Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1955 onwards
Walsall South |
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Former borough constituency for the House of Commons |
![Outline map](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/WalsallSouth2007Constituency.svg/120px-WalsallSouth2007Constituency.svg.png) Boundary of Walsall South in West Midlands |
![Outline map](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/EnglandWestMidlandsCounty.svg/120px-EnglandWestMidlandsCounty.svg.png) Location of West Midlands within England |
County | West Midlands |
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Electorate | 66,082 (December 2010)[1] |
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Major settlements | Darlaston and Walsall (part) |
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1955–2024 |
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Seats | One |
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Created from | Walsall |
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Replaced by | Walsall and Bloxwich |
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Walsall South was a constituency[n 1] in the West Midlands in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. It was represented since 1974 until abolition by members of the Labour Party.[n 2]
Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished. Subject to boundary changes, it was reformed as Walsall and Bloxwich, first contested at the 2024 general election[2]
Constituency profile
The constituency was in the heart of an area traditionally focussed on manufacturing, which retained many mechanical and engineering jobs in its economy. This constituency had accessible links to the cities of Wolverhampton and Birmingham.
Workless claimants, registered jobseekers, were in November 2012 higher than the national average of 3.8% and regional average of 4.7%, at 7.7% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[3]
Boundaries
![Map](https://maps.wikimedia.org/img/osm-intl,a,a,a,300x250.png?lang=en&domain=en.wikipedia.org&title=Walsall_South_%28UK_Parliament_constituency%29&revid=1235446809&groups=_c1baa2b406a275afcf6c88896247a3933e73c08a)
Map of boundaries 2010-2024
Walsall South was one of three constituencies in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall and specifically covered Darlaston, Moxley, Pheasey and the southern part of Walsall, including the town centre.
1955–1974: The County Borough of Walsall wards of Bridge, Caldmore, Paddock, Palfrey, and Pleck, and the Urban District of Aldridge.
1974–1983: The County Borough of Walsall wards of Darlaston North, Darlaston South, Hatherton, Paddock, Palfrey, Pleck, and St Matthew's.
1983–2010: The Metropolitan Borough of Walsall wards of Bentley and Darlaston North, Darlaston South, Paddock, Palfrey, Pheasey, Pleck, and St Matthew's.
2010–2024: The Metropolitan Borough of Walsall wards of Bentley and Darlaston North, Darlaston South, Paddock, Palfrey, Pheasey Park Farm, Pleck, and St Matthew's.
History
The constituency was first contested in 1955 largely from Walsall constituency, and won by its only Conservative MP to date, Major-General Sir Henry d'Avigdor-Goldsmid.
Bruce George of the Labour Party won the seat when the Major-General stood down in the February 1974 general election, he too was a prominent supporter of the armed services and led Britain's NATO delegation to its Parliament, subsequently becoming its vice-president. While never a prominent frontbencher, George held Walsall South until his retirement at the 2010 general election, when he was succeeded by Valerie Vaz (also of the Labour Party).
- Synopsis of results
The Conservative holding of the seat through the First Wilson Ministry reveals that in these early elections the seat was not a bellwether. On the 1974 transfer in power to Wilson again, here the result proved to be a watershed election. Labour's majorities since this, only in fairly good years for the Conservatives, such as during the Thatcher ministry as well as in 1992 and 2010 and 2019 general elections have been marginal.[n 3] In terms of length of a party's representation, Labour represented this area continuously for a total of 45 years as of 2019.
Abolition
Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished for the 2024 general election, with its contents distributed three ways:[2]
- Approximately half the electorate, including Walsall town centre, combined with the majority of Walsall North (also to be abolished) to form the new seat of Walsall and Bloxwich
- Pheasey Park Farm and part of the Paddock ward transferred to Aldridge-Brownhills
- Darlaston and Bentley transferred to Wolverhampton South East
Members of Parliament
Elections
Elections in the 2010s
General election 2019: Walsall South[5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Valerie Vaz | 20,872 | 49.1 | –8.3 |
| Conservative | Gurjit Bains | 17,416 | 41.0 | +3.8 |
| Brexit Party | Gary Hughes | 1,660 | 3.9 | New |
| Liberal Democrats | Paul Harris | 1,602 | 3.8 | +2.5 |
| Green | John Macefield | 634 | 1.5 | New |
| Independent | Akheil Mehboob | 288 | 0.7 | New |
Majority | 3,456 | 8.1 | –12.1 |
Turnout | 42,472 | 62.4 | –4.0 |
| Labour hold | Swing | –6.1 | |
General election 2017: Walsall South[6] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Valerie Vaz | 25,286 | 57.4 | +10.2 |
| Conservative | James Bird | 16,394 | 37.2 | +4.4 |
| UKIP | Derek Bennett | 1,805 | 4.1 | –11.5 |
| Liberal Democrats | Anna Purvis | 587 | 1.3 | –0.3 |
Majority | 8,892 | 20.2 | +5.8 |
Turnout | 44,072 | 66.4 | +4.6 |
| Labour hold | Swing | +2.9 | |
General election 2015: Walsall South[7] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Valerie Vaz | 19,740 | 47.2 | +7.5 |
| Conservative | Sue Arnold | 13,733 | 32.8 | –2.6 |
| UKIP | Derek Bennett | 6,540 | 15.6 | +7.2 |
| Green | Charlotte Fletcher | 1,149 | 2.7 | New |
| Liberal Democrats | Joel Kenrick | 676 | 1.6 | –12.8 |
Majority | 6,007 | 14.4 | +10.1 |
Turnout | 41,838 | 61.8 | –1.3 |
| Labour hold | Swing | +5.0 | |
General election 2010: Walsall South[8][9] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Valerie Vaz | 16,211 | 39.7 | –9.5 |
| Conservative | Richard Hunt | 14,456 | 35.4 | +6.9 |
| Liberal Democrats | Murli Sinha | 5,880 | 14.4 | +4.6 |
| UKIP | Derek Bennett | 3,449 | 8.4 | +3.6 |
| Christian | Gulzaman Khan | 482 | 1.2 | New |
| Independent | Mohammed Mulia | 404 | 1.0 | New |
Majority | 1,755 | 4.3 | –18.2 |
Turnout | 40,882 | 63.1 | +3.1 |
| Labour hold | Swing | –8.2 | |
Elections in the 2000s
General election 2005: Walsall South[10] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Bruce George | 17,633 | 49.9 | –9.1 |
| Conservative | Kabir Sabar | 9,687 | 27.4 | –3.1 |
| Liberal Democrats | Mohamed Asmal | 3,240 | 9.2 | +2.4 |
| UKIP | Derek Bennett | 1,833 | 5.2 | +2.4 |
| BNP | Kevin Smith | 1,776 | 5.0 | New |
| Respect | Nadia Fazal | 1,146 | 3.2 | New |
Majority | 7,946 | 22.5 | –6.0 |
Turnout | 35,315 | 58.5 | +2.8 |
| Labour hold | Swing | –3.0 | |
General election 2001: Walsall South[11][12] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Bruce George | 20,574 | 59.0 | +1.1 |
| Conservative | Michael Bird | 10,643 | 30.5 | –1.2 |
| Liberal Democrats | Bill Tomlinson | 2,365 | 6.8 | +0.6 |
| UKIP | Derek Bennett | 974 | 2.8 | New |
| Socialist Alliance | Peter Smith | 343 | 1.0 | New |
Majority | 9,931 | 28.5 | +2.3 |
Turnout | 34,899 | 55.7 | –11.6 |
| Labour hold | Swing | +1.1 | |
Elections in the 1990s
General election 1997: Walsall South[13] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Bruce George | 25,024 | 57.9 | +9.7 |
| Conservative | Leslie Leek | 13,712 | 31.7 | –10.2 |
| Liberal Democrats | Harry Harris | 2,698 | 6.2 | –2.1 |
| Referendum | Thomas Dent | 1,662 | 3.8 | New |
| Natural Law | Linda Meads | 149 | 0.4 | +0.1 |
Majority | 11,312 | 26.2 | +19.9 |
Turnout | 43,245 | 67.3 | –9.0 |
| Labour hold | Swing | +10.0 | |
General election 1992: Walsall South[14][15] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Bruce George | 24,133 | 48.2 | +3.3 |
| Conservative | LC Jones | 20,955 | 41.9 | –0.8 |
| Liberal Democrats | GE Williams | 4,132 | 8.3 | –4.1 |
| Green | RJ Clarke | 673 | 1.3 | New |
| Natural Law | JD Oldbury | 167 | 0.3 | New |
Majority | 3,178 | 6.3 | +4.1 |
Turnout | 50,060 | 76.3 | +0.8 |
| Labour hold | Swing | +2.1 | |
Elections in the 1980s
General election 1987: Walsall South[16] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Bruce George | 22,629 | 44.9 | +1.4 |
| Conservative | Graham Postles | 21,513 | 42.7 | +0.6 |
| Liberal | Lionel King | 6,241 | 12.4 | −0.8 |
Majority | 1,116 | 2.2 | +0.8 |
Turnout | 50,383 | 75.5 | +1.2 |
| Labour hold | Swing | +1.0 | |
General election 1983: Walsall South[17][18] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Bruce George | 21,735 | 43.5 | −7.4 |
| Conservative | David Nicholson | 21,033 | 42.1 | −5.2 |
| Liberal | Bernard Silver[19] | 6,586 | 13.2 | New |
| BNP | J Parker | 632 | 1.3 | New |
Majority | 702 | 1.4 | −2.2 |
Turnout | 49,986 | 74.3 | −2.4 |
| Labour hold | Swing | -1.1 | |
Elections in the 1970s
General election 1979: Walsall South Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Bruce George | 22,539 | 50.9 | +2.9 |
| Conservative | A Hill | 20,951 | 47.3 | +10.0 |
| National Front | V Parker | 795 | 1.80 | −1.0 |
Majority | 1,588 | 3.6 | −7.1 |
Turnout | 44,285 | 76.7 | +3.1 |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election February 1974: Walsall South Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Bruce George | 20,775 | 45.2 | |
| Conservative | H Smith | 19,195 | 41.7 | |
| Liberal | Richard Hains | 6,038 | 13.1 | |
Majority | 1,580 | 3.5 | N/A |
Turnout | 46,008 | 78.3 | |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Elections in the 1960s
Elections in the 1950s
See also
- List of parliamentary constituencies in the West Midlands (county)
Notes
- ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
- ^ As with all constituencies, the constituency elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
- ^ 6.3% and 4.3% of the vote respectively in the specific election years given.
References
- ^ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- ^ a b "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – West Midlands | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 1)
- ^ "Walsall South Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
- ^ "Walsall South Parliamentary constituency". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017.
- ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Walsall South". BBC News.
- ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Vote 2001 Results & Constituencies Walsall South". BBC. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
- ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
- ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election '83 Full Results". The Guardian. 11 June 1983. p. 18. Retrieved 24 October 2021. – via newspapers.com (subscription required)
- ^ "Liberal / Liberal Democrat Candidates in Parliamentary Elections in the West Midland Region 1945-2015" (PDF). liberalhistory.org.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
External links
- Walsall South UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
Constituencies in the West Midlands (57)
Labour (37) | - Birmingham Edgbaston
- Birmingham Erdington
- Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley
- Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North
- Birmingham Ladywood
- Birmingham Northfield
- Birmingham Selly Oak
- Birmingham Yardley
- Burton and Uttoxeter
- Cannock Chase
- Coventry East
- Coventry North West
- Dudley
- Halesowen
- Lichfield
- Newcastle-under-Lyme
- North Warwickshire and Bedworth
- Nuneaton
- Redditch
- Rugby
- Shrewsbury
- Smethwick
- Stafford
- Stoke-on-Trent Central
- Stoke-on-Trent North
- Stoke-on-Trent South
- Stourbridge
- Tamworth
- Telford
- Tipton and Wednesbury
- Walsall and Bloxwich
- Warwick and Leamington
- West Bromwich
- Wolverhampton North East
- Wolverhampton South East
- Wolverhampton West
- Worcester
|
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Conservative (15) | - Aldridge-Brownhills
- Bromsgrove
- Droitwich and Evesham
- Hereford and South Herefordshire
- Kenilworth and Southam
- Kingswinford and South Staffordshire
- Meriden and Solihull East
- Solihull West and Shirley
- South Shropshire
- Staffordshire Moorlands
- Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge
- Sutton Coldfield
- The Wrekin
- West Worcestershire
- Wyre Forest
|
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Liberal Democrats (2) | - North Shropshire
- Stratford-on-Avon
|
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Independent (2) | - Birmingham Perry Barr
- Coventry South
|
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Green Party (1) | |
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Authority control databases: People ![Edit this at Wikidata](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png) | |
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52°34′N 1°59′W / 52.57°N 1.98°W / 52.57; -1.98