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Stoke-on-Trent South

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Stoke-on-Trent South
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Stoke-on-Trent South in West Midlands region
CountyStaffordshire
Electorate68,624 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsStoke-on-Trent (part), Longton, Forsbrook, Barlaston
Current constituency
Created1950
Member of ParliamentAllison Gardner (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromStoke-on-Trent, Stoke

Stoke-on-Trent South is a constituency[n 1] created in 1950, and represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Allison Gardner, a Labour party representative.[n 2]

Constituency profile

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The A50 through Meir

Stoke-on-Trent South is a constituency in Staffordshire in the West Midlands region of England. It covers the southern areas of the city of Stoke-on-Trent, including Meir, Weston Coyney, Trentham, Hem Heath and the southern half of Longton. It also covers a rural area south of the city, including the villages of Blythe Bridge, Forsbrook and Tean.

Stoke-on-Trent is a polycentric city that was formed in 1910 from the amalgamation of six towns. The Stoke-on-Trent area is commonly referred to as the Potteries, reflecting its traditional status as the country's foremost centre for the production of ceramics. Coal mining and steelmaking were also important industries in the city. Longton was an industrial town and the decline of the pottery sector has left it highly-deprived. Meir also has low levels of wealth with many residents living in socially-rented, semi-detached properties.[2] In comparison, Trentham and Blythe Bridge are affluent and suburban in character.[3] House prices across the constituency are generally lower than the regional and UK averages.[4]

Stoke-on-Trent South has a large retired population and below-average proportions of young and middle-aged adults.[5] Residents have average rates of income and high levels of homeownership,[4] but the child poverty rate is above-average.[6] They have low levels of education and a high proportion work in the retail, health and transport sectors.[4][7] The percentage of residents claiming unemployment benefits is low.[6] White people made up 90% of the population at the 2021 census.[8]

Most of this constituency is represented by Conservatives at the local council level, with some Labour Party councillors elected in Longton. Voters in Stoke-on-Trent South strongly supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum; an estimated 64% voted in favour of Brexit compared to the UK-wide figure of 52%.[4]

Boundaries

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Historic

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1950–1955: The County Borough of Stoke-on-Trent wards numbers 19 to 26.

1955–1983: The County Borough of Stoke-on-Trent wards numbers 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24.

1983–2010: The City of Stoke-on-Trent wards of Blurton, Fenton Green, Great Fenton, Longton South, Meir Park, Trentham Park, and Weston.

2010–2024: The City of Stoke-on-Trent wards of Blurton, Fenton, Longton North, Longton South, Meir Park and Sandon, Trentham and Hanford, and Weston and Meir North.

Current

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Under the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency was defined as composing the following as they existed on 1 December 2020:

  • The Borough of Stafford wards of: Barlaston; Fulford; Swynnerton & Oulton.
  • The District of Staffordshire Moorlands wards of: Checkley; Forsbrook.
  • The City of Stoke-on-Trent wards of: Blurton East; Blurton West and Newstead; Broadway and Longton East; Dresden and Florence; Hanford and Trentham; Hollybush and Longton West; Lightwood North and Normacot; Meir North; Meir Park; Meir South; Weston Coyney.[9]

Significant changes, with northern parts, including the town of Fenton, being transferred to Stoke-on-Trent Central. To compensate and bring the electorate within the permitted range, the parts in the Stafford and Staffordshire Moorlands local authorities were added from the abolished constituency of Stone.

Following a further local government boundary review in the City of Stoke-on-Trent which came into effect in May 2023,[10][11] the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:

History

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Political history

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The constituency was created for the 1950 general election as the successor to the Stoke Division of Stoke-on-Trent. It also included parts of the abolished Stone constituency which had been absorbed by the County Borough of Stoke-on-Trent.

The constituency and its predecessor were safe Labour seats from 1935 until the 2010s when it became marginal. It was won by the Conservative Party for the first time in 2017 when Jack Brereton became its MP.[13] At the 2019 general election, the Conservatives increased their majority to over 11,000 votes; with a vote share of 62%. This was overturned in the 2024 election when, despite boundary changes favorable to the Conservatives, Labour's Allison Gardner won the seat, albeit with a small majority of 627 votes.[14]

Prominent members

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Jack Ashley (later Lord Ashley) became deaf as a result of an operation, but his disability campaigns led to major enactments and public sector changes to improve ordinary life for deaf people, including the inclusion of sign language in television programmes and campaigns to help other disabled people.

Members of Parliament

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Stoke-on-Trent/"Stoke" prior to 1950

ElectionMember[15] Party
1950 Ellis Smith Labour
1966 Jack Ashley Labour
1992 George Stevenson Labour
2005 Rob Flello Labour
2017 Jack Brereton Conservative
2024 Allison Gardner Labour

Elections

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Stoke South election results

Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Stoke-on-Trent South[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Allison Gardner 14,221 34.7 +5.1
Conservative Jack Brereton 13,594 33.2 −29.3
Reform Michael Bailey 8,851 21.6 N/A
Liberal Democrats Alec Sandiford 1,577 3.9 −2.3
Independent Asif Mehmood 1,372 3.4 N/A
Green Peggy Wiseman 1,207 2.9 +1.3
Independent Carla Parrish 120 0.3 N/A
Majority 627 1.5 N/A
Turnout 40,942 59.7 −1.7
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +15.0

Elections in the 2010s

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General election 2019: Stoke-on-Trent South[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jack Brereton 24,632 62.2 +13.1
Labour Mark McDonald 13,361 33.7 –13.8
Liberal Democrats Rosalyn Gordon 1,611 4.1 +2.2
Majority 11,271 28.5 +26.9
Turnout 39,604 61.4 –1.7
Conservative hold Swing +13.4
General election 2017: Stoke-on-Trent South[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jack Brereton 20,451 49.1 +16.4
Labour Rob Flello 19,788 47.5 +8.3
Liberal Democrats Ian Wilkes 808 1.9 –1.4
Green Jan Zablocki 643 1.5 –1.1
Majority 663 1.6 N/A
Turnout 41,690 63.1 +5.8
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +4.1
General election 2015: Stoke-on-Trent South[19][20][21][22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rob Flello 15,319 39.2 +0.4
Conservative Joe Rich 12,780 32.7 +4.3
UKIP Tariq Mahmood 8,298 21.2 +17.8
Liberal Democrats Peter Andras 1,309 3.3 –12.6
Green Luke Bellamy 1,029 2.6 New
TUSC Matthew Wright 372 1.0 New
Majority 2,539 6.5 –3.9
Turnout 39,107 57.3 –1.5
Labour hold Swing –2.0
General election 2010: Stoke-on-Trent South[23][24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rob Flello 15,446 38.8 –8.1
Conservative James Rushton 11,316 28.4 +4.2
Liberal Democrats Zulfiqar Ali 6,323 15.9 +0.8
BNP Michael Coleman 3,762 9.4 +0.4
UKIP Mark Barlow 1,363 3.4 +0.7
Staffordshire Independent Group Terry Follows 1,208 3.0 New
Independent Mark Breeze 434 1.1 New
Majority 4,130 10.4 –12.6
Turnout 39,852 58.8 +4.4
Labour hold Swing –6.2

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Stoke-on-Trent South[25][26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rob Flello 17,727 46.9 –6.9
Conservative Mark Deaville 9,046 23.9 –0.7
Liberal Democrats Andrew Martin 5,894 15.6 +2.5
BNP Mark Leat 3,305 8.7 +4.9
UKIP Neville Benson 1,043 2.8 New
Veritas Grant Allen 805 2.1 New
Majority 8,618 23.0 –6.2
Turnout 37,820 53.6 +2.2
Labour hold Swing –3.1
General election 2001: Stoke-on-Trent South[27][28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Stevenson 19,366 53.8 –8.2
Conservative Philip Bastiman 8,877 24.6 +2.2
Liberal Democrats Christopher Coleman 4,724 13.1 +2.9
Independent Adrian Knapper 1,703 4.7 New
BNP Steven Batkin 1,358 3.8 +2.6
Majority 10,489 29.2 –10.4
Turnout 36,028 51.4 –14.7
Labour hold Swing –5.2

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Stoke-on-Trent South[29][30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Stevenson 28,645 62.0 +12.2
Conservative Sheila Scott 10,342 22.4 –14.3
Liberal Democrats Peter Barnett 4,710 10.2 +2.8
Referendum Richard Adams 1,103 2.4 New
Liberal Alison Micklem 580 1.3 New
BNP Steven Batkin 568 1.2 New
National Democrats Brian Lawrence 288 0.6 New
Majority 18,303 39.6 +26.5
Turnout 46,236 66.1 –8.2
Labour hold Swing +13.3
General election 1992: Stoke-on-Trent South[31][32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Stevenson 26,380 49.8 +2.3
Conservative Roger Ibbs 19,471 36.7 –1.1
Liberal Democrats Fred Jones 6,870 13.0 –1.7
Natural Law Elizabeth Lines 291 0.5 New
Majority 6,909 13.1 +3.4
Turnout 53,012 74.3 +0.6
Labour hold Swing +1.7

Elections of the 1980s

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General election 1987: Stoke-on-Trent South[33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Ashley 24,794 47.5
Conservative Dennis Hartshorne 19,741 37.8
Liberal Peter Wild 7,669 14.69
Majority 5,053 9.68
Turnout 52,204 73.73
Labour hold Swing
General election 1983: Stoke-on-Trent South[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Ashley 23,611 48.0 −10.8
Conservative Peter Maxwell 16,506 33.6 +1.3
Liberal William Walley 9,050 18.4 +9.4
Majority 7,105 14.4 −12.1
Turnout 49,167 69.6 −2.9
Labour hold Swing -6.0

Elections of the 1970s

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General election 1979: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Ashley 31,610 58.75
Conservative R Rayner 17,364 32.27
Liberal D Chantrey 4,829 8.98
Majority 14,246 26.48
Turnout 53,803 72.52
Labour hold Swing
General election October 1974: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Ashley 30,699 61.18
Conservative S Heath 14,204 28.31
Liberal E Johnson 5,278 10.52
Majority 16,495 32.87
Turnout 50,181 69.09
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Ashley 31,650 56.83
Conservative S Newall 15,981 28.70
Liberal M Smith 7,578 13.61 New
Communist S Lomas 481 0.86
Majority 15,669 28.13
Turnout 55,690 77.38
Labour hold Swing
General election 1970: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Ashley 20,770 60.24
Conservative RJ Apps 13,344 38.70
Communist SJ Lomas 364 1.06
Majority 7,426 21.54
Turnout 34,478 50.66
Labour hold Swing

Elections of the 1960s

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General election 1966: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Ashley 27,380 61.65
Conservative FW Thornton 14,769 33.26
Communist SJ Lomas 2,262 5.09 New
Majority 12,611 28.39
Turnout 44,411 71.02
Labour hold Swing
General election 1964: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ellis Smith 28,928 60.56
Conservative Clive Howson 18,839 39.44
Majority 10,089 21.12
Turnout 47,767 75.65
Labour hold Swing

Elections of the 1950s

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General election 1959: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ellis Smith 29,578 59.28
Conservative Geoffrey S Tucker 20,318 40.72
Majority 9,260 18.56
Turnout 49,896 78.24
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ellis Smith 31,003 63.61
Conservative Basil GC Webb 17,739 36.39
Majority 13,264 27.22
Turnout 48,742 73.62
Labour hold Swing
General election 1951: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ellis Smith 35,261 65.77
Conservative Basil Webb 18,355 34.23
Majority 16,906 31.54
Turnout 53,616 84.21
Labour hold Swing
General election 1950: Stoke-on-Trent South
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Ellis Smith 34,339 64.45
Conservative L Orridge 14,637 27.47
Liberal William Herbert Kemp 4,307 8.08
Majority 19,702 36.98
Turnout 53,283 85.27
Labour 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 elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

References

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  1. ↑ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ↑ "Accommodation type - Census Maps, ONS". ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  3. ↑ "Constituency data: Deprivation in England". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Seat Details - Stoke-on-Trent South". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Constituency data: Population, by age". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Constituency dashboard". House of Commons Library. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "Constituency data: businesses and industries". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "2021 census results: Ethnic groups in your constituency". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 8 West Midlands region.
  10. ↑ LGBCE. "Stoke-on-Trent | LGBCE". lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  11. ↑ "The Stoke-on-Trent (Electoral Changes) Order 2022".
  12. ↑ "New Seat Details – Stoke-on-Trent South". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  13. ↑ Brereton's was 1 of 6 total gains offset by greater losses (13 net seats lost) for his party in the 2017 results nationwide. In 2017 the two largest parties increased their share of the vote largely in England at the expense of UKIP.
  14. ↑ Andrews, Rob (5 July 2024). "Labour win Stoke-on-Trent South as Jack Brereton kicked out". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  15. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 5)
  16. ↑ "Stoke-on-Trent South". BBC News. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  17. ↑ "Stoke-on-Trent South Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  18. ↑ "Stoke-on-Trent South". BBC News. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  19. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Candidates (PPCS) for Stoke-on-Trent South in the UK 2015 General Ele…". {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  21. ↑ "Peter Andras PPC page". Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  22. ↑ "MORE TUSC CANDIDATES IN PLACE AS ELECTION CHALLENGE GROWS". tusc.org.uk. 19 December 2014.
  23. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  24. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated".[permanent dead link]
  25. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  26. ↑ "BBC NEWS – Election 2005 – Results – Stoke-on-Trent South". BBC News.
  27. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  28. ↑ "BBC NEWS – VOTE 2001 – RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES – Stoke-on-Trent South". BBC News.
  29. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  30. ↑ "Stoke-on-Trent South". Archived from the original on 28 October 2004.
  31. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  32. ↑ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  33. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  34. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
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52°57′N 2°07′W / 52.95°N 2.11°W / 52.95; -2.11

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