Wallasey (UK Parliament constituency)

Wallasey is a constituency in Merseyside created in 1918 and represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1992 by Angela Eagle, a member of the Labour Party.

Boundaries

Historic

1918–1950: The County Borough of Wallasey.

1950–1983: As prior but with redrawn boundaries.

1983–2010: The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral wards of Leasowe, Liscard, Moreton, New Brighton, Seacombe, and Wallasey. The constituency boundaries remained unchanged.

Template:Maplink 2010–2024: The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral wards of Leasowe and Moreton East, Liscard, Moreton West and Saughall Massie, New Brighton, Seacombe, and Wallasey. The constituency's borders remain unchanged.

Minor 2010 boundary reform and abortive proposals

The Boundary Commission initially proposed the abolition in its 2005 draft review: Wallasey was to have been linked with sections of the city of Liverpool in a cross-river constituency. The areas are linked only by a road tunnel under the river Mersey. Following opposition from political parties, local MPs and local residents, the sub-plan was dropped. The change made was the omission of a 40 electors' sub-neighbourhood from formerly shared ward: Hoylake and Meols in favour of Wirral West.

Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the boundaries were expanded to bring the electorate within the permitted range by transferring from Wirral West the northern half (polling districts MA and MB) of the Wirral Borough ward of Upton.

The constituency covers the town of Wallasey, at the north of the Wirral Peninsula, which comprises the six areas: Wallasey Village, Seacombe, Egremont, Liscard, New Brighton and Poulton, as well as Moreton and Leasowe. It is one of four constituencies covering the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral.

History

The seat was created under the Representation of the People Act 1918.

Summary of results

Angela Eagle of the Labour Party gained the Wallasey seat in 1992. Eagle has achieved an absolute majority of votes since the 1997 general election inclusive. The 2015 result made the seat the 39-safest of Labour's 232 seats by percentage of majority.

The seat was Conservative until 1992, with a three-year exception during World War II when represented by an ex-mayor who had been in both the Labour and Conservative parties. Increasing unemployment in the area saw the Conservative vote decline throughout the 1980s in local and general elections, only retaining Moreton West & Saughall Massie and Wallasey wards on the local level into the 2010s, with the remaining wards such as Leasowe and Seacombe safely Labour.

Opposition parties

A Conservative candidate was runner-up in the elections from 1992 to 2019 inclusive. In the 2024 election the runner-up was the Reform Party candidate. Weaker in Wallasey than national average, in 2015 the candidate from UKIP, Caton, amassed +8.8% swing.Template:Refn Liberal Democrat, Brown, lost 11.3% of the vote in that year, whereas nationally the party suffered a record −15.2% swing. Neither Brown nor his Green Party counterpart achieved more than 5% of the vote thereby forfeiting their deposits.

Turnout

Turnout has ranged from 82.6% in 1992 to 57.5% in 2001 — elections at which Angela Eagle was elected, and the latter election saw record-low turnout nationwide.

Prominent frontbenchers

Rt Hon Ernest Marples was Postmaster General while running the telephone network run by the General Post Office, Marples introduced subscriber trunk dialling, which eliminated the compulsory use of operators on national phone calls. On 2 June 1957, Marples brought in British postcodes and made the first draw for the new Premium Bonds. Marples was Minister of Transport (1959–1964).

His successor to the seat was the Rt Hon Lynda Chalker Minister for Europe (1986–1989) and Minister for Overseas Development (1989–1997).

Angela Eagle was Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury for two years then Minister for Pensions and Ageing Society for a year at the close of the Brown Ministry, before becoming in opposition Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury until October 2011, when in the general Shadow Cabinet reshuffle of Ed Miliband, she succeeded the Rt Hon Hilary Benn as Shadow Leader of the House of Commons. She unsuccessfully stood for Deputy Leadership of the Labour Party in 2015 and subsequently was appointed as Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills by Jeremy Corbyn.

Constituency profile

Workless claimants, registered jobseekers, were in November 2012 higher than the national average of 3.8% and regional average of 4.4%, at 5.1% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.

Members of Parliament

Election		Member	Party
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1918	Bouverie McDonald	Coalition Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1922	Robert Chadwick	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1931	John Moore-Brabazon	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1942 by-election	George Reakes	Independent
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1945	Ernest Marples	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	Feb 1974	Lynda Chalker	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color" |	1992	Angela Eagle	Labour

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Angela Eagle	Template:Replace	57.7
		David Burgess-Joyce	6,678	15.6
		Robbie Lammas	4,987	11.7
		Jane Turner	3,905	9.1
		Vicky Downie	1,843	4.3
		Philip Bimpson	462	1.1
		Ian Pugh	197	0.5
Rejected ballots			168
Majority			17,996	42.1
Turnout			42,746	57.7
Registered electors			74,082
	hold		Swing	Decrease8.7

Changes are from the notional 2019 results on the 2024 boundaries.

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result
Party		Vote	%
	Labour	32,769	63.7
	Conservative	13,347	25.9
	Brexit Party	2,128	4.1
	Liberal Democrats	2,007	3.9
	Green	1,219	2.4
Turnout		51,470	70.5
Electorate		73,054

General election 2019: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Angela Eagle	Template:Replace	64.3
		James Baker	11,579	24.9
		Martin York	2,037	4.4
		Vicky Downie	1,843	4.0
		Lily Clough	1,132	2.4
Majority			18,322	39.4
Turnout			46,492	70.1
	hold		Swing	–4.4

General election 2017: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Angela Eagle	Template:Replace	71.5
		Andy Livsey	11,232	23.2
		Debbie Caplin	1,160	2.4
		Paul Childs	772	1.6
		Lily Clough	637	1.3
Majority			23,320	48.3
Turnout			48,353	71.7
	hold		Swing	+5.3

General election 2015: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Angela Eagle	Template:Replace	60.4
		Chris Clarkson	9,828	22.7
		Geoffrey Caton	5,063	11.7
		Julian Pratt	1,288	3.0
		Kris Brown	1,011	2.3
Majority			16,348	37.7
Turnout			43,366	66.2
	hold		Swing	+8.6

General election 2010: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Angela Eagle	Template:Replace	51.8
		Leah Fraser	13,071	31.4
		Steve Pitt	5,693	13.7
		Derek Snowden	1,205	2.9
		Emmanuel Mwaba	107	0.3
Majority			8,507	20.4
Turnout			41,654	63.2
	hold		Swing	–1.8

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Angela Eagle	Template:Replace	54.8
		Leah Fraser	10,976	29.9
		Joanna Pemberton	4,770	13.0
		Philip Griffiths	840	2.3
Majority			9,109	24.9
Turnout			36,671	57.5
	hold		Swing	–4.0

General election 2001: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Angela Eagle	Template:Replace	60.8
		Lesley Rennie	10,442	28.0
		Peter Reisdorf	4,186	11.2
Majority			12,276	32.8
Turnout			37,346	57.6
	hold		Swing	–4.0

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Angela Eagle	Template:Replace	64.6
		Madelaine Wilcock	11,190	23.9
		Peter Reisdorf	3,899	8.3
		Roger Hayes	1,490	3.2
Majority			19,074	40.7
Turnout			46,843	73.8
	hold		Swing	+16.9

General election 1992: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Angela Eagle	Template:Replace	48.9
		Lynda Chalker	22,722	41.9
		Neil Thomas	4,177	7.7
		Sally Davis	680	1.3
		Geoffrey Gay	105	0.2
Majority			3,809	7.0
Turnout			54,215	82.6
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing	+3.8

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Lynda Chalker	Template:Replace	42.5
		Lawrence Duffy	22,512	42.0
		Jonathan Richardson	8,363	15.6
Majority			279	0.5
Turnout			53,945	79.8
	hold		Swing

General election 1983: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Lynda Chalker	Template:Replace	46.0
		James Robertson	16,146	32.5
		Jonathan Richardson	10,717	21.6
Majority			6,708	13.5
Turnout			49,717	72.6
	hold		Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Lynda Chalker	26,548	49.65
		Hilary Hodge	21,167	39.58
		Neil Thomas	5,269	9.85
		John Fishwick	491	0.92
Majority			5,381	10.07
Turnout			53,475	77.30
	hold		Swing

General election October 1974: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Lynda Chalker	23,499	43.96
		Gerald McNamara	21,529	40.27
		Peter Tyrer	7,643	14.30
		John Fishwick	787	1.47
Majority			1,970	3.69
Turnout			53,458	76.27
	hold		Swing

General election February 1974: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Lynda Chalker	22,428	40.71
		Robert Paterson	19,936	36.18
		Peter Tyrer	12,734	23.11
Majority			2,492	4.53
Turnout			55,098	79.45
	hold		Swing

General election 1970: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Ernest Marples	24,283	44.99
		Clarence J Wells	21,172	39.22
		David J Evans	5,577	10.33
	Anti-Common Market	John D Hill	2,946	5.46
Majority			3,111	5.77
Turnout			53,978	74.87
	hold		Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Ernest Marples	22,901	43.69
		Ronald G Truman	22,312	42.56
		Gruffydd Evans	7,207	13.75
Majority			589	1.13
Turnout			52,420	76.06
	hold		Swing

General election 1964: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Ernest Marples	24,784	46.00
		Ian Levin	18,663	34.64
		Gruffydd Evans	10,432	19.36
Majority			6,121	11.36
Turnout			53,879	76.63
	hold		Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Ernest Marples	35,567	63.44
		Gordon Woodburn	20,501	36.56
Majority			15,066	26.88
Turnout			56,068	77.16
	hold		Swing

General election 1955: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Ernest Marples	33,537	63.45
		William T Clements	19,319	36.55
Majority			14,218	26.90
Turnout			52,856	72.26
	hold		Swing

General election 1951: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Ernest Marples	37,423	63.28
		Fred Jarvis	21,718	36.72
Majority			15,705	26.56
Turnout			59,141	79.72
	hold		Swing

General election 1950: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Ernest Marples	33,904	57.08
		John London Hindle	18,989	31.97
		Arthur Ward Jones	6,507	10.95
Majority			14,915	25.11
Turnout			59,400	82.47
	hold		Swing

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Ernest Marples	18,448	42.94
		George Reakes	14,638	34.07
		Thomas Findley	9,879	22.99
Majority			3,810	8.87
Turnout			42,965	75.23
	hold		Swing

1942 Wallasey by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		George Reakes	Template:Replace	58.6
		John Pennington	6,584	33.2
		Leonard Harrison Cripps	1,597	8.1
Majority			5,012	25.4
Turnout			19,777	34.2
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing

Notes

Moore-Brabazon was forced to retire early in 1942 for stating publicly (in fact in the House) the Soviet Union and Germany would hopefully destroy each other at the Battle of Stalingrad.

1939–40

Another general election was in normal circumstances required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;

• Conservative: John Moore-Brabazon
• Liberal: Robert Forster

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Moore-Brabazon	27,949	67.44
		John Airey	13,491	32.56
Majority			14,458	34.88
Turnout			41,440	66.1
	hold		Swing

General election 1931: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Moore-Brabazon	40,161	83.89
		John Mack	7,712	16.11
Majority			32,449	67.78
Turnout			47,873	77.10
	hold		Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Robert Burton-Chadwick	Template:Replace	46.0
		Hubert Phillips	13,628	29.2
		John Mack	11,545	24.8
Majority			7,829	16.8
Turnout			46,630	77.6
Registered electors			60,075
	hold		Swing	N/A

General election 1924: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Robert Burton-Chadwick	Template:Replace	72.4
		John H. Warren	8,634	27.6
Majority			13,965	44.8
Turnout			31,233	74.7
Registered electors			41,816
	hold		Swing	+20.8

General election 1923: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Robert Burton-Chadwick	Template:Replace	51.6
		Tudor Morris	13,146	48.4
Majority			849	3.2
Turnout			27,141	67.2
Registered electors			40,367
	hold		Swing	−12.1

General election 1922: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Robert Burton-Chadwick	Template:Replace	63.7
		Tudor Morris	9,984	36.3
Majority			7,524	27.4
Turnout			27,492	69.2
Registered electors			39,737
	hold		Swing	−6.3

Elections in the 1910s

Template:Election box winning candidate with party link coalition 1918Template:Election box end 1918

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Merseyside
• History of parliamentary constituencies and boundaries in Cheshire

External links

• Wallasey UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
• Wallasey UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
• Wallasey UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK

General election 1918: Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Walter Citrine	4,384	16.6
		John Matthews Hay	4,055	15.3
		Thomas David Owen	3,407	12.9
Majority			10,249	38.6
Turnout			26,479	62.8
Registered electors			42,174
	win (new seat)