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Amber Valley (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 53°02′N 1°24′W / 53.03°N 1.40°W / 53.03; -1.40
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This article is about the constituency in the Midlands of England. For the associated non-metropolitan district, see Amber Valley. For the community in Canada, see Amber Valley, Alberta.

Amber Valley
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Amber Valley in the East Midlands
CountyDerbyshire
Population87,883 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate70,625 (2023)[2]
Major settlementsRipley, Alfreton, Heanor
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentLinsey Farnsworth (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromBelper, Derbyshire South East and Ilkeston[3]

Amber Valley is a constituency[n 1] in Derbyshire, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament.[n 2] It has been represented in Parliament by Linsey Farnsworth, a Labour politician, since the 2024 general election.[4]

History

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The constituency was created in 1983, and was held by Phillip Oppenheim of the Conservative Party from its creation until Judy Mallaber of the Labour Party won the seat in 1997. She was narrowly defeated in 2010 by Nigel Mills, a Conservative, who increased his majority in 2015 and 2017.[5] Amber Valley has been a bellwether seat in having been won by the winning party at each general election, since its creation.

Boundaries

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Historic

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Boundaries of Amber Valley from 1997 to 2010

1983–1997: The District of Amber Valley wards of Aldercar, Alfreton East, Alfreton West, Codnor, Denby and Horsley Woodhouse, Heage and Ambergate, Heanor and Loscoe, Heanor East, Heanor West, Holbrook and Horsley, Kilburn, Riddings, Ripley, Ripley and Marehay, Shipley Park, Somercotes, Swanwick, and Wingfield, and the Borough of Erewash wards of Breadsall and Morley, Little Eaton, and Stanley.

1997–2010: The Borough of Amber Valley wards of Aldercar, Alfreton East, Alfreton West, Codnor, Crich, Denby and Horsley Woodhouse, Heage and Ambergate, Heanor and Loscoe, Heanor East, Heanor West, Holbrook and Horsley, Kilburn, Riddings, Ripley, Ripley and Marehay, Shipley Park, Somercotes, Swanwick, and Wingfield, and the Borough of Erewash wards of Breadsall and Morley, Little Eaton, and Stanley.

2010–2023: The Borough of Amber Valley wards of Alfreton, Codnor and Waingroves, Heage and Ambergate, Heanor and Loscoe, Heanor East, Heanor West, Ironville and Riddings, Kilburn, Denby and Holbrook, Langley Mill and Aldercar, Ripley, Ripley and Marehay, Shipley Park, Horsley and Horsley Woodhouse, Somercotes, Swanwick, and Wingfield.

Current

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Further to a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2023,[6][7] the constituency now comprises the following wards of the Borough of Amber Valley:

  • Alfreton; Codnor, Langley Mill & Aldercar; South Wingfield from Crich & South Wingfield ward; Heage & Ambergate; Heanor East; Heanor West & Loscoe; Ironville & Riddings; Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook & Horsley; Ripley; Ripley & Marehay; Smalley, Shipley & Horsley Woodhouse; Somercotes; Swanwick.[8]

The boundaries were unchanged by the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies (which was based on the ward structure in place on 1 December 2020).[9]

Constituency profile

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The Amber Valley constituency is located in the east of Derbyshire, and covers the market and manufacturing towns of Alfreton, Heanor and Ripley; in a majority of council elections from 1960 to 2012, these were favourably disposed to the Labour Party. The constituency also contains many rural and suburban wards, which during the same period generally had a majority in support of the Conservatives. The constituency stretches from the edge of the Peak District to the northern edge of Derby, which forms another set of neighbourhoods more favourably disposed to the Conservatives.

From 2000 to 2023 the Conservatives controlled Amber Valley Borough Council with the exception of a year from 2014 to 2015 and from 2019 to 2021 when Labour were in power. In 2023, Labour retook control. Prior to this, the council was held by Labour or under no overall control for all but three years from its formation in 1973.

The constituency's generally small majorities and bellwether status since 1983 (being won by the party that nationally holds the most parliamentary seats) means Amber Valley was, by most common measures, a marginal seat.

Members of Parliament

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Belper, Derbyshire South East and Ilkeston prior to 1983

Election Member[10] Party
1983 Phillip Oppenheim Conservative
1997 Judy Mallaber Labour
2010 Nigel Mills Conservative
2024 Linsey Farnsworth Labour

Elections

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Amber Valley election results

Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Amber Valley[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Linsey Farnsworth 15,746 37.0 +10.2
Reform UK Alex Stevenson 12,192 28.7 N/A
Conservative Nigel Mills 10,725 25.2 −38.6
Green Matt McGuinness 2,278 5.4 +2.4
Liberal Democrats Kate Smith 1,590 3.7 −2.6
Majority 3,554 8.3 New
Turnout 42,531 59.4 Decrease 5.6
Registered electors 71,546
Labour gain from Conservative Swing Increase 24.4

Elections in the 2010s

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General election 2019: Amber Valley[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nigel Mills 29,096 63.8 Increase 7.3
Labour Adam Thompson 12,210 26.8 Decrease 11.6
Liberal Democrats Kate Smith 2,873 6.3 Increase 3.9
Green Lian Pizzey 1,388 3.0 Increase 1.6
Majority 16,886 37.0 Increase 18.9
Turnout 45,567 65.1 Decrease 2.2
Registered electors 69,976
Conservative hold Swing Increase 9.5
General election 2017: Amber Valley[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nigel Mills 25,905 56.5 Increase 12.5
Labour James Dawson 17,605 38.4 Increase 3.6
Liberal Democrats Kate Smith 1,100 2.4 Decrease 0.6
Green Matt McGuinness 650 1.4 Decrease 1.0
Independent Daniel Bamford 551 1.2 New
Majority 8,300 18.1 Increase 8.9
Turnout 45,811 67.3 Increase 1.5
Registered electors 68,065
Conservative hold Swing Increase 4.5
See also: Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15 § Amber Valley
General election 2015: Amber Valley[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nigel Mills[16] 20,106 44.0 Increase 5.4
Labour Kevin Gillott[17] 15,901 34.8 Decrease 2.6
UKIP Stuart Bent 7,263 15.9 Increase 13.9
Liberal Democrats Kate Smith 1,360 3.0 Decrease 11.4
Green John Devine[18] 1,087 2.4 New
Majority 4,205 9.2 Increase 8.0
Turnout 45,717 65.8 Increase 0.3
Registered electors 69,510
Conservative hold Swing Increase 4.0

Going into the 2015 general election, this was the 24th most marginal constituency in Great Britain, Labour requiring a swing from the Conservatives of 0.6% to take the seat (based on the result of the 2010 general election).[19]

General election 2010: Amber Valley[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nigel Mills 17,746 38.6 Increase 4.7
Labour Judy Mallaber 17,210 37.4 Decrease 9.0
Liberal Democrats Tom Snowdon 6,636 14.4 Increase 2.1
BNP Michael Clarke 3,195 7.0 Increase 4.4
UKIP Sue Ransome 906 2.0 Increase 0.3
Monster Raving Loony Sam Thing 265 0.6 New
Majority 536 1.2 Decrease 10.0
Turnout 45,958 65.5 Increase 1.5
Registered electors 70,171
Conservative gain from Labour Swing Increase 6.9

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Amber Valley[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Judy Mallaber 21,593 45.6 Decrease 6.3
Conservative Gillian Shaw 16,318 34.4 Decrease 1.3
Liberal Democrats Kate Smith 6,225 13.1 Increase 0.7
BNP Paul Snell 1,243 2.6 New
Veritas Alex Stevenson 1,224 2.6 New
UKIP Hugh Price 788 1.7 New
Majority 5,275 11.2 Decrease 5.0
Turnout 47,391 62.9 Increase 2.6
Registered electors 75,269
Labour hold Swing Decrease 3.8
General election 2001: Amber Valley[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Judy Mallaber 23,101 51.9 Decrease 2.8
Conservative Gillian Shaw 15,874 35.7 Increase 2.3
Liberal Democrats Kate Smith 5,538 12.4 Increase 4.7
Majority 7,227 16.2 Decrease 5.1
Turnout 44,513 60.3 Decrease 15.7
Registered electors 73,798
Labour hold Swing Decrease 2.5

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Amber Valley[23][24][25][26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Judy Mallaber 29,943 54.7 Increase 10.3
Conservative Phillip Oppenheim 18,330 33.4 Decrease 13.0
Liberal Democrats Roger Shelley 4,219 7.7 Decrease 1.4
Referendum Irene McGibbon 2,283 4.2 New
Majority 11,613 21.3 N/A
Turnout 54,775 76.0 Decrease 8.7
Registered electors 72,116
Labour gain from Conservative Swing Increase 11.7
General election 1992: Amber Valley[27][28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Phillip Oppenheim 27,418 46.1 Decrease 5.3
Labour John Cooper 26,706 44.9 Increase 10.5
Liberal Democrats Graham Brocklebank 5,294 8.9 Decrease 5.3
Majority 712 1.2 Decrease 15.8
Turnout 59,418 84.7 Increase 3.5
Registered electors 70,155
Conservative hold Swing Decrease 7.9

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Amber Valley[29][30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Phillip Oppenheim 28,603 51.4 Increase 9.7
Labour David Bookbinder 19,103 34.4 Decrease 0.9
Liberal Stewart Reynolds 7,904 14.2 Decrease 7.1
Majority 9,500 17.0 Increase 10.6
Turnout 55,610 81.2 Increase 4.0
Registered electors 68,478
Conservative hold Swing Increase 5.3
General election 1983: Amber Valley[31][32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Phillip Oppenheim 21,502 41.7 N/A
Labour David Bookbinder 18,184 35.3 N/A
Liberal Brian Johnson 10,989 21.3 N/A
Independent Peter Griffiths 856 1.7 N/A
Majority 3,318 6.4 N/A
Turnout 51,531 77.2 N/A
Registered electors 66,720
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

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Notes

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  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

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  1. ^ "Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "'Amber Valley', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  4. ^ "Amber Valley results in full as Labour beats Tories after 14 years". Derbyshire Live. 5 July 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Majority Sorted Seats". electoralcalculus.co.uk.
  6. ^ LGBCE. "Amber Valley | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  7. ^ "The Amber Valley (Electoral Changes) Order 2022".
  8. ^ "New Seat Details - Amber Valley". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  9. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 1 East Midlands.
  10. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 1)
  11. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll" (PDF). 7 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Amber Valley - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Amber Valley Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  14. ^ Bloom, Dan (7 June 2017). "Here is every single 2017 general election candidate in a plain text list". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  15. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Political parties pick candidates in Amber Valley". Derby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  17. ^ "The Labour Party". labour.org.uk. Archived from the original on 5 August 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  18. ^ "General Election". Derbyshire Green Party. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  19. ^ Ransome Mpini; Charlotte Thornton; John Walton; Marcelo Zanni (24 February 2014). "Election 2015: The political battleground". BBC News. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  20. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1997. Politics Resources. 1 May 1997. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  25. ^ C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.142 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
  26. ^ The 1997 election result is calculated relative to the notional, not the actual, 1992 result.
  27. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  28. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  29. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  30. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1987. Politics Resources. 11 June 1987. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  31. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  32. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1983. Politics Resources. 9 June 1983. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
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53°02′N 1°24′W / 53.03°N 1.40°W / 53.03; -1.40

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