Enfield Southgate (UK Parliament constituency)

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox UK constituency main Enfield Southgate was a constituency in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. It was created in 1950 as Southgate.

In the 1997 United Kingdom general election, it returned a memorable result when prominent Conservative Michael Portillo lost the previously safe seat to Stephen Twigg of the Labour Party.

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the majority of the seat was incorporated into the new constituency of Southgate and Wood Green.

History

From 1950 to the 1983 general election, this constituency was known as Southgate. The prefix of the seat's London Borough was added to some parts of the legislation, but not others, in 1974. In 1984, Conservative MP Sir Anthony Berry who represented Enfield Southgate was killed in the Brighton hotel bombing by the Provisional IRA, triggering a by-election.

It was regarded as a safe seat for the Conservative party, but it gained national attention in the 1997 general election when Michael Portillo, Secretary of State for Defence was unexpectedly defeated on a massive swing – the 'Portillo moment'. Portillo had been widely expected to contest the Conservative leadership and his defeat the media took to epitomise the Labour landslide victory. The victorious candidate, Stephen Twigg, increased his majority at the following election. In the 2005 general election, Twigg's majority was the largest overturned, with a swing of 8.7% to the Conservative candidate David Burrowes.

The 2015 result gave the seat the 60th most marginal majority of the Conservative Party's 331 seats by percentage of majority, with Labour gaining the seat in the 2017 general election on a substantial 9.7% swing. Enfield Southgate is one of five constituencies, the others being Croydon Central, Leeds North West, Peterborough and Reading East, which elected Labour MPs in 2017 having not done so since 2001.

Constituency profile

This constituency is located in the western parts of the London Borough of Enfield. Less out-of-work benefits (7.4%) are claimed here than the average for London (8.4%, which compares to 6.4% nationally in April 2021) and among those aged 18 to 24 the percentage is 10.4% in the seat during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the year 2020, 71.3% of employees fell into the top three occupation groups of nine assessed by government, which is above the London and national average. It has significant Jewish, Muslim and Cypriot communities.

In recent years, the south-eastern and southern wards of the constituency, including Bowes and Palmers Green have returned Labour local councillors, with some councillors also in Southgate Green and Winchmore Hill. These wards tend to give the bulk of the Labour vote. The remaining wards generally elect Conservative councillors.

To the north, the seat is semi-rural taking in Trent Park and the former campus of Middlesex University, and the Cockfosters terminus of the Piccadilly line, stretching into the wealthy Hadley Wood area. Some areas (smaller than local government wards) in the south of the constituency have middle rankings of deprivation when placed in a complete list of wards (such as the 2000 Index of Multiple Deprivation), however all other output areas lack any significant deprivation.

Boundaries

Template:Maplink 1950–1974: The Municipal Borough of Southgate.

1974–1983: The London Borough of Enfield wards of Arnos, Bowes, Cockfosters, Grange, Highfield, Oakwood, Palmers Green, Southgate Green, West, and Winchmore Hill.

1983–2010: The London Borough of Enfield wards of Arnos, Bowes, Grange, Grovelands, Highfield, Merryhills, Oakwood, Palmers Green, Southgate Green, Trent, and Winchmore Hill.

2010–2024: The London Borough of Enfield wards of Bowes, Cockfosters, Grange, Palmers Green, Southgate, Southgate Green, and Winchmore Hill.

2007 boundary review

File:LondonParliamentaryConstituency2001Results.svg

File:LondonParliamentaryConstituency2001Results.svg

Template:Magnify iconPre-2010 form of the seat, at centre. (Results shown: 2001)

The Boundary Commission for England recommended changes to the seat, which were approved and effective from 2010. Part of Highlands ward went to Enfield North; part of Grange ward came in reverse. Parts of Grange; Bowes; and Palmers Green wards were added to the seat from Edmonton. Part of wards: Bush Hill Park and Upper Edmonton supplemented Edmonton.

Members of Parliament

Election		Member	Party
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1950	Sir Beverley Baxter	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1964	Sir Anthony Berry	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1984 by-election	Michael Portillo	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1997	Stephen Twigg	Labour
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	2005	David Burrowes	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	2017	Bambos Charalambous	Labour
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	2023		Independent
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	2024		Labour

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Enfield Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Bambos Charalambous	Template:Replace	48.5
		David Burrowes	18,473	39.1
		Rob Wilson	4,344	9.2
		Luke Balnave	1,042	2.2
		Parag Shah	494	1.0
Majority			4,450	9.4
Turnout			47,726	72.7
Registered electors			65,055
	hold		Swing	+0.2

General election 2017: Enfield Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Bambos Charalambous	Template:Replace	51.7
		David Burrowes	20,634	42.7
		Pippa Morgan	1,925	4.0
		David Flint	780	1.6
Majority			4,355	9.0
Turnout			48,328	74.1
Registered electors			65,210
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing	+9.7

General election 2015: Enfield Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		David Burrowes	Template:Replace	49.4
		Bambos Charalambous	17,871	39.0
		David Schofield	2,109	4.6
		Jean Robertson-Molloy	1,690	3.7
		Paul Smith	1,518	3.3
Majority			4,753	10.4
Turnout			45,812	70.5
Registered electors			64,937
	hold		Swing	−3.4

General election 2010: Enfield Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		David Burrowes	Template:Replace	49.4
		Bambos Charalambous	14,302	32.2
		Johar Khan	6,124	13.8
		Peter Krakowiak	632	1.4
		Bob Brock	505	1.1
		Asit Mukhopadhyay	391	0.9
		Samad Billoo	174	0.4
		Ben Weald	173	0.4
		Mal 'the Warrior' Malakounides	88	0.2
	Better Britain Party	Jeremy Sturgess	35	0.1
Majority			7,626	17.2
Turnout			44,352	69.2
Registered electors			64,139
	hold		Swing	+7.2

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Enfield Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		David Burrowes	Template:Replace	44.6
		Stephen Twigg	17,083	40.5
		Ziz Kakoulakis	4,724	11.2
		Trevor Doughty	1,083	2.6
		Brian Hall	490	1.2
Majority			1,747	4.1
Turnout			42,210	66.4
Registered electors			63,720
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing	+8.7

General election 2001: Enfield Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Stephen Twigg	Template:Replace	51.8
		John Flack	16,181	38.6
		Wayne Hoban	2,935	7.0
		Elaine Graham-Leigh	662	1.6
		Roy Freshwater	298	0.7
		Andrew Malakouna	105	0.3
Majority			5,546	13.2
Turnout			41,908	63.5
Registered electors			65,957
	hold		Swing	+5.1

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Enfield Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Stephen Twigg	Template:Replace	44.2
		Michael Portillo	19,137	41.1
		Jeremy Browne	4,966	10.7
		Nicholas Luard	1,342	2.9
	Christian Democrat	Alan Storkey	289	0.6
	Mal – Voice of the People	Andrew Malakouna	229	0.5
Majority			1,433	3.1
Turnout			46,533	70.6
Registered electors			65,887
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing	+17.4

General election 1992: Enfield Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Michael Portillo	Template:Replace	58.0
		Karen Livney	12,859	26.2
		Kevin Keane	7,080	11.2
		Marghanita Hollands	696	1.4
Majority			15,563	31.8
Turnout			49,057	76.3
Registered electors			64,311
	hold		Swing	−4.1

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Enfield Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Michael Portillo	Template:Replace	58.8
		Nick Harvey	10,100	20.9
		Allan Course	9,114	18.9
		Stephen Rooney	696	1.4
Majority			18,345	37.9
Turnout			48,355	72.6
Registered electors			66,600
	hold		Swing

1984 Enfield Southgate by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Michael Portillo	Template:Replace	49.6
		Timothy Slack	11,973	35.6
		Peter Hamid	4,000	11.9
	Turkish Troops Out of Cyprus	Andreas Polydrou	687	2.0
		James Kershaw	80	0.2
		Raymond Shenton	78	0.2
	Abolish Greater London, Restore Middlesex	Iain Burgess	50	0.2
	Captain Rainbow's Universal Party	George Weiss	48	0.2
	Death off Roads: Freight on Rail	Helen Anscomb	45	0.1
Majority			4,711	14.0
Turnout			33,645	50.6
Registered electors			66,473
	hold		Swing	−1.3

General election 1983: Enfield; Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Anthony Berry	Template:Replace	58.1
		David Morgan	10,632	23.3
		Mary Honeyball	8,132	17.9
		M Braithwaite	318	0.7
Majority			15,819	34.8
Turnout			51,365	69.6
Registered electors			65,438
	hold		Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979:Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Anthony Berry	Template:Replace	61.64
		Ian Wilson	11,584	22.55
		Anthony Baker	7,223	14.06
		Royston Pert	895	1.74
Majority			20,079	39.09
Turnout			51,365	76.26
Registered electors			67,355
	hold		Swing

General election October 1974:Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Anthony Berry	Template:Replace	53.90
		J P Sheppard	10,966	22.83
		George J Bridge	9,922	20.66
		B W Pell	1,255	2.61
Majority			14,922	31.07
Turnout			48,031	67.71
Registered electors			70,935
	hold		Swing

General election February 1974:Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Anthony Berry	Template:Replace	52.14
		George J Bridge	13,806	25.47
		F Sealey	10,945	20.19
		B W Pell	1,192	2.2
Majority			14,454	26.67
Turnout			54,563	77.02
Registered electors			70,372
	hold		Swing

General election 1970: Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Anthony Berry	Template:Replace	60.74
		Robert Brian Bastin	9,389	24.84
		George J Bridge	5,451	14.42
Majority			13,574	35.90
Turnout			37,803	67.61
Registered electors			55,913
	hold		Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Anthony Berry	Template:Replace	53.47
		Percy Sassoon Gourgey	9,743	24.61
		George J Bridge	8,679	21.92
Majority			11,428	28.86
Turnout			39,593	75.12
Registered electors			52,705
	hold		Swing

General election 1964: Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Anthony Berry	Template:Replace	54.75
		George J Bridge	9,600	23.62
		S. John Chapman	8,787	21.62
Majority			12,651	31.13
Turnout			40,638	76.39
Registered electors			53,198
	hold		Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Beverley Baxter	Template:Replace	60.79
		George J Bridge	8,968	21.21
		S. John Chapman	7,613	18.00
Majority			16,736	39.58
Turnout			42,285	77.07
Registered electors			54,869
	hold		Swing

General election 1955: Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Beverley Baxter	Template:Replace	62.32
		George Louis Caunt	8,584	19.97
		George J Bridge	7,614	17.71
Majority			18,210	42.35
Turnout			42,992	77.12
Registered electors			55,745
	hold		Swing

General election 1951: Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Beverley Baxter	Template:Replace	62.16
		Vera Dart	10,889	22.53
		Edwin Malindine	7,402	15.31
Majority			19,155	39.63
Turnout			48,335	84.12
Registered electors			57,462
	hold		Swing

General election 1950: Southgate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Beverley Baxter	Template:Replace	61.1
		Vera Dart	11,023	22.2
		Gershon Ellenbogen	8,286	16.7
Majority			19,279	38.9
Turnout			49,611	86.4
Registered electors			57,447
	win (new seat)

Graphical representation

1992

style="background:Template:Party color; width:1.4%;" |	style="background:Template:Party color; width:26.2%;" | 26.2%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:11.2%;" | 11.2%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:58.0%;" | 58.0%
G	Labour	Lib Dems	Conservative

1997

style="background:Template:Party color; width:44.2%;" | 44.2%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:10.7%;" | 10.7%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:1.1%;"|	style="background:Template:Party color; width:41.1%;" | 41.1%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:2.9%;" | 2.9
Labour	Lib Dems		Conservative	Re

2001

style="background:Template:Party color; width:1.6%;" |	style="background:Template:Party color; width:51.8%;" | 51.8%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:7.0%;" | 7.0%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:0.3%;"|	style="background:Template:Party color; width:38.6%;" | 38.6%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:0.7%;" |
G	Labour	Lib Dem		Conservative

2005

style="background:Template:Party color; width:2.6%;" | 2.6	style="background:Template:Party color; width:40.5%;" | 40.5%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:11.2%;" | 11.2%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:44.6%;" | 44.6%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:1.2%;" |
G	Labour	Lib Dems	Conservative

2010

style="background:Template:Party color; width:0.4%;" |	style="background:Template:Party color; width:1.4%;" |	style="background:Template:Party color; width:32.2%;" | 32.2%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:13.8%;" | 13.8%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:1.2%;"|	style="background:Template:Party color; width:49.4%;" | 49.4%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:1.1%;" |	style="background:Template:Party color; width:0.4%;" |
		Labour	Lib Dems	I	Conservative

2015

style="background:Template:Party color; width:3.7%;" | 3.7%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:39.0%;" | 39.0%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:3.3%;" | 3.3	style="background:Template:Party color; width:49.4%;" | 49.4%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:4.6%;" | 4.6%
Gn	Labour	LD	Conservative	UKIP

2017

style="background:Template:Party color; width:1.6%;" |	style="background:Template:Party color; width:51.7%;" | 51.7%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:4.0%;" | 4.0%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:42.7%;" | 42.7%
G	Labour	LD	Conservative

2019

style="background:Template:Party color; width:2.2%;" |	style="background:Template:Party color; width:48.5%;" | 48.5%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:9.2%;" | 9.2%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:39.1%;" | 39.1%	style="background:Template:Party color; width:1%;" |
G	Labour	LD	Conservative	B

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in London

External links

• Politics Resources (Election results from 1922 onwards)
• Electoral Calculus (Election results from 1955 onwards)
• Enfield, Southgate UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
• Enfield, Southgate UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK