Boston and Skegness
2010 Results:
Conservative: 21325 (49.45%)
Labour: 8899 (20.64%)
Liberal Democrat: 6371 (14.77%)
BNP: 2278 (5.28%)
UKIP: 4081 (9.46%)
Independent: 171 (0.4%)
Majority: 12426 (28.81%)
Notional 2005 Results:
Conservative: 20078 (46.4%)
Labour: 13617 (31.5%)
Liberal Democrat: 3990 (9.2%)
Other: 5568 (12.9%)
Majority: 6461 (14.9%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 19329 (46.2%)
Labour: 13422 (32.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 3649 (8.7%)
BNP: 1025 (2.4%)
Green: 420 (1%)
UKIP: 4024 (9.6%)
Majority: 5907 (14.1%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 17298 (42.9%)
Labour: 16783 (41.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 4994 (12.4%)
UKIP: 717 (1.8%)
Green: 521 (1.3%)
Majority: 515 (1.3%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 19750 (42.4%)
Labour: 19103 (41%)
Liberal Democrat: 7721 (16.6%)
Majority: 647 (1.4%)
Boundary changes:
Profile: A largely rural seat in the South Lincolnshire fens. Boston was a Hanseatic port in the Middle Ages and a hotbed of religious dissent, the pilgrim fathers originally attempted to depart from Boston, and Boston Massachusetts is named for the town. The modernised port today remains a major local employer and Boston is the major population centre in the seat.
Elsewhere agriculture and tourism dominate. Skegness was a small fishing village and port until the 19th century, but boomed as a Victorian holiday resort and remains a popular seaside town and, like most coastal resorts, retirement location – around 30% of the electorate in the seat are retired. Ingoldmells to the north of Skegness is the site of the first Butlins holiday camp and the Fantasy Island amusement park. Other towns and villages in the constituency include Burgh le Marsh and Wainfleet All Saints, site of Batemans Brewery.
In 1997 and 2001 the seat was a very close Conservative/Labour marginal, but in 2005 the Conservatives managed to turn it into a relatively safe seat. UKIP received 9.6% of the vote here in 2005, their strongest performance in the country.
Current MP: Mark Simmonds(Conservative) born 1964, Worksop. Educated at Worksop College and Trent University. Former surveyor and estate agent. Currently shadow minister for International Development. Contested Ashfield in 1997. First elected as MP for Boston and Skegness in 2001. (more information at They work for you)
Mark Simmonds(Conservative) born 1964, Worksop. Educated at Worksop College and Trent University. Former surveyor and estate agent. Currently shadow minister for International Development. Contested Ashfield in 1997. First elected as MP for Boston and Skegness in 2001. (more information at They work for you)Paul Kenny (Labour) Former Boston councillor. Contested Boston and Skegness 2005.Philip Smith (Liberal Democrat) Mansfield councillor 1999-2007. Contested Mansfield 1997, Doncaster South 2001Christopher Pain (UKIP) Contested Louth & Horncastle 2005.David Owens (BNP)Peter Wilson (Independent)2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 91856
Male: 49.1%
Female: 50.9%
Under 18: 20.5%
Over 60: 26.8%
Born outside UK: 2.8%
White: 98.6%
Black: 0.2%
Asian: 0.4%
Mixed: 0.5%
Other: 0.3%
Christian: 80%
Full time students: 1.7%
Graduates 16-74: 9.4%
No Qualifications 16-74: 41.5%
Owner-Occupied: 69.6%
Social Housing: 17.3% (Council: 8%, Housing Ass.: 9.3%)
Privately Rented: 9.2%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 7.7%
