Rochdale (UK Parliament constituency)

UK constituency infobox
Name = Rochdale
Map1 = Rochdale
Map2 = GreaterManchester
Entity = Greater Manchester
Type = Borough
County = Greater Manchester
Year = 1832
MP = Paul Rowen
Party = Liberal Democrats
EP = North West England

Rochdale is a borough 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 is one of three covering the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale. It contains most of the town of Rochdale itself as well as Littleborough, Wardle and some of the surrounding rural area.

History

Rochdale was one of the constituencies created by the Reform Act of 1832, and as of 2006 has been a Labour/Liberal Democrat marginal for many years, although it was held by the Conservatives for part of the 1950s, until a 1958 by-election.

It was held for two decades by the larger-than-life Cyril Smith, first of the Liberal Party and then of the Liberal Democrats. He won a by-election in 1972, taking the seat from Labour, and held it until his retirement in 1992. A native Rochdalian and a former Labour Party member himself, he had a substantial personal vote which always helped to see off his Labour challengers.

After his retirement, contests have been tighter. The Liberal Democrats held the seat at first, with Liz Lynne winning at the 1992 general election, only to lose to Labour's Lorna Fitzsimons at the 1997 election. However, they regained the seat at the 2005 election, with Paul Rowen defeating Fitzsimons.

Members of Parliament

Election results

Elections in the 2000s

Election box begin
title=Next United Kingdom general election: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Simon Danczuk
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Paul Rowen
votes =
percentage =
change =

Election box begin
title=General Election 2005: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Paul Rowen
votes = 16,787
percentage = 41.1
change = +6.2Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Lorna Fitzsimons
votes = 16,343
percentage = 40.0
change = -9.2Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Khalid Hussain
votes = 4,270
percentage = 10.5
change = -2.9Election box candidate with party link
party = British National Party
candidate = Derek Adams
votes = 1,773
percentage = 4.3
change = +4.3Election box candidate with party link
party = United Kingdom Independence Party
candidate = John Whittaker
votes = 499
percentage = 1.2
change = +1.2Election box candidate with party link
party = Green Party of England and Wales
candidate = Samir Chatterjee
votes = 448
percentage = 1.1
change = -0.7Election box candidate with party link
party = Islam Zinda Baad Platform
candidate = Dr Mohammed Salim
votes = 361
percentage = 0.9
change = +0.9Election box candidate with party link
party = Veritas (political party)
candidate = Carl Faulkner
votes = 353
percentage = 0.9
change = +0.9Election box majority
votes = 444
percentage = 1.1
change = Election box turnout
votes = 40,834
percentage = 58.4
change = +1.7Election box gain with party link
winner = Liberal Democrats (UK)
loser = Labour Party (UK)
swing = +7.7

Election box begin
title=General Election 2001: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Lorna Fitzsimons
votes = 19,406
percentage = 49.2
change = -0.2Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Paul Rowen
votes = 13,751
percentage = 34.9
change = -5.1Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Elaina Cohen
votes = 5,274
percentage = 13.4
change = +4.6Election box candidate with party link
party = Green Party of England and Wales
candidate = Nick Harvey
votes = 728
percentage = 1.8
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Independent (politician)
candidate = Mohammed Salim
votes = 253
percentage = 0.6
change = +0.2Election box majority
votes = 5,655
percentage = 14.3
change = Election box turnout
votes = 39,412
percentage = 56.7
change = -13.3Election box hold with party link
winner = Labour Party (UK)
swing =

Elections in the 1990s

Election box begin
title=General Election 1997: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Lorna Fitzsimons
votes = 23,758
percentage = 49.4
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Liz Lynne
votes = 19,213
percentage = 40.0
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = M Turnberg
votes = 4,237
percentage = 8.8
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = British National Party
candidate = G Bergin
votes = 653
percentage = 1.4
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Independent (politician)
candidate = Mohammed Salim
votes = 221
percentage = 0.5
change = Election box majority
votes = 4,545
percentage = 9.4
change = Election box turnout
votes = 48,082
percentage = 70.0
change = Election box gain with party link
winner = Labour Party (UK)
loser = Liberal Democrats (UK)
swing = +4.8

Election box begin
title=General Election 1992: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Liz Lynne
votes = 22,776
percentage = 42.8
change = -0.6Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = David Williams
votes = 20,937
percentage = 39.4
change = +1.4Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Duncan Goldie-Scott
votes = 8,626
percentage = 16.2
change = -2.4Election box candidate with party link
party = British National Party
candidate = K Henderson
votes = 620
percentage = 1.2
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Natural Law Party
candidate = V Lucker
votes = 221
percentage = 0.4
change = Election box majority
votes = 1,839
percentage = 3.5
change = -1.9Election box turnout
votes = 53,170
percentage = 76.5
change = +1.9Election box hold with party link
winner = Liberal Democrats (UK)
swing = -1.0

Elections in the 1980s

Election box begin
title=General Election 1987: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Cyril Smith
votes = 22,245
percentage = 43.4
change = -2.7Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = David Williams
votes = 19,466
percentage = 38.0
change = +7.9Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Clive Condie
votes = 9,561
percentage = 18.6
change = -3.7Election box majority
votes = 2,779
percentage = 5.4
change = -10.6Election box turnout
votes = 51,272
percentage = 74.6
change = +3.8Election box hold with party link
winner = Liberal Party (UK)
swing = -5.3

Election box begin
title=General Election 1983: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Cyril Smith
votes = 21,858
percentage = 46.1
change = +1.1Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Valerie Broon
votes = 14,271
percentage = 30.1
change = -4.2Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Alan Fearn
votes = 10,616
percentage = 22.4
change = +3.1Election box candidate with party link
party = National Front (UK)
candidate = P Barker
votes = 463
percentage = 1.0
change = -0.4Election box candidate
party = Unemployed Party
candidate = P Courtney
votes = 204
percentage = 0.4
change = Election box majority
votes = 7,587
percentage = 16.0
change = +5.3Election box turnout
votes = 47,412
percentage = 70.8
change = -2.9Election box hold with party link
winner = Liberal Party (UK)
swing =

Elections in the 1920s

Election box begin
title=General Election 1929: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = William Kelly
votes = 22,060
percentage = 40.2
change = +6.4Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Muir
votes = 16,957
percentage = 30.8
change = -2.7Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = J Haslam
votes = 15,962
percentage = 29.0
change = -3.7Election box majority
votes = 5,103
percentage = 9.4
change = +9.1Election box turnout
votes = 54,979
percentage = 87.6
change = -2.7Election box hold with party link
winner = Labour Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 1924: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = William Kelly
votes = 14,609
percentage = 33.8
change = +1.2Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Muir
votes = 14,492
percentage = 33.5
change = -2.9Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Thomas Jesson
votes = 14,112
percentage = 32.7
change = +1.7Election box majority
votes = 117
percentage = 0.3
change = Election box turnout
votes = 43,213
percentage = 90.3
change = +2.5Election box gain with party link
winner = Labour Party (UK)
loser = Liberal Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 1923: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Muir
votes = 15,087
percentage = 36.4
change = +7.2Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Stanley Burgess
votes = 13,525
percentage = 32.6
change = -6.2Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = N Cockshutt
votes = 12,845
percentage = 31.0
change = -1.0Election box majority
votes = 1,562
percentage = 3.8
change = Election box turnout
votes = 41,457
percentage = 87.8
change = +0.7Election box gain with party link
winner = Liberal Party (UK)
loser = Labour Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 1922: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Stanley Burgess
votes = 15,774
percentage = 38.8
change = +22.3Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Alfred Law
votes = 13,006
percentage = 32.0
change = -15.6Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Muir
votes = 11,894
percentage = 29.2
change = +7.7Election box majority
votes = 2,768
percentage = 6.8
change = Election box turnout
votes = 40,674
percentage = 87.1
change = +22.6Election box gain with party link
winner = Labour Party (UK)
loser = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

Elections in the 1910s

Election box begin
title=General Election 1918: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Coalition Conservative
candidate = Alfred Law
votes = 14,299
percentage = 47.6
change = +6.7Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = H V Phillipps
votes = 6,452
percentage = 21.5
change = -23.1Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = R. H. Tawney
votes = 4,956
percentage = 16.5
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = National Democratic and Labour Party
candidate = J J Terrett
votes = 2,358
percentage = 7.8
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = National Party (UK, 1917)
candidate = J F Jones
votes = 1,992
percentage = 6.6
change = Election box majority
votes = 7,847
percentage = 26.1
change = Election box turnout
votes = 30,057
percentage = 64.5
change = -28.5Election box gain with party link
winner = Coalition Conservative
loser = Liberal Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election December 1910: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Alexander Harvey
votes = 5,373
percentage = 44.6
change = -4.2Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = N Cockshutt
votes = 4,850
percentage = 40.9
change = +2.3Election box candidate with party link
party = Social Democratic Federation
candidate = Dan Irving
votes = 1,901
percentage = 14.5
change = +1.9Election box majority
votes = 477
percentage = 3.7
change = -6.5Election box turnout
votes = 11,124
percentage = 88.0
change = -5.5Election box hold with party link
winner = Liberal Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election January 1910: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Alexander Harvey
votes = 6,809
percentage = 48.8
change = +2.9Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = W B Boyd-Carpenter
votes = 5,581
percentage = 38.6
change = +2.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Social Democratic Federation
candidate = Dan Irving
votes = 1,755
percentage = 12.6
change = Election box majority
votes = 1,428
percentage = 10.2
change = -1.1Election box turnout
votes = 13,945
percentage = 93.5
change = +0.5Election box hold with party link
winner = Liberal Party (UK)
swing =

Elections in the 1900s

Election box begin
title=General Election 1906: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Alexander Harvey
votes = 5,912
percentage = 45.9
change = 0.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Clement Royds
votes = 4,449
percentage = 34.6
change = -11.5Election box candidate with party link
party = Independent Labour
candidate = Samuel George Hobson
votes = 2,506
percentage = 19.5
change = Election box majority
votes = 1,463
percentage = 11.3
change = Election box turnout
votes = 12,867
percentage = 93.0
change = +5.9Election box gain with party link
winner = Liberal Party (UK)
loser = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 1900: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Clement Royds
votes = 5,204
percentage = 46.1
change = 0.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Alexander Harvey
votes = 5,185
percentage = 45.9
change = +4.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = C A Clarke
votes = 901
percentage = 8.0
change = Election box majority
votes = 19
percentage = 0.2
change = -4.0Election box turnout
votes = 11,290
percentage = 87.1
change = -1.1Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

Elections in the 1890s

Election box begin
title=General Election 1895: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Clement Royds
votes = 4,781
percentage = 46.1
change = +1.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = W L Bright
votes = 4,359
percentage = 41.9
change = -13.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Independent Labour Party
candidate = George Nicoll Barnes
votes = 1,251
percentage = 12.0
change = Election box majority
votes = 422
percentage = 4.2
change = Election box turnout
votes = 10,391
percentage = 88.2
change = +2.4Election box gain with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
loser = Liberal Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 1892: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Thomas Bayley Potter
votes = 5,460
percentage = 54.9
change = -2.7Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Clement Royds
votes = 4,480
percentage = 45.1
change = +2.7Election box majority
votes = 980
percentage = 9.8
change = -5.4Election box turnout
votes = 9,940
percentage = 85.8
change = +9.8Election box hold with party link
winner = Liberal Party (UK)
swing =

Elections in the 1880s

Election box begin
title=General Election 1886: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Thomas Bayley Potter
votes = 4,738
percentage = 57.6
change = +1.9Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = J A R Marriott
votes = 3,481
percentage = 42.4
change = -1.9Election box majority
votes = 1,257
percentage = 15.2
change = +3.8Election box turnout
votes = 9,969
percentage = 76.0
change = -16.2Election box hold with party link
winner = Liberal Party (UK)
swing =

Election box begin
title=General Election 1885: RochdaleElection box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Thomas Bayley Potter
votes = 5,552
percentage = 55.7
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = E Lees
votes = 4,417
percentage = 44.3
change = Election box majority
votes = 1,135
percentage = 11.4
change = Election box turnout
votes = 9,969
percentage = 92.2
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Liberal Party (UK)
swing =

See also

* Rochdale
* List of Parliamentary constituencies in Greater Manchester
* Rochdale by-election, 1940
* Rochdale by-election, 1958
* Rochdale by-election, 1972

ources

* [http://www.angeltowns.com/town/peerage/rcommons1.htm Historical list of MPs]
* [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/edates.htm Election results, 1950 - 1997]
*F. W. S. Craig, "British Parliamentary Election Results 1918 - 1949"
*F. W. S. Craig, "British Parliamentary Election Results 1885 - 1918"