Amber Valley (UK Parliament constituency)
UK Parliament constituency (since 1983)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Amber Valley is a constituency[n 1] in Derbyshire, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament.[n 2] It has been represented in Parliament by Linsey Farnsworth, a Labour politician, since the 2024 general election.[4]
| Amber Valley | |
|---|---|
| County constituency for the House of Commons | |
 Boundaries since 2024 | |
Boundary of Amber Valley in the East Midlands | |
| County | Derbyshire |
| Population | 87,883 (2011 census)[1] |
| Electorate | 70,625 (2023)[2] |
| Major settlements | Ripley, Alfreton, Heanor |
| Current constituency | |
| Created | 1983 |
| Member of Parliament | Linsey Farnsworth (Labour) |
| Seats | One |
| Created from | Belper, Derbyshire South East and Ilkeston[3] |
Constituency profile
The Amber Valley constituency is located in the east of Derbyshire, covering the eastern half of the Amber Valley local government district. The constituency includes the market and manufacturing towns of Alfreton, Heanor and Ripley, as well as a number of nearby villages.
The area has a history of coal mining, ironworking and manufacturing.[5][6] On average, residents of the constituency are older, have a lower household income and are less likely to be degree-educated than the country as a whole. The constituency has few ethnic-minority residents, with 98% of the population being white.[7]
The local borough council has historically often switched between Labour and Conservative control. The constituency's three towns elected Labour councillors at most recent borough council election in 2023, but elected Conservative councillors at the most recent county council election in 2021. Voters in the constituency strongly supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum.[7]
History
The constituency was created in 1983, and was held by Phillip Oppenheim of the Conservative Party from its creation until Judy Mallaber of the Labour Party won the seat in 1997. She was narrowly defeated in 2010 by Nigel Mills, a Conservative, who increased his majority in 2015 and 2017.[8] Amber Valley has been a bellwether seat in having been won by the winning party at each general election, since its creation.
Boundaries
Historic
1983–1997: The District of Amber Valley wards of Aldercar, Alfreton East, Alfreton West, Codnor, Denby and Horsley Woodhouse, Heage and Ambergate, Heanor and Loscoe, Heanor East, Heanor West, Holbrook and Horsley, Kilburn, Riddings, Ripley, Ripley and Marehay, Shipley Park, Somercotes, Swanwick, and Wingfield, and the Borough of Erewash wards of Breadsall and Morley, Little Eaton, and Stanley.
1997–2010: The Borough of Amber Valley wards of Aldercar, Alfreton East, Alfreton West, Codnor, Crich, Denby and Horsley Woodhouse, Heage and Ambergate, Heanor and Loscoe, Heanor East, Heanor West, Holbrook and Horsley, Kilburn, Riddings, Ripley, Ripley and Marehay, Shipley Park, Somercotes, Swanwick, and Wingfield, and the Borough of Erewash wards of Breadsall and Morley, Little Eaton, and Stanley.
2010–2023: The Borough of Amber Valley wards of Alfreton, Codnor and Waingroves, Heage and Ambergate, Heanor and Loscoe, Heanor East, Heanor West, Ironville and Riddings, Kilburn, Denby and Holbrook, Langley Mill and Aldercar, Ripley, Ripley and Marehay, Shipley Park, Horsley and Horsley Woodhouse, Somercotes, Swanwick, and Wingfield.
Current
Further to a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2023,[9][10] the constituency now comprises the following wards of the Borough of Amber Valley:
- Alfreton; Codnor, Langley Mill & Aldercar; South Wingfield from Crich & South Wingfield ward; Heage & Ambergate; Heanor East; Heanor West & Loscoe; Ironville & Riddings; Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook & Horsley; Ripley; Ripley & Marehay; Smalley, Shipley & Horsley Woodhouse; Somercotes; Swanwick.[11]
The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which was based on the ward structure in place at 1 December 2020, left the boundaries unchanged.[12]
Members of Parliament
Belper, Derbyshire South East and Ilkeston prior to 1983
| Election | Member[13] | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Phillip Oppenheim | Conservative | |
| 1997 | Judy Mallaber | Labour | |
| 2010 | Nigel Mills | Conservative | |
| 2024 | Linsey Farnsworth | Labour | |
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Linsey Farnsworth | 15,746 | 37.0 |  10.2 | |
| Reform | Alex Stevenson | 12,192 | 28.7 | new | |
| Conservative | Nigel Mills | 10,725 | 25.2 |  38.6 | |
| Green | Matt McGuinness | 2,278 | 5.4 | 2.4 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Kate Smith | 1,590 | 3.7 | 2.6 | |
| Majority | 3,554 | 8.3 | |||
| Turnout | 42,531 | 59.4 | 5.6 | ||
| Registered electors | 71,546 | ||||
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 24.4 |
|||
Elections in the 2010s
| 2019 notional result[16] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Vote | % | |
| Conservative | 29,118 | 63.8 | |
| Labour | 12,227 | 26.8 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 2,875 | 6.3 | |
| Green Party | 1,389 | 3.0 | |
| Majority | 16,891 | 37.0 | |
| Turnout | 45,609 | 64.6 | |
| Electorate | 70,625 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Nigel Mills | 29,096 | 63.8 | 7.3 | |
| Labour | Adam Thompson | 12,210 | 26.8 | 11.6 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Kate Smith | 2,873 | 6.3 | 3.9 | |
| Green | Lian Pizzey | 1,388 | 3.0 | 1.6 | |
| Majority | 16,886 | 37.0 | 18.9 | ||
| Turnout | 45,567 | 65.1 | 2.2 | ||
| Registered electors | 69,976 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | 9.5 |
|||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Nigel Mills | 25,905 | 56.5 | 12.5 | |
| Labour | James Dawson | 17,605 | 38.4 | 3.6 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Kate Smith | 1,100 | 2.4 | 0.6 | |
| Green | Matt McGuinness | 650 | 1.4 | 1.0 | |
| Independent | Daniel Bamford | 551 | 1.2 | New | |
| Majority | 8,300 | 18.1 | 8.9 | ||
| Turnout | 45,811 | 67.3 | 1.5 | ||
| Registered electors | 68,065 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | 4.5 |
|||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Nigel Mills[20] | 20,106 | 44.0 | 5.4 | |
| Labour | Kevin Gillott[21] | 15,901 | 34.8 | 2.6 | |
| UKIP | Stuart Bent | 7,263 | 15.9 | 13.9 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Kate Smith | 1,360 | 3.0 | 11.4 | |
| Green | John Devine[22] | 1,087 | 2.4 | New | |
| Majority | 4,205 | 9.2 | 8.0 | ||
| Turnout | 45,717 | 65.8 | 0.3 | ||
| Registered electors | 69,510 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | 4.0 |
|||
Going into the 2015 general election, this was the 24th most marginal constituency in Great Britain, Labour requiring a swing from the Conservatives of 0.6% to take the seat (based on the result of the 2010 general election).[23]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Nigel Mills | 17,746 | 38.6 | 4.7 | |
| Labour | Judy Mallaber | 17,210 | 37.4 | 9.0 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Tom Snowdon | 6,636 | 14.4 | 2.1 | |
| BNP | Michael Clarke | 3,195 | 7.0 | 4.4 | |
| UKIP | Sue Ransome | 906 | 2.0 | 0.3 | |
| Monster Raving Loony | Sam Thing | 265 | 0.6 | New | |
| Majority | 536 | 1.2 | 10.0 | ||
| Turnout | 45,958 | 65.5 | 1.5 | ||
| Registered electors | 70,171 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 6.9 |
|||
Elections in the 2000s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Judy Mallaber | 21,593 | 45.6 | 6.3 | |
| Conservative | Gillian Shaw | 16,318 | 34.4 | 1.3 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Kate Smith | 6,225 | 13.1 | 0.7 | |
| BNP | Paul Snell | 1,243 | 2.6 | New | |
| Veritas | Alex Stevenson | 1,224 | 2.6 | New | |
| UKIP | Hugh Price | 788 | 1.7 | New | |
| Majority | 5,275 | 11.2 | 5.0 | ||
| Turnout | 47,391 | 62.9 | 2.6 | ||
| Registered electors | 75,269 | ||||
| Labour hold | Swing | 3.8 |
|||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Judy Mallaber | 23,101 | 51.9 | 2.8 | |
| Conservative | Gillian Shaw | 15,874 | 35.7 | 2.3 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Kate Smith | 5,538 | 12.4 | 4.7 | |
| Majority | 7,227 | 16.2 | 5.1 | ||
| Turnout | 44,513 | 60.3 | 15.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 73,798 | ||||
| Labour hold | Swing | 2.5 |
|||
Elections in the 1990s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Judy Mallaber | 29,943 | 54.7 | 10.3 | |
| Conservative | Phillip Oppenheim | 18,330 | 33.4 | 13.0 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Roger Shelley | 4,219 | 7.7 | 1.4 | |
| Referendum | Irene McGibbon | 2,283 | 4.2 | New | |
| Majority | 11,613 | 21.3 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 54,775 | 76.0 | 8.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 72,116 | ||||
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 11.7 |
|||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Phillip Oppenheim | 27,418 | 46.1 | 5.3 | |
| Labour | John Cooper | 26,706 | 44.9 | 10.5 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Graham Brocklebank | 5,294 | 8.9 | 5.3 | |
| Majority | 712 | 1.2 | 15.8 | ||
| Turnout | 59,418 | 84.7 | 3.5 | ||
| Registered electors | 70,155 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | 7.9 |
|||
Elections in the 1980s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Phillip Oppenheim | 28,603 | 51.4 | 9.7 | |
| Labour | David Bookbinder | 19,103 | 34.4 | 0.9 | |
| Liberal | Stewart Reynolds | 7,904 | 14.2 | 7.1 | |
| Majority | 9,500 | 17.0 | 10.6 | ||
| Turnout | 55,610 | 81.2 | 4.0 | ||
| Registered electors | 68,478 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | 5.3 |
|||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Phillip Oppenheim | 21,502 | 41.7 | ||
| Labour | David Bookbinder | 18,184 | 35.3 | ||
| Liberal | Brian Johnson | 10,989 | 21.3 | ||
| Independent | Peter Griffiths | 856 | 1.7 | ||
| Majority | 3,318 | 6.4 | |||
| Turnout | 51,531 | 77.2 | |||
| Registered electors | 66,720 | ||||
| Conservative win (new seat) | |||||
See also
Notes
- A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
- As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.