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Stockton North

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Stockton North
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Interactive map of boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Location within North East England
CountyCounty Durham
Electorate70,242 (2024)
Major settlementsStockton-on-Tees, Billingham, Wolviston, Port Clarence and Thorpe Thewles
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentChris McDonald (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromStockton-on-Tees

Stockton North is a constituency[n 1] covering the town of Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham and other nearby settlements in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees located north of the River Tees, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Chris McDonald, a member of the Labour Party, having been elected in the 2024 general election.

Constituency profile

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Stockton-on-Tees

Stockton North is a constituency in County Durham in North East England. It covers the central and northern areas of the town of Stockton-on-Tees, including Oxbridge, Portrack and Hardwick, as well as the adjacent towns of Norton and Billingham and parts of the outlying village of Wynyard.

Stockton is a large town within the Teesside urban area, located close to Middlesbrough and Thornaby-on-Tees. Stockton is traditionally a market town that experienced rapid growth during the Industrial Revolution as a centre for shipbuilding, ironmaking and engineering. The Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world's first steam-powered passenger railway, was built and opened here by George Stephenson in 1825. This constituency was heavily industrial; Haverton Hill was mostly depopulated in the 1960s due to pollution, and the area around Seal Sands still contains large chemical production facilities. Most of Stockton is highly-deprived with many residents living in socially-rented housing. Norton and Billingham are wealthier and more suburban in character, and Wynyard is an affluent, newly-developed garden village.[1] House prices across the constituency are generally lower than the rest of North East England and the average price is less than half the UK average.[2]

Residents of Stockton North have a similar age profile to the rest of the country.[3] They have low rates of income, average levels of homeownership,[2] and the child poverty rate is high;[4] in November 2023, home secretary James Cleverly caused controversy when he was accused of calling Stockton North a "shithole" during a House of Commons debate after its member of Parliament, Alex Cunningham, challenged prime minister Rishi Sunak on the level of child poverty in the constituency.[5][6] Residents have low levels of education and a high proportion work in the manufacturing and transport sectors.[2][7] The percentage claiming unemployment benefits is high.[4] White people made up 92% of the population at the 2021 census.[8]

At the local borough council, the centres of Stockton and Billingham are represented by Labour Party councillors whilst the wealthier suburban areas elected Conservatives. Voters in Stockton North strongly supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum; an estimated 68% voted in favour of Brexit compared to the UK-wide figure of 52%.[2]

History

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The constituency was created for the 1983 general election, partially replacing the former Stockton-on-Tees constituency. The outgoing MP for Stockton-on-Tees was Bill Rodgers, who had held the seat since 1962. He had been a Labour Party member until 1981, when he left to found the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The 1983 election was the first since Rodgers had left the Labour Party, and he was narrowly defeated by Labour's Frank Cook. Cook held the seat with majorities between 16% and 48% until the 2010 general election, when after 27 years as the MP he was de-selected by his local party. Cook chose to run again however, as an independent candidate. Cook polled less than 5% of the vote, fifth of the seven candidates who stood, and joined four of these in forfeiting his deposit and the seat was held by the Labour Party's next candidate, Alex Cunningham.

In November 2021, Cunningham announced his intention to stand down at the 2024 general election,[9] when the seat was won by his successor as Labour candidate, Chris McDonald.

Boundaries

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Map
Map of 2010–2024 boundaries

Historic

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1983–1997: The Borough of Stockton-on-Tees wards of Blue Hall, Charltons, Elm Tree, Glebe, Grange, Hardwick, Marsh House, Mile House, Newtown, Northfield, Norton, Portrack and Tilery, Roseworth, St Aidan's, St Cuthbert's, Whitton, and Wolviston.

1997–2010: The Borough of Stockton-on-Tees wards of Blue Hall, Charltons, Glebe, Grange, Hardwick, Marsh House, Mile House, Newtown, Northfield, Norton, Portrack and Tilery, Roseworth, St Aidan's, St Cuthbert's, Whitton, and Wolviston.

2010–2024: The Borough of Stockton-on-Tees wards of Billingham Central, Billingham East, Billingham North, Billingham South, Billingham West, Hardwick, Newtown, Northern Parishes, Norton North, Norton South, Norton West, Roseworth, Stockton Town Centre, and Western Parishes.

Current

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Further to the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency was defined as comprising the following wards of the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

  • Billingham Central; Billingham East; Billingham North; Billingham South; Billingham West; Hardwick and Salters Lane; Newtown; Northern Parishes; Norton North; Norton South; Norton West; Parkfield and Oxbridge; Roseworth; Stockton Town Centre.[10]

In order to bring the electorate within the permitted electoral range, the Parkfield and Oxbridge ward was transferred in from Stockton South (renamed Stockton West) in exchange for Western Parishes.

Following a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2023,[11][12] the constituency now comprises the following wards or part wards of the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees from the 2024 general election:

  • Billingham Central; Billingham East; Billingham North; Billingham South; Billingham West & Wolviston; Eaglescliffe East (small part); Grangefield (majority); Hardwick & Salters Lane; Newtown; Northern Parishes (majority); Norton Central; Norton North; Norton South; Ropner; Roseworth; Stockton Town Centre; and a very small part of Hartburn.[13]

Stockton North consists of the northern part of the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham, including the town centre and the nearby towns and villages of Billingham, Norton, Wolviston and Thorpe Thewles.[14]

Members of Parliament

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ElectionMember[15] Party
1983 Frank Cook Labour
2010 Alex Cunningham Labour
2024 Chris McDonald Labour

Elections

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Election results 1983–2024

Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Stockton North[16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Chris McDonald 17,128 45.8 −0.9
Reform John McDermottroe 9,189 24.6 +15.6
Conservative Niall Innes 8,028 21.5 −16.0
Green Sam Bradford 1,923 5.1 N/A
Liberal Democrats Jo Barton 1,133 3.0 −1.0
Majority 7,939 21.2 +18.7
Turnout 37,401 53.2 −8.6
Registered electors 70,242
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 2010s

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General election 2019: Stockton North[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Cunningham 17,728 43.1 −13.8
Conservative Steven Jackson 16,701 40.6 +4.1
Brexit Party Martin Walker 3,907 9.5 New
Liberal Democrats Aidan King 1,631 4.0 +2.5
North East Mark Burdon 1,189 2.9 New
Majority 1,027 2.5 −17.9
Turnout 41,156 61.7 −2.8
Labour hold Swing −9.0
General election 2017: Stockton North[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Cunningham[20] 24,304 56.9 +7.8
Conservative Mark Fletcher 15,589 36.5 +8.5
UKIP Ted Strike 1,834 4.3 −14.9
Liberal Democrats Sarah Brown[21] 646 1.5 −0.7
Green Emma Robson 358 0.8 New
Majority 8,715 20.4 −0.7
Turnout 42,731 64.5 +4.7
Labour hold Swing −0.3
General election 2015: Stockton North[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Cunningham 19,436 49.1 +6.3
Conservative Christopher Daniels 11,069 28.0 +2.1
UKIP Mandy Boylett 7,581 19.2 +15.3
Liberal Democrats Anthony Sycamore 884 2.2 −13.9
North East John Tait 601 1.5 New
Majority 8,367 21.1 +4.2
Turnout 39,571 59.8 +1.2
Labour hold Swing +2.2
General election 2010: Stockton North[23][24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Cunningham 16,923 42.8 −12.0
Conservative Ian Galletley 10,247 25.9 +4.7
Liberal Democrats Philip Latham 6,342 16.1 −2.6
BNP James MacPherson 1,724 4.4 +1.8
Independent Frank Cook 1,577 4.0 New
UKIP Gordon Parkin 1,556 3.9 +1.2
English Democrat Ian Saul 1,129 2.9 New
Majority 6,676 16.9 −17.2
Turnout 39,498 58.6 +0.5
Labour hold Swing -8.3

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Stockton North[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Cook 20,012 54.9 −8.5
Conservative Harriett Baldwin 7,575 20.8 −1.3
Liberal Democrats Neil Hughes 6,869 18.9 +7.0
BNP Kevin Hughes 986 2.7 New
UKIP Gordon Parkin 986 2.7 New
Majority 12,439 34.1 −7.2
Turnout 36,428 57.6 +2.8
Labour hold Swing -3.6
General election 2001: Stockton North[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Cook 22,470 63.4 −3.4
Conservative Amanda Vigar 7,823 22.1 +3.3
Liberal Democrats Mary Wallace 4,208 11.9 +1.1
Green Bill Wennington 926 2.6 New
Majority 14,647 41.3 −6.7
Turnout 35,427 54.8 −14.2
Labour hold Swing −3.3

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Stockton North[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Cook 29,726 66.8 +14.5
Conservative Bryan Johnston 8,369 18.8 −13.9
Liberal Democrats Suzanne Fletcher 4,816 10.8 −3.2
Referendum Kevin McConnell 1,563 3.5 New
Majority 21,357 48.0 +28.4
Turnout 44,474 69.0 −7.8
Labour hold Swing +14.2
General election 1992: Stockton North[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Cook 27,918 52.3 +3.1
Conservative Simon Brocklebank-Fowler 17,444 32.7 +0.2
Liberal Democrats Suzanne Fletcher 7,454 14.0 −4.3
Independent Labour Ken McGarvey 550 1.0 New
Majority 10,474 19.6 +3.0
Turnout 53,366 76.8 +1.4
Labour hold Swing +1.5

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Stockton North[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Cook 26,043 49.2 +12.1
Conservative David Faber 17,242 32.5 −0.8
SDP Nicholas Bosanquet 9,712 18.3 −11.3
Majority 8,801 16.6 +12.8
Turnout 52,997 75.4 +5.1
Labour hold Swing +6.5
General election 1983: Stockton North[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Cook 18,339 37.1
Conservative Harry Davies 16,469 33.3
SDP Bill Rodgers 14,630 29.6
Majority 1,870 3.8
Turnout 49,438 70.3
Labour win (new seat)

See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)

References

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  1. ↑ "Constituency data: Deprivation in England". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Seat Details - Stockton North". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Constituency data: Population, by age". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Constituency dashboard". House of Commons Library. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "James Cleverly denies claims he called Stockton North a s***hole". The Independent. 22 November 2023. Speaking at PMQs, Mr Cunningham had asked: "Why are 34 per cent of children in my constituency living in poverty?" Before the Prime Minister could answer, Cleverly allegedly responded: "Because it's a shithole".
  6. ↑ "Watch: MP accused of calling Stockton North a 's***hole'". The Spectator. 22 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "Constituency data: businesses and industries". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "2021 census results: Ethnic groups in your constituency". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham to retire at next election". BBC News. 25 November 2021.
  10. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 4 North East region.
  11. ↑ "UK Government Web Archive". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  12. ↑ "The Stockton-on-Tees (Electoral Changes) Order 2022".
  13. ↑ "New Seat Details – Stockton North". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  14. ↑ 2010 post-revision map Greater London and metropolitan areas of England
  15. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 5)
  16. ↑ "Stockton North and West 2024 Parliamentary Election Results". Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  17. ↑ "Stockton North results". BBC News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  18. ↑ "Stockton North". BBC News. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  19. ↑ "Stockton North". BBC News. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  20. ↑ "Alex Cunningham Statement Regarding Upcoming Election". Alex Cunningham. 18 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  21. ↑ "Stockton Liberal Democrat Candidates".
  22. ↑ "Stockton North". BBC News. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  23. ↑ "UK General Election results May 2010". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  24. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  25. ↑ "UK General Election results May 2005". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  26. ↑ "UK General Election results 2001: Stockton North". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  27. ↑ "UK General Election results 1997: Stockton North". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  28. ↑ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  29. ↑ "UK General Election results June 1987". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  30. ↑ "UK General Election results June 1983". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 February 2011.

Sources

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54°36′N 1°18′W / 54.60°N 1.30°W / 54.60; -1.30

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