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Contents

   



(Top)
  


1 History  




2 Boundaries  




3 Members of Parliament  




4 Elections results  


4.1  Elections in the 1880s  




4.2  Elections in the 1890s  




4.3  Elections in the 1900s  




4.4  Elections in the 1910s  




4.5  Elections in the 1920s  




4.6  Elections in the 1930s  




4.7  Elections in the 1940s  




4.8  Elections in the 1950s  




4.9  Elections in the 1960s  




4.10  Elections in the 1970s  






5 See also  




6 References  













Wirral (UK Parliament constituency): Difference between revisions






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{{Short description|Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–1983}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox UK constituency

{{Infobox UK constituency

|name = Wirral

|name = Wirral
Line 9: Line 11:

|elects_howmany = one

|elects_howmany = one

|previous = [[West Cheshire (UK Parliament constituency)|West Cheshire]]

|previous = [[West Cheshire (UK Parliament constituency)|West Cheshire]]

|next = [[Ellesmere Port and Neston (UK Parliament constituency)|Ellesmere Port and Neston]], [[Wirral South (UK Parliament constituency)|Wirral South]], [[Wirral West (UK Parliament constituency)|Wirral West]] and [[Birkenhead (UK Parliament constituency)|Birkenhead]]<ref name="ElectionWeb74">{{cite web|title='Wirral', Feb 1974 - May 1983|url=http://electionweb.co.uk/Bp/P74617.htm|website=ElectionWeb Project|publisher=Cognitive Computing Limited|accessdate=24 March 2016}}</ref>

|next = [[Ellesmere Port and Neston (UK Parliament constituency)|Ellesmere Port and Neston]], [[Wirral South (UK Parliament constituency)|Wirral South]], [[Wirral West (UK Parliament constituency)|Wirral West]] and [[Birkenhead (UK Parliament constituency)|Birkenhead]]<ref name="ElectionWeb74">{{cite web|title='Wirral', Feb 1974 - May 1983|url=http://electionweb.co.uk/Bp/P74617.htm|website=ElectionWeb Project|publisher=Cognitive Computing Limited|access-date=24 March 2016}}</ref>

|region = England

|region = England

|county = [[Cheshire]]

|county = [[Cheshire]]

|}}

|}}

'''Wirral''' was a [[county constituency]] which returned one [[Member of Parliament]] to the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]], elected by the [[first past the post]] voting system.

'''Wirral''' was a [[county constituency]] which returned one [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] from 1885 to 1983, elected by the [[first past the post]] voting system.


The constituency was located on the [[Wirral Peninsula]], historically part of [[Cheshire]] in [[North West England]], and was created by the [[Redistribution of Seats Act 1885]] for the [[1885 United Kingdom general election|1885 general election]]. From 1974, its territory was split between the newly created [[Metropolitan Borough of Wirral]], part of the [[metropolitan county]] of [[Merseyside]], and the borough of [[Ellesmere Port and Neston]] which remained part of Cheshire.

The constituency was located on the [[Wirral Peninsula]], historically part of [[Cheshire]] in [[North West England]].

== History ==

'''Wirral''' was created by the [[Redistribution of Seats Act 1885]] for the [[1885 United Kingdom general election|1885 general election]]. As the population of the Wirral peninsula grew, its boundaries were redrawn to allow for additional constituencies to be created. From 1974, its territory was split between the newly created [[Metropolitan Borough of Wirral]], part of the [[metropolitan county]] of [[Merseyside]], and the borough of [[Ellesmere Port and Neston]] which remained part of Cheshire.


It was abolished for the [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983 general election]], and was succeeded by the constituencies of [[Ellesmere Port and Neston (UK Parliament constituency)|Ellesmere Port and Neston]], [[Wirral South (UK Parliament constituency)|Wirral South]] and [[Wirral West (UK Parliament constituency)|Wirral West]].

It was abolished for the [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983 general election]], and was succeeded by the constituencies of [[Ellesmere Port and Neston (UK Parliament constituency)|Ellesmere Port and Neston]], [[Wirral South (UK Parliament constituency)|Wirral South]] and [[Wirral West (UK Parliament constituency)|Wirral West]].


== Boundaries ==

== Boundaries ==

'''1885–1918''': The Borough of Birkenhead, and the Hundred of Wirral.

'''1885–1918''': The Borough of Birkenhead, and the Hundred of Wirral.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Great Britain|first=Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales|url=http://archive.org/details/publicgeneralac01walegoog|title=The public general acts|publisher=Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884|others=unknown library|language=en}}</ref>

''Created as one of eight single-member divisions of Cheshire, replacing the three 2-member divisions. It covered the whole of the historical [[Wirral Hundred|hundred of Wirral]], which included [[Birkenhead]], [[Wallasey]], [[Neston]], [[Bebington]], Ellesmere Port and extended south to the City of [[Chester]]. [[Birkenhead (UK Parliament constituency)|Birkenhead]] was a separate parliamentary borough, but non-resident freeholders were entitled to vote in the constituency.''

'''1918–1950''': The Urban Districts of Bromborough, Ellesmere Port and Whitby, Higher Bebington, Hoylake and West Kirby, Lower Bebington, and Neston and Parkgate, and the Rural District of Wirral.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Craig, Fred W. S.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/539011|title=Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972;|date=1972|publisher=Political Reference Publications|isbn=0-900178-09-4|location=Chichester|oclc=539011}}</ref>

''[[Wallasey (UK Parliament constituency)|Wallasey]] was created as a new parliamentary borough. Southern-most parts transferred to the enlarged [[City of Chester (UK Parliament constituency)|City of Chester]] constituency.''

⚫

'''1950–1974''': The Urban Districts of Ellesmere Port, Hoylake, Neston, and Wirral.<ref name=":0" />

''Parts of the constituency absorbed by the County Boroughs of Birkenhead and Wallasey transferred to the respective constituencies.  Area comprising the Municipal Borough of [[Bebington (UK Parliament constituency)|Bebington]] formed the basis of the new constituency of that name.  Other minor changes resulting from reorganisation of local authorities.''

The Urban District of Ellesmere Port became a Municipal Borough in 1955.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ellesmere Port UD|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10081610/relationships}}</ref>


'''1918–1950''': The Urban Districts of Bromborough, Ellesmere Port and Whitby, Higher Bebington, Hoylake and West Kirby, Lower Bebington, and Neston and Parkgate, and the Rural DistrictofWirral.

'''1974–1983''': The Urban Districts of [[Hoylake Urban District|Hoylake]], [[Neston Urban District|Neston]], and [[Wirral Urban District|Wirral]], and the County Borough of Birkenhead wardsofPrenton and Upton.<ref name=":0" />


''Ellesmere Port transferred to the new constituency of [[Bebington and Ellesmere Port (UK Parliament constituency)|Bebington and Ellesmere Port]]. [[Prenton]] transferred from Bebington, which was now abolished, and [[Upton, Merseyside|Upton]] transferred from Birkenhead.''
⚫

'''1950–1955''': The Urban Districts of Ellesmere Port, Hoylake, Neston, and Wirral.


From 1 April 1974 until it was abolished for the 1983 general election, Neston remained in Cheshire whilst the rest of the constituency comprised parts of the [[Metropolitan Borough of Wirral]] in [[Merseyside]], but its boundaries were unchanged.

'''1955–1974''': The Borough of Ellesmere Port, and the Urban Districts of Hoylake, Neston, and Wirral. The constituency boundaries remained unchanged.


On abolition, Hoylake was included in [[Wirral West (UK Parliament constituency)|Wirral West]], Heswall (the main town in the Urban District of Wirral) in [[Wirral South (UK Parliament constituency)|Wirral South]] and Neston in [[Ellesmere Port and Neston (UK Parliament constituency)|Ellesmere Port and Neston]].

'''1974–1983''': The Urban Districts of Hoylake, Neston, and Wirral, and the County Borough of Birkenhead wards of Prenton and Upton.


== Members of Parliament ==

== Members of Parliament ==
Line 35: Line 52:

!colspan="2"|Election!!Member!!Party!!Notes

!colspan="2"|Election!!Member!!Party!!Notes

|-

|-

|style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |

|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| [[1885 United Kingdom general election|1885]]

| [[1885 United Kingdom general election|1885]]

| [[Edward Cotton-Jodrell]]

| [[Edward Cotton-Jodrell|Edward Cotton]]

| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

| surname changed to Cotton-Jodrell

|-

|-

|style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |

|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| [[1900 United Kingdom general election|1900]]

| [[1900 United Kingdom general election|1900]]

| [[Joseph Hoult]]

| [[Joseph Hoult]]

| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-

|-

|style="background-color: {{Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |

|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |

| [[1906 United Kingdom general election|1906]]

| [[1906 United Kingdom general election|1906]]

| [[William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme|William Lever]]

| [[William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme|William Lever]]

| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|-

|-

|style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |

|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| [[January 1910 United Kingdom general election|1910]]

| [[January 1910 United Kingdom general election|1910]]

| [[Gershom Stewart]]

| [[Gershom Stewart]]

| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-

|-

|style="background-color: {{Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |

|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |

| [[1923 United Kingdom general election|1923]]

| [[1923 United Kingdom general election|1923]]

| [[Stephen Roxby Dodds|Stephen Dodds]]

| [[Stephen Roxby Dodds|Stephen Dodds]]

| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|-

|-

|style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |

|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| [[1924 United Kingdom general election|1924]]

| [[1924 United Kingdom general election|1924]]

| [[John Grace (UK politician)|John Grace]]

| [[John Grace (UK politician)|John Grace]]

| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-

|-

|style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |

|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| [[1931 United Kingdom general election|1931]]

| [[1931 United Kingdom general election|1931]]

| [[Christopher Clayton (businessman)|Christopher Clayton]]

| [[Christopher Clayton (businessman)|Christopher Clayton]]

| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-

|-

|style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |

|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| [[1935 United Kingdom general election|1935]]

| [[1935 United Kingdom general election|1935]]

| [[Alan Graham (British politician)|Alan Graham]]

| [[Alan Graham (British politician)|Alan Graham]]

| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-

|-

|style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |

|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| [[1945 United Kingdom general election|1945]]

| [[1945 United Kingdom general election|1945]]

|rowspan="2"| [[Selwyn Lloyd]]

|rowspan="2"| [[Selwyn Lloyd]]

| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-

|-

|style="background-color: {{Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)/meta/color}}"|

|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)}}"|

|1971

|1971

| [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker]]

| [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker]]

| Resigned 1976

| Resigned 1976

|-

|-

|style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |

|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| [[1976 Wirral by-election|1976 by-election]]

| [[1976 Wirral by-election|1976 by-election]]

| [[David Hunt, Baron Hunt of Wirral|David Hunt]]

| [[David Hunt, Baron Hunt of Wirral|David Hunt]]
Line 155: Line 173:

{{Election box candidate with party link|

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Liberal Party (UK)

|party =Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate =Bernard Charles March-Phillipps De Lisle

|candidate =Bernard March-Phillipps De Lisle

|votes =3,051

|votes =3,051

|percentage =35.3

|percentage =35.3
Line 327: Line 345:

}}

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box end}}

'''General Election 1914/15''':

'''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;

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;

Line 494: Line 512:

|title=[[1931 United Kingdom general election|General election 1931]]: Wirral

|title=[[1931 United Kingdom general election|General election 1931]]: Wirral

}}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = [[Christopher Clayton (businessman)|Christopher Clayton]]

|candidate = [[Christopher Clayton (businessman)|Christopher Clayton]]
Line 504: Line 522:

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Stanley Wormald

|candidate = Stanley Wormald

|votes = 10,117

|votes = 10,177

|percentage = 18.47

|percentage = 18.47

|change =

|change =

Line 526: Line 544:

|title=[[1935 United Kingdom general election|General election 1935]]: Wirral

|title=[[1935 United Kingdom general election|General election 1935]]: Wirral

}}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = [[Alan Graham (British politician)|Alan Graham]]

|candidate = [[Alan Graham (British politician)|Alan Graham]]
Line 557: Line 575:


===Elections in the 1940s ===

===Elections in the 1940s ===

'''General Election 1939/40''':

'''General Election 1939–40''':


Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;

*'''Conservative''': [[Alan Graham (British politician)|Alan Graham]]

*'''Conservative''': [[Alan Graham (British politician)|Alan Graham]]

*'''Liberal''': Thomas Mercer Banks

*'''Liberal''': Thomas Mercer Banks

*'''Labour''': [[Lois Bulley|A Lois Bulley]]

*'''Labour''': [[Lois Bulley]]

{{Election box begin |

{{Election box begin |

|title=[[1945 United Kingdom general election|General election 1945]]: Wirral

|title=[[1945 United Kingdom general election|General election 1945]]: Wirral

}}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = [[Selwyn Lloyd]]

|candidate = [[Selwyn Lloyd]]
Line 575: Line 593:

{{Election box candidate with party link|

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = [[Lois Bulley|A Lois Bulley]]

|candidate = [[Lois Bulley]]

|votes = 25,919

|votes = 25,919

|percentage = 31.32

|percentage = 31.32
Line 607: Line 625:

|title=[[1950 United Kingdom general election|General election 1950]]: Wirral

|title=[[1950 United Kingdom general election|General election 1950]]: Wirral

}}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = [[Selwyn Lloyd]]

|candidate = [[Selwyn Lloyd]]
Line 646: Line 664:

|title=[[1951 United Kingdom general election|General election 1951]]: Wirral

|title=[[1951 United Kingdom general election|General election 1951]]: Wirral

}}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = [[Selwyn Lloyd]]

|candidate = [[Selwyn Lloyd]]
Line 655: Line 673:

{{Election box candidate with party link|

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Reginald B Chrimes

|candidate = [[Reg Chrimes]]

|votes = 17,392

|votes = 17,392

|percentage = 34.77

|percentage = 34.77
Line 678: Line 696:

|title=[[1955 United Kingdom general election|General election 1955]]: Wirral

|title=[[1955 United Kingdom general election|General election 1955]]: Wirral

}}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = [[Selwyn Lloyd]]

|candidate = [[Selwyn Lloyd]]
Line 687: Line 705:

{{Election box candidate with party link|

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Reginald B Chrimes

|candidate = [[Reg Chrimes]]

|votes = 15,976

|votes = 15,976

|percentage = 32.60

|percentage = 32.60
Line 710: Line 728:

|title=[[1959 United Kingdom general election|General election 1959]]: Wirral

|title=[[1959 United Kingdom general election|General election 1959]]: Wirral

}}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = [[Selwyn Lloyd]]

|candidate = [[Selwyn Lloyd]]
Line 744: Line 762:

|title=[[1964 United Kingdom general election|General election 1964]]: Wirral

|title=[[1964 United Kingdom general election|General election 1964]]: Wirral

}}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = [[Selwyn Lloyd]]

|candidate = [[Selwyn Lloyd]]
Line 783: Line 801:

|title=[[1966 United Kingdom general election|General election 1966]]: Wirral

|title=[[1966 United Kingdom general election|General election 1966]]: Wirral

}}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = [[Selwyn Lloyd]]

|candidate = [[Selwyn Lloyd]]
Line 846: Line 864:

{{Election box majority|

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 16,458

|votes = 16,458

|percentage = 23.5

|percentage = 23.4

|change = +8.4

|change = +8.3

}}

}}

{{Election box turnout|

{{Election box turnout|
Line 891: Line 909:

|change = +7.3

|change = +7.3

}}

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)

|winner = Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)

|swing =

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box end}}
Line 934: Line 953:

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[1976 Wirral by-election]]}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[1976 Wirral by-election]]}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =[[David Hunt, Baron Hunt of Wirral|David Hunt]]

|candidate =[[David Hunt, Baron Hunt of Wirral|David Hunt]]
Line 962: Line 981:

|votes = 24,112

|votes = 24,112

|percentage = 46.44

|percentage = 46.44

|change =

|change = +27.24

}}

}}

{{Election box turnout|

{{Election box turnout|
Line 1,014: Line 1,033:

}}

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box end}}

==See also==

* [[History of parliamentary constituencies and boundaries in Cheshire]]


==References==

==References==
Line 1,023: Line 1,046:

{{s-par|uk}}

{{s-par|uk}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Tiverton (UK Parliament constituency)|Tiverton]]}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Tiverton (UK Parliament constituency)|Tiverton]]}}

{{s-ttl|title=Constituency represented by the Chancellor of the Exchequer|years=1960–1962}}

{{s-ttl|title=Constituency represented by the chancellor of the Exchequer|years=1960–1962}}

{{s-aft|after=[[Barnet (UK Parliament constituency)|Barnet]]}}

{{s-aft|after=[[Barnet (UK Parliament constituency)|Barnet]]}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Southampton Itchen (UK Parliament constituency)|Southampton Itchen]]}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Southampton Itchen (UK Parliament constituency)|Southampton Itchen]]}}

{{s-ttl|title=Constituency represented by the Speaker|years=1971–1976}}

{{s-ttl|title=Constituency represented by the speaker|years=1971–1976}}

{{s-aft|after=[[Cardiff West (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff West]]}}

{{s-aft|after=[[Cardiff West (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff West]]}}

{{end}}

{{end}}
Line 1,033: Line 1,056:

[[Category:Parliamentary constituencies in North West England (historic)]]

[[Category:Parliamentary constituencies in North West England (historic)]]

[[Category:Politics of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral]]

[[Category:Politics of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral]]

[[Category:United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies established in 1885]]

[[Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1885]]

[[Category:United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies disestablished in 1983]]

[[Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1983]]

Latest revision as of 18:08, 9 July 2024

Wirral
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Wirral in Cheshire, boundaries 1974-83
CountyCheshire
1885–1983
Seatsone
Created fromWest Cheshire
Replaced byEllesmere Port and Neston, Wirral South, Wirral West and Birkenhead[1]

Wirral was a county constituency which returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 1983, elected by the first past the post voting system.

The constituency was located on the Wirral Peninsula, historically part of CheshireinNorth West England.

History[edit]

Wirral was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 for the 1885 general election. As the population of the Wirral peninsula grew, its boundaries were redrawn to allow for additional constituencies to be created. From 1974, its territory was split between the newly created Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, part of the metropolitan countyofMerseyside, and the borough of Ellesmere Port and Neston which remained part of Cheshire.

It was abolished for the 1983 general election, and was succeeded by the constituencies of Ellesmere Port and Neston, Wirral South and Wirral West.

Boundaries[edit]

1885–1918: The Borough of Birkenhead, and the Hundred of Wirral.[2]

Created as one of eight single-member divisions of Cheshire, replacing the three 2-member divisions. It covered the whole of the historical hundred of Wirral, which included Birkenhead, Wallasey, Neston, Bebington, Ellesmere Port and extended south to the City of Chester. Birkenhead was a separate parliamentary borough, but non-resident freeholders were entitled to vote in the constituency.

1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Bromborough, Ellesmere Port and Whitby, Higher Bebington, Hoylake and West Kirby, Lower Bebington, and Neston and Parkgate, and the Rural District of Wirral.[3]

Wallasey was created as a new parliamentary borough. Southern-most parts transferred to the enlarged City of Chester constituency.

1950–1974: The Urban Districts of Ellesmere Port, Hoylake, Neston, and Wirral.[3]

Parts of the constituency absorbed by the County Boroughs of Birkenhead and Wallasey transferred to the respective constituencies.  Area comprising the Municipal Borough of Bebington formed the basis of the new constituency of that name.  Other minor changes resulting from reorganisation of local authorities.

The Urban District of Ellesmere Port became a Municipal Borough in 1955.[4]

1974–1983: The Urban Districts of Hoylake, Neston, and Wirral, and the County Borough of Birkenhead wards of Prenton and Upton.[3]

Ellesmere Port transferred to the new constituency of Bebington and Ellesmere Port. Prenton transferred from Bebington, which was now abolished, and Upton transferred from Birkenhead.

From 1 April 1974 until it was abolished for the 1983 general election, Neston remained in Cheshire whilst the rest of the constituency comprised parts of the Metropolitan Borough of WirralinMerseyside, but its boundaries were unchanged.

On abolition, Hoylake was included in Wirral West, Heswall (the main town in the Urban District of Wirral) in Wirral South and Neston in Ellesmere Port and Neston.

Members of Parliament[edit]

Election Member Party Notes
1885 Edward Cotton Conservative surname changed to Cotton-Jodrell
1900 Joseph Hoult Conservative
1906 William Lever Liberal
1910 Gershom Stewart Conservative
1923 Stephen Dodds Liberal
1924 John Grace Conservative
1931 Christopher Clayton Conservative
1935 Alan Graham Conservative
1945 Selwyn Lloyd Conservative
1971 Speaker Resigned 1976
1976 by-election David Hunt Conservative
1983 constituency abolished

Elections results[edit]

Elections in the 1880s[edit]

Cotton
General election 1885: Wirral [5][6][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Cotton 4,756 59.3
Liberal James Tomkinson 3,261 40.7
Majority 1,495 18.6
Turnout 8,017 82.0
Registered electors 9,772
Conservative win (new seat)
General election 1886: Wirral [5][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Cotton Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s[edit]

General election 1892: Wirral [5][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Cotton-Jodrell 5,599 64.7 N/A
Liberal Bernard March-Phillipps De Lisle 3,051 35.3 New
Majority 2,548 29.4 N/A
Turnout 8,650 74.5 N/A
Registered electors 11,610
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 1895: Wirral [5][6][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Cotton-Jodrell Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1900s[edit]

General election 1900: Wirral [5][6][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Joseph Hoult 6,084 54.5 N/A
Liberal William Lever 5,079 45.5 New
Majority 1,005 9.0 N/A
Turnout 11,163 74.9 N/A
Registered electors 14,899
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Lever
General election 1906: Wirral [5][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Lever 8,833 55.3 +9.8
Conservative Joseph Hoult 7,132 44.7 -9.8
Majority 1,701 10.6 N/A
Turnout 15,965 82.3 +7.4
Registered electors 19,388
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +9.8

Elections in the 1910s[edit]

General election January 1910: Wirral [5][9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gershom Stewart 10,309 53.8 +9.1
Liberal E. Peter Jones 8,862 46.2 -9.1
Majority 1,447 7.6 N/A
Turnout 19,171 85.9 +3.6
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +9.1
General election December 1910: Wirral [5][9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gershom Stewart 10,043 56.5 +2.7
Liberal Arthur Jacob Ashton 7,727 43.5 -2.7
Majority 2,316 13.0 +5.4
Turnout 17,770 79.6 -6.3
Conservative hold Swing

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 1918: Wirral
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Gershom Stewart Unopposed
Unionist hold
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1920s[edit]

General election 1922: Wirral[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Gershom Stewart 12,888 51.0 N/A
Liberal Stephen Roxby Dodds 8,014 31.7 New
Labour James Edward Cameron Grant 4,363 17.3 New
Majority 4,874 19.3 N/A
Turnout 25,265 74.0 N/A
Unionist hold Swing
General election 1923: Wirral [10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Stephen Roxby Dodds 13,631 53.6 +21.9
Unionist Gershom Stewart 11,791 46.4 -4.6
Majority 1,840 7.2 N/A
Turnout 25,422 71.6 -2.4
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +13.3
General election 1924: Wirral[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist John Grace 17,705 60.2 +13.8
Liberal Stephen Roxby Dodds 11,697 39.8 -13.8
Majority 6,008 20.4 N/A
Turnout 29,402 79.0 +7.4
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing
General election 1929: Wirral[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist John Grace 23,522 47.5 -12.7
Liberal Stephen Roxby Dodds 15,158 30.6 -8.2
Labour George Beardsworth 10,876 21.9 New
Majority 8,364 16.9 -3.5
Turnout 49,556 78.7 -0.3
Unionist hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s[edit]

General election 1931: Wirral
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Christopher Clayton 44,935 81.53
Labour Stanley Wormald 10,177 18.47
Majority 34,758 63.06
Turnout 55,052 77.02
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1935: Wirral
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alan Graham 41,617 72.58
Labour Stanley Wormald 15,801 27.52
Majority 25,816 44.96
Turnout 57,418 69.67
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s[edit]

General Election 1939–40:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;

General election 1945: Wirral
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Selwyn Lloyd 42,544 51.40
Labour Lois Bulley 25,919 31.32
Liberal Eric Dorman-Smith 14,302 17.28 New
Majority 16,625 20.08
Turnout 82,765 75.40
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s[edit]

General election 1950: Wirral
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Selwyn Lloyd 29,232 57.05
Labour HA Kelly 15,993 31.21
Liberal Thomas Mercer Banks 6,018 11.74
Majority 13,239 25.84
Turnout 51,243 85.92
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Wirral
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Selwyn Lloyd 32,631 65.23
Labour Reg Chrimes 17,392 34.77
Majority 15,239 30.46
Turnout 50,023 81.74
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Wirral
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Selwyn Lloyd 33,027 67.40
Labour Reg Chrimes 15,976 32.60
Majority 17,051 34.80
Turnout 49,003 76.46
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1959: Wirral
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Selwyn Lloyd 39,807 67.92
Labour Frederick W Venables 18,805 32.08
Majority 21,002 35.84
Turnout 58,612 82.52
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s[edit]

General election 1964: Wirral
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Selwyn Lloyd 32,084 50.05
Labour Millicent Aspin 17,445 27.21
Liberal Peter Howell Williams 14,574 22.74 New
Majority 14,639 22.84
Turnout 64,103 81.29
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1966: Wirral
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Selwyn Lloyd 31,477 48.12
Labour Dennis V Hunt 21,624 33.06
Liberal Peter Howell Williams 12,313 18.82
Majority 9,853 15.06
Turnout 65,414 79.72
Conservative hold Swing +3.9

Elections in the 1970s[edit]

General election 1970: Wirral
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Selwyn Lloyd 38,655 55.1 +7.0
Labour R Gordon Paterson 22,197 31.7 -1.4
Liberal Geraldine Jones 9,276 13.2 -5.6
Majority 16,458 23.4 +8.3
Turnout 70,128 74.2 -5.5
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Wirral
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Speaker Selwyn Lloyd 38,452 51.2 -3.9
Labour A. J. Whipp 22,605 30.1 -1.6
Liberal Michael Gayford 14,123 18.8 +5.6
Majority 15,847 21.1 -2.4
Turnout 75,180 81.5 +7.3
Speaker gain from Conservative Swing
General election October 1974: Wirral
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Speaker Selwyn Lloyd 35,705 50.8 -0.4
Labour P. R. Thomas 22,217 31.6 +1.5
Liberal Michael Gayford 12,345 17.6 -1.2
Majority 13,488 19.2 -1.9
Turnout 70,267 75.5 -6.0
Speaker hold Swing
1976 Wirral by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Hunt 34,675 66.78 +15.97
Labour Adrian Bailey 10,562 20.34 -11.26
Liberal Michael Gayford 5,914 11.39 -6.21
English National Frank Hansford-Miller 466 0.90 New
Ind. Conservative Hilary Miller 307 0.59 New
Majority 24,112 46.44 +27.24
Turnout 51,924
Conservative gain from Speaker Swing
General election 1979: Wirral
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Hunt 44,519 59.0 +8.2
Labour C. Ryder 21,188 28.1 -3.5
Liberal R. Barnett 9,769 12.9 -4.7
Majority 23,331 30.9 +11.7
Turnout 75,476 77.8 +2.3
Conservative hold Swing

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "'Wirral', Feb 1974 - May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  • ^ Great Britain, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales. The public general acts. unknown library. Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884.
  • ^ a b c Craig, Fred W. S. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972;. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4. OCLC 539011.
  • ^ "Ellesmere Port UD".
  • ^ a b c d e f g h Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. p. 237. ISBN 9781349022984.
  • ^ a b c d e f The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  • ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
  • ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  • ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
  • ^ a b c d British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 Craig, F.W.S. (1983) ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
    • Parliament of the United Kingdom
    Preceded by

    Tiverton

    		 Constituency represented by the chancellor of the Exchequer
    1960–1962     		Succeeded by

    Barnet

    Preceded by

    Southampton Itchen

    		 Constituency represented by the speaker
    1971–1976     		Succeeded by

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