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Walsall South (UK Parliament constituency)

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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]

Walsall South
Former borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Walsall South in West Midlands
Outline map
Location of West Midlands within England
CountyWest Midlands
Electorate66,082 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsDarlaston and
Walsall (part)
1955–2024
SeatsOne
Created fromWalsall
Replaced byWalsall and Bloxwich

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

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See also: Walsall

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

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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

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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

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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]

Members of Parliament

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Election Member[4] Party
1955 Henry d'Avigdor-Goldsmid Conservative
Feb 1974 Bruce George Labour
2010 Valerie Vaz Labour

Elections

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Elections in the 2010s

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 October 1974: Walsall South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Bruce George 20,917 48.0 +2.8
Conservative H Smith 16,255 37.3 −4.4
Liberal GFA Hooper 5,031 11.5 −1.6
National Front JC Parker 1,226 2.8 New
More Prosperous Britain Tom Keen 150 0.34 New
Majority 4,662 10.7 +7.2
Turnout 43,579 73.6 −4.7
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
General election 1970: Walsall South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry d'Avigdor-Goldsmid 35,545 59.5 +6.1
Labour Graham S Rea 24,196 40.5 −6.1
Majority 11,349 19.0 +12.1
Turnout 59,741 73.0 −4.2
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

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General election 1966: Walsall South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry d'Avigdor-Goldsmid 30,161 53.4 −3.7
Labour R Geoffrey Drake 26,280 46.6 +3.7
Majority 3,881 6.9 −7.3
Turnout 56,441 77.2 −1.9
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Walsall South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry d'Avigdor-Goldsmid 32,602 57.1 −1.3
Labour Bryan Stanley 24,532 42.9 +1.3
Majority 8,070 14.2 −2.6
Turnout 57,314 79.1 −4.0
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

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General election 1959: Walsall South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry d'Avigdor-Goldsmid 30,471 58.4 +5.7
Labour John AF Ennals 21,689 41.6 −5.8
Majority 8,782 16.8 +11.5
Turnout 52,160 83.1 +2.9
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Walsall South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry d'Avigdor-Goldsmid 24,077 52.7
Labour John Ennals 21,651 47.4
Majority 2,426 5.3
Turnout 45,728 80.2
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 6.3% and 4.3% of the vote respectively in the specific election years given.

References

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  1. ^ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  4. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 1)
  5. ^ "Walsall South Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  6. ^ "Walsall South Parliamentary constituency". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  9. ^ "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Walsall South". BBC News.
  10. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Vote 2001 Results & Constituencies Walsall South". BBC. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  13. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  16. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Election '83 Full Results". The Guardian. 11 June 1983. p. 18. Retrieved 24 October 2021.  – via newspapers.com (subscription required)
  19. ^ "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.
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52°34′N 1°59′W / 52.57°N 1.98°W / 52.57; -1.98

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