Houghton and Sunderland South
Notional 2005 Results:
Labour: 23354 (63.6%)
Conservative: 5982 (16.3%)
Liberal Democrat: 5973 (16.3%)
Other: 1439 (3.9%)
Majority: 17372 (47.3%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 6923 (22.5%)
Labour: 17982 (58.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 4492 (14.6%)
BNP: 1166 (3.8%)
Other: 149 (0.5%)
Majority: 11059 (36%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 6254 (20.1%)
Labour: 19921 (63.9%)
Liberal Democrat: 3675 (11.8%)
UKIP: 470 (1.5%)
BNP: 576 (1.8%)
Other: 291 (0.9%)
Majority: 13667 (43.8%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 7536 (18.9%)
Labour: 27174 (68.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 4606 (11.5%)
Other: 609 (1.5%)
Majority: 19638 (49.2%)
Boundary changes
Current MP: Chris Mullin (Labour) born 1947, Chelmsford. Educated at St Joseph’s College, Ipwich and the University of Hull. Journalist, having once worked on World in Action and edited the Tribune, and author, most famously of ‘A Very British Coup’. First elected as MP for Sunderland South in 1987. A left-winger and member of the Socialist Campaign Group, he nevertheless enjoyed two stints as a junior minister under Blair, serving as Parliamentary under-secretary in the department of the environment 1999-2001 and briefly in the department of international development 2001. Returned to government as a parliamentary under secretary in the foreign office 2003-2005. He will stand down at the next election (more information at They work for you)
Candidates:
Fraser Kemp (Labour)
Robert Oliver (Conservative) Politics and history teacher. Sunderland councillor. Contested Sunderland South 2005.
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 90046
Male: 48.4%
Female: 51.6%
Under 18: 22.4%
Over 60: 22.2%
Born outside UK: 1.4%
White: 99%
Asian: 0.5%
Mixed: 0.3%
Other: 0.2%
Christian: 84.2%
Full time students: 2.1%
Graduates 16-74: 10.9%
No Qualifications 16-74: 38.8%
Owner-Occupied: 60.8%
Social Housing: 35.1% (Council: 24.5%, Housing Ass.: 10.6%)
Privately Rented: 2.8%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 1.5%
57 Responses
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Ruislip Northwood
That is true as far as Washington goes, but surely not in respect of Houghton-le-Spring which is a small town covering at most two wards (Houghton and Copt Hill) whereas there are four wards in this constituency covering parts of Sunderland ‘proper’
September 14th, 2008 at 10:12 pmSunderland Central
“I agree. The 1980s were turbulent too but had Conservative governements with massive majorites throughout.”
Yes and the people have learnt the lesson, at least here in the north east, the hard way.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:21 amI suppose you could argue for this one being re-named “Houghton and Hetton” really.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:24 amBut then what about the four wards in Sunderland, some parts of which are seven or eight miles from Hetton? Hetton is tiny and totally alien to the people of South West Sunderland, who comprise most of this new seat.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:20 pmJamie - thanks for that. I have checked the maps and you’re probably right, it would be a bit much to have a name which didn’t reference the wards from Sunderland. I suppose it’s a good thing that “Sunderland South West” was not the complete proposed name!
September 15th, 2008 at 1:58 pmPete,
There are the wards of Houghton, Copt Hill, Shiney Row and Hetton - all could be considered part of ‘greater’ Houghton. Indeed, a lot of people in those areas would use Houghton le Spring on their address. St Chad’s is on the border with Houghton and a lot of people in this area have a close affinity with Houghton.
Houghton and Sunderland South seems logical enough to me.
September 15th, 2008 at 5:36 pmI’d prefer
September 17th, 2008 at 5:47 pmSunderland Coalfields for this seat
Sunderland Coastal instead of Sunderland Central
Sunderland Nissan for the other
Or maybe “Houghton-le-Spring, Hetton-le-Hole and the Herringtons” in order to challenge “Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey” and “Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East” in the linguistic stakes.
September 17th, 2008 at 5:49 pmSunderland Central
I quite like the name Sunderland Central, but Sunderland East may have blended in better with the other two seats.
I think Houghton, Hetton & Sunderland South would have been better as the people of Houghton le Spring and Hetton le Hole are very loyal to their town names (and identity), some use these rather than Sunderland on their addresses.
Washington and Sunderland West name is about right, but I’m sure many in Washington would have prefered their seat to have been just the wards in Washington, again they are very loyal to their towns identity.
September 21st, 2008 at 6:48 pmIread in the Sunderland Echo that Ed Malcolm, South
Tyneside councillor has announced his intention of seeking nomination for this seat. Early days but I haven’t heard any other names as yet. Anyone know
differently
I read in the Sunderland Echo that South Tyneside Councillor Ed Malcolm is seeking nomination for this seat. It’s early days but this is the only name I’ve heard so far. Anyone know differently?
October 1st, 2008 at 1:34 pmRuislip Northwood
Is that a ’spot the difference’ competition ?
October 1st, 2008 at 6:13 pmI was always under the impression that politicos had no wit or sense of humour. Well done Pete.
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:45 amRemember, to err is human ……….
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