Manchester Central
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Manchester Central in Greater Manchester
Outline map
Location of Greater Manchester within England
CountyGreater Manchester
Electorate89,519 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsArdwick, Ancoats, Deansgate, Manchester City Centre, Openshaw, Moston
Current constituency
Created1974 (1974)
Member of ParliamentLucy Powell (Labour Co-operative)
Created fromManchester Exchange and Manchester Cheetham

Manchester Central is a parliamentary constituency[n 1] in Greater Manchester created in 1974 represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2012 by Lucy Powell of the Labour Party and Co-operative Party.[n 2]

Constituency profile

The seat covers the city centre and all its major attractions and both of Manchester's large universities, and fringe areas such as Hulme and Ancoats which have undergone extensive regeneration since the 1990s, an example of which is the New Islington development. Flats in the city centre can sell for several million pounds while there are more deprived areas to the east, including Moston, Beswick and Ardwick. There is a high proportion of graduates and students in the city centre, and the constituency as a whole has the highest proportion of Chinese people in the country.[2] Moss Side is home to a large Afro-Caribbean population.

This constituency has always (since its 1974 creation) been a safe Labour seat. The current MP Lucy Powell won the seat in a by-election in November 2012 on a turnout of just 18%, the lowest since the Second World War.[3] Twelve candidates stood, considerably more than the six who stood in the 1979 by-election.

History

Creation

The main forerunner to the seat was Manchester Cheetham, entirely taken into this area; three of five wards of former seat Manchester Exchange completed the first set of boundaries of the seat. The seat (including predecessor seats) has been held by the Labour Party since 1935.

Political history

Labour candidates have won Manchester Central by a decidedly non-marginal majority since its 1974 creation.[4] The current MP Lucy Powell won the seat at a by-election in November 2012 on a turnout of 18%; the lowest since the Second World War.[3]

Results of other parties

The 2015 general election saw greater-than-national-average swing of +3.4% (by a swing of +6.2%) to the Green Party candidate, achieving third place. Followed next by UKIP in 2015 by number of votes cast (prior to the UK EU membership referendum 2016, votes cast for the Liberal Democrats — who for two periods had been the runner-up party in Manchester Central — for the first time placed its candidate in fifth place. The Conservative Party returned to second place in 2015 through candidate Xingang Wang (achieving 13.5% of the vote); its second place of 1979 was through its best polling to date of 22.1% of the vote. The maximal second place to date was 2010, through Liberal Democrat candidate, Marc Ramsbottom, taking 26.6% of the vote.

Turnout

Turnout has changed from a national low within the 2010 general election (of 46.7%) to 55.1% of electors. The greatest turnout was in 1987, with 63.9%.

Boundaries

Map
Map of present boundaries
Manchester Central in Lancashire, boundaries used 1974-83

1974–1983: The County Borough of Manchester wards of Beswick, Cheetham, Collegiate Church, Harpurhey, and Miles Platting.[5]

1983–1997: The City of Manchester wards of Ardwick, Beswick and Clayton, Bradford, Central, Cheetham, Hulme, and Newton Heath.

1997–2010: As above, less Cheetham, plus Moss Side, and Whalley Range.

2010–: The City of Manchester wards of Ancoats & Clayton, Ardwick, Bradford, City Centre, Hulme, Miles Platting & Newton Heath, Moss Side, and Moston using the 2004-2018 boundaries.

In 2018 the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) implemented changes to Manchester's electoral wards.[6] For the purposes of parliamentary elections the 2004-2018 ward boundaries are used.

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the next general election, due by January 2025, the constituency will be composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

The constituency will undergo major changes, losing about half its electorate, mainly to the re-established constituency of Manchester Rusholme, including the districts of Ardwick, Hulme and Moss Side. Moston will be transferred to Blackley and Broughton (to be renamed Blackley and Middleton South) in exchange for Cheetham, and the two Failsworth wards will be transferred from Ashton-under-Lyne.

Members of Parliament

Election Member[8] Party Notes
Feb 1974 Harold Lever Labour MP for Manchester Exchange from 1945 and for Manchester Cheetham from 1950. Resigned July 1979 on being raised to the peerage
1979 by-election Bob Litherland Labour
1997 Tony Lloyd Labour MP for Stretford from 1983. Resigned October 2012 to run for Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner. MP for Rochdale from 2017 to 2024
2012 by-election Lucy Powell Labour Co-op

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Next general election: Manchester Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Chris Northwood[9]
SDP Sebastian Moore[10]

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Manchester Central[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Lucy Powell 36,823 70.4 ―7.0
Conservative Shaden Jaradat 7,734 14.8 +0.6
Liberal Democrats John Bridges 3,420 6.5 +3.1
Brexit Party Sarah Chadwick 2,335 4.5 New
Green Melanie Horrocks 1,870 3.6 +1.9
Socialist Equality Dennis Leech 107 0.2 New
Majority 29,089 55.6 ―7.6
Turnout 52,289 56.9 +1.8
Labour Co-op hold Swing ―3.8
General election 2017: Manchester Central[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Lucy Powell 38,490 77.4 +16.1
Conservative Xingang Wang 7,045 14.2 +0.7
Liberal Democrats John Bridges 1,678 3.4 ―0.7
UKIP Kalvin Chapman 1,469 3.0 ―8.1
Green Rachael Shah 846 1.7 ―6.8
Pirate Neil Blackburn 192 0.4 ―0.4
Majority 31,445 63.2 +14.4
Turnout 49,720 55.1 +2.4
Labour Co-op hold Swing +7.7
General election 2015: Manchester Central[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Lucy Powell 27,772 61.3 +8.6
Conservative Xingang Wang 6,133 13.5 +1.7
UKIP Myles Power 5,033 11.1 +9.6
Green Kieran Turner-Dave 3,838 8.5 +6.2
Liberal Democrats John Reid 1,867 4.1 ―22.5
Pirate Loz Kaye 346 0.8 New
TUSC Alex Davidson 270 0.6 New
Communist League John Davies 72 0.2 New
Majority 21,639 47.8 +21.7
Turnout 45,331 52.7 +6.0
Labour Co-op hold Swing +3.4
By-election 2012: Manchester Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Lucy Powell 11,507 69.1 +16.4
Liberal Democrats Marc Ramsbottom 1,571 9.4 ―17.2
Conservative Matthew Sephton 754 4.5 ―7.3
UKIP Christopher Cassidy 749 4.5 +3.0
Green Tom Dylan 652 3.9 +1.6
BNP Eddy O'Sullivan 492 3.0 ―1.1
Pirate Loz Kaye 308 1.9 New
TUSC Alex Davidson 220 1.3 New
Respect Catherine Higgins 182 1.1 New
Monster Raving Loony Howling Laud Hope 78 0.5 New
People's Democratic Party Lee Holmes 71 0.4 New
Communist League Peter Clifford 64 0.4 New
Majority 9,936 59.7 +33.6
Turnout 16,648 18.2 -28.5
Labour Co-op hold Swing
General election 2010: Manchester Central[15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tony Lloyd 21,059 52.7 −6.6
Liberal Democrats Marc Ramsbottom 10,620 26.6 +5.6
Conservative Suhail Rahuja 4,704 11.8 +1.3
BNP Tony Trebilcock 1,636 4.1 New
Green Gayle O'Donovan 915 2.3 −1.9
UKIP Nicola Weatherill 607 1.5 +0.6
Socialist Labour Ron Sinclair 153 0.4 −0.2
Independent John Cartwright 120 0.3 New
Workers Revolutionary Jonty Leff 59 0.1 New
Socialist Equality Robert Skelton 54 0.1 New
Majority 10,430 26.1 -12.2
Turnout 39,927 46.7 +4.9
Labour hold Swing −6.1

This was the lowest turnout for any constituency in the whole of the United Kingdom in 2010

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Manchester Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Tony Lloyd 16,993 58.1 −10.6
Liberal Democrats Marc Ramsbottom 7,217 24.7 +9.0
Conservative Tom Jackson 2,504 8.6 −0.4
Green Steven Durrant 1,292 4.4 +0.5
National Front Richard Kemp 421 1.4 New
Independent Progressive Labour Damien O'Connor 382 1.3 New
UKIP John Whittaker 272 0.9 New
Socialist Labour Ronald Sinclair 183 0.6 −1.3
Majority 9,776 33.4 -19.6
Turnout 29,264 42.0 +2.9
Labour hold Swing −9.8
General election 2001: Manchester Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tony Lloyd 17,812 68.7 −2.3
Liberal Democrats Phylip Hobson 4,070 15.7 +3.4
Conservative Aaron Powell 2,328 9.0 −2.8
Green Vanessa Hall 1,018 3.9 New
Socialist Labour Ron Sinclair 484 1.9 −0.5
ProLife Alliance Terrenia Brosnan 216 0.8 New
Majority 13,742 53.0 -5.7
Turnout 25,928 39.1 −12.5
Labour Co-op hold Swing −3.9

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Manchester Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tony Lloyd 23,803 71.0 −1.7
Liberal Democrats Alison Firth 4,121 12.3 +2.5
Conservative Simon McIlwaine 3,964 11.8 −4.7
Socialist Labour Francis Rafferty 810 2.4 New
Referendum John Maxwell 742 2.2 New
Communist League Timothy Rigby 97 0.3 −0.2
Majority 19,682 58.7
Turnout 33,537 52.6 −4.3
Labour hold Swing +1.5
General election 1992: Manchester Central[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Bob Litherland 23,336 72.7 +4.5
Conservative Peter Davies 5,299 16.5 −2.3
Liberal Democrats Richard Clayton 3,151 9.8 −3.2
Natural Law Vivienne Mitchell 167 0.5 New
Communist League Andrew Buchanan 167 0.5 New
Majority 18,037 56.2 +6.8
Turnout 32,120 56.9 −7.0
Labour hold Swing +3.4

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Manchester Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Bob Litherland 27,428 68.2 +2.9
Conservative Matthew Banks 7,561 18.8 −2.4
SDP Barry McColgan 5,250 13.0 +1.2
Majority 19,867 49.4 +5.3
Turnout 40,239 63.9 +3.3
Labour hold Swing +2.7
General election 1983: Manchester Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Bob Litherland 27,353 65.3 −6.7
Conservative David Eager 8,868 21.2 +1.4
SDP Altaf Ahmad 4,956 11.8 +5.1
National Front Alfred Coles 729 1.7 −0.1
Majority 18,485 44.1 -4.6
Turnout 41,906 60.6 -2.9
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

Manchester Central by-election 1979
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Bob Litherland 7,494 70.7 -0.1
Liberal Anthony Parkinson 1,502 14.2 +8.9
Conservative Stephen Lea 1,275 12.0 −10.1
Independent Labour Syed Ala-Ud-Din 187 1.8 New
Ecology John Foster 129 1.2 New
Democratic Monarchist, Public Safety, White Resident. Bill Boaks 12 0.1 New
Majority 5,992 56.5 +7.8
Turnout 10,599 33.8 −29.9
Labour hold Swing
General election 1979: Manchester Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Harold Lever 14,117 70.8 +1.5
Conservative Herbert Cummins 4,413 22.1 +2.6
Liberal Gordon Wilmott 1,052 5.3 −5.9
National Front Derek Benthall 365 1.8 New
Majority 9,704 48.7 -1.1
Turnout 19,947 63.7 +10.3
Labour hold Swing
General election October 1974: Manchester Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Harold Lever 14,753 69.3 +7.6
Conservative Robert Jackson 4,142 19.5 −1.2
Liberal Patrick Coleman 2,382 11.2 −6.3
Majority 10,611 49.8 +8.8
Turnout 21,277 53.4 −8.4
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: Manchester Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Harold Lever 15,075 61.7
Conservative Christopher Horne 5,071 20.7
Liberal Michael Steed 4,281 17.5
Majority 10,004 41.0
Turnout 24,427 61.8
Labour win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ A borough 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

  1. ^ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ^ UK Polling Report https://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/manchestercentral/
  3. ^ a b "First female Manchester Labour MP". 16 November 2012 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  4. ^ The lowest majority was in 2010, at some 26.1% of the vote as shown in the results tables.
  5. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Manchester) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/606, retrieved 26 February 2023
  6. ^ LGBCE (April 2017). Final recommendations on the new electoral arrangements for Manchester City Council (PDF). Local Government Boundary Commission for England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2018.
  7. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 5 North West region.
  8. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "M" (part 1)
  9. ^ "Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". Mark Pack. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  10. ^ "GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES". SDP. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  11. ^ "UK Parliamentary General Election - 12 December 2019". manchester.gov.uk. Manchester City Council. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  12. ^ "Manchester Central - Statement of Persons Nominated & Notice of Poll". manchester.gov.uk. Manchester City Council. Archived from the original on 15 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017. Pdf.
  13. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Lancashire West". Manchester Central. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  15. ^ Manchester Central results UK Polling
  16. ^ "General Election Results from the Electoral Commission".
  17. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2010.

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