Blackburn (UK Parliament constituency)

Blackburn
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Map of constituency
Boundary of Blackburn in North West England
CountyLancashire
Population107,246 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate70,586 (2023)[2]
Major settlementsBlackburn
Current constituency
Created1955
Member of ParliamentAdnan Hussain (Independent)
SeatsOne
Created fromBlackburn East and Blackburn West
1832–1950
SeatsTwo
Type of constituencyBorough constituency
Created fromLancashire
Replaced byBlackburn East
Blackburn West

Blackburn is a constituency[n 1] in Lancashire, England, which is represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament[n 2] by independent politician Adnan Hussain. From 2015 to 2024 it was represented by Kate Hollern of the Labour Party and, from 1979 to 2015, by Jack Straw who served under the Labour leaders of Neil Kinnock and John Smith and the Labour governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Boundaries

[edit]
Map
Map of boundaries from 2024

Historic

[edit]

1832–1885: The township of Blackburn.[3]

1885–1918: The existing parliamentary borough, and so much of the municipal borough of Blackburn as was not already included in the parliamentary borough.[4]

1918–1950: the county borough of Blackburn.[5]

1955–1974: The county borough of Blackburn wards of Park, St. John's, St. Jude's, St. Luke's, St. Matthew's, St. Michael's, St. Paul's, St. Silas's, St. Stephen's, St. Thomas's and Trinity.[6]

2010–2024: The district of Blackburn with Darwen wards of Audley, Bastwell, Beardwood and Lammack, Corporation Park, Ewood, Higher Croft, Little Harwood, Livesey with Pleasington, Meadowhead, Mill Hill, Queen's Park, Roe Lee, Shadsworth with Whitebirk, Shear Brow and Wensley Fold.

Following the 2007 review of parliamentary representation in Lancashire in the run up to the 2010 United Kingdom general election, including the unitary authority of Blackburn with Darwen, the Boundary Commission for England made minor boundary changes to the existing constituency.

Current

[edit]

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency is composed of the following wards of the Borough of Blackburn with Darwen (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

  • Audley & Queen’s Park; Bastwell & Daisyfield; Billinge & Beardwood; Blackburn Central; Blackburn South East; Ewood; Little Harwood & Whitebirk; Livesey with Pleasington; Mill Hill & Moorgate; Roe Lee; Shear Brow & Corporation Park; Wensley Fold.[7]
Minor changes to reflect changes to local authority ward structure.

The constituency encompasses the town of Blackburn in the North West of England. It borders four other constituencies: Ribble Valley to the north, Hyndburn to the east, Rossendale and Darwen to the south and Chorley to the west.

History

[edit]
See also: Blackburn § Politics

Blackburn was first enfranchised by the Reform Act 1832, as a two-member constituency, and was first used at the 1832 general election. It was abolished for the 1950 general election, replaced by two single member constituencies, Blackburn East and Blackburn West.

Blackburn was re-established as a single-member constituency for the 1955 general election, partially replacing Blackburn East and Blackburn West. After its re-establishment, the constituency was initially a marginal, but Blackburn was later considered to be a Labour Party stronghold prior to the 2024 general election—up until that point, it had only elected Labour MPs since its recreation in 1955. In 2024 Blackburn was won by Adnan Hussain, an independent candidate who campaigned largely on the issue of the genocide of Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war. Three other previously safe Labour seats saw similar results at that election, all of which had large Muslim populations.

The constituency of Blackburn has been represented by two prominent frontbenchers in the Cabinet: Barbara Castle, a First Secretary of State (amongst other roles) who stood down from this seat to become a Member of the European Parliament, and Jack Straw, who served as Home Secretary and then Foreign Secretary in the Blair government.

1997 general election

[edit]

Jack Straw's Conservative challenger in the 1997 general election, Geeta Sidhu-Robb, was filmed with a megaphone during the election campaign, exclaiming in Urdu or Gujarati: "Don't vote for a Jew, Jack Straw is a Jew. If you vote for him, you're voting for a Jew. Jews are the enemies of Muslims." Sidhu-Robb said that this was in response to racist campaigning by the Labour Party, who she accused of claiming that she was "against Islam". She felt that Labour were "making it personal", and she took particular umbrage as her husband was Muslim. Sidhu-Robb later said she wished she had not made those comments about Straw, saying she did so because she was "furious" and that she "didn't want racism and bigotry to play a part in anything that [she] had anything to do with."[8] Nonetheless, her comments regarding Straw's religion resurfaced over 20 years later, when Sidhu-Robb was competing to be nominated as the Liberal Democrat candidate in the 2021 London Mayoral election, causing the Liberal Democrats to remove her from consideration for their candidacy.

2005 general election

[edit]

Blackburn's then MP, Straw, was primarily challenged in the 2005 general election by the Conservative Party, but the former British ambassador to Uzbekistan, Craig Murray, also stood for election in the seat as an Independent. Murray said: "I've been approached by several people in the Asian community who are under huge pressure from Labour activists [talking up the BNP's chances] to apply for a postal vote rather than a ballot vote and then hand their postal vote over to the Labour party." Over 50% more people used postal votes in the 2005 general election in Blackburn than in 2001.[9] The BNP had not stood in the previous two elections, but this time had a candidate, who polled 5.4% of the vote, and beat Murray to come fourth. Both were outperformed by the Liberal Democrats in third place, and the Conservatives, who remained second. Straw held on comfortably, albeit with a reduced majority; his winning vote share of 42% was the smallest since the seat became a single-member constituency until the 2024 result.

2015 general election

[edit]

In August 2011, Jack Straw claimed that he had no plans to retire, despite turning 65 earlier that month.[10] Two years later, on 25 October 2013, Straw announced that he would stand down as Blackburn's MP at the next election.[11] In March 2014, Kate Hollern was selected, via an all women shortlist, as the candidate for Labour for the 2015 general election, and held the seat.

Members of Parliament

[edit]

Two-member constituency (1832–1950)

[edit]
Election First member[12] First party[13]

[14][15]

Second member[12] Second party
1832 William Feilden Whig[16][17][18] William Turner Whig[16][19][20]
1841 Conservative[16][17][18] John Hornby Conservative[16]
1847 James Pilkington Whig[21][22][23]
1852 William Eccles Radical[21]
1853 by-election Montague Joseph Feilden Whig[21]
1857 William Henry Hornby Conservative
1859 Liberal
1865 Joseph Feilden Conservative
1869 by-election Henry Feilden Conservative Edward Hornby Conservative
1874 William Edward Briggs Liberal
1875 by-election Daniel Thwaites Conservative
1880 Sir William Coddington Conservative
1885 Sir Robert Peel Conservative
1886 William Hornby Conservative
1906 Philip Snowden Labour
1910 Sir Thomas Barclay Liberal
1910 Sir Henry Norman Liberal
1918 Percy Dean Coalition Conservative Coalition Liberal
1922 Sir Sidney Henn Conservative National Liberal
1923 John Duckworth Liberal
1929 Thomas Gill Labour Mary Hamilton Labour
1931 Sir George Elliston Conservative Sir WD Smiles Conservative
1945 John Edwards Labour Barbara Castle Labour
1950 constituency abolished: see Blackburn East and Blackburn West

Single member constituency (1955–present)

[edit]
Election Member[12] Party
1955 Barbara Castle Labour
1979 Jack Straw Labour
2015 Independent
2015 Kate Hollern Labour
2024 Adnan Hussain Independent

Elections

[edit]
Blackburn election results 1955-2019

Elections in the 2020s

[edit]
General election 2024: Blackburn[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Adnan Hussain 10,518 27.0 N/A
Labour Kate Hollern 10,386 26.7 −39.3
Workers Party Craig Murray 7,105 18.3 N/A
Reform UK Tommy Temperley 4,844 12.5 +6.6
Conservative Jamie McGowan 3,474 8.9 −14.4
Green Denise Morgan 1,416 3.6 +2.0
Liberal Democrats Adam Waller-Slack 689 1.8 −0.6
Independent Altaf Patel 369 0.9 N/A
Independent Natasha Shah 86 0.2 N/A
Majority 132 0.3
Turnout 38,887 53.1
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 2010s

[edit]
General election 2019: Blackburn[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kate Hollern 29,040 64.9 ―4.9
Conservative Claire Gill 10,736 24.0 ―2.9
Brexit Party Rick Moore 2,770 6.2 New
Liberal Democrats Beth Waller-Slack 1,130 2.5 +1.0
Green Reza Hossain 741 1.7 New
Independent Rizwan Shah 319 0.7 New
Majority 18,304 40.9 ―2.0
Turnout 44,736 62.8 ―4.4
Labour hold Swing ―1.0
General election 2017: Blackburn[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kate Hollern 33,148 69.8 +13.5
Conservative Bob Eastwood 12,780 26.9 ―0.4
Independent Duncan Miller 875 1.8 New
Liberal Democrats Irfan Ahmed 709 1.5 ―0.7
Majority 20,368 42.9 +13.9
Turnout 47,512 67.2 +7.1
Labour hold Swing +6.9
General election 2015: Blackburn[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kate Hollern 24,762 56.3 +8.5
Conservative Bob Eastwood 12,002 27.3 +1.2
UKIP Dayle Taylor 6,280 14.3 +12.2
Liberal Democrats Gordon Lishman 955 2.2 ―13.0
Majority 12,760 29.0 +8.3
Turnout 43,999 60.1 ―1.8
Labour hold Swing +3.7
General election 2010: Blackburn[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Straw 21,751 47.8 +5.7
Conservative Michael Law-Riding 11,895 26.1 +3.5
Liberal Democrats Paul English 6,918 15.2 ―5.4
BNP Robin Evans 2,158 4.7 ―0.7
Independent Bushra Irfan 1,424 3.1 New
UKIP Bobby Anwar 942 2.1 ―0.2
Independent Grace Astley 238 0.5 New
Independent Janis Sharp 173 0.4 New
Majority 9,856 21.7 +2.2
Turnout 45,499 62.9 +5.2
Labour hold Swing +1.1

Elections in the 2000s

[edit]
General election 2005: Blackburn[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Straw 17,562 42.0 ―12.1
Conservative Imtiaz Ameen 9,553 22.9 ―8.3
Liberal Democrats Tony Melia 8,608 20.6 +12.5
BNP Nicholas Holt 2,263 5.4 New
Independent Craig Murray 2,082 5.0 New
UKIP Dorothy Baxter 954 2.3 ―0.6
Green Graham Carter 783 1.9 New
Majority 8,009 19.1 ―3.8
Turnout 41,805 56.9 +1.4
Labour hold Swing ―1.4
General election 2001: Blackburn[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Straw 21,808 54.1 ―0.9
Conservative John Cotton 12,559 31.2 +6.6
Liberal Democrats Imtiaz Patel 3,264 8.1 ―2.4
UKIP Dorothy Baxter 1,185 2.9 New
Socialist Labour Terry Cullen 559 1.4 +0.1
Socialist Alliance Jim Nichol 532 1.3 New
Independent Paul Morris 377 0.9 New
Majority 9,249 22.9 ―7.5
Turnout 40,284 55.5 ―9.5
Labour hold Swing ―2.9

Elections in the 1990s

[edit]
General election 1997: Blackburn[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Straw 26,141 55.0 +6.6
Conservative Geeta Sidhu Robb 11,690 24.6 ―12.9
Liberal Democrats Stephen Fenn 4,990 10.5 ―1.0
Referendum David Bradshaw 1,892 4.0 New
National Democrats Tina Wingfield 671 1.4 New
Socialist Labour Helen Drummond 635 1.3 New
Green Robin Field 608 1.3 ―0.3
Keep Britain Free and Independent Party Margo Carmichael-Grimshaw 506 1.1 New
Common Sense Sick of Politicians John Batchelor 362 0.8 New
Majority 14,451 30.4 +19.5
Turnout 47,495 65.0 ―10.1
Labour hold Swing +9.7
General election 1992: Blackburn[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Straw 26,633 48.4 ―1.5
Conservative Ross M. Coates 20,606 37.5 ―2.6
Liberal Democrats Derek Mann 6,332 11.5 +1.5
Green Robin Field 878 1.6 New
Lodestar Party Margo Carmichael-Grimshaw 334 0.6 New
Natural Law William Ayliffe 195 0.4 New
Majority 6,027 10.9 +1.1
Turnout 54,978 75.1 +0.2
Labour hold Swing +0.6

Elections in the 1980s

[edit]
General election 1987: Blackburn[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Straw 27,965 49.9 +5.2
Conservative Anne Cheetham 22,468 40.1 +0.7
SDP Mohammed Ali 5,602 10.0 ―4.4
Majority 5,497 9.8 +4.5
Turnout 56,035 74.9 +0.3
Labour hold Swing +2.3
General election 1983: Blackburn[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Straw 25,400 44.7 ―6.0
Conservative Graham Mather 22,345 39.4 +2.8
SDP Eric B. Fairbrother 8,174 14.4 +2.7
National Front David A. Riley 864 1.5 0.0
Majority 3,055 5.3 ―8.8
Turnout 56,784 74.6 +0.5
Labour hold Swing ―4.4

Elections in the 1970s

[edit]
General election 1979: Blackburn[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Straw 19,683 50.7 ―0.8
Conservative Ian D. McGaw 14,193 36.6 +4.5
Liberal Frank J. Beetham 4,371 11.3 ―0.7
National Front Edward Adamson 565 1.5 ―3.0
Majority 5,490 14.1 ―5.3
Turnout 38,813 74.0 +1.1
Labour hold Swing ―2.6
General election October 1974: Blackburn[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Barbara Castle 20,344 51.5 +3.1
Conservative Ian D. McGaw 12,692 32.1 ―1.3
Liberal Frank J. Beetham 4,741 12.0 ―2.0
National Front John Kingsley Read 1,758 4.5 +0.3
Majority 7,652 19.4 +4.4
Turnout 39,537 72.9 ―6.4
Labour hold Swing +2.2
General election February 1974: Blackburn[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Barbara Castle 20,340 48.4 ―4.8
Conservative Ian D. McGaw 14,040 33.4 ―13.4
Liberal Frank J. Beetham 5,891 14.0 New
National Front John Kingsley Read 1,778 4.2 New
Majority 6,300 15.0 +8.6
Turnout 42,049 78.3 +2.8
Labour hold Swing +4.3
General election 1970: Blackburn[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Barbara Castle 22,473 53.2 ―6.1
Conservative Trixie Gardner 19,737 46.8 +6.1
Majority 2,736 6.4 ―10.2
Turnout 42,210 75.5 ―3.7
Labour hold Swing ―6.1

Elections in the 1960s

[edit]
General election 1966: Blackburn[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Barbara Castle 25,381 58.3 +0.8
Conservative Thomas Marsden 18,133 41.7 ―0.8
Majority 7,248 16.6 +1.6
Turnout 43,514 79.2 ―1.8
Labour hold Swing +1.6
General election 1964: Blackburn[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Barbara Castle 26,543 57.5 +4.7
Conservative John Maurice Armstrong Yerburgh 19,650 42.5 ―4.7
Majority 6,893 15.0 +9.4
Turnout 46,193 81.0 ―4.9
Labour hold Swing +4.7

Elections in the 1950s

[edit]
General election 1959: Blackburn[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Barbara Castle 27,356 52.8 +2.3
Conservative John Maurice Armstrong Yerburgh 24,490 47.2 ―2.3
Majority 2,866 5.6 +4.6
Turnout 51,846 85.9 +2.8
Labour hold Swing +2.3
General election 1955: Blackburn[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Barbara Castle 26,241 50.5
Conservative Thomas Marsden 25,752 49.5
Majority 489 1.0
Turnout 51,993 83.1
Labour win (new seat)

Back to elections

Elections in the 1940s

[edit]
General election 1945: Blackburn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Edwards 35,182 26.0 +2.1
Labour Barbara Castle 35,145 26.0 +2.2
Conservative Douglas Glover 26,325 19.5 −6.7
Conservative Robert Goulborne Parker 25,807 19.1 −7.0
Liberal Robert Shackleton 6,587 4.9 New
Liberal Marjorie Annie Macinerney 6,096 4.5 New
Turnout 135,142 82.6 −2.3
Majority 8,857 6.5 N/A
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Majority 9,338 6.9 N/A
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

General Election 1939–40: Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;

Back to elections

Elections in the 1930s

[edit]
General election 1935: Blackburn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Elliston 37,932 26.2 −6.9
Conservative W. D. Smiles 37,769 26.1 −7.0
Labour James Bell 34,571 23.9 +6.9
Labour George Walker 34,423 23.8 +7.2
Turnout 144,695 84.9 −2.5
Majority 3,509 2.4 −13.2
Conservative hold Swing
Majority 3,198 2.2 −13.9
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1931: Blackburn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative W. D. Smiles 50,105 33.2
Conservative George Elliston 49,953 33.1
Labour Mary Hamilton 25,643 17.0
Labour Thomas Gill 25,030 16.6
Turnout 150,551 87.4
Majority 25,075 15.6 N/A
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Majority 24,923 16.1 N/A
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Back to elections

Elections in the 1920s

[edit]
General election 1929: Blackburn (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mary Hamilton 37,256 26.1 +4.3
Labour Thomas Gill 35,723 25.0 +3.2
Unionist Sydney Henn 35,249 24.7 −3.4
Liberal Gerald Isaacs 34,504 24.2 −4.1
Turnout 142,732 87.8 −0.4
Majority 2,752 1.9 N/A
Majority 474 0.3 N/A
Labour gain from Unionist Swing
Labour gain from Liberal Swing
General election 1924: Blackburn (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Duckworth 31,612 28.3 −0.8
Conservative Sydney Henn 31,347 28.1 +1.5
Labour Mary Hamilton 24,330 21.8 −2.0
Labour Thomas Gill 24,317 21.8 +1.3
Turnout 111,606 88.2 +3.2
Majority 7,017 6.3 +0.2
Unionist hold Swing
Majority 7,295 6.5 +1.2
Liberal hold Swing
General election 1923: Blackburn (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Duckworth 31,117 29.1 −5.3
Unionist Sydney Henn 28,505 26.6 +1.1
Labour John Davies 25,428 23.8 +2.1
Labour Edward Porter 21,903 20.5 −0.6
Turnout 106,953 85.0 −3.4
Majority 6,602 6.1 +2.8
Unionist hold Swing
Majority 5,689 5.3 +1.5
Liberal hold Swing
General election 1922: Blackburn (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Sydney Henn 28,280 25.5 −13.4
National Liberal Henry Norman 27,071 24.4 −17.0
Labour John Davies 24,049 21.7
Labour Edward Porter 23,402 21.1
Liberal Thomas Meech 8,141 7.3 N/A
Turnout 110,943 88.4 +13.6
Majority 3,669 3.3 −15.9
Unionist hold Swing
Majority 4,231 3.8 −17.9
National Liberal hold Swing

Back to elections

Elections in the 1910s

[edit]
Henry Norman
General election 1918: Blackburn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Liberal Henry Norman 32,076 41.4 +15.1
C Unionist Percy Dean 30,158 38.9 −8.4
Labour Philip Snowden 15,274 19.7 −6.7
Turnout 77,510 74.8 −17.6
Majority 14,884 19.2 N/A
Unionist gain from Labour Swing −0.9
Majority 16,802 21.7 +19.4
Liberal hold Swing +11.8
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
General election December 1910: Blackburn (two seats)[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Philip Snowden 10,762 26.4 −1.7
Liberal Henry Norman 10,754 26.3 −2.1
Conservative W.B. Boyd-Carpenter 9,814 24.0 +2.0
Conservative H.L. Riley 9,500 23.3 +1.8
Turnout 40,830 92.4 −3.6
Registered electors 22,572
Majority 948 2.4 −3.7
Labour hold Swing −1.9
Majority 940 2.3 −4.1
Liberal hold Swing −2.1
General election January 1910: Blackburn (two seats)[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Norman 12,064 28.4 +4.8
Labour Philip Snowden 11,916 28.1 +1.4
Conservative Robert Cecil 9,307 22.0 −4.8
Conservative G.F.S. Bowles 9,112 21.5 −1.8
Turnout 42,399 96.0 +0.6
Registered electors 22,572
Majority 2,757 6.4 N/A
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +4.9
Majority 2,609 6.1 +2.7
Labour hold Swing +1.6

Back to elections

Elections in the 1900s

[edit]
General election 1906: Blackburn (two seats)[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harry Hornby 10,291 26.8 −13.7
Labour Repr. Cmte. Philip Snowden 10,282 26.7 +2.1
Conservative Geoffrey Drage 8,932 23.3 −10.6
Liberal Edwin Hamer[28] 8,892 23.2 New
Turnout 38,397 95.4 +9.6
Registered electors 21,127
Majority 1,399 3.6 −4.9
Conservative hold Swing +4.9
Majority 1,350 3.4 N/A
Labour Repr. Cmte. gain from Conservative Swing +6.4
General election 1900: Blackburn (two seats)[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harry Hornby 11,247 40.5 +3.1
Conservative William Coddington 9,415 33.9 −1.9
Labour Repr. Cmte. Philip Snowden 7,096 25.6 New
Turnout 27,758 85.8 −1.8
Registered electors 19,496
Majority 2,319 8.3 −0.7
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Back to elections

Elections in the 1890s

[edit]
General election 1895: Blackburn (two seats)[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harry Hornby 9,553 37.4 +8.6
Conservative William Coddington 9,150 35.8 +7.8
Liberal Thomas Ritzema 6,840 26.8 −16.4
Turnout 25,543 87.6 −4.5
Registered electors 18,275
Majority 2,310 9.0 +3.5
Conservative hold Swing +12.5
Conservative hold Swing +12.1
General election 1892: Blackburn (two seats)[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harry Hornby 9,265 28.8 N/A
Conservative William Coddington 9,046 28.0 N/A
Liberal W. Taylor 7,272 22.5 New
Liberal Eli Heyworth[29] 6,694 20.7 New
Turnout 32,277 92.1 N/A
Registered electors 17,661
Majority 1,774 5.5 N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Back to elections

Elections in the 1880s

[edit]
General election 1886: Blackburn (two seats) [30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Coddington Unopposed
Conservative Harry Hornby Unopposed
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
Coddington
Briggs
General election 1885: Blackburn (two seats) [30][31][32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Coddington 9,168 30.9 +5.5
Conservative Robert Peel 8,425 28.4 +3.5
Liberal William Edward Briggs 6,740 22.7 −3.3
Liberal James Nuttall Boothman[33] 5,341 18.0 −5.6
Majority 1,685 5.7 N/A
Turnout 15,656 95.9 +2.5 (est)
Registered electors 16,329
Conservative hold Swing +5.6
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +3.4
General election 1880: Blackburn (two seats) [34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Edward Briggs 6,349 26.0 +0.6
Conservative William Coddington 6,207 25.4 −0.9
Conservative Daniel Thwaites 6,088 24.9 −0.4
Liberal George Molesworth 5,760 23.6 +0.5
Turnout 12,202 (est) 93.4 (est) −0.6
Registered electors 13,062
Majority 261 1.1 +1.0
Liberal hold Swing +0.5
Majority 447 1.8 +0.9
Conservative hold Swing −0.7

Back to elections

Elections in the 1870s

[edit]
By-election, 2 Oct 1875[35][34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Daniel Thwaites 5,792 54.5 +2.9
Liberal J. T. Hibbert[36] 4,832 45.5 −3.0
Majority 960 9.0 +8.1
Turnout 10,624 90.6 −3.4
Registered electors 11,721
Conservative hold Swing +3.0
  • Caused by Feilden's death.
General election 1874: Blackburn[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Feilden 5,532 26.3 −0.1
Liberal William Edward Briggs 5,338 25.4 +1.4
Conservative Daniel Thwaites 5,323 25.3 −1.5
Liberal Richard Shackleton[37] 4,851 23.1 +0.3
Turnout 10,522 (est) 94.0 (est) −5.6
Registered electors 11,195
Majority 194 0.9 −1.5
Conservative hold Swing −0.2
Majority 15 0.1 N/A
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +1.5

Back to elections

Elections in the 1860s

[edit]
By-election, 30 March 1869: Blackburn[34][38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Hornby 4,738 27.5 +0.7
Conservative Henry Feilden 4,697 27.3 +0.9
Liberal John Gerald Potter 3,964 23.0 −1.0
Liberal John Morley 3,804 22.1 −0.7
Majority 733 4.3 +1.9
Turnout 8,602 (est) 93.7 (est) −5.9
Registered electors 9,183
Conservative hold Swing +0.9
Conservative hold Swing +0.8
  • Caused by the 1868 election being declared void on petition after "undue influence by those who held the position of agents in the canvass".[39]
General election, 1868: Blackburn[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Hornby 4,907 26.8 −5.0
Conservative Joseph Feilden 4,826 26.4 −1.9
Liberal John Gerald Potter 4,399 24.0 +6.6
Liberal Montague Joseph Feilden 4,164 22.8 +0.3
Majority 427 2.4 −3.4
Turnout 9,148 (est) 99.6 (est) +12.2
Registered electors 9,183
Conservative hold Swing −5.8
Conservative hold Swing −1.1
General election, 1865: Blackburn[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Hornby 1,053 31.8
Conservative Joseph Feilden 938 28.3
Liberal James Pilkington 744 22.5
Liberal John Gerald Potter 577 17.4
Majority 194 5.8 +2.0
Turnout 1,656 (est) 87.4 (est) −4.8
Registered electors 1,894
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

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Elections in the 1850s

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General election, 1859: Blackburn[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Hornby 832 38.7 N/A
Liberal James Pilkington 750 34.9 N/A
Liberal John Patrick Murrough[40] 567 26.4 N/A
Majority 82 3.8 N/A
Turnout 1,491 (est) 92.2 (est) N/A
Registered electors 1,617
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A
General election, 1857: Blackburn[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Hornby Unopposed
Whig James Pilkington Unopposed
Registered electors 1,518
Conservative gain from Radical
Whig hold
By-election, 24 March 1853: Blackburn[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Montague Joseph Feilden 631 52.4 +8.7
Conservative William Hornby 574 47.6 +21.3
Majority 57 4.8 −8.9
Turnout 1,205 90.9 +14.0
Registered electors 1,325
Whig gain from Radical Swing −6.3
  • Caused by Eccles' election being declared void on petition, due to bribery.[41]
General election, 1852: Blackburn[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig James Pilkington 846 43.7 +8.4
Radical William Eccles 580 30.0 +26.0
Conservative John Hornby 509 26.3 −11.3
Turnout 968 (est) 76.9 (est) +0.9
Registered electors 1,258
Majority 266 13.7 −17.6
Whig hold Swing +7.0
Majority 71 3.7 N/A
Radical gain from Conservative Swing +15.8

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Elections in the 1840s

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General election, 1847: Blackburn[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Hornby 641 37.6 −28.5
Whig James Pilkington 602 35.3 +18.8
Whig William Hargreaves[42][43] 392 23.0 +6.5
Chartist William Prowting Roberts[44] 68 4.0 New
Turnout 852 (est) 76.0 (est) −12.9
Registered electors 1,121
Majority 39 2.3 +2.2
Conservative hold Swing −26.9
Majority 534 31.3 N/A
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +16.5
General election, 1841: Blackburn[34][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Feilden 441 34.1 New
Conservative John Hornby 427 33.0 New
Whig William Turner 426 32.9 −21.9
Turnout 805 88.9 +18.9
Registered electors 906
Majority 15 1.2 N/A
Conservative gain from Whig Swing −20.7
Majority 1 0.1 N/A
Conservative gain from Whig Swing −11.3

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Elections in the 1830s

[edit]
General election, 1837: Blackburn[34][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Turner 515 54.8 +13.7
Whig William Feilden 416 44.3 +14.2
Radical John Benjamin Smith 9 1.0 −27.8
Turnout 589 70.0 −11.2
Registered electors 842
Majority 99 10.5 −0.5
Whig hold Swing +13.8
Majority 407 43.3 +42.0
Whig hold Swing +14.1
General election, 1835: Blackburn[34][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Turner 432 41.1 +8.3
Whig William Feilden 316 30.1 −5.5
Radical John Bowring 303 28.8 −2.8
Turnout 618 81.2 −15.8
Registered electors 761
Majority 116 11.0 +9.8
Whig hold Swing +4.9
Majority 13 1.3 −1.5
Whig hold Swing −2.1
General election, 1832: Blackburn[34][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Feilden 376 35.6
Whig William Turner 346 32.8
Radical John Bowring 334 31.6
Turnout 607 97.0
Registered electors 626
Majority 30 2.8
Whig win (new seat)
Majority 12 1.2
Whig win (new seat)

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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. ^ "Blackburn: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  2. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – North West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  3. ^ "The statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 2 & 3 William IV. Cap. LXIV. An Act to settle and describe the Divisions of Counties, and the Limits of Cities and Boroughs, in England and Wales, in so far as respects the Election of Members to serve in Parliament". London: His Majesty's statute and law printers. 1832. pp. 300–383. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ Mayer, Sylvain (1918). Representation of the People Act 1918 and the Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918. London: Waterlow and Sons Limited. p. 152.
  6. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Blackburn, Chorley and Darwen) Order 1955", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 5 January 1955, SI 1955/14, retrieved 6 February 2022
  7. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 5 North West region.
  8. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20200914112402/https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/geeta-sidhu-robb-jack-straw-jew
  9. ^ Could the election be won by fraud?, Robert Winnett and Abul Taher, The Sunday Times, 10 April 2005
  10. ^ "Jack Straw has no plans to retire despite hitting 65". Lancashire Telegraph. 14 August 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  11. ^ "Jack Straw to step down as Labour MP for Blackburn". BBC News. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  12. ^ a b c Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 3)
  13. ^ Craig, FWS (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 49–50. ISBN 0-900178-26-4.
  14. ^ Craig, FWS (1989) [1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 76. ISBN 0-900178-27-2.
  15. ^ Craig, FWS (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 92. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844–1850]. Craig, FWS (ed.). The parliaments of England, from 1715 to 1847 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 175–176. ISBN 0-900178-13-2 – via Archive.org.
  17. ^ a b Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. p. 88.
  18. ^ a b Dutton, HI; King, JE (1981). Ten Per Cent and No Surrender: The Preston Strike 1853–1854. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 92. ISBN 0-521-23620-7.
  19. ^ "Scandal gripped the nation". Lancashire Telegraph. 19 June 2003. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  20. ^ Lewis, Brian (2001). The Middlemost and the Milltowns: Bourgeois Culture and Politics in Early Industrial England. Stanford: Stanford University Press. p. 544. ISBN 0-8047-4174-3.
  21. ^ a b c Pink, William Dumcombe; Beavan, Alfred B. (1889). The Parliamentary Representation of Lancashire (County and Borough) 1258–1885 with Biographical and Genealogical Notices of the Members. London: Henry Gray. p. 317. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  22. ^ "The General Election". The Spectator. 31 July 1847. p. 2. Retrieved 14 April 2018. (subscription required)
  23. ^ "The Diary of Charles Tiplady". Cotton Town. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  24. ^ "Blackburn - General election results 2024". BBC News.
  25. ^ "Blackburn Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Blackburn parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
  27. ^ a b c d e f Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885–1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
  28. ^ "Edwin Hamer, Mayor of Blackburn 1899–1900". Cotton Town. Blackburn with Darwen. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  29. ^ "Late 19th Century". Cotton Town. Blackburn with Darwen Council. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  30. ^ a b British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, FWS Craig
  31. ^ The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  32. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
  33. ^ "Blackburn". Preston Herald. 2 January 1886. p. 3. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o 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.
  35. ^ "Blackburn Election". Jersey Independent and Daily Telegraph. 2 October 1875 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  36. ^ "Election of Blackburn". Preston Herald. 25 September 1875. p. 3. Retrieved 27 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  37. ^ "The General Election". Western Daily Mercury. 28 January 1874. p. 3. Retrieved 27 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  38. ^ "Election Intelligence. Blackburn". The Times. London. 31 March 1869. p. 4, col F.
  39. ^ "Blackburn Election Petition". Preston Chronicle. 20 March 1869. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  40. ^ "Representation of Blackburn". Preston Chronicle. 23 April 1859. p. 5. Retrieved 14 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  41. ^ "Blackburn Election". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser. 26 March 1853. p. 5. Retrieved 14 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  42. ^ "Durham Chronicle". 6 August 1847. p. 6. Retrieved 27 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  43. ^ "Blackburn Election". Preston Chronicle. 24 July 1847. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 27 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  44. ^ "Blackburn". Bell's Weekly Messenger. 31 July 1847. p. 2. Retrieved 27 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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