| Birmingham Northfield | |
| Parliament: | uk |
| Year: | 1950 |
| Type: | Borough |
| Elects Howmany: | One |
| Population: | 101,422 (2011 census)[1] |
| Electorate: | 73,483 (2023)[2] |
| Region: | England |
| Party: | Labour |
Birmingham Northfield is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Laurence Turner, a Labour politician. It represents the southernmost part of the city of Birmingham.
1950–1955: The County Borough of Birmingham Wards of Northfield, Selly Oak, and Weoley.[3]
1955–1974: The County Borough of Birmingham wards of King's Norton, Northfield, and Weoley.[4]
1974–1983: As above less King's Norton, plus Longbridge
1983–1997: The City of Birmingham wards of Bartley Green, Longbridge, Northfield, and Weoley.
1997–2010: As above less Bartley Green
2010–2018: As above plus King's Norton
Following the review of parliamentary representation in Birmingham and the West Midlands,[5] the Boundary Commission for England created a modified Northfield seat which gained the ward of Kings Norton (previously in the Selly Oak constituency).
2018–present: The City of Birmingham wards of: Allens Cross; Frankley Great Park; King’s Norton North; King’s Norton South; Longbridge & West Heath; Northfield; Rubery & Rednal; Weoley & Selly Oak (part).[6]
Minor changes reflecting the new ward structure in the City of Birmingham which became effective in May 2018.[7]
Among the area's largest features is the Longbridge Town shopping area built on the site of the now demolished MG Rover Group factory which for decades had been a major employer in the constituency but which was closed down in the run up to the 2005 general election, two hospitals, Northfield Shopping Centre and the now also closed North Worcestershire Golf Course.[8] Despite the closure of the Longbridge Motor works the Labour MP at the time, Richard Burden was returned in the subsequent general election with his majority reduced by 5.6%. He was re-elected with his majority further reduced by 14.1% in 2010. In 2015, Burden was re-elected with a majority of 2,509 votes and a vote share of 41.6%, which made Northfield the most marginal seat in Birmingham. Two years later at the 2017 snap election, Burden increased his majority to 4,667 votes and his vote share to 53.2% on an overall turnout of 44,348 voters.
At the 2019 general election, the seat was won by the Conservative candidate Gary Sambrook with a majority of 1,640 votes. The Conservatives therefore held the Birmingham Northfield seat for the first time in 27 years.
From its creation in 1950 until 2019, Labour Party MPs were elected and served the seat, with the exception of the period from 1979 to 1992, which was whilst the Conservative Party were in government, with a one-year gap caused by a Labour win at a 1982 by-election. From 1979 to 1982, the MP was Jocelyn Cadbury, a member of the influential and large Cadbury family.
| Election | Member | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Raymond Blackburn | Labour | ||
| 1951 | Donald Chapman | Labour | ||
| 1970 | Ray Carter | Labour | ||
| 1979 | Jocelyn Cadbury | Conservative | ||
| 1982 by-election | John Spellar | Labour | ||
| 1983 | Roger King | Conservative | ||
| 1992 | Richard Burden | Labour | ||
| 2019 | Gary Sambrook | Conservative | ||
| 2024 | Laurence Turner | Labour | ||
Going into the 2015 general election, this was the 121st most marginal constituency in Great Britain, the Conservatives requiring a swing from Labour of 3.3% to take the seat (based on the result of the 2010 general election).[10]
