West Bromwich (UK Parliament constituency)
West Bromwich | |
---|---|
Former Borough constituency for the House of Commons | |
1885–February 1974 | |
Seats | One |
Created from | Wednesbury |
Replaced by | West Bromwich East, West Bromwich West |
2024–present | |
Created from | West Bromwich East, West Bromwich West |
West Bromwich was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 until 1974. It centred on West Bromwich, in the West Midlands. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post voting system.
Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat will be re-established for the next general election.[1]
History[edit]
The constituency was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 for the 1885 general election. It was abolished for the February 1974 general election, when it was divided into West Bromwich East and West Bromwich West. Most of the original West Bromwich constituency formed the new West Bromwich East constituency, while the new West Bromwich West constituency consisted largely of Tipton and Wednesbury - both of which had been added to an expanded West Bromwich borough in 1966. In 1974, just after the February general election, the borough of West Bromwich ceased to exist when it merged with the short-lived County Borough of Warley (which was centred on Oldbury, Smethwick and Rowley Regis) to form Sandwell.
Boundaries[edit]
1885–1918: The municipal borough of West Bromwich.[2]
1918-1950: The County Borough of West Bromwich.[3]
Proposed[edit]
The re-established constituency will be composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
- The Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell wards of: Charlemont with Grove Vale; Great Barr with Yew Tree; Greets Green and Lyng; Newton; Oldbury; Rowley; Tividale; West Bromwich Central.[4]
It will comprise the majority of the (to be abolished) West Bromwich East seat, together with the Oldbury and Tividale wards from West Bromwich West and the Rowley ward from Halesowen and Rowley Regis (both also to be abolished).[5]
Members of Parliament[edit]
Election | Member | Party | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1885 | John Horton Blades | Liberal | ||
1886 | Sir Ernest Spencer | Conservative | ||
1906 | Alfred Hazel | Liberal | ||
Jan 1910 | William Legge | Conservative | ||
1918 | Frederick Roberts | Labour | ||
1931 | Alexander Ramsay | Conservative | ||
1935 | Frederick Roberts | Labour | Resigned 1941 | |
1941 by-election | John Dugdale | Labour | Died March 1963 | |
1963 by-election | Maurice Foley | Labour | Resigned 1973 | |
1973 by-election | Betty Boothroyd | Labour | Subsequently, MP for West Bromwich West; later Speaker of the House of Commons | |
Feb 1974 | constituency abolished: see West Bromwich East and West Bromwich West |
Elections[edit]
Elections in the 1880s[edit]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | John Horton Blades | 3,988 | 55.7 | ||
Conservative | Ernest Spencer | 3,171 | 44.3 | ||
Majority | 817 | 11.4 | |||
Turnout | 7,159 | 81.8 | |||
Registered electors | 8,749 | ||||
Liberal win (new seat) |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Ernest Spencer | 3,660 | 54.2 | +9.9 | |
Liberal | Thomas James Moore[7] | 3,091 | 45.8 | −9.9 | |
Majority | 569 | 8.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 6,751 | 77.2 | −4.6 | ||
Registered electors | 8,749 | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +9.9 |
Elections in the 1890s[edit]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Ernest Spencer | 4,474 | 56.6 | +2.4 | |
Liberal | Thomas Lee Roberts[8] | 3,429 | 43.4 | −2.4 | |
Majority | 1,045 | 13.2 | +4.8 | ||
Turnout | 7,903 | 86.1 | +8.9 | ||
Registered electors | 9,174 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | +2.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Ernest Spencer | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Elections in the 1900s[edit]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Ernest Spencer | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Alfred Hazel | 5,475 | 56.2 | New | |
Conservative | William Legge | 4,259 | 43.8 | N/A | |
Majority | 1,216 | 12.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 9,734 | 90.8 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 10,726 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A |
Elections in the 1910s[edit]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | William Legge | 5,672 | 53.5 | +9.7 | |
Liberal | Alfred Hazel | 4,937 | 46.5 | −9.7 | |
Majority | 735 | 7.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 10,609 | 93.9 | +3.1 | ||
Registered electors | 11,299 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | +9.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | William Legge | 5,010 | 50.0 | −3.5 | |
Liberal | Alfred Hazel | 5,008 | 50.0 | +3.5 | |
Majority | 2 | 0.0 | −7.0 | ||
Turnout | 10,018 | 88.7 | −5.2 | ||
Registered electors | 11,299 | ||||
Unionist hold | Swing | −3.5 |
A petition was lodged regarding this election but was later dismissed. The first count had Legge on 5,046 votes, while Hazel had 5,041 votes. A recount put Legge on 5,029 votes, while Hazel had 4,987 votes. Further scrutiny led to the above results.
General Election 1914–15:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
- Unionist: William Legge
- Liberal: Alfred Hazel[9]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Frederick Roberts | 11,572 | 54.0 | New | |
C | Unionist | William Legge | 9,863 | 46.0 | −4.0 |
Majority | 1,709 | 8.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 21,435 | 65.4 | −23.3 | ||
Registered electors | 32,777 | ||||
Labour gain from Unionist | Swing | N/A | |||
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. |
Liberal candidate Alfred Hazel withdrew at the last minute
Elections in the 1920s[edit]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Frederick Roberts | 14,210 | 50.6 | −3.4 | |
Unionist | Herbert Edgar Parkes | 11,263 | 40.1 | −4.9 | |
Liberal | Aneurin Edwards | 2,622 | 9.3 | New | |
Majority | 2,947 | 10.5 | +2.5 | ||
Turnout | 28,095 | 85.7 | +20.3 | ||
Registered electors | 32,768 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | +0.8 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Frederick Roberts | 12,910 | 44.8 | −5.8 | |
Unionist | Herbert Edgar Parkes | 11,146 | 38.7 | −1.4 | |
Liberal | Aneurin Edwards | 4,749 | 16.5 | +7.2 | |
Majority | 1,764 | 6.1 | −4.4 | ||
Turnout | 28,805 | 85.0 | −0.7 | ||
Registered electors | 33,898 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | −2.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Frederick Roberts | 15,384 | 51.6 | +6.8 | |
Unionist | Henry Archibald Roger Graham | 14,413 | 48.4 | +9.7 | |
Majority | 971 | 3.2 | −2.9 | ||
Turnout | 29,797 | 86.5 | +1.5 | ||
Registered electors | 34,503 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | −1.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Frederick Roberts | 19,621 | 52.1 | +0.5 | |
Unionist | J I Chesshire | 10,943 | 29.0 | −19.4 | |
Liberal | William Ramage | 7,119 | 18.9 | New | |
Majority | 8,678 | 23.1 | +19.9 | ||
Turnout | 37,683 | 83.1 | −3.4 | ||
Registered electors | 45,371 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | +10.0 |
Elections in the 1930s[edit]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Alexander Ramsay | 17,729 | 45.71 | ||
Labour | Frederick Roberts | 17,204 | 44.36 | ||
Liberal | William Ramage | 3,851 | 9.93 | ||
Majority | 525 | 1.35 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 38,784 | 81.66 | |||
Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Frederick Roberts | 19,113 | 51.26 | ||
Conservative | Robert Ashton | 18,175 | 48.74 | ||
Majority | 938 | 2.52 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 37,288 | 74.80 | |||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
Elections in the 1940s[edit]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Dugdale | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Labour hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Dugdale | 27,979 | 69.9 | +18.6 | |
Conservative | Gerald Nabarro | 12,028 | 30.1 | −18.6 | |
Majority | 15,951 | 39.8 | +37.3 | ||
Turnout | 40,007 | 72.5 | −2.3 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | +18.6 |
- Changes are calculated against the results of the 1935 general election, rather than the uncontested 1941 by-election
Elections in the 1950s[edit]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Dugdale | 31,564 | 65.40 | ||
Conservative | William Ward | 16,697 | 34.60 | ||
Majority | 14,867 | 30.80 | |||
Turnout | 48,261 | 82.84 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Dugdale | 30,845 | 64.22 | ||
Conservative | Gordon D Johnstone | 17,186 | 35.78 | ||
Majority | 13,659 | 28.44 | |||
Turnout | 48,031 | 80.51 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Dugdale | 26,242 | 61.80 | ||
Conservative | Francis John Vernon Hereward Dashwood, 11th Baronet | 16,222 | 38.20 | ||
Majority | 10,020 | 23.60 | |||
Turnout | 42,464 | 70.21 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Dugdale | 26,702 | 57.4 | −4.4 | |
Conservative | Anthony Hubert Windrum | 19,809 | 42.6 | +4.4 | |
Majority | 6,893 | 14.8 | −8.8 | ||
Turnout | 46,511 | 72.6 | +2.4 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | −4.2 |
Elections in the 1960s[edit]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Maurice Foley | 20,510 | 58.7 | +1.3 | |
Conservative | George Hawkins | 8,246 | 26.5 | −16.1 | |
Liberal | N. R. W. Mawle | 6,161 | 17.6 | New | |
Majority | 12,264 | 35.2 | +20.4 | ||
Turnout | 34,917 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Maurice Foley | 22,942 | 55.1 | -2.3 | |
Conservative | George Hawkins | 18,664 | 44.9 | +2.3 | |
Majority | 4,278 | 10.2 | -4.6 | ||
Turnout | 41,606 | 64.7 | -7.9 | ||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Maurice Foley | 25,287 | 57.9 | +2.8 | |
Conservative | George Hawkins | 18,413 | 42.1 | −2.8 | |
Majority | 6,874 | 15.8 | +5.6 | ||
Turnout | 43,700 | 68.8 | +4.1 | ||
Labour hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1970s[edit]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Maurice Foley | 23,412 | 55.2 | −2.7 | |
Conservative | George Hawkins | 18,976 | 44.8 | +2.7 | |
Majority | 4,436 | 10.4 | -5.4 | ||
Turnout | 42,388 | 62.07 | -6.7 | ||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Betty Boothroyd | 15,907 | 53.21 | −2.0 | |
Conservative | David Bell | 7,582 | 25.36 | −19.4 | |
National Front | Martin Webster | 4,789 | 16.02 | New | |
Independent | Joshua Churchman | 1,616 | 5.41 | New | |
Majority | 8,325 | 27.85 | |||
Turnout | 29,894 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Elections in the 2020s[edit]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Sarah Coombes[11] | ||||
Conservative | Will Goodhand[12] | ||||
Reform UK | Ray Nock[13] | ||||
Majority | |||||
Turnout |
References[edit]
- ^ "West Midlands | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ "Chap. 23. Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885". The Public General Acts of the United Kingdom passed in the forty-eighth and forty-ninth years of the reign of Queen Victoria. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode. 1885. pp. 111–198.
- ^ Fraser, Hugh (1918). The Representation of the People Act, 1918: with explanatory notes. London: Sweet and Maxwell.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 8 West Midlands region.
- ^ "New Seat Details - West Bromwich". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. p. 205. ISBN 9781349022984.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Election". Birmingham Daily Post. 2 July 1886. p. 7. Retrieved 14 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Mr T. Lee Roberts". Greenock Telegraph and Clyde Shipping Gazette. 26 December 1891. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
- ^ Evening Despatch 16 Feb 1914
- ^ a b c d British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
- ^ "Sarah Coombes selected as Labour candidate in key West Bromwich seat". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- ^ Will Goodhand [@WillGoodhand4MP] (9 April 2024). "Thrilled to be selected as Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for West Bromwich" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "West Bromwich". Reform UK. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- Politics of Sandwell
- Parliamentary constituencies in the West Midlands (county) (historic)
- Parliamentary constituencies in Staffordshire (historic)
- Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1885
- Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1974
- West Bromwich
- Proposed constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom