Wikipedia

Wigan (UK Parliament constituency)

Wigan is a constituency[n 1] in Greater Manchester, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The seat has been respresented Lisa Nandy of the Labour Party since 2010.[n 2] Nandy currently serves as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport under the government of Keir Starmer.

Wigan
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map of constituency
Boundary of Wigan in North West England
CountyGreater Manchester
Electorate75,706 (2023)[1]
Current constituency
Created1885
Member of ParliamentLisa Nandy (Labour)
Seats1
Created fromWigan, South West Lancashire
1545–1885
SeatsTwo
Type of constituencyBorough constituency
Replaced byWigan

History

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Wigan in Lancashire, boundaries used 1974–1983

Wigan was incorporated as a borough on 26 August 1246, after the issue of a charter by Henry III.[2] In 1295 and January 1307 Wigan was one of the significant places called upon to send a representative, then known as a 'burgess', to the Model Parliament. However, for the remainder of the medieval period the seat was not summoned to send an official despite being one of only four boroughs in Lancashire possessing Royal Charters; the others were Lancaster, Liverpool and Preston. This changed in the Tudor period with Henry VIII's grant of two Members of Parliament to the town.

Following the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, single-member constituencies were imposed nationwide,[n 3] meaning the seat saw a reduction of the number of its members.

The death of Roger Stott in office in 1999 made him the fourth Wigan MP in the twentieth century to die in office (uniquely for a constituency in the United Kingdom); the others were John Parkinson, Ronald Williams and William Foster.

Political history

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Wigan is considered a safe seat given that it has been held by the Labour Party since 1918, with solid majorities ranging from 1,018 votes (2.2%) in 1931 to 22,643 votes (51.7%) in 1997.

Prominent frontbenchers

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Member of Parliament Notability
William Ewart
  • Carried the Hanging in Chains Act of 1834, abolishing hanging in chains
  • Carried a bill in 1837 to abolish capital punishment for cattle-stealing and similar offences
  • Carried the Public Libraries Act 1850, establishing free libraries supported out of public rates
  • Instrumental in the passage of the Metric Weights and Measures Act 1864
Algernon Egerton Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1874–80)
Alan Fitch Vice-Chamberlain of the Household (1968–70)
Roger Stott
Lisa Nandy

Boundaries

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Map of current boundaries

1832–1918: The Township of Wigan.[3]

1918–1983: The County Borough of Wigan[10][13][14][15]

  • In 1974 the Country Borough of Wigan was abolished and superseded by the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, covering a far greater area.[16] However, the boundary of the Parliamentary Constituency of Wigan remained unchanged until 1983, when it was expanded to cover the northern part of the Metropolitan Borough.[17]

1983–1997: The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan wards of Aspull-Standish, Beech Hill, Ince, Langtree, Newtown, Norley, Swinley, Whelley.[17]

1997–2010: The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan wards of Aspull-Standish, Beech Hill, Langtree, Newtown, Norley, Swinley, Whelley.[18]

  • In 2004, new ward boundaries in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan came in to effect. However, the Parliamentary boundaries remained unchanged until they were reviewed and adjusted to line up with the new ward boundaries in 2010.[19]

2010–present: The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan wards of Aspull, New Springs and Whelley; Douglas; Ince; Pemberton; Shevington with Lower Ground; Standish with Langtree; Wigan Central; Wigan West.[19]

The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which was based on the ward structure in place at 1 December 2020, left the boundaries unchanged.[20]

Constituency profile

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The seat is productive and has excellent links to Manchester, as well as close links to the M6, which lies just within its western border. However, over the past century, Wigan has witnessed a fall in manufacturing, particularly in the production of textiles, which have been unable to compete with the Indian subcontinent and the Far East. Another industry which has suffered is coal mining, which had been a large employer in this part of Lancashire up until the mid-20th century. There are some industrial areas remaining in and around the town centre. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal flows through the town, including the famous Wigan Pier area.

As of May 2018, the rate of JSA and Universal Credit claimants was 3.9%, higher than the national average of 2.8% and regional average of 3.7%, based on a statistical compilation by the House of Commons Library.[21] The constituency also includes more desirable semi-rural residential villages to the north of Wigan town centre, such as Standish, which are relatively more affluent.

Members of Parliament

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MPs 1295–1640

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Parliament First member Second member
1295 William le Teinterer Henry le Bocher
1306–7 (Jan) Simon Payer John de Mersee
1307–1545 No Members returned to Parliament
1545 Thomas Chaloner John Eston[22]
1547 (Nov) Alexander Barlowe Thomas Carus[22]
1552–3 (Mar) Alexander Barlowe Gilbert Gerard[23]
1553 (Oct) Alexander Barlowe Gilbert Gerard[23]
1554 (Apr) Alexander Barlowe William Barnes[22]
1554 (Nov) Alexander Barlowe John Barnes[22]
1555 Alexander Barlowe Gilbert Gerard[23]
1558 Ralph Barton Thomas Smith[22]
1559 (Jan) William Gerard II Thomas Bromley[24]
1562–3 (Mar) William Gerard II John Ratcliffe[24]
1571 William Gerard II Owen Ratcliffe[24]
1572 Edward Fitton (the younger) on Queen's Service
and repl. 1581 by Richard Molyneux		 Edward Elrington[24]
1584 (Nov) Thomas Grimsditch William Gerard III[24]
1586 William Gerard III Peter Legh[24]
1588 (Dec) Peter Legh William Leycester[24]
1593 William Gerard III Michael Heneage[24]
1597 (Oct) Edward Legh Nicholas Smyth[24]
1601 (Oct) Roger Downes John Pulteney[24]
1604 Sir William Cooke Sir John Pulteney
1614 Sir Gilbert Gerard[25] Sir Richard Molyneux
1621 Sir Thomas Gerard, 1st Baronet (died and
replaced 1621 by George Garrard)		 Roger Downes
1624 Sir Anthony St John Francis Downes
1625 Francis Downes Edward Bridgeman
1626 Sir Anthony St John Sir William Pooley
1628 Edward Bridgeman Sir Anthony St John
1629–1640 No Parliaments convened

MPs 1640–1885

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Year First member[26] First party Second member[26] Second party
April 1640 Orlando Bridgeman Royalist Alexander Rigby Parliamentarian
November 1640
May 1642 Bridgeman expelled – seat vacant
1646 John Holcroft
December 1648 Holcroft excluded in Pride's Purge – seat vacant
August 1650 Rigby died – seat vacant
1653 Wigan was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate
January 1659 Robert Markland Hugh Forth
May 1659 Not represented in the restored Rump
April 1660 William Gardiner Hugh Forth
October 1660 John Molyneux Roger Stoughton
1661 The Earl of Ancram Geoffrey Shakerley
February 1679 Roger Bradshaigh
September 1679 William Banks
1681 Viscount Colchester
1685 Lord Charles Murray
1689 Sir Edward Chisenhall William Banks
1690 Sir Richard Standish Peter Shakerley
1694 John Byrom
1695 Sir Roger Bradshaigh Tory
1698 Orlando Bridgeman
1701 Sir Alexander Rigby
1702 Orlando Bridgeman
1705 Brigadier Emanuel Howe Whig
1708 Major Henry Bradshaigh
1713 George Kenyon
1715 The Earl of Barrymore
1727 Peter Bold Tory
1734 The Earl of Barrymore
March 1747 Richard Clayton
June 1747 Hon. Richard Barry
1754 Sir William Meredith Tory
1761 Fletcher Norton Simon Luttrell
1768 George Byng Beaumont Hotham
1775 John Morton Tory
August 1780 Henry Simpson Bridgeman
September 1780 Hon. Horatio Walpole Tory[27]
1782 John Cotes Tory[27]
1784 Orlando Bridgeman[mpnotes 1] Tory[27]
1800 George Gunning
1802 John Hodson Tory[27] Sir Robert Holt Leigh Tory[27]
1820 James Alexander Hodson Tory[27] Lord Lindsay Tory[27]
1825 Lieutenant-Colonel James Lindsay Tory[27]
March 1831 John Hodson Kearsley Tory[27]
May 1831 Ralph Thicknesse Whig[27]
1832 Richard Potter Radical[28][29][30]
1835 John Hodson Kearsley Conservative[27]
1837 Charles Strickland Standish Whig[27][28]
1839 William Ewart Radical[27][31][32][33][34][35]
1841 Peter Greenall Conservative[27] Thomas Bright Crosse[mpnotes 2] Conservative[27]
1842 Charles Strickland Standish Whig[27][28]
1845 Hon. James Lindsay Conservative
1847 Ralph Anthony Thicknesse Whig[36][37]
1854 Joseph Acton Whig[38]
1857 Francis Powell Conservative Henry Woods Whig
1859 Hon. James Lindsay Conservative Liberal
1866 Nathaniel Eckersley Conservative
1868 John Lancaster Liberal
1874 Lord Lindsay Conservative Thomas Knowles Conservative
1881 Francis Powell[mpnotes 3] Conservative
1881 Writ suspended following corrupt election – seat vacant
December 1882 Hon. Algernon Egerton Conservative
1883 Nathaniel Eckersley Conservative
1885 Representation reduced to one member

MPs since 1885

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Election Member[26] Party
1885 Sir Francis Powell Conservative
1910 (January) Henry Twist Labour
1910 (December) Reginald Neville Conservative
1918 John Parkinson Labour
1942 by-election William Foster Labour
1948 by-election Ronald Williams Labour
1958 by-election Alan Fitch Labour
1983 Roger Stott Labour
1999 by-election Neil Turner Labour
2010 Lisa Nandy Labour

Notes

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  1. ^ The Honourable Orlando Bridgeman from 1796
  2. ^ On petition, the election of Crosse was declared void and after scrutiny of the votes his opponent, Standish, was declared duly elected.
  3. ^ On petition, Powell's election was declared void and the writ was suspended. The following year a new writ was issued and a by-election was held

Elections

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Results over time

Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Wigan[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Lisa Nandy 19,401 47.4   0.7
Reform UK Andy Dawber 9,852 24.1   10.9
Conservative Henry Mitson 4,310 10.5   21.3
Independent Maureen O'Bern 3,522 8.6 N/A
Liberal Democrats Brian Crombie-Fisher 1,692 4.1   1.3
Green Jane Leicester 1,629 4.0   1.1
Independent Jan Cunliffe 406 1.0 N/A
Independent The Zok 87 0.2 N/A
Majority 9,549 23.3   8.4
Turnout 40,899 52.9   6.6
Registered electors 77,538
Labour hold Swing   5.1

Elections in the 2010s

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General election 2019: Wigan[40]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Lisa Nandy 21,042 46.7   15.5
Conservative Ashley Williams 14,314 31.8   3.3
Brexit Party William Molloy 5,959 13.2 N/A
Liberal Democrats Stuart Thomas 2,428 5.4   3.6
Green Peter Jacobs 1,299 2.9   1.3
Majority 6,728 14.9   18.8
Turnout 45,042 59.5   3.1
Labour hold Swing   9.4
General election 2017: Wigan[41][42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Lisa Nandy 29,575 62.2   10.0
Conservative Alex Williams 13,548 28.5   7.8
UKIP Nathan Ryding 2,750 5.8   13.7
Liberal Democrats Mark Clayton 916 1.8   1.0
Green Will Patterson 753 1.6   1.2
Majority 16,027 33.7  2.2
Turnout 47,542 62.6   3.1
Labour hold Swing   1.1
General election 2015: Wigan[41][43]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Lisa Nandy 23,625 52.2   3.7
Conservative Caroline Kerswell 9,389 20.7   4.0
UKIP Mark Bradley 8,818 19.5   13.8
Green Will Patterson 1,273 2.8 N/A
Liberal Democrats Mark Clayton 1,255 2.8   12.6
Wigan Independents Gareth Fairhurst 768 1.7 N/A
Independent Brian Parr 165 0.4 N/A
Majority 14,236 31.5   7.7
Turnout 45,293 59.5   1.1
Labour hold Swing   3.9
General election 2010: Wigan[44][45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Lisa Nandy 21,404 48.5   9.6
Conservative Michael Winstanley 10,917 24.7   5.8
Liberal Democrats Mark Clayton 6,797 15.4   1.5
UKIP Alan Freeman 2,516 5.7   2.3
BNP Charles Mather[46] 2,506 5.7 N/A
Majority 10,487 23.8   10.5
Turnout 44,140 58.4   6.3
Labour hold Swing   7.7

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Wigan[47]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Neil Turner 18,901 55.1   6.6
Conservative John Coombes 7,134 20.8   0.0
Liberal Democrats Denise Capstick 6,051 17.7   2.9
UKIP John Whittaker 1,166 3.4 N/A
Community Action Kevin Williams 1,026 3.0 N/A
Majority 11,767 34.3   6.6
Turnout 34,278 53.3   0.8
Labour hold Swing   3.3
General election 2001: Wigan[48]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Neil Turner 20,739 61.7   6.9
Conservative Mark Page 6,996 20.8   3.9
Liberal Democrats Trevor Beswick 4,970 14.8   4.8
Socialist Alliance Dave Lowe 886 2.6 N/A
Majority 13,743 40.9   10.8
Turnout 33,591 52.5   15.2
Labour hold Swing   5.4

Elections in the 1990s

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1999 Wigan by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Neil Turner 9,641 59.6   9.0
Conservative Tom Peet 2,912 18.0   1.1
Liberal Democrats Jonathan Rule 2,148 13.3   3.3
UKIP John Whittaker 834 5.2 N/A
Socialist Labour William Kelly 240 1.5 N/A
Green Chris Maile 190 1.2   0.2
National Democrats Stephen Ebbs 100 0.6 N/A
Natural Law Paul Davis 64 0.4   0.2
Independent David Braid 58 0.4 N/A
Majority 6,729 41.6   10.1
Turnout 16,187 25.0   42.7
Labour hold Swing   5.0
General election 1997: Wigan[49]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Roger Stott 30,043 68.6   5.6
Conservative Mark Loveday 7,400 16.9   6.7
Liberal Democrats Trevor Beswick 4,390 10.0   1.0
Referendum Anthony Bradborne 1,450 3.3 N/A
Green Christopher Maile 442 1.0 N/A
Natural Law William Ayliffe 94 0.2   0.2
Majority 22,643 51.7   12.3
Turnout 43,819 67.7   8.5
Labour hold Swing   6.2
General election 1992: Wigan[50][51]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Roger Stott 34,910 63.0   1.5
Conservative Edward Hess 13,068 23.6   0.9
Liberal Democrats George Davies 6,111 11.0   3.0
Liberal Kevin White 1,116 2.0   12.0
Natural Law Annie Tayler 197 0.4 N/A
Majority 21,842 39.4   2.3
Turnout 55,402 76.2   0.4
Labour hold Swing   1.2

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Wigan[52][53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Roger Stott 33,955 61.5   6.9
Conservative Kenneth Wade 13,493 24.5   2.0
Liberal Kevin White 7,732 14.0   8.9
Majority 20,462 37.0   5.3
Turnout 55,179 76.6   1.0
Labour hold Swing   7.9
General election 1983: Wigan[54][55]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Roger Stott 29,859 54.6   5.2
Liberal John Piggott 12,554 22.9   13.5
Conservative Henry Cadman 12,320 22.5   7.5
Majority 17,305 31.7   1.9
Turnout 54,734 75.6   1.5
Labour hold Swing   1.2

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1979: Wigan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alan Fitch 26,144 59.8   6.0
Conservative Thomas Peet 13,149 30.0   8.9
Liberal K Bruce 4,102 9.4   3.8
Workers Revolutionary A Smith 348 0.8 N/A
Majority 12,995 29.8   14.9
Turnout 43,742 74.1   0.1
Labour hold Swing   7.5
General election October 1974: Wigan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alan Fitch 27,692 65.8   5.5
Conservative PM Beard 8,865 21.1   7.6
Liberal J Campbell 5,548 13.2 N/A
Majority 18,827 44.7   2.1
Turnout 42,105 74.0   1.8
Labour hold Swing   1.1
General election February 1974: Wigan[56][57]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alan Fitch 30,485 71.3   3.8
Conservative P Beard 12,283 28.7   2.2
Majority 18,202 42.6   6.0
Turnout 42,766 75.8   3.5
Labour hold Swing   3.0
General election 1970: Wigan[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alan Fitch 28,102 67.5   5.4
Conservative Anthony Daniels 12,882 30.9   5.9
Communist Jack Kay 672 1.6   0.6
Majority 15,220 36.6   11.3
Turnout 41,655 72.3   3.5
Labour hold Swing   5.7

Elections in the 1960s

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General election 1966: Wigan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alan Fitch 28,754 72.9   3.5
Conservative Malcolm Kingston 9,876 25.0   3.2
Communist Michael Weaver 858 2.2   0.2
Majority 18,878 47.9   6.7
Turnout 42,766 75.8   3.6
Labour hold Swing   3.4
General election 1964: Wigan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alan Fitch 28,640 69.4   3.1
Conservative Ian K Paley 11,648 28.2   3.4
Communist Michael Weaver 988 2.4   0.4
Majority 16,992 41.2   6.5
Turnout 41,276 79.4   4.4
Labour hold Swing   3.3

Elections in the 1950s

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General election 1959: Wigan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alan Fitch 30,664 66.3   1.9
Conservative John Hodgson 14,615 31.6   0.6
Communist Michael Weaver 945 2.0   1.4
Majority 16,049 34.7   2.5
Turnout 46,224 83.8  3.5
Labour hold Swing   1.3
1958 Wigan by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alan Fitch 27,415 71.0   6.6
Conservative John Hodgson 10,248 26.5   5.7
Communist Michael Weaver 972 2.5   0.9
Majority 17,167 44.5   12.3
Turnout 38,635
Labour hold Swing   6.2
General election 1955: Wigan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ronald Williams 29,755 64.4   2.5
Conservative Harold D Lowe 14,883 32.2   0.9
Communist Thomas Rowlandson 1,567 3.4 N/A
Majority 14,872 32.2   1.6
Turnout 46,205 80.3   6.7
Labour hold Swing   0.8
General election 1951: Wigan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ronald Williams 34,530 66.9   4.4
Conservative Dennis C Walls 17,078 33.1   3.1
Majority 17,452 33.8   1.3
Turnout 51,608 87.0   2.3
Labour hold Swing   0.7
General election 1950: Wigan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ronald Williams 32,746 62.5   5.7
Conservative Harold Dowling 15,733 30.0   1.8
Liberal Ian Webster 2,651 5.0 N/A
Communist Thomas Rowlandson 1,243 2.4 N/A
Majority 17,013 32.5   3.9
Turnout 52,373 89.3   8.9
Labour hold Swing   2.0

Elections in the 1940s

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1948 Wigan by-election[59]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ronald Williams 28,941 59.1   9.1
Conservative Harold Dowling 17,466 35.6   3.8
Communist Thomas Rowlandson 1,647 3.7 New
King's Cavalier Owen L Roberts 932 1.6 New
Majority 11,475 23.4   12.9
Turnout 48,986
Labour hold Swing   6.5
General election 1945: Wigan[59]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Foster 31,392 68.2   6.9
Conservative Evelyn Charles Lacy Hulbert-Powell 14,666 31.8   6.9
Majority 16,726 36.4   13.8
Turnout 46,058 80.4   1.3
Labour hold Swing   6.9
1942 Wigan by-election[59]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Foster Unopposed
Labour hold

Elections in the 1930s

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General election 1935: Wigan[59]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Parkinson 27,950 61.3   10.2
Conservative Robert Grant-Ferris 17,646 38.7   10.2
Majority 10,304 22.6   20.4
Turnout 45,596 81.7   2.5
Labour hold Swing   10.2
General election 1931: Wigan[59]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Parkinson 23,544 51.1   7.4
Conservative Geoffrey Dorling Roberts 22,526 48.9   10.2
Majority 1,018 2.2   17.6
Turnout 46,070 84.2   2.7
Labour hold Swing   8.8

Elections in the 1920s

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General election 1929: Wigan[59]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Parkinson 27,462 58.5   0.9
Unionist Ernest Barlow 18,144 38.7   3.7
Communist Frank Bright 1,307 2.8 N/A
Majority 9,318 19.8   4.6
Turnout 46,913 86.9   1.0
Registered electors 54,008
Labour hold Swing   2.3
General election 1924: Wigan[59]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Parkinson 20,350 57.6   0.0
Unionist David Maxwell Fyfe 15,006 42.4   0.0
Majority 5,344 15.2   0.0
Turnout 35,356 87.9   2.9
Registered electors 40,217
Labour hold Swing   0.0
General election 1923: Wigan[59]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Parkinson 19,637 57.6   1.1
Unionist David Lindsay 14,451 42.4   1.1
Majority 5,186 15.2   2.2
Turnout 34,088 85.0   3.9
Registered electors 40,105
Labour hold Swing   1.1
General election 1922: Wigan[59]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Parkinson 20,079 56.5   8.5
Unionist Albert Edward Baucher 15,436 43.5   0.5
Majority 4,643 13.0   8.0
Turnout 35,515 88.9   19.5
Registered electors 39,929
Labour hold Swing   4.0

Elections in the 1910s

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General election 1918: Wigan[59]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Parkinson 12,914 48.0   1.2
C Unionist Reginald Neville 11,584 43.0   10.2
Liberal Robert Alstead 2,434 9.0 N/A
Majority 1,330 5.0 N/A
Turnout 26,932 69.4   22.3
Registered electors 38,811
Labour gain from Unionist Swing   5.7
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

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;

General election December 1910: Wigan[60][61]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Reginald Neville 4,673 53.2   6.0
Labour Henry Twist 4,110 46.8   6.0
Majority 563 6.4   0.8
Turnout 8,783 91.7   3.3
Conservative gain from Labour Swing   6.0
General election January 1910: Wigan[60][61]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Henry Twist 4,803 52.8 N/A
Conservative Reginald Neville 4,293 47.2   0.6
Majority 510 5.6 N/A
Turnout 9,096 95.0   7.8
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Elections in the 1900s

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General election 1906: Wigan[60][62]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Francis Powell 3,573 46.6   8.1
Independent Labour Thorley Smith[n 4] 2,205 28.7 N/A
Liberal William Woods 1,900 24.7   20.6
Majority 1,368 17.9   8.5
Turnout 7,678 87.2   1.6
Registered electors 8,804
Conservative hold Swing   6.3
General election 1900: Wigan[60][62][63]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Francis Powell 3,772 54.7   1.5
Liberal William Woods 3,130 45.3   1.5
Majority 642 9.4   3.0
Turnout 6,902 85.6   3.7
Registered electors 8,059
Conservative hold Swing   1.5

Elections in the 1890s

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General election 1895: Wigan[60][62][63]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Francis Powell 3,949 56.2   5.4
Lib-Lab Thomas Aspinwall 3,075 43.8   5.4
Majority 874 12.4   10.8
Turnout 7,024 89.3   1.8
Registered electors 7,864
Conservative hold Swing   5.4
General election 1892: Wigan[60][62]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Francis Powell 3,422 50.8   4.0
Lib-Lab Thomas Aspinwall 3,312 49.2   4.0
Majority 110 1.6   8.0
Turnout 6,734 91.1   3.1
Registered electors 7,390
Conservative hold Swing   4.0

Elections in the 1880s

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General election 1886: Wigan[60][62]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Francis Powell 3,371 54.8   2.4
Liberal Cornelius McLeod Percy 2,780 45.2   2.4
Majority 591 9.6   4.8
Turnout 6,151 88.0   3.0
Registered electors 6,988
Conservative hold Swing   2.4
General election 1885: Wigan[60][62][64]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Francis Powell 3,637 57.2   5.7
Liberal George Harris Lea (judge) 2,721 42.8   5.8
Majority 916 14.4   14.1
Turnout 6,358 91.0   2.1 (est)
Registered electors 6,988
Conservative hold Swing   5.8
By-election, 21 Dec 1883: Wigan (1 seat)[65]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nathaniel Eckersley Unopposed
Conservative hold
  • Caused by Knowles' death.
By-election, 4 Dec 1882: Wigan (1 seat)[65]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Algernon Egerton 2,867 56.1   4.6
Liberal Walter Wren[66] 2,243 43.9   4.7
Majority 624 12.2   11.9
Turnout 5,110 83.8   9.3 (est)
Registered electors 6,097
Conservative hold Swing   4.7
  • Caused by the previous election being declared void on petition.
 
Poster printed during the 1881 Wigan by-election campaign, announcing a public meeting calling for the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts.
By-election, 20 Jan 1881: Wigan (1 seat)[65]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Francis Powell 3,005 54.2   2.7
Liberal John Lancaster 2,536 45.8   2.8
Majority 469 8.4   8.1
Turnout 5,541 93.3   0.2 (est)
Registered electors 5,937
Conservative hold Swing   2.8
  • Caused by Lindsay's elevation to the peerage, becoming Earl of Crawford and Balcarres. This by-election was later voided on petition.
General election 1880: Wigan (2 seats)[65]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lord Lindsay 2,946 25.9   2.0
Conservative Thomas Knowles 2,913 25.6   1.3
Liberal John Lancaster 2,880 25.3   4.2
Liberal George McCorquodale 2,653 23.3   11.8
Majority 33 0.3   5.5
Turnout 5,696 (est) 93.1 (est)   4.8
Registered electors 6,120
Conservative hold Swing   3.1
Conservative hold Swing   6.6

Elections in the 1870s

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General election 1874: Wigan (2 seats)[65]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Lindsay 2,493 27.9   4.4
Conservative Thomas Knowles 2,401 26.9   4.0
Liberal John Lancaster 1,883 21.1   5.4
Lib-Lab William Pickard 1,134 12.7 N/A
Liberal Henry Woods 1,029 11.5   15.6
Majority 518 5.8 N/A
Turnout 4,470 (est) 88.3 (est)   5.5
Registered electors 5,062
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing   7.5
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing   7.3

Elections in the 1860s

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General election 1868: Wigan (2 seats)[65]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Woods 2,219 27.1 N/A
Liberal John Lancaster 2,166 26.5 N/A
Conservative Nathaniel Eckersley 1,920 23.5 N/A
Conservative John Pearson[67] 1,875 22.9 N/A
Majority 246 3.0 N/A
Turnout 4,090 (est) 82.8 (est) N/A
Registered electors 4,939
Liberal hold Swing N/A
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing N/A
By-election, 27 March 1866: Wigan[65]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nathaniel Eckersley 411 54.1 N/A
Liberal John Lancaster 349 45.9 N/A
Majority 62 8.2 N/A
Turnout 760 88.1 N/A
Registered electors 863
Conservative hold Swing N/A
  • Caused by Lindsay's resignation due to prolonged service in Canada in the British Army.[68]
General election 1865: Wigan[65]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Lindsay Unopposed
Liberal Henry Woods Unopposed
Registered electors 863
Conservative hold
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1850s

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General election 1859: Wigan (2 seats)[65]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Lindsay 500 40.0   15.2
Liberal Henry Woods 476 38.1   2.3
Conservative Francis Powell 273 21.9   17.5
Turnout 625 (est) 74.8 (est)   4.5
Registered electors 835
Majority 24 1.9   1.7
Conservative hold Swing   7.0
Majority 203 16.2   5.2
Liberal hold Swing   2.3
General election 1857: Wigan (2 seats)[65]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Francis Powell 492 39.4   8.4
Whig Henry Woods 447 35.8   0.8
Conservative James Lindsay 309 24.8   9.2
Turnout 624 (est) 78.3 (est)   5.5
Registered electors 797
Majority 45 3.6 N/A
Conservative hold Swing   4.0
Majority 138 11.0   7.0
Whig hold Swing   0.8
By-election, 3 October 1854: Wigan[65]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Joseph Acton 339 50.4   15.4
Conservative Francis Powell 334 49.6   15.4
Majority 5 0.8   3.2
Turnout 673 85.4   12.6
Registered electors 788
Whig hold Swing   15.4
  • Caused by Thicknesse's death.
General election 1852: Wigan (2 seats)[65]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Ralph Anthony Thicknesse 366 35.0 N/A
Conservative James Lindsay 356 34.0 N/A
Conservative Francis Powell 324 31.0 N/A
Majority 42 4.0 N/A
Turnout 523 (est) 72.8 (est) N/A
Registered electors 797
Whig hold Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1840s

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General election 1847: Wigan (2 seats)[65]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Lindsay Unopposed
Whig Ralph Anthony Thicknesse Unopposed
Registered electors 637
Conservative hold
Whig gain from Conservative
By-election, 16 October 1845: Wigan[65]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Lindsay 274 56.5   5.8
Whig Ralph Anthony Thicknesse 211 43.5   5.8
Majority 63 13.0   12.6
Turnout 485 93.8   2.3
Registered electors 517
Conservative hold Swing   5.8
  • Caused by Greenall's death.

After the 1841 election, Crosse was unseated on petition and Standish was declared elected in his place on 11 April 1842.

General election 1841: Wigan (2 seats)[65][27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Greenall 273 25.6   1.1
Conservative Thomas Bright Crosse 268 25.1   2.5
Whig Charles Strickland Standish 264 24.7   11.4
Whig Charles Grenfell 263 24.6   11.3
Majority 4 0.4 N/A
Turnout 536 91.5   4.5
Registered electors 586
Conservative gain from Whig Swing   5.1
Conservative gain from Radical Swing   4.4

Elections in the 1830s

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By-election, 9 March 1839: Wigan[65][27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical William Ewart 261 50.2   24.0
Conservative John Hodson Kearsley 259 49.8   2.7
Majority 2 0.4   1.3
Turnout 520 94.4   7.4
Registered electors 551
Radical hold Swing   10.7
  • Caused by Potter's resignation
General election 1837: Wigan (2 seats)[65][27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Charles Strickland Standish 249 26.7   1.3
Radical Richard Potter 245 26.2   3.0
Conservative John Hodson Kearsley 229 24.5   1.9
Conservative Peter Greenall 211 22.6   0.1
Turnout 469 87.0   5.3
Registered electors 539
Majority 20 2.2 N/A
Whig gain from Conservative Swing   0.2
Majority 34 3.6   0.2
Radical hold Swing   2.0
General election 1835: Wigan (2 seats)[65][27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Hodson Kearsley 296 45.3   27.6
Radical Richard Potter 191 29.2   22.4
Whig Charles Strickland Standish 166 25.4   5.3
Turnout 457 92.3   2.2
Registered electors 495
Majority 130 19.9 N/A
Conservative gain from Whig Swing   16.5
Majority 25 3.8   8.6
Radical hold Swing   18.1
General election 1832: Wigan (2 seats)[65][27][69]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Ralph Thicknesse 302 30.7   17.0
Radical Richard Potter 296 30.1   26.6
Radical James Whittle 212 21.5   18.0
Tory John Hodson Kearsley 174 17.7   27.6
Turnout 435 90.1 c.   58.4
Registered electors 483
Majority 90 9.2   21.1
Whig hold Swing   19.7
Majority 122 12.4 N/A
Radical gain from Tory Swing   20.2
General election 1831: Wigan (2 seats)[27][69]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Ralph Thicknesse 41 47.7   41.9
Tory John Hodson Kearsley 24 27.9   18.0
Tory Richard Bootle-Wilbraham 15 17.4   28.5
Radical Richard Potter 6 7.0   4.5
Turnout 38 c. 31.7 c.   20.0
Registered electors c. 120
Majority 26 30.3 N/A
Whig gain from Tory Swing   32.6
Majority 18 20.9   6.4
Tory hold Swing   19.5
By-election, 1 March 1831: Wigan[27][69]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Hodson Kearsley 48 92.3   0.6
Whig James Hardcastle 4 7.7   1.9
Majority 44 84.6   57.3
Turnout 52 c. 43.3 c.   8.4
Registered electors c. 120
Tory hold Swing   0.7
  • Caused by Hodson's resignation
General election 1830: Wigan (2 seats)[27][69]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory James Alexander Hodson 54 44.6
Tory James Lindsay (1793–1855) 45 37.2
Tory John Hodson Kearsley 12 9.9
Whig James Hardcastle 7 5.8
Radical Richard Potter 3 2.5
Majority 33 27.3
Turnout 62 c. 51.7
Registered electors c. 120
Tory hold
Tory hold

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.
  3. ^ Exceptions were the twenty-three borough constituencies, the City of London and the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin
  4. ^ Nominee of the Lancashire and Cheshire Women's Textile and Other Workers Representation Committee

References

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  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – North West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Townships: Wigan | British History Online".
  3. ^ Parliamentary Boundaries Act 1832
  4. ^ Municipal Corporations Act 1835
  5. ^ "View: Lancashire XCIII (includes: Billinge and Winstanley; Orrell; Wigan.) - Ordnance Survey Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952". maps.nls.uk.
  6. ^ Local Government Act 1888
  7. ^ "A History of the County of Lancaster | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk.
  8. ^ A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 4
  9. ^ Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
  10. ^ a b Representation of the People Act 1918
  11. ^ "View: Lancashire XCIII.SE (includes: Ashton in Makerfield; Ince in Makerfield; Wigan.) - Ordnance Survey Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952". maps.nls.uk.
  12. ^ Local Administrative Units: Northern England, Frederic A. Youngs, Jr, Royal Historical Society, 1991
  13. ^ Representation of the People Act 1948
  14. ^ Boundary Commission for England: First Periodical Report
  15. ^ Boundary Commission for England: Second Periodical Report
  16. ^ Local Government Act 1972
  17. ^ a b Boundary Commission for England: Third Periodical Report
  18. ^ Boundary Commission for England: Fourth Periodical Report
  19. ^ a b Boundary Commission for England: Fifth Periodical Report
  20. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 5 North West region.
  21. ^ McGuinness, Feargal; Powell, Andy (12 June 2018). People claiming unemployment benefits by constituency, May 2018 (Report).
  22. ^ a b c d e "History of Parliament". Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  23. ^ a b c "Gerard, Sir Gilbert (d.1593), of Ince, Lancs. and Gerrard's Bromley, Staffs". History of Parliament.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Wigan". History of Parliament.
  25. ^ "Gerard, Sir Gilbert, 1st Bt. (1587–1670), of Flambards, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Mdx". History of Parliament.
  26. ^ a b c Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 4)
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 188–190. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
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  29. ^ "POTTER, Richard, 1778–1833, politician". Archives Hub. Jisc. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  30. ^ Donnelly, Sue (22 January 2015). "Beatrice Webb – the early years". LSE History. The London School of Economics and Political Science. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  31. ^ Dod, Charles Roger; Dod, Robert Phipps (1847). Dod's Parliamentary Companion, Volume 15. Dod's Parliamentary Companion. p. 164. Retrieved 1 September 2018 – via Google Books.
  32. ^ Boase, George Clement (1889). "Ewart, William" . In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 18. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  33. ^ Farrell, S. M. (9 January 2014) [2004]. "Ewart, William (1798–1869)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9011.
  34. ^ "Leeds Intelligencer". 31 July 1841. p. 7. Retrieved 1 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  35. ^ "Dumfries Burghs". Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser. 10 July 1841. p. 7. Retrieved 1 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  36. ^ "The General Election". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser. 31 July 1847. pp. 2, 3, 6, 7. Retrieved 22 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  37. ^ "The Late Elections". Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser. 14 August 1847. pp. 3, 7, 8. Retrieved 22 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  38. ^ "Wigan Election". Coventry Standard. 6 October 1854. p. 2. Retrieved 22 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  39. ^ "UK General Election - Results 4th July 2024". Wigan Council. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  40. ^ "Statement of persons nominated" (PDF).
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  44. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  45. ^ "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Wigan". BBC News.
  46. ^ "The BNP Announces Candidates for Makerfield, Leigh and Wigan".
  47. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  48. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  49. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  50. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  51. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  52. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  53. ^ "UK". Politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  54. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  55. ^ "UK". Politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  56. ^ "UK". Politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  57. ^ "UK". Politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  58. ^ "UK". Politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  59. ^ a b c d e f g h i j British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
  60. ^ a b c d e f g h Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. p. 209. ISBN 9781349022984.
  61. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
  62. ^ a b c d e f The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  63. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  64. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
  65. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 331–332. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  66. ^ "Wigan Election". Todmorden & District News. 8 December 1882. p. 9. Retrieved 15 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  67. ^ "Wigan". The Morning Post. 17 November 1868. pp. 5–6. Retrieved 23 March 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  68. ^ "Election Intelligence." Times [London, England] 27 March 1866: 5. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 29 September 2013.
  69. ^ a b c d Bairstow, Stephen; Fisher, David R. "Wigan". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 30 April 2020.

Sources

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  • Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) A Chronological Register of Both Houses of the British Parliament, from the Union in 1708, to the Third Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in 1807
  • D Brunton & D H Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
  • Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) titles A-Z
  • F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
  • Maija Jansson (ed.), Proceedings in Parliament, 1614 (House of Commons) (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1988)
  • J E Neale, The Elizabethan House of Commons (London: Jonathan Cape, 1949)
  • Henry Stooks Smith, The Parliaments of England from 1715 to 1847 (2nd edition, edited by FWS Craig - Chichester: Parliamentary Reference Publications, 1973)
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53°32′N 2°38′W / 53.54°N 2.64°W / 53.54; -2.64

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