Burnley (UK Parliament constituency)

Burnley is a constituency[n 1] centred on the town of Burnley in Lancashire which has been represented since 2019 by Antony Higginbotham, a Conservative.[n 2]

Burnley
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Burnley in Lancashire
Outline map
Location of Lancashire within England
CountyLancashire
Population87,059 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate64,338 (December 2018)[2]
Major settlementsBurnley
Current constituency
Created1868
Member of ParliamentAntony Higginbotham (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromNorth Lancashire

History

The seat was created in 1868. From World War II until 2010 it was won by Labour candidates, generally on safe, large majorities; Ann Widdecombe failed to take the seat from the Labour Party in 1979. The closest second place was to a Conservative Party candidate, Ian Bruce, who came 787 votes (1.6%) short of taking the seat in 1983.[3]

Burnley saw strong opposition support for the Liberal Democrats in 2005 who moved into second place; meanwhile a local independent pushed Yousuf Miah, a Conservative into fourth position. Following controversy regarding outgoing Labour MP Kitty Ussher's personal expenses, Gordon Birtwistle, who first contested the seat in 1992, gained the seat in 2010 with a heavy swing of 9.6%.

However, Birtwistle was one of the many casualties faced by the Liberal Democrats in the 2015 election, losing the seat to Julie Cooper, who had also stood as Labour's candidate in 2010, although the 6.2% swing away from Birtwistle was less than half the 15.2% national swing against his party. As in 2005, the Conservatives came fourth, behind UKIP, as well as Labour and the Lib Dems this time.

At the 2017 election, Labour held the seat with an increased majority. Birtwistle stood again, but saw his share of the vote halved; this was widely seen to be due to his party's stance on Brexit. This election saw one of the biggest increases in the share of the vote for the Conservatives in the whole country, who more than doubled their share of the vote. UKIP lost two-thirds of their vote from 2015, but did retain their deposit. This meant that Burnley was one of the few constituencies in England where four parties retained their deposits.

At the 2019 election, Antony Higginbotham won the seat for the Conservatives, thus becoming the first Conservative to represent Burnley in parliament for over 100 years.[4] The Conservative vote share increased by over 9% compared with the previous election, while the Labour vote share declined by about 10%.[5]

The review of parliamentary representation in Lancashire by the Boundary Commission for England in the 2000s proposed no change to the boundaries of the Burnley seat. The seat remains coterminous with the boundaries of the borough of Burnley (as it has been since 1983; before then, it was coterminous with the county borough of the same name).[6]

Boundaries

Map of present boundaries

1868–1885: The townships of Burnley, and Habergham Eaves.[7]

1885–1918:

1918–1983: The County Borough of Burnley.

1983–1997: The Borough of Burnley.

1997–present: As 1983 but with redrawn boundaries, due to local government boundary changes in the mid-1980s.

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the next general election, due by January 2025, the constituency will be composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

  • The Borough of Burnley.
  • The Borough of Pendle wards of: Brierfield East & Clover Hill; Brierfield West & Reedley.[8]

The constituency will be expanded to bring the electorate within the permitted range by transferring the community of Brierfield from the (to be abolished) constituency of Pendle.

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember[9][10]Party
1868Richard ShawLiberal
1876 by-electionPeter RylandsLiberal
1886Liberal Unionist
1887 by-electionJohn SlaggLiberal
1889 by-electionJabez BalfourLiberal
1893 by-electionHon. Philip StanhopeLiberal
1900William MitchellConservative
1906Frederick MaddisonLib-Lab
Jan. 1910Gerald ArbuthnotConservative
Dec. 1910Philip MorrellLiberal
1918Dan IrvingLabour
1924 by-electionArthur HendersonLabour
1931Gordon Campbell, VCNational Liberal
1935Wilfrid BurkeLabour
1959Dan JonesLabour
1983Peter PikeLabour
2005Kitty UssherLabour
2010Gordon BirtwistleLiberal Democrats
2015Julie CooperLabour
2019Antony HigginbothamConservative

Elections

Burnley election results

Elections in the 2020s

Next general election: Burnley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ConservativeAntony Higginbotham[11]
LabourOliver Ryan[12]
Liberal DemocratsGordon Birtwistle[13]
GreenScott Cunliffe[14]
Majority
Turnout
Swing

Elections in the 2010s

Antony Higginbotham
General election 2019: Burnley[15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ConservativeAntony Higginbotham 15,720 40.3 +9.3
LabourJulie Cooper14,36836.9―9.8
Liberal DemocratsGordon Birtwistle3,5019.0―6.0
Brexit PartyStewart Scott3,3628.6New
BAPIPCharlie Briggs1,1623.0New
GreenLaura Fisk7391.9+0.8
IndependentKaren Entwistle1320.3New
Majority1,3523.4N/A
Turnout38,98460.6―1.6
Conservative gain from LabourSwing+9.5
General election 2017: Burnley[16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourJulie Cooper 18,832 46.7 +9.1
ConservativePaul White12,47931.0+17.5
Liberal DemocratsGordon Birtwistle6,04615.0―14.5
UKIPTom Commis2,4726.1―11.2
GreenLaura Fisk4611.1―1.0
Majority6,35315.7+7.6
Turnout40,29062.2+0.6
Labour holdSwing
Julie Cooper
General election 2015: Burnley[17][18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourJulie Cooper 14,951 37.6 +6.3
Liberal DemocratsGordon Birtwistle11,70729.5―6.2
UKIPTom Commis6,86417.3+15.1
ConservativeSarah Cockburn-Price5,37413.5―3.1
GreenMike Hargreaves8502.1New
Majority3,2448.1N/A
Turnout39,74661.6―1.2
Labour gain from Liberal DemocratsSwing+6.3
Gordon Birtwistle
General election 2010: Burnley[19][20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal DemocratsGordon Birtwistle 14,932 35.7 +12.0
LabourJulie Cooper13,11431.3―7.2
ConservativeRichard Ali6,95016.6+5.8
BNPSharon Wilkinson3,7479.0―1.3
IndependentAndrew Brown1,8764.5New
UKIPJohn Wignall9292.2+1.2
IndependentAndrew Hennessey2870.7New
Majority1,8184.3N/A
Turnout41,84562.8+3.6
Liberal Democrats gain from LabourSwing+9.6

Elections in the 2000s

2010s2000s1990s1980s1970s1960s1950s1940s1930s1920s1910s1900s1890s1880s1870s1860sBack to Top

Kitty Ussher
General election 2005: Burnley[21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourKitty Ussher 14,999 38.5 ―10.8
Liberal DemocratsGordon Birtwistle9,22123.7+7.5
Burnley First IndependentHarry Brooks5,78614.8New
ConservativeYousuf Miah4,20610.8―10.1
BNPLen Starr4,00310.3―1.0
IndependentJeff Slater3921.0New
UKIPRobert McDowell3761.0―1.3
Majority5,77814.8-13.6
Turnout38,98359.2+3.5
Labour holdSwing―9.2[n 3]
General election 2001: Burnley[22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourPeter Pike 18,195 49.3 ―8.6
ConservativeRobert Frost7,69720.9+0.7
Liberal DemocratsPaul Wright5,97516.2―1.2
BNPSteve Smith4,15111.3New
UKIPRichard Buttrey8662.3New
Majority10,49828.4-9.3
Turnout36,88455.7―11.2
Labour holdSwing―4.6

Elections in the 1990s

2010s2000s1990s1980s1970s1960s1950s1940s1930s1920s1910s1900s1890s1880s1870s1860sBack to Top

General election 1997: Burnley[23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourPeter Pike 26,210 57.9 +4.9
ConservativeBill Wiggin9,14820.2―10.4
Liberal DemocratsGordon Birtwistle7,87717.4+1.0
ReferendumRichard Oakley2,0104.4New
Majority17,06237.7+15.3
Turnout45,24566.9―7.3
Labour holdSwing+7.65
General election 1992: Burnley[24][25]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourPeter Pike 27,184 53.0 +4.6
ConservativeBrenda Binge15,69330.6―3.2
Liberal DemocratsGordon Birtwistle8,41416.4―1.4
Majority11,49122.4+7.8
Turnout51,29174.2―4.6
Labour holdSwing+3.9

Elections in the 1980s

2010s2000s1990s1980s1970s1960s1950s1940s1930s1920s1910s1900s1890s1880s1870s1860sBack to Top

General election 1987: Burnley[26]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourPeter Pike 25,140 48.4 +8.6
ConservativeHarold Elletson17,58333.8―4.4
SDPRonals Baker9,24117.8―2.2
Majority7,55714.6+13.0
Turnout51,96478.8+2.5
Labour holdSwing+6.5
General election 1983: Burnley[27]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourPeter Pike 20,178 39.8 ―11.0
ConservativeIan Bruce19,39138.2+2.8
LiberalMichael Steed11,19120.0+7.2
Majority7871.6―13.8
Turnout50,76076.3
Labour holdSwing―6.9

Elections in the 1970s

2010s2000s1990s1980s1970s1960s1950s1940s1930s1920s1910s1900s1890s1880s1870s1860sBack to Top

General election 1979: Burnley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourDan Jones 20,172 50.8 ―4.0
ConservativeAnn Widdecombe14,06235.4+10.7
LiberalMichael Steed5,09112.8―7.7
Independent DemocratF. Tyrrall3520.9New
Majority6,11015.4―14.7
Turnout39,677
Labour holdSwing
General election October 1974: Burnley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourDan Jones 21,642 54.8 +4.4
ConservativeA. Pickup9,76624.7―2.3
LiberalS.P. Mews8,11920.5―2.1
Majority11,87630.1+6.7
Turnout39,52779.70.0
Labour holdSwing+3.3
General election February 1974: Burnley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourDan Jones 21,108 50.4 ―6.6
ConservativeA. Pickup11,26827.0―7.9
LiberalS. Mews9,47122.6+14.5
Majority9,84023.4+1.3
Turnout41,84779.7+4.0
Labour holdSwing
General election 1970: Burnley[28]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourDan Jones 24,200 57.0 ―3.4
ConservativeJohn Birch14,84634.9+7.2
LiberalGeorge Brownbill3,4468.11―3.8
Majority9,35422.1―10.7
Turnout39,04675.7―4.3
Labour holdSwing

Elections in the 1960s

2010s2000s1990s1980s1970s1960s1950s1940s1930s1920s1910s1900s1890s1880s1870s1860sBack to Top

General election 1966: Burnley[29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourDan Jones 25,583 60.43
ConservativeAlbert S Royse11,71027.66
LiberalMary R Mason5,04511.92
Majority13,87332.77
Turnout42,33879.96
Labour holdSwing
General election 1964: Burnley[30]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourDan Jones 25,244 56.80
ConservativeTom Mitchell12,36527.82
LiberalMary R Mason6,83315.38New
Majority12,87928.98
Turnout44,44281.68
Labour holdSwing

Elections in the 1950s

2010s2000s1990s1980s1970s1960s1950s1940s1930s1920s1910s1900s1890s1880s1870s1860sBack to Top

General election 1959: Burnley[31]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourDan Jones 27,675 56.97
ConservativeEdward Brooks20,90243.03
Majority6,77313.94
Turnout48,57783.77
Labour holdSwing
General election 1955: Burnley[32]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourWilfrid Burke 27,865 55.63
ConservativeEdward Brooks22,22944.37
Majority5,63611.26
Turnout50,09483.46
Labour holdSwing
General election 1951: Burnley[33]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourWilfrid Burke 31,261 56.53
ConservativeDonald P Dunkley24,03443.37
Majority7,22713.16
Turnout55,29588.86
Labour holdSwing
General election 1950: Burnley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourWilfrid Burke 30,685 55.65
ConservativeF.H. Wilson23,63642.86
CommunistBill Whittaker[34]5260.95New
Ind. Labour PartyDan Carradice2950.53New
Majority7,04912.79
Turnout55,14289.56
Labour holdSwing

Election in the 1940s

2010s2000s1990s1980s1970s1960s1950s1940s1930s1920s1910s1900s1890s1880s1870s1860sBack to Top

General election 1945: Burnley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourWilfrid Burke 32,122 63.54
National LiberalHerbert Monckton Milnes18,43136.46
Majority13,69127.08
Turnout50,55380.44
Labour holdSwing

Elections in the 1930s

2010s2000s1990s1980s1970s1960s1950s1940s1930s1920s1910s1900s1890s1880s1870s1860sBack to Top

General election 1935: Burnley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourWilfrid Burke 31,160 53.61
National LiberalGordon Campbell26,96546.39
Majority4,1957.22N/A
Turnout58,12587.36
Labour gain from National LiberalSwing
Gordon Campbell VC
General election 1931: Burnley[35]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
NationalGordon Campbell 35,126 56.15
LabourArthur Henderson26,91743.03
CommunistJ. Rushton5120.82New
Majority8,20913.12N/A
Turnout62,55591.85
National gain from LabourSwing

Elections in the 1920s

2010s2000s1990s1980s1970s1960s1950s1940s1930s1920s1910s1900s1890s1880s1870s1860sBack to Top

General election 1929: Burnley[36]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourArthur Henderson 28,091 46.2 +0.8
UnionistIan Fairbairn20,13733.2−2.4
LiberalAneurin Edwards12,50220.6+1.6
Majority7,95413.0+3.2
Turnout60,73089.6+1.2
Registered electors67,781
Labour holdSwing+1.6
General election 1924: Burnley[36]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourArthur Henderson 20,549 45.4 +7.6
UnionistIan Fairbairn16,08435.6+3.8
LiberalJames Whitehead8,60119.0−11.4
Majority4,4659.8+3.8
Turnout45,95488.4+1.1
Registered electors51,162
Labour holdSwing+1.9
Arthur Henderson
1924 Burnley by-election[37]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourArthur Henderson 24,571 58.4 +20.6
ConservativeHarold Edward Joscelyn Camps17,53441.6+9.8
Majority7,03716.8+10.8
Turnout42,10582.4−4.9
Registered electors51,086
Labour holdSwing+5.4
General election 1923: Burnley[36]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourDan Irving 16,848 37.8 −1.3
UnionistHarold Edward Joscelyn Camps14,19731.8−1.3
LiberalJames Whitehead13,54330.4+2.6
Majority2,6516.00.0
Turnout44,58887.3−1.4
Registered electors51,086
Labour holdSwing0.0
General election 1922: Burnley[36]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourDan Irving 17,385 39.1 −2.8
UnionistHarold Edward Joscelyn Camps14,73133.1−0.7
LiberalWalter Layton12,33927.8+3.5
Majority2,6546.0−2.1
Turnout44,45588.7+17.3
Registered electors50,111
Labour holdSwing−1.1

Elections in the 1910s

2010s2000s1990s1980s1970s1960s1950s1940s1930s1920s1910s1900s1890s1880s1870s1860sBack to Top

Dan Irving
General election December 1918: Burnley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourDan Irving 15,217 41.9 New
CUnionistHenry Mulholland12,28933.8-3.7
LiberalJohn Howarth Grey8,82524.3-14.3
Majority2,9288.1N/A
Turnout21,11471.4−22.7
Labour gain from LiberalSwing+16.2
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

A General Election was due to take place by the end of 1915. By the summer of 1914, the following candidates had been adopted to contest that election. Due to the outbreak of war, the election never took place.

Philip Morrell
General election December 1910: Burnley[39]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalPhilip Morrell 6,177 38.7 +4.1
ConservativeGerald Arbuthnot6,00437.5+2.3
Social Democratic FederationHenry Hyndman3,81023.8-6.4
Majority1731.2N/A
Turnout15,99194.1−2.4
Registered electors16,992
Liberal gain from ConservativeSwing+0.9
Gerald Arbuthnot
General election January 1910: Burnley[40][39]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ConservativeGerald Arbuthnot 5,776 35.2 +2.5
Lib-LabFred Maddison5,68134.6−0.2
Social Democratic FederationHenry Hyndman4,94830.2−2.3
Majority950.6N/A
Turnout16,40596.5+1.5
Registered electors16,992
Conservative gain from Lib-LabSwing+1.4

Elections in the 1900s

2010s2000s1990s1980s1970s1960s1950s1940s1930s1920s1910s1900s1890s1880s1870s1860sBack to Top

Fred Maddison
General election 1906: Burnley[40][39]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Lib-LabFred Maddison 5,288 34.8 −12.9
ConservativeGerald Arbuthnot4,96432.7−19.6
Social Democratic FederationHenry Hyndman4,93232.5New
Majority3242.1N/A
Turnout15,18495.0+5.1
Registered electors15,983
Lib-Lab gain from ConservativeSwing+3.4
General election 1900: Burnley[40][39]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ConservativeWilliam Mitchell 6,773 52.3 +9.8
LiberalPhilip Stanhope6,17347.7+2.6
Majority6004.6N/A
Turnout12,94689.9−0.6
Registered electors14,393
Conservative gain from LiberalSwing+3.6

Elections in the 1890s

2010s2000s1990s1980s1970s1960s1950s1940s1930s1920s1910s1900s1890s1880s1870s1860sBack to Top

General election 1895: Burnley[40][39]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalPhilip Stanhope 5,454 45.1 −11.1
ConservativeWilliam Alexander Lindsay[41]5,13342.5−1.3
Social Democratic FederationHenry Hyndman1,49812.4New
Majority3212.6−9.8
Turnout12,08590.5−0.5
Registered electors13,360
Liberal holdSwing−4.9
Philip Stanhope
1893 Burnley by-election[40][39]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalPhilip Stanhope 6,199 53.0 −3.2
ConservativeWilliam Alexander Lindsay[41]5,50647.0+3.2
Majority6936.0−6.4
Turnout11,70591.3+0.3
Registered electors12,826
Liberal holdSwing−3.2
General election 1892: Burnley[40][39]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalJabez Balfour 6,450 56.2 +6.5
Liberal UnionistEdwin Lawrence5,03543.8−6.5
Majority1,41512.4N/A
Turnout11,48591.0+4.1
Registered electors12,619
Liberal gain from Liberal UnionistSwing+6.5

Elections in the 1880s

2010s2000s1990s1980s1970s1960s1950s1940s1930s1920s1910s1900s1890s1880s1870s1860sBack to Top

By-election, 27 Feb 1889: Burnley[39][40]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalJabez BalfourUnopposed
Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist
  • Caused by Stagg's death.
By-election, 19 Feb 1887: Burnley[40][39]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalJohn Slagg 5,026 52.9 +3.2
ConservativeJohn Thursby[42]4,48147.1−3.2
Majority5455.8N/A
Turnout9,50794.9+8.0
Registered electors10,020
Liberal gain from Liberal UnionistSwing+3.2
  • Caused by Ryland's death.
General election 1886: Burnley[40][39]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal UnionistPeter Rylands 4,209 50.3 +4.0
LiberalJames Greenwood[43]4,16649.7−4.0
Majority430.6N/A
Turnout8,37586.9−7.2
Registered electors9,638
Liberal Unionist gain from LiberalSwing+4.0
General election 1885: Burnley[40][44][39]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalPeter Rylands 4,866 53.7 −1.4
ConservativeHenry Herbert Wainwright4,19946.3+1.4
Majority6677.4−2.8
Turnout9,06594.1+0.1
Registered electors9,638
Liberal holdSwing−1.4
General election 1880: Burnley[45]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalPeter Rylands 3,943 55.1 −0.1
ConservativeEdmund Talbot3,21744.9+0.1
Majority72610.2−0.2
Turnout7,16094.0+9.9
Registered electors7,614
Liberal holdSwing−0.1

Elections in the 1870s

2010s2000s1990s1980s1970s1960s1950s1940s1930s1920s1910s1900s1890s1880s1870s1860sBack to Top

By-election, 14 Feb 1876: Burnley[46][45]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalPeter Rylands 3,520 53.4 −1.8
ConservativeWilliam Alexander Lindsay[47]3,07746.6+1.8
Majority4336.8−3.6
Turnout6,59792.6+8.5
Registered electors7,127
Liberal holdSwing−1.8
  • Caused by Shaw's death.
General election 1874: Burnley[45]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalRichard Shaw 3,065 55.2 +1.3
ConservativeWilliam Alexander Lindsay[47]2,49044.8−1.3
Majority57510.4+2.6
Turnout5,55584.1+8.4
Registered electors6,607
Liberal holdSwing+1.3

Elections in the 1860s

2010s2000s1990s1980s1970s1960s1950s1940s1930s1920s1910s1900s1890s1880s1870s1860sBack to Top

General election 1868: Burnley[45]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LiberalRichard Shaw 2,620 53.9
ConservativeJames Yorke Scarlett2,23846.1
Majority3827.8
Turnout4,85875.7
Registered electors6,417
Liberal win (new seat)

See also

Notes

References

External links

53°47′13″N 2°14′42″W / 53.787°N 2.245°W / 53.787; -2.245