Macclesfield (UK Parliament constituency)

UK constituency infobox
Name = Macclesfield
Map1 = Macclesfield
Map2 = Cheshire
Entity = Cheshire
Type = County
County = Cheshire
Year = 1832, 1885
MP = Sir Nicholas Winterton
Party = Conservative
EP = North West England

Macclesfield is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Boundaries

The constituency covers the eastern part of the Borough of Macclesfield in Cheshire, containing the town of Macclesfield itself and the area surrounding it, such as Bollington and Prestbury, as well as Disley and Poynton. Much of the constituency is commuter territory for Manchester, with affluent villages such as Prestbury.

Boundary review

Following their review of parliamentary representation in Cheshire, the Boundary Commission for England proposed minor changes to the existing arrangement as a consequence of population changes with Henbury ward proposed to be transferred into the Tatton constituency, however following representations this proposal was dropped and the outer boundary of the Macclesfield constituency is to remain unchanged provided parliament approves [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pbc/review_areas/downloads/FR_NR_Cheshire.doc] , the wards as follows:

*Bollington Central, Bollington East, Bollington West, Disley and Lyme Handley, Gawsworth, Henbury, Macclesfield Bollinbrook, Macclesfield Broken Cross, Macclesfield Central, Macclesfield East, Macclesfield Hurdsfield, Macclesfield Ivy, Macclesfield Ryles, Macclesfield South, Macclesfield Tytherington, Macclesfield West, Poynton Central, Poynton East, Poynton West, Prestbury, Rainow and Sutton.

History

Macclesfield was first represented in Parliament after the Reform Act of 1832, from when it had two members of Parliament. This situation lasted until 1880, when after problems at the general election that year it was decided to declare the election void and suspend the writ of election (so no by-election could take place).

In September 1880 a Royal Commission was appointed to investigate further. A report of March 1881 confirmed the allegations of corruption. As a result the borough constituency was disenfranchised for corruption. The disenfranchisement took effect on 25 June 1885, when the town was transferred to the East Cheshire constituency.

However under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 the Macclesfield constituency was recreated with extended boundaries, as a county division, later in 1885. From the United Kingdom general election, 1885 it has elected one MP.

Macclesfield is a safe seat for the Conservative Party, having been held by them since the 1918 General Election.The current MP is Sir Nicholas Winterton, who was first elected at a by-election in 1971 and has held the seat since then.

Members of Parliament

* From 1832 until 1880, Macclesfield was represented by two members of Parliament.

* The Macclesfield constituency was recreated in 1885, and subsequently has elected one MP only.

Election results

Election box begin
title=General Election 2005: MacclesfieldElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Nicholas Winterton
votes = 22,628
percentage = 49.6
change = +0.7Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Stephen Carter
votes = 13,227
percentage = 29.0
change = -4.1Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Catherine O'Brien
votes = 8,918
percentage = 19.5
change = +1.5Election box candidate with party link
party = Veritas (political party)
candidate = John Scott
votes = 848
percentage = 1.9
change = +1.9Election box majority
votes = 9,401
percentage = 20.6
change = Election box turnout
votes = 45,621
percentage = 63.1
change = +0.8Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 2001: MacclesfieldElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Nicholas Winterton
votes = 22,284
percentage = 48.9
change = -0.7Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Stephen Carter
votes = 15,084
percentage = 33.1
change = -0.6Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Michael Flynn
votes = 8,217
percentage = 18.0
change = +1.3Election box majority
votes = 7,200
percentage = 15.8
change = Election box turnout
votes = 45,585
percentage = 62.3
change = -12.9Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

References

* [http://www.angeltowns.com/town/peerage/mcommons1.htm The House of Commons Constituencies beginning with "M"]

See also

* List of Parliamentary constituencies in Cheshire