Ashfield (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 53°07′N 1°16′W / 53.12°N 1.27°W / 53.12; -1.27
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ashfield
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Ashfield in Nottinghamshire
Outline map
Location of Nottinghamshire within England
CountyNottinghamshire
Population101,914 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate77,049 (December 2010)[2]
Major settlementsSutton in Ashfield, Kirkby in Ashfield and Eastwood
Current constituency
Created1955
Member of ParliamentLee Anderson (Reform UK)
Number of membersOne
Created fromBroxtowe


Ashfield is a constituency of the UK Parliament. It is in the county of Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands. [n 1] The constituency is the Erewash Valley. It is is to the north west of the city of Nottingham, and alongside the border with neighbouring county of Derbyshire.

Ashfield was created in 1955, and is considered to is part of the Red Wall. The red wall is a term used in British politics to describe UK Parliament constituencies in Midlands and Northern England that traditionally vote Labour. However in 2019 many of these constituencies voted for the Conservative Party. Ashfield was one of these constituencies as it voted for Lee Anderson, a member of the Conservative Party. Anderson defected to Reform UK in March 2024, after having the whip removed. He is Reform UK's first and only MP. Before 2019 Ashfield only voted for the Conservatives once, in a by-election in 1977 when Tim Smith won the constituency. Smith represented the constituency for two years until he lost it in the 1979 general election . Apart from 1977 and 2019, Ashfield has voted for Labour. In the 2016 referendum on membership of the European Union, they voted 70% in favour of Brexit.[3]

Constituency profile[change | change source]

The constituency has the market towns of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Huthwaite and Eastwood. Coal mining was once a significant part of the economy. Historically many people in the area were employed in coal industry, and former coal miners live the area. Current MP Lee Anderson once worked as a coal miner.

Boundaries[change | change source]

1955–1974: The Urban Districts of Eastwood, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, and Sutton-in-Ashfield. In the Rural District of Basford the parishes of Annesley, Bestwood Park, Brinsley, Felley, Linby, Newstead, Papplewick, and Selston.

1974–1983: The Urban Districts of Hucknall, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, and Sutton-in-Ashfield. In the Rural District of Basford the parishes of Annesley, Felley, and Selston.

1983–2010: The District of Ashfield wards of Jacksdale, Kirkby-in-Ashfield Central, Kirkby-in-Ashfield East, Kirkby-in-Ashfield West, Selston, Sutton-in-Ashfield Central, Sutton-in-Ashfield East, Sutton-in-Ashfield North, Sutton-in-Ashfield West, Underwood, and Woodhouse, and the Borough of Broxtowe wards of Brinsley, Eastwood East, Eastwood North, and Eastwood South.

2010–present: The District of Ashfield wards of Jacksdale, Kirkby-in-Ashfield Central, Kirkby-in-Ashfield East, Kirkby-in-Ashfield West, Selston, Sutton-in-Ashfield Central, Sutton-in-Ashfield East, Sutton-in-Ashfield North, Sutton-in-Ashfield West, Underwood, and Woodhouse. Also the Borough of Broxtowe wards of Brinsley, Eastwood North and Greasley Beauvale, and Eastwood South.

History[change | change source]

The Ashfield constituency has been represented by a Secretary of State. Between 1992 and 2010 the constituency was represented by Geoff Hoon. Between 1999 and 2005, Hoon was Defence Secretary in Tony Blair's cabinet. Between 2008 and 2009, Hoon was Transport Secretary in Gordon Brown's cabinet.

For only two years since its creation in 1955 and up until 2019 has the constituency been represented by a party other than Labour. Tim Smith of the Conservative Party won the constituency in a by-election in 1977. Smith represented the constituency until he lost in the 1979 general election. In 2019 the constituency was won again by the conservatives. It was won by Lee Anderson. Anderson was a member of the labour party, however joined the Conservatives in 2018 after he was suspended from Labour. Anderson defected to Reform UK in March 2024, after having the whip suspended. He is Reform UK's first and only MP.

Election Member[4] Party
1955 Will Warbey Labour
1966 David Marquand Labour
1977 by-election Tim Smith Conservative
1979 Frank Haynes Labour
1992 Geoff Hoon Labour
2010 Gloria De Piero Labour
2019 Lee Anderson Conservative


Elections[change | change source]

Ashfield election results

Elections in the 2010s[change | change source]

General election 2019: Ashfield[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lee Anderson 19,231 39.3 Decrease2.4
Ashfield Independents Jason Zadrozny 13,498 27.6 Increase18.4
Labour Natalie Fleet 11,971 24.4 Decrease18.2
Brexit Party Martin Daubney 2,501 5.1 New
Liberal Democrats Rebecca Wain 1,105 2.3 Increase0.4
Green Rose Woods 674 1.4 Increase0.6
Majority 5,733 11.7 N/A
Turnout 48,980 62.6 Decrease1.4
Conservative gain from Labour Swing Increase7.9
General election 2017: Ashfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gloria De Piero 21,285 42.6 Increase1.6
Conservative Tony Harper 20,844 41.7 Increase19.3
Ashfield Independents Gail Turner 4,612 9.2 New
UKIP Ray Young 1,885 3.8 Decrease17.6
Liberal Democrats Bob Charlesworth 969 1.9 Decrease12.9
Green Arran Rangi 398 0.8 New
Majority 441 0.9 Decrease17.7
Turnout 49,993 64.0 Increase5.5
Labour hold Swing Decrease8.9
General election 2015: Ashfield[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gloria De Piero 19,448 41.0 +7.3
Conservative Helen Harrison[7] 10,628 22.4 +0.2
UKIP Simon Ashcroft 10,150 21.4 +19.5
Liberal Democrats Philip Smith[8] [a] 7,030 14.8 −18.5
Justice for Men and Boys Mike Buchanan 153 0.3 New
Majority 8,820 18.6 +18.2
Turnout 47,409 61.5 −0.8
Labour hold Swing +3.55
  1. ↑ Noteː The Liberal Democrats had again selected Jason Zadrozny as their candidate for the 2015 general election. However he was suspended from the party and removed as a candidate, being replaced by Philip Smith.. Just weeks before the election Zadrozny was arrested and questioned for historic child sex abuse allegations. He was was later cleared of the charges.
General election 2010: Ashfield[9][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gloria De Piero 16,239 33.7 −15.0
Liberal Democrats Jason Zadrozny 16,047 33.3 +19.5
Conservative Garry Hickton 10,698 22.2 −2.2
BNP Edward Holmes 2,781 5.8 New
English Democrat Tony Ellis 1,102 2.3 New
UKIP Terry Coleman 933 1.9 New
Independent Eddie Smith 396 0.8 New
Majority 192 0.4 −23.9
Turnout 48,196 62.3 +5.2
Labour hold Swing −17.2

Elections in the 2000s[change | change source]

General election 2005: Ashfield[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Geoff Hoon 20,433 48.6 −9.5
Conservative Giles Inglis-Jones 10,220 24.3 −0.1
Liberal Democrats Wendy Johnson 5,829 13.9 +2.6
Ashfield Independents Roy Adkins 2,292 5.5 New
Independent Kate Allsop 1,900 4.5 New
Veritas Sarah Hemstock 1,108 2.6 New
Independent Eddie Grenfell 269 0.6 New
Majority 10,213 24.3 -9.4
Turnout 42,051 57.3 +3.7
Labour hold Swing −4.7
General election 2001: Ashfield[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Geoff Hoon 22,875 58.1 −7.0
Conservative Julian Leigh 9,607 24.4 +4.1
Liberal Democrats William Smith 4,428 11.3 +1.6
Independent Charlie Harby 1,471 3.7 New
Socialist Alliance George Watson 589 1.5 New
Socialist Labour Katrina R. Howse 380 1.0 New
Majority 13,268 33.7 -11.1
Turnout 39,350 53.6 −16.4
Labour hold Swing −5.6

Elections in the 1990s[change | change source]

General election 1997: Ashfield[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Geoff Hoon 32,979 65.1 +10.2
Conservative Mark Simmonds 10,251 20.3 −12.3
Liberal Democrats William E. Smith 4,882 9.7 −2.8
Referendum Martin I. Betts 1,896 3.8 New
BNP Steven E. Belshaw 595 1.2 New
Majority 22,728 44.8 +21.5
Turnout 50,603 70.0 -10.4
Labour hold Swing +11.3
General election 1992: Ashfield[15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Geoff Hoon 32,018 54.9 +13.2
Conservative Laurence Robertson 19,031 32.6 −1.0
Liberal Democrats James S. Turton 7,291 12.5 −12.2
Majority 12,987 22.3 +14.2
Turnout 58,340 80.4 +3.2
Labour hold Swing +7.1

Elections in the 1980s[change | change source]

General election 1987: Ashfield[14][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Haynes 22,812 41.7 ±0.0
Conservative Barry Coleman 18,412 33.6 +2.9
Liberal Frances Stein 13,542 24.7 −2.1
Majority 4,400 8.1 −2.9
Turnout 70,937 77.2 +2.4
Labour hold Swing −1.45
General election 1983: Ashfield[14][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Haynes 21,859 41.7 -11.1
Conservative Roderick Seligman 15,772 30.7 -9.7
Liberal Frances Stein 13,812 26.8 +20.6
Majority 6,087 11.0 -1.4
Turnout 68,791 74.8 -5.8
Labour hold Swing -0.7

Elections in the 1970s[change | change source]

General election 1979: Ashfield[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Haynes 33,116 52.8 −10.6
Conservative Tim Smith 25,319 40.4 +18.1
Liberal Hampton Flint 3,914 6.2 −8.1
National Front W. Annable 397 0.6 N/A
Majority 7,797 12.4 -28.7
Turnout 77,878 80.6 +5.9
Labour hold Swing −14.4
By-election 1977: Ashfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tim Smith 19,616 43.1 +20.8
Labour Michael Cowan 19,352 42.5 −20.9
Liberal Hampton Flint 4,380 9.6 −4.7
National Front George Herrod 1,734 3.8 New
Socialist Workers June Hall 453 1.0 New
Majority 264 0.6 N/A
Turnout 45,535
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +20.8
General election October 1974: Ashfield[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Marquand 35,367 63.4 +4.1
Conservative Richard Kemm 12,452 22.3 −1.1
Liberal Hampton Flint 7,959 14.3 −3.0
Majority 22,915 41.1 +5.2
Turnout 74,683 74.7 -12.7
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: Ashfield[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Marquand 35,994 59.3 −11.0
Conservative Richard Kemm 14,206 23.4 −6.3
Liberal Hampton Flint 10,534 17.3 New
Majority 21,788 35.9 -0.5
Turnout 74,095 82.0 +11.8
Labour hold Swing
General election 1970: Ashfield[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Marquand 32,372 68.2 −5.4
Conservative Richard Kemm 15,089 31.8 +5.4
Majority 17,283 36.4 -11.4
Turnout 67,623 70.2 -3.1
Labour hold Swing −5.4

Elections in the 1960s[change | change source]

General election 1966: Ashfield[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Marquand 33,477 73.6 +0.8
Conservative E.T. Gibbons 11,991 26.4 -0.8
Majority 21,486 47.8 +2.1
Turnout 62,030 73.30 -3.89
Labour hold Swing
General election 1964: Ashfield[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Warbey 34,841 72.84
Conservative TL Wright 12,989 27.16
Majority 21,852 45.68
Turnout 61,960 77.19
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s[change | change source]

General election 1959: Ashfield[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Warbey 35,432 70.69
Conservative Julian GW Sandys 14,690 29.31
Majority 20,742 41.38
Turnout 61,139 81.98
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Ashfield[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Warbey 32,905 71.94
Conservative Alan S Plane 12,836 28.06
Majority 20,069 43.88
Turnout 59,820 76.46
Labour win (new seat)

Notes[change | change source]

  1. ↑ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)

References[change | change source]

  1. ↑ "Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "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.
  3. ↑ "EU Referendum: Ashfield votes to LEAVE the EU". ITV News. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  4. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 3)
  5. ↑ "Ashfield Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  6. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  7. ↑ "Conservatives choose Ashfield candidate for General Election". www.chad.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "Ashfield Liberal Democrats name new candidate". Nottingham Post. 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  10. ↑ "BBC News - Election 2010 - Constituency - Ashfield". news.bbc.co.uk.
  11. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  12. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 "Ashfield [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  15. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  17. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ↑ "UK General Election results: March 1966 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  20. ↑ "UK General Election results: October 1964 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  21. ↑ "UK General Election results: October 1959 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  22. ↑ "UK General Election results: May 1955 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2010.

Sources[change | change source]

  • Youngs, Frederic A., Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Vol II, Northern England, London, 1991

53°07′N 1°16′W / 53.12°N 1.27°W / 53.12; -1.27

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