South Leicestershire (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 2010 onwards

South Leicestershire

County constituency
for the House of Commons

Boundaries since 2024

Boundary of South Leicestershire in the East Midlands

County| Leicestershire
Electorate| 75,634 (2023)[1]
Major settlements| Lutterworth, Whetstone, Narborough and Blaby
Current constituency
Created| 2010
Member of Parliament| Alberto Costa (Conservative)
Seats| One
Created from| Blaby, Harborough
1832–1885
Seats| Two
Created from| Leicestershire
Replaced by| Bosworth, Harborough

South Leicestershire is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Alberto Costa, a member of the Conservative Party.

The current constituency has similar boundaries to the previous Blaby constituency. Historically the "Southern Division of Leicestershire", was a county constituency, less formally known as South Leicestershire. From 1832 to 1885 it elected two Members of Parliament (MPs) by the bloc vote system of election.

## Boundaries

[edit]

### Historic

[edit]

1832–1885: The Hundreds of Gartree (excluding the parishes of Baggrave, Burrough, Knossington, Marefield, Pickwell-cum-Leesthorpe, Ouston, and Newbold-Saucey), Sparkenhoe and Guthlaxton, and the Borough of Leicester and the Liberties thereof.[2]

### 2010–2024

[edit]

Following its review of parliamentary representation in Leicestershire, the Boundary Commission for England recommended replacing the Blaby constituency with a new South Leicestershire seat, with some boundary changes. This change occurred for the 2010 general election.

The electoral wards used to create the new constituency were;

* Broughton Astley-Astley, Broughton Astley-Broughton, Broughton Astley-Primethorpe, Broughton Astley-Sutton, Dunton, Lutterworth Brookfield, Lutterworth Orchard, Lutterworth Springs, Lutterworth Swift, Misterton, Peatling, and Ullesthorpe in the Harborough District
* Blaby South, Cosby with South Whetstone, Countesthorpe, Croft Hill, Enderby and St John's, Millfield, Narborough and Littlethorpe, Normanton, North Whetstone, Pastures, Ravenhurst and Fosse, Saxondale, Stanton and Flamville, and Winstanley in the Blaby District[3]

### 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 was defined as follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

* The District of Blaby wards of: Blaby South; Cosby with South Whetstone; Countesthorpe; Croft Hill; Enderby and St. John’s; Narborough and Littlethorpe; Normanton; North Whetstone; Pastures; Saxondale; Stanton and Flamville.

* The District of Harborough wards of: Bosworth; Broughton Astley-Primethorpe & Sutton; Broughton Astley South & Leire; Dunton; Fleckney; Lutterworth East; Lutterworth West; Misterton; Ullesthorpe.[4]

The Blaby District wards of Millfield, Ravenhurst and Fosse, and Winstanley (comprising the community of Braunstone Town) were transferred to the new constituency of Mid Leicestershire; the Harborough District wards of Bosworth and Fleckney were transferred in from Harborough.

Following a local government boundary review in Blaby which came into effect in May 2023,[5][6] the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:

* The District of Blaby wards of: Blaby; Cosby & South Whetstone; Countesthorpe; Enderby; Fosse Highcross; Fosse Normanton; Fosse Stoney Cove; Glen Parva; Narborough & Littlethorpe; North Whetstone; and a small part of Leicester Forest & Lubbesthorpe.

* The District of Harborough wards of: Bosworth; Broughton Astley-Primethorpe & Sutton; Broughton Astley South & Leire; Dunton; Fleckney; Lutterworth East; Lutterworth West; Misterton; Ullesthorpe.[7]

## Constituency profile

[edit]

The current South Leicestershire is a slice of Leicestershire to the south west of Leicester, with most of the population in commuter towns and villages like Whetstone, Blaby and Narborough. Further south it is more rural, with the largest settlement the old market town of Lutterworth. Nearby is the former site of RAF Bitteswell, since redeveloped as Magna Park, one of the largest distribution centres in Europe.[8]

The constituency name of South Leicestershire was new for 2010, but the seat was not massively changed from the old seat of Blaby. Both this and its predecessor are safe Tory seats held by the party since Blaby's creation in 1974. The best known MP to represent the area is the former Chancellor Nigel Lawson.

## History

[edit]

### 1832–1885

[edit]

The constituency was created by the Reform Act 1832 for the 1832 general election, when the two-seat Leicestershire constituency was replaced by the Northern and Southern divisions, each of which elected two MPs.

Both divisions of the county were abolished by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 for the 1885 general election, when they were replaced by four new single-seat constituencies: Bosworth, Harborough, Loughborough and Melton.

Prominent members in this period included Thomas Paget (Jnr) (1807–1892) who followed the footsteps of his father in this role (his father having represented Leicestershire) and as partner in Leicester Bank, and Albert Pell, a member of a group of MPs, which included Henry Chaplin, Sir Massey Lopes and Clare Sewell Read, who supported farming interests. He was also a member of the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of England.

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

### MPs 1832–1885

[edit]

Leicestershire prior to 1832

Election | 1st Member[9] | 1st Party | 2nd Member[9] | 2nd Party

|
|
|
|

1832 |  | Edward Dawson | Whig[10] |  | Sir Henry Halford, Bt | Tory[10]
1834 |  | Conservative[10]
1835 |  | Thomas Frewen Turner | Conservative[10]
1836 by-election |  | Charles Packe | Conservative[10]
1857 |  | Viscount Curzon | Conservative
1867 by-election |  | Thomas Paget | Liberal Party
1868 |  | Albert Pell | Conservative Party
1870 by-election |  | William Unwin Heygate | Conservative
1880 |  | Thomas Paget | Liberal Party
1885 | Redistribution of Seats Act: constituency abolished

### MPs since 2010

[edit]

Blaby and Harborough prior to 2010

Election | Member[9] | Party

|
|

| 2010 | Andrew Robathan | Conservative
| 2015 | Alberto Costa | Conservative

## Elections

[edit]

South Leicestershire election results 2010–2024

### Elections in the 2020s

[edit]

General election 2024: South Leicestershire[11] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative |  Alberto Costa | 18,264  | 35.6  | −30.9
| Labour | Robert Parkinson  | 12,758  | 24.8  | +4.9
| Reform UK | Bill Piper  | 10,235  | 19.9  | New
| Liberal Democrats | Paul Hartshorn  | 7,621  | 14.8  | +5.2
| Green | Mike Jelfs  | 2,481  | 4.8  | +0.8
Majority | 5,508  | 10.8  | −30.9
Turnout | 51,359  | 65.6  | −5.8
Registered electors | 78,543  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −15.5  |

### Elections in the 2010s

[edit]

General election 2019: South Leicestershire[12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Alberto Costa | 36,791  | 64.0  | +2.6
| Labour | Tristan Koriya  | 12,787  | 22.3  | −6.2
| Liberal Democrats | Phil Knowles  | 5,452  | 9.5  | +5.3
| Green | Nick Cox  | 2,439  | 4.2  | +2.3
Majority | 24,004  | 41.7  | +8.8
Turnout | 57,469  | 71.4  | −0.4
| Conservative hold | Swing | +4.4  |
General election 2017: South Leicestershire[13] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Alberto Costa | 34,795  | 61.4  | +8.2
| Labour | Shabbir Aslam  | 16,164  | 28.5  | +6.5
| Liberal Democrats | Greg Webb  | 2,403  | 4.2  | −3.2
| UKIP | Roger Helmer | 2,235  | 3.9  | −13.5
| Green | Mary Morgan  | 1,092  | 1.9  | New
Majority | 18,631  | 32.9  | +1.7
Turnout | 56,801  | 71.8  | +1.6
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.9  |
General election 2015: South Leicestershire[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Alberto Costa | 28,700  | 53.2  | +3.7
| Labour | Amanda Hack | 11,876  | 22.0  | +1.1
| UKIP | Barry Mahoney[8] | 9,363  | 17.4  | +13.8
| Liberal Democrats | Geoffrey Welsh  | 3,987  | 7.4  | −13.6
Majority | 16,824  | 31.2  | +2.7
Turnout | 53,926  | 70.2  | −1.0
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.3  |
General election 2010: South Leicestershire[15][16] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Andrew Robathan*  | 27,000  | 49.5  | +4.1
| Liberal Democrats | Aladdin Ayesh  | 11,476  | 21.0  | +2.0
| Labour | Sally Gimson | 11,392  | 20.9  | −8.8
| BNP | Peter Preston  | 2,721  | 5.0  | +1.5
| UKIP | John Williams  | 1,988  | 3.6  | +1.2
Majority | 15,524  | 28.5  |
Turnout | 54,577  | 71.2  | +6.0
| Conservative win (new seat)

* Served as an MP in the 2005–2010 Parliament

## Elections 1832–1880

[edit]

### Elections in the 1830s

[edit]

General election 1832: South Leicestershire (2 seats)[17][10] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Tory | Henry Halford | Unopposed
| Whig | Edward Dawson | Unopposed
Registered electors | 4,125  |
| Tory win (new seat)
| Whig win (new seat)
General election 1835: South Leicestershire (2 seats)[17][10] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Conservative | Henry Halford | Unopposed
| Conservative | Thomas Frewen Turner | Unopposed
Registered electors | 4,244  |
| Conservative hold
| Conservative gain from Whig
By-election, 18 February 1836: South Leicestershire[17][10] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Conservative | Charles Packe | Unopposed
| Conservative hold

* Caused by Turner's resignation

General election 1837: South Leicestershire (2 seats)[17][10] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Conservative | Henry Halford | Unopposed
| Conservative | Charles Packe | Unopposed
Registered electors | 4,603  |
| Conservative hold
| Conservative hold

### Elections in the 1840s

[edit]

General election 1841: South Leicestershire (2 seats)[17][10][18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Henry Halford | 2,638  | 34.4  | N/A
| Conservative | Charles Packe | 2,622  | 34.2  | N/A
| Whig | Thomas Gisborne | 1,213  | 15.8  | New
| Whig | Edward Hawkins Cheney[19] | 1,196  | 15.6  | New
Majority | 1,409  | 18.4  | N/A
Turnout | 3,835 (est)  | 78.2 (est)  | N/A
Registered electors | 4,903  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
General election 1847: South Leicestershire (2 seats)[17] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Henry Halford | Unopposed
| Conservative | Charles Packe | Unopposed
Registered electors | 5,448  |  |
| Conservative hold
| Conservative hold

### Elections in the 1850s

[edit]

General election 1852: South Leicestershire (2 seats)[17] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Henry Halford | Unopposed
| Conservative | Charles Packe | Unopposed
Registered electors | 5,131  |  |
| Conservative hold
| Conservative hold
General election 1857: South Leicestershire (2 seats)[17] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | George Curzon-Howe | Unopposed
| Conservative | Charles Packe | Unopposed
Registered electors | 5,205  |  |
| Conservative hold
| Conservative hold
General election 1859: South Leicestershire (2 seats)[17] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | George Curzon-Howe | Unopposed
| Conservative | Charles Packe | Unopposed
Registered electors | 5,259  |  |
| Conservative hold
| Conservative hold

### Elections in the 1860s

[edit]

General election 1865: South Leicestershire (2 seats)[17] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | George Curzon-Howe | Unopposed
| Conservative | Charles Packe | Unopposed
Registered electors | 6,283  |  |
| Conservative hold
| Conservative hold
By-election, 30 November 1867: South Leicestershire (1 seat)[17] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Thomas Paget | 2,302  | 50.4  | New
| Conservative | Albert Pell | 2,263  | 49.6  | N/A
Majority | 39  | 0.8  | N/A
Turnout | 4,565  | 72.7  | N/A
Registered electors | 6,283  |  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A |

* Caused by Packe's death.

General election 1868: South Leicestershire (2 seats)[17] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | George Curzon-Howe | 3,196  | 34.9  | N/A
| Conservative | Albert Pell | 3,111  | 33.9  | N/A
| Liberal | Thomas Paget | 2,861  | 31.2  | N/A
Majority | 250  | 2.7  | N/A
Turnout | 6,015 (est)  | 72.4 (est)  | N/A
Registered electors | 8,308  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1870s

[edit]

By-election, 13 June 1870: South Leicestershire (1 seats)[17] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | William Unwin Heygate | 3,292  | 56.0  | −12.8
| Liberal | Thomas Paget | 2,585  | 44.0  | +12.8
Majority | 707  | 12.0  | +9.3
Turnout | 5,877  | 70.7  | −1.7
Registered electors | 8,308  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −12.8  |

* Caused by Curzon-Howe succeeding to the peerage, becoming Earl Howe.

General election 1874: South Leicestershire (2 seats)[17] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Albert Pell | 3,583  | 36.8  | +2.9
| Conservative | William Unwin Heygate | 3,269  | 33.6  | −1.3
| Liberal | Thomas Paget | 2,883  | 29.6  | −1.6
Majority | 386  | 4.0  | +1.3
Turnout | 6,309 (est)  | 74.3 (est)  | +1.9
Registered electors | 8,489  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.9  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −0.3  |

### Elections in the 1880s

[edit]

General election 1880: South Leicestershire (2 seats)[17] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Thomas Paget | 3,685  | 35.7  | +6.1
| Conservative | Albert Pell | 3,453  | 33.5  | −3.3
| Conservative | William Unwin Heygate | 3,175  | 30.8  | −2.8
Majority | 510  | 4.9  | N/A
Turnout | 6,860 (est)  | 76.0 (est)  | +1.7
Registered electors | 9,022  |  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.9  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −3.2  |

## See also

[edit]

* List of parliamentary constituencies in Leicestershire and Rutland

## 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 3 July 2024.
2. ^ "The statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 2 & 3 William IV. Cap. XLV: An Act to amend the Representation of the People in England and Wales". London: His Majesty's statute and law printers. 1832. pp. 154–206. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
3. ^ 2010 post-revision map non-metropolitan areas and unitary authorities of England
4. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 1 East Midlands.
5. ^ LGBCE. "Blaby | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
6. ^ "The Blaby (Electoral Changes) Order 2022".
7. ^ "New Seat Details - Leicestershire South". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
8. ^ a b "UK Polling Report".
9. ^ a b c Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "L" (part 2)
10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 192. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
11. ^ "South Leicestershire - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
12. ^ "Leicestershire South Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
13. ^ "General Election 2017: South Leicestershire". The Daily Express. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
14. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
15. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
16. ^ Election 2010: South Leicestershire, BBC News
17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 417–418\. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
18. ^ "South Leicestershire Election". Leicester Journal. 16 July 1841. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 16 May 2019 - via British Newspaper Archive.
19. ^ "Leicester Chronicle". 17 July 1841. pp. 1–3. Retrieved 16 May 2019 - via British Newspaper Archive.

## External links

[edit]

* South Leicestershire UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
* South Leicestershire UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK

* v
* t
* e

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Authority control databases: People |

* UK Parliament

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