Knowsley North (UK Parliament constituency)

Knowsley North was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1983 until 1997. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post voting system.

Knowsley North
Former Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
CountyMerseyside
1983–1997
SeatsOne
Created fromHuyton, Ormskirk
Replaced byKnowsley North and Sefton East, Knowsley South

History

The constituency was a safe seat for the Labour Party throughout its existence. Originally, it was represented by Robert Kilroy-Silk, who resigned in 1986 to pursue a media career. This resignation prompted a by-election, which was won by George Howarth.

Boundaries

The Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley wards of Cantril Farm, Cherryfield, Kirkby Central, Knowsley Park, Northwood, Park, Prescot East, Prescot West, Tower Hill, and Whitefield.

The constituency covered the northern part of the metropolitan borough of Knowsley, principally the town of Kirkby. Following a review by the Boundary Commission in 1995, the constituency was expanded at the 1997 general election to form the new Knowsley North and Sefton East constituency.

Members of Parliament
ElectionMember[1]PartyNotes
1983Robert Kilroy-SilkLabourPreviously MP for Ormskirk from 1974. Resigned October 1986
1986 by-electionGeorge HowarthLabourElected in November 1986 by-election. Subsequently, MP for Knowsley North and Sefton East from 1997
1997 constituency abolished: see Knowsley North and Sefton East & Knowsley South

Elections

Elections in the 1980s
General election 1983: Knowsley North[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Kilroy-Silk 24,949 64.5
Conservative Albert Birch 7,758 20.1
SDP Barry McColgan 5,715 14.8
Workers Revolutionary John Simons 246 0.6
Majority 17,191 44.46
Turnout 38,668 69.54
Labour win (new seat)
  • Kilroy-Silk resigned on 1 October 1986, to pursue a media career.
By-election 1986: Knowsley North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Howarth 17,403 56.3 ―8.2
Liberal Rosie Cooper 10,679 34.6 +19.8[3]
Conservative Roger Brown 1,960 6.3 ―13.8
Revolutionary Communist David Hallsworth 664 2.1 New
Independent George Weiss 111 0.4 New
Independent Robert Cory 88 0.3 New
Majority 6,724 21.7 ―22.7
Turnout 30,905 57.3 ―12.2
Labour hold Swing ―14.0
Registered electors 53,921
General election 1987: Knowsley North[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Howarth 27,454 69.9 +5.4
Liberal Rosie Cooper 6,356 16.2 +1.4
Conservative Roger Brown 4,922 12.5 ―7.6
Red Front David Hallsworth 538 1.4 New
Majority 21,098 53.7 +9.3
Turnout 39,270 74.2 +4.7
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s
General election 1992: Knowsley North[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Howarth 27,517 77.5 +7.6
Conservative Simon Mabey 5,114 14.4 +1.9
Liberal Democrats James Murray 1,515 4.3 ―11.9
Liberal Kathleen Lappin 1,180 3.3 New
Natural Law Veeva Ruben 179 0.5 New
Majority 22,403 63.1 +9.4
Turnout 35,505 72.8 ―1.4
Labour hold Swing +2.9

See also

Notes and references
  1. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "K" (part 2)
  2. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  3. Change is calculated from the SDP candidate who represented the SDP-Liberal Alliance at the 1983 general election.
  4. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  5. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.

Sources
  • Britain Votes/Europe Votes By-Election Supplement 1983-, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Research Services 1985)
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