British MPs sponsored by mining unions explained

Several British members of Parliament have been sponsored by mining trade unions. Many were sponsored by the National Union of Mineworkers, its predecessor the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, and the local trade unions which preceded it.

A small number of MPs were sponsored by other trade unions related to the mining industry, such as the Cumberland Iron Ore Miners' and Kindred Trades' Association, the North Wales Quarrymen's Union, and the National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers, and are covered in the articles on those unions. Other miners and people related to the mining industry were elected without being sponsored by a trade union, and are not listed here.

History

John Normansell, leader of the South Yorkshire Miners' Association, presented a paper at the 1869 Trades Union Congress, on "the best means to secure the direct representation of labour in the Commons". This led to the formation of the Labour Representation League, but miners did not initially join the organisation.^[1]

At the 1874 United Kingdom general election, four miners stood for Parliament, with two winning seats, the first working class members of Parliament in the UK. Alexander Macdonald in Stafford stood as "Secretary of the Miners' Association of Scotland and President of the Miners' National Association", and Thomas Burt in Morpeth stood as a "Radical Labour" candidate. However, both worked with the Liberal Party in Parliament, and they were the first members of what became known as the Liberal-Labour group. Their seats were held at the 1880 United Kingdom general election, and from 1884 the Miners' National Union founded local political associations in areas where there were many miners. The Reform Act 1885 enfranchised many miners in rural areas for the first time, and this allowed six miners to win election. In 1886, the local political association formed the Labour Electoral Association, and when the Miners' Federation of Great Britain (MFGB) was founded in 1889, its affiliated unions continued to support liberal candidates through the association.

Keir Hardie, of the Ayrshire Miners' Union, first won a seat as an independent at the 1892 United Kingdom general election, and this spurred him to form the Independent Labour Party and, in 1900, the Labour Representation Committee (LRC). The MFGB initially believed that the committee would not be successful and remained apart, but from 1902 it raised a centralised Labour Political Fund of one shilling per member, to stand working coal miners or officials as Parliamentary candidates, and then to support successful members of Parliament, as they were otherwise unpaid. Candidates were free to stand under the label of any political party, or as independents, although in practice affiliations were agreed with the local union. At the 1906 United Kingdom general election, this led to the election of eleven out of sixteen MFGB candidates.^[2]

In 1906, the MFGB narrowly voted against affiliating to the LRC. By 1908, the LRC had become the Labour Party, and a second vote was held, this time resulting in a clear majority for affiliation. Some existing MPs were reluctant to transfer, so it was agreed that they would not have to join the Labour Party group in Parliament until the next general election. This was held in January 1910, and resulted in fifteen mining trade union MPs, approximately a third of the total size of the party. However, a few mining MPs refused to take the Labour whip, and remained part of the Liberal-Labour group until 1918.^[3]

Miners were uniquely well placed to win seats in Parliament; by 1918, they constituted more than 30% of the total electorate of forty constituencies, and unlike many other unions, the MFGB focused on standing members in these seats, where it had the strongest membership.^[4] After 1918, Labour won the majority of seats in the coalfields. In Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Durham, the county unions increased political levies, to employ political organisers and election agents, and also support more union members in local elections. While the miners' union MPs suffered in the 1931 United Kingdom general election, alongside the party as a whole, things soon rebounded. The MFGB remained the largest union in the country until 1937, and also had sponsored the most Labour Party candidates, had the largest number of members affiliated to the Labour Party, and typically had the largest political fund of any union. This ensured that it remained influential and able to get its members selected in many promising constituencies.

The choice of candidates remained in the hands of the county unions affiliated to the MFGB. Half of the MFGB's political fund was retained by its affiliates, enabling them to conduct additional political activity, such as campaigning for other Labour candidates. The South Wales Miners' Federation instead used the funds to sponsor additional candidates, so that by 1931 it stood 10 candidates, despite the MFGB only directly providing enough funding for five. This election saw the peak of MFGB influence, with half of all the Labour MPs elected being sponsored by the union.

The mining MPs were not compelled to vote in the interests of the union, and were sometimes in conflict with it, but there was generally a close relationship. The MFGB got the MPs to propose legislation which it favoured, organise access to the government, and to ask questions and obtain information from government ministers.

The MFGB reformed as the more centralised National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in 1945, the affiliated unions becoming areas of the NUM. The number of coal miners, and with it the membership of the NUM, steadily declined, and with it the number of safe mining constituencies, and the number of sponsored candidates, which reached a low of 13 in 1987. While the selection of candidates remained a matter for the areas, they were required to be members of the NUM, and have worked in the mines or for the union for at least five years. By the 1970s, the union was tending to select younger candidates. However, unlike many other unions, it did not sponsor existing MPs from outside the industry, and as a result, by the late 1980s, none of its MPs held leading roles in the Labour Party.^[5] ^[6]

Lib-Lab candidates

1874 general election

Votes	%	Position	Sponsor^[7]
4,912	25.3	3	Amalgamated Association
3,332	85.1	1	Northumberland
1,183	27.7	2	National Union
1,134	12.7	4	Amalgamated Association

Macdonald was elected by taking second place in a two-seat constituency.

1880 general election

Constituency	Candidate	Votes	%	Position	Sponsor
		unopposed	N/A	1	Northumberland
		1,345	25.8	1	National Union

Macdonald was elected by taking second place in a two-seat constituency

1885 general election

Votes	%	Position	Sponsor
1,907	25.6	3	Derbyshire
6,511	57.7	1	Durham
5,799	64.1	1	Durham
unopposed	N/A	1	Northumberland
5,615	60.2	1	Yorkshire
3,859	56.3	1	Cambrian
5,858	68.4	1	Northumberland

Abraham stood as an independent Liberal-Labour candidate.

1886 general election

Votes	%	Position	Sponsor
5,059	46.3	2	Durham
unopposed	N/A	1	Durham
unopposed	N/A	1	Northumberland
4,771	56.2	1	Yorkshire
unopposed	N/A	1	Cambrian
5,235	75.4	1	Northumberland

1892 general election

Votes	%	Position	Sponsor
4,579	51.3	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
5,661	60.7	1	Durham
unopposed	N/A	1	Northumberland
6,134	61.7	1	Yorkshire
unopposed	N/A	1	Cambrian
5,696	66.1	1	Northumberland
3,312	49.2	2	Lancashire and Cheshire

1895 general election

Votes	%	Position	Sponsor
4,790	47.8	2	Lancashire and Cheshire
5,937	58.0	1	Durham
3,404	73.4	1	Northumberland
5,499	58.3	1	Yorkshire
unopposed	N/A	1	Cambrian
5,629	69.9	1	Northumberland
3,075	43.8	2	Lancashire and Cheshire

1900 general election

Votes	%	Position	Sponsor
5,944	47.4	1	Midland
5,565	57.5	1	Durham
3,117	53.5	1	Northumberland
5,025	58.2	1	Yorkshire
4,432	43.6	2	Midland
8,383	81.7	1	South Wales
5,474	56.1	1	Northumberland

By-elections, 1900–1906

Votes	%	Position	Sponsor
8,220	54.0	1	Durham
6,855	70.2	1	Yorkshire
7,995	70.4	1	South Wales
unopposed	N/A	1	Yorkshire

1906 general election

Votes	%	Position	Sponsor
7,254	56.5	1	Derbyshire
9,651	65.3	1	Durham
4,841	42.8	1	South Wales
8,375	55.2	1	Yorkshire
9,183	68.2	1	Midland
unopposed	N/A	1	Durham
5,518	74.2	1	Northumberland
unopposed	N/A	1	Yorkshire
7,677	56.8	1	Midland
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
10,514	63.3	1	South Wales
10,386	76.4	1	Northumberland
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales

By-elections, 1906–1910

By-election	Candidate	Votes	%	Position	Sponsor
		6,644	52.9	1	Derbyshire
		7,396	59.4	1	Midland

January 1910 general election

Votes	%	Position	Sponsor
unopposed	N/A	1	Durham
5,874	66.1	1	Northumberland
10,872	70.0	1	Northumberland

December 1910 general election

Votes	%	Position	Sponsor
unopposed	N/A	1	Durham
unopposed	N/A	1	Northumberland
unopposed	N/A	1	Northumberland

By-elections, 1910–1918

By-election	Candidate	Votes	%	Position	Sponsor
		7,725	55.8	1	Derbyshire
		unopposed	N/A	1	Durham

Other parties

Party	Candidate	Votes	%	Position	Sponsor
Scottish United Trades Councils Labour Party		434	7.3	3	Scottish^[8]
Scottish United Trades Councils Labour Party		663	6.3	3	Scottish
Scottish Labour Party	1,221	13.8	3		Scottish
Independent Labour Party		696	10.9	3	Scottish
Independent Labour		8,805	45.6	1	Durham Colliery Mechanics
Independent Labour		5,267	47.5	2	Northumberland

Scottish Workers' Representation Committee

By-elections, 1900–1906

Election	Candidate	Votes	Percentage	Position	Sponsor^[9]
		2,900	21.7	3	Scottish
		3,984	27.9	3	Scottish

1906 UK general election

Votes	Percentage	Position	Sponsor
1,763	17.5	3	Scottish
2,684	20.8	3	Scottish
4,658	29.2	3	Scottish
3,291	23.9	3	Scottish
2,482	23.1	3	Scottish

Labour candidates

1906 general election

Constituency	Candidate	Votes	%	Position	Sponsor^[10] ^[11]
		8,046	70.2	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
		6,088	56.6	1	Lancashire and Cheshire

By-elections, 1906–1910

By-election	Candidate	Votes	%	Position^[12]
		1,436	14.5	3
		6,735	60.5	1

January 1910 general election

Votes	%	Position
3,993	33.2	2
12,684	64.8	1
8,234	59.1	1
3,572	21.4	3
9,312	78.6	1
10,193	62.2	1
9,199	63.9	1
7,723	60.6	1
3,268	24.7	3
6,110	54.5	1
7,575	63.9	1
3,864	25.7	3
2,191	16.1	3
9,172	72.2	1
1,801	12.9	3
8,715	57.6	1
2,160	11.8	3
1,718	9.7	3
8,566	59.8	1
8,154	50.8	1
12,436	78.2	1
6,512	53.3	1
11,612	61.1	1
4,736	37.7	2
13,295	81.4	1
825	28.8	3
4,803	52.8	1

December 1910 general election

Votes	%	Position
3,993	33.2	2
unopposed	N/A	1
7,283	59.0	1
4,675	24.1	3
5,480	54.8	1
8,708	59.9	1
8,343	64.2	1
7,117	57.2	1
5,524	54.3	1
6,557	60.5	1
6,102	44.5	2
3,847	24.7	3
unopposed	N/A	1
7,838	56.3	1
8,125	62.2	1
8,199	52.2	1
9,073	71.0	1
5,752	48.9	2
10,910	58.4	1
6,128	53.0	1
unopposed	N/A	1
1,414	53.7	1
4,110	46.8	2

By-elections, 1910–1918

Votes	%	Position
2,879	16.3	3
3,195	28.2	3
1,694	11.8	3
2,415	16.7	3
4,165	26.2	3
1,674	16.8	3
3,669	22.5	3
6,080	37.2	2
unopposed	N/A	1

1918 general election

Votes	%	Position	Sponsor^[13]
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
5,468	42.9	1	Durham
11,370	53.6	1	South Wales
7,844	41.6	2	Durham
9,027	49.1	2	Scottish
11,150	55.2	1	Nottinghamshire
7,474	44.3	1	Midland
11,496	54.8	1	South Wales
6,766	45.9	2	Derbyshire
8,610	35.3	2	Cleveland
5,211	23.4	3	Lancashire and Cheshire
3,226	24.5	3	Yorkshire
8,809	49.4	2	Durham
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
9,740	40.8	2	Lancashire and Cheshire
10,454	43.9	2	Somerset
10,109	54.8	1	South Wales
6,988	42.1	1	Scottish
8,102	55.5	1	Yorkshire
4,168	26.2	2	Northumberland
7,315	36.4	1	Durham
14,882	87.0	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
5,548	36.4	2	Midland
7,654	38.4	2	Lancashire and Cheshire
8,957	43.6	1	Nottinghamshire
12,682	47.3	2	South Wales
7,677	34.3	1	Northumberland
unopposed	N/A	1	Yorkshire
5,560	28.6	2	Derbyshire
5,673	34.1	2	Scottish
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
8,467	40.8	2	North Wales
4,830	39.4	2	Scottish
5,047	37.1	2	Yorkshire
10,152	42.8	2	South Wales
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
9,917	55.1	1	Yorkshire
9,098	44.1	1	Yorkshire
8,988	41.3	2	Durham
5,801	36.8	2	Durham
6,358	37.3	1	Scottish
8,196	46.5	2	Durham
6,835	34.0	2	Northumberland^[14]
5,267	47.5	2	Northumberland
13,029	59.8	1	Yorkshire
10,664	72.6	1	Scottish
12,914	48.0	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
10,441	51.4	1	Cumberland

By-elections, 1918–1922

Votes	%	Position
13,135	68.8	1
8,445	46.0	2
17,838	77.1	1
15,942	66.4	1
8,560	36.2	1
6,671	31.2	2
14,662	57.1	1
13,296	57.5	1
16,630	57.0	1

1922 general election

Votes	%	Position	Sponsor
20,704	57.2	1	South Wales
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
8,052	49.3	2	Durham
17,270	63.0	1	South Wales
7,942	38.9	2	Derbyshire
14,722	53.9	1	Durham
13,872	57.0	1	Scottish
11,699	50.8	1	Nottinghamshire
20,296	68.5	1	Durham
14,068	55.2	1	Durham
10,843	29.5	3	Cleveland
4,528	15.8	3	Lancashire and Cheshire
13,437	46.5	1	Yorkshire
9,903	47.0	1	Yorkshire
11,652	50.4	1	Scottish
16,947	65.4	1	South Wales
13,391	45.6	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
14,311	48.8	2	Somerset
13,388	54.2	1	South Wales
12,365	57.8	1	Scottish
14,295	63.2	1	Yorkshire
5,050	24.2	3	Northumberland
14,611	51.9	1	Durham
17,332	67.7	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
15,006	45.0	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
9,316	46.8	2	Midland
14,789	50.0	2	Lancashire and Cheshire
14,917	48.0	2	Nottinghamshire
15,026	48.3	1	Northumberland
19,566	59.5	1	South Wales
16,040	73.3	1	Yorkshire
9,359	33.9	1	Derbyshire
10,349	47.3	1	Scottish
10,842	32.5	2	Midland
17,321	55.8	1	South Wales
6,105	23.8	3	North Wales
6,394	36.0	1	Scottish
8,382	33.7	2	Yorkshire
9,111	38.9	1	Yorkshire
14,884	47.2	1	South Wales
17,146	55.0	1	South Wales
18,001	62.1	1	South Wales
unopposed	N/A	1	Yorkshire
17,831	62.8	1	Yorkshire
9,756	43.6	1	Durham
11,511	55.6	1	Scottish
15,735	39.7	2	Durham
13,766	50.3	1	Durham
11,073	53.3	1	Scottish
16,032	45.2	1	Northumberland
unopposed	N/A	1	Yorkshire
unopposed	N/A	1	Scottish
20,079	56.5	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
14,546	54.7	1	Cumberland

1923 general election

Votes	%	Position	Sponsor
22,379	58.2	1	South Wales
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
12,674	48.0	1	Yorkshire
17,564	67.6	1	South Wales
7,284	31.5	2	Derbyshire
15,073	67.9	1	Durham
14,211	60.2	1	Scottish
13,219	54.5	1	Nottinghamshire
20,712	74.7	1	Durham
12,898	60.4	1	Yorkshire
16,198	60.6	1	Yorkshire
12,606	53.6	1	Scottish
13,819	56.8	1	Durham
16,492	65.6	1	South Wales
14,858	57.2	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
14,771	59.1	1	South Wales
11,858	58.4	1	Scottish
13,159	70.1	1	Yorkshire
15,225	59.3	1	Durham
17,365	73.5	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
13,989	43.0	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
17,255	56.7	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
18,813	57.8	1	Nottinghamshire
16,902	64.2	1	Northumberland
20,764	62.3	1	South Wales
15,453	78.0	1	Yorkshire
10,971	39.5	1	Derbyshire
10,526	50.5	1	Scottish
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
7,882	43.0	1	Scottish
11,134	45.3	1	Yorkshire
16,837	54.9	1	South Wales
21,338	71.9	1	South Wales
18,206	65.4	1	South Wales
15,967	68.6	1	Yorkshire
15,115	66.0	1	Yorkshire
11,087	50.0	2	Durham
11,169	55.9	1	Scottish
15,717	40.7	2	Durham
15,567	65.7	1	Durham
12,502	48.8	2	Midland
18,583	56.8	1	Northumberland
unopposed	N/A	1	Yorkshire
12,204	65.4	1	Scottish
19,637	57.6	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
15,296	56.5	1	Cumberland

1924 general election

Votes	%	Position	Sponsor
20,704	57.2	1	South Wales
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
14,738	51.7	1	Yorkshire
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
17,670	62.6	1	Durham
14,591	56.3	1	Scottish
15,276	55.4	1	Nottinghamshire
22,700	71.0	1	Durham
11,153	29.4	2	Cleveland
16,496	52.7	1	Yorkshire
14,958	53.9	1	Yorkshire
13,887	57.9	1	Scottish
15,032	54.9	1	Durham
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
15,327	47.5	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
15,374	57.2	1	South Wales
13,003	60.8	1	Scottish
15,593	69.3	1	Yorkshire
17,857	57.8	1	Durham
18,272	70.0	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
17,262	51.5	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
12,512	46.2	2	Midland
17,338	54.2	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
19,441	59.0	1	Nottinghamshire
19,248	56.8	1	Northumberland
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
unopposed	N/A	1	Yorkshire
13,420	44.9	1	Derbyshire
11,852	46.1	2	Scottish
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
7,797	40.8	1	Scottish
13,044	48.7	2	Yorkshire
18,301	55.9	1	South Wales
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
18,750	65.3	1	Yorkshire
16,540	61.8	1	Yorkshire
12,552	47.3	2	Durham
11,313	50.4	1	Scottish
16,852	42.1	2	Durham
17,211	63.0	1	Durham
13,436	53.9	1	Scottish
13,318	42.7	2	Midland
21,159	52.9	1	Northumberland
unopposed	N/A	1	Yorkshire
14,685	70.9	1	Scottish
20,350	57.6	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
15,353	55.6	1	Cumberland

By-elections, 1924–1929

By-election	Candidate	Votes	%	Position	Sponsor
		14,830	59.7	1
		20,398	58.0	1^[15]	Northumberland

1929 general election

Votes	%	Position^[16]	Sponsor
29,550	64.6	1	South Wales
20,175	64.5	1	South Wales
9,281	42.0	1	Durham
21,855	53.8	1	Yorkshire
26,021	79.0	1	South Wales
21,221	59.1	1	Durham
17,006	55.3	1	Scottish
26,975	69.8	1	Durham
16,938	36.3	1	Cleveland
31,466	73.3	1	Yorkshire
25,295	56.0	1	Yorkshire
15,288	58.5	1	Scottish
18,514	56.8	1	Durham
20,088	60.3	1	South Wales
21,857	52.2	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
20,664	54.0	1	South Wales
16,595	67.1	1	Scottish
26,075	79.9	1	Yorkshire
25,056	57.1	1	Durham
26,091	73.8	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
25,635	57.0	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
21,103	55.0	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
10,779	37.5	2
25,508	61.3	1	Northumberland
29,455	60.2	1	South Wales
26,008	83.1	1	Yorkshire
21,633	54.6	1	Derbyshire
22,900	56.7	1	South Wales
11,161	45.5	1	Scottish
17,286	45.2	1	Yorkshire
17,335	47.8	1	Yorkshire
20,835	53.1	1	South Wales
19,010	50.2	1	South Wales
23,238	65.1	1	South Wales
30,405	76.3	1	Yorkshire
27,320	61.7	1	Yorkshire
15,749	47.7	1	Durham
16,981	58.1	1	Scottish
20,858	71.8	1	Durham
15,408	47.4	1	Scottish
27,930	54.4	1	Northumberland
35,276	75.1	1	Yorkshire
17,668	60.0	1	Scottish
27,462	58.5	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
20,591	65.2	1	Cumberland

By-elections, 1929–1931

By-election	Candidate	Votes	%	Position
		20,687	59.9	1^[17]
		19,356	78.8	1

1931 general election

Votes	%	Position^[18]	Sponsor
23,029	58.4	1
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
10,287	44.7	2	Durham
20,622	49.1	2	Yorkshire
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
18,431	49.3	2	Durham
14,423	43.5	2	Scottish
20,060	39.6	2	Cleveland
22,363	45.1	2	Yorkshire
27,599	58.6	1	Yorkshire
17,136	49.6	2	Durham
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
19,553	46.5	2	Lancashire and Cheshire
21,963	53.4	1	South Wales
14,233	53.9	1	Scottish
23,609	70.5	1	Yorkshire
22,700	47.1	2	Durham
23,237	63.4	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
23,965	52.3	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
17,169	43.8	2	Lancashire and Cheshire
18,174	48.7	2	Northumberland
30,873	64.0	1	South Wales
22,877	69.6	1	Yorkshire
19,385	47.5	2	Derbyshire
23,064	61.0	1	South Wales
9,185	34.5	2	Scottish
16,870	44.6	2	Yorkshire
21,751	58.4	1	South Wales
22,086	68.1	1	South Wales
23,024	84.3	1	South Wales
26,185	62.3	1	Yorkshire
24,897	52.9	1	Yorkshire
15,404	41.2	2	Durham
13,733	45.2	2	Scottish
18,072	56.2	1	Durham
12,483	36.4	2	Scottish
24,126	41.8	2	Northumberland
31,861	68.8	1	Yorkshire
11,063	35.8	2	Scottish
23,544	51.1	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
18,469	54.9	1	Cumberland

By-elections, 1931–1935

Votes	%	Position
14,127	42.5	1^[19]
unopposed	N/A	1
unopposed	N/A	1^[20]
unopposed	N/A	1
18,645	51.8	1

1935 general election

Votes	%	Position^[21]	Sponsor
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
25,318	58.9	1	Yorkshire
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
14,299	41.9	2	Scottish
24,148	62.3	1	Durham
20,900	60.3	1	Scottish
29,111	71.0	1	Durham
33,220	68.9	1	Yorkshire
16,271	52.3	1	Scottish
21,517	59.1	1	Durham
25,007	77.8	1	South Wales
22,040	51.7	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
25,632	66.8	1	South Wales
17,049	65.7	1	Scottish
28,298	80.1	1	Yorkshire
30,665	57.2	1	Durham
26,334	72.6	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
unopposed	N/A	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
20,191	46.2	2	Midland
20,530	68.0	1	South Wales
28,900	59.2	1	Northumberland
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
26,705	81.4	1	Yorkshire
25,382	57.2	1	Derbyshire
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
12,209	47.2	2	Scottish
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
22,088	61.8	1	South Wales
unopposed	N/A	1	South Wales
33,271	72.0	1	Yorkshire
31,472	64.5	1	Yorkshire
18,190	57.6	1	Scottish
21,473	71.2	1	Durham
29,904	49.2	2	Northumberland
37,471	82.1	1	Yorkshire
12,869	35.7	2	Scottish
27,950	61.3	1	Lancashire and Cheshire
unopposed	N/A	1	Cumberland

By-elections, 1935–1945

Votes	%	Position
32,188	66.8	1^[22]
23,566	64.4	1^[23]
17,908	58.0	1
unopposed	N/A	1^[24]
unopposed	N/A	1
unopposed	N/A	1
unopposed	N/A	1
unopposed	N/A	1
unopposed	N/A	1
unopposed	N/A	1
13,693	76.3	1
30,847	79.3	1

1945 general election

Votes	%	Position^[25]
30,614	72.9	1
30,480	82.1	1
29,931	71.7	1
25,369	65.8	1
29,158	80.2	1
33,788	76.8	1
27,538	82.1	1
28,617	70.1	1
16,330	56.3	1
40,153	71.7	1
22,021	64.7	1
24,135	66.2	1
27,209	80.1	1
30,676	68.5	1
20,015	73.5	1
33,984	81.4	1
43,730	66.7	1
28,702	74.4	1
15,401	45.0	1
44,514	81.1	1
43,113	75.1	1
24,879	81.4	1
38,521	73.2	1
37,957	75.8	1
28,238	84.3	1
35,795	65.6	1
32,715	76.4	1
15,546	55.7	1
27,455	77.3	1
16,733	48.4	1
unopposed	N/A	1
44,449	75.2	1
21,235	61.3	1
22,587	69.9	1
32,065	60.1	1
44,080	83.6	1
31,392	68.2	1

By-elections, 1945–1950

Votes	%	Position
unopposed	N/A	1
13,632	70.6	1
24,215	68.3	1
19,085	79.8	1
28,941	59.1	1

1950 general election

Votes	%	Position^[26]
33,390	75.6	1
42,008	68.6	1
31,329	83.4	1
28,343	68.9	1
34,017	80.6	1
25,715	56.7	1
30,270	77.5	1
35,348	77.3	1
34,907	66.8	1
40,420	79.6	1
29,341	53.6	1
39,789	74.0	1
36,024	68.1	1
28,245	80.7	1
32,564	76.1	1
29,292	70.0	1
47,934	82.4	1
36,044	77.1	1
32,145	71.8	1
25,756	60.0	1
39,326	70.8	1
36,224	66.7	1
29,120	78.9	1
26,966	52.8	1
27,548	71.5	1
33,034	73.0	1
31,986	74.5	1
33,417	66.3	1
31,084	69.7	1
35,432	75.6	1
26,645	75.9	1
27,150	82.4	1
42,222	76.6	1
27,946	62.5	1
33,790	56.4	1
32,746	62.5	1

1951 general election

Votes	%	Position^[27]
34,783	78.6	1
37,523	69.7	1
31,582	83.3	1
28,337	68.2	1
33,661	79.9	1
26,529	56.3	1
30,523	77.2	1
35,511	77.0	1
35,705	69.2	1
39,782	79.6	1
28,650	53.3	1
39,687	74.1	1
35,597	67.1	1
28,283	80.7	1
32,661	75.9	1
28,591	68.7	1
47,402	82.7	1
37,718	75.8	1
32,148	72.3	1
26,885	60.6	1
39,731	72.5	1
37,097	69.9	1
28,841	79.6	1
29,271	55.3	1
27,718	71.9	1
34,496	76.9	1
31,052	73.5	1
33,376	66.7	1
30,417	68.7	1
35,280	76.2	1
27,958	81.2	1
26,123	81.1	1
41,990	75.7	1
28,219	62.3	1
35,678	58.7	1
21,481	44.8	2
34,530	66.9	1

1955 general election

Votes	%	Position^[28]
39,485	72.8	1
30,104	82.4	1
25,273	66.5	1
30,074	78.9	1
23,365	54.2	1
27,852	75.2	1
32,323	76.3	1
30,979	67.1	1
36,718	77.9	1
23,286	52.1	1
38,433	73.7	1
32,412	66.1	1
26,058	79.3	1
26,304	68.3	1
26,187	67.4	1
42,603	83.3	1
33,375	76.1	1
29,830	72.7	1
23,861	59.3	1
34,021	66.6	1
29,543	68.5	1
25,630	77.3	1
25,994	60.2	1
30,581	76.4	1
27,846	73.5	1
34,965	66.5	1
22,802	45.8	2
27,116	67.4	1
32,646	76.2	1
21,859	72.6	1
21,288	73.8	1
39,968	75.6	1
37,221	59.7	1
34,625	57.8	1
29,755	64.4	1

By-elections, 1955–1959

Votes	%	Position
18,791	69.9	1
27,912	80.8	1
27,415	71.0	1

1959 general election

Votes	%	Position^[29]
42,565	73.7	1
30,697	81.8	1
25,969	65.4	1
32,536	78.2	1
25,119	54.7	1
28,154	72.7	1
33,901	75.8	1
32,307	66.8	1
39,088	77.7	1
40,935	70.9	1
33,795	66.4	1
27,326	81.0	1
27,423	66.1	1
45,153	82.2	1
35,960	75.9	1
30,752	72.3	1
34,625	66.7	1
31,066	67.9	1
26,608	77.1	1
28,457	60.2	1
30,469	71.4	1
29,672	72.7	1
37,444	62.9	1
28,064	68.1	1
35,194	76.4	1
20,565	65.2	1
21,130	72.0	1
43,962	74.1	1
30,642	58.5	1
37,862	56.6	1
30,664	66.3	1

1964 general election

Votes	%	Position^[30]
18,346	47.8	2
37,250	66.8	1
29,425	83.5	1
25,926	66.7	1
31,234	79.3	1
26,001	72.1	1
29,452	56.5	1
32,895	75.2	1
29,676	68.1	1
38,101	80.7	1
42,452	71.9	1
22,468	61.6	1
32,818	68.3	1
28,964	71.0	1
42,528	83.1	1
31,042	72.0	1
21,134	54.7	1
32,546	65.9	1
29,055	63.6	1
23,275	75.3	1
29,820	61.3	1
28,477	72.5	1
38,657	64.2	1
32,357	76.2	1
20,510	71.2	1
20,713	79.3	1
43,101	74.4	1
32,273	60.7	1
28,640	69.4	1

1966 general election

Votes	%	Position^[31]
23,353	88.1	1
38,744	75.7	1
29,723	86.3	1
9,908	33.0	2
26,629	69.2	1
30,114	81.6	1
26,330	74.3	1
31,542	61.6	1
32,467	77.0	1
36,735	81.6	1
43,973	74.9	1
20,709	58.4	1
32,200	70.6	1
27,865	71.2	1
41,887	85.4	1
30,915	73.6	1
19,988	56.9	1
33,674	71.4	1
28,849	64.2	1
21,737	74.5	1
27,608	56.6	1
29,416	76.4	1
38,723	66.9	1
32,328	78.4	1
21,567	77.4	1
19,060	76.1	1
43,634	76.8	1
34,058	64.7	1
28,754	72.9	1

1970 general election

Votes	%	Position^[32]
34,956	64.8	1
25,724	64.9	1
28,830	77.5	1
27,043	40.4	2
30,386	59.0	1
33,694	71.6	1
33,966	75.1	1
42,496	69.5	1
21,532	57.1	1
25,431	53.0	1
40,013	80.8	1
32,295	68.5	1
22,324	57.3	1
30,554	66.1	1
30,802	52.9	1
21,826	60.4	1
28,421	68.4	1
38,181	60.9	1
31,774	74.8	1
19,602	68.7	1
28,102	67.5	1

February 1974 general election

Votes	%	Position^[33]
40,595	71.8	1
22,279	58.7	1
30,787	76.5	1
10,641	29.9	2
31,040	54.8	1
34,727	68.8	1
48,737	70.1	1
19,201	39.3	1
19,070	48.0	1
44,093	82.8	1
39,822	70.0	1
22,689	54.7	1
34,378	64.5	1
32,220	44.7	1
22,026	56.4	1
29,621	67.2	1
29,602	57.0	1
34,409	74.8	1
16,367	31.8	2
12,119	22.6	2
30,485	71.3	1

October 1974 general election

Votes	%	Position^[34]
34,212	65.3	1
4,768	14.0	3
23,743	52.3	1
27,275	70.6	1
11,319	32.7	2
30,953	59.9	1
33,315	74.1	1
41,187	63.3	1
18,470	40.1	1
18,487	47.6	1
37,467	76.5	1
35,453	63.5	1
23,964	60.5	1
28,964	57.4	1
28,652	41.5	1
22,696	63.8	1
24,372	58.7	1
25,234	49.9	1
30,208	70.4	1
27,692	65.8	1

1979 general election

Votes	%	Position^[35]
33,116	52.8	1
36,276	64.0	1
27,495	66.6	1
18,989	31.4	2
31,049	57.4	1
31,783	68.8	1
39,603	55.6	1
36,509	69.6	1
34,599	56.2	1
27,736	54.1	1
22,576	55.5	1
29,051	52.3	1
37,773	47.8	1
21,744	56.3	1
27,218	48.1	1
26,591	56.4	1
11,712	21.3	2
26,144	59.8	1

1983 general election

Votes	%	Position^[36]
21,859	41.7	1
21,847	59.8	1
23,905	66.3	1
26,514	56.3	1
23,881	48.1	1
26,626	52.8	1
23,036	45.1	1
22,081	59.3	1
25,477	51.2	1
18,670	40.5	1
25,114	49.3	1
19,401	42.7	1
21,094	40.8	1
21,781	46.5	1
21,732	47.0	1

1987 general election

Votes	%	Position
26,139	66.8	1
29,948	74.5	1
19,604	42.5	1
28,453	56.2	1
21,826	45.3	1
32,950	61.8	1
29,200	53.1	1
32,396	68.1	1
27,859	67.0	1
30,064	58.6	1
22,553	48.3	1
28,292	56.4	1
28,080	57.5	1

1992 general election

Votes	%	Position^[37] ^[38]
27,048	69.3	1
30,346	77.2	1
27,965	58.3	1
24,542	49.9	1
33,978	64.5	1
21,418	44.6	1
34,135	61.8	1
32,008	55.0	1
34,269	72.7	1
32,225	61.3	1
20,588	43.9	1
30,977	60.5	1
30,481	60.7	1
30,046	59.7	1

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