Louth and Horncastle (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1997 onwards

Louth and Horncastle

County constituency
for the House of Commons

Boundaries since 2024

Boundary of Louth and Horncastle in the East Midlands

County| Lincolnshire
Electorate| 75,959 (2023)[1]
Current constituency
Created| 1997
Member of Parliament| Victoria Atkins[2] (Conservative)
Seats| One
Created from| East Lindsey

Louth and Horncastle is a constituency[n 1] in Lincolnshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Victoria Atkins, a Conservative.[n 2]

## Boundaries

[edit]

### History of boundaries

[edit]

From 1885 to 1983, Louth and Horncastle both existed as separate constituencies. Then in 1983, Horncastle was moved into the new seat of Gainsborough and Horncastle, while Louth was moved into the newly formed East Lindsey constituency. These boundaries remained the same until 1997, when the current Louth and Horncastle constituency was formed.

### 1997–2010

[edit]

The District of East Lindsey wards of Alford, Chapel St Leonards, Coningsby, Donington on Bain, Fotherby, Grimoldby, Halton Holegate, Hogsthorpe, Holton le Clay, Horncastle, Hundleby, Legbourne, Mablethorpe, Mareham le Fen, Marshchapel, New Leake, North Holme, North Somercotes, North Thoresby, Partney, Priory, Roughton, St James', St Margaret's, St Mary's, St Michael's, Spilsby, Sutton and Trusthorpe, Tattershall, Tetford, Tetney, Theddlethorpe St Helen, Trinity, Willoughby with Sloothby, Withern with Stain, and Woodhall Spa.

### 2010–2024

[edit]

The District of East Lindsey wards of Alford, Binbrook, Chapel St Leonards, Coningsby and Tattershall, Grimoldby, Halton Holegate, Holton le Clay, Horncastle, Hundleby, Legbourne, Ludford, Mablethorpe Central, Mablethorpe East, Mablethorpe North, Mareham le Fen, Marshchapel, North Holme, North Somercotes, North Thoresby, Priory, Roughton, St James', St Margaret's, St Mary's, St Michael's, Skidbrooke with Saltfleet Haven, Spilsby, Sutton on Sea North, Sutton on Sea South, Tetford, Tetney, Trinity, Trusthorpe and Mablethorpe South, Willoughby with Sloothby, Withern with Stain, and Woodhall Spa.

### Current

[edit]

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is as follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

* The District of East Lindsey wards of: Alford; Binbrook; Coningsby & Mareham; Fulstow; Grimoldby; Hagworthingham; Halton Holegate; Holton-le-Clay & North Thoresby; Horncastle; Legbourne; Mablethorpe; Marshchapel & Somercotes; North Holme; Priory & St. James’; Roughton; St. Margaret’s; St. Mary’s; St. Michael’s; Spilsby; Sutton on Sea; Tetford & Donington; Tetney; Trinity; Withern & Theddlethorpe; Woodhall Spa; Wragby.[3]

The two wards of Chapel St Leonards and Willoughby with Sloothby were transferred to Boston and Skegness, whilst the previously orphaned ward of Wragby was added from Gainsborough.

## Constituency profile

[edit]

This large stretch of Lincolnshire coastline includes the seaside resorts of Mablethorpe and Sutton-on-Sea, this immediate coastline has a minority of small output areas with severe deprivation following the decline of the tourism industry apart from holiday cottages, being further north than popular family resorts in Skegness.[4] The seat's eponymous towns of Louth and Horncastle lie inland amid a rural area of the Lincolnshire Wolds where farming is an important sector, with most constituents on modest to mid-level income and low unemployment. [citation needed]

## History

[edit]

The seat was created in 1997. Conservatives have been dominant in the area for decades, the closest result was in 1997, when a Labour Party candidate came the closest of any opponents to being elected.

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

The MP for this seat is Victoria Atkins. She succeeded Peter Tapsell at the 2015 general election. He previously represented the predecessor seats of East Lindsey and Horncastle from 1966 to 1997, and before that represented Nottingham West from 1959 to 1964 before being defeated by Labour. Prior to standing down, he was the longest-serving Conservative MP, albeit with the break in service, and from 2001, he was the only MP of any party first elected in the 1950s. Following the retirement of Alan Williams, Tapsell became, on his re-election in 2010, Father of the House. He was succeeded in the honorific position in 2015 by Sir Gerald Kaufman.

Before 1997, see East Lindsey

Election | Member[5] | Party

|
|

| 1997 | Sir Peter Tapsell | Conservative
| 2015 | Victoria Atkins | Conservative

## Elections

[edit]

### Elections in the 2020s

[edit]

General election 2024: Louth and Horncastle[6] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Victoria Atkins | 17,441  | 37.5  | −35.0
| Reform UK | Sean Matthews  | 11,935  | 25.7  | N/A
| Labour | Jonathan Slater  | 10,475  | 22.5  | +4.8
| Green | Robert Watson  | 2,504  | 5.4  | N/A
| Liberal Democrats | Ross Pepper  | 2,364  | 5.1  | −2.7
| Independent | Paul Hugill  | 1,359  | 2.9  | N/A
| Monster Raving Loony | Iconic Arty-Pole  | 309  | 0.7  | −1.3
| SDP | Marcus Moorehouse  | 92  | 0.2  | N/A
Majority  | 5,506  | 11.8  | −43.4
Turnout | 46,479  | 60.6  | −4.9
Registered electors | 76,882  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 2010s

[edit]

General election 2019: Louth and Horncastle[7] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Victoria Atkins | 38,021  | 72.7  | +8.8
| Labour | Ellie Green  | 9,153  | 17.5  | −9.2
| Liberal Democrats | Ross Pepper  | 4,114  | 7.9  | +4.1
| Monster Raving Loony | The Iconic Arty-Pole  | 1,044  | 2.0  | +1.1
Majority  | 28,868  | 55.2  | +18.0
Turnout | 52,332  | 65.5  | −3.7
| Conservative hold | Swing | +8.95  |
General election 2017: Louth and Horncastle[8] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Victoria Atkins | 33,733  | 63.9  | +12.7
| Labour | Julie Speed  | 14,092  | 26.7  | +8.7
| UKIP | Jonathan Noble  | 2,460  | 4.7  | −16.7
| Liberal Democrats | Lisa Gabriel  | 1,990  | 3.8  | −0.7
| Monster Raving Loony | The Iconic Arty Pole  | 496  | 0.9  | +0.4
Majority  | 19,641  | 37.2  | +7.4
Turnout | 52,771  | 69.2  | +2.0
| Conservative hold | Swing | +2.0  |
General election 2015: Louth and Horncastle[9][10] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Victoria Atkins | 25,755  | 51.2  | +1.6
| UKIP | Colin Mair  | 10,778  | 21.4  | +17.1
| Labour | Matthew Brown  | 9,077  | 18.0  | +0.7
| Liberal Democrats | Lisa Gabriel  | 2,255  | 4.5  | −17.7
| Green | Romy Rayner  | 1,549  | 3.1  | New
| Lincolnshire Independent | Daniel Simpson  | 659  | 1.3  | +0.2
| Monster Raving Loony | Peter Hill[11] | 263  | 0.5  | New
Majority  | 14,977  | 29.8  | +2.4
Turnout | 50,336  | 67.23  | +2.2
| Conservative hold | Swing | -7.8  |
General election 2010: Louth and Horncastle[12][13] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Tapsell | 25,065  | 49.6  | +3.2
| Liberal Democrats | Fiona Martin  | 11,194  | 22.2  | +1.6
| Labour | Patrick Mountain  | 8,760  | 17.3  | −8.0
| BNP | Julia Green  | 2,199  | 4.4  | New
| UKIP | Pat Nurse  | 2,183  | 4.3  | −3.4
| Lincolnshire Independent | Daniel Simpson  | 576  | 1.1  | New
| English Democrat | Colin Mair[14] | 517  | 1.0  | New
Majority  | 13,871  | 27.4  | +5.3
Turnout | 50,494  | 65.0  | +2.8
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.8  |

### Elections in the 2000s

[edit]

General election 2005: Louth and Horncastle[15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Tapsell | 21,744  | 46.6  | −1.9
| Labour | Frank Hodgkiss  | 11,848  | 25.4  | −6.1
| Liberal Democrats | Fiona Martin  | 9,480  | 20.3  | +0.2
| UKIP | Christopher Pain  | 3,611  | 7.7  | New
Majority  | 9,896  | 21.2  | +4.2
Turnout | 46,683  | 62.0  | −0.1
| Conservative hold | Swing | +2.1  |
General election 2001: Louth and Horncastle[16] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Tapsell | 21,543  | 48.5  | +5.1
| Labour | David Bolland  | 13,989  | 31.5  | +1.9
| Liberal Democrats | Fiona Martin  | 8,928  | 20.1  | −4.3
Majority  | 7,554  | 17.0  | +3.2
Turnout | 44,460  | 62.1  | −10.3
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.6  |

### Elections in the 1990s

[edit]

General election 1997: Louth and Horncastle[17] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Tapsell | 21,699  | 43.4  |
| Labour | John Hough  | 14,799  | 29.6  |
| Liberal Democrats | Fiona Martin  | 12,207  | 24.4  |
| Green | Rosemary Robinson  | 1,248  | 2.5  |
Majority  | 6,900  | 13.8  |
Turnout | 49,953  | 72.6  |
| Conservative win (new seat)

## See also

[edit]

* Louth constituency (1885–1983)
* List of parliamentary constituencies in Lincolnshire

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
2. ^ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – East Midlands". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
2. ^ "Louth & Horncastle - Sky News". Sky News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
3. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 1 East Midlands.
4. ^ "Local statistics - Office for National Statistics". neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk.
5. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "L" (part 4)
6. ^ Louth and Horncastle
7. ^ "Louth & Horncastle parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". Retrieved 13 December 2019.
8. ^ "Loony Party Candidates". Retrieved 7 May 2017.
9. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
10. ^ "Louth & Horncastle parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
11. ^ "Louth and Horncastle gets first Monster Raving Loony Party candidate". East Lindsey Target. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
12. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
13. ^ "UK > England > East Midlands > Louth & Horncastle". Election 2010. BBC. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
14. ^ "ED Candidate list".
15. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
16. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
17. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

## External links

[edit]

* Louth and Horncastle UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
* Louth and Horncastle UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
* Louth and Horncastle UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK

Parliament of the United Kingdom

Preceded by

Swansea West

|  Constituency represented by the father of the House
2010–2015  | Succeeded by

Manchester Gorton

* v
* t
* e

Constituencies in the East Midlands (47)

Labour (29)|

* Amber Valley
* Bassetlaw
* Bolsover
* Broxtowe
* Chesterfield
* Corby and East Northamptonshire
* Derby North
* Derby South
* Derbyshire Dales
* Erewash
* Gedling
* High Peak
* Kettering
* Leicester West
* Lincoln
* Loughborough
* Mansfield
* Mid Derbyshire
* North East Derbyshire
* North West Leicestershire
* Northampton North
* Northampton South
* Nottingham East
* Nottingham North and Kimberley
* Nottingham South
* Rushcliffe
* Sherwood Forest
* South Derbyshire
* Wellingborough and Rushden

Conservative (15)|

* Daventry
* Gainsborough
* Grantham and Bourne
* Harborough, Oadby and Wigston
* Hinckley and Bosworth
* Leicester East
* Louth and Horncastle
* Melton and Syston
* Mid Leicestershire
* Newark
* Rutland and Stamford
* Sleaford and North Hykeham
* South Holland and The Deepings
* South Leicestershire
* South Northamptonshire

Reform UK (2)|

* Ashfield
* Boston and Skegness

Independent (1)|

* Leicester South

Authority control databases: People |

* UK Parliament

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