Post by jamie on Apr 4, 2020 15:56:11 GMT
Tynemouth
Tynemouth constituency covers a heavily suburbanised area on the north eastern edge of Tyneside. The constituency ranges from seaside towns like Tynemouth and Whitley Bay, to the industrial hub of North Shields, to a collection of former coal mining villages. Much of the traditional industry situated in the constituency is gone (tourism, fishing, coal mining etc), and the towns now largely function as commuter belt for Newcastle upon Tyne. Tynemouth is currently a safe Labour seat and was won by 9% even in 2019. Despite this, it has historically been a Conservative leaning seat, rather unusual for the North East. The drift of middle class voters on the coast towards Labour, combined with boundary changes to include more ex coal mining communities, has significantly helped Labour here.
Beginning in the north west, we find a number of ex coal mining communities including Shiremoor and New York. Retaining significant deprivation since the closure of the mines, these communities produce hefty Labour majorities. Towards the river Tyne is the large town of North Shields, the vast majority included in this constituency. A town of significant contrasts, Chirton and the town centre are the poorest parts of the constituency and vote strongly Labour. Conversely, the Preston area is much more middle class, though only Preston Grange likely votes Conservative these days. Adjacent to North Shields is Tynemouth. Tynemouth retains a significant tourism industry thanks to its beautiful seafront, particularly Long Sands beach. A little more deprived than its reputation would suggest, Tynemouth nonetheless is one of the more affluent parts of the constituency and is quite evenly matched between Labour and the Conservatives. Heading north, we find the Cullercoats and Marden areas. Both largely middle class, Cullercoats was historically dependent on fishing and tourism while Marden was only built in the 2nd half of the 20th century. Both are competitive like Tynemouth. Finally, we reach the Whitley Bay area. Whitley Bay was historically a major seaside resort like Tynemouth, but its decline has left parts looking much more like the many ‘left behind’ seaside resorts across the UK than the rest of the coastal communities in this constituency. The core Whitley Bay area is located on the seafront and includes beaches and the associated tourism attractions. Owing to their noticeable deprivation, Labour comfortably poll ahead here. Further inland is the Monkseaton area of the town. Subsumed into the town over the past couple of centuries, Monkseaton has historically had little industry of its own. The southern part of Monkseaton has more deprivation and doesn’t vote too dissimilar to core Whitley Bay. The central and particularly northern parts are almost entirely middle class, and are surprisingly politically competitive these days. In contrast, the similarly middle class estates to the north of Monkseaton/core Whitley Bay vote more comfortably for the Conservatives, though even here they have a much smaller lead than would have been achieved decades ago.
Overall, Tynemouth constituency is safely Labour and should continue being so for a while to come. Labour are comfortably ahead in the former coal mining villages and North Shields as they traditionally have been. However, the movement of the predominantly middle class coastal communities from Conservative to competitive (if not Labour leaning) has made it difficult for the Conservatives to compete in the constituency as a whole come general elections.
Tynemouth constituency covers a heavily suburbanised area on the north eastern edge of Tyneside. The constituency ranges from seaside towns like Tynemouth and Whitley Bay, to the industrial hub of North Shields, to a collection of former coal mining villages. Much of the traditional industry situated in the constituency is gone (tourism, fishing, coal mining etc), and the towns now largely function as commuter belt for Newcastle upon Tyne. Tynemouth is currently a safe Labour seat and was won by 9% even in 2019. Despite this, it has historically been a Conservative leaning seat, rather unusual for the North East. The drift of middle class voters on the coast towards Labour, combined with boundary changes to include more ex coal mining communities, has significantly helped Labour here.
Beginning in the north west, we find a number of ex coal mining communities including Shiremoor and New York. Retaining significant deprivation since the closure of the mines, these communities produce hefty Labour majorities. Towards the river Tyne is the large town of North Shields, the vast majority included in this constituency. A town of significant contrasts, Chirton and the town centre are the poorest parts of the constituency and vote strongly Labour. Conversely, the Preston area is much more middle class, though only Preston Grange likely votes Conservative these days. Adjacent to North Shields is Tynemouth. Tynemouth retains a significant tourism industry thanks to its beautiful seafront, particularly Long Sands beach. A little more deprived than its reputation would suggest, Tynemouth nonetheless is one of the more affluent parts of the constituency and is quite evenly matched between Labour and the Conservatives. Heading north, we find the Cullercoats and Marden areas. Both largely middle class, Cullercoats was historically dependent on fishing and tourism while Marden was only built in the 2nd half of the 20th century. Both are competitive like Tynemouth. Finally, we reach the Whitley Bay area. Whitley Bay was historically a major seaside resort like Tynemouth, but its decline has left parts looking much more like the many ‘left behind’ seaside resorts across the UK than the rest of the coastal communities in this constituency. The core Whitley Bay area is located on the seafront and includes beaches and the associated tourism attractions. Owing to their noticeable deprivation, Labour comfortably poll ahead here. Further inland is the Monkseaton area of the town. Subsumed into the town over the past couple of centuries, Monkseaton has historically had little industry of its own. The southern part of Monkseaton has more deprivation and doesn’t vote too dissimilar to core Whitley Bay. The central and particularly northern parts are almost entirely middle class, and are surprisingly politically competitive these days. In contrast, the similarly middle class estates to the north of Monkseaton/core Whitley Bay vote more comfortably for the Conservatives, though even here they have a much smaller lead than would have been achieved decades ago.
Overall, Tynemouth constituency is safely Labour and should continue being so for a while to come. Labour are comfortably ahead in the former coal mining villages and North Shields as they traditionally have been. However, the movement of the predominantly middle class coastal communities from Conservative to competitive (if not Labour leaning) has made it difficult for the Conservatives to compete in the constituency as a whole come general elections.
