Chester-le-Street (UK Parliament constituency)

The constituency was created for the 1885 general election by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 as one of eight new single-member divisions of the county of Durham, replacing the two 2-member seats of North Durham and South Durham.{{Cite web |title=Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 |url=https://archive.org/details/publicgeneralac01walegoog/page/n155/mode/2up?view=theater&q=stockton |pages=155–156| publisher=Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports }} The seat covered a large area of north Durham, including areas which are now part of the Borough of Gateshead (Ryton, Blaydon and Whickham) and the City of Sunderland (Washington) in the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear.

• The Sessional Divisions of Chester-le-Street and Gateshead (part); and
• The Municipal Borough of Gateshead

NB included only non-resident freeholders in the parliamentary borough of Gateshead.

See map on Vision of Britain website.{{Cite web |title=HMSO Boundary Commission Report 1885, Durham |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps/sheet/bc_reports_1885/Durham_1885}}

• The Urban District of Chester-le-Street; and
• the Rural District of Chester-le-Street.{{Cite book |last=Craig |first=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 |pages=10 |oclc=539011}}

The constituency was divided in two, with the areas comprising the urban districts of Ryton, Blaydon and Whickham forming the bulk of the new constituency of Blaydon. Gained Witton Gilbert from the abolished constituency of Mid Durham.

• The Urban Districts of Chester-le-Street and Washington; and
• the Rural District of Chester-le-Street.{{Cite book |last=Craig |first=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 |pages=58, 129 |oclc=539011}}

Minor changes to reflect changes in local authority boundaries; the urban district of Washington had been created in 1922 from the rural district of Chester-le-Street.

The seat was abolished for the 1983 general election as a result of the periodic review of parliamentary constituencies following the re-organisation of local government under the Local Government Act 1972. On abolition, the area which had comprised the new town of Washington was included in the new constituency of Houghton and Washington; the parishes of Birtley and Lamesley were transferred to Blaydon; and the remainder, comprising about half the electorate, becoming part of the re-established seat of North Durham.{{Cite web |date=2016-04-01 |title=Chester-le-Street |url=http://electionweb.co.uk/Bp/P74142.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401172533/http://electionweb.co.uk/Bp/P74142.htm |archive-date=2016-04-01 |access-date=2022-09-30 }}

Chester-le-Street and its successor constituency (North Durham) have over 100 years of continuous Labour representation.

File:James Joicey.jpg

{{Election box begin|title=General election 1885: Chester-le-Street British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS CraigThe Liberal Year Book, 1907Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate =James Joicey

|votes =4,409

|percentage =44.0

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Independent Liberal

|candidate =R Lloyd Jones

|votes =3,606

|percentage =36.9

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =Walter Ashworth

|votes =2,018

|percentage =20.1

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =803

|percentage = 7.1

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes =10,033

|percentage =84.8

|change =

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 11,830

}}

{{Election box new seat win

|winner =Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=General election 1886: Chester-le-Street

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party =Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate =James Joicey

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner =Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=General election 1892: Chester-le-Street

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate =James Joicey

|votes =6,453

|percentage =61.3

|change =N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Liberal Unionist Party

|candidate =Sir Edward Sullivan, 2nd Baronet|Edward Sullivan

|votes =4,066

|percentage =38.7

|change =New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =2,387

|percentage =22.6

|change =N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes =10,519

|percentage = 79.9

|change =N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 13,169

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner =Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

File:1910_Viscount Morpeth.jpg

{{Election box begin|title=General election 1895: Chester-le-Street Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate =James Joicey

|votes =7,370

|percentage =64.2

|change =+2.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Liberal Unionist Party

|candidate =Viscount Morpeth

|votes =4,113

|percentage =35.8

|change =-2.9

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =3,257

|percentage =28.4

|change =+5.8

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes =11,483

|percentage =78.6

|change =−1.3

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 14,618

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner =Liberal Party (UK)

|swing =+2.9

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=General election 1900: Chester-le-Street Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate =James Joicey

|votes =5,830

|percentage =52.0

|change = −12.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =John Nicholson

|votes =5,391

|percentage =48.0

|change =+12.2

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =439

|percentage =4.0

|change = −24.4

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 11,221

|percentage =68.6

|change = −10.0

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 16,358

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner =Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = −12.2

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=General election 1906: Chester-le-Street

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Independent Labour

|candidate =John Wilkinson Taylor

|votes =8,085

|percentage =45.6

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =Slingsby Duncombe Shafto

|votes =4,985

|percentage =28.1

|change = −19.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate =Alfred Barrett Tebb

|votes =4,660

|percentage =26.3

|change = −25.7

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =3,100

|percentage =17.5

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes =17,730

|percentage =84.8

|change =+16.2

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 20,910

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner =Independent Labour

|loser =Liberal Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election January 1910: Chester-le-Street Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =John Wilkinson Taylor

|votes =12,684

|percentage =64.8

|change =+19.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =Slingsby Duncombe Shafto

|votes =6,891

|percentage =35.2

|change =+7.1

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =5,793

|percentage =29.6

|change =+12.1

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes =19,575

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner =Labour Party (UK)

|swing =+6.0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election December 1910: Chester-le-Street Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =John Wilkinson Taylor

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner =Labour Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

General Election 1914–15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

• Labour: John Gilliland

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1918: Chester-le-StreetBritish Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =John Wilkinson Taylor

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner =Labour Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=1919 Chester-le-Street by-election{{cite news|title=Chester-le-Street Election|work=Tamworth Herald|date=6 December 1919|accessdate=5 October 2016|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000484/19191206/008/0002|via =British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Jack Lawson

|votes =17,838

|percentage =77.1

|change =N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =National Democratic and Labour Party

|candidate =David Gilmour

|votes =5,313

|percentage =22.9

|change =New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =12,525

|percentage =54.2

|change =N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes =23,151

|percentage =63.7

|change =N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =36,321

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner =Labour Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1922: Chester-le-Street

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Jack Lawson

|votes =20,296

|percentage =68.5

|change =N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate =David Fee Todd

|votes =9,335

|percentage =31.5

|change =New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =10,961

|percentage =37.0

|change =N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes =29,631

|percentage =76.6

|change =N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =38,672

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner =Labour Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1923: Chester-le-Street

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Jack Lawson

|votes =20,712

|percentage =74.7

|change =+6.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate =Charles Reginald Schiller Harris

|votes =7,015

|percentage =25.3

|change =−6.2

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =13,697

|percentage =49.4

|change =+12.4

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes =27,727

|percentage =70.1

|change =−6.5

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =39,532

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner =Labour Party (UK)

|swing =+6.2

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1924: Chester-le-Street

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Jack Lawson

|votes =22,700

|percentage =71.0

|change =−3.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate =Michael Dodds McCarthy

|votes =9,250

|percentage =29.0

|change =+3.7

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =13,450

|percentage =42.0

|change =−7.4

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes =31,950

|percentage =78.7

|change =+8.6

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =40,578

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner =Labour Party (UK)

|swing =−3.7

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1929: Chester-le-Street

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Jack Lawson

|votes =26,975

|percentage =69.8

|change =−1.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate =E.G. Payne

|votes =6,334

|percentage =16.4

|change =−12.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate =Joseph William Wright

|votes =5,340

|percentage =13.8

|change =New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =20,641

|percentage =53.4

|change =+11.4

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes =38,649

|percentage =78.5

|change =−0.2

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =49,243

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner =Labour Party (UK)

|swing =+5.7

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1931: Chester-le-Street}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Jack Lawson

|votes =24,373

|percentage =60.62

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =Ronald Kellett

|votes =15,834

|percentage =39.38

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =8,539

|percentage =21.24

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 40,207

|percentage = 79.35

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner =Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1935: Chester-le-Street}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Jack Lawson

|votes =29,111

|percentage =70.98

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =Charles Robert Ingram Besley

|votes =11,901

|percentage =29.02

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 17,210

|percentage = 41.96

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 41,012

|percentage = 78.24

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1945: Chester-le-Street}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Jack Lawson

|votes =33,788

|percentage =76.76

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =Antony Lambton

|votes =10,228

|percentage =23.24

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =23,560

|percentage =53.53

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 44,016

|percentage = 79.79

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner =Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1950: Chester-le-Street}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Patrick Bartley

|votes =35,348

|percentage =77.30

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =Harry John Martin Millican

|votes =10,379

|percentage =22.70

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =24,969

|percentage =54.60

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 45,727

|percentage = 87.28

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner =Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1951: Chester-le-Street}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Patrick Bartley

|votes =35,511

|percentage =76.96

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =Harry John Martin Millican

|votes =10,632

|percentage =23.04

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =24,879

|percentage =53.92

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 46,143

|percentage = 86.64

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner =Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1955: Chester-le-Street}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Patrick Bartley

|votes =32,323

|percentage =76.29

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =David A Wright

|votes =10,047

|percentage =23.71

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =22,276

|percentage =52.58

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 42,370

|percentage = 79.57

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=1956 Chester-le-Street by-election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Norman Pentland

|votes =27,912

|percentage =80.8

|change =+4.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =William Rees-Mogg

|votes =6,625

|percentage =19.2

|change =-4.5

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =21,287

|percentage =61.6

|change =+9.0

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 34,537

|percentage = 65.0

|change = -14.6

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner =Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1959: Chester-le-Street}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Norman Pentland

|votes =33,901

|percentage =75.78

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =William Rees-Mogg

|votes =10,838

|percentage =24.22

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =23,063

|percentage =51.56

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 44,739

|percentage = 83.03

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1964: Chester-le-Street}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Norman Pentland

|votes =32,895

|percentage =75.20

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =John Gorst

|votes =10,851

|percentage =24.80

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 22,044

|percentage = 50.40

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 43,746

|percentage = 79.43

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1966: Chester-le-Street}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Norman Pentland

|votes =32,467

|percentage =76.96

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =Charles Maxwell Kirwan Taylor

|votes =9,720

|percentage =23.04

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =22,747

|percentage =53.92

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 42,187

|percentage = 74.87

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1970: Chester-le-Street}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Norman Pentland

|votes =33,694

|percentage =71.60

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =Dennis Ramshaw

|votes =13,363

|percentage =28.40

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =20,331

|percentage =43.20

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 47,057

|percentage = 73.67

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner =Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=1973 Chester-le-Street by-election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Giles Radice

|votes =25,874

|percentage =53.06

|change =-18.54

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate =George Booth Suggett

|votes =18,808

|percentage =38.57

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =Neil Balfour

|votes =4,092

|percentage =8.39

|change =-20.01

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =7,066

|percentage =14.49

|change =-28.71

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 48,768

|percentage = 71.4

|change = -2.3

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner =Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election February 1974: Chester-le-Street}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Giles Radice

|votes =33,534

|percentage =59.21

|change =+6.15

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate =David James Herd

|votes =14,808

|percentage =26.15

|change =-12.42

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =Neil Balfour

|votes =8,291

|percentage =14.64

|change =+6.25

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =18,726

|percentage =33.06

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 56,633

|percentage = 83.48

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election October 1974: Chester-le-Street}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Giles Radice

|votes =33,511

|percentage =65.69

|change =+6.48

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate =Douglas McCourt

|votes =9,233

|percentage =18.10

|change =-8.05

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =R Ditchburn

|votes =8,268

|percentage =16.21

|change =+1.57

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =24,278

|percentage =47.59

|change =+14.53

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 51,012

|percentage = 74.63

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner =Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1979: Chester-le-Street}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party =Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =Giles Radice

|votes =38,672

|percentage =60.40

|change =-5.29

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =James Couchman

|votes =16,112

|percentage =25.16

|change =+8.95

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate =Douglas McCourt

|votes =9,247

|percentage =14.44

|change =-3.66

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =22,560

|percentage =35.24

|change =-12.35

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 64,031

|percentage = 76.76

|change = +2.13

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

• History of parliamentary constituencies and boundaries in Durham

{{Reflist}}

• {{Rayment-hc|c|3|date=March 2012}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chester-Le-Street (Uk Parliament Constituency)}}

Category:Parliamentary constituencies in County Durham (historic)

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1885

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1983

Category:Chester-le-Street