Berwick-upon-Tweed (UK Parliament constituency)

UK constituency infobox
Name = Berwick-upon-Tweed
Map1 = BerwickUponTweed
Map2 = Northumberland
Type = County
Year = 1512
Entity = Northumberland
County = Northumberland
EP = North East England
MP = Alan Beith
Party = Liberal Democrat

Berwick-upon-Tweed 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 of Berwick-upon-Tweed is located in the county of Northumberland. It includes at its northern-most point the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed itself and stretches south, to cover the towns of Alnwick and Amble. The Northumberland coast forms its eastern boundary. Its length is roughly 50 miles (80 km), with an area of 2,310 square kilometres.

Predominantly rural in character, this constituency is the most northerly in England, and the most sparsely populated, having only 57,000 electors.

Boundary review

Following their review of parliamentary representation in Northumberland, the Boundary Commission for England have made only minor changes to the existing Berwick constituency. A proposal to re-name the historic seat "Berwick-upon-Tweed and Mid Northumberland" was rejected for whilst being geographically accurate it was thought unwieldy.

The electoral wards used to form the slightly modified constituency are;
*The entire district of Alnwick
*The entire district of Berwick-upon-Tweed
*The Castle Morpeth wards of Chevington, Ellington, Hartburn, Longhorsley, Lynemouth, Ulgham

History

Rural in nature, sparse of population and with agriculture as a major employer, Berwick-upon-Tweed is at first sight a typical Conservative seat. However, it has been under the aegis of Liberal (later Liberal Democrat) Alan Beith since 1973, and previously the area has been notable for its liberal leanings - both Sir William Beveridge (influential in the formation of the National Health Service) and Edward Grey (Foreign Secretary at the start of World War I, best remembered for the "lamps are going out all over Europe...." remark) have served this constituency.

Beith was first elected in a by-election, required as a result of the resignation of the then holder Antony Lambton (Conservative), who had been caught up in a scandal involving call girls, marijuana and a tabloid newspaper.

In 1923, Mabel Philipson, a former music-hall actress, took over the seat as a Conservative, when her husband was forced to resign. In doing so she became only the third female member to take the oath since this had become legally possible five years previously.

Members of Parliament

The seat has sent members to Parliament since its enfranchisement by Henry VIII. It initially sent two members, this was reduced to one in 1885.

MPs 1660-1885

MPs 1885-present

Notes

Elections

Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Alan Beith
votes =19,052 | percentage =52.8 | change =+1.4 Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Mike Elliott
votes =10,420 | percentage =28.9 | change =+0.8Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Glen Reynolds
votes =6,618 | percentage =18.3 | change =+0.6 Election box majority
votes = 8,632
percentage = 23.9
change =Election box turnout
votes = 36,090
percentage = 63.4
change = -0.4Election box hold with party link
winner = Liberal Democrats (UK)
swing = +0.3

Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Alan Beith
votes = 18,651 | percentage = 51.4 | change = +5.9Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Glen Sanderson
votes = 10,193 | percentage = 28.1 | change = +4.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Martin Walker
votes = 6,435 | percentage = 17.7 | change = -8.5Election box candidate with party link
party = United Kingdom Independence Party
candidate = John Pearson
votes = 1,029 | percentage = 2.8 | change = +2.0Election box majority
votes = 8,458
percentage = 23.3
change = +4.1Election box turnout
votes = 36,308
percentage = 63.8
change = -9.7

Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Alan Beith
votes = 19,007 | percentage = 45.5 | change = +1.1Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Paul Brannen
votes = 10,965 | percentage = 26.2 | change = +3.4Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Nick Herbert
votes = 10,058 | percentage = 24.1 | change = -8.7Election box candidate with party link
party = Referendum Party
candidate = Ned Lambton
votes = 1,423 | percentage = 3.4 | change = +3.4Election box candidate with party link
party = United Kingdom Independence Party
candidate = Ian Dodds
votes = 352 | percentage = 0.8 | change = +0.8Election box majority
votes = 8,042
percentage = 19.3
change = +8.7Election box turnout
votes = 41,805
percentage = 73.5
change = -5.6

ee also

* Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1941
* Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1944
* Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1973
* List of Parliamentary constituencies in Northumberland

References

*cite web |title=politics.co.uk | work=Berwick-upon-Tweed: Big seat, big issues | url=http://www.politics.co.uk/singleitemandlistpage.aspx?menuindex=430014381&itemid=8326442 | accessmonthday=April 30 | accessyear=2005
*cite web |title=bbc.co.uk | work=BBC NEWS - Vote 2001 - Results & Constituency - Berwick-upon-Tweed | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/046.stm | accessmonthday=April 30 | accessyear=2005
*cite web |title=Women in the house of commons | work=House of Commons Factsheet | url=http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/m04.pdf | accessmonthday=May 1 | accessyear=2005
*cite web |title=Burton Mail | work=Todd reveals his expenses claim | url=http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/detail.asp?cat=General%20News&id=4867931 | accessmonthday=May 2 | accessyear=2005
*cite web |title=Constituencies in the unreformed House | work=David Boothroyd Page | url=http://www.election.demon.co.uk/prereform.html | accessmonthday=September 8 | accessyear=2006

*Robert Beatson, "A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament" (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) [http://books.google.com/books?vid=024wW9LmFc5kXY0FI2&id=Gh2wKY2rkDUC&printsec=toc&dq=Return+of+Members+of+Parliament&as_brr=1&sig=SK5GVtGLfWQ9ovZDbyZObAyIO5I#PPP9,M1]
*Rayment