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Coordinates: 53°42′29″N 1°18′58″W / 53.708°N 1.316°W / 53.708; -1.316
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{{Short description|Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1974–2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{coord|53.708|-1.316|display=title|region:GB_scale:50000}}
{{coord|53.708|-1.316|display=title|region:GB_scale:50000}}
{{Infobox UK constituency main
{{Infobox UK constituency main
Line 17: Line 20:
}}
}}


'''Pontefract and Castleford''' was a [[constituency]] represented in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] until the [[United Kingdom general election, 2010|2010 general election]]. It elected one [[Member of Parliament]] (MP) by the [[first past the post]] system of election.
'''Pontefract and Castleford''' was a [[constituency]] represented in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] until the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]]. It elected one [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) by the [[first past the post]] system of election.


==Boundaries==
==Boundaries==
'''1974-1983''': The Municipal Boroughs of Castleford and Pontefract, and the Urban District of Featherstone.
'''1974–1983''': The Municipal Boroughs of [[Municipal Borough of Castleford|Castleford]] and [[Pontefract]], and the Urban District of [[Featherstone]].


'''1983-2010''': The City of Wakefield wards of Castleford Ferry Fryston, Castleford Glasshoughton, Castleford Whitwood, Knottingley, Pontefract North, and Pontefract South.
'''1983–2010''': The City of Wakefield wards of Castleford Ferry Fryston, Castleford Glasshoughton, Castleford Whitwood, Knottingley, Pontefract North, and Pontefract South.


The constituency covered the [[West Yorkshire]] towns of [[Pontefract]] and [[Castleford]]. It was a very safe Labour seat, made up of former mining towns and villages. The MP from 1997 until its abolition in 2010, Shadow Home Secretary [[Yvette Cooper]], is married to former fellow Labour MP, former Shadow Chancellor [[Ed Balls]].
The constituency covered the [[West Yorkshire]] towns of [[Pontefract]] and [[Castleford]]. It was a very safe Labour seat, made up of former mining towns and villages. The MP from 1997 until its abolition in 2010, Shadow Home Secretary [[Yvette Cooper]], is married to former fellow Labour MP, former Shadow Chancellor [[Ed Balls]].


===Boundary review===
===Boundary review===
Following their review of parliamentary representation in West Yorkshire, the number of seats in West Yorkshire were reduced by one due to population decline by the [[Boundary Commission for England]]. A new, geographically larger, constituency called [[Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford (UK Parliament constituency)|Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford]] was created in [[United Kingdom general election, 2010|2010]] including the whole of this constituency.
Following their review of parliamentary representation in West Yorkshire, the number of seats in West Yorkshire were reduced by one due to population decline by the [[Boundary Commission for England]]. A new, geographically larger, constituency called [[Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford]] was created in [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]] including the whole of this constituency.


==Members of Parliament==
==Members of Parliament==
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!colspan="2"|Election!!Member<ref>{{Rayment-hc|p|2|date=March 2012}}</ref>!!Party
!colspan="2"|Election!!Member<ref>{{Rayment-hc|p|2|date=March 2012}}</ref>!!Party
|-
|-
|style="background-color: {{Labour Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
|style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[United Kingdom general election, February 1974|Feb 1974]]
| [[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|Feb 1974]]
| [[Joseph Harper (English politician)|Joe Harper]]
| [[Joseph Harper (British politician)|Joe Harper]]
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
|-
|-
|style="background-color: {{Labour Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
|style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Pontefract and Castleford by-election, 1978|1978 by-election]]
| [[1978 Pontefract and Castleford by-election|1978 by-election]]
| Sir [[Geoffrey Lofthouse, Baron Lofthouse of Pontefract|Geoffrey Lofthouse]]
| Sir [[Geoffrey Lofthouse]]
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
|-
|-
|style="background-color: {{Labour Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
|style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|1997]]
| [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]]
| [[Yvette Cooper]]
| [[Yvette Cooper]]
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
|-
|-
|
|
| [[United Kingdom general election, 2010|2010]]
| [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]]
| colspan="2" | ''Constituency abolished: see [[Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford (UK Parliament constituency)|Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford]]''
| colspan="2" | ''Constituency abolished: see [[Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford]]''
|}
|}

==Elections==
==Elections==
===Elections in the 2000s===
===Elections in the 2000s===
{{Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[2005 United Kingdom general election|General election 2005]]: Pontefract and Castleford<ref name=electoralcalculus2005>{{cite web|title=Election Data 2005|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt|publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]|accessdate=18 October 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt|archivedate=15 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|title=[[United Kingdom general election, 2005|General Election 2005]]: Pontefract and Castleford}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Yvette Cooper]]
|candidate = [[Yvette Cooper]]
Line 72: Line 77:
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Democrats
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = Wesley Paxton
|candidate = Wesley Paxton
|votes = 3,942
|votes = 3,942
Line 83: Line 88:
|votes = 1,835
|votes = 1,835
|percentage = 5.6
|percentage = 5.6
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate|
|party = Alliance for Green Socialism
|party = Alliance for Green Socialism
|candidate = Bob Hague
|candidate = Bob Hague
|votes = 470
|votes = 470
|percentage = 1.4
|percentage = 1.4
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 15,246
|votes = 15,246
|percentage = 46.3
|percentage = 46.3
|change =
|change = -5.8
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout|
Line 107: Line 112:
}}
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[2001 United Kingdom general election|General election 2001]]: Pontefract and Castleford<ref name=electoralcalculus2001>{{cite web|title=Election Data 2001|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt|publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]|accessdate=18 October 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054450/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt|archivedate=15 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|title=[[United Kingdom general election, 2001|General Election 2001]]: Pontefract and Castleford}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Yvette Cooper]]
|candidate = [[Yvette Cooper]]
Line 124: Line 131:
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Democrats
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = Wesley Paxton
|candidate = Wesley Paxton
|votes = 2,315
|votes = 2,315
|percentage = 7.4
|percentage = 7.4
|change = +0.1
|change = 0.0
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
Line 135: Line 142:
|votes = 739
|votes = 739
|percentage = 2.4
|percentage = 2.4
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
Line 142: Line 149:
|votes = 605
|votes = 605
|percentage = 1.9
|percentage = 1.9
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
Line 149: Line 156:
|votes = 330
|votes = 330
|percentage = 1.1
|percentage = 1.1
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 16,378
|votes = 16,378
|percentage = 52.1
|percentage = 52.1
|change =
|change = -10.0
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 31,391
|votes = 31,391
|percentage = 49.7
|percentage = 49.7
|change = −16.7
|change = −16.6
}}
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box hold with party link|
Line 166: Line 173:
}}
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}

===Elections in the 1990s===
===Elections in the 1990s===
{{Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[1997 United Kingdom general election|General election 1997]]: Pontefract and Castleford<ref name=electoralcalculus1997>{{cite web |title=Election Data 1997 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]] |accessdate=18 October 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054424/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |archivedate=15 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|title=[[United Kingdom general election, 1997|General Election 1997]]: Pontefract and Castleford}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Yvette Cooper]]
|candidate = [[Yvette Cooper]]
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{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Adrian John Flook]]
|candidate = [[Adrian Flook]]
|votes = 5,614
|votes = 5,614
|percentage = 13.6
|percentage = 13.6
Line 184: Line 193:
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Democrats
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = Wesley Paxton
|candidate = Wesley Paxton
|votes = 3,042
|votes = 3,042
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|votes = 1,401
|votes = 1,401
|percentage = 3.4
|percentage = 3.4
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 25,725
|votes = 25,725
|percentage = 62.1
|percentage = 62.1
|change =
|change = +13.1
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 41,396
|votes = 41,396
|percentage = 66.3
|percentage = 66.3
|change =
|change = -8.0
}}
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box hold with party link|
Line 212: Line 221:
}}
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[1992 United Kingdom general election|General election 1992]]: Pontefract and Castleford<ref name=electoralcalculus1992>{{cite web |title=Election Data 1992 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]] |accessdate=18 October 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054418/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt |archivedate=15 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/ge92index.htm |title=Politics Resources |date=9 April 1992 |work=Election 1992 |publisher=Politics Resources |accessdate=2010-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724020412/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/ge92index.htm |archive-date=24 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Documents/elections/previous-election-results/general-election-results/1992-election-results.pdf |title=1992 election results |website=[[Wakefield Council]] |access-date=2021-02-27 |archive-date=2022-02-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215132533/https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Documents/elections/previous-election-results/general-election-results/1992-election-results.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
|title=[[United Kingdom general election, 1992|General Election 1992]]: Pontefract and Castleford<ref>{{cite web|
url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/ge92index.htm|title=Politics Resources|date=9 April 1992|work=Election 1992|publisher=Politics Resources|accessdate=2010-12-06}}</ref>
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Geoffrey Lofthouse, Baron Lofthouse of Pontefract|Geoffrey Lofthouse]]
|candidate = [[Geoffrey Lofthouse]]
|votes = 33,546
|votes = 33,546
|percentage = 69.9
|percentage = 69.9
Line 225: Line 234:
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = AGM Rockall
|candidate = Anthony George Mortimer Rockall
|votes = 10,051
|votes = 10,051
|percentage = 20.9
|percentage = 20.9
|change = 0.3
|change = -0.3
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Democrats
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = DL Ryan
|candidate = David Lawrence Ryan
|votes = 4,410
|votes = 4,410
|percentage = 9.2
|percentage = 9.2
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{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 23,495
|votes = 23,495
|percentage = 48.9
|percentage = 49.0
|change = +3.2
|change = +3.3
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout|
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}}
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}

===Elections in the 1980s===
===Elections in the 1980s===
{{Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[1987 United Kingdom general election|General election 1987]]: Pontefract and Castleford<ref name=electoralcalculus1987>{{cite web|title=Election Data 1987|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1987.txt|publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]|accessdate=18 October 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054243/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1987.txt|archivedate=15 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|title=[[United Kingdom general election, 1987|General Election 1987]]: Pontefract and Castleford}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Geoffrey Lofthouse, Baron Lofthouse of Pontefract|Geoffrey Lofthouse]]
|candidate = [[Geoffrey Lofthouse]]
|votes = 31,656
|votes = 31,656
|percentage = 66.9
|percentage = 66.9
|change =
|change = +9.8
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Julian Henry Mallins
|candidate = [[Julian Malins]]
|votes = 10,051
|votes = 10,051
|percentage = 21.2
|percentage = 21.2
|change =
|change = -4.6
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = SDP-Liberal Alliance
|party = SDP-Liberal Alliance
|candidate = Michael Francis Taylor
|candidate = Michael Taylor
|votes = 5,334
|votes = 5,334
|percentage = 11.3
|percentage = 11.3
|change =
|change = -5.8
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Red Front (UK)
|party = Red Front (UK)
|candidate = Daniel McFarlane. Lees
|candidate = Daniel McFarlane-Lees
|votes = 295
|votes = 295
|percentage = 0.6
|percentage = 0.6
|change =
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 21,626
|votes = 21,626
|percentage = 45.7
|percentage = 45.7
|change =
|change = +14.4
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 47,315
|votes = 47,315
|percentage = 73.5
|percentage = 73.5
|change =
|change = +7.1
}}
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box hold with party link|
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{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[1983 United Kingdom general election|General election 1983]]: Pontefract and Castleford<ref name=electoralcalculus1983>{{cite web|title=Election Data 1983|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1983.txt|publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]|accessdate=18 October 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054231/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1983.txt|archivedate=15 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|title=[[United Kingdom general election, 1983|General Election 1983]]: Pontefract and Castleford
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Geoffrey Lofthouse, Baron Lofthouse of Pontefract|Geoffrey Lofthouse]]
|candidate = [[Geoffrey Lofthouse]]
|votes = 24,990
|votes = 24,990
|percentage = 57.1
|percentage = 57.1
Line 317: Line 328:
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = SDP-Liberal Alliance
|party = SDP-Liberal Alliance
|candidate = D. Dale
|candidate = Douglas Dale
|votes = 7,452
|votes = 7,452
|percentage = 17.1
|percentage = 17.1
Line 340: Line 351:
===Elections in the 1970s===
===Elections in the 1970s===
{{Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[United Kingdom general election, 1979|General Election 1979]]: Pontefract and Castleford
|title=[[1979 United Kingdom general election|General election 1979]]: Pontefract and Castleford
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Geoffrey Lofthouse, Baron Lofthouse of Pontefract|Geoffrey Lofthouse]]
|candidate = [[Geoffrey Lofthouse]]
|votes = 30,566
|votes = 30,566
|percentage = 68.1
|percentage = 68.1
Line 365: Line 376:
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 19,901
|votes = 19,901
|percentage = 44.4
|percentage = 44.3
|change = -9.8
|change = -9.9
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout|
|votes =
|votes = 44,837
|percentage = 73.9
|percentage = 73.9
|change =
|change = +2.8
}}
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box hold with party link|
Line 379: Line 390:
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[Pontefract and Castleford by-election, 1978]]
|title=[[1978 Pontefract and Castleford by-election]]
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Geoffrey Lofthouse, Baron Lofthouse of Pontefract|Geoffrey Lofthouse]]
|candidate = [[Geoffrey Lofthouse]]
|votes = 19,508
|votes = 19,508
|percentage = 65.8
|percentage = 65.8
Line 404: Line 415:
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 11,428
|votes = 11,428
|percentage = 38.6
|percentage = 38.5
|change = -15.6
|change = -15.7
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout|
Line 414: Line 425:
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing =
|swing = -7.9
}}
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[United Kingdom general election, October 1974|General Election October 1974]]: Pontefract and Castleford
|title=[[October 1974 United Kingdom general election|General election October 1974]]: Pontefract and Castleford
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Joseph Harper (English politician)|Joseph Harper]]
|candidate = [[Joseph Harper (British politician)|Joseph Harper]]
|votes = 30,208
|votes = 30,208
|percentage = 70.4
|percentage = 70.4
Line 439: Line 450:
|votes = 5,259
|votes = 5,259
|percentage = 12.3
|percentage = 12.3
|change = N/A
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
Line 456: Line 467:
|votes = 42,890
|votes = 42,890
|percentage = 71.1
|percentage = 71.1
|change =
|change = -6.0
}}
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box hold with party link|
Line 465: Line 476:


{{Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[United Kingdom general election, February 1974|General Election February 1974]]: Pontefract and Castleford
|title=[[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|General election February 1974]]: Pontefract and Castleford
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Joseph Harper (English politician)|Joseph Harper]]
|candidate = [[Joseph Harper (British politician)|Joseph Harper]]
|votes = 34,409
|votes = 34,409
|percentage = 74.8
|percentage = 74.8
|change = N/A
|change =
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
Line 479: Line 490:
|votes = 10,605
|votes = 10,605
|percentage = 23.1
|percentage = 23.1
|change = N/A
|change =
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
Line 486: Line 497:
|votes = 991
|votes = 991
|percentage = 2.2
|percentage = 2.2
|change = N/A
|change =
}}
}}
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 23,804
|votes = 23,804
|percentage = 51.8
|percentage = 51.8
|change = N/A
|change =
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 46,005
|votes = 46,005
|percentage = 77.1
|percentage = 77.1
|change = N/A
|change =
}}
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box new seat win|
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing =
|swing =
Line 505: Line 516:


==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of Parliamentary constituencies in West Yorkshire]]
*[[List of parliamentary constituencies in West Yorkshire]]


==Notes and references==
==Notes and references==
Line 512: Line 523:
{{Constituencies in Yorkshire and the Humber}}
{{Constituencies in Yorkshire and the Humber}}


[[Category:United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies established in 1974]]
[[Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1974]]
[[Category:United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies disestablished in 2010]]
[[Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 2010]]
[[Category:Politics of Wakefield]]
[[Category:Politics of Wakefield]]
[[Category:Parliamentary constituencies in Yorkshire and the Humber (historic)]]
[[Category:Parliamentary constituencies in Yorkshire and the Humber (historic)]]

Revision as of 11:23, 12 May 2024

53°42′29″N 1°18′58″W / 53.708°N 1.316°W / 53.708; -1.316

Pontefract and Castleford
Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Pontefract and Castleford in West Yorkshire for the 2005 general election
Outline map
Location of West Yorkshire within England
CountyWest Yorkshire
1974 (1974)–2010
SeatsOne
Created fromPontefract
Replaced byNormanton, Pontefract & Castleford

Pontefract and Castleford was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until the 2010 general election. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Boundaries

1974–1983: The Municipal Boroughs of Castleford and Pontefract, and the Urban District of Featherstone.

1983–2010: The City of Wakefield wards of Castleford Ferry Fryston, Castleford Glasshoughton, Castleford Whitwood, Knottingley, Pontefract North, and Pontefract South.

The constituency covered the West Yorkshire towns of Pontefract and Castleford. It was a very safe Labour seat, made up of former mining towns and villages. The MP from 1997 until its abolition in 2010, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, is married to former fellow Labour MP, former Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls.

Boundary review

Following their review of parliamentary representation in West Yorkshire, the number of seats in West Yorkshire were reduced by one due to population decline by the Boundary Commission for England. A new, geographically larger, constituency called Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford was created in 2010 including the whole of this constituency.

Members of Parliament

Election Member[1] Party
Feb 1974 Joe Harper Labour
1978 by-election Sir Geoffrey Lofthouse Labour
1997 Yvette Cooper Labour
2010 Constituency abolished: see Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford

Elections

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Pontefract and Castleford[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Yvette Cooper 20,973 63.7 −6.0
Conservative Simon Jones 5,727 17.4 −0.2
Liberal Democrats Wesley Paxton 3,942 12.0 +4.6
BNP Suzy Cass 1,835 5.6 New
Alliance for Green Socialism Bob Hague 470 1.4 New
Majority 15,246 46.3 −5.8
Turnout 32,947 53.3 +3.6
Labour hold Swing
General election 2001: Pontefract and Castleford[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Yvette Cooper 21,890 69.7 −6.0
Conservative Pamela Singleton 5,512 17.6 +4.0
Liberal Democrats Wesley Paxton 2,315 7.4 0.0
UKIP John Burdon 739 2.4 New
Socialist Labour Trevor Bolderson 605 1.9 New
Socialist Alliance John Gill 330 1.1 New
Majority 16,378 52.1 −10.0
Turnout 31,391 49.7 −16.6
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Pontefract and Castleford[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Yvette Cooper 31,339 75.7 +5.8
Conservative Adrian Flook 5,614 13.6 −7.3
Liberal Democrats Wesley Paxton 3,042 7.4 −1.8
Referendum Richard Wood 1,401 3.4 New
Majority 25,725 62.1 +13.1
Turnout 41,396 66.3 −8.0
Labour hold Swing
General election 1992: Pontefract and Castleford[5][6][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Geoffrey Lofthouse 33,546 69.9 +3.0
Conservative Anthony George Mortimer Rockall 10,051 20.9 −0.3
Liberal Democrats David Lawrence Ryan 4,410 9.2 −2.1
Majority 23,495 49.0 +3.3
Turnout 48,007 74.3 +0.8
Labour hold Swing +1.6

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Pontefract and Castleford[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Geoffrey Lofthouse 31,656 66.9 +9.8
Conservative Julian Malins 10,051 21.2 −4.6
Alliance Michael Taylor 5,334 11.3 −5.8
Red Front Daniel McFarlane-Lees 295 0.6 New
Majority 21,626 45.7 +14.4
Turnout 47,315 73.5 +7.1
Labour hold Swing
General election 1983: Pontefract and Castleford[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Geoffrey Lofthouse 24,990 57.1
Conservative Barry Howell 11,299 25.8
Alliance Douglas Dale 7,452 17.1
Majority 13,691 31.3
Turnout 43,741 67.4
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Pontefract and Castleford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Geoffrey Lofthouse 30,566 68.1 −2.3
Conservative Hugo Page 10,665 23.8 +7.6
Liberal Leslie Marsh 3,616 8.0 −4.3
Majority 19,901 44.3 −9.9
Turnout 44,837 73.9 +2.8
Labour hold Swing
1978 Pontefract and Castleford by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Geoffrey Lofthouse 19,508 65.8 −4.6
Conservative Hugo Page 8,080 27.3 +11.1
Liberal Leslie Marsh 2,054 6.9 −5.4
Majority 11,428 38.5 −15.7
Turnout 29,642
Labour hold Swing -7.9
General election October 1974: Pontefract and Castleford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Harper 30,208 70.4 −4.4
Conservative I. Bloomer 6,966 16.2 −6.9
Liberal S. Galloway 5,259 12.3 New
Workers Revolutionary T. Parsons 457 1.1 −1.1
Majority 23,242 54.2 +2.4
Turnout 42,890 71.1 −6.0
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: Pontefract and Castleford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Harper 34,409 74.8
Conservative Richard Needham 10,605 23.1
Workers Revolutionary B. Lavery 991 2.2
Majority 23,804 51.8
Turnout 46,005 77.1
Labour win (new seat)

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "P" (part 2)
  2. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  3. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  4. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  7. ^ "1992 election results" (PDF). Wakefield Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
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