Rushcliffe (UK Parliament constituency)

History

The constituency was formed by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 (for first use during the election that year).

Between 1950 and 2019, it was considered to have been a safe seat for the Conservative Party, whose members have held it without marginal majorities, except for a four-year period from 1966 when it was held by Labour, coinciding with the first Wilson ministry. Unlike other constituencies nearby, such as Broxtowe and Gedling, which were previously held by the Conservatives, they retained Rushcliffe in the 1997 New Labour landslide; however, it would eventually be won by Labour in another Labour landslide in 2024.

In the 2016 European Union membership referendum, it was the only constituency in the Nottinghamshire and overall East Midlands region to vote Remain (57.6% to 42.4%), even as neighbouring city of Nottingham voted to Leave (50.8% to 49.2%). This can be attributed to the constituency's affluence, as well as then-MP Kenneth Clarke's pro-EU political leanings (he would be the only Conservative MP to vote against triggering Article 50 in 2017.)

Boundaries

Historic

1885–1918: Part of the Sessional Division of Nottingham.

1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Beeston, Carlton, and West Bridgford, the Rural Districts of Leake and Stapleford, the Rural District which consisted of the parishes of Kingston-on-Soar and Ratcliffe-on-Soar, and in the Rural District of Basford the parishes of Awsworth, Barton-in-Fabis, Bilborough, Bradmore, Bunny, Burton Joyce, Clifton-with-Glapton, Colwick, Cossall, Gamston, Gedling, Gotham, Nuthall, Ruddington, South Wilford, Stoke Bardolph, Strelley, Thrumpton, Trowell, and Wollaton.

1950–1955: The Urban Districts of Beeston and Stapleford, and West Bridgford, and in the Rural District of Basford the parishes of Barton-in-Fabis, Bilborough, Bradmore, Bunny, Clifton with Glapton, Colwick, Costock, East Leake, Gedling, Gotham, Kingston-on-Soar, Normanton-on-Soar, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, Rempstone, Ruddington, Stanford-on-Soar, Sutton Bonington, Thorpe-in-the-Glebe, Thrumpton, West Leake, Willoughby-on-the-Wolds, and Wysall.

1955–1974: The Urban District of Beeston and Stapleford, and in the Rural District of Basford the parishes of Barton-in-Fabis, Bilborough, Bradmore, Bunny, Colwick, Costock, East Leake, Gedling, Gotham, Kingston-on-Soar, Normanton-on-Soar, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, Rempstone, Ruddington, Stanford-on-Soar, Sutton Bonington, Thorpe-in-the-Glebe, Thrumpton, West Leake, Willoughby-on-the-Wolds, and Wysall.

1974–1983: The Urban District of West Bridgford, the Rural District of Bingham, and in the Rural District of Basford the parishes of Barton-in-Fabis, Bradmore, Bunny, Costock, East Leake, Gotham, Kingston on Soar, Normanton on Soar, Ratcliffe on Soar, Rempstone, Ruddington, Stanford on Soar, Sutton Bonington, Thorpe in the Glebe, Thrumpton, West Leake, Willoughby-on-the-Wolds, and Wysall.

1983–2010: The Borough of Rushcliffe.

2010–2024: The Borough of Rushcliffe wards of Abbey, Bunny, Compton Acres, Cotgrave, Cropwell, Edwalton, Gamston, Gotham, Keyworth and the Wolds, Lady Bay, Leake, Lutterell, Musters,Nevile and Langar, Newton, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Ruddington, Soar Valley, Tollerton, and Trent Bridge.

Current

Further to the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency was defined as follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

• The Borough of Rushcliffe wards of: Abbey; Bunny; Compton Acres; Cotgrave; Cropwell; Edwalton; Gamston North; Gamston South; Gotham; Keyworth & Wolds; Lady Bay; Leake; Lutterell; Musters; Nevile & Langar; Radcliffe on Trent; Ruddington; Sutton Bonington; Tollerton; Trent Bridge.

The constituency saw minor boundary changes due to the redrawing of local authority ward boundaries.

Following a further local government boundary review in which came into effect in May 2023, the constituency now comprises the following wards of the Borough of Rushcliffe from the 2024 general election:

• Abbey; Bunny; Compton Acres; Cotgrave; Cropwell; Edwalton; Gamston; Gotham; Keyworth & Wolds; Lady Bay; Leake; Lutterell; Musters; Nevile & Langar (nearly all); Newton (part); Radcliffe on Trent; Ruddington; Soar Valley; Tollerton; Trent Bridge.

Constituency profile

The main town in the constituency is West Bridgford, which is part of the Greater Nottingham urban area, and includes the Trent Bridge cricket ground and Nottingham Forest F.C., and has some strong Labour wards like Trent Bridge itself, Lady Bay and the village of Ruddington. The remainder of the constituency is predominantly rural and Conservative, including the villages of Cotgrave, East Leake, Sutton Bonington, Keyworth and Radcliffe-on-Trent.

The constituency consists of Census Output Areas of one local government district with a working population whose income is close to the national average and has lower than average reliance upon social housing. At the end of 2012 the unemployment rate in the constituency stood as 1.9% of the population claiming jobseekers allowance, compared to the regional average of 3.5%. The borough contributing to the bulk of the seat has a low 15.1% of its population without a car, 16.4% of the population without qualifications and a very high 39.0% with level 4 qualifications or above. In terms of tenure a high 76.7% of homes are owned outright or on a mortgage as at the 2011 census across the district.

Members of Parliament

South Nottinghamshire prior to 1885

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

|reg. electors = 79,160

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/constit/447.htm|title=Politics Resources|date=1 May 1997|work=Election 1997|publisher=Politics Resources|access-date=7 Jan 2011}}C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.142 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995) url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/ge92index.htm|title=Politics Resources|date=9 April 1992|work=Election 1992|publisher=Politics Resources|access-date=6 Dec 2010}}}}

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1950s

Election in the 1940s

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

|reg. electors = 57,758 |reg. electors = 39,360 |reg. electors = 38,068 |reg. electors = 37,293

Elections in the 1910s

|reg. electors = 34,974

|reg. electors = 19,640

|reg. electors = 19,640

Elections in the 1900s

|reg. electors = 17,883

|reg. electors = 14,906

Elections in the 1890s

|reg. electors = 12,808

|reg. electors = 11,946

Elections in the 1880s

|reg. electors = 11,132

|reg. electors = 11,132

Notes

References

References

1. "EU Referendum Results - BBC News".
2. Harper, Christopher. (2019-09-04). "Brexit: How did Rushcliffe vote during the 2016 EU referendum?".
3. Locker, Joseph. (2019-09-08). "Ken Clarke on 'ruthless' Boris, Brexit and his supportive constituents".
4. "Ward Boundaries and Maps - Rushcliffe Borough Council".
5. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023".
6. LGBCE. "Rushcliffe {{!}} LGBCE".
7. "The Rushcliffe (Electoral Changes) Order 2022".
8. "New Seat Details - Rushcliffe".
9. "Local statistics - Office for National Statistics".
10. [https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/nov/17/unemployment-and-employment-statistics-economics Unemployment claimants by constituency] ''[[The Guardian]]''
11. "2011 census interactive maps".
12. {{Rayment-hc. r. 2. (March 2012)
13. "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll".
14. (5 July 2024). "Declaration of Result of Poll: Election of a Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe Constituency".
15. "Rushcliffe Parliamentary constituency". BBC.
16. "Election Data 2015". [[Electoral Calculus]].
17. "Election Data 2010". [[Electoral Calculus]].
18. "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Rushcliffe". BBC News.
19. "Election Data 2005". [[Electoral Calculus]].
20. "Election Data 2001". [[Electoral Calculus]].
21. "Election Data 1997". [[Electoral Calculus]].
22. "Election Data 1992". [[Electoral Calculus]].
23. "Election Data 1987". [[Electoral Calculus]].
24. "Election Data 1983". [[Electoral Calculus]].
25. British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
26. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1922
27. (1974). "British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918". Macmillan Press.
28. (27 July 1895). "[No title]". [[The Rhyl Advertiser.
29. (6 August 1886). "Election Expenses in Notts". [[Nottingham Evening Post]].