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Morecambe and Lunesdale

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Morecambe and Lunesdale
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map of constituency
Boundary of Morecambe and Lunesdale in North West England
CountyLancashire, Cumbria
Electorate76,040 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsMorecambe, Heysham, Carnforth, Sedbergh and Arnside
Current constituency
Created1950
Member of ParliamentLizzi Collinge (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromLonsdale

Morecambe and Lunesdale is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since the 2024 general election by Lizzi Collinge for Labour.[n 2]

Constituency profile

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Morecambe and Lunesdale is a constituency in North West England, covering parts of Lancashire and Cumbria. It is named after its largest town, Morecambe, which has a population of around 33,000,[2] and the rural river valley of Lunesdale (or Lonsdale) to the town's northeast. Other settlements in the constituency include the large coastal village of Heysham, which is contiguous with Morecambe, the small towns of Carnforth, Kirkby Lonsdale and Sedbergh and the villages of Slyne-with-Hest and Bolton-le-Sands.

Morecambe is a seaside resort town developed during the Victorian era. Like many coastal towns in England, its economy suffered in the late 20th century with the decline in tourism, and today the town is highly-deprived. Heysham is the site of two nuclear power stations and a large ferry and freight port with services to the Isle of Man and Ireland. The rural Lunesdale area is affluent and contains many historic small towns and villages. This area is popular with tourists due to its location adjacent to the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks.[3] House prices across the constituency are generally similar to the rest of North West England and lower than the national average.[4]

A large proportion of the constituency's residents are retired.[5] In general, residents have average levels of education, are more likely to be religious, and have high rates of homeownership compared to the rest of the country. Rates of household income and child poverty are in line with national averages.[4][6] A high proportion of residents work in the tourism, agriculture and construction sectors,[7] and a low percentage claim unemployment benefits.[6] White people made up 98% of the population at the 2021 census.[8]

At the local district council level, Morecambe and Carnforth are mostly represented by the Labour Party, Slyne-with-Hest and Bolton-le-Sands by Conservatives and the rural areas by Liberal Democrat and Green Party councillors. At Lancashire County Council, which held elections in 2025, all seats in the constituency elected Reform UK representatives. An estimated 54% of voters in Morecambe and Lunesdale supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, similar to the nationwide figure of 52%.[4]

Boundaries

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Historic

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Map
Map of boundaries before 2023 changes

Before 1950, Morecambe was in the Lancaster constituency. This seat was formerly Morecambe and Lonsdale and gained a new name and redrawn boundaries in 1983. For the general election of that year, sections of the constituency were removed to be united with the former county of Westmorland in the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency. For the 1983 election the electoral wards used in the creation of the new seat were:

  • Alexandra, Arkholme, Bolton-le-Sands, Carnforth, Halton-with-Aughton, Harbour, Heysham Central, Heysham North, Kellet, Overton, Parks, Poulton, Silverdale, Slyne-with-Hest, Torrisholme, Victoria and Walton[9]

In boundary changes which came into effect for the 2010 election, only minor adjustments were made. Parliament approved the recommendations in the Boundary Commission's Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies in respect of this area, enacting only minor boundary alterations. The constituency had City of Lancaster electoral wards:

Current

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Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the composition of the constituency was defined as follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020):[10][11]

City of Lancaster wards:

Wards of the former South Lakeland district, now in Westmorland and Furness:

The three South Lakeland wards were transferred from Westmorland and Lonsdale, partly offset by the community of Skerton going to the re-established seat of Lancaster and Wyre.

With effect from 1 April 2023, the District of South Lakeland was abolished and absorbed into the new unitary authority of Westmorland and Furness.[12] Also a local government boundary review was carried out in the City of Lancaster which came into effect in May 2023.[13][14] Accordingly, the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:

  • The City of Lancaster wards of: Bare; Bolton & Slyne; Carnforth & Millhead; Halton-with-Aughton & Kellet; Heysham Central; Heysham North; Heysham South; Lower Lune Valley; Overton; Poulton; Silverdale; Torrisholme; Upper Lune Valley; Warton; West End; Westgate; and a small part of Skerton.
  • The Westmorland and Furness wards of: Burton and Holme; Kendal South (part); Kent Estuary; Levens and Crooklands (part); Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale (majority).[15]

The revised constituency is made up of parts of: the previous Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency (35.1% by area and 76.3% by population of the new seat); Westmorland and Lonsdale, which still exists with revised boundaries (46.5% by area and 18.9% by population); and the former Lancaster and Fleetwood (18.4% by area and 4.8% by population).[16]

History

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Since its creation in 1983, the Morecambe and Lunesdale can be regarded as a bellwether seat, changing hands with a change of government. Once a safe Conservative area, Morecambe followed its neighbour and fellow seaside town, Blackpool, by voting Labour in the 1997 general election. The results in the general elections of 1997, 2001 and 2005 had remarkably similar majorities with virtually no swing to the Conservatives. The Conservatives gained the seat at the 2010 general election with an above average swing, and held it in 2015, 2017 and 2019. The notional 2019 result for the area, using the 2024 boundaries, was Conservative.[17] In the 2024 general election the seat was won by Labour.[18]

Members of Parliament

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ElectionMember[19] Party
1950 constituency created as "Morecambe and Lonsdale"
1950Ian FraserConservative
1958 by-electionBasil de FerrantiConservative
1964Alfred Hall-DavisConservative
1979Mark Lennox-BoydConservative
1983 constituency renamed as "Morecambe and Lunesdale" after boundary changes
1983Mark Lennox-BoydConservative
1997Geraldine SmithLabour
2010David MorrisConservative
2024Lizzi CollingeLabour

Elections

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Image
Election results 1950-2024

Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Morecambe and Lunesdale[20][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Lizzi Collinge 19,603 40.8 +12.7
Conservative David Morris 13,788 28.7 −24.9
Reform Barry Parsons 7,810 16.3 +15.9
Liberal Democrats Peter Jackson 4,769 9.9 −5.7
Green Gina Dowding 2,089 4.3 +3.0
Majority 5,815 12.1 N/A
Turnout 48,059 63.1 −4.1
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +18.8

Changes are from the notional results of the 2019 election on new 2024 boundaries.[22]

2019 notional result[23]
Party Vote %
Conservative29,83453.6
Labour15,64628.1
Liberal Democrats8,68915.6
Green7041.3
Independent5481.0
Brexit Party2310.4
Majority 14,188 25.5
Turnout 55,652 73.9
Electorate 55,652

Elections in the 2010s

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General election 2019: Morecambe and Lunesdale[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Morris 23,925 52.8 +5.1
Labour Lizzi Collinge 17,571 38.8 −5.8
Liberal Democrats Owen Lambert 2,328 5.1 +1.4
Green Chloe Buckley 938 2.1 +1.1
Independent Darren Clifford 548 1.2 New
Majority 6,354 14.0 +10.9
Turnout 45,310 67.2 −1.1
Conservative hold Swing +5.5
General election 2017: Morecambe and Lunesdale[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Morris 21,773 47.7 +2.2
Labour Vikki Singleton 20,374 44.6 +9.7
Liberal Democrats Matthew Severn 1,699 3.7 ±0.0
UKIP Robert Gillespie 1,333 2.9 −9.5
Green Cait Sinclair 478 1.0 −2.2
Majority 1,399 3.1 −7.5
Turnout 45,657 68.3 +3.3
Conservative hold Swing −3.8
General election 2015: Morecambe and Lunesdale[26][27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Morris 19,691 45.5 +4.0
Labour Amina Lone 15,101 34.9 −4.6
UKIP Steven Ogden 5,358 12.4 +8.2
Liberal Democrats Matthew Severn 1,612 3.7 −9.6
Green Phil Chandler 1,395 3.2 +1.8
Independent Michael Dawson 85 0.2 New
Majority 4,590 10.6 +8.6
Turnout 43,242 65.0 +2.9
Conservative hold Swing +4.3
General election 2010: Morecambe and Lunesdale[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Morris 18,035 41.5 +4.2
Labour Geraldine Smith 17,169 39.5 −9.5
Liberal Democrats Les Jones 5,791 13.3 −0.3
UKIP Nigel Brown 1,843 4.2 New
Green Chris Coates 598 1.4 New
Majority 866 2.0 −9.5
Turnout 43,436 62.1 +0.7
Conservative gain from Labour Swing −6.9

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Morecambe and Lunesdale[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Geraldine Smith 20,331 48.8 −0.8
Conservative James Airey 15,563 37.4 +0.1
Liberal Democrats Alex Stone 5,741 13.8 +4.6
Majority 4,768 11.4 −0.9
Turnout 41,635 61.4 +0.3
Labour hold Swing −0.4
General election 2001: Morecambe and Lunesdale[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Geraldine Smith 20,646 49.6 +0.7
Conservative David Nuttall 15,554 37.3 +0.6
Liberal Democrats Christopher Cotton 3,817 9.2 −2.2
UKIP Greg Beaman 935 2.2 New
Green Cherith Adams 703 1.7 New
Majority 5,092 12.3 +0.1
Turnout 41,655 61.1 −11.2
Labour hold Swing +0.65

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Morecambe and Lunesdale[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Geraldine Smith 24,061 48.9
Conservative Mark Lennox-Boyd 18,096 36.7
Liberal Democrats June Greenwell 5,614 11.4
Referendum Ian Ogilvie 1,313 2.7 New
Natural Law David Walne 165 0.3
Majority 5,965 12.2 N/A
Turnout 49,249 72.3
Labour gain from Conservative Swing Increase16.2
General election 1992: Morecambe and Lunesdale[32][33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Lennox-Boyd 22,507 50.9 −1.8
Labour Jean Yates 10,998 24.9 +2.4
Liberal Democrats Anthony Saville 9,584 21.7 −3.2
MB Independent Mark Turner 916 2.1 New
Natural Law Richard Marriott 205 0.5 New
Majority 11,509 26.0 −1.8
Turnout 44,210 78.3 +2.2
Conservative hold Swing −2.1

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Morecambe and Lunesdale[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Lennox-Boyd 22,327 52.7 −3.9
SDP June Greenwell 10,542 24.9 −0.3
Labour David Smith 9,535 22.5 +4.8
Majority 11,785 27.8 −3.6
Turnout 42,404 76.1 +3.2
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1983: Morecambe and Lunesdale[35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Lennox-Boyd 21,968 56.6
SDP Tom Clare 9,774 25.2
Labour Abbott Bryning 6,882 17.7
Independent Irene Woods 208 0.5
Majority 12,194 31.4
Turnout 38,832 72.9
Conservative win (new seat)

Morecambe and Lonsdale election results, 1950–79

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See also

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Notes

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  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

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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. ↑ "Morecambe". citypopulation.de. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "Constituency data: Deprivation in England". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 "Seat Details - Morecambe and Lunesdale". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "Constituency data: Population, by age". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Constituency dashboard". House of Commons Library. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "Constituency data: businesses and industries". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "2021 census results: Ethnic groups in your constituency". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  9. ↑ Crewe, Ivor (1983). British Parliamentary constituencies - a statistical compendium. faber and faber. ISBN 0-571-13236-7.
  10. ↑ "Statutory Instruments: 2023 no. 1230: Representation of the people; Redistribution of seats: The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  11. ↑ Rouncivell, Gayle (28 June 2023). "Boundary changes set to go ahead for Lancaster and Morecambe constituencies". Lancaster Guardian. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  12. ↑ "The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022".
  13. ↑ LGBCE. "Lancaster | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  14. ↑ "The Lancaster (Electoral Changes) Order 2022".
  15. ↑ "New Seat Details - Morecambe and Lunesdale". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  16. ↑ "Morecambe and Lunesdale (31 May 2024 - ) - overlaps". UK Parliament election results. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  17. ↑ "Notional election for the constituency of Morecambe and Lunesdale on 12 December 2019". UK Parliament election results. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  18. ↑ "Morecambe and Lunesdale - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  19. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "M" (part 3)
  20. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated: Morecambe and Lunesdale Constituency" (PDF). Lancaster City Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  21. ↑ "Morecambe and Lunesdale Election Results 2024". Lancaster City Council.
  22. ↑ "Notional election for the constituency of Morecambe and Lunesdale". Parliament.gov.uk.
  23. ↑ "UK Parliament election results: Notional election for the constituency of Morecambe and Lunesdale on 12 December 2019". UK Parliament election results. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  24. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll: Morecambe and Lunesdale Constituency" (PDF). Lancaster City Council. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  25. ↑ "Morecambe & Lunesdale parliamentary constituency". BBC News: Election 2017. 9 June 2017.
  26. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  27. ↑ "Morecambe & Lunesdale". BBC News. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  28. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  29. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  30. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  31. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  32. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  33. ↑ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  34. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  35. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
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54°05′20″N 2°49′26″W / 54.089°N 2.824°W / 54.089; -2.824

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