Oxford East
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Oxford East in Oxfordshire
Outline map
Location of Oxfordshire within England
CountyOxfordshire
Electorate81,644 (December 2010)[1]
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentAnneliese Dodds (Labour Co-op)
SeatsOne
Created fromOxford (majority) (abolished), Mid Oxfordshire and Henley[2]

Oxford East is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Anneliese Dodds of the Labour Party, who also serves as party chair.[n 2]

Created in 1983, the constituency covers the eastern and southern parts of Oxford in Oxfordshire. It borders Oxford West and Abingdon to the west and Henley to the north, east and south.

Constituency profile

The seat includes Oxford city centre and the majority of the Oxford colleges, Cowley (containing a large car factory) and adjoining parts of the city including a broad area of mid-to-low rise council-built housing, Blackbird Leys, which has kept varying amounts of social housing (see Right to Buy).

A large percentage of the seat's electorate consists of students from Oxford and Oxford Brookes universities (the latter being in the seat). Areas in the seat with a high proportion of private housing include Headington, which is mainly a mixture of student tenants and relatively high-income families, and the similarly prosperous areas of Grandpont and New Hinksey in the south of the city. At the end of 2010 unemployment claimant count was 2.3%, 45th of the 84 South East constituencies and close to the mean of 2.45%.[3]

History

From 1885 until 1983 the vast bulk of the area of the seat, as it has variously been drawn since 1983, was in the abolished Oxford constituency, historically Liberal then for some decades Conservative, and which then alternated with the Labour Party, who took that seat in the late 1960s and late 1970s.

For the first four years (from 1983) Oxford East was served by Conservative Steven Norris. He was defeated by Labour candidate Andrew Smith who held the seat for the next 30 years before retiring. The Conservative share of the vote fell to a low to date, of 16.7%, in 2005, a year when the seat became an emphatic Labour–Liberal Democrat contest, and the votes for Andrew Smith were only 963 more than the "Lib Dem" candidate: a majority of 2.3% of the votes (electorate voting).

Smith held the seat in 2015 with a much increased majority; it was the 80th-safest of Labour's 232 seats won that year by percentage of majority.[4] On his retirement the local Labour party selected Anneliese Dodds. At the 2017 general election she took the seat with a majority of 23,284 votes (43.2%) - reduced to 17,832 (36.1%) in 2019. From 2015 the runner-up returned to being a Conservative.[clarification needed]

The Green Party's candidate has stood in all eight contests since the party was branded as such, once retaining its deposit, in 2015, with almost 12% of the vote.

Ousted ex-MP Norris won the largest runner-up's share of the vote to date (40.4%) during the 1987 general election. Turnout has ranged between 78.9% in 1987 and 55.8% in 2001.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1983–1997

The constituency was formed largely from the majority of the abolished Borough Constituency of Oxford. it also included three wards in the District of South Oxfordshire, previously part of Henley (Littlemore) and the abolished constituency of Mid-Oxon (Marston and Risinghurst).

Oxford East candidates in the 2010 general election at a climate change hustings.

1997–2010

The 1997 boundary changes reflected changes to local government boundaries with the majority of the area comprising the three South Oxfordshire wards having been absorbed into the City of Oxford. The remaining, semi-rural Conservative-leaning areas were transferred back to Henley. The urban City of Oxford South ward, which was strong for the Liberal Democrats and Labour, was transferred from Oxford West and Abingdon.

2010-present

Map
Map of current boundaries

Under the Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies the constituency was slightly altered, in order to equalise electorates and take account of changes to the City's ward structure. These changes added Carfax and Holywell wards from Oxford West and Abingdon; this meant that Oxford city centre and the majority of Oxford colleges, which had previously been mainly in Oxford West and Abingdon, now fell into Oxford East.

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 electorate will be reduced to bring it within the permitted range by transferring areas to the west of the River Cherwell, including the city centre and Oxford University colleges, back to Oxford West and Abingdon.

Members of Parliament

Election Member[9] Party
1983 Steve Norris Conservative
1987 Andrew Smith Labour
2017 Anneliese Dodds Labour Co-op

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Oxford East[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Anneliese Dodds 28,135 57.0 Decrease8.2
Conservative Louise Staite 10,303 20.9 Decrease1.1
Liberal Democrats Alistair Fernie 6,884 13.9 Increase4.8
Green David Williams 2,392 4.8 Increase1.5
Brexit Party Roger Carter 1,146 2.3 New
Independent David Henwood 238 0.5 New
Independent Chaka Artwell 143 0.3 Decrease0.2
Independent Phil Taylor 118 0.2 New
Majority 17,832 36.1 Decrease7.1
Turnout 49,359 63.3 Decrease5.5
Labour Co-op hold Swing Decrease3.6
General election 2017: Oxford East[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Anneliese Dodds[13] 35,118 65.2 Increase15.2
Conservative Suzanne Bartington[14] 11,834 22.0 Increase2.1
Liberal Democrats Kirsten Johnson[15] 4,904 9.1 Decrease1.7
Green Larry Sanders[16] 1,785 3.3 Decrease8.3
Independent Chaka Artwell 255 0.5 Increase0.2
Majority 23,284 43.2 Increase13.1
Turnout 53,896 68.8 Increase4.6
Labour Co-op hold Swing Increase6.5
General election 2015: Oxford East[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Andrew Smith 25,356 50.0 +7.5
Conservative Melanie Magee 10,076 19.9 +1.1
Green Ann Duncan[18] 5,890 11.6 +9.2
Liberal Democrats Alasdair Murray[19] 5,453 10.8 −22.8
UKIP Ian Macdonald[20] 3,451 6.8 +4.5
Independent Chaka Artwell[21] 160 0.3 New
Monster Raving Loony Mad Hatter[21] 145 0.3 New
TUSC James Morbin[22] 108 0.2 New
Socialist (GB) Kevin Parkin[23] 50 0.1 New
Majority 15,280 30.1 +21.2
Turnout 50,689 64.2[24] +1.1
Labour hold Swing
Oxford East parliamentary election 2010 candidates (Andrew Smith represented by a colleague) with hustings chair the Very Revd Bob Wilkes
General election 2010: Oxford East[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Andrew Smith 21,938 42.5 +6.5
Liberal Democrats Steve Goddard 17,357 33.6 −1.6
Conservative Edward Argar 9,727 18.8 +1.5
Green Sushila Dhall[26] 1,238 2.4 −2.1
UKIP Julia Gasper 1,202 2.3 +0.6
Socialist Equality David O'Sullivan 116 0.2 New
Equal Parenting Alliance Roger Crawford 73 0.1 New
Majority 4,581 8.9 +6.6
Turnout 51,651 63.1 +5.6
Labour hold Swing +2.45

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Oxford East[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Andrew Smith 15,405 36.9 −12.5
Liberal Democrats Steve Goddard 14,442 34.6 +11.2
Conservative Virginia Morris 6,992 16.7 −2.0
Green Jacob Sanders 1,813 4.3 +0.5
Independent ('New Loony') Honest Blair 1,485 3.6 New
Ind. Working Class Maurice Leen 892 2.1 New
UKIP Peter Gardner 715 1.7 +0.3
Independent Pathmanathan Mylvaganam 46 0.1 −0.1
Majority 963 2.3 -23.7
Turnout 41,790 57.9 +2.1
Labour hold Swing −11.8
General election 2001: Oxford East[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Andrew Smith 19,681 49.4 −7.4
Liberal Democrats Steve Goddard 9,337 23.4 +8.7
Conservative Cheryl Potter 7,446 18.7 −3.3
Green Pritam Singh 1,501 3.8 +1.8
Socialist Alliance John Lister 708 1.8 New
UKIP Peter Gardner 570 1.4 +0.9
Socialist Labour Fahim Ahmed 274 0.7 New
ProLife Alliance Linda Hodge 254 0.6 −0.1
Independent Pathmanathan Mylvaganam 77 0.2 0.0
Majority 10,344 26.0 -8.8
Turnout 39,848 55.8 −12.6
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Oxford East[29][30][31][32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Andrew Smith 27,205 56.8 +6.6
Conservative Jonathan Djanogly 10,540 22.0 −11.5
Liberal Democrats George Kershaw 7,038 14.7 +0.7
Referendum John Young 1,391 2.9 New
Green Craig Simmons 975 2.0 0.0
ProLife Alliance David Harper-Jones 318 0.7 New
UKIP Peter Gardner 234 0.5 New
Natural Law John Thompson 108 0.2 New
Independent Anti-majority Democracy Pathmanathan Mylvaganam 68 0.2 New
Majority 16,665 34.8 +18.1
Turnout 47,877 68.4 -5.8
Labour hold Swing +9.1
General election 1992: Oxford East[33][34][35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Andrew Smith 23,702 50.4 +7.4
Conservative Mark Mayall 16,164 34.3 −6.1
Liberal Democrats Martin Horwood 6,105 13.0 −2.6
Green Caroline Lucas 933 2.0 +1.1
Natural Law Ann Wilson 101 0.2 New
Revolutionary Communist Keith Thompson 48 0.1 New
Majority 7,538 16.1 +13.5
Turnout 47,053 74.6 −4.3
Labour hold Swing +6.8

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Oxford East[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Andrew Smith 21,103 43.0 +5.7
Conservative Steven Norris 19,815 40.4 +0.4
Liberal Margaret Godden 7,648 15.6 −7.1
Green Dave Dalton 441 0.9 New
Independent Pathmanathan Mylvaganam 60 0.1 New
Majority 1,288 2.6 N/A
Turnout 49,067 78.9 +5.0
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +2.7
General election 1983: Oxford East[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Steven Norris 18,808 40.0
Labour Andrew Smith 17,541 37.3
Liberal Margaret Godden 10,690 22.7
Majority 1,267 2.7
Turnout 47,039 73.9
Conservative win (new seat)

Neighbouring constituencies

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". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ^ "'Oxford East', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  3. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency Archived 2 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine The Guardian
  4. ^ "Labour Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018.
  5. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  6. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  7. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  8. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
  9. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "O"
  10. ^ "Oxford East Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  11. ^ "GENERAL ELECTION: List of Oxfordshire parliamentary candidates published". The Oxford Times. Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  12. ^ "South Live: Thursday 11 May". BBC News. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  13. ^ "Parliamentary candidate announced to replace Labour's Andrew Smith". Oxford Mail. Archived from the original on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  14. ^ "Conservatives reveal Dr Suzanne Bartington as candidate for Oxford East". Oxford Mail. Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Dr Kirsten Johnson". Liberal Democrats. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  16. ^ "Larry Sanders pledges to tackle inequality if he becomes Oxford East MP". Oxford Mail. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  17. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Ann Duncan". Oxfordshire Green Party. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  19. ^ McKenzie, Conor (2 March 2015). "Alasdair Murray to Take the Fight to Labour". Oxford East Lib Dems. Archived from the original on 7 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  20. ^ "UK Polling Report". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  21. ^ a b Collie, Jason. "Oxford East candidates – who you can vote for". Oxford Mail. Newsquest. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  22. ^ "TUSC parliamentary candidates in May 2015" (PDF). TUSC. 4 February 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  23. ^ "General Election – Campaign News". Socialist Party of Great Britain. 15 January 2015. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  24. ^ total electorate 78978: email from Oxford City
  25. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  26. ^ Oxfordshire Green Party news release, 4 February 2010. Peter Tatchell was the prospective parliamentary candidate for the Green Party until withdrawing in December 2009 for health reasons.
  27. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  28. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  29. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  30. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1997. Politics Resources. 1 May 1997. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  31. ^ Rallings, C; Thrasher, M (1995). The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies. Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre. p. 131.
  32. ^ The 1997 election result is calculated relative to the notional, not the actual, 1992 result.
  33. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  34. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  35. ^ This was an unusual election, in which an incumbent was challenged by two people who later became MPs.
  36. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  37. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

Sources

51°45′N 1°12′W / 51.75°N 1.20°W / 51.75; -1.20

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