Post by jamie on Apr 25, 2020 11:38:50 GMT
Berwick upon Tweed
Berwick upon Tweed constituency covers a large stretch of rural communities in northern Northumberland and is one of the largest constituencies in the entire country. The constituency includes a diverse range of settlements, from the border town of Berwick, to rural farming communities, to the Northumberland coalfield. These boundaries have seen little substantial change in over a century. The constituency was originally safely Conservative in the post-war period, but was gained by the Liberals in a 1973 by election on a massive swing. From 1979 onwards, Alan Beith turned this into a safe seat for the Liberals and their successors. While Labour took a distant 2nd in 1997, the Conservatives otherwise retained 2nd place. They significantly narrowed Beith’s majority in 2010, and finally gained the seat in 2015 upon his retirement. The Liberal Democrat vote further unwound in 2017, to the point of Labour taking a distant 2nd place. This was repeated in 2019, with an unusually small decline in the Labour vote and a further decline in the Liberal Democrat vote.
Beginning in the north, we find the eponymous town of Berwick. The northernmost town in England, Berwick is located on both sides of the river Tweed, which otherwise forms the border between England and Scotland. Owing to its location, Berwick was once disputed territory between England and Scotland, and there was even suggestion a few years ago for the SNP to stand a candidate in the constituency. Berwick has long been one of the more Liberal Democrat friendly parts of the constituency, but will have voted comfortably Conservative in the past couple of elections. Despite significant deprivation, Labour get only a modest vote share, at least in part due to the cannibalisation of their vote by the Liberal Democrats.
The next part of the constituency comprises the numerous farming and tourism orientated communities that form the core of Berwick upon Tweed constituency. In the west, these very sparse farming communities stretch from Norham in the north, to Wooler in the middle (and nearby Chillingham Castle), then Rothbury in the south. Norham and nearby communities have traditionally been Liberal Democrat leaning, Rothbury has been more competitive, while Wooler has long been one of the most Conservative parts of the constituency. All these towns and villages will have been reliably Conservative in the past 2 election cycles. Though parts around Wooler are not exactly wealthy, Labour have little support here owing to their agricultural nature.
On the coast, the constituency includes a number of tourist destinations. These include Bamburgh (famous for its castle), Lindisfarne/Holy Island, as well as Beadnell and Seahouses. These communities have proved competitive at different council elections, but will vote comfortably Conservative nationally. Labour are stronger here than out west, but this is very relative. The constituency then takes in Alnwick, its 2nd largest town. The town is well known for Alnwick Castle, the filming location for Hogwarts from the Harry Potter film series. Like the other communities already mentioned, Alnwick has been competitive between the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives in the past, but will have voted Conservative in the 2017 and 2019 general elections.
Finally, the constituency takes in the northernmost part of the Northumberland coalfield. Immediately south of Alnwick is Shilbottle, a small former coal mining village that is nonetheless rather isolated from the rest of the coalfield. It is notably the most Conservative inclined part of the coalfield in this constituency. On the coast is the port of Amble. Once an economic hub of the area, it has faced significant problems since the closure of the coal mining industry in the mid-20th century. While western Amble is more middle class and comfortably Conservative, the rest of Amble is heavily deprived and Labour voting. Similar support for Labour can be found in the villages of Hadston and Widdrington Station. Finally, on the edge of the constituency is Lynemouth. Easily the most deprived part of the constituency, the forming mining village is strongly Labour.
Overall, Berwick upon Tweed is a safe Conservative constituency. While the Liberal Democrats long held the constituency under Alan Beith, the combination of the loss of his incumbency, the woes of the national party, and the strongly pro-remain message have led to the party falling into 3rd place. The Liberal Democrat vote was traditionally rather spread out around the constituency, albeit with some concentration in Berwick and weakness in some rural areas. The Conservative vote, particularly in the past 2 elections, is stronger in the rural areas in the centre of the constituency. Conversely, the Labour vote is very heavily concentrated in the former coal mining communities in the south. The Conservatives will have won all areas outside the coal mining villages in 2017, and may have proved competitive even there in 2019. They look unlikely to be challenged for the foreseeable future, as the Liberal Democrats seem unable to reassemble their former voting coalition while Labour lack any serious support outside their coal mining heartlands.
Berwick upon Tweed constituency covers a large stretch of rural communities in northern Northumberland and is one of the largest constituencies in the entire country. The constituency includes a diverse range of settlements, from the border town of Berwick, to rural farming communities, to the Northumberland coalfield. These boundaries have seen little substantial change in over a century. The constituency was originally safely Conservative in the post-war period, but was gained by the Liberals in a 1973 by election on a massive swing. From 1979 onwards, Alan Beith turned this into a safe seat for the Liberals and their successors. While Labour took a distant 2nd in 1997, the Conservatives otherwise retained 2nd place. They significantly narrowed Beith’s majority in 2010, and finally gained the seat in 2015 upon his retirement. The Liberal Democrat vote further unwound in 2017, to the point of Labour taking a distant 2nd place. This was repeated in 2019, with an unusually small decline in the Labour vote and a further decline in the Liberal Democrat vote.
Beginning in the north, we find the eponymous town of Berwick. The northernmost town in England, Berwick is located on both sides of the river Tweed, which otherwise forms the border between England and Scotland. Owing to its location, Berwick was once disputed territory between England and Scotland, and there was even suggestion a few years ago for the SNP to stand a candidate in the constituency. Berwick has long been one of the more Liberal Democrat friendly parts of the constituency, but will have voted comfortably Conservative in the past couple of elections. Despite significant deprivation, Labour get only a modest vote share, at least in part due to the cannibalisation of their vote by the Liberal Democrats.
The next part of the constituency comprises the numerous farming and tourism orientated communities that form the core of Berwick upon Tweed constituency. In the west, these very sparse farming communities stretch from Norham in the north, to Wooler in the middle (and nearby Chillingham Castle), then Rothbury in the south. Norham and nearby communities have traditionally been Liberal Democrat leaning, Rothbury has been more competitive, while Wooler has long been one of the most Conservative parts of the constituency. All these towns and villages will have been reliably Conservative in the past 2 election cycles. Though parts around Wooler are not exactly wealthy, Labour have little support here owing to their agricultural nature.
On the coast, the constituency includes a number of tourist destinations. These include Bamburgh (famous for its castle), Lindisfarne/Holy Island, as well as Beadnell and Seahouses. These communities have proved competitive at different council elections, but will vote comfortably Conservative nationally. Labour are stronger here than out west, but this is very relative. The constituency then takes in Alnwick, its 2nd largest town. The town is well known for Alnwick Castle, the filming location for Hogwarts from the Harry Potter film series. Like the other communities already mentioned, Alnwick has been competitive between the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives in the past, but will have voted Conservative in the 2017 and 2019 general elections.
Finally, the constituency takes in the northernmost part of the Northumberland coalfield. Immediately south of Alnwick is Shilbottle, a small former coal mining village that is nonetheless rather isolated from the rest of the coalfield. It is notably the most Conservative inclined part of the coalfield in this constituency. On the coast is the port of Amble. Once an economic hub of the area, it has faced significant problems since the closure of the coal mining industry in the mid-20th century. While western Amble is more middle class and comfortably Conservative, the rest of Amble is heavily deprived and Labour voting. Similar support for Labour can be found in the villages of Hadston and Widdrington Station. Finally, on the edge of the constituency is Lynemouth. Easily the most deprived part of the constituency, the forming mining village is strongly Labour.
Overall, Berwick upon Tweed is a safe Conservative constituency. While the Liberal Democrats long held the constituency under Alan Beith, the combination of the loss of his incumbency, the woes of the national party, and the strongly pro-remain message have led to the party falling into 3rd place. The Liberal Democrat vote was traditionally rather spread out around the constituency, albeit with some concentration in Berwick and weakness in some rural areas. The Conservative vote, particularly in the past 2 elections, is stronger in the rural areas in the centre of the constituency. Conversely, the Labour vote is very heavily concentrated in the former coal mining communities in the south. The Conservatives will have won all areas outside the coal mining villages in 2017, and may have proved competitive even there in 2019. They look unlikely to be challenged for the foreseeable future, as the Liberal Democrats seem unable to reassemble their former voting coalition while Labour lack any serious support outside their coal mining heartlands.
