Manchester Withington (UK Parliament constituency)

Manchester Withington is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Jeff Smith of Labour.[n 2] Of the 30 seats with the highest percentage of winning majority in 2017, the seat ranks 25th with a 55.7% margin, and is the only one of the twenty nine of these seats won by the Labour Party in which the second-placed candidate was a Liberal Democrat, rather than Conservative.[2] This is despite being a Conservative seat right up to 1987, then becoming relatively safely Labour, then Liberal Democrat from 2005 to 2015 before they lost on a large swing in 2015, after which Smith substantially increased his majority.

Manchester, Withington
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Manchester, Withington in Greater Manchester
Outline map
Location of Greater Manchester within England
CountyGreater Manchester
Electorate73,656 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsBurnage, Chorlton, Didsbury, Withington
Current constituency
Created1918
Member of ParliamentJeff Smith (Labour Party)
SeatsOne
Created fromManchester South and Stretford

History

Over the past 35 years Manchester Withington has elected all three major parties. Mostly Conservative before 1987 (with three years of Liberal Party representation near its 1918 inception), it even resisted being gained by Labour in its massive landslide victories in 1945 and 1966. However, in 1987 the seat turned red for the first time and remained so until 2005 when it was gained by Liberal Democrat John Leech. Leech took the seat with an 18% swing – the largest of the 2005 General Election. He held it against future Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell in 2010. Amidst a UK-wide collapse in support for the Lib Dems, the seat swung back to Labour in 2015 and since 2017 has now become one of the safest Labour seats in the country, with an almost 30,000 majority for Jeff Smith. It is also one of the few seats in England outside London in 2015 where UKIP lost their deposit. Demographically contrasting with neighbouring inner-city seats with similarly high Labour majorities, it is the most affluent of all the Manchester seats, as it includes high-income, highly educated areas such as Didsbury and Chorlton.

Historic boundaries
Manchester Withington in Lancashire, boundaries used 1974-83

1918–1950

Manchester Withington consisted of the County Borough of Manchester wards of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Didsbury, and Withington.

1950–1955

Manchester Withington consisted of the County Borough of Manchester wards of Rusholme and Withington.

1955–1974

Manchester Withington consisted of the County Borough of Manchester wards of Barlow Moor, Burnage, Levenshulme, Old Moat, and Withington.

1974–1983

Manchester Withington consisted of the County Borough of Manchester wards of Barlow Moor, Burnage, Didsbury, Old Moat, and Withington.[3]

1983–2010

Manchester Withington consisted of the City of Manchester wards of Barlow Moor, Burnage, Chorlton, Didsbury, Old Moat, and Withington.

Boundaries

From 2010 to the present day Manchester Withington consists of the City of Manchester wards of:

Members of Parliament

Jeff Smith is the current Labour MP for the constituency. He was elected at the 2015 general election, defeating the Liberal Democrat incumbent John Leech who had held the seat since 2005. Both of the major parties' losing candidates in the 2010 election became MPs elsewhere by the next election, Lucy Powell of Labour in Manchester Central in a 2012 by-election and Conservative Chris Green in Bolton West in 2015.

Election Member[4] Party
1918 Alfred Deakin Carter Unionist
1922 Thomas Watts Unionist
1923 Ernest Simon Liberal
1924 Sir Thomas Watts Unionist
1929 Ernest Simon Liberal
1931 Edward Fleming Conservative
1950 Frederick Cundiff Conservative
1951 Sir Robert Cary Conservative
Feb 1974 Fred Silvester Conservative
1987 Keith Bradley Labour
2005 John Leech Liberal Democrats
2015 Jeff Smith Labour

Constituency profile

This constituency contains the medium-to-high income average areas of Chorlton and Didsbury, as well as mixed[5] Old Moat and Withington neighbourhoods.[6] Manchester Withington is a seat south of Manchester's city centre with a sizeable student population and particularly high in young professionals and graduates.[5] The southern border with Wythenshawe is the River Mersey along which there are mostly green spaces such as Fletcher Moss Park and Chorlton Water Park. Chorlton and Didsbury are mostly middle-class areas with houses on leafy roads with thriving independent shops on their respective high streets. House prices are higher than other parts of Manchester and the area has one of the highest proportion of graduates in the city. Many of the large Victorian family houses in Didsbury have been split into apartments for young professionals moving into the area.[7]

Elections

Elections in the 2010s
General election 2019: Manchester Withington[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jeff Smith 35,902 67.8 ―3.9
Liberal Democrats John Leech 7,997 15.1 ―0.8
Conservative Shengke Zhi 5,820 11.0 +0.7
Green Lucy Bannister 1,968 3.7 +2.1
Brexit Party Stephen Ward 1,308 2.5 New
Majority 27,905 52.7 ―3.1
Turnout 52,995 69.5 ―2.4
Labour hold Swing ―1.6
General election 2017: Manchester Withington[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jeff Smith 38,424 71.7 +18.0
Liberal Democrats John Leech 8,549 15.9 ―8.1
Conservative Sarah Heald 5,530 10.3 +0.5
Green Laura Bannister 865 1.6 ―6.5
Women's Equality Sally Carr 234 0.4 New
Majority 29,875 55.8 +26.1
Turnout 53,602 71.9 +4.4
Labour hold Swing +13.0
See also: Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15 § Manchester Withington
General election 2015: Manchester Withington[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jeff Smith 26,843 53.7 +13.2
Liberal Democrats John Leech 11,970 24.0 ―20.6
Conservative Robert Manning 4,872 9.8 ―1.3
Green Lucy Bannister 4,048 8.1 +6.3
UKIP Mark Davies 2,172 4.3 +2.8
Independent Marcus Farmer 61 0.1 0.0
Majority 14,873 29.7 N/A
Turnout 49,966 67.5 +5.3
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats Swing +17.0
General election 2010: Manchester Withington[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats John Leech 20,110 44.6 Increase2.2
Labour Lucy Powell 18,260 40.5 Decrease0.1
Conservative Chris Green 5,005 11.1 Increase0.6
Green Brian A. Candeland 798 1.8 Decrease2.5
UKIP Robert Gutfreund-Walmsley 698 1.5 Increase0.4
Independent Yasmin Zalzala 147 0.3 Decrease0.1
Independent Marcus Farmer 57 0.1 New
Majority 1,850 4.1 Increase2.3
Turnout 45,075 62.2 Increase6.8
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase1.4

Elections in the 2000s
General election 2005: Manchester Withington[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats John Leech 15,872 42.4 +20.4
Labour Keith Bradley 15,205 40.6 −14.3
Conservative Karen Bradley 3,919 10.5 −4.8
Green Brian A. Candeland 1,595 4.3 −0.1
UKIP Robert Gutfreund-Walmsley 424 1.1 New
Independent Ivan Benett 243 0.6 New
Independent Yasmin Zalzala 152 0.4 New
Their Party Richard Reed 47 0.1 New
Majority 667 1.8 N/A
Turnout 37,459 55.3 +3.4
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing +17.3
General election 2001: Manchester Withington[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Keith Bradley 19,239 54.9 -6.6
Liberal Democrats Yasmin Zalzala 7,715 22.0 +8.4
Conservative Julian Samways 5,349 15.3 -4.0
Green Michelle Valentine 1,539 4.4 New
Socialist Alliance John Clegg 1,208 3.4 New
Majority 11,524 32.9 -9.3
Turnout 35,050 51.9 -13.9
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s
General election 1997: Manchester Withington[16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Keith Bradley 27,103 61.5 +8.8
Conservative Jonathan M. Smith 8,522 19.3 −12.0
Liberal Democrats Yasmin Zalzala 6,000 13.6 −0.6
Referendum Mark B.B. Sheppard 1,079 2.5 New
ProLife Alliance Simon P. Caldwell 614 1.4 New
Socialist Alternative Julie White 376 0.9 New
Rainbow Dream Ticket Stephen Kingston 181 0.4 New
Natural Law Mark E.J. Gaskell 152 0.4 +0.1
Majority 18,581 42.2 +20.8
Turnout 44,027 65.8 -5.5
Labour hold Swing +10.4
General election 1992: Manchester Withington[18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Keith Bradley 23,962 52.7 +9.8
Conservative Eric N. Farthing 14,227 31.3 −4.9
Liberal Democrats Gordon Hennell 6,457 14.2 −5.6
Green Brian A. Candeland 725 1.6 +0.6
Natural Law Clive E. Menhinick 128 0.3 New
Majority 9,735 21.4 +14.7
Turnout 45,499 71.3 −5.8
Labour hold Swing +7.3

Elections in the 1980s
General election 1987: Manchester Withington[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Keith Bradley 21,650 42.9 +8.7
Conservative Fred Silvester 18,259 36.2 −3.0
Liberal Audrey Jones 9,978 19.8 −6.4
Green Michael Abberton 524 1.0 New
Majority 3,391 6.7 N/A
Turnout 50,411 77.1 +4.8
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +5.9
General election 1983: Manchester Withington[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Fred Silvester 18,329 39.2 −8.1
Labour Frances Done 15,956 34.2 −4.7
SDP Bernard L. Lever 12,231 26.2 New
Independent Michael Gibson 184 0.4 0.0
Majority 2,373 5.0 -3.4
Turnout 46,700 72.3 -2.4
Conservative hold Swing −3.4

Elections in the 1970s
General election 1979: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Fred Silvester 18,862 47.3 +4.3
Labour Geoffrey Hodgson 15,510 38.9 +1.1
Liberal John T. Mitchell 5,387 13.5 −5.7
Independent Michael George Gibson 157 0.4 New
Majority 3,352 8.4 +3.3
Turnout 39,916 74.7 +6.9
Conservative hold Swing +1.6
General election October 1974: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Fred Silvester 16,937 43.0 +0.6
Labour Peter J. Hildrew 14,936 37.8 +5.8
Liberal Nan Davies 7,555 19.2 -6.4
Majority 2,001 5.2 -5.2
Turnout 39,428 67.8 -5.8
Conservative hold Swing -2.7
General election February 1974: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Fred Silvester 17,997 42.4 -6.2
Labour Sholto N.M. Moxley 13,584 32.0 -7.6
Liberal Ian McWilliam-Fowler 10,877 25.6 +13.9
Majority 4,413 10.39 +1.39
Turnout 42,458 73.6 +5.8
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Cary 18,854 48.64
Labour Michael Noble 13,365 39.64
Liberal James Clarney 4,540 11.71
Majority 3,489 9.00
Turnout 36,759 67.84
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s
General election 1966: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Cary 16,676 42.92
Labour David Clark 16,029 41.25
Liberal Geoffrey Vaughan Davies 6,150 15.83
Majority 647 1.67
Turnout 38,855 71.18
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Cary 18,259 44.28
Labour Keith Openshaw 13,117 31.18
Liberal Geoffrey Vaughan Davies 9,860 23.91
Majority 5,142 13.10
Turnout 41,236 72.35
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s
General election 1959: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Cary 23,170 52.28
Labour Robert Sheldon 13,476 30.41
Liberal Geoffrey Vaughan Davies 7,675 17.32
Majority 9,694 21.83
Turnout 44,321 74.54
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Cary 25,707 58.64
Labour John B. Hayes 13,054 29.78
Liberal Geoffrey Vaughan Davies 5,077 11.58 New
Majority 12,653 28.86
Turnout 45,838 71.94
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Cary 26,804 64.73
Labour James Clough 14,604 35.27
Majority 12,200 29.46
Turnout 41,408 80.29
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederick Cundiff 22,817 52.32
Labour Lewis Wright 14,206 32.57
Liberal Leonard Behrens 6,591 15.11
Majority 8,611 19.75
Turnout 43,614 85.31
Conservative hold Swing

Election in the 1940s
General election 1945: Manchester, Withington[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Fleming 30,881 46.4 -15.9
Labour R. Edwards 22,634 34.0 -1.4
Liberal Leonard Behrens 13,107 19.7 -4.6
Majority 8,247 12.4 -28.4
Turnout 66,622 74.5 +3.5
Conservative hold Swing

Election in the 1930s
General election 1935: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Fleming 35,564 62.27
Labour D. Scott Morton 12,248 21.45 New
Liberal William Ross 9,298 16.28
Majority 23,316 40.82
Turnout 57,110 70.89
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1931: Manchester Withington[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Fleming 36,097 62.8 +23.0
Liberal Philip Guedalla 21,379 37.2 -6.6
Majority 5,562 11.6 N/A
Turnout 48,168 75.8 -2.0
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +14.8

Elections in the 1920s
General election 1929: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ernest Simon 20,948 43.8 +4.8
Unionist Thomas Watts 19,063 39.8 -11.1
Labour Joseph Robinson 7,853 16.4 +7.2
Majority 1,885 4.0 N/A
Turnout 47,864 77.8 -4.0
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +8.0
General election 1924: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Thomas Watts 13,633 50.9 -7.3
Liberal Ernest Simon 10,435 39.0 -19.2
Labour Edgar Whiteley 2,467 9.2 New
Independent Kenneth Burke 236 0.9 New
Majority 3,198 11.9 N/A
Turnout 26,771 81.8 +3.8
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing
General election 1923: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ernest Simon 13,944 58.2 +9.7
Unionist Thomas Watts 10,026 41.8 -9.7
Majority 3,918 16.4 19.4
Turnout 23,970 78.0 +0.6
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +9.7
General election 1922: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Thomas Watts 11,678 51.5 -17.8
Liberal Ernest Simon 11,008 48.5 +17.8
Majority 670 3.0 -35.6
Turnout 22,686 77.4 +38.8
Unionist hold Swing -17.8

Elections in the 1910s
General election 1918: Manchester Withington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Alfred Deakin Carter 11,677 69.3
Liberal George Frederick Burditt[24] 5,166 30.7
Majority 6,511 38.6
Turnout 16,843
Unionist 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. Library, House of Commons (23 June 2017). "GE2017: Marginal seats and turnout".
  3. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Manchester) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/606, retrieved 26 February 2023
  4. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 4)
  5. "Local statistics - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk.
  6. Constituency Profile The Guardian
  7. "DataShine: Census".
  8. "Blackley & Broughton Parliamentary constituency". manchester.gov.uk. Manchester City Council. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  9. "Manchester Withington - 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.
  10. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  11. "Manchester Withington". BBC News. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  12. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  13. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. "Parliamentary Election Results 2005". manchester.gov.uk. Manchester City Council. Archived from the original on 11 May 2010.
  15. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. "UK General Election results May 1997". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 1 May 1997. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  18. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. "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.
  20. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. UK General Election results: July 1945
  23. British parliamentary election results, 1918–1949 by FWS Craig
  24. BURDITT, George Frederick’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014 accessed 18 Sept 2017

53.433°N 2.234°W / 53.433; -2.234

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