Altrincham and Sale (UK Parliament constituency)

The House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1944 set up Boundary Commissions to carry out periodic reviews of the distribution of parliamentary constituencies. It also authorised an initial review to subdivide abnormally large constituencies (those exceeding an electorate of 100,000) in time for the 1945 election.{{Cite journal|last=Gay|first=Oonagh|date=2020-12-30|title=The Rules for the Redistribution of Seats- history and reform|url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn05628/|language=en-GB}} This was implemented by the Redistribution of Seats Order 1945 under which Cheshire was allocated one additional seat, by splitting the constituency of Altrincham into two seats:

• Altrincham and Sale, comprising the two respective municipal boroughs;{{Cite book|last=Craig, Fred W. S.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/539011|title=Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972|date=1972|publisher=Political Reference Publications|isbn=0-900178-09-4|location=Chichester|oclc=539011}} and
• Bucklow, comprising the bulk of the remainder of the constituency

The constituency remained unchanged until 1 April 1974 when, under the terms of the Local Government Act 1972, the boroughs of Altrincham and Sale were absorbed into the new metropolitan borough of Trafford within the county of Greater Manchester. However, the boundaries were not revised until the Third Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies came into effect for the 1983 general election. The revised constituency consisted of the south-eastern area of Trafford, with the main town being Altrincham, and comprised:

The Metropolitan Borough of Trafford wards of Altrincham, Bowdon, Broadheath, Brooklands, Hale, Sale Moor, Timperley, and Village.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1983/417/pdfs/uksi_19830417_en.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521014512/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1983/417/pdfs/uksi_19830417_en.pdf |archive-date=2021-05-21 |access-date=|website=}}

Hale and Bowdon were transferred from the abolished Cheshire constituency of Knutsford, while parts of the former municipal borough of Sale, including Ashton upon Mersey, were included in the new constituency of Davyhulme.

The constituency was abolished for the 1997 general election, when it was split in a roughly three to one ratio between the new constituencies of Altrincham and Sale West and Wythenshawe and Sale East.C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.187 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)

The constituency always elected a Conservative member with a comfortable majority and only had three MPs during its 52 years in existence. From 1945, it was represented by Frederick Erroll, a cabinet minister in Harold Macmillan's government, who was raised to the peerage in 1964. The ensuing by-election (held in 1965) was won by Anthony Barber, who served as Edward Heath's Chancellor of the Exchequer. Barber also entered the House of Lords, and at the October 1974 general election was succeeded by Fergus Montgomery, later Sir Fergus Montgomery, who served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher, during her tenure as Secretary of State for Education, and then as Leader of the Opposition. Montgomery held the seat until he retired in 1997.

{{Election box begin |

|title=1945 general election: Altrincham and Sale}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Frederick Erroll

|votes = 26,656

|percentage = 55.61

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = M.C. Joseph

|votes = 21,275

|percentage = 44.39

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 5,381

|percentage = 11.22

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 47,931

|percentage = 80.3

|change =

}}

{{Election box new seat win|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1950 general election: Altrincham and Sale}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Frederick Erroll

|votes = 30,843

|percentage = 57.41

|change = +1.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Frank Bibby

|votes = 16,544

|percentage = 30.79

|change = −13.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Lawrence Gordon Bayley

|votes = 6,340

|percentage = 11.8

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 14,299

|percentage = 26.6

|change = +15.4

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 53,727

|percentage = 88.4

|change = +8.1

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +7.7

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1951 general election: Altrincham and Sale}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Frederick Erroll

|votes = 33,987

|percentage = 66.1

|change = +8.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = James Brian O'Hara

|votes = 17,465

|percentage = 33.9

|change = +3.1

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 16,522

|percentage = 32.2

|change = +5.6

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 51,452

|percentage = 84.0

|change = -4.4

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +2.8

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1955 general election: Altrincham and Sale}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Frederick Erroll

|votes = 30,586

|percentage = 62.2

|change = −3.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Trevor Park

|votes = 12,174

|percentage = 24.8

|change = −9.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Donald Fletcher Burden

|votes = 6,436

|percentage = 13.1

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 18,412

|percentage = 37.4

|change = +5.2

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 49,196

|percentage = 80.0

|change = -4.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +2.7

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1959 general election: Altrincham and Sale}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Frederick Erroll

|votes = 29,992

|percentage = 56.0

|change = −6.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Norman Atkinson

|votes = 14,141

|percentage = 26.4

|change = +1.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Donald Fletcher Burden

|votes = 9,415

|percentage = 17.6

|change = +4.5

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 15,851

|percentage = 29.6

|change = -7.8

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 53,548

|percentage = 82.6

|change = +2.6

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = −3.9

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1964 general election: Altrincham and Sale}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Frederick Erroll

|votes = 24,982

|percentage = 46.8

|change = −9.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Roy Roebuck

|votes = 14,945

|percentage = 28.0

|change = +1.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Donald Fletcher Burden

|votes = 13,429

|percentage = 25.2

|change = +7.6

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 10,037

|percentage = 18.8

|change = -10.8

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 53,356

|percentage = 81.9

|change = -0.7

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = −5.4

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title= By-election 1965: Altrincham and Sale}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Anthony Barber

|votes = 20,380

|percentage = 50.0

|change = +3.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Roy Roebuck

|votes = 11,837

|percentage = 29.0

|change = +1.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Donald Fletcher Burden

|votes = 7,898

|percentage = 19.4

|change = −5.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = G.O. Symes

|votes = 634

|percentage = 1.6

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 8,543

|percentage = 21.0

|change = +2.2

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 40,749

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +1.1

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1966 general election: Altrincham and Sale}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Anthony Barber

|votes = 24,736

|percentage = 48.0

|change = +1.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Joyce Cope

|votes = 17,899

|percentage = 34.7

|change = +6.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Alan Cooper

|votes = 8,891

|percentage = 17.3

|change = −7.9

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 6,837

|percentage = 13.3

|change = -5.5

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 51,526

|percentage = 78.0

|change = -3.9

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = −5.5

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1970 general election: Altrincham and Sale}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Anthony Barber

|votes = 27,904

|percentage = 53.2

|change = +5.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Barry E. Jones

|votes = 16,671

|percentage = 31.8

|change = −2.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Lawrence Gordon Bayley

|votes = 7,875

|percentage = 15.0

|change = −3.3

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 11,233

|percentage = 21.4

|change = +8.1

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 52,450

|percentage = 74.1

|change = -3.9

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +4.1

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=February 1974 general election: Altrincham and Sale}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Anthony Barber

|votes = 26,434

|percentage = 44.3

|change = −8.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Desmond Blackburn

|votes = 17,738

|percentage = 29.7

|change = +14.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Derek Rutherford

|votes = 15,550

|percentage = 26.0

|change = −5.8

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 8,696

|percentage = 14.6

|change = -6.8

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 59,722

|percentage = 82.2

|change = +8.1

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = −11.82

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=October 1974 general election: Altrincham and Sale}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Fergus Montgomery

|votes = 23,910

|percentage = 42.8

|change = −1.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Eric Wood

|votes = 16,998

|percentage = 30.4

|change = +4.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Desmond Blackburn

|votes = 14,980

|percentage = 26.8

|change = −2.9

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 6,912

|percentage = 12.4

|change = -2.2

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 55,888

|percentage = 76.3

|change = -5.9

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = −2.9

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1979 general election: Altrincham and Sale}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Fergus Montgomery

|votes = 29,873

|percentage = 51.6

|change = +8.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Co-operative

|candidate = Garth Pratt

|votes = 14,643

|percentage = 25.3

|change = −5.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = John Campbell

|votes = 12,603

|percentage = 21.8

|change = −5.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Ecology Party (UK)

|candidate = C. Marsh

|votes = 796

|percentage = 1.4

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 15,230

|percentage = 26.3

|change = +13.9

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 57,915

|percentage = 77.7

|change = +1.4

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +4.1

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1983 general election: Altrincham and Sale{{cite web|title=Election Data 1983|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1983.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|accessdate=28 June 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054231/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1983.txt|archivedate=15 October 2011}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Fergus Montgomery

|votes = 25,321

|percentage = 52.5

|change = +0.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Brian Clancy

|votes = 14,410

|percentage = 29.9

|change = +8.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Alexander Erwin

|votes = 7,684

|percentage = 15.9

|change = −9.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Ecology Party (UK)

|candidate = C. Marsh

|votes = 629

|percentage = 1.3

|change = −0.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Lee J. Wolstenholme

|votes = 152

|percentage = 0.3

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 10,911

|percentage = 22.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 48,196

|percentage = 73.0

|change = -4.7

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1987 general election: Altrincham and Sale{{cite web|title=Election Data 1987|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1987.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|accessdate=28 June 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054243/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1987.txt|archivedate=15 October 2011}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Fergus Montgomery

|votes = 27,746

|percentage =53.5

|change = +1.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = John Mulholland

|votes = 13,518

|percentage = 26.1

|change = −3.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = David Hinder

|votes = 10,617

|percentage = 20.5

|change = +4.6

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 14,228

|percentage = 27.4

|change = +4.8

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 51,881

|percentage = 76.7

|change = +3.7

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +2.4

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1992 general election: Altrincham and Sale{{cite web|title=Election Data 1992|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|accessdate=28 June 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054418/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt|archivedate=15 October 2011}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/ge92index.htm|title=Politics Resources|date=9 April 1992|work=Election 1992|publisher=Politics Resources|accessdate=2010-12-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724020412/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/ge92index.htm|archive-date=24 July 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Fergus Montgomery

|votes = 29,066

|percentage = 54.7

|change = +1.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Mary E. Atherton

|votes = 12,275

|percentage = 23.1

|change = +2.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = John Mulholland

|votes = 11,601

|percentage = 21.8

|change = −4.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Natural Law Party

|candidate = John C. Renwick

|votes = 212

|percentage = 0.4

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 16,791

|percentage = 31.6

|change = +4.2

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 53,154

|percentage = 80.2

|change = +3.5

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Greater Manchester
• History of parliamentary constituencies and boundaries in Cheshire

{{Reflist}}

Category:Parliamentary constituencies in Greater Manchester (historic)

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1945

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1997

Category:Politics of Trafford