Post by jamie on Apr 18, 2020 11:31:18 GMT
Wansbeck
Wansbeck constituency covers a number of largely ex coal mining communities in Northumberland. The largest settlement is Ashington, and the constituency also includes Morpeth, Bedlington, and a number of small villages. The constituency in its present form has existed since 1983 and was always a safe Labour constituency. In 2017, Labour won by 25% over the Conservatives. Despite this, in 2019 the constituency saw a massive swing leaving Labour with only a 2% majority. The constituency is named after the river Wansbeck which flows through the middle of constituency. It was also the name of the former council area covering the constituency (except Morpeth).
Beginning in the west of the constituency, we find Morpeth. A historic market town, Morpeth is the main part of the constituency not to have a significant industrial heritage. It is also by far the most middle class part. As a consequence, Morpeth has long been the least Labour part of the constituency and will have been comfortably Conservative even when Labour were far ahead in 2017. In 2019, the Conservatives will have absolutely trounced Labour here, even winning comfortably in the more deprived Stobhill area. Adjacent to Morpeth are a few small villages. Most are middle class and rural, and as a consequence heavily Conservative voting. The exception is the largest village, Pegswood, which is a former coal mining village in-between Morpeth and Ashington. Pegswood has traditionally voted Labour at national elections and they will have been comfortably ahead in 2017. The large swing in 2019, combined with middle class housing development, will likely have meant Pegswood voted Conservative in 2019.
Heading east, we arrive at the largest settlement of the constituency, Ashington. Once dominated by the coal mining industry, Ashington has since fallen on hard times. Most of the town is very deprived, although there are some private housing estates scattered around. Ashington has long been a Labour stronghold. In 2017, they will have dominated all parts of the town. Even in 2019, Labour will have been comfortably ahead here and the Conservative only coming close in the middle class housing estates. Labour is strongest in the north/east of the town where poverty is widespread, and their support here is possibly their strongest outside of a metropolitan area. Labour is also strong in the adjacent village of Newbiggin by the Sea, which has a coal mining history as well as a reliance on tourism.
On the other side of the river Wansbeck are a collection of former coal mining villages. These include Guide Post, Stakeford and the Sleekburns. Labour will have been far ahead here in 2017 and will still have comfortably won everywhere outside the most middle class parts of central Guide Post in 2019. Finally, the constituency takes in the former coal mining town of Bedlington. Eastern Bedlington has significant levels of poverty and votes very strongly for Labour, even in 2019. Conversely, western Bedlington has some more middle class housing estates and will have been reasonably close in 2019.
Overall, Wansbeck is traditionally a safe Labour seat. Labour are able to dominate in Ashington as well as comfortably win Bedlington and the other smaller ex coal mining settlements. The only area of enduring and significant Conservative support is Morpeth which only makes up a small proportion of the constituency and has always been outvoted by the former coal mining towns and villages. While only by a small margin, the fact Labour won here even in 2019 suggests Wansbeck remains a reasonably safe Labour constituency and they should be able to return to more comfortable, if diminished, margins of victory in the future, at least outside another Conservative landslide.
Wansbeck constituency covers a number of largely ex coal mining communities in Northumberland. The largest settlement is Ashington, and the constituency also includes Morpeth, Bedlington, and a number of small villages. The constituency in its present form has existed since 1983 and was always a safe Labour constituency. In 2017, Labour won by 25% over the Conservatives. Despite this, in 2019 the constituency saw a massive swing leaving Labour with only a 2% majority. The constituency is named after the river Wansbeck which flows through the middle of constituency. It was also the name of the former council area covering the constituency (except Morpeth).
Beginning in the west of the constituency, we find Morpeth. A historic market town, Morpeth is the main part of the constituency not to have a significant industrial heritage. It is also by far the most middle class part. As a consequence, Morpeth has long been the least Labour part of the constituency and will have been comfortably Conservative even when Labour were far ahead in 2017. In 2019, the Conservatives will have absolutely trounced Labour here, even winning comfortably in the more deprived Stobhill area. Adjacent to Morpeth are a few small villages. Most are middle class and rural, and as a consequence heavily Conservative voting. The exception is the largest village, Pegswood, which is a former coal mining village in-between Morpeth and Ashington. Pegswood has traditionally voted Labour at national elections and they will have been comfortably ahead in 2017. The large swing in 2019, combined with middle class housing development, will likely have meant Pegswood voted Conservative in 2019.
Heading east, we arrive at the largest settlement of the constituency, Ashington. Once dominated by the coal mining industry, Ashington has since fallen on hard times. Most of the town is very deprived, although there are some private housing estates scattered around. Ashington has long been a Labour stronghold. In 2017, they will have dominated all parts of the town. Even in 2019, Labour will have been comfortably ahead here and the Conservative only coming close in the middle class housing estates. Labour is strongest in the north/east of the town where poverty is widespread, and their support here is possibly their strongest outside of a metropolitan area. Labour is also strong in the adjacent village of Newbiggin by the Sea, which has a coal mining history as well as a reliance on tourism.
On the other side of the river Wansbeck are a collection of former coal mining villages. These include Guide Post, Stakeford and the Sleekburns. Labour will have been far ahead here in 2017 and will still have comfortably won everywhere outside the most middle class parts of central Guide Post in 2019. Finally, the constituency takes in the former coal mining town of Bedlington. Eastern Bedlington has significant levels of poverty and votes very strongly for Labour, even in 2019. Conversely, western Bedlington has some more middle class housing estates and will have been reasonably close in 2019.
Overall, Wansbeck is traditionally a safe Labour seat. Labour are able to dominate in Ashington as well as comfortably win Bedlington and the other smaller ex coal mining settlements. The only area of enduring and significant Conservative support is Morpeth which only makes up a small proportion of the constituency and has always been outvoted by the former coal mining towns and villages. While only by a small margin, the fact Labour won here even in 2019 suggests Wansbeck remains a reasonably safe Labour constituency and they should be able to return to more comfortable, if diminished, margins of victory in the future, at least outside another Conservative landslide.
