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Not to be confused with Electoral district of Stafford.

Stafford
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Stafford in Staffordshire
Outline map
Location of Staffordshire within England
CountyStaffordshire
Electorate69,832 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsStafford
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentTheodora Clarke (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromStafford & Stone and Newcastle-under-Lyme[2]
1918–1950
SeatsOne
Type of constituencyCounty constituency
Replaced byStafford & Stone
1295–1918
Seats1290–1885: Two
1885–1918: One
Type of constituencyBorough constituency

Stafford is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Theodora Clarke, a Conservative.[n 2]

The seat since its resurrection in 1983 has proven to be somewhat of a bellwether being held always by the incumbent government although it currently has a significantly higher vote share for the Conservatives than the average constituency.

History[edit]

Stafford, as a parliamentary borough, first existed between the Model Parliament in 1295 and 1950.

The current constituency was created for the 1983 general election.

Prominent members

The town was represented in Parliament by leading playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan at the end of the 18th century.

Political history

Taken together with the Stafford and Stone seat which existed during the 33-year gap mentioned above, since 1910 when the last Liberal served the seat, the Conservative party has had five members and the Labour party two (this total includes the present member). In summary:

  • Labour saw a bellwether result in their 1945 landslide victory, but Conservative Hugh Fraser regained the seat at the next election in 1950 in the successor seat which he held until his death in 1984.
  • Effects from the creation of the Stone constituency in 1997 made Stafford somewhat more marginal: sitting Stafford MP Bill Cash followed some of his electors into the Stone constituency, which he won, and after a 47-year lack of a member, Labour's David Kidney gained the constituency in his party's landslide victory in 1997. The defeated Conservative candidate in 1997 was David Cameron, who in the next election was elected as the MP for the safe seat of Witney, and became the Conservative Party leader in 2005, and Prime Minister in 2010.

Boundaries[edit]

Map
Map of current boundaries

1928-1885: The parliamentary borough.

1885-1918: The existing parliamentary borough, and so much of the municipal borough of Stafford as was not already included in the parliamentary borough.[3]

1918–1950: The Municipal Borough of Stafford, the Rural District of Gnosall, the Rural District consisting of the civil parishes of Blymhill and Weston-under-Lizard, the Rural District of Stafford except the detached part of the civil parish of Colwich, and part of the Rural District of Cannock.

1983–1997: The Borough of Stafford wards of Baswich, Beaconside, Castletown, Church Eaton, Common, Coton, Doxey, Eccleshall, Forebridge, Gnosall, Highfields, Holmcroft, Littleworth, Manor, Milford, Parkside, Rowley, Seighford, Swynnerton, Tillington, Weeping Cross, and Woodseaves, and the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme wards of Loggerheads, Madeley, and Whitmore.

1997–2010: The Borough of Stafford wards of Baswich, Beaconside, Castletown, Common, Coton, Doxey, Forebridge, Haywood, Highfields, Holmcroft, Littleworth, Manor, Milford, Parkside, Rowley, Seighford, Tillington, and Weeping Cross, and the District of South Staffordshire wards of Acton Trussell, Bishopswood and Lapley, Penkridge North East, Penkridge South East, and Penkridge West.

2010–present: The Borough of Stafford wards of Baswich, Castletown, Common, Coton, Doxey, Haywood and Hixon, Highfields and Western Downs, Holmcroft, Littleworth, Manor, Milford, Parkside, Rowley, Seighford, Tillington, and Weeping Cross, and the District of South Staffordshire wards of Penkridge North East and Acton Trussell, Penkridge South East, Penkridge West, and Wheaton Aston, Bishopswood and Lapley.

The constituency forms the southerly part of the borough of Stafford, including the eponymous town itself plus the Penkridge area.

Proposed[edit]

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 Newcastle-under-Lyme wards of: Loggerheads; Maer & Whitmore.
  • The Borough of Stafford wards of: Baswich; Common; Coton; Doxey & Castletown; Eccleshall; Forebridge; Gnosall & Woodseaves; Highfields & Western Downs; Holmcroft; Littleworth; Manor; Penkside; Rowley; Seighford & Church Eaton; Weeping Cross & Wildwood.[4]

The constituency will undergo significant changes due to the re-organisation of seats within Staffordshire. The parts in the South Staffordshire District, including Penkridge, together with areas to the east of Stafford, will be included in the newly created constituency of Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge. To compensate, the boundaries will be extended to the north and west, to include Eccleshall, Gnosall and the two Newcastle-under-Lyme wards, currently part of the constituency of Stone (to be abolished).

Constituency profile[edit]

The town has historical significance, featuring the Elizabethan Ancient High House, a museum with changing exhibitions and Stafford Castle. In terms of industry and commerce, the physics and engineering niche of large power station transformers are produced in the seat whereas the area to the north is famous for fine china, the Staffordshire Potteries from the companies Aynsley, Burleigh, Doulton, Dudson, Heron Cross, Minton, Moorcroft, Twyford, and Wedgwood. The area is also well known for the Staffordshire Hoard, Alton Towers and has a Building Society based in the town.

Workless claimants, registered jobseekers, were in November 2012 significantly lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 2.7% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[5]

Members of Parliament[edit]

Stafford parliamentary borough[edit]

MPs 1295–1640[edit]

  • Constituency created (1295)[6]
Parliament First member Second member
1295 William Reynor John Beyton
1337 Hugh Snel[7]
1353 Hugh Snel[7]
1360 Hugh Snel[7]
1362 Hugh Snel[7]
1363 Hugh Snel[7]
1365 Hugh Snel[7]
1366 Hugh Snel[7]
1368 Hugh Snel[7]
1369 Hugh Snel[7]
1371 Hugh Snel[7]
1373 Hugh Snel[7]
1376 Hugh Snel[7]
1377 Hugh Snel (murdered 1380)[7]
1386 Thomas Jockery Richard Stanford[8]
1388 (Feb) John Newton Nicholas Snell[8]
1388 (Sep) John Newton Richard Stanford[8]
1390 (Jan) John Newton John Snell[8]
1390 (Nov)
1391 John Newton Richard Stanford[8]
1393 Henry Warrilewe John Baxter[8]
1394
1395 John Wylaston John Baxter[8]
1397 (Jan) John Wylaston John Clifton[8]
1397 (Sep)
1399 John Wylaston Richard Stanford[8]
1401
1402 Richard Stanford Thomas Barber[8]
1404 (Jan) Roger Coton Adam Hewster[8]
1404 (Oct)
1406 Thomas Jockery John Huntingdon[8]
1407 Thomas Jockery John Huntingdon[8]
1410
1411 Thomas Barber Robert Whitgreve[8]
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May) Thomas Barber Adam Edgeley[8]
1414 (Apr)
1414 (Nov) Sampson Erdeswyk Robert Whitgreve[8]
1415
1416 (Mar) Henry Fenton Robert Whitgreve[8]
1416 (Oct)
1417
1419 John Harper John Parker[8]
1420 John Harper Robert Whitgreve[8]
1421 (May) John Harper Robert Whitgreve[8]
1421 (Dec) Adam Edgeley Robert Whitgreve[8]
1495 Humphrey Barber[9]
1510–1523 No names known[10]
1529 Thomas Stanford, died
and replaced by 1553 by Sampson Erdeswick		 John Bickley[10]
1536 ?
1539 ?
1542 Walter Blount William Stamford[10]
1545 Henry Stafford[11] William Stamford[10]
1547 Henry Stafford Richard Forsett[10]
1553 (Mar) Edward Colbarne Francis Smith[10]
1553 (Oct) Henry Stafford ?Sir Anthony Browne/Simon Lowe alias Fyfield[10]
1554 (Apr) John Giffard Humphrey Swynnerton[10]
1554 (Nov) James Fowler Matthew Cradock[10]
1555 Henry Stafford Thomas Harcourt[10]
1558 Edward Stafford James Fowler[10]
1559 (Jan) Edward Stafford William Bowyer[12]
1562–3 William Twyneho Henry Goodere[12]
1571 Walter Stafford William Knollys[12]
1572 (Apr) Richard Broughton Thomas Purslow[12]
1584 (Nov) John Stafford Francis Cradock[12]
1586 John Stafford Francis Cradock[12]
1588 (Oct) Francis Cradock Henry Bourchier[12]
1593 Henry Bourchier Francis Cradock[12]
1597 (Oct) Sir Edward Stafford Henry Bourchier[12]
1601 (Oct) Sir Edward Stafford William Essex[12]
1604–1611 Hugh Beeston
replaced 1609 by Arthur Ingram[13]		 George Cradock[13]
1614 Sir Walter Devereux[14] Thomas Gibbs[14]
1621 Matthew Cradock[13] Richard Dyott[13]
1624 Matthew Cradock Richard Dyott
1625 Matthew Cradock Sir Robert Hatton Sat for Sandwich
replaced by Sir John Offley
1626 Sir John Offley Bulstrode Whitlock
1628 Matthew Cradock William Wingfield
1629–1640 No Parliaments convened

MPs 1640–1885[edit]

Election First member[15] First party Second member[15] Second party
April 1640 Ralph Sneyd Richard Weston
November 1640 Ralph Sneyd Royalist Richard Weston Royalist
October 1642 Weston disabled from sitting – seat vacant
May 1643 Sneyd disabled from sitting – seat vacant
1645 John Swinfen Edward Leigh
December 1648 Swinfen and Leigh excluded in Pride's Purge – both seats vacant
1653 Stafford was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament
1654 John Bradshaw Stafford had only one seat in the First and
Second Parliaments of the Protectorate
1656 Martin Noel
January 1659 William Jessop
May 1659 Not represented in the restored Rump
April 1660 John Swinfen Sir Charles Wolseley
1661 Robert Milward William Chetwynd
1674 Walter Chetwynd
February 1679 Sir Thomas Armstrong
August 1679 Sir Thomas Wilbraham
1681 Edwin Skrymsher
1685 Walter Chetwynd Rowland Okeover
1689 Philip Foley John Chetwynd
1690 Jonathan Cope
1694 Thomas Foley
1695 Philip Foley
January 1701 John Chetwynd
November 1701 John Pershall
July 1702 John Chetwynd
December 1702 Walter Chetwynd[16]
1711 Henry Vernon
1712 1st Viscount Chetwynd
1715 William Chetwynd
1722 Thomas Foley John Dolphin
1724 by-election Francis Elde[17]
1725[17] 1st Viscount Chetwynd
1727 Joseph Gascoigne Nightingale
1734 Hon. William Chetwynd
3rd Viscount Chetwynd
from 1767 		Thomas Foley
1738 by-election 2nd Viscount Chetwynd
1747 John Robins
1754 William Richard Chetwynd
1765 by-election John Crewe Whig
1768 Richard Whitworth
1770 by-election William Neville Hart
1774 Hugo Meynell
1780 Edward Monckton Tory[18] Richard Brinsley Sheridan Whig[18]
1806 Richard Mansel-Philipps Tory[18]
1812 Ralph Benson Tory Thomas Wilson
1818 Benjamin Benyon Whig[18] Samuel Homfray
1820 Sir George Chetwynd Whig[18]
June 1826 Richard Ironmonger Ralph Benson Tory
December 1826 by-election Thomas Beaumont Whig[18]
1830 John Campbell Whig[18] Thomas Gisborne Whig[18]
1832 William Fawkener Chetwynd Whig[18][19][20] Rees Howell Gronow Whig[18]
January 1835 Sir Francis Holyoake Goodricke Conservative[18]
May 1835 Writ suspended – seat left vacant[21]
1837 by-election Robert Farrand Conservative[18]
1841 Hon. Swynfen Carnegie Conservative[18] Edward Manningham-Buller Whig[18][19][20]
1847 David Urquhart Conservative Thomas Sidney Conservative
1852 John Ayshford Wise Whig[22] Arthur Otway Whig[23][24]
1857 Viscount Ingestre Conservative
1859 Liberal Thomas Salt Conservative
1860 by-election Thomas Sidney Liberal
1865 Michael Bass Liberal Walter Meller Conservative
1868[25] Henry Pochin Liberal
1869 by-election Thomas Salt Conservative Hon. Reginald Talbot Conservative
1874 Alexander Macdonald Liberal-Labour
1880 Charles McLaren Liberal
1881 by-election Thomas Salt Conservative
1885 Representation reduced to one member

MPs 1885–1918[edit]

Election Member[15] Party
1885 Charles McLaren Liberal
1886 Thomas Salt Conservative
1892 Charles Shaw Liberal
1910 Sir Walter Essex Liberal
1918 Parliamentary borough abolished. Name transferred to a county division

Stafford division of Staffordshire[edit]

MPs 1918–1950[edit]

Year Member[15] Party
1918 Hon. William Ormsby-Gore Unionist
1938 Peter Thorneycroft Conservative
1945 Stephen Swingler Labour

Stafford county constituency[edit]

MPs since 1983[edit]

Election Member[15] Party
1983 Sir Hugh Fraser Conservative
1984 by-election Bill Cash Conservative
1997 David Kidney Labour
2010 Jeremy Lefroy Conservative
2019 Theodora Clarke Conservative

Elections[edit]

Elections in the 2020s[edit]

Next general election: Stafford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Theo Clarke[26]
Labour Leigh Ingham[27]
Reform UK Michael Riley[28]
Majority
Turnout

Elections in the 2010s[edit]

General election 2019: Stafford[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Theodora Clarke 29,992 58.6 +3.9
Labour Joyce Still 15,615 30.5 –9.4
Liberal Democrats Alex Wagner 3,175 6.2 +3.2
Green Emma Carter 2,367 4.6 +2.2
Majority 14,377 28.1 +13.3
Turnout 51,149 70.5 –5.4
Conservative hold Swing +6.6
General election 2017: Stafford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jeremy Lefroy 28,424 54.7 +6.3
Labour David Williams 20,695 39.9 +10.3
Liberal Democrats Christine Tinker 1,540 3.0 +0.2
Green Tony Pearce 1,265 2.4 –0.5
Majority 7,729 14.8 –4.0
Turnout 51,924 75.9 +4.9
Conservative hold Swing –2.0
General election 2015: Stafford[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jeremy Lefroy 23,606 48.4 +4.5
Labour Kate Godfrey 14,429 29.6 –3.4
UKIP Edward Whitfield 6,293 12.9 +9.5
NHA Karen Howell 1,701 3.5 New
Green Mike Shone 1,390 2.9 +1.8
Liberal Democrats Keith Miller 1,348 2.8 –13.5
Majority 9,177 18.8 +8.9
Turnout 48,767 71.0 –0.2
Conservative hold Swing +3.9
General election 2010: Stafford[31][32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jeremy Lefroy 22,047 43.9 +4.7
Labour David Kidney 16,587 33.0 –10.2
Liberal Democrats Barry Stamp 8,211 16.3 +2.0
UKIP Roy Goode 1,727 3.4 +0.1
BNP Roland Hynd 1,103 2.2 New
Green Mike Shone 564 1.1 New
Majority 5,460 10.9 N/A
Turnout 50,239 71.2 +4.2
Conservative gain from Labour Swing Increase 7.4

Elections in the 2000s[edit]

General election 2005: Stafford[33][34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Kidney 19,889 43.7 –4.3
Conservative David Chambers 17,768 39.0 +2.4
Liberal Democrats Barry Stamp 6,390 14.0 +4.5
UKIP Frederick Goode 1,507 3.3 –1.9
Majority 2,121 4.7 –6.7
Turnout 45,554 64.7 –0.6
Labour hold Swing –3.3
General election 2001: Stafford[35][36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Kidney 21,285 48.0 +0.5
Conservative Philip A. Cochrane 16,253 36.6 –2.6
Liberal Democrats Jeanne Pinkerton 4,205 9.5 –1.1
UKIP Richard Bridgeman 2,315 5.2 New
Rock 'n' Roll Loony Michael D. Hames 308 0.7 New
Majority 5,032 11.4 +3.1
Turnout 44,366 65.3 –12.3
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s[edit]

General election 1997: Stafford[37][38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Kidney 24,606 47.5 +12.6
Conservative David Cameron 20,292 39.2 –8.9
Liberal Democrats Pam A. Hornby 5,480 10.6 –5.9
Referendum Stephen R. Culley 1,146 2.2 New
Monster Raving Loony Ashton A.N. May 248 0.5 New
Majority 4,314 8.3 N/A
Turnout 51,772 76.6 –6.3
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +10.7
General election 1992: Stafford[39][40]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bill Cash 30,876 49.9 –1.4
Labour David Kidney 19,976 32.3 +11.1
Liberal Democrats Jamie G. Calder 10,702 17.3 –10.2
Independent Christopher Peat 178 0.3 New
Natural Law Philip Lines 176 0.3 New
Majority 10,900 17.6 –6.2
Turnout 61,908 82.9 +3.4
Conservative hold Swing –6.3

Elections in the 1980s[edit]

General election 1987: Stafford[41]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bill Cash 29,541 51.3 +0.1
SDP Colin Phipps 15,834 27.5 +2.7
Labour Najma Hafeez 12,177 21.2 –2.5
Majority 13,707 23.8 –2.6
Turnout 57,552 79.5 +3.0
Conservative hold Swing
By-election 1984: Stafford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bill Cash 18,713 40.4 –10.8
SDP David Dunn 14,733 31.8 +7.0
Labour Michael JD Poulter 12,677 27.4 +3.7
Independent Christopher Teasdale 210 0.4 New
Majority 3,980 8.6 –17.8
Turnout 46,333 65.6 –10.9
Conservative hold Swing
Registered electors 70,635
  • Death of Sir Hugh Fraser 6 March 1984
General election 1983: Stafford[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hugh Fraser 27,639 51.2
SDP David Dunn 13,362 24.8
Labour Michael JD Poulter 12,789 23.7
Gizza Job J Caruso 212 0.4
Majority 14,277 26.4
Turnout 54,002 76.5
Conservative win (new seat)

Election in the 1940s[edit]

General election 1945: Stafford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Stephen Swingler 17,923 52.1 +8.5
Conservative Peter Thorneycroft 16,500 47.9 -8.5
Majority 1423 4.2 N/A
Turnout 33,793 78.0 -1.0
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Elections in the 1930s[edit]

1938 Stafford by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Thorneycroft 16,754 57.6 +1.2
Labour Frank G Lloyd 12,346 42.4 –1.2
Majority 4,408 15.2 +2.4
Turnout 29,100 77.2 –1.8
Conservative hold Swing +1.2
General election 1935: Stafford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Ormsby-Gore 16,175 56.4 -11.7
Labour Frank G Lloyd 12,514 43.6 +11.7
Majority 3,661 12.8 -23.4
Turnout 28,689 79.0 +0.5
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1931: Stafford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Ormsby-Gore 18,467 68.1 +23.0
Labour Len Smith 8,640 31.9 -4.7
Majority 9,827 36.2 +27.7
Turnout 27,107 78.5 -3.3
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1920s[edit]

General election 1929: Stafford [43]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist William Ormsby-Gore 12,324 45.1 –17.0
Labour Leonard Smith 10,011 36.6 –1.3
Liberal Arthur Stanley Leyland 5,000 18.3 New
Majority 2,313 8.5 –15.7
Turnout 27,335 81.8 +2.7
Registered electors 33,420
Unionist hold Swing –7.9
General election 1924: Stafford [43]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist William Ormsby-Gore 12,404 62.1 +8.2
Labour William Thomas Scott 7,571 37.9 –8.2
Majority 4,833 24.2 +16.4
Turnout 19,975 79.1 +6.2
Registered electors 25,260
Unionist hold Swing +8.2
General election 1923: Stafford [43]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist William Ormsby-Gore 9,823 53.9 –5.0
Labour William Thomas Scott 8,412 46.1 +5.0
Majority 1,411 7.8 –10.0
Turnout 18,235 72.9 –3.8
Registered electors 25,024
Unionist hold Swing –5.0
General election 1922: Stafford [43]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist William Ormsby-Gore 10,990 58.9 –7.5
Labour Bill Holmes 7,672 41.1 New
Majority 3,318 17.8 –15.0
Turnout 18,662 76.7 +22.7
Registered electors 24,317
Unionist hold Swing –7.5

Elections in the 1910s[edit]

General election 1918: Stafford [43]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist William Ormsby-Gore 8,304 66.4 +18.4
Liberal Walter Meakin 4,203 33.6 –18.4
Majority 4,101 32.8 N/A
Turnout 12,507 54.0 –38.6
Registered electors 23,140
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +18.4
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
General election December 1910: Stafford[44]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Walter Essex 1,992 52.0 +0.9
Conservative John Nicholson 1,837 48.0 –0.9
Majority 155 4.0 +1.8
Turnout 3,829 92.6 –4.1
Liberal hold Swing +0.9
General election January 1910: Stafford[44]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Shaw 2,042 51.1 –3.2
Conservative Reginald Higgs Jones Mortimer 1,957 48.9 +3.2
Majority 85 2.2 –6.4
Turnout 3,999 96.7 +4.5
Liberal hold Swing –3.2

Elections in the 1900s[edit]

General election 1906: Stafford[44]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Shaw 1,947 54.3 +2.6
Conservative Ronald Courthope Bosanquet[45] 1,636 45.7 –2.6
Majority 311 8.6 +5.2
Turnout 3,583 92.2 +2.8
Registered electors 3,885
Liberal hold Swing +2.6
Charles Shaw
General election 1900: Stafford[44]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Shaw 1,633 51.7 +1.5
Conservative George Cawston 1,528 48.3 –1.5
Majority 105 3.4 +3.0
Turnout 3,161 89.4 –3.5
Registered electors 3,534
Liberal hold Swing +1.5

Elections in the 1890s[edit]

General election 1895: Stafford[44]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Shaw 1,568 50.2 –5.8
Conservative Thomas Salt 1,556 49.8 +5.8
Majority 12 0.4 –11.6
Turnout 3,124 92.9 +4.7
Registered electors 3,361
Liberal hold Swing –5.8
General election 1892: Stafford[44]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Shaw 1,684 56.0 +7.6
Conservative Douglas Straight[46] 1,322 44.0 –7.6
Majority 362 12.0 N/A
Turnout 3,006 88.2 –2.6
Registered electors 3,409
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +7.6

Elections in the 1880s[edit]

General election 1886: Stafford[44]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Salt 1,528 51.6 +2.4
Liberal Charles McLaren 1,435 48.4 –2.4
Majority 93 3.2 N/A
Turnout 2,963 90.8 –1.6
Registered electors 3,264
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +2.4
General election 1885: Stafford[44]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles McLaren 1,532 50.8 –3.7
Conservative Thomas Salt 1,485 49.2 +3.6
Majority 47 1.6 –0.6
Turnout 3,017 92.4 +21.8 (est)
Registered electors 3,264
Liberal hold Swing –3.7
By-election, 21 Nov 1881: Stafford (1 seat)[47]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Salt 1,482 55.6 +10.0
Lib-Lab George Howell 1,185 44.4 –10.1
Majority 297 11.2 N/A
Turnout 2,667 79.8 +9.2 (est)
Registered electors 3,344
Conservative gain from Lib-Lab Swing +10.1
  • Caused by Macdonald's death.
General election 1880: Stafford (2 seats)[47]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles McLaren 1,498 28.7 +7.6
Lib-Lab Alexander Macdonald 1,345 25.8 –1.9
Conservative Thomas Salt 1,230 23.6 –5.4
Conservative Gerald Francis Talbot[48] 1,149 22.0 –0.2
Majority 115 2.2 –3.3
Turnout 2,611 (est) 70.6 (est) +8.5
Registered electors 3,699
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +6.5
Lib-Lab hold Swing –0.9

Elections in the 1870s[edit]

General election 1874: Stafford (2 seats)[47]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Salt 1,238 29.0 +12.5
Lib-Lab Alexander Macdonald 1,183 27.7 –4.7
Conservative Francis Bridgeman 947 22.2 +5.7
Liberal Henry Pochin 903 21.1 –13.7
Turnout 2,136 (est) 62.1 (est) –10.0
Registered electors 3,699
Majority 55 1.3 +0.8
Conservative hold Swing +10.9
Majority 236 5.5 +3.6
Lib-Lab hold Swing –6.9

Elections in the 1860s[edit]

By-election, 7 June 1869: Stafford (2 seats)[47]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Salt 1,206 28.5 +12.0
Conservative Reginald Talbot 1,130 26.7 +10.2
Liberal William Evans[49] 954 22.5 –12.3
Liberal Benjamin Whitworth[50] 943 22.3 –10.1
Majority 176 4.2 +3.7
Turnout 2,117 (est) 67.1 (est) –5.0
Registered electors 3,152
Conservative hold Swing +11.6
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +10.7
  • The 1868 election was declared void on petition "on account of corrupt practices",[51] causing a by-election.
General election 1868: Stafford (2 seats)[47]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Pochin 1,189 34.8 +9.3
Conservative Walter Meller 1,124 32.9 +4.9
Liberal Richard Croft Chawner[52] 1,107 32.4 –14.1
Turnout 2,272 (est) 72.1 (est) –4.1
Registered electors 3,152
Majority 65 1.9 –16.6
Liberal hold Swing +3.2
Majority 17 0.5 –2.0
Conservative hold Swing +3.7
General election 1865: Stafford (2 seats)[47]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Michael Bass 1,091 46.5 +2.7
Conservative Walter Meller 658 28.0 –2.0
Liberal Henry Pochin 598 25.5 –0.8
Turnout 1,174 (est) 76.2 (est) –0.1
Registered electors 1,540
Majority 433 18.5 +4.7
Liberal hold Swing +1.9
Majority 60 2.5 –9.9
Conservative hold Swing –2.0
By-election, 3 August 1860: Stafford (2 seats)[47]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Sidney 716 68.7 –1.4
Conservative Dudley Ryder 326 31.3 +1.3
Majority 390 37.4 +23.6
Turnout 1,042 75.0 –1.3
Registered electors 1,390
Liberal hold Swing –1.4
  • Caused by Wise's resignation.

Elections in the 1850s[edit]

General election 1859: Stafford (2 seats)[47]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Ayshford Wise 911 43.8 –5.3
Conservative Thomas Salt 624 30.0 –6.8
Liberal Thomas Sidney 366 17.6 N/A
Liberal Henry Robert Addison[53] 181 8.7 N/A
Turnout 1,041 (est) 76.3 (est) –4.5
Registered electors 1,364
Majority 287 13.8 +1.5
Liberal hold Swing +0.8
Majority 258 12.4 –10.3
Conservative hold Swing –0.8
General election 1857: Stafford (2 seats)[47]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Ayshford Wise 993 49.1 +4.6
Conservative Charles Chetwynd-Talbot 745 36.8 +11.3
Whig Frederick William Cadogan 286 14.1 –15.9
Turnout 1,012 (est) 80.8 (est) +8.5
Registered electors 1,252
Majority 248 12.3 +9.9
Whig hold Swing +5.1
Majority 459 22.7 N/A
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +11.3
General election 1852: Stafford (2 seats)[47][54]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Ayshford Wise 801 44.5 +44.1
Whig Arthur Otway 501 27.8 +27.7
Conservative John Bourne[55] 458 25.4 –23.3
Whig James Cook Evans 39 2.2 N/A
Conservative Edmund Hopkinson 1 0.1 –33.2
Majority 43 2.4 N/A
Turnout 901 (est) 72.3 (est) +11.5
Registered electors 1,246
Whig gain from Swing +36.2
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +28.0

Elections in the 1840s[edit]

General election 1847: Stafford (2 seats)[47]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Urquhart 754 48.7 N/A
Conservative Thomas Sidney 516 33.3 N/A
Conservative Swynfen Carnegie 271 17.5 –26.9
Whig John Lea[56] 6 0.4 –17.9
Whig James Adam Gordon[57] 1 0.1 –18.2
Majority 510 32.9 +27.0
Turnout 774 (est) 60.8 (est) –8.8
Registered electors 1,272
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative gain from Whig Swing N/A
By-election, 13 March 1846: Stafford[47]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Swynfen Carnegie 733 96.7 +33.2
Whig William Willcocks Sleigh[58] 25 3.3 –33.2
Majority 708 93.4 +87.5
Turnout 758 60.3 –9.3
Registered electors 1,257
Conservative hold Swing +33.2
General election 1841: Stafford (2 seats)[47][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Swynfen Carnegie 681 42.4 +15.6
Whig Edward Buller-Yarde-Buller 587 36.5 –12.0
Conservative William Holmes 339 21.1 –3.6
Turnout 804 (est) 69.6 (est) –9.1
Registered electors 1,154
Majority 94 5.9 +3.8
Conservative hold Swing +10.8
Majority 248 15.4 +12.2
Whig hold Swing –12.0

Elections in the 1830s[edit]

General election 1837: Stafford (2 seats)[47][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Fawkener Chetwynd 565 30.0 +2.3
Conservative Robert Farrand 504 26.8 +7.9
Conservative Bingham Baring 464 24.7 –12.0
Whig William Blount 348 18.5 +3.6
Turnout 980 78.7 –5.5
Registered electors 1,246
Majority 61 3.2 –5.6
Whig hold Swing +2.2
Majority 40 2.1 –19.7
Conservative hold Swing +2.5
By-election, 21 February 1837: Stafford[47][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Farrand Unopposed
Conservative hold
  • Caused by Goodricke's resignation, in 1835, to contest a by-election at Staffordshire. A writ for a by-election was denied for nearly two years.
General election 1835: Stafford (2 seats)[47][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Francis Holyoake Goodricke 605 36.7 +36.7
Whig William Fawkener Chetwynd 456 27.7 –14.7
Conservative Robert Farrand 312 18.9 +18.9
Whig Rees Howell Gronow 246 14.9 –15.3
Radical Charles Wolseley 29 1.8 N/A
Turnout 941 84.2 –5.0
Registered electors 1,117
Majority 359 21.8 N/A
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +25.9
Majority 144 8.8 +5.9
Whig hold Swing –21.3
General election 1832: Stafford (2 seats)[47][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Fawkener Chetwynd 739 42.4 N/A
Whig Rees Howell Gronow 526 30.2 N/A
Whig William Blount 476 27.3 N/A
Tory Robert Farrand 0 0.0 –27.8
Majority 50 2.9 –4.2
Turnout 1,049 89.2 +4.3
Registered electors 1,176
Whig hold Swing N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
  • Farrand retired before the poll. The election was later declared void and no writ was issued before the 1835 general election.
General election 1831: Stafford (2 seats)[18][59]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Campbell 556 37.2 –4.9
Whig Thomas Gisborne 522 34.9 –3.7
Tory Thomas Hawkes 416 27.8 +8.5
Majority 106 7.1 –12.2
Turnout 849 c. 84.9 –1.5
Registered electors c. 1,000
Whig hold Swing –4.6
Whig hold Swing –4.0
General election 1830: Stafford (2 seats)[18][59]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Thomas Gisborne 666 42.1
Whig John Campbell 610 38.6
Tory Thomas Hawkes 305 19.3
Majority 305 19.3
Turnout 864 c. 86.4
Registered electors c. 1,000
Whig gain from Nonpartisan
Whig gain from Nonpartisan

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  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[edit]

  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. ^ "'Stafford', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Chap. 23. Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885". The Public General Acts of the United Kingdom passed in the forty-eighth and forty-ninth years of the reign of Queen Victoria. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode. 1885. pp. 111–198.
  4. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 8 West Midlands region.
  5. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  6. ^ "Tamworth Parliamentary Borough 1275–1832". The Staffordshire Encyclopaedia. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Wedgwood, Josiah C. (1917). Parliamentary History of Staffordshire, Volume I. William Salt Archaeological Society. p. 74.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "History of Parliament". Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  9. ^ Cavill. The English Parliaments of Henry VII 1485-1504.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "History of Parliament". Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  11. ^ STAFFORD, Henry (by 1520-55 or later), of Pickering, Yorks, The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558, ed. S.T. Bindoff, 1982
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "History of Parliament". Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  13. ^ a b c d Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London|| Thomas Hansard, 1808) [1]
  14. ^ a b Maija Jansson (ed.), Proceedings in Parliament, 1614 (House of Commons) (Philadelphia|| American Philosophical Society, 1988)
  15. ^ a b c d e Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 4)
  16. ^ Chetwynd was initially declared re-elected in 1710, but on petition (in a dispute over the franchise), he was adjudged not have been duly elected and his opponent, Vernon, was seated in his place. (Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (1807), Volume 1, p 177)
  17. ^ a b Elde's opponent, Chetwynd, petitioned against the 1724 result. Elde was "unanimously expelled the House for having offered to compromise the petition against his return", and Chetwynd was seated in his place. (Henry Stooks Smith, The Parliaments of England from 1715 to 1847, Volume 2 (London: Simpkin, Marshall & Co, 1845), p 45)
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. pp. 45–47.
  19. ^ a b Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. pp. 42, 54.
  20. ^ a b Mosse, Richard Bartholomew (1838). The Parliamentary Guide: a concise history of the Members of both Houses, etc. pp. 141, 147.
  21. ^ After Goodricke resigned to contest another constituency in May 1835, the House of Commons refused to issue a writ for a new election until February 1837, when the motion to issue a writ was passed by a single vote. (F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885, 2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989, p 283)
  22. ^ "Staffordshire Advertiser". 24 July 1852. p. 7 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. ^ "Preparations for the General Election". The Spectator. 3 July 1852. p. 8. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  24. ^ "Evening Mail". 2 July 1852. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  25. ^ The 1868 election was declared void on petition and a new election was held – F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885. (F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885, 2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989, p 283)
  26. ^ "Theo Clarke is re-adopted in Stafford by a ballot of Association members. Her deselection by its Executive is overturned". ConservativeHome. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  27. ^ "Candidate for Cannock Chase". Labour Party. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  28. ^ "Stafford Constituency". Reform UK. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  29. ^ "Stafford Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  30. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  31. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  32. ^ "BBC News | Election 2010 | Constituency | Stafford". news.bbc.co.uk.
  33. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  34. ^ "BBC NEWS | Election 2005 | Results | Stafford". news.bbc.co.uk.
  35. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  36. ^ "BBC NEWS | VOTE 2001 | RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES | Stafford". news.bbc.co.uk.
  37. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  38. ^ "BBC 1997 general election Site".
  39. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  40. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  41. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  42. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  43. ^ a b c d e British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
  44. ^ a b c d e f g h British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  45. ^ BOSANQUET, His Honour Sir Samuel Ronald Courthope', Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, April 2014 accessed 20 Sept 2017
  46. ^ "The General Election". London Evening Standard. 4 July 1892. p. 3.
  47. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  48. ^ "The Representation of Stafford". Staffordshire Sentinel and Commercial & General Advertiser. 3 April 1880. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  49. ^ "Election News". Dundee Courier. 17 May 1869. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  50. ^ "The Representation of Stafford". Staffordshire Advertiser. 22 May 1869. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  51. ^ "Stafford Election Petition". Manchester Times. 15 May 1869. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  52. ^ "East Staffordshire Election". Birmingham Journal. 14 November 1868. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  53. ^ "Stafford". Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser. 27 April 1859. p. 11 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  54. ^ "Borough of Stafford". Staffordshire Advertiser. 3 July 1852. pp. 1, 6–7 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  55. ^ "Public Dinner to John Bourne, Esq., One of the Candidates at the Late Election for the Borough of Stafford". Staffordshire Advertiser. 17 July 1852. p. 1 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  56. ^ "To the Worthy and Independent Electors of the Borough of Stafford". Staffordshire Advertiser. 7 August 1847. p. 1 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  57. ^ "Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser". 4 August 1847. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  58. ^ "Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette". 14 March 1846. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  59. ^ a b Salmon, Philip. "Stafford". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 26 April 2020.

Sources[edit]

  • Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
  • Britain Votes/Europe Votes By-Election Supplement 1983–, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Research Services 1985)
  • Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) [2]
  • D Brunton & D H Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
  • Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) [3]
  • Henry Stooks Smith, The Parliaments of England from 1715 to 1847, Volume 2 (London: Simpkin, Marshall & Co, 1845) The Parliaments of England: From 1st George I., to the Present Time
  • The History of Parliament: the House of Commons - Stafford, Borough, 1386 to 1832
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stafford_(UK_Parliament_constituency)

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