St Austell and Newquay (UK Parliament constituency)

St Austell and Newquay is a constituency[n 1] in Cornwall represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Steve Double, a Conservative.[n 2] It is on the South West Peninsula of England, bordered by both the Celtic Sea to the northwest and English Channel to the southeast.

St Austell and Newquay
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of St Austell and Newquay in Cornwall for the 2010 general election
Outline map
Location of Cornwall within England
CountyCornwall
Electorate77,338 (2018)[1]
Major settlementsSt Austell, Newquay
Current constituency
Created2010
Member of ParliamentSteve Double (Conservative Party)
SeatsOne
Created fromNorth Cornwall
South East Cornwall
Truro & St Austell

History
2010 election

On its creation in 2010, the constituency had, based on complex forecasts involving its three constitutive seats, which factored in to different degrees the recent local election results, a widely varying notional Liberal Democrat majority (see results below). In analysis, one forecast suggested that St Austell and Newquay would prove to be a safe seat, whereas another suggested an extremely marginal seat. The majority achieved was lower than an average of the two forecasts, but by no means the most slender of majorities achieved in that election.

In 2010, the Labour Party candidate polled in line with results of the recent decades in the forerunner seats, with 7.2% of the vote. Mebyon Kernow, the Cornish devolutionist party, achieved its highest share of the vote in any constituency, but narrowly lost its deposit by not reaching the 5% threshold.

2015 election

The seat was won by a Conservative on a majority of more than 15% which would rarely be termed marginal; however, approximately half the electorate of the seat fell within areas represented by a Liberal or Liberal Democrat MP between October 1974 and 2015 - Truro (later adopting a suffix- and St Austell). In terms of the important consideration of length of tenure the seat fails to be describable as in any analysis "safe".

2017 election

Theresa May announced a snap election would take place on 8 June 2017. In this constituency, Conservative incumbent Steve Double won with an increased majority of 11,142. The constituency also saw a gigantic 18.8% increase in the Labour vote, in common with many south-west seats, pushing the Liberal Democrats into third place.

2019 election

The Liberal Democrats further faded into a more distant third place, with their policy of cancelling Brexit failing to attract voters, in a constituency which voted 64% to Leave the European Union. Unlike many seats across the UK, the Labour vote held up pretty well, with only a 2.6% drop in their vote share.

Boundaries

Current

The Borough of Restormel wards of Bethel, Crinnis, Edgcumbe North, Edgcumbe South, Fowey and Tywardreath, Gannel, Gover, Mevagissey, Mount Charles, Poltair, Rialton, Rock, St Blazey, St Columb, St Enoder, St Ewe, St Stephen, and Treverbyn.

The constituency was created for the 2010 general election, following a review of parliamentary representation by the Boundary Commission, which increased the number of seats in the county from five to six.[2] It has the same boundaries as the former Borough of Restormel, with the exception of the ward of Lostwithiel, which remains in the South East Cornwall constituency. Previously, the historic area was divided between the North Cornwall, South East Cornwall and Truro and St Austell seats.[3]

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 electoral divisions of Cornwall (as they existed on 4th May 2021):

  • Fowey, Tywardreath & Par; Mevagissey & St Austell Bay; Newquay Central & Pentire; Newquay Porth & Tretherras; Newquay Trenance; Penwithick & Boscoppa; Roche & Bugle; St Austell Bethel & Holmbush; St Austell Central & Gover; St Austell Poltair & Mount Charles; St Blazey; St Columb Minor & Colan; St Dennis & St Enoder; St Mewan & Grampound; St Stephen-in-Brannel.[4]

Minor changes to align with revised electoral division boundaries and bring the electorate within the permitted range.

Constituency profile

Workless claimants (registered jobseekers) were in November 2012 higher than the national average of 3.8%, at 4.2% of the population, based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[5]

Members of Parliament
ElectionMember[6] Party
2010 Steve Gilbert Liberal Democrats
2015 Steve Double Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s
Next general election: St Austell and Newquay
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform UK Stephen Beal[7]
Conservative Steve Double[8]
Liberal Democrats Joanna Kenny[9]
Labour Noah Law[10]
Green Amanda Pennington[11]
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors
Swing

Elections in the 2010s
General election 2019: St Austell and Newquay[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Steve Double 31,273 56.1 Increase6.6
Labour Felicity Owen 14,747 26.4 Decrease2.6
Liberal Democrats Tim Styles 5,861 10.5 Decrease11.0
Mebyon Kernow Dick Cole 1,660 3.0 New
Green Collin Harker 1,609 2.9 New
Liberal Richard Byrne 626 1.1 New
Majority 16,526 29.6 Increase9.1
Turnout 55,776 69.8 Increase0.8
Conservative hold Swing Increase4.5
General election 2017: St Austell and Newquay
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Steve Double 26,856 49.5 Increase9.3
Labour Kevin Neil 15,714 29.0 Increase18.8
Liberal Democrats Steve Gilbert 11,642 21.5 Decrease2.5
Majority 11,142 20.5 Increase4.3
Turnout 56,212 69.0 Increase3.3
Conservative hold Swing Decrease4.7
General election 2015: St Austell and Newquay[13][14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Steve Double 20,250 40.2 Increase0.2
Liberal Democrats Steve Gilbert 12,077 24.0 Decrease18.7
UKIP David Mathews 8,503 16.9 Increase13.2
Labour Deborah Hopkins 5,150 10.2 Increase3.0
Green Steve Slade 2,318 4.6 New
Mebyon Kernow Dick Cole 2,063 4.1 Decrease0.1
Majority 8,173 16.2 N/A
Turnout 50,361 65.7 Increase3.8
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing Increase9.5
See also: Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15 § St Austell and Newquay
General election 2010: St Austell and Newquay[16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Steve Gilbert 20,189 42.7 Decrease4.5
Conservative Caroline Righton 18,877 40.0 Increase5.1
Labour Lee Jameson 3,386 7.2 Decrease6.6
Mebyon Kernow Dick Cole 2,007 4.2 New
UKIP Clive Medway 1,757 3.7 Decrease0.4
BNP James Fitton 1,022 2.2 New
Majority 1,312 2.7
Turnout 47,238 61.9
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

See also
  • List of parliamentary constituencies in Cornwall

Notes
  1. A county 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
  1. "England Parliamentary electorates 2010-2018". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  2. "Final recommendations for Parliamentary constituencies in the county of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly". Boundary Commission for England. 9 January 2005. Archived from the original on 2 November 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  3. Fifth periodical report - Volume 4 Mapping for the Non-Metropolitan Counties and the Unitary Authorities, The Stationery Office, 26 February 2007, ISBN 978-0-10-170322-2
  4. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 7 South West region.
  5. Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  6. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 1)
  7. "St Austell and Newquay Constituency". Reform UK. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  8. "Conservative MPs in Cornwall to stand again at next General Election". Cornwall Live. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  9. "Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". Mark Pack. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  10. Penhaligon, Julia (11 March 2024). "Labour selects Noah Law to contest St Austell and Newquay". Cornwall Reports.
  11. "Cornwall Green Party candidates for 2024/25 General Election". Cornwall Green Party. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  12. "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF).
  13. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  14. "St Austell & Newquay Parliamentary constituency". Election 2015. BBC News. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  15. "UK Polling Report".
  16. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  17. "2010 Election". BBC News. Retrieved 7 May 2010.

50.375°N 4.926°W / 50.375; -4.926

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.