Sefton Central
Notional 2005 Results:
Labour: 19184 (46.2%)
Conservative: 13642 (32.9%)
Liberal Democrat: 7543 (18.2%)
Other: 1146 (2.8%)
Majority: 5542 (13.3%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 11623 (32.1%)
Labour: 17463 (48.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 6298 (17.4%)
UKIP: 454 (1.3%)
Other: 356 (1%)
Majority: 5840 (16.1%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 11974 (32.5%)
Labour: 20327 (55.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 4084 (11.1%)
Other: 481 (1.3%)
Majority: 8353 (22.7%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 15367 (34.8%)
Labour: 22549 (51.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 5080 (11.5%)
Referendum: 813 (1.8%)
Other: 332 (0.8%)
Majority: 7182 (16.3%)
Boundary changes: Major. The seat loses part of Crosby itself to Bootle, while gaining the Sefton parts of the old Knowsley North and Sefton East seat, namely Park, Sudell and Molyneaux wards, which include Maghull. Concerns about splitting Crosby were raised at the boundary review, but alternative plans would have had to split Bootle or Maghull instead. With only part of Crosby in the new seat, the name was changed to Sefton Central.
Profile: Sefton Central is a suburban seat stretching along the Irish sea coast north between Southport and Liverpool, covering the northern part of Crosby, Maghull and Formby. It is a relatively affluent seat with some of the most desirable areas of housing in Merseyside such as Blundellsands and Freshfields. Mostly residential in character, it is also a popular with tourists in the Summer. Crosby beach is the site of Antony Gormley`s sculpture another place – consisting of 100 upright, cast-iron, life-size figures, scattered for 2 miles across the beach.
Despite being a notional Labour seat, at a local level the Labour party do not have a single councillor, with the wards held by either the Conservatives or Liberal Democrats. Its predecessor Crosby was once regarded as a safe Conservative seat until the iconic 1981 by-election victory by the SDP`s Shirley Williams. Even so, it returned to the Tories and was held by them until 1997.
Outgoing MP: Claire Curtis-Thomas(Labour) born 1958, Neath. Educated at Mynyddbach Comprehensive and University College Wales. Phd from the University of Staffordshire. Chartered Engineer and former manager of environmental affairs at Shell Chemicals UK. Crewe and Nantwich Borough councillor 1995-1997. First elected as MP for Crosby in 1997 as Claire Curtis-Tansley (she changed her name upon her election). Will stand down at the next election (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: 
Debi Jones (Conservative) Television and radio presenter. Sefton borough councillor since 2006. Contested Crosby in 2005. 
Bill Esterson (Labour) Runs a training consultancy. Medway councillor.
Richard Clein (Liberal Democrat) born 1971. Former constituency organiser for Malcolm Bruce 1995-1997 and BBC Radio Merseyside journalist (1998-2003), now associate director for a public affairs agency. 
Peter Harper (UKIP) born Aintree. Educated at Maghull High School.
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 88864
Male: 47.8%
Female: 52.2%
Under 18: 21.4%
Over 60: 26.4%
Born outside UK: 2.7%
White: 98.6%
Asian: 0.5%
Mixed: 0.5%
Other: 0.4%
Christian: 87.2%
Full time students: 3.5%
Graduates 16-74: 20.8%
No Qualifications 16-74: 25.9%
Owner-Occupied: 87.9%
Social Housing: 6.8% (Council: 5.5%, Housing Ass.: 1.3%)
Privately Rented: 3.5%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 7.4%
Barnaby, You do not get my reference to the “Iron Men” do you?
Gormleys Iron Men on the Beach are called “Another Place”
Ah yes so they are. Very ignorant of me!
As it happens, there was something about the parties’ celebrity supporters yesterday, and Gormley was mentioned as one of the Labour supporters I hadn’t previously heard about. The Tories now have Sir Trevor McDonald but that doesn’t surprise me that much. He lives in my constituency.
It is not Freshfields but Freshfield.
The Populus poll of marginals reported today suggests a 6.7% swing from Labour to Conservative in Labour seats challenged by the Tories. This prediction put this seat right on the edge. Is that how people on the ground read the situation here?
I think RodCrosby who lives in this area has said so on various websites.
Anon. Your blog contains inaccurate statements.
Sefton Central is NOT in Liverpool. Sefton Central is in Merseyside. But historically Sefton Central is in Lancashire.