Manchester Central (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1974 onwards

Not to be confused with Manchester Central (Jamaica Parliament constituency).

Manchester Central

Borough constituency
for the House of Commons

Boundary of Manchester Central in North West England

County| Greater Manchester
Electorate| 75,311 (2023)[1]
Major settlements| Ardwick, Ancoats, Deansgate, Manchester City Centre, Openshaw, Moston, Failsworth
Current constituency
Created| 1974 (1974)
Member of Parliament| Lucy Powell (Labour Co-op)
Created from| Manchester Exchange and Manchester Cheetham

Manchester Central is a parliamentary constituency[n 1] in Greater Manchester created in 1974. The seat has been represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 2012 by Lucy Powell of the Labour Party and Co-operative Party.[n 2] Powell currently serves as Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council.

## Constituency profile

[edit]

Parts of this article (those related to Constituency profile and history sections) need to be updated. The reason given is: Needs updating following 2023 boundary changes and 2024 election. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (October 2024)

|

The seat covers the city centre and all its major attractions and both of Manchester's large universities, and fringe areas such as Hulme and Ancoats which have undergone extensive regeneration since the 1990s, an example of which is the New Islington development. Flats in the city centre can sell for several million pounds while there are more deprived areas to the east, including Moston, Beswick and Ardwick. There is a high proportion of graduates and students in the city centre, and the constituency as a whole has the highest proportion of Chinese people in the country.[2] Moss Side is home to a large Afro-Caribbean population.

This constituency has always (since its 1974 creation) been a safe Labour seat. The current MP Lucy Powell won the seat in a by-election in November 2012 on a turnout of just 18%, the lowest since the Second World War.[3] Twelve candidates stood, considerably more than the six who stood in the 1979 by-election.

## History

[edit]

Creation

The main forerunner to the seat was Manchester Cheetham, entirely taken into this area; three of five wards of former seat Manchester Exchange completed the first set of boundaries of the seat. The seat (including predecessor seats) has been held by the Labour Party since 1935.

Political history

Labour candidates have won Manchester Central by a decidedly non-marginal majority since its 1974 creation.[4] The current MP Lucy Powell won the seat at a by-election in November 2012 on a turnout of 18%; the lowest since the Second World War.[3]

Results of other parties

The 2015 general election saw greater-than-national-average swing of +3.4% (by a swing of +6.2%) to the Green Party candidate, achieving third place. Followed next by UKIP in 2015 by number of votes cast (prior to the 2016 UK EU membership referendum, votes cast for the Liberal Democrats – who for two periods had been the runner-up party in Manchester Central – for the first time placed its candidate in fifth place. The Conservative Party returned to second place in 2015 through candidate Xingang Wang (achieving 13.5% of the vote); its second place of 1979 was through its best polling to date of 22.1% of the vote. The maximal second place to date was 2010, through Liberal Democrat candidate, Marc Ramsbottom, taking 26.6% of the vote.

Turnout

Turnout has changed from a national low within the 2010 general election (of 46.7%) to 55.1% of electors. The greatest turnout was in 1987, with 63.9%.

## Boundaries

[edit]

Map of present boundaries

### Historic

[edit]

Manchester Central in Lancashire, boundaries used 1974–83

1974–1983: The County Borough of Manchester wards of Beswick, Cheetham, Collegiate Church, Harpurhey, and Miles Platting.[5]

1983–1997: The City of Manchester wards of Ardwick, Beswick and Clayton, Bradford, Central, Cheetham, Hulme, and Newton Heath.

1997–2010: As above, less Cheetham, plus Moss Side, and Whalley Range.

2010–2024: The City of Manchester wards of Ancoats & Clayton, Ardwick, Bradford, City Centre, Hulme, Miles Platting & Newton Heath, Moss Side, and Moston using the 2004–2018 boundaries.

### Current

[edit]

Further to the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency is composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

* The City of Manchester wards of: Ancoats & Beswick; Cheetham; Clayton & Openshaw; Deansgate; Miles Platting & Newton Heath; Piccadilly.

* The Metropolitan Borough of Oldham wards of: Failsworth East; Failsworth West.[6]

The content of the constituency was subject to major changes, losing about half its electorate, mainly to the re-established constituency of Manchester Rusholme, including the districts of Ardwick, Hulme and Moss Side. Moston was transferred to Blackley and Middleton South (formerly Blackley and Broughton) in exchange for Cheetham, and the two Failsworth wards were transferred from Ashton-under-Lyne.

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

Election  | Member[7] | Party  | Notes

|
|
|

Feb 1974 | Harold Lever |  | Labour | MP for Manchester Exchange from 1945 and for Manchester Cheetham from 1950. Resigned July 1979 on being raised to the peerage
1979 by-election | Bob Litherland |  | Labour |
1997 | Tony Lloyd |  | Labour | MP for Stretford from 1983. Resigned October 2012 to run for Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner. MP for Rochdale from 2017 to 2024
2012 by-election | Lucy Powell |  | Labour Co-op |

## Elections

[edit]

### Elections in the 2020s

[edit]

General election 2024: Manchester Central [8] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour Co-op | Lucy Powell | 20,184  | 50.8  | −14.6
| Green | Ekua Bayunu  | 6,387  | 16.1  | +13.2
| Reform UK | David Brown  | 4,760  | 12.0  | +7.6
| Liberal Democrats | Chris Northwood  | 3,051  | 7.7  | +1.7
| Conservative | Scott Smith  | 2,823  | 7.1  | −13.9
| Workers Party | Parham Hashemi  | 1,888  | 4.8  | N/A
| SDP | Sebastian Moore  | 240  | 0.6  | N/A
| Independent | Sabeena Khan  | 202  | 0.5  | N/A
| Communist Future  | Catriona Rylance  | 131  | 0.3  | N/A
| Independent | Albati Kalonda  | 59  | 0.1  | N/A
Majority  | 13,797  | 34.7  | –9.7
Turnout | 39,725  | 46.7  | –7.1
Registered electors | 85,049  |  |
| Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 13.9  |

### Elections in the 2010s

[edit]

2019 notional result[9]

Party  | Vote  | %
| Labour | 26,470 | 65.4
| Conservative | 8,500 | 21.0
| Liberal Democrats | 2,449 | 6.0
| Brexit Party | 1,795 | 4.4
| Green | 1,159 | 2.9
| Others | 107 | 0.3
Turnout | 40,480  | 53.8
Electorate | 75,311
General election 2019: Manchester Central[10] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour Co-op | Lucy Powell | 36,823  | 70.4  | –7.0
| Conservative | Shaden Jaradat  | 7,734  | 14.8  | +0.6
| Liberal Democrats | John Bridges  | 3,420  | 6.5  | +3.1
| Brexit Party | Sarah Chadwick  | 2,335  | 4.5  | N/A
| Green | Melanie Horrocks  | 1,870  | 3.6  | +1.9
| Socialist Equality | Dennis Leech  | 107  | 0.2  | N/A
Majority  | 29,089  | 55.6  | –7.6
Turnout | 52,289  | 56.9  | +1.8
| Labour Co-op hold | Swing | –3.8  |
General election 2017: Manchester Central[11] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour Co-op | Lucy Powell | 38,490  | 77.4  | +16.1
| Conservative | Xingang Wang  | 7,045  | 14.2  | +0.7
| Liberal Democrats | John Bridges  | 1,678  | 3.4  | –0.7
| UKIP | Kalvin Chapman  | 1,469  | 3.0  | –8.1
| Green | Rachael Shah  | 846  | 1.7  | –6.8
| Pirate | Neil Blackburn  | 192  | 0.4  | –0.4
Majority  | 31,445  | 63.2  | +14.4
Turnout | 49,720  | 55.1  | +2.4
| Labour Co-op hold | Swing | +7.7  |
General election 2015: Manchester Central[12][13] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour Co-op | Lucy Powell | 27,772  | 61.3  | +8.6
| Conservative | Xingang Wang  | 6,133  | 13.5  | +1.7
| UKIP | Myles Power  | 5,033  | 11.1  | +9.6
| Green | Kieran Turner-Dave  | 3,838  | 8.5  | +6.2
| Liberal Democrats | John Reid  | 1,867  | 4.1  | –22.5
| Pirate | Loz Kaye | 346  | 0.8  | N/A
| TUSC | Alex Davidson  | 270  | 0.6  | N/A
| Communist League | John Davies  | 72  | 0.2  | N/A
Majority  | 21,639  | 47.8  | +21.7
Turnout | 45,331  | 52.7  | +6.0
| Labour Co-op hold | Swing | +3.4  |
By-election 2012: Manchester Central  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour Co-op | Lucy Powell | 11,507  | 69.1  | +16.4
| Liberal Democrats | Marc Ramsbottom  | 1,571  | 9.4  | –17.2
| Conservative | Matthew Sephton  | 754  | 4.5  | –7.3
| UKIP | Christopher Cassidy  | 749  | 4.5  | +3.0
| Green | Tom Dylan  | 652  | 3.9  | +1.6
| BNP | Eddy O'Sullivan  | 492  | 3.0  | –1.1
| Pirate | Loz Kaye | 308  | 1.9  | N/A
| TUSC | Alex Davidson  | 220  | 1.3  | N/A
| Respect | Catherine Higgins  | 182  | 1.1  | N/A
| Monster Raving Loony | Howling Laud Hope | 78  | 0.5  | N/A
| People's Democratic Party  | Lee Holmes  | 71  | 0.4  | N/A
| Communist League | Peter Clifford  | 64  | 0.4  | N/A
Majority  | 9,936  | 59.7  | +33.6
Turnout | 16,648  | 18.2  | −28.5
| Labour Co-op hold | Swing |  |
General election 2010: Manchester Central[14][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Tony Lloyd | 21,059  | 52.7  | −6.6
| Liberal Democrats | Marc Ramsbottom  | 10,620  | 26.6  | +5.6
| Conservative | Suhail Rahuja  | 4,704  | 11.8  | +1.3
| BNP | Tony Trebilcock  | 1,636  | 4.1  | N/A
| Green | Gayle O'Donovan  | 915  | 2.3  | −1.9
| UKIP | Nicola Weatherill  | 607  | 1.5  | +0.6
| Socialist Labour | Ron Sinclair  | 153  | 0.4  | −0.2
| Independent  | John Cartwright  | 120  | 0.3  | N/A
| Workers Revolutionary | Jonty Leff  | 59  | 0.1  | N/A
| Socialist Equality | Robert Skelton  | 54  | 0.1  | N/A
Majority  | 10,430  | 26.1  | −12.2
Turnout | 39,927  | 46.7  | +4.9
| Labour hold | Swing | −6.1  |

This was the lowest turnout for any constituency in the whole of the United Kingdom in 2010

### Elections in the 2000s

[edit]

General election 2005: Manchester Central  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour Co-op | Tony Lloyd | 16,993  | 58.1  | −10.6
| Liberal Democrats | Marc Ramsbottom  | 7,217  | 24.7  | +9.0
| Conservative | Tom Jackson  | 2,504  | 8.6  | −0.4
| Green | Steven Durrant  | 1,292  | 4.4  | +0.5
| National Front | Richard Kemp  | 421  | 1.4  | N/A
| Independent Progressive Labour  | Damien O'Connor  | 382  | 1.3  | N/A
| UKIP | John Whittaker | 272  | 0.9  | N/A
| Socialist Labour | Ronald Sinclair  | 183  | 0.6  | −1.3
Majority  | 9,776  | 33.4  | −19.6
Turnout | 29,264  | 42.0  | +2.9
| Labour hold | Swing | −9.8  |
General election 2001: Manchester Central  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Tony Lloyd | 17,812  | 68.7  | −2.3
| Liberal Democrats | Phylip Hobson  | 4,070  | 15.7  | +3.4
| Conservative | Aaron Powell  | 2,328  | 9.0  | −2.8
| Green | Vanessa Hall  | 1,018  | 3.9  | N/A
| Socialist Labour | Ron Sinclair  | 484  | 1.9  | −0.5
| ProLife Alliance | Terrenia Brosnan  | 216  | 0.8  | N/A
Majority  | 13,742  | 53.0  | −5.7
Turnout | 25,928  | 39.1  | −12.5
| Labour Co-op hold | Swing | −3.9  |

### Elections in the 1990s

[edit]

General election 1997: Manchester Central  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Tony Lloyd | 23,803  | 71.0  | −1.7
| Liberal Democrats | Alison Firth  | 4,121  | 12.3  | +2.5
| Conservative | Simon McIlwaine  | 3,964  | 11.8  | −4.7
| Socialist Labour | Francis Rafferty  | 810  | 2.4  | N/A
| Referendum | John Maxwell  | 742  | 2.2  | N/A
| Communist League | Timothy Rigby  | 97  | 0.3  | −0.2
Majority  | 19,682  | 58.7  |
Turnout | 33,537  | 52.6  | −4.3
| Labour hold | Swing | +1.5  |
General election 1992: Manchester Central[16] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Bob Litherland | 23,336  | 72.7  | +4.5
| Conservative | Peter Davies  | 5,299  | 16.5  | −2.3
| Liberal Democrats | Richard Clayton  | 3,151  | 9.8  | −3.2
| Natural Law | Vivienne Mitchell  | 167  | 0.5  | N/A
| Communist League | Andrew Buchanan  | 167  | 0.5  | N/A
Majority  | 18,037  | 56.2  | +6.8
Turnout | 32,120  | 56.9  | −7.0
| Labour hold | Swing | +3.4  |

### Elections in the 1980s

[edit]

General election 1987: Manchester Central  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Bob Litherland | 27,428  | 68.2  | +2.9
| Conservative | Matthew Banks | 7,561  | 18.8  | −2.4
| SDP | Barry McColgan  | 5,250  | 13.0  | +1.2
Majority  | 19,867  | 49.4  | +5.3
Turnout | 40,239  | 63.9  | +3.3
| Labour hold | Swing | +2.7  |
General election 1983: Manchester Central  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Bob Litherland | 27,353  | 65.3  | −6.7
| Conservative | David Eager  | 8,868  | 21.2  | +1.4
| SDP | Altaf Ahmad  | 4,956  | 11.8  | +5.1
| National Front | Alfred Coles  | 729  | 1.7  | −0.1
Majority  | 18,485  | 44.1  | −4.6
Turnout | 41,906  | 60.6  | −2.9
| Labour hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1970s

[edit]

Manchester Central by-election 1979 Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Bob Litherland | 7,494  | 70.7  | −0.1
| Liberal | Anthony Parkinson  | 1,502  | 14.2  | +8.9
| Conservative | Stephen Lea  | 1,275  | 12.0  | −10.1
| Independent Labour | Syed Ala-Ud-Din  | 187  | 1.8  | N/A
| Ecology | John Foster  | 129  | 1.2  | N/A
| Democratic Monarchist, Public Safety, White Resident.  | Bill Boaks | 12  | 0.1  | N/A
Majority  | 5,992  | 56.5  | +7.8
Turnout | 10,599  | 33.8  | −29.9
| Labour hold | Swing |  |
General election 1979: Manchester Central  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Harold Lever | 14,117  | 70.8  | +1.5
| Conservative | Herbert Cummins  | 4,413  | 22.1  | +2.6
| Liberal | Gordon Wilmott  | 1,052  | 5.3  | −5.9
| National Front | Derek Benthall  | 365  | 1.8  | N/A
Majority  | 9,704  | 48.7  | −1.1
Turnout | 19,947  | 63.7  | +10.3
| Labour hold | Swing |  |
General election October 1974: Manchester Central  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Harold Lever | 14,753  | 69.3  | +7.6
| Conservative | Robert Jackson | 4,142  | 19.5  | −1.2
| Liberal | Patrick Coleman  | 2,382  | 11.2  | −6.3
Majority  | 10,611  | 49.8  | +8.8
Turnout | 21,277  | 53.4  | −8.4
| Labour hold | Swing |  |
General election February 1974: Manchester Central  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Harold Lever | 15,075  | 61.7  |
| Conservative | Christopher Horne  | 5,071  | 20.7  |
| Liberal | Michael Steed | 4,281  | 17.5  |
Majority  | 10,004  | 41.0  |
Turnout | 24,427  | 61.8  |
| Labour win (new seat)

## See also

[edit]

* List of parliamentary constituencies in Greater Manchester

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ A borough 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 – North West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
2. ^ UK Polling Report https://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/manchestercentral/
3. ^ a b "First female Manchester Labour MP". BBC News. 16 November 2012.
4. ^ The lowest majority was in 2010, at some 26.1% of the vote as shown in the results tables.
5. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Manchester) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/606, retrieved 26 February 2023
6. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 5 North West region.
7. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "M" (part 1)
8. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll for Manchester Central" (PDF). Manchester CC. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
9. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
10. ^ "UK Parliamentary General Election – 12 December 2019". manchester.gov.uk. Manchester City Council. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
11. ^ "Manchester Central – Statement of Persons Nominated & Notice of Poll". manchester.gov.uk. Manchester City Council. Archived from the original on 15 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017. Pdf.
12. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
13. ^ "Lancashire West". Manchester Central. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
14. ^ Manchester Central results UK Polling
15. ^ "General Election Results from the Electoral Commission".
16. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2010.

## External links

[edit]

* Manchester Central UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
* Manchester Central UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
* Manchester Central UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK

* v
* t
* e

Constituencies in North West England (73)

Labour (62)|

* Altrincham and Sale West
* Ashton-under-Lyne
* Barrow and Furness
* Birkenhead
* Blackley and Middleton South
* Blackpool North and Fleetwood
* Blackpool South
* Bolton North East
* Bolton South and Walkden
* Bolton West
* Bootle
* Burnley
* Bury North
* Bury South
* Carlisle
* Chester North and Neston
* Congleton
* Crewe and Nantwich
* Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
* Gorton and Denton
* Heywood and Middleton North
* Hyndburn
* Knowsley
* Lancaster and Wyre
* Leigh and Atherton
* Liverpool Garston
* Liverpool Riverside
* Liverpool Walton
* Liverpool Wavertree
* Macclesfield
* Makerfield
* Manchester Central
* Manchester Rusholme
* Manchester Withington
* Mid Cheshire
* Morecambe and Lunesdale
* Oldham East and Saddleworth
* Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton
* Pendle and Clitheroe
* Penrith and Solway
* Preston
* Ribble Valley
* Rochdale
* Rossendale and Darwen
* Sefton Central
* South Ribble
* Southport
* St Helens North
* St Helens South and Whiston
* Stalybridge and Hyde
* Stockport
* Stretford and Urmston
* Wallasey
* Warrington North
* Warrington South
* West Lancashire
* Whitehaven and Workington
* Widnes and Halewood
* Wigan
* Wirral West
* Worsley and Eccles
* Wythenshawe and Sale East

Conservative (3)|

* Chester South and Eddisbury
* Fylde
* Tatton

Liberal Democrats (3)|

* Cheadle
* Hazel Grove
* Westmorland and Lonsdale

Independent (4)|

* Blackburn
* Liverpool West Derby
* Runcorn and Helsby
* Salford

Speaker (1)|

* Chorley

* v
* t
* e

Manchester constituencies

Current|

* Blackley and Middleton South
* Gorton and Denton
* Manchester Central
* Manchester Rusholme
* Manchester Withington
* Wythenshawe and Sale East

Historic|

* Manchester (1832–1885)
* Manchester East (1885–1918)
* Manchester North (1885–1918)
* Manchester North East (1885–1918)
* Manchester North West (1885–1918)
* Manchester South (1885–1918)
* Manchester South West (1885–1918)
* Manchester Ardwick (1918–1983)
* Manchester Blackley (1918–2010)
* Manchester Clayton (1918–1955)
* Manchester Exchange (1918-February 1974)
* Manchester Gorton (1918-2024)
* Manchester Hulme (1918–1950)
* Manchester Moss Side (1918–1983)
* Manchester Platting (1918–1950)
* Manchester Cheetham (1950-February 1974)
* Manchester Wythenshawe (1950–1997)
* Manchester Openshaw (1955–1983)
* Stretford (1885–1918, 1983–1997)
* Blackley and Broughton (2010-2024)

See also|

* South Lancashire
* South East Lancashire

Authority control databases: People |

* UK Parliament

|

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