Barnsley (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–1983

Barnsley

Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
County| South Yorkshire
1885–1983
Seats| One
Created from| Southern West Riding of Yorkshire
Replaced by| Barnsley Central, Barnsley East and Barnsley West & Penistone[1]

Barnsley was a Parliamentary constituency covering the town of Barnsley in England. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

## History

[edit]

The constituency was created under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 for the 1885 general election and abolished in 1983. It was a Liberal seat in its early years, but by the time of its abolition it had become a Labour stronghold.

## Boundaries

[edit]

The area formerly covered by this constituency is now mostly in the Barnsley Central constituency and partly in the Barnsley East constituency.

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

Election | Member | Party

|
|

| 1885 | Courtney Kenny | Liberal Party
| 1889 by-election | William Compton | Liberal Party
| 1897 by-election | Sir Joseph Walton | Liberal Party
| 1918 | Coalition Liberal
| 1922 | John Potts | Labour
| 1931 | Richard John Soper | Liberal National
| 1935 | John Potts | Labour
| 1938 by-election | Frank Collindridge | Labour
| 1951 | Sidney Schofield | Labour
| 1953 by-election | Roy Mason | Labour
| 1983 | constituency abolished

## Elections

[edit]

### Elections in the 1880s

[edit]

General election 1885: Barnsley[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Courtney Kenny | 6,705  | 71.1  |
| Conservative | Bruce Vernon-Wentworth | 2,722  | 28.9  |
Majority | 3,983  | 42.2  |
Turnout | 9,427  | 85.4  |
Registered electors | 11,034  |  |
| Liberal win (new seat)
Wentworth General election 1886: Barnsley[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Courtney Kenny | 5,425  | 65.0  | −6.1
| Conservative | Bruce Vernon-Wentworth | 2,917  | 35.0  | +6.1
Majority | 2,508  | 30.0  | −12.2
Turnout | 8,342  | 75.6  | −9.8
Registered electors | 11,034  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | −6.1  |

Kenny resigned, causing a by-election.

Earl Compton 1889 Barnsley by-election[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | William Compton | 6,232  | 62.2  | −2.8
| Conservative | Bruce Vernon-Wentworth | 3,781  | 37.8  | +2.8
Majority | 2,451  | 24.4  | −5.6
Turnout | 10,013  | 79.5  | +3.9
Registered electors | 12,593  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | −2.8  |

### Elections in the 1890s

[edit]

General election 1892: Barnsley[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | William Compton | 6,739  | 65.8  | +0.8
| Liberal Unionist | Francis Foljambe | 3,498  | 34.2  | −0.8
Majority | 3,241  | 31.6  | +1.6
Turnout | 10,237  | 75.0  | −0.6
Registered electors | 13,643  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +0.8  |
General election 1895: Barnsley[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | William Compton | 6,820  | 59.4  | −6.4
| Conservative | Ronald Greville | 4,653  | 40.6  | +6.4
Majority | 2,167  | 18.8  | −12.8
Turnout | 11,473  | 80.9  | +5.9
Registered electors | 14,181  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | −6.4  |
Curran 1897 Barnsley by-election[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Joseph Walton | 6,744  | 59.7  | +0.3
| Conservative | James Blyth  | 3,454  | 30.6  | −10.0
| Ind. Labour Party | Pete Curran | 1,091  | 9.7  | New
Majority | 3,290  | 29.1  | +10.3
Turnout | 11,289  | 76.3  | −4.6
Registered electors | 14,805  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +5.2  |

### Elections in the 1900s

[edit]

General election January 1900: Barnsley[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Joseph Walton | 7,549  | 63.4  | +4.0
| Liberal Unionist | Arthur William Groser  | 4,356  | 36.6  | −4.0
Majority | 3,193  | 26.8  | +8.0
Turnout | 11,905  | 74.6  | −6.3
Registered electors | 15,948  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +4.0  |
General election January 1906: Barnsley[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Joseph Walton | Unopposed
| Liberal hold

### Elections in the 1910s

[edit]

General election January 1910: Barnsley  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Joseph Walton | 12,425  | 71.1  | N/A
| Conservative | Arthur William Groser  | 5,053  | 28.9  | New
Majority | 7,372  | 42.2  | N/A
Turnout | 17,478  | 83.8  | N/A
| Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |
General election December 1910: Barnsley  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Joseph Walton | Unopposed
| Liberal hold
General election 1918: Barnsley  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

C | Liberal | Joseph Walton | Unopposed
| Liberal hold
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

### Elections in the 1920s

[edit]

General election 1922: Barnsley[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | John Potts | 14,728  | 55.1  | New
| National Liberal | Maurice Moore  | 12,011  | 44.9  | N/A
Majority | 2,717  | 10.2  | N/A
Turnout | 26,739  | 75.7  | N/A
| Labour gain from National Liberal | Swing |  |
General election 1923: Barnsley [3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | John Potts | 12,674  | 48.0  | −7.1
| Unionist | William Craven-Ellis | 6,884  | 26.0  | N/A
| Liberal | John Neal | 6,881  | 26.0  | −18.9
Majority | 5,790  | 22.0  | +11.8
Turnout | 26,439  | 74.1  | −1.6
| Labour hold | Swing |  |
General election 1924: Barnsley [3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | John Potts | 14,738  | 51.7  | +3.7
| Liberal | John Neal | 13,785  | 48.5  | +22.5
Majority | 953  | 3.2  | −18.8
Turnout | 28,523  | 78.2  | +4.1
| Labour hold | Swing |  |
Sutherland General election 1929: Barnsley [3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | John Potts | 21,855  | 53.8  | +2.1
| Liberal | William Sutherland | 12,517  | 30.8  | −17.7
| Unionist | William Craven-Ellis | 6,265  | 15.4  | New
Majority | 9,388  | 23.0  | +19.8
Turnout | 40,637  | 82.3  | +4.1
| Labour hold | Swing | +9.8  |

### Elections in the 1930s

[edit]

General election 1931: Barnsley  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| National Liberal | Richard John Soper | 21,392  | 50.9  | +35.5
| Labour | John Potts | 20,622  | 49.1  | −4.7
Majority | 770  | 1.8  | N/A
Turnout | 42,014  | 84.2  | +1.9
| National Liberal gain from Labour | Swing |  |
General election 1935: Barnsley  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | John Potts | 25,318  | 58.9  | +9.8
| National Liberal | Richard John Soper | 17,683  | 41.1  | −9.8
Majority | 7,635  | 17.8  | N/A
Turnout | 43,001  | 82.6  | −1.6
| Labour gain from National Liberal | Swing |  |
1938 Barnsley by-election Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Frank Collindridge | 23,566  | 64.4  | +5.5
| National Liberal | Seymour Howard | 13,052  | 35.6  | −5.5
Majority | 10,514  | 28.8  | +11.0
Turnout | 36,618  | 72.7  | −9.9
| Labour hold | Swing | +5.5  |

### Elections in the 1940s

[edit]

General election 1945: Barnsley  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Frank Collindridge | 30,614  | 72.9  | +14.0
| National Liberal | Richard John Soper | 11,382  | 27.1  | −14.0
Majority | 19,232  | 45.8  | +28.0
Turnout | 41,996  | 80.4  | −2.2
| Labour hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1950s

[edit]

General election 1950: Barnsley  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Frank Collindridge | 42,008  | 68.6  | −4.3
| Liberal | Geoffrey Howard Walker  | 10,779  | 17.6  | New
| National Liberal | Charles Gordon-Spencer  | 8,480  | 13.8  | −13.3
Majority | 31,209  | 51.0  | +5.2
Turnout | 61,267  | 88.9  | +8.5
| Labour hold | Swing |  |
General election 1951: Barnsley  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Sidney Schofield | 37,523  | 69.7  | +1.1
| National Liberal | Geoffrey Whittaker  | 9,296  | 17.3  | +3.5
| Liberal | Geoffrey Howard Walker  | 7,002  | 13.0  | −4.6
Majority | 28,227  | 52.4  | +1.4
Turnout | 53,821  | 77.2  | −11.7
| Labour hold | Swing |  |
1953 Barnsley by-election Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Roy Mason | 29,283  | 72.9  | +3.2
| Conservative | Geoffrey Whittaker  | 10,905  | 27.1  | +9.8
Majority | 18,378  | 45.8  | −6.6
Turnout | 40,188  |  |
| Labour hold | Swing | −3.3  |
General election 1955: Barnsley  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Roy Mason | 39,485  | 72.8  | +3.1
| National Liberal | R. Anthony Wilson  | 14,776  | 27.2  | +9.9
Majority | 24,709  | 45.6  | −6.8
Turnout | 54,261  | 78.6  | +1.6
| Labour hold | Swing |  |
General election 1959: Barnsley  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Roy Mason | 42,565  | 73.7  | +0.9
| Conservative | John Philip Howard Bent  | 15,189  | 26.3  | −0.9
Majority | 27,376  | 47.4  | +1.9
Turnout | 57,754  | 82.7  | +4.1
| Labour hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1960s

[edit]

General election 1964: Barnsley  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Roy Mason | 37,250  | 66.8  | −6.9
| Conservative | Joan Hall | 9,417  | 16.9  | −9.4
| Liberal | John Herbert Dossett  | 9,089  | 16.3  | New
Majority | 27,833  | 49.9  | +2.5
Turnout | 55,756  | 80.0  | −2.7
| Labour hold | Swing |  |
General election 1966: Barnsley  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Roy Mason | 38,744  | 75.7  | +8.9
| Conservative | Joan Hall | 12,456  | 24.3  | +7.4
Majority | 26,288  | 51.4  | +1.5
Turnout | 51,200  | 73.4  | −6.6
| Labour hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1970s

[edit]

General election 1970: Barnsley  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Roy Mason | 34,956  | 64.8  | −10.9
| Conservative | Robert Godber  | 10,811  | 20.0  | −4.3
| Liberal | John Herbert Dossett  | 8,186  | 15.2  | New
Majority | 24,145  | 44.8  | −6.6
Turnout | 53,953  | 71.2  | −2.2
| Labour hold | Swing |  |
General election February 1974: Barnsley  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Roy Mason | 40,595  | 71.8  | +7.0
| Conservative | George England  | 15,969  | 28.2  | +8.2
Majority | 24,626  | 43.6  | −1.2
Turnout | 56,564  | 74.6  | +3.4
| Labour hold | Swing |  |
General election October 1974: Barnsley  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Roy Mason | 34,212  | 65.3  | −6.5
| Conservative | George England  | 9,400  | 18.0  | −10.2
| Liberal | Peter Tomlinson  | 8,753  | 16.7  | New
Majority | 24,812  | 47.3  | +3.7
Turnout | 52,365  | 68.4  | −6.2
| Labour hold | Swing |  |
General election 1979: Barnsley  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Roy Mason | 36,276  | 64.0  | −1.3
| Conservative | George England  | 13,654  | 24.1  | +6.1
| Liberal | Wilfred Whitaker  | 5,751  | 10.2  | −6.5
| Troops Out of Ireland  | B. Gallagher  | 638  | 1.1  | New
| Workers Revolutionary | J. Davis  | 348  | 0.6  | New
Majority | 22,622  | 39.9  | −7.4
Turnout | 56,667  | 72.9  | +4.5
| Labour hold | Swing |  |

## See also

[edit]

* 1938 Barnsley by-election
* 1953 Barnsley by-election

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "'Barnsley', Feb 1974 - May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
3. ^ a b c d British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F.W.S.

* Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 1)
* Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources Archived 15 December 2005 at the Wayback Machine (Election results since 1951)