Hartlepool (UK Parliament constituency)
{{Short description|Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1974 onwards}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox UK constituency main
|name = Hartlepool
|parliament = uk
|image = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|plain=yes|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Hartlepool (UK Parliament constituency)}}|frame-height=200|frame-width=250}}
|caption = Interactive map of boundaries since 1983
|image2 = File:North East England - Hartlepool constituency.svg
|caption2 = Boundary of Hartlepool in North East England
|year = 1974
|abolished =
|type = Borough
|elects_howmany = One
|previous = The Hartlepools
|next =
|title= The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – North East
|publisher=Boundary Commission for England
|access-date=3 July 2024
}}
|region = England
|county = County Durham
|towns = Hartlepool, Seaton Carew
|mp = Jonathan Brash
|party = Labour
}}
Hartlepool {{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|ɑːr|t|l|ɪ|p|uː|l}} {{respell|HART|lih|pool}} is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament{{efn|As with all constituencies, Hartlepool elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.}} by Jonathan Brash of the Labour Party from 2024. The constituency covers the town of Hartlepool plus nearby settlements.
Labour won every contest for the seat since the first at the February 1974 election (and mostly won the predecessor constituency of The Hartlepools from the 1945 election onward) until Jill Mortimer won the 2021 by-election, becoming the first Conservative MP to represent Hartlepool since 1959. However, she lost her seat back to Labour three years later, falling to third place.
Boundaries
=1974–1983=
The County Borough of Hartlepool.{{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=130 |oclc=539011}}
Before 1974 the seat was known as The Hartlepools (reflecting the representation of both old Hartlepool and West Hartlepool). The name was changed following the merger in 1967 of the County Borough of West Hartlepool and the Municipal Borough of Hartlepool to form the County Borough of Hartlepool.
=1983–present=
The Borough of Hartlepool.{{Cite web |title=The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1983/417/pdfs/uksi_19830417_en.pdf |page=13}}{{Cite web |title=The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/1626/made |at=In the County of Cleveland}}{{Cite web |title=The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/1681/made |at=In Hartlepool}}
As a result of major local government boundary changes in 1974 arising from the Local Government Act 1972, the Borough of Hartlepool was incorporated into the new county of Cleveland. As a consequence, a small part of the pre-1983 Easington constituency was added to the seat.
The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies left the boundaries unchanged.{{Cite web |title=The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/1230/schedules/made |at=Schedule 1 Part 4 North East region}}
The seat is currently coterminous with the borough of Hartlepool, which has close to the average population for a UK parliamentary constituency. The seat includes the town of Hartlepool itself and the nearby villages of Hart, Elwick, Greatham, Newton Bewley and Dalton Piercy.
History
{{More citations needed|date=July 2018}}
The constituency had previously substantially been in the constituency of The Hartlepools. It became the constituency of Hartlepool in 1974.
Hartlepool was a Labour constituency from its creation until 2021, although its predecessor did have Conservative MPs both in the early 1960s and during the Second World War. At the 1992 general election, Edward Leadbitter stood down and was succeeded by the former Labour Director of Communications Peter Mandelson. Mandelson's pivotal role in the reshaping of the Labour Party into New Labour attracted much attention, and he became a prominent target.
During the first term of the Labour government led by Tony Blair, Mandelson was twice appointed to the Cabinet and twice forced to resign amid minor but controversial scandals. At the 2001 general election there was a notable contest when Arthur Scargill, former leader of the National Union of Mineworkers and the leader of the Socialist Labour Party, stood for election in the hope of exploiting uneasiness about New Labour in "traditional" Labour heartlands. In the event, Mandelson retained his seat, while Scargill polled only 912 votes. Mandelson shocked many with a triumphalist victory speech in which he declared "They underestimated Hartlepool, and they underestimated me, because I am a fighter and not a quitter!".{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1375000/video/_1376807_mandelson02_speech_vi.ram |title=Archived copy |access-date=12 April 2006 |archive-date=3 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103173918/http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1375000/video/_1376807_mandelson02_speech_vi.ram |url-status=dead }}
The following year, the town's first direct Mayoral election generated surprise when the mascot of Hartlepool United F.C., H'Angus the Monkey (real name Stuart Drummond) was elected on a platform that included free bananas for schoolchildren.
Mandelson resigned as MP for Hartlepool when he was appointed as a European Commissioner in the summer of 2004. This triggered a by-election that took place on 30 September. The Hartlepool by-election – the last held prior to the 2005 general election – saw Iain Wright retain the seat for Labour with a majority of 2,033 votes. That by-election marked the first time that the UK Independence Party had ever finished in third place at a by-election.
The Labour Party has continued to hold the seat since the by-election, with a dwindling majority and falling share of the vote, and at the three most recent general elections, three parties have finished in second place: the Liberal Democrats in 2005 (following their strong performance at the by-election the previous year), the Conservative Party in 2010, and UKIP, going one better than its by-election showing, in 2015.
In May 2010, the Conservatives gained their largest percentage vote increase in the country in Hartlepool, reducing the Labour majority to just over 5,500, whilst in 2015, UKIP recorded their eleventh-highest vote share in the United Kingdom, taking 28% and reducing the Labour majority to just over 3,000 votes.
2010 general election
Both the 2010 and 2015 general elections (in addition to several local elections) took place against the backdrop of concerns regarding the potential closure of Hartlepool and Stockton hospitals and their replacement with a new "super hospital" in out of town Wynyard. This precipitated the closure of several departments, and the removal of services from Hartlepool. The move was initially supported by Hartlepool MP Iain Wright, and opposed by Stockton South candidate James Wharton at the 2010 general election. A substantial protest group was formed opposing Wynyard, and calling on services to remain at Hartlepool,{{Cite web |url=http://www.savehartlepoolhospital.com/ |title=Save Hartlepool Hospital |access-date=29 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816164400/http://www.savehartlepoolhospital.com/ |archive-date=16 August 2016 |url-status=dead }} backed by a campaign by the Hartlepool Mail, a local newspaper.
Following the 2008 financial crisis and the Great Recession, the Cameron–Clegg coalition announced it would scrap the Wynyard proposals, although no guarantees were made regarding the future of Hartlepool hospital.{{cite web |url=http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/163-464m-hospital-axed-healthcare-blow-for-region-1-1003515 |title=£464m HOSPITAL AXED: Healthcare blow for region |website=hartlepoolmail.co.uk}} This issue continued to dominate politics in Hartlepool at both general elections and local council elections, which dented support for Iain Wright and Labour, who had backed the Wynyard plans, whilst many independent candidates gained traction.
At the 2010 general election, the Conservative Party approached Alan Wright, a regional broadcaster for the BBC and columnist for the Hartlepool Mail, to stand as its candidate,{{cite web |url=http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/conservatives-choose-alan-wright-to-take-on-iain-wright-for-mp-1-1041415 |title=Conservatives choose Alan Wright to take on Iain Wright for MP |website=hartlepoolmail.co.uk |access-date=29 July 2016 |archive-date=13 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813020702/http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/conservatives-choose-alan-wright-to-take-on-iain-wright-for-mp-1-1041415 |url-status=dead }} despite his lack of political and campaigning experience, hoping that his high-profile would help. It was also noted that the similarity of his name to that of the town's MP, and the fact he would feature above him on the ballot paper, might result in additional votes.{{cite web |url=http://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2009/08/hartlepool-conservatives-select-alan-wright-to-take-on-labour-mp-iain-wright.html |title=ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog: Hartlepool Conservatives select Alan Wright to take on Labour MP Iain Wright |website=conservativehome.blogs.com}} The Conservative Party gained a swing of 16.7%, the largest in the country, taking second place from the Liberal Democrats, and garnering it a vote share far exceeding their traditional local support.
2015 general election
Sitting MP Iain Wright was the only candidate from 2010 to remain on the much-extended ballot paper in 2015, in which the three main parties faced competition from UKIP, the Green Party, and three independent candidates, each standing primarily on healthcare-related platforms.
Popular local taxi driver and charity fundraiser Stephen Picton put himself forward as the voice of the hospital campaigners,{{cite web |url=http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/hartlepool-taxi-driver-hopes-to-become-town-s-mp-1-7043583 |title=Hartlepool taxi driver hopes to become town's MP |website=hartlepoolmail.co.uk}} although this was challenged by the last-minute candidacy of Sandra Allison, who stood under the banner of 'Your Vote Could Save Our Hospital'.{{cite web |url=http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/health/gran-launches-bid-to-become-mp-over-hartlepool-a-e-closure-1-7214281 |title=Gran launches bid to become MP over Hartlepool A&E closure |website=hartlepoolmail.co.uk |access-date=29 July 2016 |archive-date=20 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520141122/http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/health/gran-launches-bid-to-become-mp-over-hartlepool-a-e-closure-1-7214281 |url-status=dead }} John Hobbs, an 80 year old autism campaigner stood under the tagline 'Tell it like it is'.{{cite web |url=http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/meet-the-80-year-old-granddad-running-to-become-hartlepool-s-mp-1-7220454 |title=Meet the 80-year-old granddad running to become Hartlepool's MP |website=hartlepoolmail.co.uk}}
UKIP earmarked Hartlepool as a potential gain, and the seat became one of its top ten national targets as well as its main target in the north-east, attracting significant party funding, visits from leader Nigel Farage, and the regional party conference.{{cite web |url=http://www.ukip.org/ukip_north_east_conference_2015_announced |title=UKIP North East Conference 2015 announced }} It selected Philip Broughton, a former Stockton Conservative Councillor and wrestling entrepreneur, as its candidate.{{cite web |url=http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/video-ukip-s-hartlepool-candidate-pokes-fun-at-commoners-as-bizarre-wrestling-character-1-6593980 |title=VIDEO: UKIP's Hartlepool candidate pokes fun at 'commoners' as bizarre wrestling character |website=hartlepoolmail.co.uk}} The Conservative Party selected public affairs consultant and competitive swimmer, Richard Royal, as its candidate.{{cite web |url=http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/royal-to-stand-as-tory-candidate-in-hartlepool-1-7052800 |title=Royal to stand as Tory candidate in Hartlepool |website=hartlepoolmail.co.uk |access-date=29 July 2016 |archive-date=12 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812095057/http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/royal-to-stand-as-tory-candidate-in-hartlepool-1-7052800 |url-status=dead }}
The Conservative Party's national '40/40 strategy' meant that much of its regional resources were directed towards the marginal seats of Stockton South and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, forcing candidates to campaign outside of their selected seats.{{cite web |url=http://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2015/05/non-target-candidates-are-instructed-to-leave-their-seats-and-campaign-in-the-4040-even-on-polling-day.html |title=Non-target candidates are instructed to leave their seats and campaign in the 40/40 – even on polling day – Conservative Home |date=May 2015 }} The Green Party selected local member Michael Holt, who had been arrested the previous year for obstructing a police officer at a protest in London, although charges were subsequently dropped.{{cite web |url=http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/crime/protest-charges-dropped-against-hartlepool-green-party-candidate-1-7216242 |title=Protest charges dropped against Hartlepool Green Party candidate |website=hartlepoolmail.co.uk}} Just days before the nomination deadline, the Liberal Democrats selected Darlington-based Hilary Allen as its candidate.{{cite web |url=http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/lib-dem-candidate-hopes-to-be-hartlepool-s-mp-1-7188996 |title=Lib Dem candidate hopes to be Hartlepool's MP |website=hartlepoolmail.co.uk}}
On Valentine's Day in 2015, a 'We Love Our Hospital' rally was organised by Save Our Hospital and the Teesside Peoples' Assembly Against Austerity, attracting large crowds in Hartlepool town centre. Candidates Iain Wright, Richard Royal, Philip Broughton, Stephen Picton and Michael Holt each gave speeches alongside other selected speakers. It was reported that Wright was booed and heckled by the crowd.{{cite web |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/11794806.MP_faces_boos_from_crowd_at_Save_Our_Hospital_demonstration/?ref=mr |title=MP faces boos from crowd at Save Our Hospital demonstration |website=The Northern Echo|date=14 February 2015 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPT0KhHOLI4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/HPT0KhHOLI4 |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Iain Wright – Save Our Hospital Valentines Day Rally |last=Michelle Winship |date=14 February 2015 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
One day prior to the general election, local football club Hartlepool United F.C. took the unprecedented step of openly criticising Wright, and seemingly encouraging fans to support either Royal or Broughton, both of whom had met the club's leadership and shown support for its interests.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/off-the-pitch/hartlepool-united/news/hartlepool-slam-labour-candidate_221359.html|title=Hartlepool United slam Labour candidate on eve of general election|date=6 May 2015 }} The club had been under pressure, facing relegation and had an ongoing land dispute with the Labour council.
Throughout the campaign, both Phillip Broughton and Richard Royal sought to portray themselves as the only viable alternative to Iain Wright, with Broughton distributing leaflets claiming that the Hartlepool election was a 'two horse race',{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/teesvalley/11534393.UKIP_targets_North_East_town/|title=UKIP targets North-East town|website=The Northern Echo|date=14 October 2014 }} and Royal referring to the close 2010 result, with his slogan "Wright for your town? Wrong for your future. Turn Hartlepool Royal Blue".{{cite web|url=http://www.richardroyal.com/#!LESS-THAN-3000-VOTES-TO-CHANGE-YOUR-MP/cph7/5546178d0cf2487417083a99|title=Richard Royal, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Hartlepool|website=Richard Royal, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Hartlepool}} As a result, much of the anti Labour vote was split, with UKIP and the Conservatives gaining a combined 48.9% compared to Iain Wright's 35.6%, but neither taking enough votes individually to defeat Labour. At one point during election night itself, the vote looked so close that a recount was reported to be due,{{cite web|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/general-election-2015-ukip-set-9209208|title=General Election 2015: UKIP set to request recount in Hartlepool amid purple surge|first=Rachel|last=Wearmouth|date=8 May 2015}} but this proved to be unnecessary after the inclusion of postal votes.
2017 general election
Following the 2015 general election result, Hartlepool became the 35th most vulnerable Labour seat in the country.{{cite web|url=http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/labour-defence/|title=UK Polling Report|website=ukpollingreport.co.uk|access-date=19 April 2017|archive-date=5 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105200708/http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/labour-defence/|url-status=dead}} At the EU referendum in 2016 Hartlepool voted to 'Leave' by 69.5%, making it one of the highest Leave-voting Labour-held seats in the UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/hartlepool-votes-with-massive-70-support-for-leave-in-eu-referendum-1-7980572|title=Hartlepool votes with massive 70% support for Leave in EU Referendum|website=hartlepoolmail.co.uk}} Despite this intense Euroscepticism in the area making it perceived as a vulnerable seat for Labour, at the 2017 general election Labour's new candidate Mike Hill retained the seat, with UKIP's vote falling by 17 points and Labour's rising by 17 points. This gave Labour their biggest total vote and popular vote majority in Hartlepool since 2001.
Following an allegation of sexual assault made against him in September 2019, Hill sat as an Independent. However, three weeks later, the allegation was withdrawn, and he had the Labour whip restored.
2021 by-election
{{Main|2021 Hartlepool by-election}}
On 16 March 2021 Mike Hill resigned as the MP for Hartlepool, triggering a by-election.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-16|title=MP for Hartlepool resigns with immediate effect meaning by-election will be held|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/19163562.mp-hartlepool-resigns-immediate-effect-meaning-by-election-will-held/|access-date=2021-03-16|website=Northern Echo}} The election was won by Jill Mortimer of the Conservative Party. It is the first time the Conservatives have held the seat.
Members of Parliament
| class="wikitable sortable" | |
| colspan="2"|Election | Member{{Rayment-hc|h|1|date=March 2012}}
!Party |
|---|---|
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| February 1974 United Kingdom general election | {{Party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}} | |
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| 1992 | {{Party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}} | |
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| {{Party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}} | |
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| 2017 | rowspan="3"|Mike Hill | {{Party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}} | |
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}}" |
| {{Date table sorting|2019|Sep|format=y}} | {{Party shortname linked|Independent politician}} | |
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| {{Date table sorting|2019|Oct|format=y}} | {{Party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}} | |
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| {{Party shortname linked|Conservative Party (UK)}} | |
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| 2024 | {{Party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}} |
Elections
=Elections in the 2020s=
{{Election box begin |title=General election 2024: Hartlepool{{cite web |url= https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/news/article/2901/general_election_2024_-_hartlepool_result |title=General Election 2024 – Hartlepool result |publisher=Hartlepool Borough Council |date=5 July 2024 |access-date=7 July 2024}}{{cite web |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001272 |title=Hartlepool results |publisher=BBC |date=5 July 2024 |access-date=7 July 2024}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party=Labour Party (UK)
|candidate=Jonathan Brash
|votes=16,414
|percentage=46.2
|change=+8.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Reform UK
|candidate=Amanda Napper
|votes=8,716
|percentage=24.5
|change=-1.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Jill Mortimer
|votes=7,767
|percentage=21.9
|change=-7.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Independent politician
|candidate=Sam Lee
|votes=895
|percentage=2.5
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Green Party of England and Wales
|candidate=Jeremy Spyby-Steanson
|votes=834
|percentage=2.3
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate=Peter Maughan
|votes=572
|percentage=1.6
|change=-2.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Workers Party of Britain
|candidate=Thomas Dudley
|votes=248
|percentage=0.7
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Heritage Party (UK)
|candidate=Vivienne Neville
|votes=65
|percentage=0.2
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box majority|votes=7,698|percentage=21.7|change=+12.9}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=35,511|percentage=49.7|change=-7.9}}
{{Election box registered electors|reg. electors=71,437}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = +7.7
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title=By-election 2021: Hartlepool{{cite web|title=Notice of Poll, Statement of Persons Nominated & Situation of Polling Stations|url=https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/downloads/file/6825/notice_of_poll_statement_of_persons_nominated_and_situation_of_polling_stations|website=Hartlepool Burough Council|access-date=7 May 2021|archive-date=7 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507095927/https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/downloads/file/6825/notice_of_poll_statement_of_persons_nominated_and_situation_of_polling_stations|url-status=dead}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Jill Mortimer
|votes = 15,529
|percentage = 51.9
|change = +23.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Paul Williams
|votes=8,589
|percentage=28.7
|change=–9.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Independent politician
|candidate=Sam Lee
|votes=2,904
|percentage=9.7
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Heritage Party (UK)
|candidate=Claire Martin
|votes=468
|percentage=1.6
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Reform UK
|candidate=John Prescott{{efn|Not the former Deputy Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007}}
|votes=368
|percentage=1.2
|change=–24.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Green Party of England and Wales
|candidate=Rachel Featherstone
|votes=358
|percentage=1.2
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate=Andy Hagon
|votes=349
|percentage=1.2
|change=–2.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Independent politician
|candidate=Thelma Walker{{efn|name=Walker|Walker is a member of and endorsed by the Northern Independence Party, but appears on the ballot as an Independent due to that party not being registered with the Electoral Commission.}}
|votes=250
|percentage=0.8
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate
|party=No description
|candidate=Chris Killick
|votes=248
|percentage=0.8
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=North East Party
|candidate=Hilton Dawson
|votes=163
|percentage=0.5
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Independent politician
|candidate=Ralph Ward-Jackson
|votes=157
|percentage=0.5
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Women's Equality Party
|candidate=Gemma Evans
|votes=140
|percentage=0.5
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Independent politician
|candidate=Adam Gaines
|votes=126
|percentage=0.4
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Social Democratic Party (UK, 1990–present)
|candidate=David Bettney
|votes=108
|percentage=0.4
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party=Official Monster Raving Loony Party
|candidate=The Incredible Flying Brick
|votes=104
|percentage=0.3
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate
|party=Freedom Alliance
|color={{party color|Freedom Alliance (UK)}}
|candidate=Steve Jack
|votes=72
|percentage=0.2
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes=6,940
|percentage=23.2
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes=29,933
|percentage=42.7
|change=–15.2
}}
{{Election box gain with party link
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|loser = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = +16.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
The result was the biggest swing towards an incumbent governing party in a by-election in the post war era; the record was formerly the 1945 Bournemouth by-election.{{Cite web|title=How the Tories' Hartlepool by-election victory set a postwar record|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/05/how-tories-hartlepool-election-victory-set-postwar-record|access-date=2021-05-10|website=newstatesman.com|date=7 May 2021|archive-date=10 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510183517/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/05/how-tories-hartlepool-election-victory-set-postwar-record|url-status=live}}
=Elections in the 2010s=
{{Election box begin |title=General election 2019: Hartlepool{{cite news |title=Hartlepool Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000733 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=24 November 2019 |archive-date=13 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113084451/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000733 |url-status=live }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Mike Hill
|votes = 15,464
|percentage = 37.7
|change = -14.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate=Stefan Houghton
|votes=11,869
|percentage=28.9
|change=-5.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Brexit Party
|candidate=Richard Tice
|votes=10,603
|percentage=25.8
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate=Andy Hagon
|votes=1,696
|percentage=4.1
|change=+2.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Independent politician
|candidate=Joe Bousfield
|votes=911
|percentage=2.2
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Socialist Labour Party (UK)
|candidate=Kevin Cranney
|votes=494
|percentage=1.2
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes=3,595
|percentage=8.8
|change=-9.5
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes=41,037
|percentage=57.9
|change=-1.3
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = -4.8
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title=General election 2017: Hartlepool{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2017-06-02/general-election-2017-hartlepool/|title=General Election 2017: Hartlepool|date=2 June 2017|website=ITV news|access-date=25 November 2019}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Mike Hill
|votes = 21,969
|percentage = 52.5
|change = +16.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate=Carl Jackson
|votes=14,319
|percentage=34.2
|change=+13.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=UK Independence Party
|candidate=Phillip Broughton
|votes=4,801
|percentage=11.5
|change=-16.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate=Andy Hagon
|votes=746
|percentage=1.8
|change=-0.1
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes=7,650
|percentage=18.3
|change=+10.6
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes=41,835
|percentage=59.2
|change=+2.4
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = +1.8
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |
|title=General election 2015: Hartlepool{{cite web|title=Election Data 2015|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=17 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt|archive-date=17 October 2015}}{{cite news
| title = Hartlepool
| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000733
| publisher = BBC News
| access-date = 15 May 2015}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Iain Wright
|votes = 14,076
|percentage = 35.6
|change = -6.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=UK Independence Party
|candidate=Phillip Broughton
|votes=11,052
|percentage=28.0
|change=+21.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate=Richard Royal
|votes=8,256
|percentage=20.9
|change=-7.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Independent politician
|candidate=Stephen Picton
|votes=2,954
|percentage=7.5
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Green Party of England and Wales
|candidate=Michael Holt
|votes=1,341
|percentage=3.4
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate minor party|
|party = Save Hartlepool Hospital
|candidate = Sandra Allison
|votes = 849
|percentage = 2.0
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate=Hilary Allen
|votes=761
|percentage=1.9
|change=-15.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Independent politician
|candidate=John Hobbs
|votes=201
|percentage=0.5
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes=3,024
|percentage=7.7
|change=-6.7
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes=39,490
|percentage=56.8
|change=+1.3
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = -14.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |
|title=General election 2010: Hartlepool{{cite web|title=Election Data 2010|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=17 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt|archive-date=26 July 2013 }}http://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/download/5989/parliamentary_notice_of_poll{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/c06.stm|title=UK > England > North East > Hartlepool|date=7 May 2010|work=Election 2010|publisher=BBC|access-date=10 May 2010}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Iain Wright
|votes = 16,267
|percentage = 42.5
|change = -9.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Conservative Party (UK)|candidate=Alan Wright
|votes=10,758
|percentage=28.1
|change=+16.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate=Reg Clark
|votes=6,533
|percentage=17.1
|change=-13.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=UK Independence Party
|candidate=Stephen Allison
|votes=2,682
|percentage=7.0
|change=+3.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=British National Party
|candidate=Ronnie Bage
|votes=2,002
|percentage=5.2
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes=5,509
|percentage=14.4
|change=-6.7
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes=38,242
|percentage=55.5
|change=+4.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = -12.9
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Elections in the 2000s=
{{Election box begin |
|title=General election 2005: Hartlepool{{cite web|title=Election Data 2005|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=18 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt|archive-date=15 October 2011}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Iain Wright
|votes = 18,251
|percentage = 51.5
|change = -7.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate=Jody Dunn
|votes=10,773
|percentage=30.4
|change=+15.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate=Amanda Vigar
|votes=4,058
|percentage=11.5
|change=-9.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=UK Independence Party
|candidate=George Springer
|votes=1,256
|percentage=3.5
|change= N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Socialist Labour Party (UK)
|candidate=Frank Harrison
|votes=373
|percentage=1.1
|change=-1.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Green Party of England and Wales
|candidate=Iris Ryder
|votes=288
|percentage=0.8
|change= N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Independent (politician)
|candidate=John Hobbs
|votes=275
|percentage=0.8
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Official Monster Raving Loony Party
|candidate=Jedediah Caleb Bartimaeus Headbanger
|votes=162
|percentage=0.5
|change= N/A
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes=7,478
|percentage=21.1
|change=-17.1
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes=35,436
|percentage=51.5
|change=-4.3
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = -11.5
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=By-election 2004: Hartlepool}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Iain Wright
|votes = 12,752
|percentage = 40.7
|change = -18.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate=Jody Dunn
|votes=10,719
|percentage=34.2
|change=+19.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=UK Independence Party
|candidate=Stephen Allison
|votes=3,193
|percentage=10.2
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate=Jeremy Middleton
|votes=3,044
|percentage=9.7
|change=-11.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=RESPECT The Unity Coalition
|candidate=John Bloom
|votes=572
|percentage=1.8
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Green Party of England and Wales
|candidate=Iris Ryder
|votes=255
|percentage=0.8
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=National Front (UK)
|candidate=Jim Starkey
|votes=246
|percentage=0.8
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate|
|party = Fathers 4 Justice
|candidate = Peter Watson
|votes = 139
|percentage = 0.4
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Socialist Labour Party (UK)
|candidate=Christopher Herriot
|votes=95
|percentage=0.3
|change=-2.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=The Common Good (political party)
|candidate=Dick Rodgers
|votes=91
|percentage=0.3
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Independent (politician)
|candidate=Philip Berriman
|votes=90
|percentage=0.3
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Official Monster Raving Loony Party
|candidate=Alan Hope
|votes=80
|percentage=0.3
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate|
|party = Independent Rainbow
|candidate = Ronnie Carroll
|votes = 45
|percentage = 0.1
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=English Democrats Party
|candidate=Ed Abrams
|votes=41
|percentage=0.1
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes=2,033
|percentage=6.5
|change=-31.7
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes=31,362
|percentage=45.8
|change=-10.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = -11.5
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin ||title=General election 2001: Hartlepool{{cite web|title=Election Data 2001|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=18 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054450/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt|archive-date=15 October 2011}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Peter Mandelson
|votes = 22,506
|percentage = 59.1
|change = -1.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate=Augustine Robinson
|votes=7,935
|percentage=20.9
|change=-0.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate=Nigel Boddy
|votes=5,717
|percentage=15.0
|change=+0.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Socialist Labour Party (UK)
|candidate=Arthur Scargill
|votes=912
|percentage=2.4
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Independent (politician)
|candidate=Ian Cameron
|votes=557
|percentage=1.5
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Independent (politician)
|candidate=John Booth
|votes=424
|percentage=1.1
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes=14,571
|percentage=38.2
|change=-1.2
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes=38,051
|percentage=55.8
|change=-9.8
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Elections in the 1990s=
{{Election box begin ||title=General election 1997: Hartlepool{{cite web|title=Election Data 1997|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=18 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054424/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt|archive-date=15 October 2011}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Peter Mandelson
|votes = 26,997
|percentage = 60.7
|change = +8.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate=Michael Horsley
|votes=9,489
|percentage=21.3
|change=-13.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate=Reginald Clark
|votes=6,248
|percentage=14.1
|change=+0.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Referendum Party
|candidate=Maureen Henderson
|votes=1,718
|percentage=3.9
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box majority||votes=17,508|percentage=39.4|change=+22.4}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes=44,452
|percentage=65.6
|change=-10.5
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = +11.2
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin ||title=General election 1992: Hartlepool{{cite web|title=Election Data 1992|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=18 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054418/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt|archive-date=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|access-date=6 December 2010|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}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Peter Mandelson
|votes = 26,816
|percentage = 51.9
|change = +3.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate=Graham M. Robb
|votes=18,034
|percentage=34.9
|change=+1.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate=Ian Cameron
|votes=6,860
|percentage=13.3
|change=-0.8
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes=8,782
|percentage=17.0
|change=+2.4
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes=51,710
|percentage=76.1
|change=+3.1
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = +1.2
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Elections in the 1980s=
{{Election box begin ||title=General election 1987: Hartlepool{{cite web|title=Election Data 1987|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1987.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=18 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054243/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1987.txt|archive-date=15 October 2011}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Edward Leadbitter
|votes = 24,296
|percentage = 48.5
|change = +3.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate=Peter Catchpole
|votes=17,007
|percentage=33.9
|change=-5.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate=Arthur Preece
|votes=7,047
|percentage=14.1
|change=-1.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Independent (politician)
|candidate=Ian Cameron
|votes=1,786
|percentage=3.6
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes=7,289
|percentage=14.6
|change=+8.3
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes=50,136
|percentage=73.0
|change=+3.2
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |
|title=General election 1983: Hartlepool{{cite web|title=Election Data 1983|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1983.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=18 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054231/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1983.txt|archive-date=15 October 2011}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Edward Leadbitter
|votes = 22,048
|percentage = 45.5
|change = -9.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate=Frank Rogers
|votes=18,958
|percentage=39.2
|change=+1.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Social Democratic Party (UK)
|candidate=Norman Bertram
|votes=7,422
|percentage=15.3
|change=+8.6
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes=3,090
|percentage=6.3
|change=-10.4
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes=48,434
|percentage=69.8
|change=-4.9
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Elections in the 1970s=
{{Election box begin ||title=General election 1979: Hartlepool}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Edward Leadbitter
|votes = 27,039
|percentage = 55.1
|change = +3.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate=K. Miller
|votes=18,887
|percentage=38.4
|change=+3.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate=Christopher M. Abbott
|votes=3,193
|percentage=6.5
|change=-6.9
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes=8,162
|percentage=16.7
|change=±0.0
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes=49,109
|percentage=74.7
|change=+2.3
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin ||title=General election October 1974: Hartlepool}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Edward Leadbitter
|votes = 24,440
|percentage = 51.7
|change = -2.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate=Nicholas Freeman
|votes=16,546
|percentage=35.0
|change=-10.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate=L Tostevin
|votes=6,314
|percentage=13.4
|change=N/A
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes=7,894
|percentage=16.7
|change=+8.1
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes=47300
|percentage=72.4
|change=-4.5}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin||title=General election February 1974: Hartlepool}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Edward Leadbitter
|votes = 26,988
|percentage = 54.3
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate=Nicholas Freeman
|votes=22,700
|percentage=45.7
|change=
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes=4,288
|percentage=8.6
|change=
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes=49,688
|percentage=76.9
|change=
}}
{{Election box new seat win|
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
}}
{{Election box end}}
See also
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
;Specific
{{Reflist}}
;General
Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. {{ISBN|0-900178-06-X}}.
External links
- [https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/13137.html Hartlepool UK Parliament constituency] (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
- [https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/65990.html Hartlepool UK Parliament constituency] (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
- [https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/168596.html Hartlepool UK Parliament constituency] (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK
{{Constituencies in North East England}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|54.67|-1.26|type:adm3rd_region:GB-HPL|display=title}}
Category:Parliamentary constituencies in Cleveland
Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1974