South Ribble (UK Parliament constituency)
Encyclopedia
South Ribble is a county constituency in Lancashire
, England
represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP)
by the first past the post system of election.
Former Preston North
MP Robert Atkins
won the South Ribble constituency in 1983 and fought the seat in every election up to the 1997 general election, when Labour's David Borrow
gained the seat with nearly 26,000 votes. This figure is 2,000 less than Robert Atkins' victory in 1983. From the 1997 "landslide year" until 2010, David Borrow's vote total and majority consistently shrunk with a swing back to the Conservatives at every election: despite in 2005, UKIP nominating a candidate for the first time, and taking just over 1,200 votes. Borrow finally lost South Ribble in 2010 on a large swing to the Conservatives to the current Member of Parliament, Lorraine Fullbrook
.
and Penwortham
have always featured at the centre of the constituency. For the 1997 general election the eastern towns of Bamber Bridge
and Walton-le-Dale
were moved to the Preston
constituency, whilst recent boundary changes in 2010 have moved South Ribble further south and south-west into the Croston
and Bretherton
areas of Chorley
.
The South Ribble
District Council area is currently split into three parts for parliamentary representation. The rural communities to the east, such as Coupe Green and Samlesbury, are in Ribble Valley
. From 1997 until 2010, Bamber Bridge and Walton-le-Dale were connected to the Preston seat
over the River Ribble
.
From West Lancashire
, areas such as Hesketh Bank
, Banks
and Tarleton
were added to South Ribble.
prior to the 2010 general election, the Boundary Commission for England created a new constituency of Wyre and Preston North
in the central part of the county. As a knock-on consequence of this, Ribble Valley
has taken wards from south of the River Ribble
for the first time causing alterations to the existing South Ribble constituency.
The new South Ribble constituency moved further south and south-west, and is formed from wards of three districts - South Ribble
, West Lancashire
and Chorley
.
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP)
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
by the first past the post system of election.
History
The seat of South Ribble was created for the 1983 general election, following the local government changes in the 1970s which saw the creation of a South Ribble borough council.Former Preston North
Preston North (UK Parliament constituency)
Preston North was a parliamentary constituency in Lancashire, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
MP Robert Atkins
Robert Atkins (politician)
Sir Robert James Atkins is a British Conservative politician. Educated at Highgate School, he served as a councillor for the London Borough of Haringey from 1968 to 1977. He was the Member of Parliament for Preston North and South Ribble from 1979 to 1997 and became a Member of the European...
won the South Ribble constituency in 1983 and fought the seat in every election up to the 1997 general election, when Labour's David Borrow
David Borrow
David Stanley Borrow is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for South Ribble from 1997 to 2010.-Education:...
gained the seat with nearly 26,000 votes. This figure is 2,000 less than Robert Atkins' victory in 1983. From the 1997 "landslide year" until 2010, David Borrow's vote total and majority consistently shrunk with a swing back to the Conservatives at every election: despite in 2005, UKIP nominating a candidate for the first time, and taking just over 1,200 votes. Borrow finally lost South Ribble in 2010 on a large swing to the Conservatives to the current Member of Parliament, Lorraine Fullbrook
Lorraine Fullbrook
Lorraine Fullbrook is the Conservative MP for South Ribble, first elected in 2010.Mrs Fullbrook was formerly the Conservative Leader of Hart Council in Hampshire, stepping down in 2004 after being selecting as parliamentary candidate for the South Ribble constituency in north-west England...
.
Boundaries
Due to its population figures, the borough of South Ribble and its parliamentary constituency have never shared the same boundaries, but the towns of LeylandLeyland, Lancashire
Leyland is a town in the South Ribble borough of Lancashire, England, approximately six miles south of the city of Preston.Throughout the 20th and 21st century, the community has seen a large growth in industry, population and farming, due to the establishment of Leyland Motors, housing...
and Penwortham
Penwortham
-Landmarks:Penwortham Priory was built for the Rawsthorne family and redesigned by the Cumbrian architect George Webster. The priory was demolished due to the rapid expansion of the area and the need for new housing...
have always featured at the centre of the constituency. For the 1997 general election the eastern towns of Bamber Bridge
Bamber Bridge
Bamber Bridge is a village to the south of Preston, Lancashire, England. The name derives from the Old English 'bēam' and 'brycg', which probably means "tree-trunk bridge". It is mentioned in an undated medieval document. The village is often referred to as "Brig" by residents...
and Walton-le-Dale
Walton-le-Dale
Walton-le-Dale is a village in the Borough of South Ribble, in Lancashire, England. It lies on south bank of the River Ribble, and the south-side of the city of Preston, adjacent to Bamber Bridge.-Toponymy:...
were moved to the Preston
Preston (UK Parliament constituency)
Preston is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
constituency, whilst recent boundary changes in 2010 have moved South Ribble further south and south-west into the Croston
Croston
-External links:**** chorley.gov.uk....
and Bretherton
Bretherton
Bretherton is a small village and civil parish in the Borough of Chorley, Lancashire, England situated to the south west of Leyland and east of Tarleton. Its name suggests pre-conquest origins and its early history was closely involved with the manor house Bank Hall and the families who lived there...
areas of Chorley
Chorley (borough)
Chorley is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire, England. It is named after its largest settlement, the town of Chorley.-Creation:...
.
The South Ribble
South Ribble
South Ribble is a non-metropolitan district and borough of Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Leyland.In May 2007, the council was officially declared "Excellent" by the Audit Commission, gaining its place among the best 5 district councils in the country,-Overview:On 4 October 2007, a...
District Council area is currently split into three parts for parliamentary representation. The rural communities to the east, such as Coupe Green and Samlesbury, are in Ribble Valley
Ribble Valley
Ribble Valley is a local government district with borough status within the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Clitheroe. Other places include Whalley, Longridge and Ribchester. The area is so called due to the River Ribble which flows in its final stages...
. From 1997 until 2010, Bamber Bridge and Walton-le-Dale were connected to the Preston seat
Preston (UK Parliament constituency)
Preston is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
over the River Ribble
River Ribble
The River Ribble is a river that runs through North Yorkshire and Lancashire, in northern England. The river's drainage basin also includes parts of Greater Manchester around Wigan.-Geography:...
.
From West Lancashire
West Lancashire
West Lancashire is a non-metropolitan district with the status of a borough in Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Ormskirk. The other town in the borough is Skelmersdale....
, areas such as Hesketh Bank
Hesketh Bank
-Economy:Due to the village's position on the West Lancashire Coastal Plain it has a rich soil, suitable for the farming of flowers and vegetables - this is still the main economic activity in the area.A Booths supermarket opened on 11 November 2010.-Transport:...
, Banks
Banks, Lancashire
Banks is a large coastal village in Lancashire, England. It lies just south of the Ribble estuary and four miles north-east of the town of Southport. The village is administered by West Lancashire Borough Council, and by North Meols parish council for parochial matters. It falls in the South...
and Tarleton
Tarleton
-Population :-Economy:As a result of soil on the former mossland, a major economic activity in Tarleton is market gardening, particularly growing salad crops....
were added to South Ribble.
Boundary review
Following their review of parliamentary representation in LancashireLancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
prior to the 2010 general election, the Boundary Commission for England created a new constituency of Wyre and Preston North
Wyre and Preston North (UK Parliament constituency)
Wyre and Preston North is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Created in the most recent fifth periodic review of constituencies by the Boundary Commission for England, it elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post...
in the central part of the county. As a knock-on consequence of this, Ribble Valley
Ribble Valley (UK Parliament constituency)
Ribble Valley is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
has taken wards from south of the River Ribble
River Ribble
The River Ribble is a river that runs through North Yorkshire and Lancashire, in northern England. The river's drainage basin also includes parts of Greater Manchester around Wigan.-Geography:...
for the first time causing alterations to the existing South Ribble constituency.
The new South Ribble constituency moved further south and south-west, and is formed from wards of three districts - South Ribble
South Ribble
South Ribble is a non-metropolitan district and borough of Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Leyland.In May 2007, the council was officially declared "Excellent" by the Audit Commission, gaining its place among the best 5 district councils in the country,-Overview:On 4 October 2007, a...
, West Lancashire
West Lancashire
West Lancashire is a non-metropolitan district with the status of a borough in Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Ormskirk. The other town in the borough is Skelmersdale....
and Chorley
Chorley
Chorley is a market town in Lancashire, in North West England. It is the largest settlement in the Borough of Chorley. The town's wealth came principally from the cotton industry...
.
- From Chorley: Eccleston and MawdesleyMawdesleyMawdesley is a village and civil parish of the Borough of Chorley in Lancashire, England. According to the 2001 Census it had a population of 1,787.-History:...
, and Lostock. - From South Ribble: Broad Oak, Charnock, Earnshaw Bridge, Golden HillLeyland railway stationLeyland railway station serves the town of Leyland in Lancashire, England. It was formerly "Golden Hill", the name of the street and area in which the station is based, but was re-named Leyland soon after opening...
, Howick and PrioryPenwortham-Landmarks:Penwortham Priory was built for the Rawsthorne family and redesigned by the Cumbrian architect George Webster. The priory was demolished due to the rapid expansion of the area and the need for new housing...
, Kingsfold, LeylandLeyland, LancashireLeyland is a town in the South Ribble borough of Lancashire, England, approximately six miles south of the city of Preston.Throughout the 20th and 21st century, the community has seen a large growth in industry, population and farming, due to the establishment of Leyland Motors, housing...
Central, Leyland St. Ambrose, Leyland St. Marys, Little Hoole and Much Hoole, Longton and Hutton West, Lowerhouse, Middleforth, Moss Side, New Longton and Hutton East, Seven Stars, Whitefield. - From West Lancashire: Hesketh-with-Becconsall, North Meols, RuffordRufford, Lancashire-Population :-Economy:The village is largely rural with little or no industry. The farmland is grade one agricultural land. In the early 20th century the village was described as "one of the prettiest in South Lancashire" and was a destination for day trips from neighbouring towns...
and TarletonTarleton-Population :-Economy:As a result of soil on the former mossland, a major economic activity in Tarleton is market gardening, particularly growing salad crops....
.
Members of Parliament
| Year | Member | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 United Kingdom general election, 1983 The 1983 United Kingdom general election was held on 9 June 1983. It gave the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945... |
Robert Atkins Robert Atkins (politician) Sir Robert James Atkins is a British Conservative politician. Educated at Highgate School, he served as a councillor for the London Borough of Haringey from 1968 to 1977. He was the Member of Parliament for Preston North and South Ribble from 1979 to 1997 and became a Member of the European... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
|
| 1997 United Kingdom general election, 1997 The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general... |
David Borrow David Borrow David Stanley Borrow is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for South Ribble from 1997 to 2010.-Education:... |
Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... |
|
| 2010 | Lorraine Fullbrook Lorraine Fullbrook Lorraine Fullbrook is the Conservative MP for South Ribble, first elected in 2010.Mrs Fullbrook was formerly the Conservative Leader of Hart Council in Hampshire, stepping down in 2004 after being selecting as parliamentary candidate for the South Ribble constituency in north-west England... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |