Saturday 29 June 2024

Norwich South - notes for myself.

 The constituency was created by the Representation of the People Act 1948for the 1950 general election, when the two-seat Norwich constituency was divided into Norwich North and Norwich South. The Labour MP for this seat from 1997 to 2010 was Charles Clarke who served in the cabinet for five years from 2001 to 2006, first as Minister without Portfolio, then as Secretary of State for Education and Skills and latterly as Home Secretary.

Norwich South was Labour's safest seat in Norfolk until 2005. Although it was lost to the Conservatives in 1983, it was regained by Labour in 1987 and was the only Labour seat in Norfolk until 1997. In 2005 the Labour majority was cut by over 5000, leaving Norwich North as the safest Labour seat in the county.

At the 2010 election, the seat was considered a three-way marginal between the incumbent Labour party, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives. The seat was also targeted by the Green Party. The Liberal Democrats won the seat, with the lowest percentage share of the vote in a constituency in the 2010 election. The loss was considered an embarrassment for the Labour Party as it was the seat of a former Home Secretary.

In the 2015 election, Norwich South was one of the Green Party's target seats, and due to the tiny majority of just 310 votes for the Liberal Democrat Simon Wright over Labour in the previous election, it was a key Labour target. In the event, Wright came fourth with under half his 2010 vote, behind the Greens, Conservatives and Labour, whose left-wing candidate Clive Lewiswon the seat with a 10.6% swing from the Liberal Democrats to Labour. The Green Party share of the vote actually fell by 1% compared to 2010, with the Conservative vote slightly increasing.

In the 2017 election, UKIP did not contest the seat but endorsed the Conservatives.[2] Clive Lewis increased Labour's vote share by 22 percentage points to win 31,311 votes (61.0%), the most votes any party has ever won in the constituency. This happened despite the Conservative share of the vote also increasing by 7.1%. The swing was entirely from the Liberal Democrats (who had held the seat from 2010 to 2015) whose vote fell to 5.5%, and the Green Party (who had made the seat a top target in 2015) who dropped to 2.9%, their worst result in Norwich South since 1997.

Although Lewis's share of the vote fell in the 2019 election, he still held the seat with a comfortable majority of 24.7%.

Boundaries and boundary changes[edit]

1950–1974[edit]

  • The County Borough of Norwich wards of Ber Street, Conesford, Earlham, Eaton, Lakenham, Nelson, St Stephen, and Town Close.[3]

1974–1983[edit]

  • The County Borough of Norwich wards of Bowthorpe, Earlham, Eaton, Lakenham, Nelson, St Stephen, Town Close, and University.[4]

Further to the Second Periodic Review of Westminster Constituencies a redistribution of seats was enacted in 1970. However, in the case of the two Norwich constituencies, this was superseded before the February 1974 general election by the Parliamentary Constituencies (Norwich) Order 1973 which followed on from a revision of the County Borough of Norwich wards in 1971, resulting in a realignment of the boundary with Norwich North.

1983–1997[edit]

  • The City of Norwich wards of Bowthorpe, Eaton, Heigham, Henderson, Lakenham, Mancroft, Nelson, St Stephen, Thorpe Hamlet, Town Close, and University.[5]

Extended northwards, gaining southern parts of Norwich North.

1997–2010[edit]

  • The City of Norwich wards of Bowthorpe, Eaton, Heigham, Henderson, Lakenham, Mancroft, Nelson, St Stephen, Thorpe Hamlet, Town Close, and University; and
  • The District of South Norfolk wards of Cringleford and Colney, and New Costessey.[6]

The two District of South Norfolk wards were transferred from the constituency of South Norfolk.

2010–2024[edit]

Map
Map of boundaries 2010-2024
  • The City of Norwich wards of Bowthorpe, Eaton, Lakenham, Mancroft, Nelson, Thorpe Hamlet, Town Close, University, and Wensum; and
  • The District of South Norfolk ward of New Costessey.[7]

The villages of Cringleford and Colney were returned to South Norfolk. In Norwich, the part of the Crome ward around Morse Road became part of Norwich North, while the area around Mousehold Street in Thorpe Hamlet moved to Norwich South.

Following their review of parliamentary constituencies in Norfolk that concluded in 2007 and came into effect for the 2010 general election, the Boundary Commission for England created a slightly modified Norwich South constituency. The changes were necessary to re-align the constituency boundaries with the new local government ward boundaries introduced in South Norfolk and Norwich in 2003 and 2004 respectively and to take account of Norfolk being awarded an additional, ninth constituency by the Boundary Commission.

Current[edit]

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the contents of the constituency are unchanged, but there were minor changes to the boundaries following modifications to local authority ward boundaries. The area of Costessey around Richmond Road was transferred to Norwich South, and the area of Crome (formerly Thorpe Hamlet) ward around Mousehold Street was transferred back to Norwich North.[8]

There had been an earlier proposal in the Boundary Commission draft recommendations to transfer the whole of the Old Costessey ward over to the Norwich South constituency and move Thorpe Hamlet into Norwich North, but that was scrapped, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. [9] (A proposal in the 2018 previous boundary review to move Cringleford and Old Costessey into Norwich South and Wensum ward into Norwich North was also scrapped).

Members of Parliament[edit]

Norwich prior to 1950

ElectionMember[10]Party
1950Henry StraussConservative
1955Geoffrey RipponConservative
1964Christopher NorwoodLabour
1970Thomas StuttafordConservative
February 1974John GarrettLabour
1983John PowleyConservative
1987John GarrettLabour
1997Charles ClarkeLabour
2010Simon WrightLiberal Democrats
2015Clive LewisLabour

Elections[edit]

Norwich South election results

Elections in the 2020s[edit]

General election 2024: Norwich South [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal DemocratsSean Bennett
Reform UKGraham Burton
IndependentElizabeth Ashley Davey
Party of WomenLinda Jane Law
LabourClive Lewis
GreenJamie Osborn
ConservativeDavid Simister-Thomas
Majority
Turnout

Elections in the 2010s[edit]

General election 2019: Norwich South[12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourClive Lewis27,766 53.7 ―7.3 
ConservativeMichael Spencer15,00629.0―1.6
Liberal DemocratsJames Wright4,7769.2+3.7
GreenCatherine Rowett2,4694.8+1.9
Brexit PartySandy Gilchrist1,6563.2New
Majority12,76024.7―5.7
Turnout51,67366.4―2.8
Labour holdSwing
General election 2017: Norwich South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourClive Lewis31,311 61.0 +21.7 
ConservativeLana Hempsall15,71530.6+7.1
Liberal DemocratsJames Wright2,8415.5−8.1
GreenRichard Bearman1,4922.9−11.0
Majority15,59630.4+14.6
Turnout51,35969.2+4.5
Labour holdSwing+7.3
General election 2015: Norwich South[13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourClive Lewis19,033 39.3 +10.6 
ConservativeLisa Townsend11,37923.5+0.6
GreenLesley Grahame6,74913.9−1.0
Liberal DemocratsSimon Wright6,60713.6−15.8
UKIPSteve Emmens4,5399.4+7.0
Class WarDavid Peel960.2New
IndependentCengiz Ceker600.1New
Majority7,65415.8N/A
Turnout48,46364.7+0.1
Labour gain from Liberal DemocratsSwing+5.0
General election 2010: Norwich South[14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal DemocratsSimon Wright13,960 29.4 -0.6 
LabourCharles Clarke13,65028.7-8.7
ConservativeAntony Little10,90222.9+1.1
GreenAdrian Ramsay7,09514.9+7.5
UKIPStephen Emmens1,1452.4+0.9
BNPLen Heather6971.5N/A
Workers RevolutionaryGabriel Polley1020.20.0
Majority3100.7N/A
Turnout47,55164.6N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

*NB boundary changes occurred between 2005 and 2010.

Elections in the 2000s[edit]

General election 2005: Norwich South[15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourCharles Clarke15,904 37.7 −7.8 
Liberal DemocratsAndrew Aalders-Dunthorne12,25129.0+6.4
ConservativeAntony Little9,56722.7−2.1
GreenAdrian Ramsay3,1017.4+4.0
UKIPVandra Ahlstrom5971.4+0.3
English DemocratChristine Constable4661.1New
Legalise CannabisDon Barnard2190.5−1.0
Workers RevolutionaryRoger Blackwell850.2New
Majority3,6538.7-12.0
Turnout42,19065.0+5.2
Labour holdSwing−7.1
General election 2001: Norwich South[16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourCharles Clarke19,367 45.5 −6.2 
ConservativeAndrew French10,55124.8+1.1
Liberal DemocratsAndrew Aalders-Dunthorne9,64022.6+4.0
GreenAdrian Holmes1,4343.4+2.0
Legalise CannabisAlun Buffrey6201.50.0
Socialist AllianceEdward Manningham5071.2New
UKIPTarquin Mills4731.1New
Majority8,81620.7-7.3
Turnout42,59259.8−12.8
Labour holdSwing-3.6

Elections in the 1990s[edit]

General election 1997: Norwich South[17][18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourCharles Clarke26,267 51.7 +3.0 
ConservativeBashir Khanbhai12,02823.7−12.9
Liberal DemocratsAndrew Aalders-Dunthorne9,45718.6+5.7
ReferendumDavid Holdsworth1,4642.9New
Legalise CannabisHoward Marks7651.5New
GreenAdrian Holmes7361.4−0.2
Natural LawBryan Parsons840.20.0
Majority14,23928.0+15.9
Turnout50,80172.6−8.0
Labour holdSwing+8.0
General election 1992: Norwich South[19][20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourJohn Garrett24,965 48.7 +10.8 
ConservativeDavid Baxter18,78436.6−0.7
Liberal DemocratsChristopher Thomas6,60912.9−12.0
GreenAdrian Holmes8031.6New
Natural LawBryan Parsons1040.2New
Majority6,18112.1+11.5
Turnout51,26580.60.0
Labour holdSwing+5.7

Elections in the 1980s[edit]

General election 1987: Norwich South[21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourJohn Garrett19,666 37.9 +2.6 
ConservativeJohn Powley19,33037.3−1.5
SDPCharles Hardie12,89624.9+0.4
Majority3360.6N/A
Turnout51,89280.6+4.2
Labour gain from ConservativeSwing+2.1
General election 1983: Norwich South[22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ConservativeJohn Powley18,998 38.8 −2.8 
LabourJohn Garrett17,28635.3−9.6
SDPCharles Hardie11,96824.5New
EcologyAnthony D. Carter4681.0New
National FrontPeter C. Williams1450.3−0.4
IndependentJon C. Ward910.2N/A
Majority1,7123.5N/A
Turnout48,95676.4−3.8
Conservative gain from LabourSwing+3.4

Elections in the 1970s[edit]

General election 1979: Norwich South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourJohn Garrett16,240 44.9 −2.2 
ConservativeI. Coutts15,04241.6+4.1
LiberalP. Mackintosh4,61812.8−2.6
National FrontAndrew Fountaine2640.7New
Majority1,1983.3-6.3
Turnout36,16480.2+1.7
Labour holdSwing−3.2
General election October 1974: Norwich South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourJohn Garrett16,590 47.1 +5.8 
ConservativeM. Tomison13,18537.5−2.0
LiberalP.G. Smith5,42915.4−3.9
Majority3,4059.6+7.8
Turnout35,20478.5−5.5
Labour holdSwing+3.9
General election February 1974: Norwich South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourJohn Garrett15,393 41.3 −3.4 
ConservativeThomas Stuttaford14,74139.5−7.5
LiberalL. Parker7,18319.3+11.0
Majority6521.8N/A
Turnout37,31784.0+5.8
Labour gain from ConservativeSwing+2.1
General election 1970: Norwich South[23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ConservativeThomas Stuttaford17,067 47.0 +1.8 
LabourConrad Ascher16,24144.7−10.1
LiberalLesley Parker3,0318.3New
Majority8262.3N/A
Turnout36,33978.2−5.0
Conservative gain from LabourSwing+6.0

Elections in the 1960s[edit]

General election 1966: Norwich South[24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourChristopher Norwood19,163 54.8 +3.9 
ConservativeAnthony Gurney15,80845.2−3.9
Majority3,3559.6+7.8
Turnout34,97183.2+0.5
Labour holdSwing+3.9
General election 1964: Norwich South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourChristopher Norwood17,973 50.9 +4.0 
ConservativeGeoffrey Rippon17,36249.1−4.0
Majority6111.8N/A
Turnout35,33582.7+0.5
Labour gain from ConservativeSwing+4.0

Elections in the 1950s[edit]

General election 1959: Norwich South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ConservativeGeoffrey Rippon19,128 53.1 +0.6 
LabourGeorge Wallace16,88446.9−0.6
Majority2,2446.2+1.2
Turnout36,01282.2+3.9
Conservative holdSwing+0.6
General election 1955: Norwich South[25]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ConservativeGeoffrey Rippon18,659 52.5 0.0 
LabourMabel Tylecote16,90147.50.0
Majority1,7585.00.0
Turnout35,56078.3−6.0
Conservative holdSwing0.0
General election 1951: Norwich South[26]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ConservativeHenry Strauss19,082 52.5 −0.8 
LabourMabel Tylecote17,23447.5+0.8
Majority1,8485.0-1.6
Turnout36,31684.3−0.7
Conservative holdSwing−0.8
General election 1950: Norwich South[27]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ConservativeHenry Strauss18,693 53.3 
LabourMabel Tylecote16,36846.7
Majority2,3256.6
Turnout35,06185.0
Conservative win (new seat)

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