Westmorland and Lonsdale
2010 Results:
Conservative: 18632 (36.19%)
Labour: 1158 (2.25%)
Liberal Democrat: 30896 (60.01%)
UKIP: 801 (1.56%)
Majority: 12264 (23.82%)
Notional 2005 Results:
Liberal Democrat: 21792 (46%)
Conservative: 20956 (44.3%)
Labour: 3651 (7.7%)
Other: 928 (2%)
Majority: 836 (1.8%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 22302 (44.9%)
Labour: 3796 (7.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 22569 (45.5%)
UKIP: 660 (1.3%)
Other: 309 (0.6%)
Majority: 267 (0.5%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 22486 (46.9%)
Labour: 5234 (10.9%)
Liberal Democrat: 19339 (40.4%)
UKIP: 552 (1.2%)
Other: 292 (0.6%)
Majority: 3147 (6.6%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 21470 (42.3%)
Labour: 10459 (20.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 16949 (33.4%)
Referendum: 1931 (3.8%)
Majority: 4521 (8.9%)
Boundary changes: loses Broughton-in-Furness and part of the Crake Valley to Barrow & Furness.
Profile: A large rural seat in Cumbria. The seat includes Kendal, Windermere, Sedbergh, Kirkby Lonsdale and Ambleside, but not the historic county town of Appleby-in-Westmorland. It also includes Lake Windermere, Coniston Water and much of the Lake District. The local economy is largely based on agriculture and tourism. In 2005 the Conservative shadow minister Tim Collins was defeated in the seat, the lone victim of what had been described as a Liberal Democrat decapitation strategy against Conservative frontbenchers in marginal seats.
Current MP: Tim Farron(Liberal Democrat) born 1970, Preston. Educated at Lostock Hall School and University of Newcastle. Unsuccesfully contested Westmorland & Lonsdale in 2001 prior to his election in 2005. Served briefly as Lib Dem spokesman for youth affairs before being appointed as PPS to Menzies Campbell after the 2006 leadership election. Countryside spokesman from 2007, he resigned in March 2008 to support a referendum on the Lisbon treaty (more information at They work for you)




2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 82587
Male: 48.2%
Female: 51.8%
Under 18: 19.3%
Over 60: 27.7%
Born outside UK: 3%
White: 99.2%
Mixed: 0.4%
Other: 0.3%
Christian: 79%
Full time students: 2.8%
Graduates 16-74: 23.5%
No Qualifications 16-74: 23.9%
Owner-Occupied: 74.9%
Social Housing: 10.7% (Council: 7.6%, Housing Ass.: 3.1%)
Privately Rented: 10%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 9.5%