituency profile

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Workless claimants (registered jobseekers) were in November 2012 higher than the national average of 3.8%, at 4.2% of the population, based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[5]

Members of Parliament

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Election Member[6] Party
2010 Steve Gilbert Liberal Democrats
2015 Steve Double Conservative
2024 Noah Law Labour

Elections

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Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: St Austell and Newquay[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Noah Law 15,958 34.1 7.5
Conservative Steve Double 13,488 28.9 –26.7
Reform UK Stephen Beal 9,212 19.7 N/A
Liberal Democrats Joanna Kenny 4,805 10.3 –0.5
Green Amanda Pennington 2,337 5.0 1.9
Liberal Jay Latham 490 1.0 –0.1
Independent Angie Rayner 442 0.9 N/A
Majority 2,470 5.2 N/A
Turnout 46,732 61.4 −12.5
Registered electors 76,140
Labour gain from Conservative Swing  17.1

Elections in the 2010s

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2019 notional result[8]
Party Vote %
Conservative 30,620 55.6
Labour 14,678 26.6
Liberal Democrats 5,964 10.8
Others 2,146 3.9
Green 1,690 3.1
Turnout 55,098 73.9
Electorate 74,585
General election 2019: St Austell and Newquay[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Steve Double 31,273 56.1 6.6
Labour Felicity Owen 14,747 26.4 –2.6
Liberal Democrats Tim Styles 5,861 10.5 –11.0
Mebyon Kernow Dick Cole 1,660 3.0 N/A
Green Collin Harker 1,609 2.9 N/A
Liberal Richard Byrne 626 1.1 N/A
Majority 16,526 29.6 9.1
Turnout 55,776 69.8 0.8
Conservative hold Swing 4.5
General election 2017: St Austell and Newquay
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Steve Double 26,856 49.5 9.3
Labour Kevin Neil 15,714 29.0 18.8
Liberal Democrats Steve Gilbert 11,642 21.5 –2.5
Majority 11,142 20.5 4.3
Turnout 56,212 69.0 3.3
Conservative hold Swing –4.7
General election 2015: St Austell and Newquay[10][11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Steve Double 20,250 40.2 0.2
Liberal Democrats Steve Gilbert 12,077 24.0 –18.7
UKIP David Mathews 8,503 16.9 13.2
Labour Deborah Hopkins 5,150 10.2 3.0
Green Steve Slade 2,318 4.6 N/A
Mebyon Kernow Dick Cole 2,063 4.1 –0.1
Majority 8,173 16.2 N/A
Turnout 50,361 65.7 3.8
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing 9.5
See also: Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15 § St Austell and Newquay
General election 2010: St Austell and Newquay[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Steve Gilbert 20,189 42.7 –4.5
Conservative Caroline Righton 18,877 40.0 5.1
Labour Lee Jameson 3,386 7.2 –6.6
Mebyon Kernow Dick Cole 2,007 4.2 N/A
UKIP Clive Medway 1,757 3.7 –0.4
BNP James Fitton 1,022 2.2 N/A
Majority 1,312 2.7
Turnout 47,238 61.9
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

See also

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Notes

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  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.

References

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  1. ^ "Result for St Ives constituency - 4 July 2024 - Cornwall Council". www.cornwall.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Final recommendations for Parliamentary constituencies in the county of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly". Boundary Commission for England. 9 January 2005. Archived from the original on 2 November 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  3. ^ Fifth periodical report - Volume 4 Mapping for the Non-Metropolitan Counties and the Unitary Authorities, The Stationery Office, 26 February 2007, ISBN 978-0-10-170322-2
  4. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 7 South West region.
  5. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  6. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 1)
  7. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED, NOTICE OF POLL AND SITUATION OF POLLING STATIONS - St Austell and Newquay" (PDF). Cornwall Council. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF).
  10. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  11. ^ "St Austell & Newquay Parliamentary constituency". Election 2015. BBC News. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  12. ^ "UK Polling Report".
  13. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  14. ^ "2010 Election". BBC News. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
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50°22′30″N 4°55′34″W / 50.375°N 4.926°W / 50.375; -4.926

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