Cheadle
Notional 2005 Results:
Liberal Democrat: 23640 (48.1%)
Conservative: 19689 (40%)
Labour: 4877 (9.9%)
Other: 988 (2%)
Majority: 3950 (8%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 19169 (40.4%)
Labour: 4169 (8.8%)
Liberal Democrat: 23189 (48.9%)
BNP: 421 (0.9%)
UKIP: 489 (1%)
Majority: 4020 (8.5%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 18444 (42.3%)
Labour: 6086 (14%)
Liberal Democrat: 18477 (42.4%)
UKIP: 599 (1.4%)
Majority: 33 (0.1%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 22944 (43.7%)
Labour: 8253 (15.7%)
Liberal Democrat: 19755 (37.7%)
Referendum: 1511 (2.9%)
Majority: 3189 (6.1%)
Boundary changes:
Profile:
Outgoing MP: Mark Hunter(Liberal Democrat) born 1957. Educated at Audenshaw Grammar School for Boys. Marketing executive. Stockport councillor 1996-2005. Leader of Stockport council 2001-2005. Contested Ashton under Lyne 1987, Stockport 2001. MP for Cheadle since 2005 by-election. PPS to Nick Clegg since 2007 (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: 
Ben Jeffreys (Conservative) born Yorkshire. Educated at St Andrews University. History and drama teacher.
Harkirtan Singh-Raud (Labour) Educated at Cambridge University. Lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University. Awarded OBE for services to education and diversity in 2005.Mark Hunter(Liberal Democrat) born 1957. Educated at Audenshaw Grammar School for Boys. Marketing executive. Stockport councillor 1996-2005. Leader of Stockport council 2001-2005. Contested Ashton under Lyne 1987, Stockport 2001. MP for Cheadle since 2005 by-election. PPS to Nick Clegg since 2007 (more information at They work for you)
Rick Simpson (UKIP)
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 91231
Male: 47.9%
Female: 52.1%
Under 18: 22.1%
Over 60: 24%
Born outside UK: 6.3%
White: 94.2%
Black: 0.4%
Asian: 3.3%
Mixed: 1.1%
Other: 1%
Christian: 76.1%
Hindu: 0.9%
Jewish: 1.6%
Muslim: 2.6%
Full time students: 3.2%
Graduates 16-74: 27.9%
No Qualifications 16-74: 20%
Owner-Occupied: 87.1%
Social Housing: 7.1% (Council: 5.2%, Housing Ass.: 1.9%)
Privately Rented: 4.1%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 5.1%
2005 By-election
The Cheadle by-election was held on 14th July 2005, following the death of Patsy Calton shortly after the 2005 general election. The contest was a straight fight between the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives, with the former Conservative MP for the seat, Stephen Day, standing for the Tories. The Tories fought an aggressive campaign and were accused by the Liberal Democrats of dirty tricks and a smear campaign. Eventually the Liberal Democrat candidate Mark Hunter emerged as the victor with a slightly increased majority. The Labour party, who had not seriously contested the seat, lost their deposit.
By-election result
Mark Hunter (Liberal Democrat) 19593 (52.2%)
Stephen Day (Conservative) 15936 (42.4%)
Martin Miller (Labour) 1739 (4.6%)
Leslie Leggett (Veritas) 218 (0.6%)
John Allman (Alliance for Change) 81 (0.2%)
Majority: 3657 (9.7%)
By-election Candidates: Mark Hunter (Liberal Democrat) born 1957. Educated at Audenshaw Grammar School for Boys. Marketing executive. Stockport councillor 1996-2005. Leader of Stockport council 2001-2005. Contested Ashton under Lyne 1987, Stockport 2001.
Stephen Day (Conservative) born 1948. Secretary of the Association of Conservative clubs. Leeds councillor 1975-1980. Contested Bradford West 1983. MP for Cheadle 1987-2001. Contested Cheadle 2001, 2005.
Martin Miller (Labour) born Glasgow. Former Stockport councillor. Contested Hazel Grove 2001, Cheadle 2005.
Leslie Leggett (Veritas) Retired policeman. Former Stockport councillor for the Conservative party.
John Allman (Alliance for Change) Educated at the Open University. Computer programmer. Founder of Christians against mental slavery, an organisation campaigning against mind control weapons. Contested Harrogate and Knaresborough 2005, subsequently contested Livingstone by-election.
This will be exceptionally close. If I had to choose a winner here I would say Conservative – but it could go either way.
I agree that this seat will be very close and hard to predict the ultimate result.
The tory ppc must be hopping mad that tory HQ revealed that this seat is too difficult to gain. Honest but too honest!
The interesting point here is whether Labour will hold their deposit. I think they will by securing 6% of the vote.
I take Mark Hunter to hold this seat.
“The interesting point here is whether Labour will hold their deposit.”
Is it? I think the issue of who represents Cheadle in Parliament for the next four years and the possible impact on hung Parliament/Tory majority calculations is a shade more interesting than whether a few poor socialist schmucks in Cheshire see their 500 quid again…
The Tories have admitted that they’re finding LD v Tory seat fights more difficult. I can see them failing to take here or Southport, but maybe even winning Wallasey.
Cllr Maureen Walsh (Bramhall North ward) leaves the Conservative group to sit as an Independent.
Indeed she has, and it is apparently a fall our with Ben Jeffrey. I would hedge my bets on a Lib Dem hold.
No alarms and no surprises please…..
She was Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group. Are there any quotes from her yet?