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Makerfield (constituency)

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Makerfield
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map of constituency
Boundary of Makerfield in North West England
CountyGreater Manchester
Electorate76,517 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsWigan (part), Hindley and Ashton-in-Makerfield
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentAndy Burnham (Labour Co-op)
SeatsOne
Created fromInce, Wigan, Newton, Westhoughton[2]

Makerfield (/ˈmeɪkərfiːld/) is a constituency[3] in Greater Manchester represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. It is currently represented by Andy Burnham, who was elected after Josh Simons' resignation to allow Burnham to run in a by-election in June 2026. The seat has had only Labour MPs since its creation in 1983.[4][5]

History

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This seat was formed in 1983 from parts of the Ince, Wigan, Leigh, Newton and Westhoughton constituencies.

Constituency profile

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Makerfield is considered one of the safest Labour seats in the country, in terms of length of tenure by the party. The Labour Party held the predecessor seat of Ince from 1906 until 1983 when the current constituency was created.[6] In 2010 the constituency, of the 650 nationally, polled the 105th-highest share of the vote for the Labour Party.

Labour's majority fell significantly in 2019 as with many "Red Wall" seats, however it did not fall to the Conservatives, unlike neighbouring Leigh. In 2024, there was little increase in Labour's share of the vote or majority, instead there was a significant increase in Reform UK's vote share, pushing the Conservatives into third place. In 2015, Reform's predecessor, UKIP, also came second, however Labour's majority was over 13,000, compared to over 5,000 over Reform in 2024.

There is no town called Makerfield itself; instead, the name refers to the suffix of 'in-Makerfield' of the towns Ashton-in-Makerfield and Ince-in-Makerfield, though since 2010 the latter has been part of the Wigan constituency. The seat comprises mostly working-class residential suburbs south of Wigan and to the west of Leigh. Deprivation is lower than that of neighbouring towns, and home ownership is higher, with a mostly skilled working-class population and a lower-than-average proportion of ethnic minorities.[7] There is some semi-rural land towards the west of the constituency where it borders St Helens, and green buffers separating the constituent towns and villages. The area was formerly noted for coal-mining. There remains a small amount of light industry – though not as much as in Wigan – but residential land-use is increasing as the towns continue to grow. The area is also home to Winstanley College, one of the highest-performing sixth-form colleges in the country, which has around 1800 students enrolled.[citation needed]

Boundaries

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Map
Map of boundaries from 2024

1983–1997: The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan wards of Abram, Ashton-Golborne, Bryn, Lightshaw, Orrell, Winstanley, and Worsley Mesnes.

1997–2010: The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan wards of Abram, Ashton-Golborne, Bryn, Ince, Orrell, Winstanley, and Worsley Mesnes.

2010–2024: The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan wards of Abram, Ashton, Bryn, Hindley, Hindley Green, Orrell, Winstanley, and Worsley Mesnes.

2024–present: Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for 2024 general election, the boundaries of the constituency were expanded slightly by adding small areas (as they existed on 1 December 2020) of the Atherleigh ward (part of polling district LCA) and the Leigh West ward (polling district LDA).[8]

Following a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2023,[9][10] the constituency now comprises the following wards of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan from the 2024 general election:

  • Abram; Ashton-in-Makerfield South; Bryn with Ashton-in-Makerfield North; Hindley; Hindley Green (nearly all); Leigh West (small part); Orrell; Winstanley; Worsley Mesnes; and very small parts of Golborne & Lowton West, and Ince.[11]

Makerfield consists of the western and central section of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester. It comprises the wards to the south and to the west of Wigan and to the west of Leigh.

Members of Parliament

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Election Member[12] Party
1983 Michael McGuire Labour
1987 Ian McCartney Labour
2010 Yvonne Fovargue Labour
2024 Josh Simons Labour
2026 by-election Andy Burnham Labour Co-op

Elections

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Makerfield electoral results 1983–2026

Elections in the 2020s

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2026 Makerfield by-election[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Andy Burnham 24,927 54.8 +9.6
Reform Robert Kenyon 15,696 34.5 +2.7
Restore Rebecca Shepherd 3,111 6.8 New
Conservative Michael Winstanley 997 2.2 −8.7
Green Sarah Wakefield 308 0.7 −3.7
Liberal Democrats Jake Austin 163 0.4 −6.4
Count Binface Party Count Binface 95 0.2 New
Monster Raving Loony Howling Laud Hope 45 0.1 New
Independent John Dyer 37 0.1 New
Rejoin EU Peter Ward[a] 35 0.1 New
Libertarian Dan Clarke 18 0.04 New
Climate Ed Gemmell 18 0.04 New
Independent Robert Pownall 18 0.04 New
Independent Paul Gould 8 0.02 New
Majority 9,231 20.3 +6.9
Turnout 45,476 58.7 +6.3
Registered electors 77,462
Labour Co-op hold Swing 3.5
General election 2024: Makerfield[15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Josh Simons 18,202 45.2 −0.1
Reform Robert Kenyon 12,803 31.8 +18.7
Conservative Simon Finkelstein 4,379 10.9 −23.4
Liberal Democrats John Skipworth 2,735 6.8 +2.0
Green Maria Deery 1,776 4.4 +1.8
English Democrat Thomas Bryer 368 0.9 N/A
Majority 5,399 13.4 +2.4
Turnout 40,263 52.5 −6.2
Registered electors 76,641
Labour hold Swing −9.4

Elections in the 2010s

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2019 notional result[17]
Party Vote %
Labour 20,432 45.3
Conservative 15,477 34.3
Brexit Party 5,902 13.1
Liberal Democrats 2,161 4.8
Green 1,166 2.6
Turnout 45,138 59.0
Electorate 76,517
General election 2019: Makerfield[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Yvonne Fovargue 19,954 45.1 −15.0
Conservative Nick King 15,214 34.4 +3.1
Brexit Party Ross Wright 5,817 13.1 N/A
Liberal Democrats John Skipworth 2,108 4.8 +2.0
Green Sheila Shaw 1,166 2.6 N/A
Majority 4,740 10.7 −18.1
Turnout 44,259 59.7 −4.1
Labour hold Swing −9.2
General election 2017: Makerfield[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Yvonne Fovargue 28,245 60.1 +8.3
Conservative Adam Carney 14,703 31.3 +11.8
Independent Bob Brierley 2,663 5.7 N/A
Liberal Democrats John Skipworth 1,322 2.8 −0.9
Majority 13,542 28.8 −0.6
Turnout 46,933 63.8 +3.6
Labour hold Swing −1.7
General election 2015: Makerfield[20][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Yvonne Fovargue 23,208 51.8 +4.5
UKIP Andrew Collinson 10,053 22.4 N/A
Conservative Syeda Zaidi 8,752 19.5 +0.7
Liberal Democrats John Skipworth 1,639 3.7 −12.5
Green Philip Mitchell 1,136 2.5 N/A
Majority 13,155 29.4 +0.9
Turnout 44,788 60.2 +0.8
Labour hold Swing
General election 2010: Makerfield[22][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Yvonne Fovargue 20,700 47.3 −14.8
Conservative Itrat Ali 8,210 18.8 +5.2
Liberal Democrats Dave Crowther 7,082 16.2 +4.8
Independent Bob Brierley 3,424 7.8 N/A
BNP Ken Haslam 3,229 7.4 +4.1
Independent John Mather 1,126 2.6 N/A
Majority 12,490 28.5 −22.5
Turnout 43,771 59.4 +9.8
Labour hold Swing −10.0

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Makerfield[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ian McCartney 22,494 63.2 −5.3
Conservative Kulveer Ranger 4,345 12.2 −5.4
Liberal Democrats Trevor Beswick 3,789 10.6 −0.8
Community Action Peter Franzen 2,769 7.8 N/A
BNP Dennis Shambley 1,221 3.4 N/A
UKIP Gregory Atherton 962 2.7 N/A
Majority 18,149 51.0 +0.1
Turnout 35,580 51.5 +0.6
Labour hold Swing +0.1
General election 2001: Makerfield[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ian McCartney 23,879 68.5 −5.2
Conservative Jane Brooks 6,129 17.6 +2.2
Liberal Democrats David Crowther 3,990 11.4 +3.1
Socialist Alliance Malcolm Jones 858 2.5 N/A
Majority 17,750 50.9 −7.0
Turnout 34,856 50.9 −15.9
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Makerfield[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ian McCartney 33,119 73.6 +12.9
Conservative Michael Winstanley 6,942 15.4 −11.7
Liberal Democrats Bruce Hubbard 3,743 8.3 −1.1
Referendum Andrew Seed 1,210 2.7 N/A
Majority 26,177 57.9 +24.6
Turnout 45,014 66.8 −9.3
Labour hold Swing +12.3
General election 1992: Makerfield[27][28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ian McCartney 32,832 60.4 +4.1
Conservative Davina Dickson 14,714 27.1 −0.2
Liberal Democrats Stephen Jeffers 5,097 9.4 −7.1
Liberal Stella Cairns 1,309 2.4 N/A
Natural Law Christopher Davies 397 0.7 N/A
Majority 18,118 33.3 +4.3
Turnout 54,349 76.1 +0.3
Labour hold Swing +2.2

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Makerfield[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ian McCartney 30,190 56.3 +7.0
Conservative Laurence Robertson 14,632 27.3 −0.6
Liberal William Hewer 8,838 16.5 −6.3
Majority 15,558 29.0 +7.6
Turnout 53,660 75.8 +2.1
Labour hold Swing +3.8
General election 1983: Makerfield[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael McGuire 25,114 49.3
Conservative Edward Hay 14,238 27.9
Liberal Robin Grayson 11,633 22.8
Majority 10,876 21.4
Turnout 50,985 73.7
Labour win (new seat)

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Using the description Rejoin EU Bring In PR

References

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  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – North West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  2. ^ "'Makerfield', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  3. ^ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer).
  4. ^ "Labour MP to stand down to allow Burnham run for byelection amid leadership row". The Guardian. 14 May 2026. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  5. ^ Halliday, Josh; Stacey, Kiran (19 June 2026). "Andy Burnham wins huge majority in Makerfield byelection, paving way for Starmer leadership challenge". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  6. ^ Manchester Evening News: "McCartney makes it a century"
  7. ^ "Makerfield". BBC News. Archived from the original on 23 July 2004. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  8. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 5 North West region.
  9. ^ LGBCE. "Wigan | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  10. ^ "The Wigan (Electoral Changes) Order 2022".
  11. ^ "New Seat Details – Makerfield". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  12. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "M" (part 1)
  13. ^ "Statement of persons nominated: Makerfield Constituency" (PDF). Wigan Council. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  14. ^ "UK parliamentary election results - 18 June 2026". Wigan Council. 19 June 2026. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  15. ^ "Makerfield - General Election 2024 results". BBC News. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  16. ^ "UK General Election Results". Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council.
  17. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Statement of persons nominated 2019" (PDF).
  19. ^ "Makerfield parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
  20. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Makerfield". BBC News.
  22. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  23. ^ "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Makerfield". BBC News.
  24. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  26. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  27. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  28. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  29. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  30. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
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53°31′26″N 2°40′34″W / 53.524°N 2.676°W / 53.524; -2.676

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