Westmorland and Lonsdale (UK Parliament constituency)

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Westmorland and Lonsdale
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Westmorland and Lonsdale in Cumbria
Outline map
Location of Cumbria within England
CountyCumbria
Electorate66,609 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsGrange-over-Sands, Kendal, Windermere
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentTim Farron (Liberal Democrats)
SeatsOne
Created fromMorecambe and Lonsdale and Westmorland

Westmorland and Lonsdale is a constituency[n 1] in the south of Cumbria, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2005 by Tim Farron, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats (2015–2017).

Since 2017 Westmorland and Lonsdale has been the only Liberal Democrat seat in the whole of Northern England. It is also the Liberal Democrats' longest continuously held seat in England, as the only seat where they have won every election since 2015.

Constituency profile[edit]

Map
Map of current boundaries

The constituency mostly overlaps the South Lakeland district of Cumbria. Important towns by size in the constituency include Kendal, Windermere and Kirkby Lonsdale. It is named after the historic county of Westmorland and the Lancashire Hundred of Lonsdale, both of which extend beyond the bounds of the constituency. This is one of a minority of rural seats where residents voted to Remain in the European Union in 2016.

Boundaries[edit]

Following their review of parliamentary representation in Cumbria, the Boundary Commission for England created a modified Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency, to deal with population changes.

The electoral wards used to create the modified seat, contested for the first time at the 2010 general election, are entirely within the South Lakeland district.

This boundary change removed Broughton-in-Furness from the constituency.

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 District of Eden wards of: Appleby (Appleby); Appleby (Bongate); Askham; Brough; Crosby Ravensworth; Dacre; Eamont; Greystroke; Kirkby Stephen; Kirkby Thore; Long Marton; Morland; Orton and Tebay; Ravenstonedale; Shap; Ullswater; Warcop.
  • The District of South Lakeland wards of: Ambleside & Grasmere; Bowness & Levens; Broughton & Coniston (polling districts AF, AO, AP, AQ, AS, AT, AU, BC, BDA, BDB, CX and DH); Cartmel; Grange; Kendal East; Kendal North; Kendal Rural; Kendal South & Natland; Kendal Town; Kendal West; Windermere.[3]

The constituency will be expanded by adding parts of the (former) District of Eden, including the market towns of Appleby-in-Westmorland and Kirkby Stephen, currently in the (to be abolished) constituency of Penrith and The Border. To partly offset this, the (former) District of South Lakeland wards of Arnside & Milnthorpe, Burton & Crooklands, and Sedbergh & Kirkby Lonsdale will be included in Morecambe and Lunesdale (thereby creating a cross-county boundary constituency).

With effect from 1 April 2023, the Districts of Eden and South Lakeland were abolished and absorbed into the new unitary authority of Westmorland and Furness.[4] The constituency will therefore now comprise the following wards of Westmorland and Furness from the next general election:

  • Appleby and Brough; Bowness and Lyth; Coniston and Hawkshead (nearly all); Eamont and Shap; Eden and Lyvennet Vale; Grange and Cartmel; Greystoke and Ullswater; Kendal Castle; Kendal Highgate; Kendal Nether; Kendal South (majority); Kendal Strickland and Fell; Kirkby Stephen and Tebay; Levens and Crooklands (majority); Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale (part); Upper Kent; Windermere and Ambleside.[5]

History[edit]

Having been a Conservative-dominated seat since its creation in 1983, the 1997 general election saw the Conservatives' majority cut to fewer than 5,000 votes. This was further reduced at the 2001 general election. In 2005, the constituency featured among a list of seats held by high-profile Conservatives (in this case Shadow Education Secretary Tim Collins) targeted by the Liberal Democrats by deploying supporters from across each region in what was referred in the media as a "decapitation strategy".[6] In the 2005 election, Tim Farron gained the seat by a marginal majority of 267 votes.

At the 2010 general election, the local electorate caused the largest Conservative-to-Lib Dem swing nationally, of 11.1% — equally the lowest share of the vote for Labour (2.2%, one of five lost deposits for Labour), nationally. With 96.2% of votes cast for either the Conservative or Liberal Democrat candidates, Westmorland and Lonsdale had the highest combined share of the vote cast for the Coalition parties.

Contrasting with its long-term Conservative support, the combined Conservative/UKIP vote narrowly failed to reach 40% in 2015. Equally, Farron, who would become Leader of the Liberal Democrats two months later; was the only member of his party to secure an absolute majority (over 50%) of votes cast, after what was a poor result for the party nationwide with their seat count reduced from 57 seats to 8.[7][8] In 2017 (when Farron was Lib Dem leader), Farron's majority fell to just 777 votes. However, in 2019, he was re-elected with a majority increased to 1,934.

Members of Parliament[edit]

Election Member[9] Party
1983 Michael Jopling Conservative
1997 Tim Collins Conservative
2005 Tim Farron Liberal Democrats

Elections[edit]

Westmorland election results

Elections in the 2020s[edit]

Next general election: Westmorland and Lonsdale
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Tim Farron[10]
Conservative Matty Jackman[11]
SDP Wendy Long[12]
Reform UK James Townley[13]
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors
Swing

Elections in the 2010s[edit]

In 2019, Westmorland and Lonsdale was one of five English constituencies, the others being Esher and Walton, East Devon, Cheltenham and Winchester, where Labour failed to obtain over 5% of the vote and lost their deposit.[14]

General election 2019: Westmorland and Lonsdale[15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Tim Farron 25,795 48.9 +3.1
Conservative James Airey 23,861 45.3 +1.0
Labour Phillip Black 2,293 4.4 ―4.9
Brexit Party Steven Bolton 763 1.5 N/A
Majority 1,934 3.6 +2.1
Turnout 52,712 77.8 ―0.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +1.1
General election 2017: Westmorland and Lonsdale[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Tim Farron 23,686 45.8 ―5.7
Conservative James Airey 22,909 44.3 +11.1
Labour Eli Aldridge 4,783 9.3 +3.8
Independent Mr Fishfinger 309 0.6 N/A
Majority 777 1.5 ―16.8
Turnout 51,687 77.9 +3.6
Liberal Democrats hold Swing ―8.4
General election 2015: Westmorland and Lonsdale[18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Tim Farron 25,194 51.5 ―8.5
Conservative Ann Myatt 16,245 33.2 ―3.0
UKIP Alan Piper 3,031 6.2 +4.6
Labour John Bateson 2,661 5.4 +3.2
Green Chris Loynes 1,798 3.7 N/A
Majority 8,949 18.3 ―5.5
Turnout 48,929 74.3 ―1.5
Liberal Democrats hold Swing ―2.8
General election 2010: Westmorland and Lonsdale[20][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Tim Farron 30,896 60.0 +14.1
Conservative Gareth McKeever 18,632 36.2 ―8.7
Labour Jonathan Todd 1,158 2.2 ―5.6
UKIP John Mander 801 1.6 +0.2
Majority 12,264 23.8 +23.3
Turnout 51,487 75.8 +5.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +11.1

Elections in the 2000s[edit]

General election 2005: Westmorland and Lonsdale[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Tim Farron 22,569 45.5 +5.1
Conservative Tim Collins 22,302 44.9 ―2.0
Labour John Reardon 3,796 7.6 ―3.3
UKIP Robert Gibson 660 1.3 +0.1
Independent Anthony Kemp 309 0.6 New
Majority 267 0.6 ―5.9
Turnout 49,636 71.6 +3.8
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +3.5
General election 2001: Westmorland and Lonsdale[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tim Collins 22,486 46.9 +4.6
Liberal Democrats Tim Farron 19,339 40.4 +7.0
Labour John Bateson 5,234 10.9 ―9.7
UKIP Robert Gibson 552 1.2 New
Independent Timothy Bell 292 0.6 New
Majority 3,147 6.5 ―2.6
Turnout 47,903 67.8 ―6.3
Conservative hold Swing ―1.2

Elections in the 1990s[edit]

General election 1997: Westmorland and Lonsdale[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tim Collins 21,463 42.3 ―14.6
Liberal Democrats Stanley Collins 16,942 33.4 +5.9
Labour John Harding 10,452 20.6 +5.5
Referendum Michael H. Smith 1,924 3.8 New
Majority 4,521 8.9 ―20.5
Turnout 50,781 74.1 ―3.7
Conservative hold Swing ―10.3
General election 1992: Westmorland and Lonsdale[25][26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Jopling 31,798 56.9 ―0.7
Liberal Democrats Stanley Collins 15,362 27.5 ―1.7
Labour Dickon J. Abbott 8,436 15.1 +1.9
Natural Law Robert Johnstone 287 0.5 New
Majority 16,436 29.4 +1.0
Turnout 55,883 77.8 ―3.0
Conservative hold Swing +0.5

Elections in the 1980s[edit]

General election 1987: Westmorland and Lonsdale[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Jopling 30,259 57.6 ―3.7
Liberal Stanley Collins 15,339 29.2 +2.1
Labour Shaun Halfpenny 6,968 13.2 +3.3
Majority 14,920 28.4 ―5.8
Turnout 52,566 74.8 +2.5
Conservative hold Swing ―2.9
General election 1983: Westmorland and Lonsdale[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Jopling 29,775 61.3
Liberal Ken Hulls 13,188 27.1
Labour Chris Stott 4,798 9.9
Ecology Robert Gibson 805 1.7
Majority 16,587 34.2
Turnout 48,566 72.3
Conservative win (new seat)

Note: The Robert Gibson who stood in this election and the similarly named candidate in 2001 and 2005 are not the same person.

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer).

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ^ "2010 post-revision map non-metropolitan areas and unitary authorities of England" (PDF). Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  3. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 5 North West region.
  4. ^ "The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022".
  5. ^ "New Seat Details - Westmorland and Lonsdale". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  6. ^ Lyon, Sam (6 May 2005). "Senior Tories avoid Lib Dem "decaptitation"". Evening Standard.
  7. ^ Gosden, Emily (9 May 2015). "Liberal Democrat survivors round on Nick Clegg". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  8. ^ Harris, John (12 July 2015). "The strange death of the Liberal Democrats". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  9. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 3)
  10. ^ "Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". Mark Pack. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Matty Jackman selected as Conservative Candidate for Westmorland and Lonsdale". Westmorland & Lonsdale. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  12. ^ "GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES". SDP. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Westmorland and Lonsdale Constituency". Reform UK. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Lord Buckethead among candidates to lose deposit". 13 December 2019 – via www.bbc.com.
  15. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll" (PDF). southlakeland.gov.uk. South Lakeland Council. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  16. ^ "Westmorland & Lonsdale parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  17. ^ "UK Parliamentary election: Westmorland & Lonsdale constituency - Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll" (PDF). South Lakeland District Council. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  18. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Westmorland & Lonsdale". BBC News. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  20. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  21. ^ Westmorland and Lonsdale Conservatives, Westmorland and Lonsdale Conservatives
  22. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  26. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  27. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  28. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

54°18′43″N 2°52′48″W / 54.312°N 2.880°W / 54.312; -2.880

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