Southport
2010 Results:
Conservative: 15683 (35.84%)
Labour: 4116 (9.41%)
Liberal Democrat: 21707 (49.61%)
UKIP: 2251 (5.14%)
Majority: 6024 (13.77%)
Notional 2005 Results:
Liberal Democrat: 19093 (46.3%)
Conservative: 15255 (37%)
Labour: 5277 (12.8%)
Other: 1576 (3.8%)
Majority: 3838 (9.3%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 15255 (37%)
Labour: 5277 (12.8%)
Liberal Democrat: 19093 (46.3%)
UKIP: 749 (1.8%)
Other: 827 (2%)
Majority: 3838 (9.3%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 15004 (36.5%)
Labour: 6816 (16.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 18011 (43.8%)
UKIP: 555 (1.3%)
Other: 767 (1.9%)
Majority: 3007 (7.3%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 18186 (35.9%)
Labour: 6125 (12.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 24346 (48.1%)
Referendum: 1368 (2.7%)
Other: 571 (1.1%)
Majority: 6160 (12.2%)
No Boundary changes:
Profile: The northern part of Sefton borough council, following the coast up west of South Ribble. Southport is an up-market seaside tourist town, with the second longest pier in Britain and six golf courses. Less brash and more genteel than nearby Blackpool, it has also become a commuter town for Liverpool and Preston.
A Conservative seat for most of the time since the First World War, it was finally won by the Liberals in 1987 (Ronnie Fearn having previously contested the seat four times) and has since been a marginal Lib Dem/Conservative contest, returning to the Tories in 1992 but being won back by Fearn in 1997.
Current MP: John Pugh(Liberal Democrat) born 1948, Liverpool. Educated at Prescott Grammar School, Maidstone Grammar School and the Univerisity of Durham. Former RE and philosophy teacher. Sefton borough councillor from 1987-2001. Former leader of Sefton council. First elected as MP for Southport in 2001. Liberal Democrat education spokesman 2002-5, transport spokesman 2005-6, health spokesman 2006-2007, treasury spokesman since 2007 (more information at They work for you)
Brenda Porter (Conservative) born Liverpool. Formerly worked in management in the charitable sector. Sefton borough councillor.
Jim Conalty (Labour) John Pugh(Liberal Democrat) born 1948, Liverpool. Educated at Prescott Grammar School, Maidstone Grammar School and the Univerisity of Durham. Former RE and philosophy teacher. Sefton borough councillor from 1987-2001. Former leader of Sefton council. First elected as MP for Southport in 2001. Liberal Democrat education spokesman 2002-5, transport spokesman 2005-6, health spokesman 2006-2007, treasury spokesman since 2007 (more information at They work for you)Terry Durrance (UKIP) Contested Southport 2005.2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 90336
Male: 46.6%
Female: 53.4%
Under 18: 20.9%
Over 60: 27.6%
Born outside UK: 4%
White: 98%
Black: 0.2%
Asian: 0.6%
Mixed: 0.6%
Other: 0.5%
Christian: 80.9%
Jewish: 0.6%
Full time students: 2.9%
Graduates 16-74: 19.4%
No Qualifications 16-74: 27.4%
Owner-Occupied: 78.6%
Social Housing: 7.6% (Council: 3.9%, Housing Ass.: 3.7%)
Privately Rented: 11.6%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 11%
The best Tory result recently was 2001 when presumably the big drop in turnout benefited the Tories considerably.
I’m sure that’s a very valid point generally about 2001 – although here I think the retirement of Ronnie Fearn would have made a difference.