Berwick-upon-Tweed (UK Parliament constituency) explained

Berwick-upon-Tweed
Parliament:uk
Map2:EnglandNorthumberland
Year:1885
Abolished:2024
Type:County
Elects Howmany:One
Population:75,718 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate:55,785 (December 2010)[2]
Year2:1512
Abolished2:1885
Type2:Borough
Elects Howmany2:Two
Region:England

Berwick-upon-Tweed was a parliamentary constituency in Northumberland represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 2015 until its abolition for the 2024 general election by Anne-Marie Trevelyan, a Conservative.

It was a parliamentary borough in the county of Northumberland of the House of Commons of England from 1512 to 1706, then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. It returned two Members of Parliament (MPs), elected by the bloc vote system. It was a county constituency since 1885, electing one MP under the first-past-the-post system.

Under the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was expanded and renamed North Northumberland to reflect the inclusion of the town of Morpeth from the abolished constituency of Wansbeck.[3]

Profile

The constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed is in the county of Northumberland. It includes as its northernmost point the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed and stretches south to include the towns of Alnwick and Amble — the Northumberland coast forms its long eastern boundary. Its length is roughly 50 miles (80 km) and its area is 2,310 square kilometres.

Predominantly rural in character, this constituency is the most northerly in England and is relatively sparsely populated.

History

Berwick had been intermittently represented in Scottish Parliaments but it is thought that it was first enfranchised as an English borough between 1491 and 1512.[4]

It was unaffected by the Reform Act 1832 and continued to elect two MPs until it was abolished by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. The 1885 Act re-constituted the constituency as one of four divisions of Northumberland, each electing one MP.

Boundaries

1832–1885

The contents of the parliamentary borough, as defined by the Parliamentary Boundaries Act 1832, were:

The Parish of Berwick, and the Respective Townships of Tweedmouth and Spittal.[5] [6]

1885–1918

The contents of the county division, as defined by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, were:

The Sessional Divisions of Bamburgh, Coquetdale East (part), Coquetdale North, Glendale, and Norhamshire and Islandshire; and the Municipal Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed.[7]

1918–1950

Gained small areas to south from Wansbeck (Amble) and Hexham (Rothbury).

1950–1983

No change (the Urban District of Rothbury had been absorbed into the Rural District).

1983–2024

Contents changed following reorganisation of local authorities in 1974. The seat was expanded southwards, adding the (rural) wards in Castle Morpeth Borough, previously part of the abolished constituency of Morpeth.

2007 boundary review

In the fifth periodic boundary review of parliamentary representation in Northumberland, which came into effect for the 2010 general election, the contents of the existing Berwick constituency were unchanged and the Boundary Commission for England made only minor changes to take account of ward boundary changes. A proposal to rename the historic seat "Berwick-upon-Tweed and Mid Northumberland" was rejected: whilst it is geographically accurate, it was thought unwieldy.[13]

In 2009, a further government reorganisation resulted in the abolition of all local government boroughs and districts in Northumberland and the establishment of the county as a unitary authority.[14] However, this did not affect the constituency boundaries.

2023 boundary review

In the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency was abolished and replaced by re-established North Northumberland constituency.

Political history

Rural in nature, sparse of population and with agriculture as a major source of employment, Berwick-upon-Tweed has never elected a Labour candidate, one of two constituencies in the north east of England not to have done so. The closest Labour have ever come to winning the seat was at the 1966 general election, where they finished just 4,373 votes behind incumbent Conservative MP Antony Lambton.

The area has been notable for its Liberal politicians – both Sir William Beveridge (influential in the formation of the National Health Service) and Edward Grey (Foreign Secretary at the beginning of World War I, best remembered for the "lamps are going out all over Europe...." remark) have served this constituency.

It was represented by Liberal Democrat Sir Alan Beith from 1973 (formerly Liberal) until his retirement in 2015, when it was gained by the Conservative candidate Anne-Marie Trevelyan. Beith was first elected at a by-election, required as a result of the resignation of the then incumbent MP Antony Lambton (Conservative), who had been caught up in a scandal involving call girls, marijuana and a tabloid newspaper.

In 1923, Mabel Philipson, a former music hall actress, took over the seat as a Conservative, when her husband was forced to resign. In doing so she became only the third female MP to sit in the House of Commons since female members became legal five years previously.

Members of Parliament

The seat has sent members to Parliament since its enfranchisement by Henry VIII. It initially sent two members; this was reduced to one in 1885.

MPs before 1660

ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1510–1523No names known[15]
1529John MartinJohn Cooper, died
and replaced after 1532 by
?John Uvedale
1536?
1539Odinel Selby?
1542?
1545?
1547Odinel SelbyJohn Watson
1553 (Mar)?
1553 (Oct)?
1554 (Apr)George BrowneOdinel Selby
1554 (Nov)?
1555Thomas BradfordCharles Wharton
1558?
1562–3Anthony TempleThomas Norton[16]
1571Sir Valentine BrowneHenry Carey
1572Martin GarnettRobert Newdigate
1584William MortonThomas Parkinson
1586 (Oct)Sir Valentine Browne
1589 (Jan)William MortonWilliam Selby
1593William MortonWilliam Selby
1597 (Oct)William SelbyThomas Parkinson
1601William SelbyDavid Waterhouse
1604Christopher Parkinson
1614Meredith Morgan
1621Sir Robert Jackson
1624Edward Lively
1625Sir John Selby
1626Richard Lowther
1628Edward Liveley
1629–1640No Parliaments convened
1640 (Apr)Sir Thomas WiddringtonHugh Potter
1640 (Nov)Sir Thomas WiddringtonRobert Scawen
1645Sir Thomas WiddringtonRobert Scawen
1648Sir Thomas WiddringtonRobert Scawen
1653Berwick not represented in Barebones Parliament
1654George FenwickOnly one representative in 1st Protectorate Parliament
1656George Fenwick, died 1657
and replaced by
John Rushworth
Only one representative in 2nd Protectorate Parliament
1659John RushworthGeorge Payler

MPs 1660–1885

Year1st member1st party2nd member2nd party
April 1660Sir Thomas WiddringtonJohn Rushworth<-- party -->
June 1660Edward Grey<-- party -->
1661Sir Thomas Widdrington
1665Daniel Collingwood<-- party -->
1677Viscount Osborne
1679Ralph GreyJohn Rushworth
1685Philip BickerstaffeRalph Widdrington
1689Francis Blake<-- party -->Philip Babington
1690Samuel Ogle<-- party -->
1695Ralph Grey
1698Sir Francis Blake
January 1701Ralph Grey
December 1701Sir Francis Blake
1702Jonathan Hutchinson<-- party -->
1710William Kerr<-- party -->
1711Richard Hampden<-- party -->
1713William Orde
1715Grey NevilleWhigJohn Barrington[17]
March 1723Henry GreyWhig
May 1723William Kerr
1727George Liddell<-- party -->Joseph Sabine
1734Viscount Polwarth
March 1740The Viscount Barrington<-- party -->
November 1740Thomas WatsonTory[18]
1754John DelavalTory
1761Col. John Craufurd
January 1765Sir John Delaval, Bt[19] <-- party -->
December 1765Wilmot Vaughan[20]
1768Robert Paris Taylor
1774Jacob WilkinsonToryJohn Vaughan[21] Tory
1780Sir John Delaval, BtTory
1787Sir Gilbert Elliot, BtWhig
1790Charles CarpenterTory
1795John CallenderTory
1796The Earl of TyrconnelTory
1802[22] Thomas HallToryJohn FordyceTory
1803Francis SitwellToryAlexander AllanTory
1806Sir John Callender, BtToryAlexander TowerWhig
1807Alexander AllanTorySir Alexander Lockhart, BtTory
1812Henry St PaulTory
March 1820Viscount OssulstonWhigSir David MilneTory
July 1820Henry St PaulTory
December 1820Sir Francis Blake, BtWhig
1823Sir John Beresford, BtTory
1826Marcus BeresfordToryJohn GladstoneTory
1827Sir Francis Blake, BtWhig[23] [24]
1832Sir Rufane Shaw DonkinWhig[25]
1835James BradshawConservative
1837Richard HodgsonConservativeWilliam HolmesConservative
1841Matthew ForsterWhig[26]
1847John Campbell RentonConservative
1852John StapletonRadical[27]
1853Dudley MarjoribanksWhig[28] John ForsterWhig
1857John StapletonRadical
May 1859Charles William GordonConservativeRalph EarleConservative
August 1859Dudley MarjoribanksLiberal
1863William CargillConservative
1865Alexander MitchellLiberal
1868Viscount BuryLiberalJohn StapletonLiberal
1874Dudley MarjoribanksLiberalDavid Milne HomeConservative
1880Henry StruttLiberal
1880 by-electionDavid Milne HomeConservative
1881 by-electionHubert JerninghamLiberal
1885Redistribution of Seats Act

membership reduced to one

MPs since 1885

ElectionMemberParty
1885Edward GreyLiberal
1916 by-electionFrancis BlakeLiberal
1922Hilton PhilipsonNational Liberal
1923 by-electionMabel PhilipsonConservative
1929Alfred ToddConservative
1935Hugh SeelyLiberal
1941 by-electionGeorge GreyLiberal
1944 by-electionWilliam BeveridgeLiberal
1945Robert ThorpConservative
1951Antony LambtonConservative
1973 by-electionSir Alan BeithLiberal
1988Liberal Democrats
2015Conservative
2024Constituency abolished

Elections

2010s –2000s –1990s –1980s –1970s –1960s –1950s –1940s –1930s –1920s –1910s –1900s –1890s –1880s –1832 to 1880

Elections in the 2010s

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Elections in the 2000s

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Elections in the 1990s

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Elections in the 1980s

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Elections in the 1970s

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Elections in the 1960s

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Elections in the 1950s

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Elections in the 1940s

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Elections in the 1930s

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Elections in the 1920s

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Elections in the 1910s

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Elections in the 1900s

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Elections in the 1890s

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Elections in the 1880s

[29]

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Elections from 1832 to 1880

Elections before 1832

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See also

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Berwick-upon-Tweed: Usual Resident Population, 2011 . Neighbourhood Statistics . Office for National Statistics . 28 January 2015 . 11 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160111041932/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6507727&c=&d=27&e=62&g=6430187&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1422104706393&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2473 . live .
  2. Web site: Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England . 4 March 2011 . 2011 Electorate Figures . Boundary Commission for England . 13 March 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101106204053/http://www.boundarycommissionforengland.org.uk/electoral-figures/electoral-figures.htm . 6 November 2010 .
  3. Web site: The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – North East Boundary Commission for England . 2023-07-28 . boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk.
  4. Web site: Berwick-upon-Tweed History of Parliament Online . 2022-09-12 . www.histparl.ac.uk.
  5. Book: Britain, Great . The Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Passed in the ... [1807–69]. ]. 1832 . His Majesty's statute and law Printers . 353 . en.
  6. Web site: HMSO Boundary Commission Report 1832, Berwick-upon-Tweed .
  7. Book: Great Britain, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales . The public general acts . Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884 . unknown library . 167 . English.
  8. Book: Craig, Fred W. S. . Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885–1972; . 1972 . Political Reference Publications . 0-900178-09-4 . Chichester . 25 . 539011.
  9. Book: Craig, Fred W. S. . Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885–1972; . 1972 . Political Reference Publications . 0-900178-09-4 . Chichester . 81, 139 . 539011.
  10. Web site: The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983 . 62.
  11. Web site: The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995 . In the County of Northumberland.
  12. Web site: The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007 . In Northumberland.
  13. Web site: Boundary Commission for England. Fifth Periodical Report . 408.
  14. Web site: Northumberland History, Facts, & Points of Interest Britannica . 2022-09-13 . www.britannica.com . en.
  15. Web site: History of Parliament. 2011-10-06. 9 September 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120909012630/http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/constituencies/berwick-upon-tweed. live.
  16. Web site: History of Parliament. 2011-10-06. 15 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120315145824/http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/constituencies/berwick-upon-tweed. live.
  17. Created The Viscount Barrington (in the Peerage of Ireland), 1720
  18. Book: Stooks Smith , Henry. . . The Parliaments of England . 1844–1850 . 2nd . 1973 . Parliamentary Research Services . Chichester . 0-900178-13-2 . 240–242 .
  19. Created The Lord Delaval (in the Peerage of Ireland), 1783
  20. Succeeded as The 4th Viscount Lisburne (in the Peerage of Ireland), January 1766
  21. Major-General 1776, Lieutenant-General 1782, knighted (KB) 1792
  22. On petition, Fordyce and Hall were adjudged not to have been duly elected and the election result was reversed
  23. Web site: Escott . Margaret . BLAKE, Sir Francis, 3rd bt. (1774–1860), of Tilmouth Park, co. Dur.; Knowle Green, Staines, and 15 Sloane Street, Mdx. . The History of Parliament . 8 September 2019 . 2009 . 6 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210306084002/https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/member/blake-sir-francis-1774-1860 . live .
  24. Book: Foot . M. R. D. . The Gladstone Diaries: Volume One: 1825–1832 . 1968 . Clarendon Press . Oxford . 0-19-821370-0 . 55 . . 8 September 2019 . 14 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220214080845/https://books.google.com/books?id=zWSHCVg6sHsC&pg=PA55 . live .
  25. News: Saunders's News-Letter . 30 November 2018 . 1 February 1839 . 1 . . subscription .
  26. Book: Sherwood. Marika. Marika Sherwood. After Abolition: Britain and the Slave Trade since 1807. 2007. I.B. Tauris. London. 9781845113650. 171. Google Books. 21 September 2020. 14 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220214080845/https://books.google.com/books?id=nCgBAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA171. live.
  27. Web site: Wickham. Michael John. Electoral Politics in Berwick-Upon-Tweed, 1832–1885. Durham E-Theses Online. Durham University. 8 April 2018. 44. 2002. 9 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180409050029/http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/4098/1/4098_1617.pdf. live.
  28. News: Berwick. 8 April 2018. Bedfordshire Times and Independent. 23 August 1859. 4. British Newspaper Archive. subscription.
  29. News: Wednesdays Telegrams. The Cornishman. 172. 27 October 1881. 5.
  30. News: The Berwick Election and Mr. Richard Hodgson. 8 April 2018. Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury. 30 April 1853. 5. British Newspaper Archive. subscription.